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For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!’”
Matthew 3:3
What is Way Maker?
This is the next step of faith for our church family. God is calling us to make a way for Jesus to impact generations now and to come. Way Maker is a generosity initiative established to carry out our vision: We exist to see life transformation in Christ and develop godly leaders in our community who harvest ministries where they are. Our prayer is to fund efforts through our church to help lost people find Jesus. This initiative will give our current church family a place to grow in spiritual formation while establishing deep roots in this community.
Over the next 5 years, we anticipate seeing God expand our church influence to:
1,000 Harvest Mode Stories
We aim to see life transformation in Christ, godly leaders developed, and ministries harvested. These stories are proof that people are meeting, knowing, and boldly following Jesus while sharing stories of His and the church’s impact on their lives in meaningful ways.
1,000 Worshipers Every Weekend
We are currently experiencing over 250 worshipers per weekend including adults and children. We anticipate seeing 500 worshipers by the end of Phase I and 1,000 by the end of Phase III. By growing our weekly attendance, we can make a way for people to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
250 Baptisms
Baptisms are public declarations of one’s faith, which means more stories are being shared of God’s saving power. Those stories draw more lost people to Christ helping to make Heaven standing room only. We’ve had over 40 baptisms since opening our doors and with more attendees, we have the opportunity to see many more people say, “Yes” to Jesus! We anticipate witnessing over 200 baptisms by the end of Phase III.
1 Church Plant
One of our values is Kingdom Multiplication. We want to make more disciples and plant more churches to reach those who are far from Christ. Although we help other church plants and missionaries outside of our church family, our desire is to send some of our very best to make a Kingdom impact somewhere there’s a need just as Harvest Ministries has done in the 380 community (Little Elm/Aubrey area).. Our prayer is to send out 10 or more families by the end of Phase II.
1 Permanent Home
Over the next five years, our vision is to prayerfully begin and complete a renovation of a current facility or build a new one to serve as our permanent church home within seven miles of our current meeting location. Our desire is for our church to serve as a faith-based community center that does ministry seven days a week expanding our spiritual footprint while establishing physical roots and providing a central hub for our community. Our prayer is to, at minimum, break ground in Phase III on a permanent home.
Resources
Watch Video for Booklet Overview
Dates to remember
Oct
October 12th - Sermon Series & Matthew 3:3 Challenge Start
Join us for our 6-week "Way Maker" series along with our "Matthew 3:3 Challenge" consisting of 21 days of prayer where every day at 3:30PM for 21 days we stop and pray for God's provision through Way Maker. Download the Matthew 3:3 Challenge instructions here. If you'd like a wristband, please check at our Welcome Table next to the Connections Cafe.
October 15th - Faith & Finance Class Starts
Develop your financial framework and sharpen your skills to produce a healthier financial future. Click here to register for this class.
October 21st, 23rd, 28th, and 30th - Vision Nights
Vision Night is a moment to pause, look up, and seek God’s direction together. It’s a time to celebrate what He’s already done, to hear stories of life change, and to catch a glimpse of where He’s leading us next. You’ll walk away encouraged, challenged, and ready to take your next step in what God is doing here at Harvest Ministries. Register for one of our 4 in-person or virtual Vision Nights.
NOV
November 2nd - Devotional Starts
This starts immediately after our 21 days of prayer where we seek the Lord for 14 days as a church in deep devotion through Scripture, reflections, questions, and prayer. Download the 14-day Way Maker Devotional.
November 16th, 23rd, and 30th - Commitment Sundays
Commitment Sundays are when we as a church will submit our 2-Year Commitment Cards as we expect to provide in a mighty way over the next 2 years. These are not days to bring your actual offering (unless you so choose to) but rather simply submitting what your commitment will be. Click here for more instructions about completing a Commitment Card.
DEC
December 7th - "The Big Gift" Sunday
On "The Big Gift" Sunday, we as a church will bring a first fruits overing that will be in addition to our 2-Year Commitments. For more on these, please refer to the Way Maker booklet.
December 14th - Celebration Sunday
Celebration Sunday is when we as a church will announce all of our offerings and commitments towards Way Maker. This includes the offering from "The Big Gift" Sunday and all commitment cards submitted either in-person or online.
our impact
Salvations
68
Since the start of Harvest, we've seen men, women, students, and children move from death to life by putting their faith in Jesus.
baptisms
48
We've celebrated public displays of life transformation with over 40 believers at Harvest.
GROWTH
30%
We've seen 30% growth in attendance from 2024 to 2025.
Sundays
250
Every Sunday, over 250 people gather to worship and fellowship at Harvest.
Kids
50
Harvests Kids ministers to 50+ kids every Sunday.
students
55%
Harvest Students experienced 55% growth from 2024 to 2025. We've seen numerous students trust in Jesus as Savior and be baptized.
The Part You Play
We desire to raise $1 million in Phase I to solidify our position in negotiations for land or a building lease. This is the most significant generosity initiative in the history of our church to date. It will require more leaders and volunteers. It will require more members of our family to gladly own and embody the vision. It will require faithful prayer and faithful gospel partners. It will require all of us to give financially. Part of your role in this story will be to exercise these God-given gifts in a powerful way. We all have a part, and we are eager to watch the Lord prove Himself faithful for generations.
