Harvest Ministry officially began in June of 1996. It became incorporated as a 501 c 3 non for profit organization in 1999.
TIM’S STORY
When I first began playing guitar in 6th grade, I had no idea what God had in store. During those early seasons, I was given opportunities to serve in the church using my gifts – for which I will always be grateful. From 6th grade on, I played guitar and sang for children’s church, youth group, and Sunday school classes in our church.
There were a couple of defining things that happened in my journey. Here they are in a nutshell:
1) My sophomore year, I attended a fall youth group retreat. I was mesmerized by the speaker for that event. I sensed a desire in my life to be a leader in the church in that way. I wanted to lead groups during special events like Hule Goddard did.
2) In my senior year of high school, our youth pastor invited a guy to do music at a youth group event. That night, I was inspired by the guy who led. He played pretty well and sang decently, but it wasn’t striking. I thought: if he can travel around doing music, I’m sure I could too. A couple of years later, I found out that this guy didn’t really “travel around” doing music but had been a friend of the youth pastor and just got roped into coming and singing one night. On a side note, I wonder if I’ve inspired anyone in a reverse way like this – “If he could do, certainly, I could.”
3) As I entered college, I sensed a call to ministry. Though the moment was defining and direction-setting, I had no idea what it would lead to. I didn’t desire to be a pastor but wanted to serve the church.
4) During my middle year of graduate school, I had another defining moment when I sensed God calling me to serve Illinois’s students and student leaders. Soon after this, Harvest Ministry came into existence. Initially called by different names—including Life to Life and Heartland Ministries—it eventually landed on Harvest Ministry Teams, which fits the mission perfectly: to raise up workers in the Harvest field.
5) After receiving an M.Div., I moved back to my home area and began serving on part-time staff at Troy Methodist Church. My connection there has been a powerful partnership for nearly two decades. I would venture to say that more students have been connected and influenced through special ministry events at Troy MC than any other church in Illinois (approximately 800-1200 students, children, and ministry leaders each year since 1996). We give God glory.
Doors have opened over the years for Harvest to serve in many different settings, for young adults to be on the team, and for lives to be changed. In addition to the summer team ministry, which catapulted Harvest into ministry, the ministry is year-round, serving as a worship team and ministry leaders for various events all over the Midwest. Harvest also plans and hosts ministry conferences partnering with churches around Illinois. In the last few years, we have offered resources to youth workers, pastors, worship leaders, and children’s ministry directors, including writing, videos, music, teaching, and training.
As I look ahead to the next decade, I realize that the call is still strong – to be a resource to the local church, serving in special ministry events and inviting kids to faith, students to a deeper commitment to Christ, and leaders to excellence in ministry. The time has come to build a ministry structure to do this effectively. Harvest has always relied on a team to serve on the road, and now we need to build a team to support this work from an administrative standpoint. I’m grateful for the faithful work and partnership of my wife, Suzanne, my daughters, who have not only been along for the ride but helped in major ways, and our team members, supporters, and prayer team, who keep things moving forward.
When I took a spiritual gifts test, the gift of apostleship always surfaced as one of my most vital qualities. Today’s mission for those with the gift of apostleship is to plant new ministries, go to places where the Gospel is not preached, raise up and develop leaders, call out and lead pastors and shepherds, and much more. They often have many different gifts that allow them to fulfill their ministry. These are leaders of leaders and ministers of ministers. They are influencers. They are typically entrepreneurial and can take risks and perform difficult tasks.
I want to be faithful to the call to serve the greater church. To raise up and equip leaders. It’s a huge task; it takes a team, and as we enter this new season of ministry, I’m excited about all God has in store!
I remember one week a few months back when I led a seminar for worship leaders on Saturday, led music for a local church on Sunday, flew out on Monday to speak with pastors for three days, and then flew back in time to speak for a regional children’s ministry expo. One week, three different groups, all within the heartbeat of my call—serving the church.
WHAT IS HARVEST?
Harvest Ministry is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt ministry with a mission to equip young adults for ministry while providing a resource to the church. In short, our mission is to help the church make disciples.
What began as a summer ministry team 20 years ago has turned into a full-time, year-round ministry that meets with thousands of children, students, and leaders in various conferences, retreats, and events each year.
For example, since the beginning of 2016, we have recorded new music, new training videos, and new kids motions songs videos.. We have led leadership retreats for church leadership teams, provided resources for ministry leaders, and spoken with pastors, youth pastors, and worship leaders. We have hosted six conferences for children and teenagers. We have been to churches serving as worship leaders. We have partnered with 35 young adults to help in the process of ministry to kids and students. It’s been an amazing year, and it’s just getting started. We give God all the glory as we look back on past milestones. It gives us confidence to move forward!
MY CALL
If I were working on a section of the “kingdom wall,” it would be to keep serving the church in this region of the country. I love to speak to youth workers, students, and pastors. I love to lead music at camps, churches, and special events. I think it’s awesome to write songs for kids, record music for worship, and create training material. I love designing and hosting discipleship conferences. I enjoy writing ministry leadership blogs and resources. I have a heart for working with young adults in ministry.
This role that God has called me to is my part in building the wall – reaching the goal of kingdom work, the Great Commission! And I’m inviting you to join me.
