Sunday Service Plan

Our regular Sunday worship services will be happening at 9am & 11am in the main auditorium.  Live Streaming will also be available through our Church Online Platform, YouTube Channel, and Facebook.

Harvest Kids

With limited space available on our main level, Harvest Kids program will only be available for kids who are walkers thru age 5.  All kids age 6 and older will attend the worship service in the main auditorium.  Kids packets will be available for kids during the service.  ** Our goal is to come up with creative alternatives to be able to still offer Harvest Kids for Elementary age kids as soon as possible.

Parents also have ongoing access to our Kids Ministry curriculum to do at home with your kids any time during the week by downloading the free Parent Cue app.  Weekly videos are also available on the Harvest Kids YouTube channel.

Air Quality Results

On Wednesday, August 13, Air Water Soil conducted a limited mold sampling air quality test to determine the safety of the building. Air samples were taken from four locations on the main level (two in the auditorium, two in the lobby) and compared to an outdoor reference sample. During this test, normal Sunday morning systems were operational, including the HVAC system in the auditorium and lobby. This test captured a snapshot of the air quality on Wednesday morning, and actual conditions may change over time.

On Thursday, August 14, results showed mold levels in all main-level samples were the same as or lower than outdoor levels, except for one reading in the north end of the auditorium (near the stage). That sample showed a moderately higher level of mold spores in the air. According to the laboratory’s proprietary “MoldSCORE” system, the score of the sample from the north end of the auditorium was at the low end of “moderate likelihood” of indoor mold growth. The slightly elevated reading in the north auditorium may be linked to air movement from the basement, where mold removal is underway.

Overall, the main level is considered generally safe for most people. However, people with mold sensitivities may want to limit time in the building until basement remediation is complete. Containment and filtration in the basement will remain in place, and extra precautions will be taken to keep basement mold from reaching the main level.

Following the advice of Air Water Soil, plastic containment barriers presently cover all three stairwells between the basement and upstairs. Throughout the week, Dayspring Restoration provided a negative-pressure filtration system to mitigate contaminants in the air. Harvest Springs purchased a similar system, which will operate throughout the demolition and remediation process. 

If you do not feel comfortable attending Sunday services in the facility while remediation is being completed, we encourage you to continue to engage in Sunday services through our livestream options linked above. 

During further demolition on Saturday morning (August 9), concern on the wider presence of mold found led to a decision to hold Sunday Worship Services outside on the west lawn out of an abundance of caution and a desire to ensure a safe environment for everyone.  We will have one service at 10am on August 10;  kids programing available for kids ages 2-5 on the back patio.

Completely restoring the basement for continued ministry will require significant time and a strategic plan. The first phase is the removal of all materials affected by the water damage, including sheetrock and flooring. The second phase is the professional remediation of the mold growth in all affected areas in the basement. The third phase is the reinstallation of all materials. And the last phase will be completing the finishing work required to make the basement usable for ministry. Throughout the process, Harvest Springs staff, along with the Board of Administration, will make decisions regarding how to remodel the basement to meet the needs of the ministry. 

Currently, the basement is unusable on Sunday mornings for regular Harvest Kids programming, and there is no projected timeline for the return of Harvest Kids programming. However, we are strategizing creative solutions to begin Harvest Kids programming as soon as possible. We are also prioritizing the restoration of spaces within the basement to accommodate a modified Harvest Kids program. 

The demolition process discovered black mold from previous water damage on the inside of the sheetrock and framing in classrooms. Before this water damage, no visible black mold was present in the basement. Throughout the years, several flooding events in the basement have occurred that we corrected immediately to prevent the growth of mold. However, as was illustrated by this past rainfall event, the water table around the building rises, and water enters through cracks in the foundation of the building. Throughout the demolition process, extreme care is being taken to remove all mold within the basement.   

Dayspring has provided several commercial air scrubber filtration devices that have been active in the basement. We have isolated the areas affected by the damage to prevent further damage. We consulted with Dayspring, and it is safe to gather for worship on Sunday mornings in the building. In addition, we consulted with Scott Vosen at Air Water Soil, who advised us that the air is safe, given the preventive measures currently in process. However, if you have respiratory complications and you do not feel comfortable attending Sunday services in the facility, we encourage you to continue to engage in Sunday services through our livestream options on Facebook, YouTube, or Church Online. 

The Board of Administration will work with local contractors to determine how best to address the drainage problem around the building. While the interior of the building must be addressed, we also recognize that the exterior of the building needs to be adequately prepared to drain future water events and prevent future damage to the foundation and interior of the facility. 

The restoration process will require a significant financial investment. We are currently assessing the total cost and exploring various funding options, including insurance claims. Your financial support through faithful giving is crucial in helping us restore the facility for the benefit of the congregation. We have a six-month operational cash reserve that we will draw from to complete the remodeling of the basement.

1. Pray for God’s protection on the facility and those working to resolve the issues caused by the water damage. Pray for wisdom for leadership throughout the process to steward well the physical and financial resources of Harvest Springs. Pray for God to use this as an opportunity to strengthen the sense of community within the people of Harvest Springs. Pray that God would do more in and through us as a church body through this unexpected challenge. 

2. Volunteer opportunities will be plentiful during this season. We will communicate when serving opportunities are needed. Some tasks must be completed by skilled people, and other tasks can be accomplished by others. As a congregation, your involvement is crucial. God has provided many people skilled and willing to serve to help restore the facility, and your contribution is invaluable.

3. Give financially to the basement restoration. We have set up a giving line item through online giving if you would like to give directly to the basement restoration project. We also encourage you to continue your faithful giving if you are a regular contributor to Harvest Springs. If you are not a regular giver, consider giving to this project to support the ministry of Harvest Springs.