Last Updated on Sunday, 22 March 2009 05:31

Our vision at Harvest is very simple. We belive that God has called us to be "a LIFE-GIVING Community" because that's the vision that Jesus had for His life.

A study of the bible quickly reveals that Jesus Himself "IS LIFE" and that He came to this earth on a focused mission to GIVE LIFE to mankind. We know from John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.") that God the Father sent His son, Jesus, so that we could all receive the free gift OF LIFE for all eternity! That is the Good News message of God's amazing Grace that we love to share with everyone at Harvest week after week.

JESUS DIDN'T JUST COME SO THAT WE COULD GET TO HEAVEN! HE CAME TO GIVE US HIS LIFE FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE!

The bible say's, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was LIFE, and that LIFE was the light of men." (John 1:1-4 NIV)

Jesus said this about His purpose for coming into our world over 2000 years ago. "For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and GIVES LIFE to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of LIFE. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:33-35 NIV)

Jesus made it very clear to us that HIS LIFE was accessible to all of us when he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6 NIV) The LIFE that Jesus gives us is one that will make a difference in our world where we live; regardless of socio-economics or geographical location. His life is the transforming life that renews the minds, restores the soul, refreshes the spirit, refocuses our strength, realigns our values and redirects our journey so that we can freely GIVE LIFE to others!

It's not a complicated thing. It's simply learning how to walk in THE WAY of Jesus, how to live in THE TRUTH of Jesus and as a result we will enjoy THE LIFE of Jesus!

We find THE WAY of Jesus by studying HIS LIFE and by cultivating a meaningful relationship with Him as the risen Christ. While it is completely true that He was crucified and died more that 2000 years ago, the Good News is that death could not hold Him and He arose from the dead and is now seated in the heavens at the right hand of God the Father. However, just because He is now in the heavens does not mean that He has left us to our own devices; he sent us the Holy Spirit to  to regenerate us from the inside out and to empower us to live a NEW LIFE when we ask Jesus to come into our lives as our savior.

Walking in THE WAY of Jesus will bring us face to face with THE TRUTH of Jesus and His teachings. In a culture that has devalued and watered down absolute truths it is actually refreshing to understand that there is truth with which to live our lives by and that this truth can set us free on so many levels. The truth of scripture challenges our self-centred, self-serving value systems and brings us face to face with our responsibility to love our fellowman, our neighbor, as we love ourselves.

Walking in THE WAY and embracing THE TRUTH of Jesus launches us into THE LIFE of Jesus. It is THE LIFE that is full of adventure, requires faith, creates expectation, stirs up hope, and is full of passion and purpose. It is THE LIFE that Jesus describes this way, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10 ESV)

At Harvest we make it our mission to fulfill the Vision that Jesus has for His Church. We know that we cannot make it happen which is why we are so blessed to have the Holy Spirit work in us and through us to accomplish what Jesus had in mind for His people. This is what the scriptures say about the role of the Holy Spirit in a LIFE-GIVING community; "The Spirit is the one who gives life! Human strength can do nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are from that life-giving Spirit. (John 6:63 CEV)

And also Jesus said this about what the Holy Spirit can produce in us, "Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you" (John 7:38 CEV)

Our vision to be "a LIFE-GIVING community" will be accomplished as we make it our MISSION to take intentional, deliberate steps to see it happen.