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 On October 27, 1984, the first Harvest of Talents
for World Hunger became a reality. Pat Snyder, along with her
committee, took to heart the command of I Peter 4:10 which reads,
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (New
International Version).
Since that first Harvest, the special event has taken on the fourth
Saturday of October every year. Several things have changed since
1984: Snyder has handed over the leadership of the committee to
Carolyn Neal, events for the Harvest take place all year instead of
just one day, committee members have come and gone, and the Talents
event has outgrown the church building to include different food
booths in the parking lot, Garden Walks, Holiday Home Tours, Lincoln
YMCA sponsored 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run, and more.
One thing has not changed, that is the commitment to help feed the
hungry. One out of every eight people worldwide don’t get enough
food to eat, including 34 million children who suffer from severe
malnutrition. Therefore, Harvest of Talents gives 100 percent of the
funds raised to hunger programs and orphanages to meet hunger needs,
both physical and spiritual.
This year, the 34th Annual Harvest of Talents for World Hunger
presented a check to International Disaster Emergency Services of
Noblesville, IN, a check in the amount of $100,689.28 during a
Sunday morning Celebration Service held in the Earl C. Hargrove
Chapel on the campus of Lincoln Christian University. This makes the
total donated to I.D.E.S. over the last 34 years $2,239,735.82.
“No matter how small your 'all' might seem to you, little becomes
much when you place it in the Master’s hand” (Hall, 1977).
Our work, however, is not done. There are still 815 million people
who still go to bed hungry every night. Romans 12: 6-8 tells us, “We
have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If
your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your
faith; it if is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving,
then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is
to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” (New International Version)
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So, no matter what your talent or
skill: prayer, original artwork, baking, canning, gardening,
hospitality, recycling, running, cleaning, also in eating,
building, or playing golf, etc., God can use you to help feed
hungry people. It’s not too early to start praying about what
you might do for Harvest of Talents 2018.
“What you have may not seem much, but when you yield it to
the touch of the Master’s loving hand then you will understand
how your life could never be the same” (Hall, 1977).
'Ordinary People' by Danniebelle Hall recorded on the 1977 album
“Let Me Have a Dream”:
Just ordinary people
God uses ordinary people
He chooses people just like me and you
Who are willing to do as He commands
God uses people that will give Him all
No matter how small your all may seem to you
Because little becomes much as you place it in the Master's hand
Just like that little lad
Who gave Jesus all he had
How the multitude was fed
With the fish and the loaves of bread
What you have may not seem much
But when you yield it to the touch
Of the Master's loving hand
Then you will understand how your life could never be the same
Just ordinary people
God uses ordinary people
He chooses people just like me and you
Who are willing to do everything that He commands
God uses people that will give Him all
No matter how small your all may seem to you
Because little becomes much as you place it in the Master's hand
Oh, yes, your little becomes much as you place it in the
Master's hand.
[Lisa Ramlow] |
