Established 1867

About Us/Church History

A very condensed version of our church history. This version does not diminish the importance of those things which took place, both past and present.


In 1867, the Lord called Rev. Thomas J. Shores, together with George J. Burroughs, John Vanvactor, Alfred H. House, John Bugg, John Hulbert, Madison Smith, William Gates, Mart Stewart and their families to organize First Missionary Baptist Church.


Since its inception, the church has known 19 pastors, 4 interim pastors. During the administration of Rev. W.D. Brown, there was division between the pastor and the deacons… and the pastor left and started the church currently known as First Missionary Baptist -21st Street. During the administration of Rev. J.H. Starks, there was again a division between the pastor and the deacons… and the pastor left and started the Liberty Missionary Baptist Church.


Throughout its history, the ministry has been housed in three locations: 10th & Cedar in 1867; the 300 block of 14th Street; 12th & Walnut, and our current location at 727 37th Street.


Three ministers served this body with exceptional longevity. Rev. Henry Allison ministered to the congregation after the 1882 rebuild for over 40 years. Rev. S.W. Oliver faithfully ministered to the congregation and the region for more than 30 years. Rev. Oliver extended the church’s reach state-wide through his role as co-founder of the Illinois One Church One Child Initiative. Rev. Donald Topp served for 8 years, navigating the church through relocation and streamlining the ministry. On March 3, 2008, a lease was signed for the current location and on March 5, 2008, Sunday service was held, and 10 souls were baptized and added to the Kingdom. Pastor Topp served until the Lord called him home on November 29, 2016.


In 2018 God blessed the ministry with a dynamic young minister and his family to take the helm. Through his leadership, the name of the ministry was changed to Harvest Christian Community Church to better reflect the mission of the ministry. Under Pastor Chaise D Miller the ministry has reinstituted VBS, initiated the Young Women of Destiny ministry, and participated in the food distribution program. Through focused, intentional preaching and teaching the ministry survives and strives under the leadership of Pastor Miller and family.

Our Values

We are committed to living out the values of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to love God, love others, and share the good news of Jesus Christ. 


Love

We are committed to loving God and loving others, and to be known for our love for one another.


Worship

We strive to glorify God through worship that is rooted in scripture, and that draws us closer to Him.


Service

We are called to serve our community and those in need, through both physical and spiritual acts of love and kindness.


Evangelism

We seek to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all people, and to share the gospel through both deed and word.


Discipleship

We prioritize the practice of discipling others in the faith, helping them to grow in their understanding of the Bible and their relationship with God.


Stewardship

We strive to be wise stewards of the resources God has given us, using them to meet the needs of the church and community.


Unity

We seek to foster unity in diversity, standing together as a church family united in our purpose of sharing God’s love.


Holiness

We strive to be a holy people, living in obedience to God’s Word and in surrender to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.


Mission

We seek to fulfill the Great Commission, making disciples of Jesus Christ in our region and beyond.

Our Beliefs

We invite you to explore our beliefs and join us in our pursuit of living out our faith in boldness and passion.

  • The Trinity

    We believe in the Trinity, which is the doctrine that God is one, existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Trinity are distinct and unified, co-existing in perfect harmony and working together to create and sustain the world. We recognize that since God is the Creator and the source of all life, He exists in three persons who are distinct yet united, understanding each other completely and working together to bring about His plans for humanity. We believe that the Trinity is an essential part of understanding God and His purpose for us. By embracing the Trinity, we can have a deeper relationship with the Lord and better understand His will for our lives.

  • The Bible

    We believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible, that it is the true and inspired word of God. We believe that the Bible is our standard for life, and its truth, integrity, and relevance is of utmost importance. The Bible is not just a book, but a living guide, full of God’s wisdom and guidance. Through scripture, we learn about God’s character, how to live and act, and how to grow in our spiritual journey. We believe that by reading and studying the Bible, we are able to draw closer to God and deepen our understanding of His love.

  • Jesus

    We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the central figure of Christianity, the Word of God made flesh. Jesus was sent by God to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins so that we could enjoy an eternal life with Him. Jesus’ teachings on love, forgiveness, humility, and repentance are at the core of our beliefs. We also believe in Jesus’ resurrection, that it was proof of His deity and the promise of eternal life for all those who believe. We are called to follow Jesus, to live lives of holiness, and to share the good news of the gospel. As we learn to love and serve others, we are reminded of Jesus’ example of love and sacrifice.

  • Salvation

    We believe in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus was sent by God to save us and give us eternal life. Salvation is only possible through faith in Jesus and repentance of our sins. We understand that we are saved through grace and not by any works of our own. The Bible teaches us that no matter what mistakes we make, God’s love and grace are always available to us. We believe that through accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are able to have the assurance of salvation and the promise of eternal life with God.

  • Baptism

    We believe in the importance of baptism. Baptism symbolizes a believer's commitment to Jesus and His teachings, and is an outward act of confessing our faith in Him. We believe that baptism is essential to Christian discipleship, and it is a beautiful way to proclaim our allegiance to Jesus. Baptism is a sacred and meaningful experience, and we are deeply committed to helping believers celebrate this important milestone in their journey of faith. By celebrating and honoring baptism, we are proclaiming our faith in Jesus and our desire to serve Him and others.

  • Holy Spirit

    We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the unifying power between God and humanity, and is the source of our comfort, guidance, and strength. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand and appreciate the Bible, and helps us to live out its teachings in our lives. We believe that the Holy Spirit is with us always, faithfully guiding us in our walk with God. We also believe that the Holy Spirit gives us gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, understanding, healing, miracles, tongues, and prophecy so that we can be used to serve God and spread His love.

  • The Church

    We believe in the Christian doctrinal belief of The Church. We believe that the Church is a holy assembly of believers, united in faith and love. We strive to be a community of believers who are united in our faith in Jesus Christ and in our commitment to serve Him and His kingdom. We are committed to loving God and loving others, and to be known for our love for one another. We believe that the Church is a body of believers who are called to serve and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we seek to be faithful disciples of Jesus and to follow His teachings. We strive to live out our faith through loving actions and service to our community and the world.

  • Prayer

    We believe in the power of prayer, both individually and corporately, as an expression of faith in God's work in our lives. Prayer is an essential part of a Christian life and is used to talk to God and to communicate with Him. We pray for guidance, strength, healing, protection, and for our families, friends, and community. Through prayer, we seek to deepen our understanding of God's will and His plans for our lives. Praying helps us grow closer to God and to gain a better understanding of His will and how we can best serve Him. When we pray, we open ourselves up to God and He will answer us in His own way and in His own time. Prayer is a beautiful and powerful way to communicate with our Heavenly Father and to seek His love and guidance.