A Brief History of HARVEST USA

Harvest USA began in 1983, as an outreach ministry in Center City, Philadelphia to the homosexual community to provide hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The ministry reached out to men and women who heard the gospel and desired to leave behind the gay lifestyle.

Since then Harvest USA has expanded its outreach to include those who struggle with sexual sin issues of all types, such as pornography, sexual addictions, etc. The ministry today works directly with men, women, youth and even entire families who have been impacted by these devastating issues. We remain committed to our vision statement: Proclaiming Christ as Lord to a Sexually Broken World.

Today, the larger mission of the ministry is to partner with and equip the church in bringing the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to transform the lives of those affected by sexual sin. The church is called by God to be the primary community in which life-changing transformation happens. The church needs, perhaps more so than ever before in this culture of rampant sensuality and broken sexuality, to be a place where sin-struggling men and women—believers and non-believers—can find transforming hope in the grace of Jesus Christ. Our goal is to partner with local churches to help them address these issues, and equip men and women to step into the lives of those impacted by sexual sin and brokenness.

To accomplish this objective Harvest USA is actively developing one-on-one discipleship and small group curriculum, book publications and various teaching methods to support the church in her efforts to reach out to those who need hope and help. The ministry has an active presentation and seminar schedule to churches and other organizations. Harvest USA is a missions organization and does not charge fees for its direct ministry work with men and women. Many of its presentations in churches (preaching, Adult Sunday school, Youth Sunday school, Men’s Ministry and Women’s Ministry, Missions’ presentations, etc.) are given without cost. It does charge a fee for presenting a major educational and training seminar.

Harvest USA currently has three offices. The National office is still located in Philadelphia (now, in the Manayunk section of the city).  A regional office in Chattanooga began in 2001, and a new outreach, as of 2007, has begun in Pittsburgh.

Harvest USA is a 501(c) 3 non-profit ministry, governed by a National Board. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and adheres to its ethical guidelines. Its budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 is 1.4 million dollars.

Harvest USA employs 8 full-time staff and 12 part-time staff among its offices. John Freeman, President, has led the ministry since its beginning.