Harvesting sweet potatoes?

If you are any kind of a gardener like me, you greatly enjoy getting your hands into God’s creation and under your finger nails as you work the soil, pull weeds, cultivate, and impatiently wait for the harvest. It is this time of the year that is most exciting- seeing the luscious fruit, hopefully, for your labor. I get very anxious when I know there is fruit under the ground waiting to be harvested, but I must wait until the most opportune time. So it is now with the sweet potatoes. By waiting, the sweet potato will absorb more nutrients. I had to pick a few (really) because they were exposed and getting too big- very big- two of them over twelve inches long! The vines remind me of kudzu that grows in the South.

There is another harvest that is even more exciting and reaps an eternal harvest – the evangelization of children. Have you experienced the joy of participating with God the Gardener who became their Redeemer and watched Him through His Spirit harvest the fruit? It is sweeter than a sweet potato and is preserved for eternity. Some believe we must wait until that fruit is older before harvesting them, but, when we do, we might find very rotten fruit or the “pests” of life have consumed them. God the Creator has designed them to be harvested when they are young, tender, and full of His nutrients so that they can produce a lifetime of fruitfulness for His glory. Our Gardener exhorts us,

Say not ye,There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest.

(John 4:35)

CEF® has been cultivating the garden of children for over 70 years, and they have seen the Gardener harvest much fruit. Here in Shenandoah Valley God the Gardener is also harvesting the fruit of young lives.

Where is the Gardener working?

· Harrisonburg city schools – two Good News Clubs®

· Harrisonburg – two Good News Clubs in apartment complexes

· Strasburg – one Good News Club at Sandy Hook Elementary

· Middletown – one monthly party club at Middletown Elementary

The Gardener needs many more workers to work in this very productive harvest field. In Shenandoah Valley God is cultivating the following “gardens” where more workers are needed:

· Rockingham County Schools – I am waiting word from Dr. Carol Fenn, the county superintendent, to start clubs in Grottoes, Elkton, Timberville, Mountain View, and Pleasant Valley where Boys & Girls Clubs are being conducted after school. Instead of offering a club exclusively for them, we could start a regular after-school club and invite them to it.

· Clarke County Schools – One club has been going at the community center, but effort is now being made to get into the schools.

· Shenandoah County Schools – There are two more schools in this county where we have an open door to start clubs.

· Page County Schools – God is raising up some laborers to possibly start clubs in the five schools in this county.

· Partnering with Communities 4 Christ (www.reachingthelost.org) - They set up a tent wherever there are groups of people and share the gospel message using a yardstick with the wordless book bracelet attached to it. I have been going with them to these events and sharing with the children as they share with the adults. Visit their website for upcoming events were workers are needed.

Is the Gardener asking you to get more involved in cultivating His garden of children?

What can you do?

· Churches are needed to “adopt a school”, and then a team needs to be trained and equipped to conduct theafter-school Good News Club. A coordinator from that church is needed to oversee this outreach ministry.

· Individuals are needed to share the gospel at these special events. Presently there is a big car show September 11 from 5-9 at First Nazarene Church in Harrisonburg. On September 12 from 9-3 in Grottoes we will have a tent at the Harvest Festival. Prayerfully we will be able to promote the Good News Club at that time.

· As God grows the ministry more financial resources are needed: office expenses, phone, mileage, set-up costs at these events, tracts, etc.

· Pass the word- schedule a “gathering” of interested workers, and let me come and share some “gardening tips”!

Many of you are already working in God’s garden here in the Valley and elsewhere. Only because of your faithfulness in prayer and financial support has this ministry been able to grow, and we are very grateful for your labor of love.

May all of us continue to be exhorted by our Gardener,

The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest. (Matthew 9:37,38)

Cultivating a harvest greater than sweet potatoes,

Tim, Joyce & Kathy Duncan