Harvest of Talents raises record amount for disaster aid around the world

[October 30, 2015]   LINCOLN - Lincoln Christian Church held the 32nd Annual Harvest of Talents on October 24, 2015. The one day event is worked toward all year. It features the best work of many hands - handcrafted items, hand-stitched quilts, artwork, homemade sweet treats and pies, jams and jellies, herbs and vegetables, and gifts from mission fields around the world.

HOT began in 1984 as a way to raise money for the International Disaster Emergency Services (IDES), which aids hunger victims around the world. The event has raised $2,028,392.44 in the past 32 years with 100 percent of the proceeds going to IDES. Ron Otto, senior minister at Lincoln Christian Church says, "IDES is a Christian benevolent organization whose reputation in disaster situations has been above reproach, and we not only trust them, we are blessed to join them in shared ministry." Gary Finley, who works with IDES says, "Your harvest offering can change a life. Together we can change the world."

As the afternoon auction began, Carolyn Neal, part of the Harvest of Talents ministry team said, "Harvest of Talents is done with lots of help" as so many people are willing to lend a hand. This year was especially poignant as several "Friends of the Harvest" who helped over the years have died in recent months.

Deb Parker said that many of the church's youth sponsors served with this ministry (H.O.T.) in the early years. This year, Gene Shepherd, who ministered at the church at the time Harvest of Talents began, suggested that they should "rally the old youth group together to show sponsors that we learned our lesson about service well."
A special account was set up online to help raise money for IDES.

With the blessing of the sponsors, Parker set up a H.O.T. sponsors page on Facebook where members shared pictures and stories from throughout the years, and then donate money to honor the sponsors.

By last week, the page had just raised just over half of the $8,000 goal, but Parker sent out one last challenge. Parker announced at the beginning of Saturday's auction that $11,104.50 was raised.

At the auction, nearly 100 handcrafted items were sold to the highest bidder. The afternoon began with the "Firstfruits" of a four-year old girl and ended with a "final offering" of a little jar of strawberry jam. Neal said, "It represents our gratitude for 32 years of labors of love given by Friends of the Harvest who left for heaven this year . . .the quilts, the rolls, the pies, the aluminum recycling, the jams, and the jelly, the hours of time, and the prayers they shared. We'll miss them, but are encouraged and inspired by the young Harvesters coming behind them."

Sunday was the Harvest of Talents Celebration Service. In the morning's message, Wayne Shaw said that Matthew's gospel is the greatest handbook on discipleship ever written. He correlated the book's message, the need to share with "the least of these" and "make disciples of all nations" as we take the message of hope and grace to the world. Shaw said the Harvest of Talents has blessed so many around the world.

At the celebration service, members of the Harvest ministry team, Pat Snyder and Carolyn Neal, presented IDES director Rick Jett with a check for $110,645.50. This money, which is part of the over two million raised in the 32 years of the Harvest of Talents will bless many people throughout the world as it provides aid to the hungry.

[Angela Reiners]