2011 Annual Celebration
Download this article to PDFHarvest Fellowship of Churches 9th Annual Celebration
As the congregations arrived at the rented facility in Bridgeport, CT, the sounds of the Faith Mountain worship team warming up came through the doors! Once seated, the special “Joint Choir” from Gospel Light and Good News congregations were at the front, warming up their voices for the meeting! And so began our Saturday afternoon at the 9th Celebration of the Harvest Fellowship of Churches, and we were thrilled to be there!
HFC congregations from NYC, ME, MA, and Eastern and Central PA were gathering for this marvelous occasion! 
Everyone arrived with an obvious sense of excitement, ready to celebrate Jesus and His had wonderful Presence among His Church. From fourteen HFC congregations the leaders and congregants met, worshipped and honoring the Lord Jesus!
From multiple testimonies of God’s grace and power, we heard examples of the Lord’s gracious work, including conversions and baptisms, congregational growth, and of the miraculous provisions for such ministries as VBS! Five Pastors and one Deacon shared of their congregation’s victories, goals and prayer requests.
Pastor Leonard Burkholder shared about the four Anabaptist Native Fellowship congregations –– 
located in AZ, NM and Canada –– and the exciting news of growth and outreach ministries taking place among them! And we also enjoyed the presence of about 20 members of the 
Koinonia Fellowship of Churches, led by Bishop Lawrence Chiles, who drove up from the Philadelphia area! What a joy it was to have these guests worship and celebrate with us and to hear words of encouragement from Bishop Chiles!
Bishop Henry also shared a very challenging message entitled, “Advancing God’s Kingdom: Wake Up, Watch & Pray.” 
Bishop Henry highlighted the deep sense that many Church leaders are echoing across the nations, which is the high degree of crises taking place across America (both natural and man-made), such that our awareness and sensitivity to Christ’s return must be increased and we intentionally and diligently “Wake up, Watch and Pray!” (Please see Rev. 3:1-2 and Matt. 24:12-13.)
Upon the conclusion of the meeting we all moved to the fellowship hall for a spectacular meal of delicious ethnic foods, topped off with a lovely Anniversary cake, all generously prepared and served by the four local CT congregations: Lighthouse Fellowship Church, Gospel Light Community Church, Beacon Of Light and Good News Christian Church. Delicious!
And as Bishop Henry so often declares, “To God be the glory!”
(Note: please see additional photos at the HFC 
website found at the “Photo Gallery” menu. The photos were taken by Mary Ann Lee, from the Boston Chinese Church of Saving Grace. Thank you so much, Mary Ann.)
By Pastor Darrell Minnich
The Son, Jesus, also shone His glory on the congregation as they worshiped and testified to God’s faithfulness over the past year. Being Palm Sunday, Nancy Eldredge, wife of Elder Tom Eldredge, assisted by her son Daniel, led in a meaningful worship reflecting on the events of Passion Week through a reading, Scripture, and songs. The children of the congregation, joined her in leading this worship celebration.
Pastor Hector and Jennie Muñiz, (left), expressed gratitude to the Lord for His leading in the formation and development of the congregation. Pastor Hector acknowledged that in the natural realm he resisted the call to be a pastor. Often the responsibilities seem beyond his ability. However, both he and Jennie have found God’s grace sufficient to meet every need. They took time to acknowledge individuals and congregations that have been a source of blessing and encouragement to them. Many of those individuals, along with members of other HFC congregations in Connecticut, were present. Over 100 persons came to worship and celebrate this special occasion. The congregation currently meets for worship at the Southend Community Center in Bridgeport.
During the service, Pastor Hector called members forward who were part of the original core group a year ago. That group (some pictured to the left) numbered around twelve. Today, approximately twenty five to thirty are part of the fellowship. 
Another highlight of the service was the installation of Norma Castro (at right) as the first Deaconess for the congregation. Pastor Hector presented her with a certificate certifying her role as deaconess. Norma has been faithfully serving the congregation from the beginning, often working behind the scenes, always sensitive to the needs of Pastor Hector and Jennie and the congregation. She is a school teacher by profession. She testified that while she received a number of certificates and diplomas in her life, the call of the Lord and the church, along with this certificate, is the most meaningful in her life.
encouraged by the clear evidence of God’s presence and work. Lighthouse Fellowship Church truly desires to be a bright light to the city of Bridgeport, and wherever God calls them. We are very thankful to have this congregation and ministry as a vital part of Harvest Fellowship of Churches.
Members from Good News Christian Church eagerly anticipated their 1st anniversary celebration. They gathered early to arrange and decorate their meeting place facility. To accommodate all the visitors, they also cooked a lot of delicious food. Members and friends from HFC congregations in Connecticut as well as some members from local congregations joined with the congregation for this special event. Many newcomers from the local neighborhood responded to invitations from members and came to the church for the first time. Several said they would return. Around 255 people, including 31 children, packed into the basement fellowship hall of the Church of the Holy Nativity, the weekly meeting place for the congregation.
Andrea and Pastor Pedro and Amy Vazquez on a Saturday morning in the Bronx for breakfast. Later they took a walk in the neighborhood where Pastor Miller explained how God had called them to that specific area even though they did not have any formal contacts at that point. The Millers moved into the neighborhood in August of 2009. On March 29, 2010, exactly one year later after that breakfast meeting, the congregation held their opening celebration with around 20 persons in the core group at that time. Now, one year later, around sixty attend the congregation on a weekly basis. We give glory to Jesus for the new life in Christ that is coming forth in the Bronx. The Miller’s are extremely blessed and encouraged by the spiritual commitment and enthusiasm of the members.
