Spring Harvest is a successful Christian initiative that has swept throughout the UK and has inspired many to transform the expression of church. Its annual Easter main event will begin on 21st March, and some 55,000 Christians of all ages and from a wide range of church backgrounds are expected to attend.
The theme of Spring Harvest 2005 is "Sing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land". Based on the stories recorded in the Book of Daniel about the lives of Daniel and his companions, who were taken by force from Jerusalem to Babylon, Spring Harvest will guide participants to examine what is the significance of being a Christian in this era, in a climate of competing and sometimes hostile world views.
Christians are the people of God just like Daniel and his companions who lived in Jerusalem, however, the reality faced by the people of God is not very easy. Just as Daniel was exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon, Christians in this era are forced to live in a "strange land" that is filled with ethical chaos. In this position, churches are encouraged to ask a number of questions related to the interaction of Christians with the secular world, as well as learning from the way they set themselves apart and survive.
- How they should respond to their loss of power and the seeming defeat of Israel’s God?
- What new aspects of God’s sovereignty, character and plan were revealed through the trials they faced?
- What strategies did they adopt not only to survive but to thrive in hostile times?
- What is lost and what is gained on the journey from Jerusalem to Babylon?
In the programme, after the bible reading of the book of Daniel, participants can go to different Zones where they will join guests with similar interests. They will be given plenty of opportunity to digest, explore and apply the core teaching material. Spring Harvest aims to equip the church for action.
The upcoming main event will take place in two venues: Skegness on 21st March - 10th April and Minehead on 26th March - 10th April. Tailor-made programmes are arranged for children and youths, family, young adult and students as well as adults.
Spring Harvest was first launched in 1979 as a one-week event in Prestatyn, but now Spring Harvest has developed into the largest Christian conference in Europe. Apart from the annual main event, it is also responsible for running a number of conferences, courses and producing a range of resources.
Spring Harvest is inter-denominational, aiming to "equip the church for action", encourage Christians to think about their faith, to be transformed through the renewing of their minds and to engage in the mission of God in the world.