God did it.
We didn’t have any money. We didn’t have any equipment. We didn’t have any backing. We just wanted to have church, teach the Bible, love people and point them to Jesus. This is our story:
Pastor Steve’s Journey Into Ministry
Pastor Steve Henry got saved at 13 years old at Calvary Chapel, Arroyo Grande. He felt called to ministry as a teenager and pursued his calling through mentorship, formal biblical studies, and hands-on ministry experience. Throughout the years, he has served in various roles, including Associate Pastor, Youth Pastor, County Jail Chaplain, Convalescent Home Chaplain, children’s ministry, street ministry, and homeless outreach. He completed seminary training and earned a Master of Theology degree.
Harvest Church Is Planted
In March of 2003, Pastor Steve, alongside his wife Jolene and a small group of supporters, planted Harvest Church. Services were held at Lopez High School in rural Arroyo Grande. Their vision was simple: reach the lost, teach the Bible, and live in community.
“We wanted to create something that allowed people to just be free in who they were in Jesus and point people to Jesus and serve Jesus.”
- Steve Henry
Moving Into Town
In 2005, God opened the door for Harvest Church to relocate to its current facility in the Village of Arroyo Grande. After renovating the historic chapel at 124 W. Branch Street, which had originally been built as a Methodist Episcopal church in 1887, the church began meeting in its new location. This move into the heart of the Village brought new opportunities for the church to engage with the local community.
Settling In
As the church settled into its new home, it established several beloved traditions that continue to connect with the people of Arroyo Grande to this day. In 2006, they launched their first Live Nativity after the Village Christmas Parade, which became an annual highlight, followed by the first outreach during the city’s Harvest Festival in 2007.
The church also began hosting its annual Easter service at Heritage Square Park in 2008. That same year, they also introduced the Tree Lighting event after the Christmas Parade, which quickly became another cherished tradition in the community.
“...if we can get out and love on people and be a blessing in our community - that really speaks volumes to people and makes it less intimidating to enter into the four walls of the church.”
- Jolene Henry
Continued Growth
What began as leasing the chapel eventually grew over the years into the purchase of the entire property at 124 West Branch St., along with the acquisition of the house at 120 Hart Lane, which now serves as the church office. This expansion provided much-needed space for the youth ministry, kids’ ministry, and various other groups to gather and meet on campus.
Expansion
What began as a church plant with just 12 people steadily grew over the years, reaching around 500 members by 2022. To accommodate this growth, the church expanded its staff to 8. As God continued to bless the ministry, Harvest Church took a bold step of faith by adding a new Worship Center at 102 W. Branch St.
This marked the church’s seventh old building renovation in the Village, each repurposed for the work of the Lord. With this expansion, the church’s footprint grew to two campuses, advancing its vision to “Impact our community and our world with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.”
True to the Call
Harvest is dedicated to this mission and continues to uphold the following core values that inspire the heart and focus of all ministry endeavors:
Created to Serve God and Others
Confident in the Word of God
Committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
Called to Love all People
