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Harvest of Talents celebrates
another year of gifts being greatly multiplied to feed the hungry
[October 27, 2026]
Sunday, October 25, Lincoln
Christian Church held a Harvest of Talents celebration during all
three worship services.
The service began with songs led by members of the worship team.
During the communion meditation, Brad Neal said Jesus shared his
last meal with the disciples, he took the bread and said, “this is
my body.” In God’s story with his people throughout the Bible Neal
reflected on God providing manna and oil and Jesus being the bread
of life.
As the body of Christ, Neal said the church should serve like Jesus
served. “We celebrate God’s providence as we share this meal.
Harvest of Talents is the union of the bread and body as it raises
money to help deliver bread to people through members of the body of
Christ.”
At offering time, a video was shown
with International Disaster Emergency Services staff member Lucy
Lamar, whose grandma Nelda Seefeldt was part of the first H.O.T.
ministry team. Lamar talked about a family in Africa who was helped
by IDES. The little girl in the video is now attending school where
she is learning how to read and write.
Harvest of Talents Co-Chair Bethany Henry thanked everyone for
praying and attending the event. When people ask, “what do I have to
offer,” Henry said we are each invited to do what we can do and
offer.
Co-Chair Natalie Morris reported that on Saturday, through the God
Always Provides food packing program, 14,154 meals were packed. IDES
will distribute food packages around the world in emergency crisis
situations so people can be fed.
In addition, Morris said, “your harvest efforts throughout the year
will serve an additional 255,062 meals because the offering raised
by the 43rd Harvest of Talents is $114,778.01.” She then offered the
check to IDES Executive Director David Stine.
After Morris announced the amount, the congregation sang “Praise God
from whom All Blessings Flow.”
Stine talked about the passion IDES
has for people. He said in Myanmar, where there has been a
multi-year civil war and numerous natural disasters, the help and
food provided through IDES gives hope to the people there.
In Tanzania, Africa, Stine said
once a week, 250 young people gather and get a breakfast and lunch.
These meals are probably the only fruits and vegetables they will
get the entire week, and it is probably the only time their bellies
are full as well. The kids walk a long time to get there and hear
the gospel. He said what the church has done through Harvest of
Talents has made an eternal impact.
The light shines like the brightness of a new day sun in the
darkness. Stine thanked everyone for shining a light in the
darkness. He said hundreds of thousands of lives have been touched
through the millions of dollars raised by the Harvest of Talents in
43 years and thanked everyone for what they do for the kingdom.
Lincoln Christian Church’s Lead
Pastor Ron Otto provided the day’s message. He began by talking
about IDES and how great their work is as they feed starving
children and provide emergency services. IDES approach their
ministry and finances in a Godly way.
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Regarding Lincoln Christian
Church and the Harvest of Talents, Otto reminded everyone God
deserves all the glory. As Psalm 29:2 states, “Ascribe to the
Lord the glory due his name, worship the Lord in the splendor of
his holiness.” Otto said for the past thirteen years, the
Harvest of Talents has brought in six figure offerings.
Otto is proud of the H.O.T. ministry team and how much has been
raised, but said when people are fed, we want them praising God.
It is not about us getting glory.
God led the Israelites through the wilderness with a large
pillar of clouds by day and pillar of fire by night guiding and
protecting them. When the Israelites reached the Red Sea, the
Egyptians were bearing down on them. With God’s help, Moses
raised his staff and the Red Sea parted so the Israelites could
cross and he told everyone the Lord was fighting for them
Before the waters were parted, Exodus 14:19-20 says, “then the
angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army,
withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved
from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies
of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought
darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither
went near the other all night long.”
Next, the Lord looked down the from
the pillar of fire and cloud and threw the Egyptians into confusion
jamming the wheels of their chariots, so it was hard to drive. The
Egyptians then wanted to get away from the Israelites because they
realized the Lord was fighting for the Israelites against Egypt.
The Lord told Moses to stretch out his hand so the waters would flow
back over the Egyptians, their chariots and horsemen.. Not one
Egyptian survived when the waters closed in on them. Otto said God
was with and in the clouds and fire going before the Israelites.
We don’t always realize how often God stands between us and what
Satan is trying to do. Everyone has disappointments, grief and
suffering, but there are moment Satan plans attacks on our faith,
health or family. Otto said God can keep Satan from bringing
something really dark into our lives. God fights for us.
In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehosophat and his country fasted and
prayed when raiders were coming to attack their armies. 2 Chronicles
20:17 says, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your
positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give
you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”
Once their enemies were wiped out, the Israelites collected the
plunder left behind and gave God all the glory. Otto said we also
need to give God the glory for everything the Harvest team does and
for all IDES does to help people. Jesus is our pillar of cloud and
fire out ahead of us doing things we cannot imagine.
The worship team led the
congregation in the closing song “To God be the Glory” followed by a
benediction by Otto thanking God for what he is able to multiply
through the Harvest of Talents. He ended by praying the people
helped through the money raised will be drawn to God.
Harvest of Talents
fundraising total announcement video
[Angela Reiners]
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