Harvest Baptist Church began in 1885, known then as Beulah Missionary Baptist Church. It was located on the Bluff overlooking “Old Ford” on Limestone Creek. The church moved to the village of Harvest, Alabama in 1914. In 1924 the church voted to change the name from Beulah Baptist Church to Harvest Baptist Church.
The first building in Harvest was shared with the Woodmen o the World. Later the top of the two story building was removed and this building was used until a new building was erected.
Bro. Eugene Steelman served faithfully as pastor for over twenty years during the 1920’s-1940’s.
In November, 1945 a building committee was elected. L. W. Cobb served as chairman. Other members of the committee were C. A. Hoover, Oscar Stevenson, Elon Balch, Tillman Locke, Perry Durham and Floyd Myers. In 1946-47 a concrete block building was erected and dedicated in May, 1949. This building served as the sanctuary and later as educational space.
Bro. Arnold Hargrove came as pastor in 1947 and resigned in 1951 to become pastor of Leighton Baptist Church, Leighton, Alabama.
Bro. Harold Benson then came as pastor and served through 1954.
Bro. James H. Clark preached a trial sermon on February 13, 1955. He was called as pastor and began his ministry on March 28, 1955. He led in a building program for a new sanctuary. Ground breaking was held on July 17, 1955.
Building Committee: C. A. Hoover, Fritz Holman, L. W. Cobb, Walter Cobb, James Tuck, Harold Good and Gene Durham.
Pew Committee: Woodrow Balch, Walter Neeley, Carl Tuck, Cortis Sanderson, Barbara Canup and Laura Biggerstaff.
Carpet Committee: Estelle Thomas, Allene Balch, Mary Hoover, Gertrude Smith and Ruth Tuck.
Heating Committee: Calvin Smith, William Gravitt and Herman (Tab) Yarbrough.
The first Sunday in November, 1955 was Building Fund Supplement Day.
Bro. Clark resigned as pastor in December, 1955 and moved to Birmingham, Alabama in January 1956.
Bro. Arnold Hargrove, a former pastor, was called as pastor on January 22, 1956. He accepted and moved to the field February 28, 1956.
Work Continued on the new building. Dedication Day was held on the third Sunday in May, 1956 with Bro. Hargrove preaching the dedication sermon.
Bro. Hargrove served faithfully as pastor until his death in May, 1960.
Bro. Wheeler Kidd came as pastor in September, 1960.
A pastorium was purchased for $14,000.00 in 1960.
Additional educational space was added in 1961.
An important highlight during Bro. Kidd’s ministry was the beginning of a mission in Clutts Subdivision, resulting in two churches- Community and Wall Highway.
Bro. Kidd resigned in May, 1965 to serve as a missionary with the Foreign Board in Malaysia.
On July 15, 1965 Bro. Max Briggs was called as pastor. He accepted and moved to Harvest in September, 1965.
The church voted on December 8, 1965 to borrow $40,000.00 to pay off the indebtedness and make improvements on the church building and pastorium.
In June, 1966 one acre of land across Ford Chapel Road was purchased for $2,000.00.
In November, 1966 the church voted to enter into a building program for a new educational building. Members of this committee were: Dewey Taylor, Claude Smith, Jack Simmons, Robert Boyd and Wheeler Thomas.
Dr. Waymon C. Reese, Building Consultant with the Alabama Baptist State Convention, met with the Building Committee to discuss plans which were presented to the church on March 26, 1967. Bids were accepted. The contract was awarded to Louis Vaughn. Cost to be $52,602.00 plus $5,885.00 heating and air conditioning by Priest Company; Total $58,487.00. The building was to be 10,000 sq. ft.
April 30, 1967 was “Bond Drive Kick-Off Day” and Reservation Sunday giving church members the first opportunity to buy bonds.
The sale of $110,000.00 in bonds was completed in approximately three days.
Ground breaking was held on May 21, 1967 and work began May 22.
Our inspiration – Nehemiah 4:6 – So we build….for the people had a mind to build (work).
The new education building was completed and we moved in on September 25-30, 1967. Dedication Day was November 12, 1967 with Dr. Reese as guest speaker. Songs of praise were “Praise to the Father”, “To God Be the Glory”, “Doxology”, and “When We Walk With the Lord”.
Bond-Burning celebration was August 27, 1978.
The Kindergarten was started in 1968 with Mrs. Louise Briggs as Director and Mrs. Ann Qualls as teacher. Bro. Briggs resigned as pastor in 1971 to become pastor of First Baptist Church, Austell, Ga.
Bro. Arris Cavender came as pastor in 1972 and resigned in 1976 to become pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL.
