The little church in Forks, Washington, was blessed last fall by hosting a Laurelwood Academy pilot program called “Seeds for the Harvest.” Altogether 27 juniors and seniors and seven staff spent 12 days doing many outreach and community service projects. They ate breakfast and did school work each morning at the church. Then in the afternoon and evening they worked in the community planting seed for Jesus.
Some students raked leaves and stacked firewood for people. Some cleaned and did landscaping at the local timber museum and folded clothes at the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Others did health screening at the local supermarket and gave health lectures at the library.
They distributed more than 400 magabooks such as Peace Above the Storm (Steps to Christ), Great Controversy, Health Power, Kids in the Kitchen cookbooks and Angels Among Us. They covered the entire city of Forks and the surrounding area including the Native American Reservations at La Push and Neah Bay.
The Academy choir and bell choir performed at the local long-term care facility and at the senior citizen luncheon in town. On Sabbath they led out in the worship service at church, told stories for the children and sang at the Native American village of Queets. Every evening, after worship at the church, many wonderful stories were told about the contacts that had been made during the day.
What a privilege and blessing it was to have them with us. Christians of our faith and other faiths opened their homes to these students and provided a place for them to sleep each night.
If your church needs a boost and a blessing, contact Laurelwood Academy to plant seeds for the harvest in your community. •
