FOR THIS CAUSE
FROM THE PASTORS Since 1989, Church of the Harvest has been devoted to helping people. Thousands of people have come to know Jesus. Just think about it for a moment. From our church services, community outreaches, conferences, camps, and global mission trips, together we have advanced the Cause of Christ in the earth. We’ve been true to our calling of changing lives, creating influence, developing leadership and families, and shaping the next generation. Yet a greater future still awaits us. Let’s decide to reach for God’s greatness together and see just how far we can go! It’s time for the next step in our journey as we launch a new campaign called, “For This Cause.” At Harvest, every decision we make, every ministry effort we undertake, and every life we reach is For This Cause. Jesus said in John 18:37, “…for this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world…” We have been put on this planet to advance His Cause. Our For This Cause campaign is targeted to help us take another giant step forward in our assignment from God. It will enable us to better serve you and the current families of all of our campuses. It will also help us reach beyond, to the masses of people in cities we have yet to impact. Over the last three years, we have expanded from one campus to four campuses, and there are many more campuses in many more cities to come! For This Cause!
Kirk and Nancy Pankratz Senior Pastors
“…FOR THIS CAUSE I WAS BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE I HAVE COME INTO THE WORLD, THAT I SHOULD BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH. EVERYONE WHO IS OF THE TRUTH HEARS MY VOICE.”
JOHN 18:37 (NKJV)
CHURCH OF THE HARVEST ALMOST 20 YEARS OLD
From a tiny beginning in September of 1989, Church of the Harvest was founded by Senior Pastors Kirk and Nancy Pankratz. With only two families in the first service, Church of the Harvest has grown over the years to become one of Oklahoma’s larger churches. Harvest is well known for it’s model of family, leadership, and an unyielding commitment to the next generation. YOUTH AMERICA — NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED YOUTH CAMPS Youth America is a major outreach of Church of the Harvest. Almost 75,000 teenagers have attended Youth America Summer Camps over the years. With our facility capable of feeding and lodging 840 students, each week of camp results in substantial numbers of salvations and changed lives. INFLUENTIAL AND COMPELLING WORSHIP — ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREAT WORSHIPPING CHURCHES Harvest is well-known for creative, original, and passionate praise and worship music. The Harvest worship team is comprised of a highly devoted team of singers, musicians, and songwriters, who are an expression of our local church. The praise and worship music has influenced hundreds of churches through conferences, music albums, and our weekly services. MULTI-SITE EXPANSION — A NEW ERA OF CHURCHES Church of the Harvest has expanded to include the addition of multiple campuses. Currently, there are four campuses — Oklahoma City, Edmond, Midwest City, and Stillwater. Church forecasters have predicted that, within the next generation, not one community, large or small, will be without at least one multi-site church campus. Sensing God’s leading in this direction, Harvest is preparing for expansion opportunities across our nation. LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL INFLUENCE — BEYOND OUR FOUR WALLS With a passion to be “others-focused,” the people of Church of the Harvest are making a major impact in numerous ways. Local community outreaches, like our Rescue The Girls ministry impacting women in crisis, are ongoing in each of the cities where our campuses are located. National impact continues through the work of Youth America. Kirk Pankratz is an influential pastor, impacting hundreds of churches and pastors through our conferences and Harvest Network. Global reach opportunities into the nations of Cambodia, Rwanda, Uganda, Brazil, and more are a regular commitment of the Harvest family. SPIRITUAL MANDATE — CHANGING THE CULTURE OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY While predictions forewarn of a major decline in American Christianity, with members who lack passion, compassion, and devotion, God is raising up a new breed of Christian at Harvest. Our church is on a mission to impact the lives of the lost, believers, and other churches to rise to the challenge of the hour. Seen through a fresh hunger for God’s Word, passion for the lost, love for God’s House, attracting the young generation, serving their communities, and much more, changing the culture of American Christianity has begun.
PROJECTS AND CAMPUSES OKLAHOMA CITY CAMPUS
The
Oklahoma
original
campus
City of
Campus
is
the
Church
of
the
Harvest. Renovation goals are to provide a complete refacing of the exterior of the building. The new expansion will include a special lighting feature and sign that can be seen from I-35 traffic, at one of Oklahoma City’s busiest intersections. Additional plans include lobby and office expansions,
auditorium
seating
and
staging, kid’s and youth enhancements, technology, production and equipment upgrades, general facility upgrades, a new south parking lot and more. Harvest grew 10.5% in 2008.
EDMOND CAMPUS
The Edmond Campus is the second campus
of
Church
of
the
Harvest.
Renovation goals include a makeover of the auditorium, hallways, and lobby with new flooring, paint, and numerous other improvements. Additional plans include room and equipment upgrades for the kid’s and youth areas, auditorium seating, technology, production and equipment upgrades, general facility enhancements, and more. Our campus is located in a prominent area of West Edmond with enormous growth potential. The Edmond Campus grew 43% in 2008.
