In May 2006 in response to promptings from the Holy Spirit we established Harvest Foundation , a non-profit vehicle for mission and service. Later we have further incorporated as Harvest Ministries of Manasota, with the same and additional missions given to us. Rev. Steven Heintz is the Director of Harvest Foundation and Program Manager of Harvest Ministries of Manasota. Mrs. Virginia Goulet is the Philanthropic Development Officer.
Our Mission Statement: "Harvest Foundation/Harvest Ministries of Manasota promotes a harvest of new Christians to be born again from on high (John 3:3) through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Matthew 9:37-38, as led by the Holy Spirit: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." (Romans 8:14).
A Leader of Millions: Soon after its establishment, Dr. David Githii, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) , providentially contacted us. In an unusual way arrangements were made for him to visit Christian Retreat, Bradenton, Florida, during June 20-23, 2006. With great joy his visit began at Tampa Airport on Tuesday June 20, 2006. Soon we were at the home of Rev. Mac and Lollie Owen, founders of Heart to God Ministries and veteran missionaries to Russia, the Philippines, Cuba, and East Africa. Enjoying their gracious hospitality David felt welcomed and blessed during his visit with us.
As evening drew to a close we walked across the grounds of Christian Retreat , and experienced the peace and presence of God in an unusual way. It seemed that God was revealing to Pastor David the glory that He wishes to pour out upon his people. In the Tabernacle children were worshiping and praising God at the altar. It was a deeply moving manifestation of God’s power. As we walked David explained that the leadership of the PCEA voted at their 2006 General Assembly to mandate teaching on the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual warfare, and fasting and prayer throughout the whole church.
We praised God in English and Swahili – B’wana Asifiwe (Praise the Lord), Mungo Ni Mwama (God is good), as we cried out together with one heart and one voice. We felt a burden to teach his church the beauty of holiness and the wonder and power of the blessed work of the Holy Spirit.
David had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior in 1976. God leading him, he became pastor to many churches in the slums of Nairobi, and from there God has raised him up to become the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. He is now leading the church into the depths of the work of God the Holy Spirit.
We are convinced that Brother David’s visit and the meetings we shared were arranged by the Lord and contain the seeds of hope for a great harvest, a great work of the Holy Spirit, in East Africa.
Revelations from Scripture: The next morning (Wednesday June 21) we shared breakfast with Mac and Lollie. As we ate, Steve felt strongly impressed to read from Ezekiel 47:1-12 . There the prophet sees a vision of water flowing from under the threshold of the door of the Temple, deepening and broadening into a river that is too deep for wading. It is as if God were telling us ‘you are in over your heads’, ‘which is as I, Jehovah, wish it to be!’ We would be instruments of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit throughout the entire PCEA in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The Word of God says that signs, wonders, healing, and rivers of living water will pour out upon the Church wherever Jesus Christ is lifted up and the message preached in His power! The New Testament bears witness that it was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that Ezekiel saw: We read in Revelation 22:1-2, 'He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.' John 7:38 says, 'He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly (heart) will flow rivers of living water.'
We experienced these waters with us beginning to rise ankle deep. May these waters rise to the knees, the waist, and become so deep that we all must swim. We want to become immersed in the Holy Spirit by Jesus Christ, who alone is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. We felt that we were being led beyond all familiar things, to ‘swim’ in the rivers of life from the Holy Spirit by faith. We felt that familiar ways will not suffice to meet the needs of the Church.
A Gathering of Friends: At noon we had lunch with Rev. Kathleen Jones-Baze, Rev. Dr. Mary Otting, Dr. Maggie Faulkner and Pastor Paul Scheele of Congregational United Church of Christ, Bradenton, Florida. The discussion was lively.
David shared the needs of his people. The AIDS/HIV epidemic is producing thousands of orphaned children who fend for themselves working or roaming the streets, homeless and abandoned. Kenya's annual per capita income is equivalent to 1,500 American dollars per year. East Africa is stricken with endemic hunger, and it is difficult even to reach those in need with the appropriate aid. Politicians use food as a weapon in many countries. Many pastors in Kenya serve 20 or more churches. Because of the shortage of pastors, local elders must lead the congregations. The churches' people are in need of training, education, and economic assistance, and most of all teaching on the person and power of the Holy Spirit. The church is expanding rapidly and many new believers are coming into the PCEA. The General Assembly in 2006 also mandated that local elders must be born again. The elders and all local leaders, ministers, evangelists, group leaders and spouses especially need training and support. It is of great importance that they experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit and become able to lead and strengthen the churches with Spirit-filled leadership gifts.
David was greatly encouraged by meeting Spirit-filled Christians in the USA. There is a great work and an open door for joining hands and hearts. We will allow the Spirit to blow where He will! Is your heart warmed and moved? Harvest Foundation has been established to assist the harvest of souls. Harvest Foundation has decided to answer the call of God, to support Dr. David Githii and the PCEA as they seek the power of the Holy Spirit. We desire to serve and teach and strengthen the believers to reap Harvest for Jesus Christ. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to reveal to you your part.
