The ultimate and future goal of ArkHaven is to form “a Christian community of intentional neighbors” to prepare a campus on a “green island of survival” for a coming financial depression (and some would say, the seven year tribulation?) indicated by world economic trends, and prophetic voices, such as David Wilkerson, Larry Burkett, and others. Our purpose is to prepare places of equipping and sending, not hunkering down to hide and survive.
This depression is in all probability going to happen BEFORE the seven year tribulation period begins. Keep in mind that our nation has suffered three wars on this continent, as well as a depression, a dust bowl, 9/11, and Katrina. To say any of these historical disasters won’t or can’t happen again in America is foolishness.
God is not calling all Christians into this kind of a ministry, but God is telling all of us to prepare as He would have us prepare (physically, mentally, and spiritually) for the coming economic meltdown. A time will come in our beloved America when some will be called to the high calling of martyrdom, and others to the terrible task of surviving so as to minister to those Christians who were absolutely sure such things could not happen to Christians in America, and to the lost who were also put to sleep by the system keepers. To the point: we all must know what is coming down and how God would have each of us be prepared for that time. Obedience entails knowing His voice, and then obeying His instructions.
One of the greatest mission fields of the future is going to be disaster relief. The church was magnificent the way it responded to the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and everyone, including the federal government and the secular media, took note of how much better the church can respond and get things done in such a situation. We can do better than the government. We are here on this earth to be a light in darkness. After loving God, loving our neighbors is one of our main job descriptions (not forgetting evangelism), and few things will be a greater demonstration of this than those who respond to help their neighbors in their worst times. Isaiah 58 makes our mandate clear. Soup kitchens and medical clinics set up in tents in the local towns will be a critically needed ministry.
The name “ArkHaven” is in reference to the Ark of the Covenant and to Noah’s Ark. Both of these Arks were covered with God’s promise, protection, and provision. Read the ArkHaven story.
“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” — 2 Timothy 3:1
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it” —Proverbs 22:12
As fish are caught in a cruel net, as birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly on them.” —Ecclesiastes 9:12
“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do” —Psalms 11:3
The Lord is certainly pressing His preparation into the hearts and minds of those who have an ear to hear. Are you one of them?
My vision is to form a community of “intentional neighbors” that will be totally self sufficient and able to operate outside the system when the economy crashes. But one location will not be nearly enough to meet the need. It would be ideal to be able to go into all the local communities and set up tents that house a soup kitchen, medical clinics, etc.
Of course, we will want one of our tents to have ministry going on for many hours a day, praying for all the needs and leading people to a salvation knowledge of Jesus Christ. We will need to teach people (from one of these tents) how to grow things in their own neighborhoods so that they can make it through these rough times. So we will most certainly start and finish as an evangelistic, mercy ministry.
We use such thoughts as self sufficient, frugal, frugality, self-reliance, and sustainability to define what ArkHaven is all about, but ArkHaven is Christ centered and therefore much bigger than what those words can convey.
CLICK HERE to hear Kenneth Uptegrove on archived radio talk shows he has been interviewed on about this subject.
Kenneth Uptegrove, founder of ArkHaven Ministries, is a “Restorationist” Christian writer who speaks to the entire Evangelical Christian community. His 40-year career as a computer professional equipped him to uses the apologetics style of writing
