A Century on Golden Springs Road
For more than a hundred years, Harvest Church of God has gathered on Golden Springs Road in Anniston, Alabama, as a full gospel Pentecostal congregation rooted in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) tradition. The church's story began in 1917 at a tent revival at Zinn Park in Anniston, and through a series of leaders and locations it grew into the multi-generational body it is today. Its current home sits at 520 Golden Springs Road, where the main sanctuary, a Children's Sanctuary, and the Family Life Center share the same campus. A second location, the Connecting Point, supports the congregation's ongoing ministry, and Big Time Entertainment in nearby Oxford provides room for student fellowship events.
Judge Joel Laird, a longtime visitor, has described the church in simple words: "Harvest Church of God is filled with God's Spirit. He showed up today in a mighty way! You'll thank God you did! Please come join us." Harvest's identity flows from Pentecostal teaching about Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, framed as a Pentecostal church for the whole family where praise and worship is open and Spirit-filled, the Bible is taught as the Word of God, and people of every age are welcomed. From preschoolers in Kid City to the Young at Heart senior adults, every stage of life is folded into the congregation's life together.
Full Gospel Pentecostal Foundations
Harvest Church of God is part of the Church of God denomination with international headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, and holds to a written statement of beliefs rooted in the Holy Bible. The fourteen points that summarize those beliefs begin with the verbal inspiration of the Bible and the affirmation of one God eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The statement affirms that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, buried, raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and now seated at the right hand of the Father as intercessor.
Beliefs about salvation include the doctrines that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, that repentance is commanded of God and necessary for forgiveness, and that justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. The church also affirms sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ, through the Word, and by the Holy Spirit, with holiness as God's standard of living for His people. A distinctively Pentecostal emphasis follows: the baptism of the Holy Spirit subsequent to a clean heart, with speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance being the initial evidence of that baptism.
Two ordinances mark the church's fellowship: water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for all who repent, and the regular practice of the Lord's Supper together with the washing of the saints' feet. The congregation also teaches divine healing as provided for all in the Atonement, the premillennial second coming of Jesus (first to resurrect the righteous dead and catch away the living saints, then to reign on the earth a thousand years), and the bodily resurrection with eternal life for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked.
Sundays at 520 Golden Springs Road
The Sunday rhythm at Harvest begins with Sunday School classes for every age group at 9:00 AM, where attendees gather in classes named Children's Church, Thrive Student, Young Adult (ages 20-45), Connected Vessels, Iron Men, Limitless, and Liberty. The Sunday morning worship service follows at 10:00 AM in the main sanctuary, with a parallel Children's Service running at the same hour in the Children's Sanctuary. Open Prayer is held in the Children's Sanctuary on Sundays at 5:00 PM. First-time visitors are invited to arrive about fifteen minutes before the service starts to allow time for parking and walking children to their classes.
Harvest is described as a multi-generational church where people of all races, backgrounds, and walks of life come together to worship, grow in their relationship with God, and discover authentic relationships. From students to professionals, preschoolers to senior adults, every member of the family has a place designed for them. The dress is wide open, ranging from suits to jeans, dressy to casual. The atmosphere is one of loving, friendly, and praying people who are free to respond to a Holy Spirit-inspired Word from God. A First Time Guest Form for children can be filled out before arrival to speed registration at Kid City.
The Family Approach: Kid City, Thrive, and Beyond
Children and students are central to Harvest's identity as a Pentecostal church for the whole family. Kid City is the children's ministry, and its leaders describe their mission in the words of Matthew 5:14 from The Message: "You are here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill." Kid City is committed to the spiritual growth of children of every age while immersing them in God's love, with age-specific nursery and school-age classes available for children from six weeks through sixth grade. The Children's Sunday School meets in the Children's Sanctuary under the teaching of Pastor Brandon Tuck, with lessons that are described as current and a blessing to children.
Stephanie Whiteside has served as Nursery and Toddler Coordinator at Harvest since August 1999, with an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. She also serves as a paraprofessional with children with special needs and feels privileged to introduce children to the Lord while giving parents a chance to recharge during the service. Thomas and Grace Ivey lead the middle school class at Kid City, sharing that they are honored to serve the Lord together and excited to see how God shapes these students and the plans He has for their lives.
Thrive is the student ministry of Harvest for junior high and senior high students. Students meet for Sunday School and on Wednesday evenings for a time of worship, prayer, and teaching, with messages described as life-changing. The students are encouraged to participate in outings and events throughout the year designed to help them grow closer to God and to one another. Through passionate teaching and community, Thrive mentors students as they come alive to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Sound of the House
The music ministry at Harvest Church of God is built around the conviction that "our music is the overflow of our hearts and our hearts are OVERFLOWING for Jesus." The team's passion is to be in His presence, and their goal is to lift Him up. Worship Leader Ashlee Hanvey has led the team since 2018; she grew up at Harvest and discovered her calling during her teen years. Her husband Adam serves as the church's tech director behind the soundboard. The worship team records live sets at the Anniston campus, and an extensive archive of Pentecostal praise and worship music is shared through Podbean.
