"David perceived the Lord was with him." What would it be like to perceive the Lord is with me through all the mundane chores of the day such as diaper changes, bottle washings, and cleaning baby spit-up? What would it mean to perceive the Lord was with me through all moments of my day?

In searching for ministry or volunteer opportunities, it is often easy to overlook some of the organizations that happen to be located right in your backyard. In early 2008, as the TGIF and Oasis community groups were looking for local ministries to volunteer at, the organization known as Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) surfaced, mainly through positive word of mouth from other community groups' at Harvest. At that time, I did not think much of it and was completely oblivious to FMSC's location, which is right down the street from where I live. Upon looking further into this opportunity, our groups decided that this would be an ideal place for all of our community group members to participate in.

In looking back, I am truly grateful for FMSC's ministry as I think everyone who volunteered that one Saturday morning can attest to not only the joys of being able to pre-package food for those children starving around the world but also the group bonding experience associated with it. The packing station was similar to an assembly line where each of us had a defining role in the process and where our individual contributions led to a common outcome. It was amazing how many packages of food we, and other volunteer groups, prepared for shipment by noon. As I reflected on the experience, it became clear to me how our distinct roles that day resembles the unique talents and gifts that God blessed us with in reaching out to the lost and in furthering His kingdom. We each serve different purposes in God's eyes with that same eternal focus.

The next time there is a call for ministry or volunteer work, one of the best places to look is right in your own neighborhood. This may be why God placed you there in the first place.

Jack Liu
Community Group Leader

It was the evening of St. Patrick’s Day and as I walked out of Hans & Susie’s building into some brisk weather, I felt like I was falling in love with our church all over again. Our staff had just gathered for our quarterly fellowship, a time when we get together with our families and just hang out together (no shop talk, just friendship). We decided to do a St. Patrick’s theme dinner. It was a night of great food with great friends and I was in high spirits.

Driving home, I was reflecting on what a great team of people God has given me to work with. I genuinely love these people and I know I’d be friends with them even if we didn’t work together. I don’t think our chemistry is just because we’re all so much alike. Rather I think the key is in how readily we show grace and sacrifice for one another. I think that has kept us close over the years. I’m not just saying that to be pastoral—I really see it that way.

I also started to think about how the way I feel about our staff extends to the way I feel about our leaders at Harvest. We have a team of over 60 people who are actively leading or in apprenticeship. Because we do so much together as friends, I don’t look at our leaders as ministry resources but as real people—my friends. I can live with the work being impeded for various reasons, but I get very burdened if our friendships ever sour.

Sitting here two weeks after St. Patrick’s Day writing this blog post, I can think of so many others at Harvest who are not in leadership but still such a vital part of my life. I think of all the football games, amusement park outings, hospital visits, weddings, meals, road trips, funerals, and other events we’ve shared together. I think of all the ways we’ve opened our lives to one another, sharing each other’s burdens and triumphs. One of my greatest joys about serving at Harvest is that the people here are not just my parishioners – they are my friends.

Do you see a pattern emerging here? I think what I love so much about Harvest is that this is where some of my best friends on this earth are. It’s the church I'd attend even if I weren’t a pastor here. That has always been the thing that has made my 14 years here so deeply satisfying. It’s the reason why I can honestly see myself serving and living and laughing and crying with these people for the rest of my life.

Dave Lee
Lead Pastor

Picture yourself taking a walk in a forest preserve. It is a sunny, comfortably warm day. You start out on a narrow gravel path. The grass alongside the path is freshly green and scattered with tiny white and purple wild-flowers. As you move into the forest, you begin to notice a variety of trees. Some look old and gnarled. Others are saplings that bend and sway in the light breeze. There are all sizes and shapes and varieties.

Ahead you hear the sound of water babbling in a stream. As you walk, the sound gets louder and you know you are getting closer. The path curves and suddenly in front of you, you see a tree that represents your life. What do you see?

What about the height…the trunk…the bark…the branches…the leaves…the roots…the fruit or seed pods?

What do you see?

