History

Harvest Rolling Meadows

In the summer of 1988, Dr. James MacDonald and 18 Christ-followers from 5 different churches came together in Rolling Meadows, IL with a vision for planting a life-changing church that would blend the unapologetic preaching of God's Word, passionate contemporary worship, powerful prayer and the bold sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The first Harvest Bible Chapel launched in Rolling Meadows on September 18, 1988. Since then, it has grown to nearly 9,000 worshipers on three campuses (Rolling Meadows, Elgin and Niles, IL).

In 2000, the Lord gave the elders of Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC) a vision of planting 10 churches in 10 years. Burdened by the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), they launched their first two Harvest plants in the Chicago suburbs of Glen Ellyn (2000) and Crystal Lake (2001). In 2002, God began to expand HBC's planting efforts by causing groups of people to approach HBC about bringing the Harvest model of ministry to their communities. The unprecedented demand necessitated the development of Harvest Bible Fellowship (HBF), a separate not-for-profit organization that would oversee the Harvest planting efforts. God blessed the vision for church planting so much that HBF has now planted 26 churches in 6 years instead of 10 in 10 years! After the first three or four church plants, Harvest no longer had to target communities in which to start new churches. Instead, the communities began coming to Harvest asking for help to start new Harvest plants. (For a list of all the Harvest Bible Chapels please visit www.harvestbiblefellowship.us and www.harvestbible.ca)

Harvest York Region

In 2005 God placed a calling and a dream within a small group of people to see a Harvest Bible Chapel come to the Markham area. Soon prayer meetings began, ideas were articulated and eventually plans were underway for a Tuesday evening service in a community centre in Markham. This group became the fourth Harvest church plant in Canada and met on Tuesday evenings for approximately one year.

In the fall of 2006, this group of believers began worshipping on Sundays in a school in Markham. Harvest Bible Chapel York Region was the name chosen to reflect the fact that many travel from other areas within York Region to worship with us in Markham. Pastor Paul Whittingstall the senior pastor joined Harvest in December 2007 and after three months of intense training in Rolling Meadows, Chicago, began his teaching ministry at HBC York Region.

In the spring of 2008, the leadership at Centennial Community Church were led to contact the elders at Harvest Bible Chapel York Region. In what can only be described as miraculous, God arranged for Centennial Community Church to become Harvest Bible Chapel on June 22, 2008, generously giving themselves, their resources and their debt free building to partner with us for the Glory of God. As with many of the other Harvest church plants, we believe this kind of unprecedented event in our area is a sign that our awesome God expects much from His people here. He has already done great and wondrous things, to wonderful to imagine
(Ps. 86:10). We believe too whom much is given, much will be expected!