The training center would house, train, educate, and introduce troubled teenagers to Jesus Christ and build character into their lives.

The call of faith has always been upon this ministry of Harvest Baptist Church. The ministry operates a Christian school, Bible college, and training center without charging monthly tuition.

In the summer of 2000, the training center faced challenging times, due to the low level of support. It was a difficult winter, and at times the utility bills reached $13,000 for one month.  The center had depleted all of its funds.  This challenged the staff and church, once again, to fall upon their face before God and ask Him, the source of our lives, to provide as He had always done for the needs of the children.

While preaching in Toledo, Ohio, the director of the center called and explained of the shortage of food. I challenged the church in Ohio, the members of Harvest, and even the children in the home to ask God to provide.  That summer proved to be one of the most exciting summers for answered prayer. The next morning, after the challenge to call upon the Lord, two grocery stores, in small communities, called and wanted to know if we needed food for the center. They were closing down, and if we would come and get the groceries, they would be delighted to donate them to the center.

That same year, a truck driver came walking up on the property from the direction of Highway 20 and asked the director of the center if wanted some turkeys. His truck had broken down on the interstate, behind the Anchor Character Training Center.  We went and picked up over twenty cases of turkeys for the training center.

To top it all off, a cold storage company contacted Pastor Smith about several cases of fresh hams, left on a dock by a truck driver.  They wanted to know if we needed meat for the center. I could continue on and on with multiple testimonies regarding the faithfulness of God.

I have come to know this, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” II Chronicles 16:9 God is not a respecter of persons, and this same God is interested in your needs regardless of how small or how large. Nothing is too hard for Him. Let me encourage you to stay upon Jehovah. Pray through my dear friend, pray through!

Written by Pastor Marvin Smith