With membership 'busting at the seams,' Harvest Baptist Church launches $7 million expansion

A Harrison church that started with seven members in a meeting room at a local Holiday Inn is marking its 40th anniversary and launching a $7 million expansion.

“It’s to the point now that we’re busting at the seams,” said Marc Likins, pastor of Harvest Baptist Church off Route 908.

“We have to have multiple services because we’re not fitting everyone anymore. It’s a good thing. It makes you feel like something’s going on that’s right.”

The church and adjoining school, Harvest Baptist Academy, sit on 24 acres of farmland adjacent to Route 28. Expansion plans include an auditorium to seat 750, a wing to house first- through sixth-grade classrooms, offices for staff, restrooms and a music rehearsal space.

They hope to break ground in the spring.

“We’re grateful, especially when the norm is for churches to be shrinking or closing the doors,” said Likins, who was born and raised in Kentucky. He transferred to Harvest Baptist seven years ago after serving in California.

There were several reasons to launch a capital campaign, leaders said.

First off, the school “gymatorium” doubles as the sanctuary. Members set up and tear down 520 chairs, a platform and PA system every week for worship at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays.

“It’s a tremendous amount of labor,” Likins said. “Most people don’t go to church and have a basketball hoop hanging over their head.

“It’s been fine. No one complains. But there is a desire to do more.”

Financial support was another reason leaders felt confident in the project.

A fundraiser last year secured $5 million in pledges, with about half coming in so far, sending a message that congregants are behind the project.

Likins said grants are somewhat of a longshot, but they’ll try to obtain some to help with the cost. If not, they’ll rely on the congregation and smaller fundraisers to see the project through.

Member Walt Rutkowski points to a certain energy that emanates from service for the community buy-in.

“There is a joyous vibe that is contagious in Harvest’s approach to everything, from the music and preaching to the classes, the academy and personal relationships,” he said.

“In this era of declining church membership, Harvest is quite the anomaly.”

Harvest Baptist Academy Principal Tammy Buhr said leaders are “thrilled to be part of the Natrona Heights community.”

“God has blessed our ministry, and we are thrilled to serve the young people of our community,” she said.

There are about 315 students at the building.

Harvest Baptist was founded in 1983 by Ted Pelic, a Baptist Bible College graduate who aspired to start a church in Western Pennsylvania. He was drawn to New Kensington for its heavy, religious-minded population.

Services began in a rented meeting room at the Holiday Inn near the Tarentum Bridge and moved shortly after to the New Kensington YMCA, where the pool doubled as a baptismal font.

A third home was in a storefront on Constitution Boulevard where membership grew to 100 people. In 1986, the church settled in long term at a small white church at Rankin Street and Leishman Avenue in Arnold.

Since moving to Harrison in 2009, the church and school have flourished.

“We use every bit of space,” Likins said. “Growth problems are good problems. When you have parking or capacity or seating issues, those are great issues.”

By all accounts, Pelic’s vision is still at the center of the church’s mission today.

Likins said he uses a simple philosophy to lead the church.

“We open our Bibles to learn and open our hearts to love,” he said. “That’s the bread and butter of our message.”

Rutkowski said Harvest Baptist presents the whole of the Scripture, “not just the warm and fuzzy parts.

“Everyone, from children and youth to gray-hairs like me, can’t help but understand the timelessness of traditional Christian theology and how we are to respond to it in our daily walks.”