Dear Harvest Family,
Following our Elder Board meeting earlier this week, we would like to give you these updates.
Carl Barkow Transition
This past week, we prayed over Carl and Kimberly Barkow and thanked them for how they served Harvest during their time here. Carl has been called to move on from Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC) and serve at Long Hollow Church in Tennessee. We are very thankful for Carl as he served our church in a number of different roles and most recently as a member of our Lead Team. We invite you to join us in praying for Carl and his family as they make this transition. We are excited to see how God will use Carl in his new role in the days ahead.
Divorce and Remarriage
This week’s theology discussion was once again based on what God’s Word says about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Our goal is to refine and clarify what we believe at HBC on these important subjects so that we can biblically shepherd our people well through these personal issues. As elders who oversee the doctrine of HBC, we seek to continue to address doctrinal issues like these to best care for one another.
Town Hall Meetings
We have been really excited about the Town Hall Meetings that have taken place as well as the ones still yet to come. Please attend the Town Hall Meeting on your campus or if you missed yours feel free to attend one at a different campus. Three Town Halls remain: Chicago Cathedral on November 5, North Shore on November 12, and Aurora on December 3. As the Elder Board oversees the direction of the church we are excited for you to hear what our leaders have in mind for the future of HBC and how we are seeking what God has for us as we set out to make more and better disciples, more and better leaders, and more and better churches. The town halls are also a great time to ask questions and get to know the staff members, pastors, and leaders of HBC.
New Elders
Finally, over the next few months, we are seeking to add as many as four new elders to the board as a number of elders reach the end of their time of service. Qualified men who are in this process complete an application and then go through three rounds of interviews. One interview is theologically based, a second interview is led by a discernment team consisting of elders, staff members, and congregants, while a third interview takes place with the members of the elder board. If the individual advances through the entire process, his name is brought before the church family for two weeks, then the full elder board will vote to add him to the board.
Additionally, many of these qualified men are also being trained in our Elder Training class led by Dr. Mike Vanlangham and Dr. Kyle Meeker for possible elder board consideration now or in the future. We pray that through this process God would make it clear who would best serve His church in this role. We ask you to join us in prayer for the candidates, their families, and all who are involved as we work through this process during these next few months.
—The Elders of Harvest Bible Chapel
