Our Story

Meeting in a high school auditorium every weekend were a handful of believers with a passion for Christ. Their pastor was James MacDonald, and their purpose was clear: to be a church that is contemporary without compromise. Harvest Bible Chapel was born.

The church was founded and built upon four New Testament pillars: proclaim the authority of God's Word without apology, lift high the Lord Jesus in worship, firmly believe in the power of prayer, and share the good news of Jesus with boldness. And God has blessed and brought the increase.

“The whole focus of Harvest is vertical, not horizontal. We know it’s God.
We don’t want to do anything that isn’t empowered by God’s Spirit and blessed by God.”
Dr. James MacDonald, Founding Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel

As the elders focused on a quality of discipleship rather than a quantity of disciples, God did above all they could ask or think with remarkable growth both in the number of attendees and the quality of disciples.

Then, the Lord gave the elders and leaders a vision to plant churches—life-giving churches, strengthened with the power of Jesus Christ, where lives would be changed for eternity.

Like you, the leaders of Harvest Bible Chapel wanted to be good stewards of the resources God had given them. And so, in response to the growth they were experiencing, Harvest Bible Fellowship was formed.

Today, more than 29,000 people attend Harvest Bible Fellowship churches worldwide.

Harvest Bible Fellowship's passion is to plant and equip reproducing churches that are alive with the gospel of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:19-22, 2 Timothy 2:2, Matthew 16:18)

We live out this passion by educating pastors in the Harvest Training Center and placing them with core groups to plant churches in the United States, Canada, or overseas. We extend ongoing support during the first year in the life of a new church, and periodically beyond that year.

We help leaders act on their vision for dynamic churches on an ongoing basis. Fellowship teams may visit a church and consult with its leaders on a wide variety of areas ranging from leadership training to discipleship to capital campaigns.

To edify and strengthen both Harvest and other church leaders in their commitments, we host Harvest University, a ministry leader conference held each spring, and an annual summer retreat for Harvest Senior Pastors.

“In a world where people are skeptical about church practice and beliefs, God has gifted Harvest with a testimony of passionate followers and biblical integrity for two decades. This has set the stage for strong growth.”
Joel Anderson, Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel Orlando

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