On Fall Harvest plans

I had been away for a couple of weekends, first with youth camping in the wild, then with the conference-wide convocation “camping” in the urban jungle, meanwhile thinking about summer vacation and the fall programming we must do. This year, especially after the long winter and cold rainy spring, it seems that people are taking whole summer off to themselves. I looked over our programming from the years before and we had events happening in June and July with full house in attendance. This year it is hard to get people in-doors.

We had done great “sowing” in the spring through setting the pace for worship, considering the radical roots of Christian mission in the book of Acts, calling for personal commitment to live those four basic practices of learning, caring, hospitality and praying. We have set the bar higher with the call to Radical Living, and you will hear more Biblical teachings on various aspects of Christ in us, the hope of Glory. And as we take this summer vacation, let’s not forget those we have been praying for, those we are leading to Christ.

This summer Community Services continues caring for people’s needs. Vacation Bible School starts next week and will be the greatest ever experience, presenting Jesus to scores of kids. As you go about your personal business remember the Radical Friendship principles of being yourself, enjoying what you love to do, and letting God use you as the tool for witness. May the Fruit of the Spirit – the Love expressed as Joy be the “hook” for all you meet to introduce them to Jesus as the Master of your life.

Every time I see green licence plate with the wheat sheaf I recall the days I worked on the farm in Saskatchewan. We toiled hard and fast in the spring to get crops in. For the summer we took off to the West coast for R&R, other work, and family. But before we would come back in the fall to harvest we had to visit the farm a couple of times to spray crops, to get maintenance work done. While it is God Almighty who make things grow, who sets the weather, who adds people to His Church, we are called to labour in the field.

I invite you to get ready for the harvest this fall. In September as we welcome students back Christopher Bassaragh will do a two week revival series for youth and teens, students bringing in their friends. Throughout October we would invest extra energy into friendship building to invite people to two special weeks in November –

5-12 – Praying for our friends

18-27 – understanding prophecies for the last days.

As you enjoy the summer, pray for harvest, pray that the Lord would set you in his field for mighty harvest.