MISSION & VISION
Inspired by the Great Commission, we exist to equip and empower disciples of Jesus who are dedicated to serving the Hesston community and spreading the gospel in our region.
Our Vision
Grounded in God’s word, prayer, and faith in the Holy Spirit, we will live worshipful lifestyles and develop authentic relationships in our church and community.
VALUES
God desires us to be deeply rooted in Him, and He has instituted the process of discipleship to make this happen. This church emphasizes interpersonal discipleship and personal spiritual discipline as the means for becoming deeply rooted in Christ.
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
~Colossians 2.6-7
The Bible is the greatest revelation of who God is, what God has done, and insight about God’s redemptive plan for humanity. As such, it is the foundational source of truth - the reason for why we believe what we believe and why we live as we live. This church affirms that accurately interpreted Scripture must be the basis of all teaching.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.”
~2 Timothy 3.16-17
Worship means acknowledging who God is and what He has done, as well as responding appropriately. Believers are meant to live out the simple-yet-challenging truth that Christ is the Lord of every aspect of their lives. This church seeks to see God’s glory permeate every part of believers’ lives, allowing them to worship in all areas and at all times.
“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!”
~Ephesians 5.8 -
It is important for the church to filter social concerns through a biblical lens. Caring for the destitute, embracing the outcast, and elevating the oppressed were staples of Christ’s ministry and the movement He began. Harvest Church is committed to following our Lord’s example in these things.
“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”
~Isaiah 1.17
God has chosen to partner with the Church to spread the Good News of Christ to the entire human race. This church recognizes it is Christ’s design for the church that we be His ambassadors to the world. As such, we seek to be disciples who are missionaries in our own contexts, bringing the light and life of Christ to everyone in our lives.
“Jesus came and told His disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the Age.’”
~Matthew 28.18-20
Jesus refers to the population of not-yet saved people as a harvest, in need of workers. This church is the result of another church recognizing the size of the harvest and the need for workers. We recognize that asking God for more workers can and should mean discipling, equipping, and sending those workers to other fields to begin their own unique expressions of Christ’s church.
“These were His instructions to them: ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.’”
~Luke 10.2
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe that the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the life-giving, inspired word of God, infallible in its truth. The Bible is the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of mankind, and the divine and ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice.
Psalm 19.7-10; 2 Timothy 3.16-17; 2 Peter 1.19-21
We believe in one God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three equal, divine, and perfect Persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit execute distinct, yet harmonious, offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
The Father (Paterology)
God the Father rules over His creation in its entirety. He is both transcendent of His universe and immanent within it. The Father is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), all- and ever-present (omnipresent), and all-good (omnibenevolent). He is Father in truth to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. The Father is a being of spirit and is worthy of all worship. It is God the Father who sent the Son into the world to die for the sins of humanity.
Genesis 1.1; Exodus 3.14; Isaiah 64.8; Matthew 23.9; John 14.6-13; John 17.1-8; Romans 8.141-15.
The Son (Christology)
Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, is true God and true man. Though, he was pre-existent with the Father and Spirit, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. He was sent by the Father and willingly died as a substitutionary sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity. He rose bodily from the dead, was seen by many witnesses, commissioned His church, and ascended to heaven. He is at the right hand of the Father, ministering as High Priest, Mediator, and Advocate. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and complete the redemption of those who have placed their faith in Him as Lord and Savior.
Isaiah 7.14; Isaiah 53; Matthew 1.18-23; Mark 1.1; Luke 22.70; John 1.1-18; John 20; Acts 2.22-24; Romans 1.3-4; 3.23-26; 5.6-21; 1 Corinthians 15.1-8; 24-28; Philippians 2.5-11; Colossians 1.13-22; 1 Timothy 2.1-6; Hebrews 1.1-3; 7.14-28; 1 Peter 2.21-25; Revelation 1.13-16; 5.9-14; 12.10-11; 13.8; 19.16.
