|
 Luncheon fare will include homemade vegetable soup
cooked outside in large black kettles, served alongside sandwiches
and homemade pies. Featured will be the sale of hundreds of
one-of-a-kind handmade items. A variety of activities will be held
during the day, including outside musical entertainment. Highlight
of the event will be a 2 p.m. auction of quilts, photography,
furniture, needlework, repurposed items, jewelry, seasonal crafts
and a variety of other handmade items.
On Sunday morning, a check representing proceeds of the 2018 Harvest
will be presented to Rick Jett, Executive Director of International
Disaster Emergency Service, a Christian organization based in
Noblesville, IN., as part of a celebration service to be held in the
Earl C Hargrove Chapel on the campus of Lincoln Christian
University. In its 34 years of existence the Harvest Ministry has
raised $2,239,735.82 to provide food for the hungry in 28 countries,
including the USA.
Carolyn Neal, Chairperson for the Harvest of Talents Ministry has
announced that former long time pastor of the Lincoln Church, Tom
Gerdts, will be guest speaker for the Harvest Celebration Service.
Mr. Gerdts was born and reared in Huron, South Dakota, where he
attended Dakota Bible College. Upon graduation from there (1976)
with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Ministries, he began a ten-year
preaching ministry with the Church of Christ in Martinton, Illinois.
While there, he also attended Lincoln Christian Seminary in Lincoln,
Illinois, and graduated with the Master of Divinity Degree in New
Testament (1982). From 1986 to 2001, he served as Preaching Minister
of Lincoln Christian Church in Lincoln, Illinois. From 2001 to 2005,
he served as Minister of Adult Discipleship in that congregation.
From 2005 to 2018, he served as Lead Minister of Rockingham
Christian Church in Salem, New Hampshire.
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Tom has been married to Karen (Maynard) Gerdts since 1975. Karen
is an educator who has served in various capacities as teacher and educational
consultant. Together they have five grown children -- Eric (wife Rochelle), Cory
(wife Emily), Abby, Haydn, and Brady (wife Emily) -- and five grandchildren.
Tom’s volunteer involvements have included: member of Kiwanis
International (about 20 years); trustee of Lincoln Christian College and
Seminary, now Lincoln Christian University (about twelve years); founding
advisor for the Living Alternatives Crisis Pregnancy Center in Lincoln; and
board member for the Alexander Christian Foundation of Illinois (about ten
years). His hobbies include reading, running and other sports (watching and
participating), and enjoying his family.
Gene Shepherd, Minister of the Lincoln Church at the inception of the Harvest of
Talents Ministry in 1984, and now retired and living in California, will also
participate in the Sunday morning service, presiding over the communion and
offering meditation/prayers.
The public is invited to attend the 10:00 a.m. Celebration Service in the Earl C
Hargrove Chapel on the Campus of Lincoln Christian University.
[Pat Snyder
The Harvest of Talents for World Hunger] |
