Learn what’s going on at Harvest, find opportunities to connect and serve, and hear stories from people who are finding hope (and so much more) in Jesus.
I came from a broken home and was lonely much of the time. As did so many others of my generation, I bought into the idea that drugs might contain some of the answers I was looking for, so I could truly find myself. At a very early age, I found myself asking the big questions: What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? And the one that really kept me up nights: What will happen after I die?
Although I felt certain that Jesus was out there somewhere, I certainly did not think He was interested in me or my problems. But one day, on my high-school campus, I sat close enough to a Bible study to overhear what was being said without looking like one of the group. I don’t remember much of what was said that day except for one statement: Jesus said, “You are either for Me or against Me.” What side are you on?
That really struck me. Before I knew quite what was happening, I was praying to receive Jesus Christ into my heart and life. Since that day in 1970, I have pastored a church and written a number of books as well as preached in evangelistic events we hold called Harvest Crusades.
Growing up, it was my dream to one day become a professional cartoonist, but God opened up a different plan for my life, and I’m glad he did. I hope you will allow God to use you to further His kingdom as well.
Born in: 1952
Birthplace: Long Beach, CA
Pastor since: 1971
Previous work: Graphic Designer
Favorite verse: Jeremiah 29:11
Married to: Cathe
Married since: 1974
Children: Christopher, Jonathan
Grandchildren: Stella, Lucy, Rylie, Alexandra, Christopher
I am Pastor Greg’s youngest son and have always known and believed in Jesus and that there is a God in Heaven who loves me. I walked away from the Lord for a time in my teenage years, but fully committed my life to Christ after my older brother, Christopher, asked me what it was going to take to give my life to Christ. A short time later, Christopher went to be with the Lord. It was that statement Christopher had proposed to me that got my attention. I’m married to Brittni and we have known each other since we were 11, in junior high. We have three children: Rylie, Allie, and Christopher.
Born in: 1986
Birthplace: Riverside, CA
Pastor since: 2015
Previous work: Aerospace
Favorite verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17
Married to: Brittni
Married since: 2010
Children: Rylie, Alexandra, Christopher
As a child I was introduced to Christ in my home, but as a teen I became rebellious and got involved in drugs and alcohol. I heard the gospel at a youth event and received Christ. The first two years of my walk with the Lord were very difficult because I was disobedient to Him. My girlfriend (now my wife) and I came to Calvary Chapel of Riverside (now Harvest) in 1981 and heard Pastor Greg speak on “Lot and the Compromised Life.” We responded to the invitation to recommit to the Lord and have been walking strongly with Him ever since. We continually praise God for His blessings in our lives. In 1994 I was invited onto the pastoral staff, and in 2001, became an Administrative Pastor overseeing communications.
Born in: 1961
Birthplace: La Mesa, CA
Pastor since: 1994
Previous work: Sign company
Favorite verse: Philippians 1:6
Married to: Debbie
Married since: 1983
Children: Alyssa, Adam, Aaron, Abigail
Grandchildren: Adah, Jude, Jackson, Paul, Asher, Braxton, Norah, Calvin
I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, where I learned to fully embrace the laid-back lifestyle, and long days soaking in the sunshine on the beach. While I was raised in a loving, Christian home, I spent most of my formative years rebelling against all things “church”. It wasn’t until my college-aged years that I became a Christian.
After we moved to Southern California, my mother began to attend Harvest, and as a teenager, I have memories of my mom dragging me both to church services and a few Harvest Crusades.
In 2010, the Lord began to draw near to me, and show me that the life I had been living was empty and meaningless, and I gave my life to Christ and have never looked back. Thinking back to the days when my family used to “drag” me to church, I knew that as a new Christian, I wanted to be a part of Harvest.
Over the years, I have volunteered in various ministries at Harvest, from Young Adults, Men’s Ministry, and even the Crusades. In 2012, I accepted a position to come on staff at Harvest. The next year, I met my beautiful wife Laura who was also working at the church.
I hold a Dual Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership from California Baptist University where I graduated Summa Cum Laude. My passion is to use my gifts of administration to aid in the mission of the Church and provide exceptional leadership to all those that serve on my teams.
I currently serve as the Executive Director of Strategy & Advancement. In my role, I help to grow Harvest Church and provide strategic alignment of budgets, people, and priorities to achieve measurable quantitative and qualitative growth for the ministry.