The Spirit (Pneumatology)
The Holy Spirit is the fully divine Spirit of God. He is the inspirational force that drove holy men of old to compose the Scriptures. His ministry of illumination enables people to understand truth, including the truth of Scripture. He exalts Christ. In the present age, it is the ministry of the spirit to convict people of their sin and to transform those who come to faith in Christ. He draws people toward Christ and regenerates those who put their faith in Him. In the moment of regeneration, it is the Holy Spirit that baptizes a believer into the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells, guides, instructs, and empowers believers for godly living and service by bestowing upon them spiritual gifts for use in the church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence within believers is their guarantee that God will bring them into the fulness of Christ’s stature.
Genesis 1.2; Isaiah 11.2; Matthew 1.18; John 4.24; 14.16-17; 15.26; 16.7-14; Romans 8.9-11; 14-16; 26-27; 1 Corinthians 12.3-13; Galatians 4.6; Ephesians 4.30; 1 Timothy 3.16; 2 Peter 1.21; 1 John 4.13; Revelation 1.10; 22.17.
Man is the special creation of God, the pinnacle of the created order. As a special blessing, God created humankind in His image, granting them also the gift of two genders, male and female. The first human beings, Adam and Eve, were both innocent and endowed with free will. Tempted by Satan, humanity used their free will to sin against God by transgressing His command, and in that moment, humanity’s innocence was lost, and a new, sinful nature was born within the human race. The moment human beings are capable of moral action, they are condemned as sinners, children of God’s wrath and darkness. However, by God’s grace, humanity has the opportunity to receive the free gift of salvation by using their free will to place their faith in Jesus Christ. Every human being has been granted personhood by being created in God’s image. The status of personhood equally extends to people of all genders, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, and socio-economic statuses. The status of personhood extends to the unborn. Because of personhood, all human beings are worthy of dignity, respect, and Christian love.
Genesis 1.26-30; 2.18-22; Psalm 1; 8.3-6; Romans 1.19-32; 3.10-18; 1 Corinthians 1.21-31; 1 Corinthians 15.19-22; Ephesians 2.1-22; Colossians 1.21-22; 3.9-11
Gender, Sexuality, and Marriage
Gender and sex are interchangeable terms that describe the biological distinction between men and women as they are designed and created by God. Both men and women are created in the image of God and, as such, are equals. Scripture describes distinct roles within both the family and church for each gender. Sexual intercourse is part of the design of God for humanity and should only be practiced as He designed. As such, any sexual act should only take place within the confines of marriage. Marriage is designed by God and described in Scripture to be a lifelong bond between one man and one woman. The church understands that there are many individuals whose lives and lifestyles have or do deviate from God’s design for human gender, sexuality, and marriage. Jesus Christ is a source of healing for all who will turn from their sins and come to Him in faith, including these deviations.
Genesis 1.26-28; 2.15-25; 3.1-20; Romans 1.18-22; 1 Corinthians 7.1-16; Ephesians 5.21-33; Colossians 3.18-21; Hebrews 13.4; 1 Peter 3.1-7
Salvation is the free gift of God to anyone who will put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through the blood of Christ that atonement for sin is made available to all who will believe. Salvation begins with the second birth, wherein a person repents (genuinely turns from) of their sins and puts their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. This regeneration is brought on by the conviction of sin from the Holy Spirit and the repentant response of the individual. While being made alive through the Spirit in regeneration, the saved person receives God’s gracious, full forgiveness of sin and is imparted with righteousness, bringing the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God. The process of sanctification is the experience through which a believer grows more Christ-like, discovers and is set apart for God’s unique purpose, and embarks on a lifelong journey of spiritual maturation empowered by the Holy Spirit. One day, all believers in Christ will have their salvation consummated in glorification when they enter eternal life with Christ in Heaven.
