The History

Harvest Christian held its first worship service on November 15, 1996 with the main purpose of making disciples for Jesus Christ. Pastor Willie Sparks received a vision from God in 1989 to begin a church focusing on reconciliation, “Bringing Man to Man and Man to God.” In 1990, the Sparks family arrived in Indiana upon orders from the United States Army, and was stationed at Ft. Benjamin Harrison. They joined Eastview Christian Fellowship in Greenfield, Indiana. They knew at that time, that God was preparing them for pastoral work in His time.

After their retirement from the military in 1994 after twenty-one years of service, God brought the Sparks family to the inner city to be ministers. By the leading of the Holy Spirit, Reverend Willie and Sister Lois Sparks begin building relationships with those around them. The Lord then moved upon the hearts of a number of community leaders, and consequently their homes were provided for a small Bible Study group. Immense growth was experienced, and soon the home was filled to capacity.

When the opportunity presented itself, the Harvest Ministry moved to IPS School 45. The school had been targeted for closure, so the move to the Metropolitan Center, currently (The Harrison Center), came about. When the owners sold that building, Harvest Christian moved to the Jubilee Center. By God’s grace, the ministry prospered to such a degree that Harvest Christian purchased the current building located at 923 East 25th Street, and Sunday Service was added to meet the spiritual need of the Lord’s people. Harvest Christian, with the help of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church transformed what was a bakery/motorcycle clubhouse into a house of worship.