Laura and I live in Irvine, California, and have a heart for the Riverside, OC, and Maui communities of our campuses. When I’m not serving the church, you’ll usually find me on two wheels, enjoying motorcycle rides. Laura and I love to explore new and exciting restaurants, new movies, and live shows.
Born in: 1990
Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii
Favorite Food: Sushi
Previous Work: Non-profit marketing
Favorite Scripture: Ephesians 4:15
Married to: Laura
Married Since: 2015
I’ve been married to my beautiful bride Chanele for 30 years, yes we were married at 12. Together we have 4 children, 2 sons-in-law, and 4 grandbabies. It’s been my honor to serve in the Crusade Ministry for nearly 10 years. And now, I am leading the team along with our Missions (local, national, international, and disaster relief teams) and overseeing all major events for the church.
I was raised in a farming community in Cochranville, Pennsylvania, surrounded by Amish and Old Order Mennonites. My first church experience was going in a horse and buggy to an Old Order Mennonite church. My life was changed when the “Black Bumper Mennonites” took me to Vacation Bible School for two weeks when I was six years old. It was the first time I really heard the gospel at a level I could understand, and seeds were planted that changed my life.
Elementary school did not have kindergarten and I started first grade at age five, the youngest student in the school. At age eleven I met my future wife, Bonnie, and fell in love forever.
I became the youngest student to graduate from my high school and on the day I turned 17, I joined the military with the patriotic spirit instilled in me from the World War 2 generation. After serving in Vietnam, I returned home to my beautiful bride, Bonnie.
At the age of 23, in an effort to provide a better future for my wife and two children, I hitchhiked across the United States to find a job on the Alaskan Pipeline. The pipeline turned out to be a pipe-dream and I found myself homeless and sleeping in a cemetery in San Bernardino and giving plasma twice a week for a total of $12.00. I had determined not to go back home until I could find a better life for my family.
It was during this time that I met a young man who wanted to take me to a church called Calvary Chapel Riverside. I told him I could not go because I was not clean in body or clothes for church. He told me, “God does not care what you are like on the outside, for He cares what is on the inside, your heart.” I had never heard this before and it so impressed me I went with him that night. As soon as I arrived I realized I was in a “hippy church.” A preacher had warned me about those before I left Pennsylvania. But someone else was in that church, and He was Jesus. That night I heard the invitation to ask Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to come live inside me. After church, I returned to where I was staying and prayed all night that Jesus would come into my heart. I was afraid He might not like it and leave. He did not leave me or forsake me.
After that, little miracles started to happen to me and I called Bonnie and told her to come out because, “God was out here.” She told me she thought God was everywhere and I said no, he lives in Riverside, California, because I have met Him and seen Him work.
God provided, and Bonnie and the two boys returned to me. On her first night at church, Bonnie committed her life to Christ. The rest is history, as they say. We started working in Sunday school the first week we went to church together and have never left the ministry.
Bonnie and I have been blessed beyond measure that God has chosen us as the Pastor and Director of the Sunday school at Harvest Christian Fellowship.
Born in: 1950
Birthplace: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Pastor since: December 2013
Previous work: Farming
Favorite scripture: Matthew 6:33
Married to: Bonnie
Married since: 1969
Children: Vince, Mark, Bunky
Grandchildren: Vinnie, Jon, Jocelyn, Jordan, Mason, Holiday, Kai, and Micah
I grew up “having to go to church.” My mom was a single mom who loved my siblings and me dearly and she did everything she could to get us to church on Sunday mornings at a little Lutheran church in Fontana, California.
I learned about Jesus there. I asked Him into my heart there. I fell in love with Him there. What I learned there I wanted to share with everyone I knew. As time went on, the fire in my heart dwindled to more of a “flicker.” I started to drift. I continued to attend church but I knew there was something more for me!
I would always listen to Christian radio when I was feeling empty. I would listen to Pastor Greg on K-Wave in the mornings and couldn’t get enough. The Lord was speaking to me through him. So, one day I asked a buddy of mine to go with me on a Wednesday night to Harvest Christian Fellowship to see and hear him live. My life changed! I went from worshipping at that small Lutheran church (I’m talking an organ and choir, not that that’s a bad thing) to a rock band leading worship and Pastor Greg preaching the gospel.
