Harvest Baptist Church is a family of born again people from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, united under the lordship of Jesus Christ for the purpose of glorifying God by developing Spirit-born disciples of Christ and planting reproducing churches.
Harvest Baptist Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Although there are over 40,000 churches that make up the SBC, each church is autonomous, meaning that each church is self-governed under the direction of the Holy Scripture and Christ, who is the head of the church. The SBC has no authority over local churches. It is simply an association of Baptist churches who combine their gifts and resources to share the message of Christ around the world.
Southern Baptists work together to lead people to receive Jesus Christ as Savior, since the Bible teaches that no one can know God apart form knowing Jesus Christ.
Harvest Baptist Church Core Values
Core values are deeply held convictions that drive our behavior. They are the “hills to die on.” At Harvest, we have refined the list of worthy causes down to nine of these “hills.”
We value worship that is focused on God’s glory.
While some may cater to the desires of different audiences, we strongly believe that God is the only audience in worship. It’s all about Him and for Him.
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matt 22:37 (NKJ)
I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images. Isaiah 42:8 (NKJ)
We value the bible as the final authority in all matters of life and faith.
We believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God that speaks relevantly to all areas of life. We are governed by its truth rather than our human experience.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, fro reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” II Timothy 3:16 (NKJ)
We value spiritual reproduction.
For the Christian, reproduction should be carried out on several levels. Believers should reproduce themselves (evangelism and discipleship). Each small group Bible study should grow by multiplication. And every church should reproduce by planting New Testament churches.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28: 19-20 (NKJ)
We value authentic biblical community.
Biblical community goes beyond just enjoying being together – it should result in each Christian developing meaningful relationships that challenge them to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ. In addition, it should produce unity among the believers in the church.
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent me. John 17:20-21 (NKJ)
We value intentional cultural/ethnic diversity.
We believe every church should openly and aggressively embrace people of every culture and ethnic origin. To do any less would be disobedient to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (NKJ)
We value equipping each believer for the work of ministry.
As each Christian grows spiritually, they will need to be adequately equipped to carry out their unique ministry. The church has a responsibility to effectively equip them.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJ)
We value being involved in missions.
Every believer should be a “world Christian” – that is, they should be concerned about the glory of God among the nations, tribes and people groups of the world.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 (NKJ)
We value consistent, concentrated prayer.
The source of power for each believer and every church comes through the practice and discipline of prayer.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13 (NKJ)