PROJECTS AND CAMPUSES STILLWATER CAMPUS
The
Stillwater
Campus
is
the
third
campus of Church of the Harvest. While currently meeting in a temporary location at Sangre Middle School, the campus will soon be ready to take the step into a permanent location. Project goals are to secure an existing permanent site or to build, if necessary. Additionally, technology, production and equipment upgrades are needed for the auditorium and kid’s and youth areas. All of these improvements can be transferred to the permanent facility as well. The Stillwater Campus grew 39% in 2008.
MIDWEST CITY CAMPUS
The Midwest City Campus is the fourth campus
of
Church
of
the
Harvest.
Renovation goals include the expansion of the lobby, a Harvest Cafe, exterior improvements, additional parking lot space,
technology,
production
and
equipment upgrades, and more. Plans also include equipment upgrades to the kid’s and youth areas. Located near the intersection of East Reno and Post Road, the campus has a high-visibility factor and is nestled in a high-growth housing area known as the “The East Side.” The Midwest City Campus grew 114% in 2008.
PROJECTS AND CAMPUSES YOUTH AMERICA LOWER CAMPUS
The Youth America Lower Campus is located adjacent to the Oklahoma City Campus and features dormitory housing for 840 students, a youth auditorium and cafeteria facility, a junior-Olympic-sized swimming pool, a gymnasium, a rock wall, paintball fields and a maintenance building on 52 acres. Renovation goals include refacing our second dormitory and
youth
auditorium
and
making
upgrades to our pavilion and maintenance buildings. Other plans include road paving,
technology,
production
and
equipment upgrades, and more. Almost 75,000 students have attended Youth America Camps.
FUTURE CAMPUSES
Church of the Harvest is poised to add numerous other campuses as the opportunities arise over the upcoming years. Cities of all sizes will become potential targets. Our primary approach to expansion has been one of “church adoption,�
where
we
assume
the
leadership of an existing church body desiring to become a Harvest campus. One of our most exciting goals will be long-term debt reduction and expansion resources, enabling Church of the Harvest to be financially positioned to seize the future unrestricted. Begin to pray with us now as we await God-connections for new campuses.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY DO WE NEED THE FOR THIS CAUSE CAMPAIGN?
WHEN WILL THE VARIOUS PROJECTS START?
This giant step forward with an investment in our church will complete numerous, necessary projects in a short amount of time that might otherwise take several years to achieve. It will raise the level of every campus to a first-class, modernized experience of excellence in facilities and ministry. It will also enable us to expand into new campuses as God brings us opportunity.
As monies are given, they will be spent in the various phases of projects we intend to complete. Because we aim to “pay as we go,” larger project monies may be accumulated in full before a specific project is started. With numerous projects involved on each campus, a regular update will be given for you to be aware of our progress.
WILL MY CONTRIBUTION BE MADE PUBLIC?
HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE HOPING TO RAISE?
No. A total amount of all commitments made collectively will be announced for the entire church to know and celebrate what God is doing.
Projects are in place to spend up to $5 million or more. As God provides through the giving of our families, we have prioritized each project from a big-picture perspective of what is needed most for the growth of the church.
ARE THE MONIES GIVEN FROM A SPECIFIC CAMPUS ONLY SPENT ON THAT CAMPUS?
CAN WE REACH THIS GOAL?
No. Because we are one church with multiple locations, all monies given to the campaign across our campuses will be distributed as needed in the life and expansion of the church. With that said, each campus will receive major benefits from the total giving received.
Ephesians 3:20 (The Message) “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”
“When some family members and friends recommended that my wife and I come to Church of the Harvest, we were on the brink of divorce. I was facing some pretty harsh consequences for some actions I had taken, including possible jail time. We were broken. We needed help. We needed someone who was going to reach out to us, love us for who we were, and help us put our lives back together. We came to Harvest about nine years ago. The church was a lifeline to us. Had we not come here and rededicated our lives to Jesus and
Brady Buchan
been around people who loved us and built us up, we would never have made it. But now, we’ve just celebrated fifteen years of marriage together.”
Savannah Tardibono “Today in this world, there are so many teenagers who are not doing things that benefit them in their lives or things that are going to catapult them into the future. You can come to Harvest from any place in life, at a really low point, high point, or somewhere in the middle, and we will always be there to help you get going to the place where God wants you to be in life. Anyone can come into our church, no matter where they have been, and feel completely at home without being judged. They can just keep going forward into the future where God wants them to be.”
“WILL YOU RISK THE BEST OF YOUR BLESSINGS FOR OTHERS WHEN GOD CALLS UPON YOU?” —KIRK PANKRATZ (FROM THE SERIES POWERED BY GRACE)
INVEST
WHAT CAN I DO? For This Cause is a two-year program with the financial challenge of raising $5 million to expand our ministry influence. With our four existing campuses and more campus expansion opportunities on the horizon, God has given us an assignment to impact our nation one city at a time. By making this financial commitment, Church of the Harvest will continue to impact lives throughout Oklahoma and beyond for the Cause of Christ.