We are asking you to consider your part in our ongoing story of living beyond ourselves. How will you contribute to this vision?
$1 million is a God-sized goal at this stage in the life of our church, and therefore, we believe it cannot be accomplished apart from the Lord. We depend on your generosity to resource our ongoing ministry each year. In Way Maker, we are asking you to give in addition to your regular tithes and contributions toward this campaign. This next step of our vision is ambitious. We understand the trust and sacrifice that this kind of commitment requires, but we are confident that God, in His goodness, will meet all of our needs and align our hearts more closely with His as we share the gifts He has entrusted to us.
How will the $1 million be budgeted?
The $1 million will be divided into the following areas:
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10% for Church Planting & Mission Trip Grants
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90% for Personnel, Ministries, & Future Home
Financial Need
Phase I: $1,000,000 (10% for Missions & Church Planting)
The initial 24 months will be dedicated to raising faith funds to be put towards various needs of the church, including but not limited to development of ministries, missional activities, and the lease or down payment on a nearby property or unimproved land. Our goal is to raise $1,000,000 in cash offerings and commitments to assist with the aforementioned needs. 10% will be designated for church planting and missions efforts.
Phase II: N/A
The next 12 months following Phase I will be dedicated to establishing foundational ministry activities, expanding our Kingdom impact through local, national, and global missions efforts, obtaining a lease or purchasing land (if not completed in Phase I), and making interest and principal payments on the mortgage (if one is in place) to lessen the church’s debt obligation prior to Phase III.
Phase III: TBD
The final 24-36 months following Phase II will be dedicated to raising faith funds towards developing or renovating a permanent facility. The cost, buildout, and other pertinent details will be discovered once land is purchased unless a preexisting building is acquired. Financing will also be a viable option based on our lending capacity to assist the church in reaching this goal. Please know that the entire amount will not be financed but rather a portion of it will with the remaining balance being faith funds raised through this Phase of our Way Maker generosity initiative. Lord willing, this building will leave a legacy of faith for the 380 communities for generations now and to come.
Giving Scale
At this point, you may already be praying about guidance on how you can play a pivotal role in this initiative. Here are 3 steps for you to take:
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PRAY: Pray for individuals in our growing community. Pray for our ability to reach them with the saving grace of Jesus and help them live fully for God. Pray that God will help us Make a Way for Jesus to Impact Generations Now and to Come.
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CONSIDER: Take time to humbly consider how God might be leading you to engage this vision as you take a bold step of faith as a Way Maker. What does this vision mean to you and your family?
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PARTICIPATE: Make a commitment to attend church throughout this sermon series. Participate in the Matthew 3:3 Challenge and Way Maker Devotional. Take a step of faith through a 2-year financial commitment that answers the question, "What could I rely on God for in an exercise of faith?"
This chart shows an example of the number of gifts at various amounts that it might take to realize our vision.
Our hope is not equal gifts but equal sacrifice.
CHART GLOSSARY
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Number of Gifts: This number represents the amount of gifts needed at the corresponding dollar amount.
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Amount of Each Gift: This number is a dollar amount representing a total 2-year commitment.
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Monthly Breakdown: This number is a monthly breakdown of the total 2-year commitment.
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Total at This Level: This number is the total 2-year commitment amounts after multiplying the Number of Gifts by the Amount of Each Gift.
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Cumulative Total: This number is the cumulative dollar amount total of all 2-year commitment gifts including the previous row's total to achieve the Way Maker vision.
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Cumulative # of Gifts: This number is the cumulative amount of 2-year commitment gifts including the previous row's total to achieve the Way Maker vision.
GIFT COMMITMENT EXAMPLES
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If you decide to give a 2-year commitment gift of $1,000 to Way Maker (row #1 Giving Scale chart below), the monthly giving amount to reach that $1,000 goal will be $42 per month over the 2-year period.
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If 20 people give $1,000 each over the course of 2 years, the cumulative total at that level (row #1 Giving Scale chart below) is $20,000. In addition to that, if 20 people give $2,000 each over the course of 2 years, the cumulative total of the first 2 levels (rows #1 and #2 Giving Scale chart below) is $60,000 or the sum of $20,000 and $40,000.
Way Maker Giving Calculator
Not seeing a gift amount above that fits your season. Click the Giving Calculator picture below to try a few gift amounts that better suit you. No gift is too little in the Kingdom of God. Simply follow these steps:
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Click here or the picture below
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Click "Make Copy" (this calculator is only capatible with Google Sheets)
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Begin entering Monthly Commitment Amounts to compare and contrast the annual and 2-Year Commitment totals.
Ways to Give
Make a 24-month Commitment
On November 16th, 23rd, and 30th, we will ask individuals and families to turn in commitment cards that represent their intended donation. This is not a binding contract, but a declaration of your intentions, which will help us plan and achieve our Phase I goals. We are seeking 100% participation.
