Harvest Ridge is a church community of about 300 people in northwest Johnson County, Kansas, on the western edge of metropolitan Kansas City. Our life centers on seeking to follow Jesus Christ. We are an intergenerational family in the best sense because God has shown his amazing and redeeming love for us in Jesus – and that makes us a family.
Connections
Harvest Ridge belongs to an even bigger family of about 750 Christ-centered and mission-minded churches in the US and Canada - a denomination known as the Evangelical Covenant Church. Together, we share in the ministry of World and Home Missions, Retirement and Benevolent Ministries, Ministries of Justice and Compassion, Bible Camps and Conference Centers, and Christian Higher Education. For a full line-up of Covenant Church connections, check out the links.
We are heirs to a 100+ year history of Covenant Church ministry with eight other ECC churches currently in the Kansas City metro area. www.covchurch.org
Background
Harvest Ridge is the daughter of Community Covenant Church on 87th Street Parkway in Lenexa, Kansas. In 1996, CCC called Pastor Eric Sparrman to serve as its "church planting" pastor. We held our first worship service in 1997 with a core group of about 50 people from CCC. Since that time, we have met in two schools and a movie theater before moving into our present facility in 2001.
Our Faith...
As an Evangelical Covenant Church our faith roots are firmly set in historical Christianity as it emerged in the Protestant Reformation, in the biblical instruction of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, and in the great spiritual awakenings of the nineteenth century that impacted a generation of immigrants to the United States. We emphasize basic Christian beliefs and just as importantly the living out of these beliefs.
As a Covenant Church we affirm:
The invitation to relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This new life comes to us through the process of conversion.
That the Bible is God’s authoritative Word and message to all people and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct. We also believe this calls for a spiritual and living response.
A conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit who, with the Father and Son, calls the church into being, empowers its ministry, guides its mission, and supplies the resources needed by the Church community to follow Jesus.
That the Church is the community of believers characterized by mutual participation in and sharing new life in Christ. Membership in the Harvest Ridge family is by confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is open to all who believe.
The reality of freedom in Christ. We recognize that differences exist concerning theological issues, worship styles and sacramental practices. But we believe that these differences are overcome through sharing a common life in Jesus Christ. We believe that each person is unique and so is their experience in Christ. In him we have freedom that reflects our commitment to God’s Word, the Bible, and the guidance of his Holy Spirit in our lives.
In essentials: agreement. In non-essentials: freedom. In all: love.
Baptism
Jesus says that he wants his followers to be baptized with water as a sign of cleansing and incorporation into his family. Throughout history, however, Christians have interpreted this in different ways. At Harvest Ridge, we will baptize by total immersion or by sprinkling those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ - and we will baptize the infants of believing parents (or we’re glad to dedicate young children as well!) We believe baptism is a sign of God’s grace at work in our lives - not a ticket to heaven! And while it is a beautiful and significant sacrament of the Church, we don’t believe differing views should divide the family of God.
Communion
We celebrate Communion (also known as the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist) during Sunday worship – generally on the first Sunday of every month. If you trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are welcome to participate. You don’t need to be a “member” of the church. Children are invited to come forward with their families for communion. If your kids aren’t ready for Communion (and the pastors are happy to talk with you about this) they are welcome to receive a handful of grapes we provide so they feel welcome at the table.
An essay: What does the Covenant Church believe?
On one level, the answer is quite simple. When new members join a Covenant church, they are asked two questions about belief: “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and promise to follow him as Lord?” and “Do you accept the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as the word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct?” They are then asked if they intend to live as faithful followers of Christ and members of the church and denomination. That’s all. That is enough. But on another level, of course, the answer is a good deal more complex. While the Covenant Church does not require adherence to any written creed, we take our theology very seriously, and our history as well. We are a Reformation church, a part of the Church universal, and an evangelical church. In that heritage, we share certain central beliefs, which draw us together in faith and fellowship and make possible a freedom among us on more widely ranging issues. We describe those central beliefs as “affirmations,” and they are outlined in the document available for download below. We hope that as you read these affirmations you will find yourself identifying with them in your own faith experience. If they raise questions for you or you would like to read further, we would encourage you to ask your pastor (if you are already in contact with a Covenant church) or any Covenant pastor for more suggestions.
May God bless you as you seek to learn more about him through his Church.
Glenn R. Palmberg
Former President – The Evangelical Covenant Church