On 17th Street in Sarasota, Florida, a congregation called Harvest describes itself with a string of unhurried words: progressive, safe, inclusive, multi-generational, innovative, hopeful. It meets in a single building that doubles as a food pantry and the operational home of Harvest House, a regional nonprofit providing more than 380 beds of supportive and affordable housing across Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Sundays at Harvest look a lot like what many newer churches offer, with one important difference: the language the leaders use, the questions they invite, and the people they say belong at the table.
Sundays at 10 AM, Step by Step
The Sunday morning service begins at 10:00 AM at 3650 17th Street, Sarasota, FL 34235. Parking is open, and visitors are told to grab any available spot. Anyone who would rather not walk in alone can text the church at 941-431-0033, and a member of the Host Team will meet them in the parking lot and help them get settled.
Inside the lobby, Connection Hosts greet every guest. Locally roasted coffee is poured, artwork from local artists lines the walls, and information about upcoming events is laid out for browsing. Anyone wearing a Host Team lanyard can answer practical questions about restrooms, children's spaces, or how to refill a cup.
The Worship Space has open seating. The church draws the comparison to Southwest Airlines: sit where you like, no assigned seats, no expectations beyond being present. Visitors who want company can ask a Connection Host to sit with them or to introduce them to others.
Music, Teaching, and an Open Chair
Most Sunday services follow a three-part rhythm.
Music comes first, led by a group of musicians and vocalists the staff calls some of the most talented in the city. The goal of the music, the church writes, is to create space for reflection, hope, and connection. Singing, sitting, or standing are all welcome.
Connection is the moment when the room is invited to greet those nearby. Participation is framed as optional, especially for introverts and newcomers.
Teaching comes from Lead Pastor Dan Minor on most Sundays, with guest preachers and Storyteller Sunday speakers filling in throughout the year. Messages tend to address hope, healing, belonging, justice, compassion, and universal love, and they are described as thoughtful, relevant, accessible, and sprinkled with humor. A regular series features storytellers from inside and outside the church; recent storytellers include Cheryl Carty, Darla Ferrante, Barb Allen, Taylor, and Robyn Minor. Guest speakers have included Dr. Essence Deming-Rivers, pastor Stan Mitchell, William Matthews, and Brian Recker.
Sermons are published online and organized into several ongoing threads, including the main Sunday teaching, the Bible, Bravery, and Bulls#!t conversation series, the Storyteller Sunday feature, and a Special Guests collection.
Lead Pastor Dan Minor and the Teaching Team
Dan Minor is the Lead Pastor and the primary preacher. He writes the bulk of the teaching material and has built a catalog of sermon series that touch on doubt, holiness, empire, belonging, and what the church has gotten wrong. His approach is conversational rather than doctrinal, and the church's own description emphasizes that questions are honored and authenticity is encouraged.
Supporting the teaching life of the congregation is Jekeyma Robinson, who serves as Care Pastor and Community Engagement. Robinson also preaches, most recently with a message titled "Who Told You Who You Are?"
Two Worship Leaders share the music leadership role: Anna Rodriguez and Cory Woomert. Stephen Lehman serves as Media Director, and Michael Thomas Regina is Tech Director and Engineer. Amanda Just leads KidsCity, the children's ministry. Harvest's staff listing also notes a Front Office Administrator, who is the first contact for general inquiries at info@harvestsarasota.com.
KidsCity for Children Ages 4 to 11
KidsCity runs at the same time as the adult service, Sundays at 10:00 AM, and is open to children ages 4 through 11. The program describes itself as more than just childcare. The team teaches what they call KidsCity core values: creativity (with crafts, projects, and play each Sunday), safety (secure rooms and background-checked volunteers), and family (partnering with parents and caregivers rather than competing with them).
The language used around KidsCity is deliberate. The ministry aims to introduce children to God's love without the shame, condemnation, or fear that many adults remember from their own upbringing, and it welcomes every kind of family as a partner.
Parents who would like to volunteer in KidsCity are invited to reach out through the church's contact form.
The Thursday Food Pantry
On Thursday mornings, the same building opens as a food pantry. From 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, volunteers hand out pre-bagged groceries in partnership with All Faiths Food Bank and the TEFAP/USDA Program. The pantry does not operate on holidays or during posted closures.
For a congregation that describes its mission as supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of every individual, the Thursday pantry is the most tangible expression of the physical side of that mission.
Harvest House: Housing and Recovery Beyond the Sunday Walls
Harvest House is the nonprofit arm connected to Harvest Sarasota. Harvest House transforms lives through supportive and affordable housing, addiction recovery programs, and hunger relief. It operates more than 380 beds across Sarasota and Manatee Counties and walks people from fear toward confidence and freedom.
Three doors lead into Harvest House from the church's site: one for individuals seeking help, one for volunteers who want to get involved, and one for donors who want to support the work. The organization is described as a separate entity that shares staff and story with the Sunday morning congregation.
Beliefs, Mission, and the Bigger Story
Harvest states its mission plainly: "To be the endless love of God to every individual by supporting their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being." The vision is "to amplify Jesus' universal love, inspiring communities to embrace and uplift one another." The purpose ties the two together: "As an inclusive organization we strive to catalyze personal and societal change, advocating for equity and social justice."
The four marks the church points to are personal conversion, social justice, community formation, and cultural transformation, gathered under the prayer "May your Kingdom come."
Several phrases recur in the church's stated approach. Differences are embraced. Questions are honored. Authenticity is encouraged. Healing is possible. Whoever a visitor is, wherever they are from, and wherever they are on their journey, the church tells them there is space: not just to attend or observe, but to belong, participate, grow, and be part of a community.
The leadership is candid about the audience it serves. Many who walk through the door are in the middle of, or on the other side of, a shifting faith, and the church describes itself as a place that celebrates questions. A church member named Emily put it this way: "Having a space that feels safe and inclusive allowed my faith to be restored."
What to Expect Before You Go
Worship is contemporary in tone, led by a regular team of musicians and vocalists, and grounded in teaching that leans progressive and justice-oriented. The Sunday service is held in English.
There is no dress code described, no mention of required attire, and no statement about typical formality. Visitors are encouraged to come as they are.
Children are not only welcome but are given a full program of their own through KidsCity. The children's ministry is designed for ages 4 to 11.
The building is presented as accessible: parking is open, the lobby is straightforward, and anyone wearing a Host Team lanyard can help with practical questions. The church invites anyone with specific accessibility concerns to reach out ahead of time.
Sermons are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel and archived there afterward. Giving is available online through Harvest's Breeze portal.
A Network Wider Than One Building
Harvest Sarasota sits inside a small web of related efforts. Harvest House extends the congregation's reach into housing and recovery across two counties. The KidsCity volunteers and Sunday storytellers keep a rotating bench of voices in the room. The music team, the care pastor, and the media and tech staff keep the Sunday gathering and the online presence stitched together. The Thursday pantry keeps the building in use when the worship chairs are empty.
What the church emphasizes is not a building program or a denomination, but a posture. The leaders write that church should be more than a place where people are simply welcomed; it should be a place where people feel valued. At Harvest, the church's stated promise is short: Hi friend. We got you.