Bro. S. Ray Jones came as pastor in June 1977 and resigned November 1984, to become pastor of First Baptist, Camden, Tennessee.
The Activity Center was erected in 1980-81 and dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Clara Jarrett.
Music Directors during these years have been John White, David Smitherman, Ralph Bagwell, Claude Hopkins, Lee Foy, Pete Walker, Jim Ballinger, Jerry Tapley and Dan Stallings. Bob Smith came as Minister of Music, Youth and Outreach in August, 1987.
James Cobb and Jerry Toon have served as Interim Music Directors.
Hurley Hughes came as Interim Music Director in January 1992 and was called by the Church in April 1992 and still serves us faithfully.
Interim pastors have been Vernon Rich, Scott Bagwell, G. D. Barrett and Joe Anglin.
Michael McFarlen came as pastor March, 1985 and resigned May, 1985.
Sammy Brister was extended a call on September 15, 1985 and began his ministry on October 27, 1985 and resigned in 1992. Bro. Brister worked very closely with our Kindergarten Committee to start our Child Development Center.
The Child Development Center was opened on September 22, 1986 with an enrollment of nine and to date has grown to an enrollment of around 100. The Directors of our Child Development Center are Maxine Foster and Sharon Locke.
On March 22, 1989 the church voted to authorize its trustee to make loan for constructing a 600 seat sanctuary to be positioned on the north side of the existing sanctuary. On May 21, 1989 a “Challenge to Build” Banquet was held to kick-off the Building Fund Drive. The Building Committee was elected. They were Jerry Toon, Chairman; Roger Raby, Vice-Chairman; Bill Shaw, Cindy Sanderson, Ray Smith and James Beard were sub-committee chairman. Lorraine Raby served as secretary. The first service in the new sanctuary was on 3/11/90 and was dedicated on 3/25/90. Alicia Raby was the first person baptized and Karla and Scott Kochevar were the first to be married.
Bro. Richard Reynolds served as Interim Pastor 4/93-7/93.
Additional Land near Activity Center was purchased in 1987.
Bro. Raymond Davis came as pastor in August 1, 1993 and resigned in September 1995.
Bro. Dan Rice served as Associate Pastor from March 94 to September 95.
Bro. C. B. Jones was called an Interim Pastor in November 1995 and November 1996 his title was changed from Interim Pastor to Pastor. Bro. Jones resigned March 99.
Bro. Douglas R. Wever was called as pastor in March 1999. He resigned in 2004.
Pastor Lewis Eakin filled the pulpit from June 2004 until Christmas 2004.
Marlin Smith was hired to serve as Minister of Education and Youth November 2001 and served until October 2003, when he took a leave of absence. He resigned effective May 2005.
Dr. Jere Patterson was hired as Interim Pastor on Jan. 1, 2005. At that time, Bro. Jere brought us through a period called The Intentional Interim Process. He serves as Interim Pastor until the present time. During the Intentional Interim Process in 2005, a new mission statement was developed: “Our Church Mission is Glorifying God, Seeking His will, Reaching out to our Members and Community as one united body.” The Scripture, “Who comes to me…shall not hunger” was added to our church logo. Bro. Jere’s service ended upon the call of Dr. Eric Fuller, July 2006.
Active groups and ministries in 2006 are Women’s Ministries, Men’s Ministries, RA’S, GA’s, Mission Friends, AWANA, Bible Drill, Children’s and Youth Choirs, Youth Group, Puppets and VBS.
Rev. Van H. Ramsey began as Interim Minister of Music in May 2006. His dedication and experience served the church well.
Dr. Eric G. Fuller was called as Senior Pastor on June 18, 2006. Bro. Eric has led mission trips to Israel, Guatemala and Michigan.
Rev. Brian A. Lashley was hired as Associate Pastor of Worship in June 2007; under Brian’s ministry a 13 member praise/worship instrumental team has been established.
The Sanctuary was renovated in 2007-08. We met in the Activity Building for one year, having two morning worship services during the renovation.
Rev. Larry Morrison was hired in June 2008 as Associate Pastor of Youth & Education.
Active ministries in 2010 include Women’s Ministries, Men’s Ministries, ‘G.R.O.W. Visitation’ started in June 2008, Discipleship Training, LAUNCH (New Member Luncheon), New Member class meets as needed, Bible Drill, Adult & Children’s Choirs, Adult Handbells, VBS
We entered into Phase II of the Building program which includes the demotion of the offices and old Sunday school rooms and the old, original sanctuary, which was the gym for the past several years. The church office relocated to the Education building. A 3.1million dollar building program began in September, 2011 and will continue until about December 2012. The new building will include a full gym with a walking track, kitchen and Sunday school rooms.
Chad Ortner was hired as Children’s Pastor in September 2011.