Hugh's News & Commentary

Harvest…it’s who we are and what we do.

New Identity for the First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Sand Springs, Oklahoma

The First Pentecostal Holiness Church (FPHC) in Sand Springs, Oklahoma is known for its commitment to and financial support of World Missions. Upon the retirement of Reverend Charles Craig, the FPHC Administrative Council unanimously recommended the Reverend Mr. Mick Snider to the congregation as their choice to serve as the next senior pastor. Snider, who with sixteen years of experience as a full-time national evangelist in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, had served the New Horizons Ministries (NHM) Conference as the Conference Evangelism Director since January 2004. He resigned his position with NHM and assumed the leadership role as pastor of the church giving the largest amount of financial support to World Missions in the IPHC. In April 2010, Snider was re-elected by acclamation to continue serving as the NHM Assistant Conference Superintendent.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, in the 10:30 a.m. service, Pastor Mick Snider announced the launching a new identity for the time-honored congregation. The church is now known as Harvest Church. In the worship service prior to preaching of the message from God’s Word, the congregation enjoyed a video presentation of photos highlighting church events and local landmarks in Sand Springs and an audio presentation of the song, “God of This City,” About fifteen minutes into the sermon about the Jordan River overflowing its banks during the time of harvest (Joshua 3:14-17), Pastor Mick invited First Lady Teresa Snider, Administrative Council Members Larry Case, Ruthaleen Keith, Larry Reed, and Ivan White, Sr., Harvest Partners Ray and JoAnn Case and Mike and Lori Reed, and Youth Pastor Steve Allen to join him on the platform and address the congregation concerning the adoption of the trade name.

Here is an excerpt from Pastor Mick’s message:

1. “We are a Harvest Church. God has called us to reach the global and local harvest.

2. In 2009, this church gave about $359,000 to world missions. This church gave more to the cause of the global harvest than any other Pentecostal Holiness Church.

3. Since Easter of this year, that we know of, this church is responsible for bringing 22 people to faith in Jesus Christ, not counting the people who have come to Christ as a result of the work of our Harvest Partners who serve as missionaries in the nations of the world.

In order to reach our maximum potential and effectiveness, the Administrative Council (formerly known as the Official Church Board) of this church made a decision to secure the services of a company to assist with a process referred to as “branding” for marketing purposes of our church. This decision is indicative of progressive leaders with a desire to see this church move into the second decade of the 21st Century equipped and empowered to fulfill its God-ordained destiny.

We are the First Pentecostal Holiness Church of Sand Springs, Oklahoma. We are a full member church in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church family. That will never change. Pentecostal Holiness Church is a sir name, as it were, which ties us to the Pentecostal Holiness Family around the world. As the sons of Issachar who knew what Israel ought to do and by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the Administrative Council made a unanimous decision to adopt a first name for this church to give it a special identity in the Kingdom of God, the Pentecostal Holiness Church, the State of Oklahoma, and the City of Sand Springs.

With the blessing of the Conference Executive Council of the East Oklahoma Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, which identifies itself as New Horizons Ministries, and with the authorization of the Oklahoma Secretary of State, we can officially begin to function in ministry using the name Harvest Church. When inviting friends and family members to attend church with you, you can invite them to Harvest Church. When telling others where you attend church, you can tell them you attend Harvest Church. When writing your checks to pay tithes, support missions, or contribute to any other of our ministries, you can write your check to Harvest Church. Our new identity will be displayed on the church sign and the billboard on US Highway 412. People in this part of the state will learn about our new identity in a few weeks as we participate in the Sand Springs Soap Box Derby as a Co-Title Sponsor.

The professionals we have hired will assist us in communicating who we are by providing us with a “brand” to use on a new internet website and in all future advertising and ministry. When operational, the website will be www.harvestchurchok.org and if Jesus tarries His coming, the day will come when people will see or hear the name Harvest and think of this church and its ministries.

On Sunday, November 14 of this year, we will celebrate the 80th Anniversary of our church. We will celebrate the past and seize the future. From the platform of a rich heritage we will move into the future reaching people with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as we take our place in His Eternal Kingdom to bring in the Harvest, both globally and locally. This is, indeed, a great day in the life of this church.”

Spontaneous applause erupted after the leadership spoke. The congregation stood and sang, “God of This City.” Sister Teresa Snider, herself a licensed IPHC Minister in the NHM Conference, led in a powerful prayer and the Spirit of God moved via tongues and interpretation. The Lord of the Harvest sanctioned and blessed the congregation as they began this new dimension of ministry. As the congregation left the sanctuary, the Worship Team continued singing, “You’re the God of this city. You’re the King of these people. You’re the Lord of this nation. You are. Greater things are still to come. Greater things are still to be done in this city.”

Powerful and amazing are the words used to describe the 10:30 a.m. service at Harvest Church on September 5. When Pastor Mick read the passage of scripture to begin the service, it was evident the Lord of the Harvest was present in the house. As the Worship Team led in singing the praise and worship songs, His presence flooded into people’s hearts. Then, the Holy Spirit lifted the people into Heavenly places. An older female member of the congregation blessed those in attendance with a song in tongues and with its interpretation. The Lord continued blessing and two messages in tongues and the interpretations were given. These were words of great encouragement and inspiration. The presence of God seemed to roll in like the tide of an ocean. More than once people came to kneel at the altars as they worshiped and received from the Living Lord. The youth pastor described the service saying, “It was off the hook!”

That evening, IPHC Missionaries and Harvest Partners Matt Helland, Gary and Kathy Petty, Ray and JoAnn Case, and Mike and Lori Reed were in attendance. The Harvest Church Family watched “The Harvest,” a short video stressing the following: 1) The Harvest has a way of bringing people together. 2) Everyone can accomplish more together than they can apart from each other. 3) We must be ready when the Harvest gets ready. The service closed with the Harvest Church Family standing at the altars committing themselves to the Lord and the gathering of His Harvest.

[Editor's Note: I hope you have enjoyed this exceptional news story about the Harvest Church in Sand Spring, OK. Mick Snider is a special friend of mine. I rejoice in what God is doing in Mick and Teresa's life and ministries.]