What goes on and who uses Harvest House?

Harvest House provides retreat space to over 120 teenage, adult and family groups per year.  Harvest House is home to the Buffalo Diocese program, Young Christians at Work and the national service experience, Young Neighbors in Action.  Sleeping arrangements are made in carpeted rooms, on one of the many couches or on the floor.  Groups prepare their own meals in the fully equipped kitchen.  The second floor chapel provides an intimate setting for small group services or private meditation and houses a spiritual library.  The Harvest House facilities are available to any Christian denomination for prayer services, bible study, pro-life activities and other spiritual programs.  The pipe organ and grand piano may be used for concerts, recitals or church services. 

Past programs presented in the church by other non profit organizations include school plays, Gospelfest, the Franciscan Mystery Players "Way of the Cross and "The Birth of Jesus".  Through the Baby and Children's Ministry, Harvest House is the largest provider of free baby items and cribs in the city, serving over 180 agencies.  Donated children's and baby clothing, cribs, high chairs, car seats, strollers and other baby necessities are given to those referred by local social service agencies, hospitals, churches, shelters and supporters.  The baby and Children's Ministry has outgrown its space and in the future will to our second location on Jefferson Avenue.  The pipe organ is the only operating Austin in the area and is available to students for practice time and to individuals wishing to simply play for their own enjoyments.  Besides retreats, other groups using Harvest House include Bible Study groups, block clubs,  community groups and non profit organizations, Kairos Prison Ministry team meetings, youth group service projects, and benefit concerts for other non profit agencies.

Harvest House often host out of state youth groups who are in the area working for Habitat for Humanity or other service organizations.  Harvest House has hosted such diverse groups as a performing sign language troop from Cheyenne, WY, a youth Bagpipe band from Boston, MA, and the annual Hungarian Scouts Leadership Conference with participants from all over the USA and Canada.

Past guests include a teenage boxing club from Northern Ireland and an Orphan Choir from Zambia, South Africa.