|
 Authors of the Bible use the word ‘generation’ 166
times throughout the scriptures. In the Old Testament, verses told
us of generations that were faithful and praised the Lord:
Psalm 102:18 (ESV) “Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:” and
Psalm 119:90 (NIV) “Your faithfulness continues through all
generations;
you established the earth, and it endures.”
The Harvest of Talents at Lincoln Christian Church is a perfect
example of generations who remain faithful and praise the Lord
through giving of their time and talents to help others less
fortunate. Partnering with International Disaster Emergency
Services, the Harvest of Talents has raised over $2,000,000 to
“share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, care for victims of natural
disasters, fund long and short-term hunger relief efforts, provide
nutritious meals for those in need, help people create a better
future by providing them with a ‘hand-up’ instead of a ‘hand-out,’
and provide medical supplies, equipment, prescription medications,
vitamins and other materials worldwide.”
Rich and Paula Knopp moved to Lincoln in 1982. The first Harvest of
Talents was the next year. Paula was not on the first leadership
team but has been a part of the ministry team since then. Her
parents participated year after year with her dad bringing his wood
crafts, which were usually part of the auction. The Knopp children,
Nicki Green, Katie Young, and Andy Knopp, all attend the Harvest.
Now, the grandchildren attend and invite their friends to attend.
Katie told a story about how when she started her business in
Springfield, she decided to start holding back a portion of her
income specifically to spend at the Harvest. Because they no longer
live in Lincoln, Rich said, “The Harvest, truly is, a family
homecoming for us.”
Carissa Bycroft Kutz and her mom, Flora Ventura-Bycroft have been
attending the Harvest together for years. Flora has donated several
quilts that have sold in the auction. Last year Carissa gave
quilting a go and her quilt sold at the auction putting both the
women in tears. Carissa’s son Stephen can be found at the Harvest
cheering on the ladies during the auction. They are hoping that next
year Carissa’s brother James will join them in Lincoln for the
Harvest weekend.
Tim and Tesha Woods have attended since the first one, so they have
a heart for the Harvest. Their sons, Jake, Justin, and Jaron grew up
at the Harvest. When asked why they thought it was important for the
boys to attend Tesha responded, “We love the tradition of the
Harvest. We come back every year for the food. We taught the boys
the heart behind it and that this is how we serve.”
Newlyweds, Haydn and Emily Sheley-Gerdts, have been
attending the Harvest all their lives. Emily remembers when there
used to be games and crafts and things for the children to buy
located in the basement of the church. Her mom would drop her off
and she would be busy for hours participating in every game, making
every craft, and buying whatever her money allotted her to buy.
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Haydn’s family lived in the
church parsonage when he was born. His dad, Tom Gerdts, was the
preaching minister at Lincoln Christian Church when Pat Snyder
approached him with the crazy idea to gather the talents of the
congregation to sell on the fourth Saturday of October and give
all the money raised to International Disaster Emergency
Services in Indiana.
For many years, Haydn’s grandma,
Mitzi Maynard, sent potatoes from her farm in South Dakota. Haydn
said, “She couldn’t afford to send all those potatoes, but her faith
convinced her to send them anyway. Those potatoes fed people from
Lincoln and all the way around the world.”
Haydn is well aware that intellect regarding religion is readily
available in the area. If you have a question about religion,
scripture, or philosophy all you have to do is ask someone from a
church or higher education facility. There is a plethora of
knowledge that is at your fingertips if you just ask someone.
The Harvest of Talents is the other side of the coin. It is the
creative part of religion that allows people to bake, craft, greet,
spend money, paint, grow potatoes, wherever their gift, talent, or
desire takes them. So, many can participate in Harvest of Talents in
anyway they are able.
Jane Ingram remembers the people that come back every year; families
that have moved away and come back because of the Harvest. She
remembers the conversations that happen all year about what people
are making. She remembers that Chan Fuller was the first auctioneer,
and he must have been overwhelmed because he didn’t know how to
handle the crowd. “When you go to a normal auction, you try to get
it (the item) for the lowest price possible. But when you come to
this auction you try to get it for the highest price possible.” Jane
remembers that the Harvest has made money from the very first one
and has grown year after year. Now when she attends the Harvest she
thinks, “Wouldn’t my mom love that? Or my dad would have appreciated
that/”
Thirty-nine years later the Harvest has changed from the first one.
There are events all year long and other Harvests have happened in
other areas. Everyone has their own expertise. Some people who make
the rolls, people who make the soup, and people that quilt all year.
So many stories, so little time! One thing that hasn’t changed is
the memories that are passed from generation to generation.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever!
Amen.
[Lisa Ramlow] |
