“From Christ the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love,” Ephesians 4:16. The church is often compared to a physical body and each of us are like parts of that body. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12. Every part has a unique function and the body is dependent upon each part doing its share in order to be whole and healthy.
In the same way an individual needs to be part of a church body, churches need to belong to a larger network or affiliation. To continue the metaphor, if a local church is a body, that body must belong to a community. Isolation as an individual or as a local church is not healthy. We need one another to thrive.
Harvest Alliance (H.A.) is an international network of churches and ministries pursuing revival. It was founded in 2019 after our former association, Partners In Harvest, was dissolved. At the time this was very difficult for me. I had invested 20 years into, and was involved in the top leadership of Partners. But circumstances beyond my control led to its dissolution. Now I believe that in order for growth to happen it requires a new “wineskin” or organizational structure. Harvest Alliance continues with the same F.I.R.E. values we have held dear - Father heart of God; Intimacy with God and others; Restoration of our heart, soul, mind, and body; and Equipping through the Holy Spirit.
Unlike Partners which was a top down hierarchical leadership, Harvest Alliance is a true alliance of churches and groups of churches working together. God is far from finished and as a church and a network of churches we are called to chase after that to which God has called us. Harvest Alliance has over 60 churches in 9 nations and is growing.
Our sister churches in Vandalia and South Carolina are also members of Harvest Alliance. We gain a great deal of strength, encouragement, and resources from being linked together with a larger expression of the Body of Christ. Throughout the past two years we have conducted monthly meetings via Zoom to equip and encourage the leaders of churches. In October 2021 we held our first in person gathering in England. In February we held a retreat hosted by New Day S.C. My trip to Turkey to support our sister church there is supported through Harvest Alliance. And on the way back I will spend 4 days in England at an H.A. leadership conference. It is an honor to be part of this vibrant growing affiliation. Find out more at www.harvestalliance.org.