Harvest of Talents 2016 raises record amount

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[October 24, 2016]  LINCOLN - On Saturday, October 22, Lincoln Christian Church held the 33rd Annual Harvest of Talents. Though the event is one day, the hard work and planning that goes into it takes place throughout the year.

HOT began in 1984 as a way to raise money for the International Disaster Emergency Services (IDES), which aids hunger victims around the world. In the past 32 years, the event has raised $2,028,392.44 with 100 percent of the proceeds going to IDES.

The Harvest of Talents features the hard work and talents of many who donate handcrafted items, hand-stitched quilts, original artwork, homemade sweet treats and pies, jams and jellies, herbs and vegetables, and gifts from around the world.

Hungry shoppers enjoyed cinnamon or pecan rolls in the morning and vegetable soup, BBQ beef sandwiches, fried potatoes and pie for lunch.

As people shopped, ate, and visited with many others at the Harvest of Talents, they were helping to raise funds that would help feed the hungry worldwide.




Carolyn Neal, part of the Harvest of Talents Ministry team said, "Every Harvest is a success by any measure, for God will use every offering of prayer, time, resources, and talent to answer the prayers of hurting and hungry people. We are blessed to be a Blessing ~ and Harvest food and meals are always served with the good news of Jesus Christ! Your ongoing support of the Harvest ministry is greatly appreciated as we all serve to be found faithful to Matthew 25:35 and I Peter 4:10."


Neal is very thankful for everyone who comes out to support the Harvest of Talents. She said, "Thank you so much for sharing the call for action ~ to purchase and donate potatoes and to be a flag-bearer and to help out however you can this week. You are all a part of something very special that's not about us, that is a Blessing in response to someone's prayer for food ... Let's each of us be the little boy who offered his small lunch to Jesus and see what he does with it!"

Those at the Harvest of Talents felt blessed to be a part of it.

Vera and Don Ramlow have been sharing their talents with the Harvest of Talents for over 30 years. They enjoy working with it and everything about it. Vera Ramlow said, "I would miss it if I could not help."



Barry King makes and repurposes many items and can turn almost anything into a lamp. King said, "When you use your God given talents, it feeds your spirit. Doing it to impact the world is powerful."

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Debbie Wheeler said she remembers the first Harvest of Talents being on her birthday. Her mom, who died in 1992, would always buy her a birthday present at the Harvest of Talents. Now her kids buy her something special and one year outbid her at the auction to buy an item she really wanted.



Holly Schurter recently moved to Lincoln and was at her first Harvest of Talents. Schurter said she was impressed by the variety and quality of items.



Gi Tanbunaan ministers in Indonesia and his country has benefited from the money raised for IDES on a number of occasions. Tanbunaan said the funds were helpful after the 2004 tsunami, as they served 28,000 people with relief work, food, clothing, shelter, counseling, and medical ministry.

IDES also helped after the 2006 Gogya earthquake with many of the same needs.

After the 2009 earthquake in west Java, funds helped rebuild 170 homes.

Tanbunaan is thankful for the money raised.

Sunday's celebration service began with a ceremony where people carried in flags representing nations around the world where Lincoln Christian Church supports missionaries.

IDES executive director Rick Jett preached a message on sharing good news linking loving action as a way of sharing the gospel.

At the celebration service members of the Harvest ministry team, Pat Snyder and Carolyn Neal, presented Jett with a check for $110,654.10, the highest amount ever raised. This money is part of the over $2 M raised in the 33 years of the Harvest of Talents and will bless many starving people throughout the world.

[Angela Reiners]

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