The Sound of the Trumpet: That Wednesday afternoon (June 21, 2006), Jean Laumann, a Spirit-filled nurse, David, and Rev. Steve Heintz gathered for dinner at Ms. Virginia Goulet’s home. Virginia is a founding sponsor of Harvest Foundation and our Philanthropic Development Officer. It is her wisdom and obedience that gave us the motivation to establish this work.
David shared his concern for Kenya. The history of Kenya under its first president Jomo Kenyatta, was influenced by the national motto “Harambee”, which means ‘pulling together’ in Swahili. Yet unknown to many, this cry "Har' Ambee!" means “Hail to Ambee!” who is a Hindu goddess. This was the cry of the Hindu laborers as they ‘pulled together’ to build the East African railway system. In calling upon their Hindu goddess, they were praying to a non-Christian god and demonic power. In this way, David believes, the whole nation has been influenced by the Hindu goddess 'Ambee'. This power now hinders and harms the nation’s people. We began to pray for national deliverance. And as we prayed we experienced an unusual visitation from the Lord. We boldly took authority in prayer to deliver Kenya and East Africa over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Lord of lords and King of kings. Jesus has the power to drive out all demonic strongholds and dark powers and set all captives free.
Suddenly the Holy Spirit opened up the heavenly realms and revealed to us the victories that are coming. Steve saw in the Spirit that Jesus will send His people north, taking the Gospel to the Sudan and to Somalia, now strongly Muslim areas. They can go where Westerners cannot go, to do what others cannot do, in the name and power of Jesus, and in the Acts 1:8 power of the Holy Spirit. We saw as in a vision the River of Life flowing down from God into East Africa, bringing life and healing wherever it flows!!!
We sounded the victory with blasts of the Shofar. We were caught up in the knowledge that God is preparing to blow the Shofar of Victory over East Africa !!!
The Vision Takes Form and Substance: Thursday morning June 22 we arose early to share breakfast with J.R. Allebach, Administrator of Gospel Crusade Ministerial Fellowship and Ron Bauza, Mission Director for Christian Retreat/Family Church. The Holy Spirit quickly knit us together as we recognized a common heart among leaders. Ron and JR listened intently to David's concerns, We began to share a vision together: There are five regions in the PCEA, as well as an annual Convention in Nairobi where thousands of believers gather each year. JR and Ron suggested that Pastor Gerald Derstine might be able to go to Nairobi and preach at the August 2007 PCEA Convention. We believe his simple teaching and winsome approach can reach the precious 'hair-roots' people of Kenya with the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that it is possible to sponsor five PCEA Regional conferences. We want to train leaders in the experience and teaching of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, spiritual warfare, and fasting and prayer, in fulfillment of General Assembly Resolutions. Rev. Eugene Weaver, President of Gospel Crusade Ministerial Fellowship, may be traveling to Kenya in early 20071 and we are praying for 2007 to be a year of destiny for the people of the PCEA. Hopefully a team will visit Kenya to consolidate plans for ministry.
A Desire to Give Practical Help: After breakfast and a resting time we traveled to North Fort Myers, Florida, to visit the headquarters of ECHO - Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization. We had called on short notice and the staff of ECHO welcomed us and encouraged us to visit. My interest in ECHO began with Mrs. Gloria Smith of Christian Retreat. Gloria has been working with churches and organizations in Western Africa to plant the Moringa Tree. This miraculous organism provides outstanding nutrition, purification of water, and is an excellent organic fertilizer. It is as if it is a natural parable of the healing trees in Ezekiel’s vision. ECHO is a center for global agricultural and missionary education. We found a host of resources there that can empower people in economic growth and development. Bob Hargrave, Technical Research Specialist, gave us a wonderful tour. He and his wife Ellen have served in Kenya for many years and have a profound knowledge of the country. We also met Stan Doerr, Deputy Director of ECHO, who has served in Kenya as well as many other countries around the world as a mission consultant. Mark Maerten is ECHO's Director of Communications & Public Relations. He offered himself as a vital link for communication and coordination of effort. They were warm in their embrace of our concerns and gave David seeds and literature to take home with him. Thursday afternoon ended over dinner with Virginia Goulet and Mark Shiner. Mark is a pilot whose interests perhaps will include mission aviation. We are now praying and believing for a fulfillment of what was seen in these visions, with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, who assures us that it will all come to pass in due time. A Blessed Goodbye: Early Friday Jean Laumann and Isaac Yoder escorted David to the airport, and he left us with fond goodbyes, to continue his journeys for the sake of Christ. In just two days, David had met with a variety of people. We encountered resources and began meaningful relationships. God sent his angels along with David, and as he left us, there was the lingering feeling that we had been brought to the door of the Temple and had experienced the beginning of a divine flowing of the Holy Spirit.
What is do you feel is your part?? Will you help us to bring forth this vision! Bwana 'Asifiwe - Mungo Ni Mwama!!! Praise the Lord !! God is Good !!
1 Eugene met with David and national leaders on January 29, 2007 and established foundations for future missions. Please check our website for continuing updates on planning.