I rededicated my life to Jesus on that February night in 1992 and I haven’t looked back.
Since then, God has been so good to me! I led worship for Day 7 here at Harvest for many wonderful years, and I was part of Pastor Steve Wilburn’s high school ministry called SWAT and led worship there as well.
I met my wife, Tiffany, serving in the high school ministry together. We have been married since 2012 and we have two amazing kids: Paisley Grace and Milo James.
Born in: 1973
Birthplace: Fontana, CA
Pastor since: 2012
Previous work: Worship Pastor at Revival Christian Fellowship
Favorite Scripture: John 3:16
Married to: Tiffany
Married since: 2012
Children: Paisley, Milo
It was near the end of my sophomore year of high school when a friend invited me to Harvest, which was the first church I’d been to in a really long time. Even though I wasn’t interested in church, I decided to go, and I attended off-and-on for about a year. But then something happened. As I heard the messages about the gift of salvation and the forgiveness that’s found in Jesus, and as I saw lives being changed all around me, I decided to turn from my sin and trust in Jesus. I renounced all the supposed goodness that I thought I had, along with the secret sins of my heart, and I trusted in Jesus as the Lord of my life.
After my conversion, the Lord started to change me into a new person. I started to get heavily involved in my youth group, where I learned how to study the Bible and to share my faith. I was blown away that the Lord was able to use me to share His truth with my friends at school. After high school, the Lord started to teach me many valuable lifelong lessons. I worked at a public school in Special Education classes for about six years, where I helped physically and mentally disabled students. During my time in college, I developed a strong desire to serve the Lord in ministry, and the Lord graciously provided me an opportunity to serve on staff at Harvest. On top of all of this, God gave me the greatest blessing as I married my wife, Michelle, in November of 2010. And in March 2015, we were blessed with our first daughter, Evangeline Grace. We are blessed and honored to serve the Lord here at Harvest!
As I look back at God’s work in my life, and as I look forward to the future, I agree with Paul as he says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21, ESV).
Born in: 1988
Birthplace: Riverside, CA
Pastor since: 2015
Previous work: Special Education
Favorite verse: 2 Corinthians 8:9
Married to: Michelle
Married since: 2010
Children: Evangeline
My name is Bernardino Madrigal; however, most people know me as “Nino.” I was born in the country of Mexico, in the state of Michoacan on May 20, 1950. I immigrated to the United States at the young age of 17.
My first job consisted of working hard labor in the lettuce and tomato fields. I chose the paths that led to addictions. It was only a matter of time before alcohol and cigarettes began to control my life.
At the age of 22, I was married to a beautiful woman named Estela, with whom I now have 4 children and 6 grandchildren. Our first years of marriage were very difficult. My addictions were causing so much strife that my wife and I were at the point of separation. But, thanks to God, my wife became a Christian and one year later, I also gave my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. He healed and saved our marriage. We have now been married for 34 years by the grace of God.
When I became a Christian, I began to read the Bible and to seek the Lord with all of my heart. A few years after my conversion, the Lord began to use me as I led a home Bible Study at my mother’s house. Then, my wife and I joined a home Bible study led by Pastor Mike Gregory. Eventually, Harvest Christian Fellowship opened up its doors and we brought the home Bible study to the church. Mike Gregory was then leading the Spanish Ministry and called me to be his assistant. Three and a half years later, Mike moved to Puerto Rico which gave me the opportunity to take the responsibility of leading the Spanish Ministry.
With God’s help we are serving Him with all of our hearts. As always, the Lord has been very good to us and He is using us to minister to the Hispanic community. Currently, our congregation meets every Sunday as we give our Lord Jesus Christ all of the glory and honor.
Mi nombre es Bernardino Madrigal, pero la mayoría de personas me conocen por “Nino”. Nací en el país de México, en el estado de Michoacán el día 20 de Mayo de 1950. Inmigré a los Estados Unidos a la joven edad de 17 años.
Mi primer trabajo consistió de intenso labor en los files de la lechuga y del tomate. Escogí los caminos que me llevaron a las adicciones. En poco tiempo me encontraba bajo el control del alcohol y los cigarros.