So a good friend and I were walking along what seemed to be the very graveled path that was pictured above. It was a sunny and beautiful day. The light breeze accompanied our conversation and as I was trying to imagine what type of tree my life represented, I realized that I was a little more consumed by how others saw that tree rather than how I viewed it.

I was able to figure out what I thought my tree looked like; it didn’t take very long. I knew exactly what it looked like. Yet when it dawned on me that the very tree that I may point out myself to be may very well be different from that of another person’s perspective, it didn’t make me feel very good. I wish I could justify some level of humility by saying “yeah, well…they’re just being too nice, it may appear to them that my tree looks a little more put together, but it’s really not…”.

Or to the other end of the spectrum of agreeing that “yes, they are right, it is uglier than I had hoped…”

How authentic am I, really?

For many months, as I drove southbound on route 53, there was an enormous billboard with a very attractive looking Jesus with the sunset hitting his brow at the perfect angle with his arms reached out and trying to hug all the cars rushing by. The words “Authentic Jesus” was emblazoned across the entire width of the board. When I finally realized that it had been up there for quite some time before noticing it, I have to admit, I drove by thinking “how cheesy”. That was the first thought that came and went. I was driving way too fast to even give it a second thought. Weeks later, a second thought came to my mind. “How does this one phrase, actually, not even a phrase, a description, capture the hearts of the thousands of cars rushing by and penetrate their souls at all? This so doesn’t give justice to the message they are trying to impart…shouldn’t they at least have a verse or something to help convey what this all is supposed to mean to someone who doesn’t know who Jesus is?”

I was so wrong.

Another few weeks later, glancing at it for probably the hundredth time, I wondered something new. I wondered, “what if someone driving by had never encountered the Jesus that I know. What if all they have been introduced to was a counterfeit or worse, what if all the believers in their lives show no authenticity to who they really are, therefore they would never equate the word authentic to Jesus.” So this made me think.

How do my actions set me apart from the rest of the world to show that an authentic Jesus lives in me? If someone who has yet to meet Jesus face to face encounters me in the grocery line, or the drive-through, or the post office, will they ever know? Does my life bear any resemblance to an authentic Jesus? When a good friend receives a promotion, am I genuinely blessed or secretly envious? When I walk into an immaculately clean home, am I secretly listing reasons why it can’t be possible for me? When Elizabeth heard that Mary’s womb housed the future Messiah instead of hers, was she genuinely happy for her? I believe she was.

Samantha Lee
Mothers Raising our Children

“Where can I serve?”

“Harvest already seems to be well run and all the places I can volunteer seem to be filled”

“I don’t really have the time”

“I live too far”

“What skills do I really have that the church can use?”

These are some of the thoughts that went through my mind when I first started considering volunteering in some way at Harvest. Ok, I admit it, they can also be considered excuses, but they seemed legitimate at the time. The excuses would swirl around in my mind, sometimes at the forefront and at other times in the back, but they were always there.

One day, I went to the Harvest website, the one prior to the one we have today. No offense to those who created it, but I found myself frustrated with it. Some may say the same about the current site, but that’s another story. The site hadn’t been updated for over a year at that point. I wanted to complain and vent to someone and that’s when God convicted me.

The new thought that entered my mind was, “If you’re so passionate about this, why don’t you work on it?” Not too long afterward, I heeded the call and joined the web team; members of whom I later discovered shared my same frustrations.

Little did I know that that there would be some great joys and deep sorrows in joining the web team. We worked hard on the site and grew close as a team. We toiled for some time when the leader of the team, David Jun, tragically passed away with his wife Hannah on vacation. We as a team regrouped and renewed our efforts and when we finished the new website, we dedicated it to memory of David and Hannah. There was much to celebrate when we launched the new site, it had a new look and the information was more useful and more importantly, we honored our friend.

We still get feedback such as:

“I found your church because of the website!”

“I’m glad I’m able listen to the sermon that I missed online.”

“What was the date of that upcoming event? Oh yeah, it’s on the site…”

These are just a few of blessings that I have been able to be a part of, just by listening to God speak that one day. So, what is frustrating you about Harvest? Pastor Dave has mentioned several times that we are far from being a perfect church, so you can’t say “nothing”. Let me rephrase the question for you, “What new adventures does God have in store for you, if you are willing and heed the call?”

