Restore Renew Rebuild

Our theme for Spring Harvest 2022 is… RESTORE RENEW REBUILD

EACH YEAR THE SPRING HARVEST PLANNING GROUP JOINS TOGETHER, WITH EARS OPEN AND HEARTS READY TO HEAR FROM GOD, AS IT PRAYS INTO THE EVENT THEME.

WE KNEW Restore, Renew, Rebuild was a prophetically powerful theme for these challenging times. As we look ahead into 2022, we want to build back stronger.

As we unpack our theme, we’ll draw inspiration from Nehemiah who led the restoration of Jerusalem’s city ruins. We’ll see how God worked through him and his people to accomplish His purposes. Let’s get a little head start here on our three powerful theme words…

RESTORE

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:4, NIV) ‘Restore’ brings us back to basics as we delve into Nehemiah. It’s not about recreating replicas but re-assessing and building back stronger. When Nehemiah first hears about Jerusalem he not only weeps but also prays and fasts for his people. God was going to use him, but first He had to do something in Nehemiah’s heart.

Any great work of God begins with God doing a great work in somebody… and that somebody is us – His Church.

RENEW

“May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” (Nehemiah 2:3, NIV) Perhaps the key question we’ll be exploring around this simple yet profound word is, “How do we renew our focus?” In a world vying for our attention, it’s easy to lose our true focus. God renewed Nehemiah’s focus through prayer. God’s vision for Jerusalem became Nehemiah’s vison.

Sometimes we may be filled with faith and have a heart for change, but lack vision… specifically, God’s vision. As we align ourselves back to God’s heart, our focus shifts as we head in the opposite direction to the paths that once led us into rubble.

REBUILD

“I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So, they began this good work.” (Nehemiah 2:18 NIV) The next stage is all about mission and strategy, and how to implement these to see neighbourhoods and communities powerfully changed. Rebuilding is about more than making a plan or the ‘bricks and mortar’ we use - it’s about participating in the process, being available to what God is doing and joining with His work.

A MOMENT OF REFLECTION…

GOD ISN’T LOOKING for finances, intelligence or whatever else the world tells us we need. He isn’t defining us by past mistakes nor is He restricted by our limitations. He is simply looking for our availability.

None of us is perfect. However, as Nehemiah humbled himself before the Lord, he trusted God’s power to guide and move through him so he and his people could rebuild the city. Think about how God wants to rebuild your life, your community or your church. Do you ever feel inadequate? Ask God what may be hindering you from fully embracing what He wants to do in and through you.

We can’t wait to delve deeper into these three powerful and timely words with you next year!

We don’t want to build backwards but forwards to all that God is going to do. So, don’t miss out as we look at what it means to live out the mission of God as we Restore, Renew, Rebuild.

WATCH A BEHIND-THESCENES VIDEO OF CRIS ROGERS, CHAIR OF THE SPRING HARVEST PLANNING GROUP, RECREATING THIS YEAR’S THEME LOGO INSPIRED BY THESE THREE WORDS!