On a bright Sunday morning in October 1995, Colin and Sarah Nyathi, and six other people including their children woke up early to start the first Harvest House service in the lounge of their home in Sunninghill, Bulawayo. This was the first of many services that were to follow that have changed the lives of thousands. This radical, yet at that time seemingly absurd move, was a response to a compelling calling Pastor Colin received while fellowshipping at another local church.
After taking this bold step, the young church experienced growth at a trickling pace until a move to the Bulawayo Theatre was made two months later in December of the same year with just 20 people in attendance. Growth became steadier with more people joining the resolute church, and a revival broke out in 1998, accompanied by great moves of the Holy Sprit, which became a feature in the church services ever since.
The first missionary journey was made in 2001 when the first satellite church was planted in Gweru. Since then 23 churches have been planted right across the country from Victoria Falls to Beitbridge, and 9 churches regionally and internationally.
In May 2001, HHI moved to its newly purchased two-storey edifice at the corner of 13th Ave and George Silundika where it is currently housed. At the outset, the Sunday service was held from 9:00am to 1:00pm, but it became apparent that another service needed to be introduced because of the growth that the church was experiencing. Thus a second service was introduced starting at 11:00am, with the first service starting at 8:00am. Before long, it was clear that the two services would soon not be enough to accommodate the harvest that was being poured, so a third service was pioneered, which was running concurrently with the second service but in the ground floor auditorium. With more growth, more services were introduced to the seven services that concurrently run between the ground and upper auditoriums right throughout a Sunday.
In 2001 the Harvest House School of Ministry opened its doors, with students studying the Certificate in Biblical Studies. Since then it has grown to over 750 students and to a four-year course comprising Certificate in Biblical Studies, Advanced Certificate in Biblical Studies, Diploma in Pastoral Studies and the Prophetic Class which is the fourth year.
HARVEST HOUSE NOW
Since that initial attendance of 8 people in the Nyathi lounge, the church has grown to more than 6000 people attending the 7 services on a Sunday running in both the upper and ground floor auditorium, with the first service starting at 08:00hrs and the evening service ending at 20:00hrs. The overflow of the people saw the raising of leaders hence there are 10 resident pastors and 11 elders who run the different services and ministries in the main church. There is a total of 8 choirs that minister in the services, and 33 ministries that serve the different needs of the church.
The ground floor of the church consists of offices used for administration purposes, service auditorium, library and the video chapel. To ensure the smooth running of the church affairs, an administration team of 25 full time employees work hand in hand with the senior pastors.
The church has since groomed men and women to evangelize and plant churches. In total we have 9 international branches and 23 churches within the country. Four main conferences are hosted every year with some of the past anointed speakers having been Pastor Yemisi Ashimolowo, Bishop Tudor Bismark, Pastor David Hogan, Dr Goodwill Shana, Prophet Brent Douglas, Bishop Chimwemwe Chiwaka, Pastor Chemani Tuturu and Apostle Stanley Ndovi amongst others.