Brian Kim

Web Team

Early in my life, God brought me to a place where all I could do was to trust and obey Him. When things are going well, I thank God. At the same time, I ask God to grant me the faith to have the same joy and thankfulness even in times when things may not go well (at least not going well according to my narrow perspective on life). After all, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is not any less of a God because I don’t get my way, and He’s not more of a God because things do go my way. He is the same God who loves us beyond compare regardless of life's circumstances. He sent His only Son to die on our behalf. I can't see how could we ever question His love for us?

Am I willing to trust and obey? That was the question I asked myself back in 2007 when I was invited to join the Women’s Ministry Team. Immediately, I came up with a list of reasons why I could not serve in that capacity. I was at a point in my life where I wanted to take a step back from serving the church as I felt stretched in many directions. I was also not so keen on putting myself in a place of leadership where there is a higher level of scrutiny. Moreover, I was uncertain about the other two ladies in the team. I wasn’t very close to one and I didn’t even know that the other even attended Harvest!

I had every reason to turn down the opportunity, but the more I thought about it the more I realized all the reasons were about me. I was reminded of God’s faithfulness in my life and my responsibility to trust and obey Him. After much prayer and reflection, I willingly accepted the opportunity. I had to make some practical adjustments in my life like stepping down from Children’s Ministry and mROC so that I could devote my time to Women’s Ministry.

I also had a conversation with God. I said, “God, help me to do my very best. If things go well, may You be glorified. If at times things don’t go well, help me to find peace in knowing that I’ve done my best and not allow Satan to discourage me. Rather, help me to learn from my mistakes and do better next time. Help me not to take things personally but to trust in You and obey that this is Your calling for me at this time.”

Once again, God has proven Himself to be faithful! What a privilege, honor and a blessing it has been to serve in the Women’s Ministry. What I would’ve had missed out had I not trusted and obeyed Him. It has been such a joy and a blessing to serve with the women of Harvest through WOW and planning events and retreats as we reached up, across and out. It’s amazing to see God at work as He brings women of all ages with different background and individual, God-given talent to work together to accomplish things that we cannot do alone for His will and purpose. There definitely were challenges along the way, but the challenges brought us closer to God and as sisters in Christ. I especially thank God for the beautiful friendships that have formed within the team. I am excited for all that God has planned for Harvest, especially through the Women’s Ministry! This experience has solidified my confidence in God and all that He can do through each of us as we trust and obey in saying, “Yes, Lord. I am Your servant, ready to serve!”

Trust and Obey
John H. Sam­mis, 1887

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
(Refrain)

But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
(Refrain)

Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
(Refrain)

...is something all of us ask everyday, especially in tough situations.

It is hard to imagine that I have been involved in women’s ministry for 3 years. I struggled with feeling accepted by women my whole life, always feeling like an outsider. So, imagine my surprise when I was approached by Jen Carlson in 2007 to join women’s ministry. But God knew why – He knew what I needed to experience and what was to happen at Harvest the next couple of years.

Leadership often involves hard work along with ups and downs, but what we tend to forget about are the many blessings that we are privileged to experience as a result of it. The biggest for me has to be the sisterhood that has developed among the women of the team. When God put the three of us together in 2007, we didn’t know what to expect. We were three different women coming from three very different places in life. I knew that there were walls built up between myself and one others and uncertainty with where I stood with the other. But now I can confidently say that I love these women with all of my heart and can’t imagine my life without them!

2007 was tough for this ministry. We felt like we were rebuilding it from the ground up. We needed a new plan that covered our goals, a budget, and a course of action for why we were going to do what we do. Who were we to do that? So, we talked every week, seriously for like at least 3 hours a call (husbands had to be annoyed) and met what felt like all the time. But it all came together as we sought the Lord through prayer and then something also happened in 2007 that changed my life altogether.

