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Hundreds of people came out for the
43rd annual Harvest of Talents at Lincoln Christian Church Saturday,
October 24, to shop and eat while raising money to feed the hungry.
One hundred percent of funds raised at the Harvest of Talents is
given to the International Disaster Emergency Service, which “exists
to meet the physical needs of suffering people throughout the world
in the name of Jesus Christ.”
In the first 42 years, this event has raised over $3,113,777 to
provide food for the hungry in 43 countries including the United
States.
IDES Executive Director David Stine and several IDES staff members
participated in the Harvest of Talents. Other churches host their
own Harvest of Talents and Stine said this one is the last one of
2026.
As always, the church foyer was
filled with various handcrafted pieces such as seasonal décor,
wreaths, quilts, blankets, fashion accessories, baby gift, items
from other countries and “man cave” items. Some items were in silent
auction areas.
Additionally, several tables were filled with homemade sweets, baked
goods, jams, salsa, spices and home canned goods.
Those who wanted to relax could go
upstairs to the H.O.T. spa. For just a few dollars, they could get
henna body art, have their nails painted, have their neck and scalp
massaged and get their hair braided or have tinsel put in.
Outdoors, kids enjoyed a petting
zoo with chickens, a horse, a rabbit, sheep and goats. Some kids
also bottle-fed calves or gave the goats small handfuls of food.
Other areas outside included a spot
to sit on hay bales and warm up by a fire pit and a place to get
faces painted.
Representing IDES, God Always
Provides (G.A.P.) had tables set up where people of all ages served
by packing nutritious meals for hungry people all over the world.
During the year, G.A.P. has several fundraisers at Culver’s. Each
packet contained rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, vitamins and
minerals. Groups like the Lincoln Woman’s Club packed 18 boxes of
meals in one hour, which will feed many hungry people
In the morning, hungry shoppers enjoyed caramel pecan rolls,
cinnamon rolls, breakfast burritos, fried potatoes, juice and
coffee. The Brew 66 coffee truck was serving tea, chai and gourmet
coffees.
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For lunch, volunteers served
homemade vegetable soup, sloppy joes, tacos, chicken nuggets and
macaroni cheese that could be topped with pulled pork or Italian
beef. Besides assorted desserts there was an apple sundae bar.
Harvest of Talents Co-chairs Natalie Morris and Bethany Henry,
in addition to many volunteers, made sure everything was going
well as people shopped and ate. Morris, Henry and H.O.T. team
members spend a lot of time and energy planning for the Harvest
of Talents several months before the event.
Several other events during the
year also raise funds for IDES including a Christmas cookie walk,
Ladies’ Spring Tea, taco booth, Harvest from Home, Musical offering
and an online auction. Many save coins in an IDES fish bank, use
H.O.T. license plates on their vehicles in the months leading up to
the event or help with recycling efforts.
At one o’clock, volunteers began clearing tables out of the
fellowship center to set up chairs for the live auction.
When it was time for the auction, Morris welcomed everyone and then
introduced Makayla Amalla, who works with COPE (Children of Pokot
Education) in Africa. Amalla talked about IDES delivering relief
food and sharing the gospel with the people of Pokot. Through this
food relief day, the people saw God as the first one who ever loved
them. Amalla next prayed for the auction.
When the auction began, auctioneer Mike Maske encouraged everyone to
cheer people on so the bids would go higher.
First up on the auction was a beaded Indian corn made by students of
Lincoln Christian Preschool.
One unique item was a H.O.T. 43rd Founder’s Edition gaming computer
built and donated by Pat Snyder’s great nephews Elijah and Cody
Blaum. It was the top seller of the day, bringing in $2300.
Christmas items include beautifully decorated trees, a wooden
Christmas tree, a framed Nativity puzzle, handcrafted ornaments and
a 3D printed Christmas tree and two reindeer. Earlier in the day,
many had watched the 3D printer finish creating the tree.
Several beautiful quilts and
blankets were up for bidding as always and each got many bids. With
2026 being the 250th anniversary of the United States, one was a
flag hand quilted by the H.O.T. quilters with the top constructed
and donated by Linda Boyles.
The final fruits offering was a mahogany wood corner cabinet
constructed by the late Lee Woods when he was in high school. It was
then refinished and donated by Lindy Manuel.
Whether you use your talents to create things to sell at the Harvest
of Talents, purchase handcrafted items or volunteer your time, you
contribute to the vital work of IDES. Your financial contributions
to the Harvest help feed hungry people both physically and
spiritually.
43rd Annual Harvest of Talents Part One
43rd Annual Harvest of Talents Part Two
43rd Annual Harvest of Talents Part Three
43rd Annual Harvest of Talents Part Four
[Angela Reiners]
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