We have had many inquiries from supporters asking how we can assure them that the families they are giving to are real, really in need, and really who and what they say they are, etc. While there are no guarantees that families will not misrepresent themselves to us, we do our best to present families which are truly in need to the Donors, because we truly value your giving, and we take the responsibility of presenting the families to you very seriously.
This letter is to give you as a Donor and the families who are looking for referral and support an understanding of the guidelines and standards we hold at Gleaning the Harvest. We want you to know what we believe and hold to in our support of our families.
These standards and guidelines have been thought-out and are not meant in to condemn anyone’s choices, lifestyles or beliefs in any way, nor are they to keep anyone from benefiting from Gleaning the Harvest. As with all charitable associations, which we are in our representation of families to the community, we must have guidelines and be able to know that these guidelines are being adhered to. This is a very hard thing to do online, not knowing a family in real life, so we have found we need to set specific standards and parameters for referral and acceptance to GTH.
To clarify, here are the qualifications for representation we have had at Gleaning the Harvest since its inception.
*The family must home school all of their school-age children, not sending any to a government or private school institution.
*The family must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Messiah, and endeavor to train their children up in God’s Word.
*The mother must be at home or seeking to be at home to care for her family.
[Mothers who seek employment outside their homes are not discriminated against; we just are choosing to aid those home school mothers who choose to be home and have no other income from an outside job.]
*The family must, in their lives, strive to live in a manner reflecting Scriptural guidelines.
Here are the Scriptural applications we look to for our guidelines that will prove this out: Titus 2 gives us standards on how “to behave the way people leading a holy life should.” so that “God’s message will not be brought into disgrace.”
Titus 2:3-5
Likewise, tell the older women to behave the way people leading a holy life should. They shouldn’t be slanderers or slaves to excessive drinking. They should teach what is good, thus training the younger women to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled and pure, to take good care of their homes and submit to their husbands. In this way, God’s message will not be brought into disgrace.“
So, by this Scripture alone, at Gleaning the Harvest, for widows and single mothers, we are asking that GTH families strive to live these standards of holiness.
**Watch your speech
**No drunkenness – this includes other worldly habits also, such as smoking, partying, drugs, pornography, and such.
**Teach what is good (by God’s standards)
**Love your children
**Be self-controlled and pure–minded
**Take good care of your home, including yourself, your finances, and your children.
In order to clarify the standards we have about women working, we have added this portion to this page: Our standards do not state, nor is it our belief that women should not work at all, for if that were the case, a wife and home keeper would not take on its true meaning. We are to be business-minded and entrepreneurial as women.
We do not believe it is wrong, nor do we withhold sponsorship from moms who work their own businesses, including cleaning houses or businesses, work at home, etc. Many a godly woman has maintained her home, keeping it and training her children in her home as she works on her own business in her home, married or not.
We are a big supporter of our families. We expect that these women will be single for many years, and are grateful to Yehovah God that he has given them talents and desires to work with their hands to be productive and also to teach their own children to do the same. It should be so also in a marriage, where a wife, such as the Prov. 31 woman also, was a great blessing to her husband and his household.
We consider the GTH families to be an extended part of our family relationships and circle of fellowship. We do not require personal relationship with the family, but do need to be welcome to be a part in the lives of the families, so we can “know” them and properly represent them to the Donors online.
We have to know you either in person, through personal emails, or through a blog or website or social networking site.
References, which are also required, will have to be able to be verified in the same manner, in a manner acceptable to us. If we feel that we cannot recommend you because we do not know you well enough, we will not be able to represent you on the site.
~Though not required, speaking directly to your Pastor, verified by a website and a phone number online is one of the best references you can give.
There will be no exceptions to this.
Accepting families into Gleaning the Harvest will also be on a trial basis. We will not set the trial time, because we do not know how long it will take to get to know each individual family. That will depend on the relationship between the family and GTH and the family’s online presence.
By knowing each family in a more personal way online, we will be able to better apply the GTH Standards of Ministry and guidelines to each family.
If anything becomes apparent or we see a change in your life that applies to these standards of our representing you on GTH, we will contact you. If it is something you choose to ignore, and, we understand if you choose to, because we are not your Biblical authority, we will strongly consider discontinuing your representation to the public on GTH.
We do not view ourselves in any manner as an authority over or in anyone’s life, while we do consider the call to be responsible for making sure the other families represented to others on our site meet the guidelines that we set. We are presenting each family to the public, with this assurance to our Partners – that families are living the standards and guidelines we set. This is a great responsibility, and we will make sure our representation to them is true. People who give to others want to make sure they are giving to the Lord and His People, and most do not wish to support worldly things in their giving.
If any circumstances in your life changes, please be up-front and let us know about it. These are not the only reasons we wish to know about changes, but it is necessary to know them.
Things that could change might include:
*changing residences (that will likely affect the amount per month needed.)
*if you decide to put any of your children into a school outside of your home;
*the status of a romantic relationship (1Timothy 5:11-13);
*if you are looking for or get a job outside your home;
*if you decide to start a business in your home;
Even if a family would choose to not let us know, if any circumstances change in any of the families we represent, we are responsible for noticing that and removing any families who no longer meet the original guidelines and standards originally agreed to.
Family members, in their real life and online interactions, whether on blogs, social networks, or in comments to others, should diligently try to reflect these guidelines. That is not to say we are not all human, nor can any of us be perfect in our lives, but, we are called by God to Be Holy and Be perfect in Him, as we live for Him. Certainly, when one decides that they are in control and God is not, and turns to the ways of the world, in speech and/or actions, these things become evident to the reader, and if this happens, determination will be made by personal contact if removal from GTH representation is necessary.
If at any time, any family member becomes hostile, negative or non-communicative toward any member representing Gleaning the Harvest, we will immediately remove the family from GTH representation. That is an obvious expectation, since you would not expect someone to give to you if you would treat them in this manner.
If you are interested in seeing our understanding of God’s Word for our families, in respect to widows, please read Widows in the Word. We base our standards, guidelines and approval of families on these verses.
Please understand that this is not a set of rules of who you must be, but, rather, a Biblical look at who we are all to be striving to be as holy women of God. No one is perfect, and though God commands us to be perfect and be holy, he also imparts the grace when we fail daily.
It is not our job to look too closely. If we have to look too closely, well, we are looking too closely. Godliness – striving to be who God desires – is immediately noticeable in a person. Losing that first love is also immediately noticeable, and that is more what we are concerned about. We are not here to judge or to moderate, but to uphold the Word and live it in love and grace, allowing God to lead us and shape us.
Scripture references: Matthew 5:43-48, Leviticus 11:44-45
If anyone looking for referral or presentation on Gleaning the Harvest feels that they cannot abide by the standards and qualifications set forth in this letter, please do not request submittal for consideration to Gleaning the Harvest.
Please note that this letter and its standards and guidelines are subject to change, be added to, etc. at any time at the discretion of the trustees of Serenity’s Haven in agreement with the ministers of Gleaning the Harvest.