From Kerry Thorpe - Senior Minister.

We have reached a significant moment in the developing life of HARVEST. For a number of weeks, members of the Leader Team, and others, have been giving serious consideration to the next phase of the HARVEST story. At the meetings of our Core Leader Team, and in the context of Sunday evening Forums, we have been sharing thoughts and insights. We are in the process of collecting together a range of possible options.

In reviewing our progress and outlining the story so far, it seems to us that HARVEST has been through at least two distinct phases, to date.

Initially, from our inception in 1998, that first phase was a time of implementing a clearly held and shared desire to create church around the concept of Cells. We didn’t know exactly what that would look like, or how it would work out, but there was an underlying agreement about the vision and values.

From 2004, when we moved our Sunday gathering into Christchurch University, we went through a transition into what we now see as phase two. This was a time of much greater diversity. Our Cell gatherings were encouraged to work out their life and mission in a wide variety of different ways, each suitable to the people and context of that particular Cell.

We now stand on the verge of phase three. We don’t yet know what that will look like. It will certainly build on, and not depart from, our foundational values of God focussed living, mentoring relationships, active service and being part of the bigger picture. We do want to gather up as much insight as possible, from as many of our members as possible. To that end, conversations will continue within our groups.

Early in September, on Saturday 4th, we have booked a morning together at the University, as a time and place in which we can bring together a whole range of options. You are invited to be part of that gathering. This has been, and will continue to be, an exciting journey.

We believe that God has a profound purpose for HARVEST and its place within our community and wider church. Do, please, be part of that story!

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