Genesis 3.15; Matthew 1.21; John 1.11-14; 3.3-21; 5.24; Acts 4.12; 16.30-31; Romans 1.16-18; 2.4; 3.23-25; 5.8-10; 6.1-23; 1 Corinthians 1.18, 30; Galatians 2.20; 3.13; 5.22-25; Ephesians 1.7; 2.8-22; Philippians 2.12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5.23-24; Hebrews 2.1-3; 5.8-9; 9.24-28; 1 Peter 1.2-23; Revelation 3.20; 21.1-22.5
The Church is a term that is used to describe two different groups. The first is an autonomous, local assembly of baptized Christians. Believers in a local church are bound together by love, mutual belief and faith, and fellowship in the gospel. The church is governed by the law of Christ, is the designed recipient of believers’ spiritual gifts. The second is the universal, timeless, eternal Body of Christ which includes all peoples of all ages and places who have been saved by faith in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, and the church is His bride. Jesus is the Cornerstone of the church, a new temple built upon the foundation of the Scriptures. The church has two offices, pastor/elder/overseer and deacon, and two ordinances, the Lord’s table and baptism, assigned to it by Christ.
Matthew 16.15-19; 18.15-20; Acts 2.41-42; Ephesians 2.19-22; Philippians 1.1; Colossians 1.18; Revelation 2-3; 21.2-3
Offices
The office of pastor/elder/overseer is responsible for overseeing the governance of the church, ensuring the spiritual health and safety of the church. The terms Elder and Pastor refer to the same office of the church, and as such, there is no true distinction between them. Elders are men who selflessly care for the flock, following closely the example of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Deacons are servant leaders, both men and women, tasked with guiding distinct ministries within the church.
1 Timothy 3.1-15; 1 Peter 5.1-4; Titus 1.6-9
Ordinances
Christ has established two ordinances for the local church. The first is the Lord’s table, often referred to as communion. Communion is a practice of reverent reflection upon Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of His own body and blood to atone for the sins of all who believe. This practice requires a heart of confession, repentance, forgiveness, and unity. The second ordinance of the church is water baptism, done by immersion. Baptism is a public representation of one’s faith relationship with Jesus Christ. Baptism is not an optional rite of passage; rather, it is an ordained requirement of all who believe. As such, the church should minimize any obstacles toward baptism for anyone who has claimed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Both the Lord’s table and baptism are symbolic, not sacramental, in nature.
Matthew 26.26-29; 28-19-21; Acts 2.41-42; Romans 6.3-5; 1 Corinthians 11.23-29; Colossians 2.12
As He has promised, God will one day consummate His Kingdom by ending the world as it is seen and experienced today. After a 7 year period of tribulation, Jesus Christ will personally and imminently return to rule over this new world. All human beings who have ever lived and died will be raised and judged by Christ Himself. The unrighteous will be raised to everlasting punishment, and the righteous, to everlasting reward. All evil – Satan, the demons, death, the grave, and those who have rejected God – will be cast into the Lake of Fire, Hell. All who have been made righteous by their faith in Christ Jesus will enter into a New Heaven and New Earth, to live in eternal fellowship with God forever.
Isaiah 2.4; Matthew 16.27; 18.8-9; 24; Mark 8.38; Luke 12.40; Acts 1.11; 17.31; 1 Corinthians 15.24-28, 35-58; 2 Corinthians 5.10; Philippians 3.20-21; Colossians 3.4; 1 Thessalonians 4.14-18; 1 Timothy 6.14; 2 Timothy 4.1, 8; Titus 2.13; Hebrews 9.27-28; James 5.8; 1 John 2.28; Jude 14; Revelation 1.18; 3.11; 20.1-22.13
The Kingdom of God is the central teaching of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. As believers in Christ, we are no longer citizens of this world; rather, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom was initiated during the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and will be consummated in the last days when Christ comes in glory and rules eternally. Today, every believer in Jesus is purposed toward prioritizing the behaviors and responsibilities of the Kingdom of God over any earthly kingdom or nation. Entrance into the Kingdom is through childlike faith in Christ.
Jeremiah 23.5-6; 2 Samuel 7.5-16; Matthew 3.2; 5-7; 12.25.28; 13.1-52; 25.31-46; Mark 1.14-15; 9.1; Luke 4.43; 8.1; 9.2; 12.31-32; John 3.3; 18.36; 1 Corinthians 15.24-28; Colossians 1.13; 1 Peter 2.4-10; Revelation 11.15; 21-22.