Participate in our "The Big Gift" Sunday
On December 7th, you may also give a one-time gift as a part of "The Big Gift" Sunday in addition to your 24-month commitment that will begin January 1st, 2026, and end December 31st, 2027. Remember to clearly designate on your check's memo line that the contribution (or a portion of the contribution) should be attributed to Way Maker Fund. If you wish to give a cash donation, please enclose the funds in a sealed envelope with your name, address and designation to Way Maker Fund written on the outside; these can be dropped in the offering boxes. If you have any questions or would like more information about any of these options, please contact our Finance team at info@harvestministries.org.
Make Commitment to Way Maker Initiative
Recurring + One-time Giving (online)
Other Ways to Give
Checks
Giving via check is our preferred method of giving for large gifts because it eliminates processing fees. If you would like to give via check, please make the check out to “Harvest Ministries." Make sure to include “Way Maker Fund” in the memo. Checks can be mailed directly from your financial institution if you don't own any physical checks. Please have checks mailed to the church’s office:
Harvest Ministries of Denton County
ATTN: Finance
11450 US Hwy 380 Ste 130-286
Cross Roads, TX 76227
Stocks & Mutual Funds
Giving appreciated securities like stock or mutual funds often allows you to maximize your giving! For more information, email info@harvestministries.org.
Donor-Advised Funds
The church is set up as a charitable entity with most major brokers. Please have them send distributions to the church's address listed above, and include “Way Maker Fund” in the memo. For assistance, email info@harvestministries.org.
Company Matching
Many companies will match your donations to non-profit entities. Find out if your place of work does and how much they'll contribute by visiting The Adventure Project's Matching Gifts website.
Phase i progress*
0% Committed
0% Received
*Tracking will begin after Celebration Sunday on December 14th
Making a Way for Jesus to Impact Generations Now and to Come.
FAQs
Why the name "Way Maker"?
Matthew 3:3 (NASB)
For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!’”
Way Maker tagline: Making a Way for Jesus to Impact Generations Now and to Come
Why a Generosity Initiative?
A generosity initiative is a planned effort to encourage and foster generosity, often within a community or organization, by promoting giving, volunteering, and other acts of kindness. In essence, it’s more than a capital campaign. It’s an exciting, galvanizing event in the life of an organization. At certain moments, it becomes apparent to leadership, through deliberation and prayer that God’s plan is for growth at an accelerated rate. His plans may include a building, an endowment, or other substantial capital investments, while at the same time raising increased support for the operational needs of the organization. When that happens, ministries that exist for Christ’s Kingdom and purposes turn to the thoughtful Christian stewards who love the mission and desire for God to use what He has entrusted to them for God’s purposes in that place.
This is not without precedent in scripture:
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Moses takes an offering to fund the tabernacle and complete its furnishings (Exodus 25)
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David raises a matching gift from Israel’s wealthy families to fund the Temple’s construction (1 Chronicles 29:1-9)
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Josiah raises designated funds to rebuild the Temple (2 Kings 22)
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Ezra raises funds to rebuild the Temple after returning from exile (Ezra 7:11-26)
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Nehemiah makes a major gift and raises funds from his secular boss to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:8)
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Paul takes up an offering to provide relief to the Jerusalem Church during an empire-wide famine (2 Corinthians 8:1-15)
Where are we looking for a permanent home?
We are looking preferably, within 7 miles of Braswell High School. The number 7 is the foundation of God's word. It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to Creation and symbolizes completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). A permanent home for Harvest Ministries that also serves as a community center is a physical and spiritual act of worship and a means to expand God’s kingdom within Creation. In addition, with the population growth of the 380 Corridor and expansion of infrastructure, travel time to and from this permanent location is optimal within a 7-mile radius of our current meeting location, Braswell High School, to minimize adjusted travel times and maximize the care, connection, and community of our current and future church families.
How will Way Maker be funded?
It’s no secret that living, ministry, land, and construction costs have been high in recent years. The Way Maker guiding team will work diligently to ensure the church is stewarding our resources with wisdom. As the Way Maker generosity initiative develops in Phases I and II, a reasonable minimum estimate for Phase III will materialize. What can’t be quantified by a dollar amount is the potential of lives impacted for all eternity as we strive to make Heaven standing room only. This initiative will take place through a multi-phase, faith raising campaign, estimated to last five to six years.
All of the faith funds raised in Phase I must come from Harvest Ministries’ congregation. This is a kingdom project and will take 100% participation to make it come to fruition either through financial means or other resources.
Why are we seeking a permanent home within the next 5 years?
Aubrey has experienced explosive population growth of almost 70% over the past 5 years and is expected to almost double in size by the year 2030. Little Elm has also experienced tremendous growth expanding by one-third of its population since 2020 with expectations to grow by another one-third by 2030. A permanent home is our way to accommodating these rising cities as we worship right on the border of the two.
Not only will this building help us to accommodate growth and continue living out our mission as a church, but real estate prices and interest rates are growing exponentially and waiting too long will put the church at risk of not having a place to worship within this community. We will establish roots and greatly expand our ministry capabilities by establishing a permanent home for Harvest Ministries. The school district has been gracious to us allowing us to use their facilities and is truly a blessing but this agreement was never meant to be a long-term solution and limits our ability to minister to our community.
