One of my greatest desires for Harvest Fellowship is that we would be a body of believers that live in generosity. From the beginning of the ministry in June 2008, Harvest Fellowship has been a church that tithed off every penny we received. We have also given offerings to other ministries, not only those that have ministered in our services, but others where we have seen good fruit produced. I know how the power of generosity has changed my life, and I have seen it change others in our fellowship as well as they have laid hold of it.
While recently attending a conference where Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, California was ministering, I heard him make a remarkable statement: “There is not a church that has continuous revelation that is not radically generous!” I was deeply impacted by the truth of this. Luke 16: 10-11 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Obviously, how we handle money has a lot to do with the amount of true riches our Heavenly Father can entrust to us – and true riches has a lot to do with more than just money.
We must always remember the Kingdom of Heaven is an upside down kingdom by earthly standards. The world defines prosperity by “how much can I get?”. On the other hand, as Christians we should have a different standard for prosperity: “How much should I give?”! Those who are truly generous can be trusted with the true riches of revelation.
I say all that in order to thank and publicly honor another church in Ardmore, Oklahoma. On November 22, Christ Community Church took up an offering in their service which they didn’t keep, but generously gave to Harvest Fellowship. Pastor Tim Lehman and Bud Webb, an elder at CCC, came and presented the offering, blessed us and prayed for us. It was a very moving time for our young church. I know it’s not the first time Christ Community has done this, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I praise God that it is something they practice consistently, and I want to honor them for it. May we as various expressions of Christ’s Body in Ardmore, Oklahoma and the surrounding area all follow their example as those who bless and honor others in our community and beyond.
If we become believers that are radically generous, Ardmore will truly experience an open heaven and see our region transformed. Lord, let it begin in me!
-Andy Rudd
Pastor of Harvest Fellowship