The loss of a child is something that happens everyday to so many expecting women and I thought I escaped that statistic. But for some reason God had different plans. Honestly, the struggle was hard and I did not think I would recover from it. How as His servant, could this happen? Hearing the tears from my team members, I felt their love and sharing of my pain. Their actions to protect me and help me after that will never be forgotten. I don’t know what I would have done if I were not on the team or a part of this special sisterhood during that time. As a result of this experience, God opened many doors and allowed a bond to happen with many women that wouldn’t have happened to me otherwise.

How does this connect to women’s ministry? If three women who live in totally different locations, in different stages of life, different circle of friends and different perspectives on most things can come together to not only serve Him but become One in Christ, then there is nothing God can’t do. Women will always have walls or superficial lines that may separate them from each other, but as a child of God, you are not separated from His love. That love can conquer and supersede all differences. Why should we miss out on the blessings that God has in store for us? Look around you, there are women around that may surprise you and end up being true sisters for life. That is our hope for the women of Harvest. I know now, that He used our friendship through the ministry team to remind us of who He is and what He can do, so that we may be inspired to continue to make that possible among the women of Harvest and ultimately for His children everywhere.

Jen Cho
Women's Ministry

Lately, I've been feeling the encouragement from the spirit to get more involved in community affairs. For most of my life, I have not been a political guy and preferred not to consume myself in it. However, after witnessing the 2008 presidential race, I've been a lot more motivated to get involved in community issues than before. Even though I'm a single voice, I feel like it's important to be aware and take a stand on political issues, especially when dealing with such hot topics such as sanctity of life, governmental spending, definition of marriage, etc. I felt a strong conviction that I wasn't "doing my part" either as a Christian or a citizen of the USA.

This revelation occurred to me during this past year's presidential race. Throughout the race, I was always eager to listen to radio talk shows about the candidates, read political blogs, and tune into all sorts of media outlets. I was experiencing information overload! I was never like this before! Honestly, I shied away from political talk shows and any thing politics related in the past. To me, it was a bunch of mumbo jumbo and I felt it didn't affect my life.

Now, I have a greater regard and appreciation for US politics as well as International politics. (Not gonna change careers or anything) From the presidential race, I actually identified with a candidate who I greatly appreciated and respected, Governor Mike Huckabee, who is also a devout Christian and former Pastor. I admire this guy so much for his valiant run for the White House! He was a total dark horse from the beginning, and almost received the Republican nomination. He campaigned with truth, honesty, deep compassion and conviction. In my opinion, he didn't get involved too much with mud-slinging political antics. During a business trip, I found out that he wrote a book. When I heard he wrote a book titled, Mike Huckabee - Do the Right Thing, it really piqued my interest! So, I bought the book from the airport and began reading it. If you haven't heard of his book, the basic premise he promotes throughout the book is the philosophy of "Vertical politics".

Huckabee illustrates how much our government is mostly about the debate between the Left and the Right, Liberal and Conversative, Democrat or Republican, etc. But, most Americans see things more on the Vertical scale - will we go up or down, better or worse - and care far more about childrens' future prosperity than about where they fall in the political spectrum.

He states, "Vertical thinking requires us to determine if things are better or worse. Hard-core horizontal thinkers usually determine better or worse by whether things are going left or right - if they're winning the game... true betterment can be more objectively determined on the vertical scale. It's objective. And it's practical. If fewer people are getting murdered, robbed, burglarized, or assaulted, I think it's safe to say that by anyone's standards, whether left or right, things are up."

What I learned from all this is to "get involved" with the community. This means to volunteer, to be proactive in community affairs, keep abreast of domestic as well as global issues, and express my opinions on issues I care about.

Sang Yoon
Community Group Coach

It’s January 20th today--just about the time most of us are seeing our new year’s resolutions faltering. Some of them may have had to do with exercising more, eating better, or wasting less time. They end up being good intentions that just don’t make it to reality, for very long.

My Christian journey has often been stuck in that struggle between noble intentions and tangible action. Through the Holy Spirit in us, I think we see so many ways in which the world is broken. It can be seen in a photo of the haunting eyes of a starving child, flies buzzing on his head; it can be from hearing the news of almost two dozen Chicago Public School kids killed in the 2008 school year, average age of 16. Someone needs to do something. Lots of people--doing lots more than nothing.