WHAT ARE THE PROJECT PLANS? FOR THIS CAUSE WILL DO MANY NEEDED THINGS TO HELP US GROW INTO THE FUTURE.
1.
It will help us serve our current families with excellence and the highest quality of ministry tools.
2.
It will complete numerous interior remodel projects and upgrades needed in our auditoriums, lobbies, kid’s and youth areas, and offices.
3.
It will upgrade our technology components to advance the quality of our communication through the possibility of live-video feeds between campuses or other options.
4.
It will provide exterior renovation and parking lots where needed.
5.
It will help us secure a permanent facility for our Stillwater Campus.
6.
It will provide a substantial amount of long-term debt reduction to make us stronger for future growth opportunities.
“NO ONE IS TO SHOW UP IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD EMPTY-HANDED; EACH MAN MUST BRING AS MUCH AS HE CAN MANAGE, GIVING GENEROUSLY IN RESPONSE TO THE BLESSINGS OF GOD, YOUR GOD.” DEUTERONOMY 16:17 (THE MESSAGE)
“THOSE WHO HAVE MUST FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT. EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO GIVE.” —KIRK PANKRATZ (FROM THE SERIES THE FORGOTTEN FIGHT)
HOW CAN I GIVE? Faith Commitment Weekend will be February 28th - March 1st, 2009. On these dates faith commitment cards will be distributed during each weekend service. Please begin praying now about your financial investment in this exciting program. We ask you to be prepared to fill out your faith commitment card on Commitment Weekend. Miracle Offering Weekend will be the following week, on March 7th - 8th. On this first weekend of actual giving, we are asking you to make the largest cash gift you can toward your commitment to the For This Cause campaign.
GIVE A CASH GIFT
MAKE A 24-MONTH COMMITMENT
Ask God for creative ways to increase your gift. You might consider income from savings, tax refunds, garage sales, inheritances, bonuses, an extra part-time job, reducing expenses, deferring a major purchase, etc. Involve your whole family in raising a specific amount, and give as much of your two-year commitment as possible, as an act of worship on March 7th - 8th, 2009.
You can give far more when it’s spread out over time. The Bible teaches that your faith and spiritual maturity develops through the habit of consistent giving. If you’ve ever committed to a monthly car, mortgage, or rental payment, certainly you can make a giving commitment to God! Automatic withdrawl is available and encouraged.
GIVE A GIFT OF ASSETS
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN MY TITHE?
You can give real estate, stocks, bonds, coins, gold, cars, boats, etc. This is a tangible way to leverage your giving to the work of the ministry and take full advantage of the available tax benefits the government allows. Please contact the business office at Church of the Harvest at 405-478-7373 for details, or email us at businessoffice@harvestokc.com.
The ministries of Church of the Harvest will continue to expand during this program, so please continue to bring your tithe in addition to the offerings God leads you to give for this endeavor. When there is an exciting opportunity like this, God asks us to go above and beyond the tithe, which is the minimum worship requirement.
Joe Thoma “My life pretty much revolved around drinking and working. After the loss of my youngest grandson, a gentleman from Harvest invited us to attend here. In the first steps of my recovery, I was coming to church with a “buzz” on, but there were people that never turned their backs on me. At Harvest, there was always a smiling face. The people of Church of the Harvest were there to
“...WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM EVERY LAWLESS DEED AND PURIFY FOR HIMSELF HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE, ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS.”
TITUS 2:14 (NKJV)
reach out to me. Everything I tried before didn’t work. I tried rehab. I tried “AA,” but finally I turned it over to God. Since Mother’s Day of 2008, I haven’t had a drink.”
“I first heard about Harvest through the radio spots. Whenever I heard one, I would ask God to make it possible for me to go to that church. When the radio spots would come on, the Holy Spirit would flood my apartment. I don’t take being here lightly, because this is the answer to my prayers. When I was finally able to get here, I was messed up by religion and my own stupid mistakes. So I don’t ever
Vanessa White
count it a small thing when I come through the door. It’s a big thing. Harvest is the answer to my prayer.”
“You were put on this planet to live, fight, and even die for a Cause! Surely God has put you on the earth for more than your company, money, yard and garden, entertainment, and pleasure.” —KIRK PANKRATZ (FROM THE SERIES CULTURE SHOCK — WHEN A GENERATION RISES TO A CAUSE)
JOHN 18:37
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO GIVE TOWARD THE FOR THIS CAUSE CAMPAIGN, YOU MAY CONTACT US, BY MAIL:
CHURCH OF THE HARVEST, P. O. BOX 20000, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73156
IN PERSON:
AT ANY HARVEST CAMPUS
BY PHONE:
405-478-7373
BY FAX:
405-478-3569
BY EMAIL:
BUSINESSOFFICE@HARVESTOKC.COM
ONLINE:
WWW.HARVESTOKC.COM
Church of the Harvest is a registered 501(c)3 corporation. All gifts are tax deductible.
P. O. BOX 20000 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73156 405.478.7373 — WWW.HARVESTOKC.COM