Helping people develop a heart for God
For over 40 years, Harvest Baptist Church has provided a place of worship, spiritual growth and Christian fellowship. The local church serves as the center for all of the outreach ministries of Harvest locally, regionally, and around the world. We invite you to join with us as we strive to develop a heart for God on the island of Guam.
Harvest Baptist Church began in July of 1975 when a handful of people gathered for the first time on a front porch in Mangilao, Guam. Led by missionary pastor Bruce Wring, the church soon moved to its permanent location in Barrigada. Harvest Christian Academy began that fall with a small student body primarily targeting church members. Harvest Christian Academy now provides a complete college preparatory program for K3-12th grade and enrolls approximately 1,000 students each year. John Lewis became Pastor in 1979, and it was his desire that the church would grow to reflect the multiple nationalities and people groups found on the island.
Over the years the church has developed into a thriving ministry of over 600 on Sunday mornings. The church shares the Gospel with Guam through ministries like Harvest Family Radio, Pacific Rim Christian Camp and the HeBrews Worldwide Café. The church also strives to reach the surrounding Micronesian Islands through the ministry of Harvest Baptist Bible College and across the world through missions outreach. Under the leadership of Lead Pastor Gary Walton, Harvest Baptist Church continues to look for ways to evangelize the lost, equip the soldiers of Christ, and edify the believer.
Harvest Leadership
Pastor Gary Walton
Lead Pastor
Pastor Gary Walton was born in Colorado but spent many years growing up California. He and his wife, Faith, spent 24 years in Minnesota where all five of their children were born and raised. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Northland Baptist Bible College and a Masters of Divinity degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He spent 14 years as a pastor in Minnesota and 5 years working with Bibles International. After visiting Harvest Ministries in 2014, his eyes were opened to the many ministry opportunities available here and, in August of 2018, was led by God to come to Harvest permanently.
Pastor Jared Baldwin
Executive Pastor
Pastor Jared Baldwin, originally from North Kansas City, Missouri, served almost a decade in the United States Air Force. During that time, he felt God leading him into ministry. He pursued higher education and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministries from Northland Baptist Bible College, a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Heart of America Theological Seminary, and later a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Maranatha Baptist University. He joined the team here after one of his former professors, Mr. Marty Herron, became the senior pastor. After 15 years, they relocated to Iowa to launch the Organizational Leadership program at Faith Baptist Bible College; however, God has brought Jared and Tammy back to Harvest in 2023 where he serves again as the Executive Pastor. He enjoys beach combing and spending time with his family.
Pastor Larry Nagengast
Adult Education & Counseling
Pastor Larry Nagengast is from Davison, Michigan, where he served as the School Administrator and Assistant Pastor at Faith Baptist Church for 36 years. He also served as a pastor at First Baptist Church of Goodrich, Michigan. He has earned multiple degrees to aid in ministry which include a Bachelor of Science in English Education, a Masters in Educational Administration and Supervision, and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Bob Jones University. He and his wife, Jackie, attended various events at Harvest Ministries as speakers from 2007 to 2018. They prayed for a frontline mission ministry and God brought them to Guam where he currently serves as the Pastor of Adult Education and Counseling. He enjoys reading and golf in his spare time.
Pastor Ken Keith
Worship & Missions
Pastor Ken Keith was born in Pensacola, Florida, and lived in California and Chicago. He received a Master’s Degree in Biblical Theology from Northland International University. During his time there, he helped with the Audio and Visual department for the school along with the Missions department. After Typhoon Pongsona devastated Guam, he came on a mission trip to help with the clean-up efforts. He enjoyed working with Harvest during this time and, 18 months later, he and his family moved to the island. He currently serves as the Pastor of Worship and Missions. He and his wife, Samantha, have four kids. He loves catching up with Chicago sports in his free time.
Pastor Yoh Shirato
Japanese Ministries
Dr. Yoh Shirato was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, until the age of 15. He moved to Guam and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior through the ministry of Harvest Christian Academy. After graduating, he pursued multiple degrees, which include a Masters of Divinity and Doctorate in Theology from Bob Jones University and Seminary. He was able to gain ministry experience while pursuing his degrees. Afterwards he served as an Assistant Pastor at Asian Baptist Community Church in Singapore and a theology professor at their seminary. When the seminary closed, he followed the Lord’s leading in the opportunity to move to Harvest and help as the Bible Institute in its transition to become a Bible College. He married Mikuni in 2020 and enjoys martial arts, spearfishing, and downhill skiing.
Pastor Jake Schoor
Young Adults Ministry
Pastor Jake Schnoor was born in Calumet City, Illinois, and moved to Griffith, Indiana. He was saved while going to Lake Ellen Bible Camp in ninth grade. He met his beautiful wife, Brittany, while attending New Tribes Bible Institute where he received an Associates in Bible. They were married while Jake completed a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Studies and a Masters in Bible at Maranatha Baptist University. Throughout his years of schooling God opened up doors of ministry through internships at three churches. He was ordained at Brookside Baptist Church before moving to Guam in 2019 where he currently serves on the Pastoral Team with a variety of responsibilities. Jake loves all Chicago sports, good coffee, traveling, their daughter, and dog.
Pastor Wade Peltier
Children’s Ministries
Pastor Wade Peltier grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and then Kansas City, Missouri. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Bob Jones University and gained experience in ministry working at The Wilds Christian Camp in North Carolina. Shortly after marrying his wife, Robyn, in 2011, they moved to Hong Kong where they taught English and served in a local church. In 2014 they moved to northern Virginia where Wade served as Facilities Manager of a church as well as Children’s Church Director. God continued to grow in their lives a desire to minister to children in a multi-cultural environment. He currently serves as the Pastor of Children’s Ministries. He and his wife Robyn have three children. He enjoys hiking, playing with his children, and following Kansas City sports.
Pastor Noah Kephart
Teen Ministries
Pastor Noah Kephart was born and reared in southeastern Iowa. He was saved at 18 while attending Iowa Regular Baptist Camp. He graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible/Missions and then served at the college as a traveling admissions representative. He married Nikki in 2015, and they traveled as a couple for FBBC before Noah took the pastorate at the First Baptist Church of Corry, PA. After two years in Corry, they moved back to FBBC to work in various roles, ultimately landing in the Student Life Office as the Dean of Students. In October 2023, the Lord led Noah and Nikki to Harvest Baptist Church to serve as the Pastor of Student Ministries. Noah enjoys playing and watching basketball, reading, and is on the hunt to find the World’s Best Burger.
Church Deacons for 2024-2025
Deacons are appointed by the church to serve, minister, and help our pastors. They also tend to the needs of our members, so pastors can concentrate on studying and preaching the Word of God. Currently serving in our deacon fellowship are:
Bhong Canda, Jackson Fahoyelmarey, Chris Harper, Scott Hughes, Randy Lemuel, Edwin Mangmathau, Jon Marshall, Nino Matias, Eugene Ortillo, Jeremy Raab, Graham So, and Kin Uson.
“For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. ” 1 Timothy 3:13