Harvest of Praise Church of God (Rochester, NH)

Pastor Laren E. Whaley has provided a history of Harvest of Praise Church of God located in Rochester, New Hampshire. Most of the following is based on Pastor Whaley's article.

Harvest of Praise Church of God began as a mission work in September of 1977 under the direction of its first pastor, Reverend David A. Ricks, after the Northern New England Church of God Regional Offices in Falmouth, Maine purchased the church building on Heaton Street in Rochester from the United Pentecostal Church, now known as Grace Community Church on Rochester Hill Road.  The building was originally built and owned by Emmanuel Advent Christian Church, now located on Eastern Avenue in Rochester.

In the Fall of 1978 Reverend Joseph R. Gaines was appointed as the second pastor of the church. During that period of time a store-front mission work from Central Avenue in Dover, under the direction of Earl and Shirley Brown of Rochester, merged with the Harvest of Praise Church of God.

Organizing of the Church. On March 16, 1979, the Harvest of Praise Church of God was officially organized as a Church of God.  Reverend Ariel Yorkman, the Northern New England Church of God Regional Overseer officiated over the organizing of the church, receiving ten charter members into the church. The charter members were: Reverend Joseph R. Gaines, Sharon F. Gaines, Calvin A. Morse, Nehemiah Read, Eleanor Read, Earl Brown, Shirley Brown, Edward Sculley Jr., Judith Sculley, and Shirley Butler.

A New Pastor. In August of 1979 Pastor Gaines was appointed as the Director of the Church of God Servicemen's Center, in Madrid, Spain.  He then resigned as pastor of the church in Rochester. In mid August of that year Reverend Laren E. Whaley was appointed as the third pastor of the church.  He and his family moved to Rochester from Maryland and arrived in Rochester on October 2, 1979, to begin their pastorate at the church.

On Sunday, Oct 3, 2004, Pastor & Mrs. Laren E. Whaley celebrated 25 years of pastoral ministry at the Harvest of Praise Church of God. Dr. O. Wayne Brewer, the Administrative Bishop of the Church of God Northern New England Region and his wife were special guests.

On October 3, 2009, a Singspiration Celebration was held at the church to celebrate Pastor Laren and Linda Whaley’s 30 years of pastoral ministry with the Harvest of Praise congregation. Guest singers and musicians from several churches in the Rochester area came together to share their gifts and talents in a time of praise and worship to God. Participating in the Singspiration Celebration were Emmanuel Advent Christian Church, First United Methodist Church, Grace Baptist Church. Following the service a reception was held in honor of Pastor Whaley and his family.

Today. Today Harvest of Praise offers a wide range of ministries for the entire family: Sunday School,  Sunday Morning Worship Service, Children's Church, Intercessory Prayer Groups, and Family Training Hour on Wednesday nights with Adult Bible Studies.

Celebrating its 24th year in 2008, Lighthouse Christian Academy--a ministry of the church--is a New Hampshire State approved Christian School.

Harvest of Praise is a community-minded church. The church is highly involved with the ministry of the Evangelical Minister's Fellowship of Strafford County. For over ten years Pastor Laren E. Whaley has planned the National Day of Prayer Emphasis, meeting at City Hall on the first Thursday of May on the front lawn of the Rochester City Hall.  He has also for over ten years planned and presented the Annual Gospel Concerts on the Rochester Common on one Saturday night in July or August. The church is also involved in the annual Good Friday Services at the Grace Baptist Church of East Rochester, NH with various churches being involved in the service.

The outreaches of the church includes involvement in regular worship services at the Sunbridge Care and Rehabilitation of Rochester. On the last Sunday of the month, the church holds a worship service for the residents of the Gafney Home on Wakefield Street. The Harvest of Praise Puppet Ministry performs at community events such as the Lilac City Fun Festival in May and the Rochester Night Out Against Crime in August.

The church is also a missions-minded church, supporting missionaries in Chile, Brazil and Germany. The church also contributes to Options For Women Pregnancy Help Center in Dover, and The Smoky Mountain Children's Home in Sevierville, TN.

Harvest of Praise Church of God is located at 17 Heaton Street in Rochester, New Hampshire, and Laren Whaley continues to serve the congregation as senior pastor.