Reflection of Spring Harvest 2009

Members of New Life Church have been attending Spring Harvest for the last five years and here are the reflections on our latest trip from Jim Smith, a hardened Spring Harvester:

I wish I could say it only seems like yesterday that I was at Spring Harvest but this certainly is not the case and yet, it is only three going on four months ago that I was sharing the loo with five other people. They shall remain nameless, not to spare their blushes, but not to remind me of the times I had my legs crossed!

Spring Harvest, now five times I have been there and still the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I stand with the thousands of ‘Jesus followers’ and sing ‘The splendour of the King’ and ‘Be thou my vision’ to the new country type tune, this was my brother’s favourite hymn but he would love the Robin Marks version, it just stirs your heart and fills you with unspeakable joy. Even Mike was rocking in the aisles, well maybe not quite rocking, I am sure I saw his foot tapping, but most importantly, he had a smile on his face – who wouldn’t have when you are standing beside Jo who is just loving every second of the worship and Mel on the other side of you enjoying it just as much. You will have gathered that the singing left a lasting impression on me; at times it was like being in Heaven, so many people praising and uplifting the name of Jesus.

A few of you know I have a problem with Steve Chalke, but his understudy at his church who is now the pastor of the church, took the morning Bible studies and boy was this guy good. His name is Dave Steele, a youngish man with a fantastic sense of humour. He told us humorous stories of what he used to dream up to do when it was raining in Minehead and he was in his chalet e.g. when young kids came down the path on their scooters, he would open the side window of the chalet just as they passed and say “Oh, good morning”, and he would sellotape a piece of bread to inside of the chalet window just to upset the seagulls and ducks who come everyday for a feed. But you know the amount of living bread this amazingly gifted preacher fed us with was just awesome. It is easy to use this word, but just listen to his CDs, listen for yourself and be challenged, be lifted, be made aware of your weaknesses and be reminded of how to overcome them and enjoy the love of Jesus.

I also enjoyed the Big Top meetings at night, where the ministry on the whole was pretty good and then you went to the Jonathon Veira Hour, it was just simply outstanding, there is not a superlative I can use to describe this talented and blessed man. However, I just look at my wife Yvonne’s face and that convinces me that Jesus just shines through him. One thing or person I missed this year was Tony Campolo, but you can’t have everything.

There are so many things you can do at Spring Harvest, but due to my advancing years and bad hips, I/we (Yvonne included) spent too much time at the bookstore and gift stores and at Pizza Hut! Then there was the train journey, John T would love this, a trip in a steam engine followed by a meal in an olde pub, the scenery is amazing, sea one side and countryside the other. The ladies went for a Cream Tea, an excuse to wallow in Scones, Jam, Butter and CREAM, I’ll let you guess who would be the ones to tempt the ladies gastric juices!

All this talk of scones etc leads me on to probably my favourite time, our get togethers after the evening meetings. This year we discussed what went on, the effect on people there and then, the effect on people after reflection, and the discussion was really good, enlightening, challenging, it was great to see people touched by the Holy Spirit and letting Him direct their paths. Some of our sessions went on into the wee sma hoors, but time was not an issue, what people wanted to talk about was the inspiration not the red wine as some folks might think, yes Jo, Mel, Nigel, Bernard, Anne S did enjoy a glass or two, but Mike and myself under the watchful eye of Anne M were restrained and father-like in our evening enjoyments and the obvious guidance we had to give being the elder statesmen, under the eye of our church elder Graham. There were a few visitors with us this time, Jo’s pal, Mel’s mum and Pippa’s mum. It was real family, together, to enjoy each other, to explore the extended family of God and bring a togetherness in Him to share with others. That is what Spring Harvest has done for me. Do you feel you would like to be part of His extended family at Minehead in 2010, then see Nigel Roissetter.

Yours in His wonderful name, that name is Jesus.

Jim