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| Harvest Gathering Fresno 2009 Report |
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On April 17-18 the “Harvest Gathering of Churches for God’s greatest Glory” was hosted by Northwest Church in Fresno. Sponsored jointly by the Fresno-Clovis Missions Network and the Harvest Group, this missions event had about 400 people from the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Coast in attendance. Three keynote speakers challenged their hearts and 4 choices from 36 workshops stimulated their minds. The 36 exhibitors included global missions such as New Tribes Mission, Frontiers, and Wycliffe Bible Translators as well as locally based ministries such as Medical Ministries International, ESA/Love INC and JARON Ministries. Relief and Development organizations such as World Vision and World Orphans as well as institutions of higher Christian education. Conference attendees had numerous opportunities to visit exhibits and talk with representatives and pick up brochures, books and DVD’s. There was a well stocked ACMC book sales area, and food service was provided by staff from Hume Lake. The keynote speakers challenged general sessions to widen their concepts of missions. Wally Magdangal described his experiences in Saudi Arabia when he was imprisoned for preaching the gospel. He was able to share personal experiences with militant Islam. Fermin Whittaker, the Executive Director of the California Southern Baptist Convention, shared lessons he learned as a bilingual church planter. Obedience and humility are always learned the “hard way.” God continually reminded him that he had been “bought with a price,” and that the Lord owned his contract. Bob Sjogren asked attendees to consider how they viewed God. Did they simply want to be blessed by Him, or did they live to bring Him glory? Were they living like the older brother in the story of the prodigal son? Bob shook the religious smugness of many. Reactions to the conference were positive and varied. One gentleman found himself analysing the messages of the songs at his church to see if they glorified God or were centered on a narcisistic message? A lady commented, “I never dreamed that there was such persecution in Arabia.” Her husband pondered how to bring Christ into his business in a real way. (The testimony of William Bolthouse had powerfully affected him.) Another woman was moved by hearing the conversion story of Viji Cammauf, a Hindu background believer. The conference ended with prayers for workers and for different communities our area. Attendees left inspired, happy and pensive—what was God’s next step in their lives? [Journalist quality or web quality pictures are available upon request from Don Fisher at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] Return to Fresno-Clovis main page |