This is where I see the real value of Crown Financial Bible Study. For people stuck in a serious debt struggle, it can be their first foothold to get some traction. For those just getting by, it can help build their savings reserve, that keeps the next unexpected car repair from causing bankruptcy. But, the big picture is more profound. It can help everyday people maximize their time and money and talents, to chip away at those big problems in God’s name. Is this just another good intention? Not really.

If a Crown student frees up about a buck a day, $32 a month, she can feed, clothe, and educate a child through Compassion International. For that child, this is literally the difference between an education with a future, and starvation and illiteracy. Just over three dollars a day can support an orphan or refugee through Crossing Borders. Any amount can drive the mentoring work of GRIP Outreach For Youth forward, providing father figures in a generation that has been abandoned, transforming the inner city of Chicago, one precious student at a time. Even better, if the lessons of Crown create more free time, the graduate can invest more of her time in things that will last forever—the lives and souls of people who need Jesus in their lives.

My biggest nightmare for Crown Financial Ministry is that graduates feel smarter, maybe save a few bucks more, but never see how God is going to use this new found money or time to heal His world and build His Kingdom—a world where things are as they should be. This is why I teach Crown. It empowers my friends at Harvest to invest their lives and resources into making God’s love more tangible in this broken place. That’s a new year’s resolution worth keeping.

Ed Sung
Crown Financial

A question that friends at church often ask is, “Is there any method by which you select songs for Sunday mornings?” YES, there is…but it has taken years of leading worship to finally have a method to my madness.

I think there are some “unbalanced” ways of selecting songs for corporate worship. When I say “unbalanced”, I mean that there is an over-emphasis on certain themes/ideas, and an under-emphasis on others. Here are a few examples of unbalanced ways to choose songs.

Selecting songs based on what’s popular.

• This is where you find out what’s the latest and greatest in Christian music, and then play that.
• EX: “Hey, the new Hillsong album is out! Let’s put their songs into our Sunday rotation now!”

Selecting songs based on how a certain church leads worship

• This is when you simply try to re-create another church’s corporate worship experience.
• EX: “Let’s see…at the ___ church retreat, they started with two fast songs, then went to a slow song, then ended with one fast song.”

Selecting songs based on how I’m feeling

• This is when your personal walk with the Lord determines every song that is sung, without considering what songs would be appropriate for a particular Sunday, or what would be appropriate for the congregation.
• EX: “Man, I didn’t have a good week. I think we need to sing ‘Give Us Clean Hands’ and ‘Refiner’s Fire’.

First selecting songs that focus on GOD.

• After any given week, we have such a distorted view of God. He becomes small as our problems become big. We need to be reminded of the greatness of God.

Second, selecting songs that remind us of our fallen nature.

• Day by day, we fail God in many ways. We absolutely cannot fix ourselves. There is nothing we can do to fully make up for how we’ve hurt/offended God and hurt/offended others.

Third, selecting songs that point out Jesus’ work on the Cross.

• There is hope for us despite our sin…Jesus paid the price for our sins on the Cross! We need to be reminded of that GOOD NEWS!

Finally, select songs that RESPOND to God’s love and mercy.

• Worship must be a RESPONSE. We can’t just GENERATE worship…we need to be reminded of God’s great love and mercy…and then respond.

I've been reflecting on leaving a legacy ...

As we sat in my office and looked over her bills two days before Christmas, it was quickly obvious that the money that she brings in was simply not enough to cover her expenses this month. Catherine (not her real name) had called me to set up a meeting earlier that morning because she was in a difficult situation. A culmination of issues had caused her to find herself in this predicament. She had a job, but had to go on disability and had just gone through surgery the week before. Her husband had just recently left her and she was stuck trying to make her rent on a fraction of the family salary. Being on disability did give her some assistance, but it was simply not enough. As we looked through her monthly bills she said to me, "I will definitely have to move out of this apartment and find one with cheaper rent."