A la edad de 22 años, me casé con una bella mujer llamada Estela, con la cual ahora tengo 4 hijos y seis nietos. Nuestros primeros años de casados fueron muy difíciles. Mis adicciones causaron muchas discusiones y estábamos a punto de la separación. Pero, gracias a Dios, mi esposa recibió a Cristo y al año, yo también le di mi corazón a Jesucristo. El salvó y sanó mi matrimonio. Por la gracia de Dios ahora tenemos 34 años de casados.
Al convertirme a Cristiano comencé a leer la Biblia y a seguir al Señor con todo mi corazón. Algunos años después de ser convertido, el Señor empezó a usarme para dirigir un estudio bíblico en casa de mi madre. Luego, mi esposa y yo nos empezamos a reunir en un estudio dirigido por el Pastor Mike Gregory. Con el tiempo, Harvest Christian Fellowship abrió sus puertas para que este estudio bíblico se reuniera en la iglesia. Mientras Mike Gregory dirigía el estudio Hispano yo fui llamado para ser su asistente. A los tres años y medio, Mike se mudó a Puerto Rico y tuve la oportunidad de tomar la responsabilidad de dirigir el Ministerio Hispano.
Con la ayuda de Dios lo estamos sirviendo con todo nuestro corazón. Como siempre, el Señor ha sido muy bueno con nosotros y nos está usando para ministrar a la comunidad Hispana. Actualmente, nuestra congregación se reúne cada Domingo y le damos al Señor Jesucristo toda la gloria y honra.
Born in: 1950
Birthplace: Michoacan, Mexico
Pastor since: 1998
Previous work: Dairy Plan Worker
Favorite verse: Romans 1:16
Married to: Estela
Married since: 1972
Children: Elizabeth, Araceli, Ricardo, Eric
Grandchildren: Ariel, Ethan Xander, Caleb, Alexis, Lucas, Cameron
I was blessed to grow up with parents who loved Jesus. I remember praying to receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior at the ripe old age of 7.
I never doubted that Jesus had died on the cross for my sins and rose again. I never doubted that Heaven was real and that Jesus promised everlasting life to those who believe in Him.
My problem was that I grew away from God, instead of growing closer.
From junior high through college, I lived for me. In high school, I played football and baseball, wrestled, surfed, and partied a lot. None of my friends were Christians and nobody knew I was a Christian either. Maybe I wasn’t either.
I was living a Luke 15 life—total anarchy. After high school, I moved to Huntington Beach to surf and party and live what I thought would be the “endless summer.” As it turned out, it was really the “endless bummer.” I was living the lifestyle I thought would make me happy, but I was empty inside.
Little did I know that my parents and a girl friend were praying for me. She had become a Christian and asked me to go to a concert, which turned out to be a Christian concert. That night, God used that girl to remind me how much He loved me and how much He wanted me to come back to Him.
I went to this girl’s church, which was Harvest. Pastor Greg shared the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:30: “If you’re not with me, you’re against me.”
Those words hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew I wasn’t living for Christ. I had tried to blow off my Savior, while keeping my salvation, and Jesus was calling me out on it. He spoke to my heart, asking me, “Are you for me?” My answer, by the way I was living my life, was “No.”
That morning, Greg asked those who wanted to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to come forward to the front of the church. He also asked those who wanted to start fresh with Jesus to come forward too.
My heart had been pounding so hard . . . I got up, walked to the front, and asked for forgiveness and a fresh start. It was so radical. I really felt like the weight of sin had dropped off my shoulders.
I’ve been walking with Jesus for more than 28 years now. I fell in love with and married the girl (Dianne) who invited me to that Christian concert. We have two daughters, Tiffany and Tayler; and we have a son, Dylan, who is in heaven.
My passion is connecting people to Jesus. I believe people don’t know Him for who He is. He’s been misrepresented . . . it is the ultimate identity theft. He wants to be known.
I still like surfing with my family and friends, but I love serving Jesus with family and friends even better.
If you need a second chance, Jesus is a prayer away!
Born in: 1961
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Pastor since: 2009
Previous work: Construction Foreman/Auto Parts Manufacturer’s Rep
Favorite scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Psalms 25
Married to: Dianne
Married since: 1983
Children: Tiffany, Tayler, Dylan
Share your story with us! What are the ways you've seen God move in your life?
