Get to Know Harvest

Statement of Faith – Harvest Baptist Church

1. The Scriptures

We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. It is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Written by men under the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit, it is God's revelation of Himself to man and is sufficient for salvation, instruction, and godly living.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..."

• 2 Peter 1:20-21 – "...no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation... but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

• Psalm 19:7-11, Matthew 5:18

2. God

We believe in one true and living God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—equal in essence, distinct in function. He is sovereign, holy, just, loving, and worthy of all worship and obedience.

• Deuteronomy 6:4 – "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

• Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14

• Exodus 34:6-7, Isaiah 45:5-6

2.1 God the Father

God the Father reigns with providential care over His creation. He is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-wise. He hears and answers prayer and saves all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.

• Matthew 6:9, John 6:27

• Romans 8:28, Ephesians 1:3-6

2.2 God the Son – Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, God the Son, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died as a substitutionary atonement for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended to heaven. He will return personally and visibly to judge the living and the dead.

• John 1:1-14, Colossians 1:15-20

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 4:15

• Acts 1:9-11, Revelation 19:11-16

2.3 God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, regenerates sinners, and indwells all believers. He empowers them for godly living, illuminates the Scriptures, and distributes spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.

• John 16:8-15, Titus 3:5

• 1 Corinthians 6:19, Romans 8:9-17

• Galatians 5:22-23

3. Humanity and Sin

We believe that humanity was created in the image of God, male and female, for the purpose of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. Through Adam’s sin, all have inherited a sinful nature and are separated from God, under just condemnation and in need of salvation.

• Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:10-23

• Romans 5:12-19, Ephesians 2:1-3

4. Salvation

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. It includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. It is wholly the work of God and not earned by human effort.

• Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7

• Romans 3:24-26, 2 Corinthians 5:21

• Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 10:10-14

4.1 Regeneration

The new birth is a work of the Holy Spirit, bringing the dead sinner to life, granting faith and repentance.

• John 3:3-8, 2 Corinthians 5:17

4.2 Justification

Justification is God's legal declaration that a sinner is righteous through faith in Christ.

• Romans 5:1, Galatians 2:16

4.3 Sanctification

Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to conform the believer into the image of Christ.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Philippians 2:12-13

4.4 Glorification

Glorification is the final step of salvation where believers are made perfect and share eternal life with God.

• Romans 8:30, 1 John 3:2

5. The Church

The Church is the Body of Christ, composed of all born-again believers. The local church is a community of baptized believers associated by covenant, committed to the Word, fellowship, worship, service, and mission.

• Matthew 16:18, Acts 2:42-47

• Ephesians 1:22-23, Hebrews 10:24-25

5.1 Ordinances

We believe that Christ gave the church two ordinances:

Baptism – the immersion of the believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, symbolizing union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

• Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 6:3-5

The Lord’s Supper – a symbolic act of obedience where believers memorialize the death of Christ and anticipate His return.

• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

6. Mission and Evangelism

We believe that the church is called to fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations. Every believer is called to be a witness to the gospel in word and deed.

• Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8

• 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Romans 10:14-17

7. Last Things

We believe in the personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to earth. There will be a bodily resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous—the saved to eternal life and the lost to eternal punishment.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 20:11–21:8

• John 5:28-29, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

8. Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality

We believe that God created marriage to be the union of one man and one woman in covenant commitment. Gender is given by God and determined biologically. Sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage alone.

• Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6

• Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9. Religious Liberty and Civil Authority

God alone is Lord of the conscience. Christians are called to obey civil authorities unless those authorities command disobedience to God. We affirm the freedom of the church to proclaim the gospel without coercion.

• Romans 13:1-7, Acts 5:29

• 1 Peter 2:13-17

10. The Christian Life

We believe that all believers are called to grow in grace, live holy lives, pursue spiritual maturity, and bear the fruit of the Spirit. We are called to love God and love others, living as salt and light in the world.

• Galatians 5:22-25, Ephesians 4:1-3

• Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Peter 1:14-16

Harvest Baptist Church was founded out of a clear sense of God’s leading and provision. In the late 1990s, Faith Baptist Church (FBC) in Iowa City recognized that God was doing a special work in Iowa County. As the congregation at FBC grew—particularly among the youth involved in ministries like "The Loft"—church leadership felt called to plant a daughter church in Williamsburg, Iowa.

After much prayer and counsel, Pastor John Sauser resigned from FBC in 2001 to become the missionary church planter for this new work. On September 15, 2001, a small group of believers met in a home in rural Williamsburg and formally established Harvest Baptist Fellowship—soon renamed Harvest Baptist Church to reflect its mission to serve and reach the agricultural communities of Iowa County.

The church held its first worship service on October 14, 2001, in the cafeteria of Mary Welsh Elementary School. From those humble beginnings, the church quickly grew and became a vital part of the Williamsburg community. The school graciously allowed use of its facilities for Sunday services, youth group, children’s ministry, and midweek gatherings.

As the congregation expanded, the Lord faithfully provided the resources and partnerships needed to pursue a permanent location. In 2005, the church broke ground on a 7-acre property donated by a generous family from the congregation. With the help of Continental Baptist Builders and many volunteer laborers from across the country, a dedicated church facility was constructed in two phases. After years of prayer, planning, and building, the church moved into its new home and celebrated a formal dedication service on July 22, 2007.

From its inception, Harvest has been committed to preaching the gospel, making disciples, and equipping believers to live for Christ. Through God’s grace and the faithful service of His people, the church continues to grow in its mission: to glorify God by sowing seeds of faith, reaping a harvest of righteousness, and serving the community in love.

We look back with gratitude and forward with hope—trusting God to continue His work through Harvest Baptist Church for generations to come.

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”
— Hosea 10:12