A few days ago, Pastor Alan Stoddard challenged us to join the work of the Harvest. I love Alan’s heart for ministry and especially his zeal for those who are far from God. He is always thinking about ways to reach souls for Jesus!

The truth is that we’re often a little light on zeal. We’re not as hungry as we really ought to be.

Compare it to your life: Have you ever gone through a lean season, when you had more month than money? When you weren’t sure whether you’d have enough to cover the groceries? Not fun!

But times like that give us focus, don’t they? I remember such a season: I walked into every job interview completely locked in. I didn’t want to squander a chance to catch up and support my family. I was hungry.

Churches have hungry seasons too. These are exciting times: you’re convinced that God is sending your church to the surrounding community to reach them for Christ. You take ownership: “If I don’t go, who will?” You recognize that the only way your church will ever have a nice building or a decent children’s ministry is if it grows, and it’s only going to grow if you get out into the harvest and hustle. So off you go.

We have a lot of reasons to feel full as a church. We have established leadership, a healthy rhythm of discipleship opportunities, guests visiting every week. Most rows in the sanctuary have people in them most Sunday mornings. We have a baptism or two each month. Things are going well.

It's tempting to think that it will always be this way, we’ll grow by 10-15 people a year, pay off our loan, build another building or renovate an older space, coast from one season to the next.

But the fact is that we’re really reaping a harvest planted many years ago. What are we planting that others may harvest in a decade or two? How are we plowing the fields, sowing the seeds?

Don’t you want to see a great revival like others have testified about in the distant past or in distant lands? Don’t you want to see something happen that can only have been a work of God? Don’t you want to see your friends and neighbors freed from slavery to sin through the gospel ministry of Indian Creek Baptist Church?

Well, look: We have to have the kind of zeal and hunger we might have if our church were only fifteen months old rather than fifteen decades. There has to be an electric sense of anticipation and energy, a dare to dream and ask what might be possible if God were to powerfully move.

Why not us? Why not next week?

Sure, there will be plenty to do: sports practices and chores around the house, car maintenance, homework, etc.

But there are times you have to tell those things to wait a minute. I challenge you to do so as we go into the final week of Operation Andrew, which begins with an Opening Rally here at Indian Creek on Saturday at 1pm.

All next week, we’ll be joined by five fantastic missionaries from International Commission to help us reach our city for Christ.

Is there someone on your list they could visit? Is there an event you’re hoping they’ll attend so they can share the gospel? Now’s the time! Click here to make sure it gets scheduled!

Is there some way you can pitch in and assist? If you can join us in visiting and sharing Christ, serve as a driver, make a meal, host one of the missionaries in your home, let us know ASAP by clicking here.

What a difference it could make if we all strive together for the next week and a half for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of our neighbors. The harvest is truly plentiful. Let’s get out into the fields together!