Our History

For over 48 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.

In July of 1975, a handful of people gathered for the first time on a front porch in Mangilao, Guam. This marked the first service for what would soon become Harvest Baptist Church. Led by missionary pastor Bruce Wring, the church soon moved to its permanent location in Barrigada. Later in the fall, the growing church recognized the need for a school to train their children and the children of Guam. This need was met in the founding of Harvest Christian Academy. 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. This vision guided the young church as it began to set down roots and find God’s unique purpose for them. In 1988, Harvest Baptist Bible Institute (now Harvest Baptist Bible College) officially began with its first class of four students. This realized a burden of the church to reach into the outer islands to help train up ministry leaders in their local churches. In November of 1994, construction began on a new church building to house the growing congregation, and in May of 1995 the building was completed, giving Harvest a large gathering place to worship, fellowship, and disciple. 1996 saw the birth of KHMG 88.1 FM, Harvest Family Radio, Guam’s 24-hour Christian radio station. The introduction of the station took Harvest’s local reach and spread it across the island. In May of 1998, Pastor Lewis resigned his position and turned over leadership to Pastor Dan Pelletier. Pastor Marty Herron was next to take leadership and oversaw much expansion on campus in the years following, after his installation in 2000. In 2009, the fifth Harvest ministry, Harvest House, was created for the purpose of recruiting, training, and retaining foster families on island. The need for emergency triage and foster families has more than doubled since Harvest House was realized, and it continues to be the primary source of foster support on island. Pastor Gary Walton became Lead Pastor in 2018 and is to this day passionately guiding Harvest Baptist Church to love God, love people, and help our island develop a heart for God. The Lord has blessed Harvest Baptist Church and by looking back through the years it is clear to see He has guided our steps. We pray that we may continue to serve Him by serving the people of Guam for many years to come, and Lord willing, until He comes!