Watch our Exploring
Harvest video!
Take an in-person Tour
Second and fourth Sundays of the month
10:45am | Meet at Cafe Fireplace
10:45am | Meet at Cafe Fireplace
Pastor Scott's Story
Our History
The seed for Harvest was planted in the minds of a few
families in the Oswego area who saw a need for a doctrinally sound church. In the fall of 1962, these families met to discuss the possibility of planting a church in Oswego.
We had our first service as Oswego Baptist Church on July 7, 1963 at Eastview School. Rev. Thomas Corkish, associate pastor at Claim Street Baptist Church in Aurora, was called as interim pastor. On January 1, 1964, Pastor Corkish became our first full-time pastor.
We purchased the Oswego Presbyterian Church and had our first meetings there in January 1966. The building was later demolished, and a new building was built in its place at the corner of Benton and Madison Streets in Oswego.
In 1992, the name was changed to Harvest Baptist Church and construction was begun on a new facility. In July 1993, we moved to our present location at the corner of Plainfield and Douglas Roads.
God has richly blessed our church with continued growth, and we are excited to see what God will do next through Harvest.
families in the Oswego area who saw a need for a doctrinally sound church. In the fall of 1962, these families met to discuss the possibility of planting a church in Oswego.
We had our first service as Oswego Baptist Church on July 7, 1963 at Eastview School. Rev. Thomas Corkish, associate pastor at Claim Street Baptist Church in Aurora, was called as interim pastor. On January 1, 1964, Pastor Corkish became our first full-time pastor.
We purchased the Oswego Presbyterian Church and had our first meetings there in January 1966. The building was later demolished, and a new building was built in its place at the corner of Benton and Madison Streets in Oswego.
In 1992, the name was changed to Harvest Baptist Church and construction was begun on a new facility. In July 1993, we moved to our present location at the corner of Plainfield and Douglas Roads.
God has richly blessed our church with continued growth, and we are excited to see what God will do next through Harvest.
Facility Expansions
Our first building in 1995 was approximately 4,000 square feet. The stonework that is behind the cross was used to build the fireplace in the Fireside Room.
Completed in the Fall of 2000, a worship center space was added, and utilized for over a decade for our worship services. We quickly outgrew it and for the last several years in this space, Harvest held four Sunday morning services. We were tight! Today, this space is now primarily used by our Youth Ministries, but also for other ministry classes and activities throughout the week.
Our next expansion was the Children’s Ministry Wing in the summer of 2006.
Completed in the Fall of 2000, a worship center space was added, and utilized for over a decade for our worship services. We quickly outgrew it and for the last several years in this space, Harvest held four Sunday morning services. We were tight! Today, this space is now primarily used by our Youth Ministries, but also for other ministry classes and activities throughout the week.
Our next expansion was the Children’s Ministry Wing in the summer of 2006.
Before occupying both new buildings, special prayer services were held that included prayers written on the unfinished floor for God’s blessing on the ministries, and more importantly, the lives saved and changed here through Jesus Christ. These handwritten prayers are under carpet in various locations in these buildings.
The Lord has provided through the sacrificial giving of His people for the needs at Harvest. The original building’s 7-year loan was paid off in four years. The old
sanctuary's 7-year loan was fulfilled in four and a half years. The children’s ministry wing was paid off in May 2010.
An additional 19 acres were given to Harvest by a family in the church. This one
million+ dollar gift brought us to a total of 31 acres! Later we purchased 20+ acres of farmland bringing us 50+ acres. All praise and glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
The Lord has provided through the sacrificial giving of His people for the needs at Harvest. The original building’s 7-year loan was paid off in four years. The old
sanctuary's 7-year loan was fulfilled in four and a half years. The children’s ministry wing was paid off in May 2010.
An additional 19 acres were given to Harvest by a family in the church. This one
million+ dollar gift brought us to a total of 31 acres! Later we purchased 20+ acres of farmland bringing us 50+ acres. All praise and glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
NEW WORSHIP CENTER Opened in June 2014!
This new space seats 1200 and has a large, welcoming foyer with Don & June’s Cafe.
The new worship center space is multi-functional and utilized in many different capacities. During our weekend worship services, many gather to praise God, be strengthened in their walk with the Lord, or to receive God’s gift of salvation!
We are thankful for God’s blessing of a great space for ministry in our surrounding communities and know that “to whom much is given” there is great responsibility to use it for the advancement of the kingdom of God (Luke 12:48). May it be so!
This new space seats 1200 and has a large, welcoming foyer with Don & June’s Cafe.
The new worship center space is multi-functional and utilized in many different capacities. During our weekend worship services, many gather to praise God, be strengthened in their walk with the Lord, or to receive God’s gift of salvation!
We are thankful for God’s blessing of a great space for ministry in our surrounding communities and know that “to whom much is given” there is great responsibility to use it for the advancement of the kingdom of God (Luke 12:48). May it be so!