Fresh Harvest Ministries - About our Region

Facts & Figures

According to the 2000 US Census, Illinois now has a total population of 12,419,293 people. For its part, Cook County continues to be the largest county and it is the only one with over a million population at 5,376,741 people. In addition, substantial population gains also took place in DuPage, Lake, Will and Kane Counties. In total, Illinois as a state grew 8.6% from 1990 to the Year 2000 Census. Further, Illinois produced an estimated $489.7 billion Gross State Product, which placed it among the top five U.S. states. In addition, Illinois ranked fourth in headquarters for the nation's largest companies from the 2002 Fortune 500 list. (Sources: US Census, Illinois and Fortune).

Further, for 2001, Site Selection Magazine ranked Illinois the top state in the nation for economic development. Plus, O'Hare International Airport was selected as "Best Airport in North America" by international passengers surveyed by Business Traveler magazine. The airport handled more than 910,000 flights in 2001, making it the world's busiest. And, it served more than 75 million passengers in 2000. (Source: Site Selection Mag. and Bus. Traveler Mag).

According to the 2000 US Census, Missouri now has a total population of 5,595,211 people, which means that it currently ranks 17th in the nation. For its part, St. Louis County continues to be the largest county and it is the only one with over a million population in Missouri. In addition, substantial population gains were also registered in the Ozarks Region. Currently, the state ranks as the 12th lowest in cost of living in the US out of 46 states plus the District of Columbia. Further, Missouri exported $6.88 billion in 2001, which was a 13.2 % decline from the 2000 level of $7.93 billion. Finally, as of August, 2002, the Missouri unemployment rate stood at 4.7%, which was a full percentage point lower than the US as a whole (Sources: US Census, ACCRA, MISER and MO).

Our Economy

Of course, the economies of both Illinois and Missouri were effected by the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Specifically, lay-offs came to both the States of Illinois and Missouri, when American Airlines and United Airlines each announced 20,000 job cuts system-wide soon after those attacks, as travelers stayed away from flying on business or pleasure trips. The two major airlines are both major employers in Chicago and American Airlines (after their purchase of the former TWA) has been a major employer in the St. Louis and Kansas City parts of Missouri. (Summarized from the Northwest Herald, Chicago Tribune, St. L Bus. J. & KC Bus. J).

In addition, manufacturing, which had been growing during each month at the beginning of 2002, has just taken a slight pause. This sector, in addition to consumer spending had been expected to help pull our nation and the States of Illinois and Missouri out of the doldrums. (Summarized from Chicago Tribune).

With approximately 18,000 such firms statewide, about three-quarters of Illinois' manufacturers are actually located in the Chicago area, with nearly 9,000 such companies in Cook County alone. In other parts of the State of Illinois, manufacturing also continues to flourish, with such corporate stand-outs as Caterpillar in Peoria, John Deere in Moline and ADM in Decatur, for example. In fact, the $95 billion gross output from these firms operating within Illinois during 2001 represented 24.2% of the Illinois Gross State product. (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Annual Survey of Manufacturers, Released March, 2002)

On the service sector side of the house in Downstate Illinois, nearly everyone, who lives in Bloomington, knows someone that works for State Farm Insurance.

Also, since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, St. Louis has seen an additional level of defense spending at Boeing (which is the former McDonnell Douglas), in particular, and at a company, such as Engineered Support Systems. (Summarized from St. L Bus. J).

Of course, agriculture and tourism each play an important, job generation role in the states of Illinois and Missouri. These job engines in ex-urban parts of both states are particularly evident in places such as the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, where an increasing number of weekend condo owners and retirees are now landing for boating and fishing, and at Branson, Missouri, where the other Nashville continues to provide great family entertainment at a reasonable cost.

In Kansas City, which is the #2 rail hub in the US (behind Chicago) and also the home of Sprint, Hallmark and H&R Block, as well as Yellow Corporation, there is a burst of new activity to help make Kansas City a bio med center in the US. Fueled by a nearly $2 billion (ultimately), private family donation, the Stowers Institute has already put KC on the map in this arena. (KC Bus. J, BW).

Most economists today feel that with housing sales remaining robust due to low interest rates and car sales continuing to perform well, the consumer seems to be leading us out of the recession. This development plus a rise in incomes likewise seems to be pointing to an upturn during 2nd half, 2003.

The stock market has also begun to rebound from its lowest point. This development itself is important with a majority of Americans now belonging to our investor class.

In addition, banks during late June, 2003 cut their prime interest rates, which followed a similar move by the Fed. (Source: NW Herald, BusinessWeek)

Uncertainty Leads Us to God

When do people seek God? Or, when do people turn to the Lord in prayer? Usually, those actions take place, when we are in trouble or when we need a helping hand from someone or we decide to turn to some power greater than ourselves.

But, when does revival take place in a church, city, state or nation? It is when we humble ourselves, when we repent from our sins and turn to God for help to go in the opposite direction from where we've been heading in the past. It is at this point that the Lord can really work in our lives to accomplish great things.

It is then, too, that the Lord can work in miracles and signs and wonders in order to demonstrate that He exists. Are the gifts of the Holy Spirit for today, you might logically ask? Yes, they are. And, you might further ask, why are they necessary? It's because so many people live their lives so far away from the Lord in terms of their day-to-day existence. Also, miracles and signs and wonders simply get our attention, which then causes us to re-think our view of God and His relevance in our lives. They also
increase our faith in God.

Fresh Harvest Ministries

Fresh Harvest Ministries is a part of the "new" wine skin of what God is accomplishing in His people today. Fresh Harvest Ministries presents a challenge to "the church as usual experience."

Fresh Harvest Ministries has a vision to serve the States of Illinois and Missouri, in particular, as we look toward extending our reach worldwide in the global harvest of souls prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ to this Earth. We have also been established to serve the needs of families and singles of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds, who are seeking more of the Lord. Fresh Harvest Ministries has a heart for the two neighboring States of Illinois and Missouri, in particular, and for the nations.

At Fresh Harvest Ministries, we expect that God will meet us in worship, that we will receive fresh revelation through sound, Bible-based teaching and that we can receive ministry through the exercise of spiritual gifts. We believe that adults, teens and children can all enter into this encounter or experience with the Lord.