Mike Willis

Baptisms and Cookout | 07/29/10

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:33:36 -0400

On Sunday, August 22nd and 10am, we'll be having our second Harvest baptism service. We'll meet at Beaverdam at Falls Lake rather than at Fox Road to rejoice during the baptisms and then celebrate afterward with a cookout. Details for what you can bring to the cookout as well as directions to the shelter will be available at the welcome table.

If you are interested in being baptized, let Mike know. He will meet with you, make sure you understand it's purpose, and equip you to maximize it's meaning in your life and in the lives of the faith community at Harvest.

Pre-Pray | 07/29/10

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:27:29 -0400

Starting this Sunday, we'll be having a prayer time from 9:15-9:35 in the front right hallway. We'll be praying for powerful worship where God is glorified, for serving Him well as a people, that people will come to know Christ and grow in Him, that families will be strengthened, etc. Anyone is welcome. Afterward, we'll head to our places of serving.

Before the Throne of God Above | 07/29/10

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:20:46 -0400

A song Harvest sings often ...
Our only strong plea before God the Father is Christ, the risen Son of God!

Harvest Cares: Fox Road Teachers | 07/28/10

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:08:34 -0400

Did you know that teachers have to pay for their own supplies? They do, so let's help the 69 teachers at Fox Road Elementary! Like announced Sunday morning, we'll be gathering teachers supplies in reusable Harvest totes (available Sunday, August 8th) and then delivering them to the teachers at Fox Road at noon on August 20th (mark your calendars)! If you'd like, go ahead and start shopping using coupons and back-to-school deals. Determine how many bags you'd like to pack. Insert an encouraging, love-of-Jesus note into each one. Bring your filled bags on Sunday, August 15th. We'll gather them and bring them to Fox Road on the 20th for you to personally give to teachers if you're able to make this your lunch break. Bring a co-worker along with you! Get anyone you want involved!

It seems like it might be easier and 'more bang for your buck' to get multi-packs of things (paper towels, tissues, etc) and disperse them into multiple bags. Also, tax-free weekend in August 6-8 which applies to all school supplies under $100 so take advantage of this to fill another bag!

Quote from Principal Melanie Rhoads in response to this project: "This is very kind of all of you! Thanks especially for looking out for the teachers and taking care of them."

Here is the suggested list from Melanie (let's stick to this list): highlighters, variety color dry-erase markers, clipboard, colored post-it notes, pens, pencils, plastic ware (forks, knives, spoons), gallon-sized bags, baby wipes, tissues, and paper towels.

Here is a Van Gogh rendering of what the filled bag would look like using x-ray (much thanks Vince!):

Excited about this project Harvest! Way to love Raleigh and impact generations (Psalm 145:4)!

Follow Me Cartoon | 07/23/10

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:16:21 -0400

From Joshua Harris via David McWilliams

CT Studd biography | 07/22/10

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:53:45 -0400

All of us are motivated by story, especially true ones - but most especially, true stories motivated by Christ. I recognized several years ago that a good diet of Christian biography is extremely energizing. So, I hereby announce to you what I'll be reading in August so that you can join along if you so endeavor, for casual conversation, but mostly for like-minded motivation: C.T. Studd: Cricketeer and Pioneer by Norman Grubb. I purchased mine on Amazon.com. Click here for a quick bio.

Here's the first paragraph of the foreward by Alfred B. Buxton (C.T. Studd's co-pioneer in the heart of Africa):
"C.T.'s life stands as some rugged Gibraltar--a sign to all succeeding generations that it is worthwhile to lose all this world can offer and stake everything on the world to come. His life will be an eternal rebuke to easy-going Christianity. He has demonstrated what it means to follow Christ without counting the cost and without looking back."

My personal boundaries for this endeavor (that you may also use)

This will not replace my time in God's Word
This will not become a 'book affair' stealing time from my wife and kid
This will not replace the authority of God's Word

Financial Planning for Missions | 07/21/10

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:35:35 -0400

A godly woman on Sunday morning asked me if it would be a good idea to start saving money for any potential Harvest mission trips in 2011. Answer: "You are the woman! And ... YES!" Flights to get overseas can be really expensive, but once there, costs are often minimal and the fruitfulness great (for you and for those there).

As I shared in the sermon on Psalm 96, our overseas trips would have one of two emphases (perhaps both in the same region):

1. Adrenaline trips (helping existing gospel efforts such as an overseas Harvest)
2. Pioneering trips (adopting an unreached people group and getting the gospel to them)

Application: start praying and saving. In 2010, we are more mobilized than ever. Might we attach our gospel motivation!

Keep praying for Phil and Becca Smith who are headed to Bihar, India in August to share the gospel with those unreached people. They've reached their need to purchase flights, but still need more for their on-the-ground expenses and efforts.

Back in Mark! | 07/15/10

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:04:30 -0400

Harvest! We're back in Mark this Sunday morning: Mark 7. Excited and looking forward to seeing you.
Everyone: you are loved at Harvest and you are invited to Harvest!

Harvest quotes | 07/07/10

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:55:58 -0400

Support Phil and Becca Smith, Reach India | 07/02/10

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:13:03 -0400

Phil and Becca Smith are heading to India in August to speak and spread Christ! They need our help to get there. Prayer help and financial help.

In early August, upon the call of Jesus in Matthew 28 to make disciples, we will be traveling with a small team from Matt Papa Ministries and Net India Ministries to Bihar, India. We will be traveling to remote villages and sharing the gospel with people WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE! We will also help with the construction of an Orphanage/Ministry Center, and partner with another ministry to orphans. We are thankful for this opportunity to serve in this way, and for being a part of God's plan for these precious abandoned children and widows in India.

"Religion that our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Pray now for Phil and Becca.
Give now for Phil and Becca.

Net India Ministries
PO Box 1481
Gainesville, GA 30503
(memo "Smiths - Bihar, India Misson"

or via PayPal (click 'contributions', fill out fields, then enter "Smiths - Bihar, India Misson" in the 'in memory/honor of" field).

"Declare His glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" Psalm 96:3