The Harvest of Talents ministry of Lincoln Christian
Church (LCC) celebrated a milestone and a new record on Sunday
morning at LCC.
The 40th annual Harvest of Talents for World Hunger
raised a record $127,019.21 during this year’s Harvest fundraisers.
The funds from the 2023 Harvest amount bring the
40-year total to $2,890,671.16 raised for disaster relief and hunger
elimination around the world.
The Harvest of Talents for World Hunger was founded by Pat Snyder 40
years ago after listening to a sermon about the problem of world
hunger by then LCC preacher Gene Shepherd. Her response to the
sermon was, “So what are we going to do about it?” and the idea for
the Harvest of Talents was born.
The Harvest of Talents was created with the belief
that every person has a gift or a talent that can be used to help
others and to glorify God. “Harvesting” these talents by providing
opportunities for people to volunteer and to donate their time,
creations, and resources is the core of this ministry.
All money raised on Harvest day (the fourth Saturday
of October) and other Harvest of Talents events throughout the year
goes to International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES), based in
Noblesville, Indiana whose five main Focus Areas are evangelism,
disaster response, hunger relief, community development, and medical
care. One hundred percent of the Harvest of Talents donations then
go to these priorities both in the United States and in countries
around the world. No money is kept by either group for
administrative expenses; All goes to help and support people in
crisis situations. The mission of both ministries is to meet
physical and spiritual needs and alleviate physical and spiritual
hunger throughout the world in Jesus’ name.
The announcement of this year’s total raised was part of the Sunday
morning services at Lincoln Christian Church, which were led by the
staff of IDES.
After a welcome from LCC preaching minister Ron Otto
and a prayer offered by IDES Spiritual Care Director Gary Finley, a
video featuring Harvest of Talents team member Angela Rogers (and
ministry partner who distributed IDES aid while a missionary in
central Africa), Pastor Otto, and founder Pat Snyder explained the
origin and purpose of the Harvest of Talents and the work of IDES.
Following worship songs led by IDES staff, Jeff Greene, Advancement
Director of IDES, offered the Communion Meditation. He told the
story of an IDES ministry partner in India who faces persecution for
his faith yet still serves his community and distributes food to
those faced with hunger.
Nancy Jett, wife of Rick Jett, Executive Director of
IDES for many years who passed away earlier this year, offered
insights into the IDES ministry via video. She stated that
“tragedies create opportunities for ministry.”
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The highly anticipated announcement of the amount of
money raised from this year’s Harvest of Talents came midway through
the service. Harvest director Carolyn Neal presented a fish-shaped
coin bank like those distributed to LCC children to IDES Executive
Director David Stine as a symbol of the efforts to train children in
giving and caring for those in need so that the good work of the
ministry may continue. The announcement of the record funds raised
this year was met with great joy and the singing of the Doxology
which begins with the words, “Praise God from whom all blessings
flow.” The announcement was tempered with sadness as Neal remembered
founder Pat Snyder who passed away suddenly in August, but felt
confident Snyder was rejoicing in heaven and meeting people who had
been helped by the ministry she started.
Stine delivered the morning’s message and provided an
overview of the Harvest of Talents partnership with IDES and of
IDES’ ministry. He remarked that the first Harvest of Talents 40
years ago raised $17,204 which, adjusted for inflation, would be
$51,000 today. The Harvest “did not start as a trickle, but with
full-steam from the beginning.” IDES’ goal from the beginning has
always been to address long-term hunger and, therefore, it feeds
hungry people in some of the most desperate places. In 2023 alone,
IDES has provided over 12 million meals around the world and kept
many people from starving.
Stine pointed out that the Harvest of Talents has not just grown in
size as a ministry but has also birthed other Harvests at other
churches when people have visited LCC’s Harvest day and taken the
idea home to their own congregations. The combined total raised of
all Harvests is close to $6,000,000. Just this year over 255,000
people have been impacted by funds raised through the Harvests of
Talents. IDES uses the funds to care for physical needs and aims to
create a spiritual hunger for God.
Pastor Otto closed the service with a prayer of
blessing for all those who will receive funds raised by the Harvest
of Talents. The next Harvest of Talents event is a Cookie Walk on
December 9 at Lincoln Christian Church, which will begin the
fundraising efforts for the 41st annual Harvest scheduled for
October 26, 2024.
[Stephanie Hall] |