Her rent was due and she was recovering from surgery. I can tell you that nothing frustrates me as much as seeing people stressed out with financial matters when they are sick. It was my impression as we talked that going to a church (or anyone) to seek financial assistance was not something that she was used to. The local government does have rent assistance programs and the workers there have told us that we should send people with needs to them first. Since Catherine had not yet been there I suggested that she visit and I also recommended that she visit the Willow Pantry. The pantry is beneficial to all who are in need. When someone is in a financial predicament any money that they can save on groceries can be spent on bills instead. I asked her to give me a call after she visited the township office to let me know if they were able to help or not.

About an hour later she called me back and said that they would not be able to get any money to her for two weeks (which would be too late). So, I told her to come back in so that we would assist her with her rent. She was worn out by so much activity so shortly after her surgery and asked if her daughter could come on her behalf and I said that would be totally fine.

When her daughter came back I maxed out the amount that we give for rental assistance, which still left her with a small amount of rent to come up with. I explained to her that we offer rental assistance only once within a twelve month period (This is designed to help people who find themselves in emergency situations, but screen out those who have poor lifestyle habits). Her daughter thanked me and said that as a family they were trying to figure out a new place for her mother to live. The daughter said she would love to offer her a place in her own apartment, but since she lived in a one bedroom apartment with her own immediate family there was simply no room. Together, the daughter and I lifted up her mother's situation in prayer. The check we sent to the landlord bought her a little time to heal, but Catherine will need to make some very significant decisions in the coming month.

About forty minutes later I received another phone call. It was Catherine again and as her voice began to crack with emotion she said, "I am totally overwhelmed by your church's generosity. I want to say 'thank you', but I don't have the words to express how I feel".

This is just one of the ways I sense God being glorified as the Good News is demonstrated in a very real and tangible way to our local community. Please continue to join me in praying for Catherine and her family as they make some big decisions about their future!

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life..” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

People say that in most marriages one spouse is the spender and the other is the saver. Unfortunately for my husband, I have always been a spender and he has been the saver. Each time I share my testimony with one of the Crown classes, I reflect on how God brought the two of us together and how much I have learned since then about God's perspective on finances and stewardship.

I grew up having a very selfish and thoughtless view of money. My parents always provided everything I needed, but I never really knew how to manage money or use it in a way to build the kingdom of God. After getting married, I saw how different my opinions on money were from Sol's, particularly in the area of debt. And once I took my first Crown class, I began to understand that there were clear biblical principles that supported being debt-free. I started using a budget for the first time, and investing more in my 401K. But more than these financial benefits, there are other blessings from Crown that I consider even more valuable:

1. Realizing that God is in control of our finances as well as every area of our lives
2. Building closer relationships with other Crown students and leaders
3. Sharing prayer requests and seeing God answer them
4. Memorizing the Word of God and later being reminded of those verses at just the right time
5. Witnessing God's faithfulness to Harvest as over 100 students have taken Crown, including elementary, high school, and college age students.

Take a few minutes and prayerfully soak in this song.

I have been involved in Ambassadors for ten years. Looking back to when I first entered school, I had a difficult time adapting to the college life. I also knew that my faith was not build on the toughest foundations and was afraid that I would fall away. I wanted to go to U of I or UIC where there were reputable campus ministries to grow my faith. However, God had other plans. He led me to see that sometimes, you must fight for your own faith and blessings. I was too accustomed to being taught everything and 'spoon fed'.

When I came to NIU, God showed me that if I wanted to get to know him, I would have to take the initiative. It was not the easiest thing. Many times, I wanted to transfer out, but God somehow reeled me back in. I often ask God how I was going to do well in a place like this, where very few strong churches or campus ministries exist on campus. Every time I ask of that from God, He would ask me to fill in the gap instead. I realized how selfish I was. I grow by not what God can do for me, but I should evaluate why God has sent me here. What purpose does he have for me where I am and what can I do for his glory?

He flicked on a light switch in me...and helped me to realize that He has a purpose as to why I was in NIU.

Sherman Lee
NIU Ambassadors