Outreach
Harvest’s outreach begins at home and stretches across the globe. While we are strong supporters of several overseas missionaries, we believe outreach needs to start here in our own community and in our own country. Harvest supports local ministries such as Options Pregnancy Center with our gifts of finances and volunteer service.
Harvest sends a team each year to the Standing Rock Reservation near Mobridge, South Dakota, where we partner with Sioux Assembly of God Church on the reservation. This past year Harvest also sent a team to Zaragoza, Mexico and a return trip is being planned for later this year. Harvest also supports several overseas missionaries and has sent out many of “our own” on short term trips. We are excited to see the many way’s God is working through Harvest as we seek to be a part of His mission!
Wakpala, SD Trip 2009
Our mission team took their 6th annual trip to the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota during the summer of 2009. The team participated in many areas–serving the people, preparing meals, tearing out flood-damaged drywall, conducting Vacation Bible School, teaching adult services, and playing with the area children. Our Youth Minister, Bill Gebhart, remained in Wakpala for two months to further build relationships.
Zaragoza, Mexico
Fall 2009 - Our 2nd team of 6 people recently returned from Zaragoza.
Spring 2009
The trip to Zaragoza by five men from Harvest proved to be an enjoyment to all. The church in Zaragoza was more than accommodating towards our team, and many of the members sacrificed much of their week to spend time in fellowship, work, and teaching. The team especially enjoyed all of the food prepared for us and touring the local rancherias, towns, and mountains.
The church soaked up Gary’s teaching, making it clear they are very teachable people who have a deep desire for God’s word. Groundwork was laid for the majority of the concrete work, some of which we were able to finish. This was definitely a blessing to the church, as it will provide a place for fellowship, general church gatherings, basketball, etc.
The members of the church were also very thankful for Harvest’s financial gift and truly wanted to use it how the Lord would see fit. Their decision was to use the money for some of the concrete work and to fund medical needs within the community.
This church in many ways is far more mature than our churches in America. When it comes to reaching out and taking care of individuals in their community, they don’t even hesitate, regardless if they are believers or a part of their church. They truly have a sense of compassion and love for those around them.
More than anything, this trip was a success on the side of relationship building. Our team thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the church as a whole, as well as specific leaders. The team was blessed and encouraged to see their hearts for God’s work and be active participants in it. We already feel a connection with this church and have some good ideas about future trips to this community and how we as a church can use our gifts to be useful to them.
It is a blessing to be a part of what God is doing in Zaragoza!
It is the desire of Harvest to follow the geographic pattern of Acts 1:8 in its missional outreach:
“in Jerusalem (locally), Judea and Samaria (regionally), and to the ends of the earth (globally).”