Celebrating Ten Years
From mid-2014 through December 2015, I did everything I knew to do right. The Messianic movement at the time was marked by division and discord—and that wasn’t how I wanted to begin a church on the Sabbath in Oklahoma City or in Norman. My desire was simple: a church rooted in Jesus, family-focused, and unwilling to major on minors or fracture over every passing issue. This seemed like a daunting task, and yet he we are 10 years later thriving.
By God’s grace, I received the blessing of nearly every Messianic leader to plant a Saturday church. On February 6, 2016, we held our first service at Church of the Harvest in Norman. Nearly 170 people gathered that day. It was a moment of deep celebration—one I will always remember with gratitude and joy.
The last ten years have held both highs and lows. Our eldership has changed. Our demographics have shifted. But our mission has never wavered: Jesus first. Family always. Helping families thrive in their relationships—with one another and with Christ.
Along the way, God has done more than I ever imagined. We’ve formed lifelong relationships with other churches. We planted a campus in Dallas. We stood firm in the face of evil and refused to compromise. We established healthy accountability and a renewed focus on discipleship. If you had asked me in 2015 whether our story would look like this, I would have said no.
It has been so much more.
We have seen the sick healed, marriages restored, lifelong physical ailments overcome, and countless lives transformed. People have given their lives to Christ, rededicated their faith, and even prisoners have repented and found salvation. And now—something I never had on my ten-year bingo card—we are just 20 days away from moving into our first-ever church home.
Every time we’ve stood still, God has moved. Every time He’s said “move,” we’ve obeyed. Watching people heal, grow, and overcome in Jesus has been the greatest joy of my life. With the grace of God we have created a thriving Sabbath church in OKC that puts Jesus first, doesn’t have crazy theologies or doctrines, and actually loves on people.
3,650 days of pastoring this church. Not every minute was easy—but every minute has been worth it. The thousands of lives impacted, the hundreds of families restored, and even those who have moved on—I remember every one of you, and I love you. We have come to a monumental moment.
Family of HFF, you have been an incredible gift from God. To serve you, worship with you, and walk this journey hand in hand has been a privilege beyond words. Together, we are establishing a heritage of faith—rooted in Jesus and grounded in the legacy of faithful families who came before us.
As we prepare to move into our new facility, expand services, and step into what’s next, remember this: this race is won through steadfastness and endurance. And God has been faithful—our Savior, our Helper, and our Shield.
Look out, SW OKC. God has spent ten years refining us, equipping us, stretching us, and filling us for this next season of HFF. I’m excited, a little impatient, and ready to minister to the 100,000 homes surrounding our new church property.
Thank you to everyone who has called, texted, written, prayed, and shared your testimonies—near and far.
Here’s to ten years of serving the Lord.
I’m humbled to walk with all of you Pastor Chris.
