What's Next?

"18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Have you ever asked yourself, "What does God want for my life?" The answer can be filled with many answers, but Jesus gave us some pretty clear marching orders before he left the earth. Jesus called and commissioned his disciples to continue the mission of growing His Kingdom on the earth until He returned. That mission was to make disciples who made disciples who all walked in a daily obedience to Jesus' commands. That important mission was meant to continue until Jesus comes back. We have been called into that mission also, we are called to be obedient disciple makers. Jesus has given us everything that we need to accomplish this, but most of the time we don't know where to start and what this looks like. Our goal at Harvest is to help you walk closer with Jesus and learn to become a disciple maker. If this is the MAIN mission of the Kingdom, why are so many of us not doing it? Often times, it's because we believe that only the super mature Christian's can be doing that, or we think that only pastors are called to be making disciples. The truth is that disciple making was never meant to be something that only a few did, it was meant for all followers of Jesus. Our heart is to equip and release you to this mission. So, how do we equip you and what does this process look like? We have steps, they are not perfect by any means, but we believe that they are the first steps that equip us to follow Jesus better. So where do we start? Step 1: We want to hear your story. Where are you currently at with Jesus? How can we come along side you in your walk and help to equip and release you? Step 1 is grabbing coffee or lunch with Chris (he pays). You share your story and have the opportunity to ask questions. We simply want to hear where you are at, that's it. Step 2: This step involves learning more about Harvest and what God is calling us to do. We understand that there is a lot of "work" to be done, but we also recognize that we cannot do everything that needs done. We want to stay focused on the few things that we can do well, instead of trying to do everything and being spread too thin. Step 2 also involves understanding "membership" and "leadership" at Harvest. We believe that membership isn't a walk to the front or signing a "contract". We believe that membership in the Body of Christ is simple, be a active member of a LifeGroup and actively serve on a ministry team. Those are the two places where we grow in the Fruits of the Spirit and we develop our Spiritual Gifts. Leadership at Harvest is also relatively simple, it is never given, it is always earned with a servant's heart and work. We are prayerful and always watching to identify those who look to serve and love others well. Once someone has been identified as a potential leader, they will be invited into a 9 month training process. Expectations will be made very clear in that process and those people will be asked to serve 1 month on each ministry team. These leaders will not function as just a board of directors, they will first and foremost be shepherds. Before you commit to becoming a "member" we ask that you prayerfully consider what you are "joining". Step 3: This step is simple, contact Chris and let him know that you want to commit to the mission of making disciples. This also means committing to a LifeGroup and joining a ministry team. LifeGroups: Weekly small groups that walk through Sunday's scripture together and work to walk in a deeper obedience to Jesus. Ministry Teams: These are not the only things we do, but these teams are a great first step into serving others. Find one that fits you and will help to equip you for what God is wanting to do in and through you. MORE INFO. Small Discipleship Groups: This are groups of 3-4 (men with men and women with women) that meet weekly with higher accountability and deeper obedience to Jesus. These groups are lead by those who have been walked through them previously. If you believe that you are ready for this important step, reach out to Chris in person or by email (harvestwinfield@gmail.com) to get added to the interest list. These groups meet for 24 weeks at a time and a new one can only be started after someone has completed one and is released to invite others into the process. We are here to GROW God's Kingdom, and that means equipping the Saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12), let us know what your NextStep with Jesus is and let's continue the journey together.