The setlists include a wide range of modern and classic worship songs - "Way Maker," "Raise a Hallelujah," "Living Hope," "Graves Into Gardens," "Chain Breaker," "Revelation Song," "Glorious Day," "Oh The Blood," "Ever Be," "This is Amazing Grace," "Grace Flows Down," "Amazing Grace," "I Exalt Thee," "Oh Come To The Altar," "At The Cross," "Here I Am to Worship," "No Sweeter Name," "Mighty Fortress," "Hallelujah Here Below," "Spirit Move," "Holy Water," and "Come Alive." Original Harvest recordings include "Come Alive," with lyrics like "The breath of God can rescue our daughters and call back our wayward sons. The victory belongs to God, so with the faith He's given us we can step out into the valley unafraid. Dry bones come alive! Dead hearts come alive!" The Sunday morning services are also available through the church's YouTube channel, where the sermon archive stretches back many years.
Lifting Hands, Lowering Barriers: Outreach and Visitation
Beyond the walls of the sanctuary, Harvest Church of God operates a wide web of practical and prayer-based outreach. The Tuesday Morning Prayer Warriors gather at 9:00 AM each week for devotions, intercessory prayer, and fellowship. From April through September, the Drive-Thru Prayer team partners in prayer with motorists in front of the church property, a simple and accessible way to bring the church's ministry into the daily commute of the surrounding community.
Pastoral care extends into homes, hospitals, and other care facilities through the Hospital Visitation team, which brings hope and comfort through prayer and presence. The Jail Ministry gives inmates hope for their future beyond their present circumstances. The Soup Bowl program offers volunteers and support for a local food program, partnering with neighbors in need. The Men's Ministry focuses on discipleship, mentoring, and leadership for the men of the church, while the Women's Ministry encourages spiritual growth, development, and leadership among the women of Harvest, with activities that support the church, the home, and the community scheduled throughout the year.
A Place for Every Season
Harvest's ministry structure recognizes that adults pass through very different stages. The Young Adult ministry serves ages 20 to 45, walking through the Word of God as it applies to everyday living. The 40-50s Ministry, led by Stephen and Wendy Pressley, gathers adults in a similar life stage for fellowship and study. The Young at Heart group, led by Senior Adult Pastor Rev. W. H. Ford, is designed for those 55 and older; the group meets the third Friday of each month at a variety of venues to share God's Word, enjoy food, and enjoy fellowship. Rev. Ford has pastored churches for forty-plus years and counts it a joy to walk with this season of life alongside the seniors of Harvest.
Daniel and Ashleigh Sheppard lead the Young Adult ministry. The Connecting Point, a second location connected to the Harvest campus, supports these adult gatherings and offers additional opportunities for fellowship. Men gather monthly for a Men's Breakfast at the Family Life Center, and the church hosts seasonal events such as fall festivals for the whole congregation.
Harvest Homeschool
One distinctive ministry of Harvest Church of God is Harvest Homeschool, a church school covering for homeschool families from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The church holds that homeschooling is a calling from God to bring up children in a way pleasing to Him, grounding the work in Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Harvest Homeschool sees the parental task as receiving a child as a charge from the Lord, then dedicating, guiding, disciplining, and encouraging them in God's ways.
Harvest Homeschool operates under Alabama law, which allows parents to teach their children at home under a church school covering. The office handles church enrollment forms for the local Board of Education, keeps attendance and grade records, and provides transcripts for high school students. The ministry provides a minimum of 160 instructional days each year and requires mid-year and end-of-year grade and attendance reports. Harvest Homeschool follows the Alabama State Department of Education Graduation Requirements Plan A or Plan B, with twenty-four units of credit each, and electives that may cover literature, home economics, physical education, art, drama, Bible, mechanics, computer, typing, vocational training, and sign language. Harvest Homeschool partners with CHEAHA (Christian Educators At Home of Anniston), a homeschool support group that offers field trips, SAT test administration, day activities, and a graduation ceremony. The Harvest Homeschool office can be reached at 256-237-6295.
Leadership and Pastoral Team
Harvest Church of God is pastored by Senior Pastor Rev. Brian Gilpin, who, along with his wife Kendra, has been in pastoral ministry since 2004. The Gilpins have two children, Conor and Grace, and view their highest honor as being in the Lord's service. Rev. Gilpin became Harvest's senior pastor in early 2025, succeeding Rev. Jerry Irwin, who retired after thirty-eight years of pastoring at Harvest. Associate Pastor Rev. Don Maddox has been in ministry since he was twenty-one and serves alongside his wife Mikki; together they have a son, a daughter, and six grandchildren, and Rev. Maddox often references lessons he learned about pastoring from his mother and grandmother.
The pastoral team is rounded out by Youth Pastors Justin and Shelly Wilson, who have served in ministry since 2008 and are raising their daughter Elaina, and Senior Adult Pastor Rev. W. H. Ford. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Wednesday from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The mailing address for general gifts, Harvest Homeschool payments, and records is PO Box 1888, Anniston, AL 36202.
Giving, Sermons, and Staying Connected
Harvest Church of God offers a year-end contribution report for tax-deductible giving. Gifts can be made through several methods:
- Check or cash during the Sunday morning service
- Mail to PO Box 1888, Anniston, AL 36202
- Online bill payment through a personal bank
- Online giving through Harvest Amplify
The text list is another way to stay informed; adding a phone number to the Harvest Text Group makes it possible to receive news and reminders by text message.
Sermons are preached by Pastor Brian Gilpin and Pastor Don Maddox, with a regular stream of messages titled "Tongues & Interpretation" shared as spoken words from the Lord to the church. A deep sermon archive is available online, and selected sermons are also shared on YouTube and as audio recordings. The music ministry's podcast of live recordings and a regular cadence of devotional posts round out the digital life of the church, making it possible to worship with Harvest from anywhere in the world.