Our History

It all started in September 2006. The long-anticipated move of the Spirit concerning the vision for planting a new church gathering Christ centered, Word proclaiming, passionate and bold believers began unfolding. On September 29 at the “Czech Symphony Project” ministry dinner banquet Pastor Michael Šust spoke about the vision for a new ministry calling based on mark 4:35 "let us go over to the other side…" At the time, no one had an idea what that ministry would be or even look like. The Lord began confirming the first steps as more than two dozen people contacted Michael and Colleen Šust within a week after the banquet expressing their desire to follow the lead and support the unnamed ministry. Many suggested planting a church!

The following weekend, at the invitation of friends, the Šusts attended the “Straight Up” leadership conference held at the Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago (Rolling Meadows). After the initial keynote address God’s Spirit spoke to Pastor James MacDonald who in an unsolicited fashion identified Michael as the Harvest leader for a church plant in St. Louis saying – “We have been praying for two years asking God to send a leader called to plant a church with us in St. Louis. You are the answer to our prayers…” Pastor James personally put us in touch with leaders of the Harvest Fellowship and shared with them about his conviction concerning God’s call to plant a church together with us in St. Louis. We were astonished and rejoicing at the level of certainty these men were radiating after we barely knew each other for a few minutes…

On October 10, 2006 the core group of believers met at the Šust home. Eighteen people attended praying for the confirmation of the unsolicited alliance with Harvest Bible Fellowship. Over the next few weeks the core group grew to over 40 people without solicitation or recruitment. We knew that God was doing this as none of the core group people were “invited” but rather called. We only prayed and people were contacting us asking offering to come on board and help plant a new church. After initially gathering in homes, the core group began meeting on Saturday evenings at the River Chase recreational facility in Fenton, Missouri. Over 60 adults and children became regularly involved.
On November 18 and 19, 2006, we had our first weekend retreat in Elsah, Illinois, experiencing God’s presence and power in an unprecedented way and loving the fellowship with people who in just a few weeks became closest friends. It was obvious to us that the Lord was doing something very special.

On December 5, 2006 leaders of the Harvest Bible Fellowship, Gordon Zwirkoski and Kent Shaw, met with the core group for the first time. Once again, we were affirmed in God’s direction and with much prayer and praise we officially became a Harvest Bible Fellowship ministry. We began training to develop into the Launch Team for Harvest Bible Chapel St. Louis-West. On January 17, 2007, thirty two members of our group visited Harvest in Rolling Meadows as well as the Fellowship in Chicago. What a joy and what a confirmation! Pastor James MacDonald took the time personally to visit with our group exhorting us to stay the course. Kent and Gordon, who at this point were our overseeing elders spent time with us and continued to encourage and train us. At the end of January our group visited Chicago for the second time.

In February 2007, after much training and preparation we began inviting friends to our Saturday evening gatherings at River Chase. We continued to share the vision for launching Harvest St. Louis-West and prayed for God to add passionate and willing people to the Launch Team. In April the Lord answered our prayers for a worship location for Sunday morning worship services as we were able to secure the Northwest Middle School located on Highway 270 and Ladue Road. We moved to the school in July of 2007, just five weeks before the launch date.

On Sunday morning, August 19, 2007, Harvest Bible Chapel St. Louis was launched and we became a church! Our first worship service was glorious. Over 300 people showed up to experience passionate worship rejoicing in the works of the Lord so tangibly displayed. Pastor Michael preached a message from 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 entitled “Are You ready for Harvest?”

As wonderful as the first service was, we also experienced quite a bit of warfare and persecution. On the Friday before launch our contract with the middle school was almost terminated as some of the neighbors complained to the school district resenting our banner signs and advertising and accusing the school of an unwanted affiliation with a Bible believing church. God provided a solution the same day as we were able to secure a new and much better facility for Sunday morning worship at the Conference Center of the Doubletree Hotel in Chesterfield. We left the school less than six weeks after launch and never looked back…Harvest St. Louis worshiped for four years at the Doubletree on Sunday mornings. God also provided a beautiful facility for offices and midweek activities in the City of Manchester.

In September, 2010, we were approached by a representative of a Korean church near the Doubletree, who asked us to share space with them. However, the Lord had not provided the means yet, so we waited and prayed. In the Spring of 2011, the Korean church was foreclosed on and bought by a Christian businessman, who desired to keep it a house of worship. We were able to come to a lease agreement, and on September 1, 2011, officially moved our offices and services into this beautiful new facility at 17550 Wild Horse Creek Rd. We praise God for His provision, and for walking us through this process!

As God’s church as we worship, walk with and work for Christ. We love to focus on making quality disciples who proclaim the authority of God’s Word without apology, lifting high the name of Jesus in worship, believing firmly in the power of prayer and sharing the good news of Jesus with boldness. Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things! (Psalm 98:1)