Stewardship 2021: We are Family: TOGETHER WE THRIVE

Giving, generosity, stewardship are not one-time events. As faithful followers of the ways of Christ, our whole lives are to be given generously in the care of all that we have been given – our time, talent, and treasure. We live as good stewards, and thrive in a culture of generosity.

Our 2021 stewardship emphasis, ‘We are Family: Together We Thrive’ is just one step on this path of faithful giving and living. Your pledges and offerings support our daily, ongoing ministries for the 2020 calendar/fiscal year. You can make your 2021 pledge here.

TOGETHER WE THRIVE
. stories from the Harvard Avenue family .

We Are Family: Together We Thrive

Those six words perfectly describe how most of us feel about our personal experience at Harvard Avenue Christian Church. Personally, I have been blessed in multiple ways since moving to Tulsa exactly three years ago.

We Are Family: When Buzz McDaniel and I married, I had been widowed 10 years and my only son and family lived in California. Suddenly, not only did I have Buzz’s family, but also the bonus of Harvard Avenue and the Challengers Class as INSTANT family!

Together We Thrive: ‘To thrive’ is to grow, to be healthy, to find purpose and joy in life. My life has been invigorated with new friends, opportunities to serve, to exercise, to celebrate socially, and to grow spiritually. 

For all these reasons, I thank God by sharing my time and resources as generously as possible to say, ‘Thank you, Harvard Avenue Christian Church, for the many ways you have enriched my life.’

Linda Rosser McDaniel

My grandparents came to HACC soon after it opened. I’m a third generation member and have spent most of my life here. So when I think of “church family” the memories are vast.

Most of the values I have today, I learned from someone at the church.

I learned about hard work and true gratitude when our youth group went on a mission trip to Tijuana to build a rec center for a struggling community. Most of their homes were made of cardboard, and the water truck only came through once a day. That trip forever changed the lens through which I experience the world, and I use it as an example when teaching my boys about what’s important in life.

I learned about commitment when the choir director, Doris Allen, thought it would be great to have the youth choir do the early service every week. (I’m not going to lie, that was a tough sell when I was in high school!)

I learned the value of traditions, while living away for over a decade. I always looked forward to coming home for Christmas and lighting the candles at the end of the Christmas Eve service. After the service, I was usually enveloped by such HACC luminaries as Carol Southard, Nancy Wells and dozens of others eagerly interested in how my life was going.

I’ve been encouraged and supported in more ways than I can count over the years. The fabric of our church is tightly woven because of the unbridled generosity of those that have shared their time, talents and treasures throughout HACC’s history. My family and I happily give to ensure that tradition lives on.

Jamie Richert Jones

I vividly remember the first time I walked through the doors of Harvard Avenue Christian Church. I was skeptical about returning to church and thought it would take visits to multiple churches before I found the one for me. Little did I know that God was guiding me to this place because this is where I belonged.

My family fell in love with HACC from the first moment we walked in those doors. We were greeted by friendly faces who welcomed us into this beautiful place of worship. We were moved by the music, the sermon, the prayers, and of course the people. These strangers quickly grew to become part of my family. My children were excited to go to church and be part of all the children and youth ministries. My husband and I found a wonderful Sunday School class that has helped our faith grow and lead us closer to God. I count my blessings to have found a church family in which to share my faith journey.  

Harvard Avenue feels like home and filled a void in my heart I never knew existed. I am in awe of all the ways HACC seeks to serve God through its involvement both in the community and abroad. I give my time, talents, and monetary donations to HACC out of an abundance of love for my church family. I give because I want to be part of God’s work. I give because I am grateful for Christ’s sacrifice. I give to show thanks for all the blessings in my life and hope my gifts can bring blessings to others. Harvard Avenue Christian Church is part of my family and together we thrive.

Rebecca Morris

My wife Deni and I joined Harvard Avenue just over two years ago. Joining this incredible church has been one of the best decisions of our lives. We had been searching for a new church home for about a year. We visited several nice churches but just did not feel that God was leading us to join any of the ones we attended. Our search continued and in a discussion one night I remembered that three of our very favorite couples in Tulsa all attended HACC.  Those couples were the Southards, the Hollingsworths and the Richerts.  I began asking questions to all three couples and they really encouraged Deni and I to attend a Sunday service.

We did visit and honestly from that very first service we both knew that God was calling us to join HACC.  From the welcome by the greeters at the front door, to the absolutely amazing music, to the members of the congregation asking  warmly if we were visitors, to the great staff who led the service there was simply no other choice.  Soon we would learn that the energy, love, diversity, and respect shown at HACC was unlike anything we had ever experienced in a faith community. 

We are so blessed to have joined this Christ-centered Church. The support, compassion and generosity in good times and bad by each member and staff is such a credit to those who have built and continue to grow our thriving church. Deni and I  hope we can help our church in any way we can contribute: spiritually, financially, volunteering… anything to reciprocate the gifts that each of you have given us.

Doug Stuart

Nine years ago, when Duncan was born, Christina and I were determined to not miss any choir rehearsals despite the exhaustion of new parenthood. He was so tiny though that we were still uncomfortable letting him out of our sight. The solution to our problem came in the form of one Glenda Womack. She started coming to rehearsals with her husband, Jim, a long-time choir member, on Wednesday nights and just held our baby for us where we could still see him. This simple act was terribly powerful to me and Christina. I can go on talking about how the Golls and the Cargills and so many more have blessed us with such gifts. This is the paradigm I think of when I hear ‘Church Family’. We witness this kind of generosity all the time at HACC. It is what binds us together as more than congregants, but a family.

It has been hard to go so long without seeing all of our Church Family. I know, however, that the generosity of spirit among us is undiminished. Our family continues to give of their time, talent and treasure. So many groups are worried about simply surviving during this pandemic. I am not worried about HACC. This family will not just survive but THRIVE.

Todd Maxwell