HISTORY OF VINEYARD CHURCH OF THE HARVEST, INC.

                            JUNE 1999 – PRESENT

 “And I say unto thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will  build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

FIRST VISION
Vineyard Church of the Harvest was founded upon the vision of  Rev. Dr. Robert J. Brown to start a non-denominational church with a charitable
outreach ministry and help the poor. The vision manifested in June 1999 while
Rev. Brown was a member of United Missionary Baptist  Church.

Rev. Brown shared his vision with his Godmother, Mother Chapman,
she advised him to write his vision down, place it in his Bible, and pray. The
vision was further reinforced when Rev. Brown attended a leadership conference  in Dallas, Texas sponsored by Bishop T.D. Jakes in September of 1999. Bishop  Jakes laid hands on Rev. Brown, Prophesied the vision, and told Rev. Brown to do  what God told him to do. 

At the end of September 1999, Rev. Brown discussed the vision  with his Pastor, Leroy Cochran; he received his blessing and began forming the  church. First, Rev. Brown filed for Non-Profit status with the State of Ohio. In  December 1999 Vineyard Church of Harvest received certification of Non-Profit  status from the State of Ohio and soon after received Tax Exempt status from the  Internal Revenue Service. In January, 2000 Rev. Robert Brown and Sis Rosa brown
left United Missionary Baptist Church to co-found Vineyard Church of the
Harvest.

The following Boards were established:
Board of Directors
Rev. Dr. Robert J. Brown, CEO
Sis Rosa Brown, President
Brother Terrence Woodruff, Vice President
Jeanette Coats, Secretary 
Tonya Sanderson, Treasurer 
Barbara Flamer, General Chairman

At Large Members 
Pearl Valentine
Kobi Cooper

Outside Board Member
Erickia Ragan

Board of Trustees
Kachema Woodruff, President
Rev. Willie Valentine, Vice President
Jeanette Coats, Secretary
Sandra Collins, Treasurer

Thirdly, Rev. and Mrs. Brown then began to look for a place to hold worship services. During this time, they were contacted by Deacon Clarence Williams of Liberty Baptist Mission who was without a pastor. This congregation decided to close their church and join with Vineyard Church of the Harvest.

Vineyard then met with Pastor John Maze of Agape Fellowship, 2560 North Main Street and received permission to hold worship services in Agape’s fellowship hall.

Vineyard Church of the Harvest held its’ first service at this location on the second Sunday in February, 2000. Fifty-two worshipers attended and the first offering was $2600.00.  The first sermon was entitled “Working in the Vineyard”. Regular services continued the first Sunday in March and seven candidates were baptized including Quinton Cooper – the grandson of Rev. and Mrs. Brown.

Vineyard Church of the Harvest was officially installed as a church by Bishop Truman Martin of Maranatha Fellowship.

In September, 2000 the outreach ministry, Vineyard Community Corporation
was certified a Non-Profit by the State of Ohio followed by Tax Exempt 
status from the Internal Revenue Service.

Second Vision
In the February, 2001, the second year of existence, Rev. Brown received a second vision from God to start looking for a church property to purchase. When the vision was explained to the congregation, and said it was impossible to
achieve because of lack of finances, Rev. Brown stayed focused on this
vision. It was reinforced by another prophecy he received at a revival service he attended at Holy Deliverance Temple Church on Riverview Avenue. The
prophecy came through a prophet who spoke directly to Pastor Brown saying,
“Look for a building! When you find it you will go to three banks for a
loan, two banks will turn you down, but the third bank will finance the
loan. Buy one chair and sit it in the church so members can sit in it. This
chair will be the foundation of the church.” Pastor Brown reported this
prophecy to the church.

In June, 2001 Pastor Brown selected a chair to sit in the congregation and asked the Board of Trustees for $2,500 to purchase 120 chairs. With complaining and
mumbling, the trustees agreed to purchase the chairs. The company stated
that the chairs would be made in 12 to 14 weeks.

During the search for a church property to purchase, Assistant Pastor, Willie Valentine found a building for sale on the corner of Denlinger and Shiloh Springs which was owned by Fifth Third Bank. The congregation contacted Realtor for the building and went to see it. Fifth Third Bank was contacted and the bank submitted a proposal to the church. The proposal was for the church to lease the
building for five years at $1,500 per month. The bank would give back $300
per month in escrow for part of their community service donation along with
20% of the lease amount provided the City of Trotwood would approve the
variance for the building to be used as a church.

Pastor Brown and the congregation believe that this would be the location of Vineyard Church of the Harvest but it was not God’s plan. The church applied to the City of Trotwood Zoning Board of Variance and was turned down. The bank and the realtor were upset and tried to persuade Pastor Brown to sue the City of Trotwood. Pastor Brown did not agree to the suit, but depended solely on God as to how to proceed.

The realtor handling this property proposed that Pastor Brown look at the building at Stop Eight Road which was listed at one-third the value of the Denlinger/Shiloh Springs property. After looking at the Stop Eight Road
property, Pastor Brown called Co-Founder Rosa Brown on her job and told her to meet at the Stop Eight Road property. When the Co-Founders viewed the property together, the spirit said to them “this is it for now.” The church viewed the property and everyone agreed to pursue purchasing  it.

Believing that Fifth Third Bank would finance this property of lesser value, the church applied for the loan with Fifth Third Bank and was denied. The church then applied to Bank One for a loan and was denied. In the excitement of finding the church property, everyone had forgotten the prophecy- the church will apply for a loan three times and be turned down twice.

The mortgage company representative who had worked on both loan submissions had dinner with his brother one Friday and explained how the banks were treating Vineyard. The brother said his golfing buddy was the president of First National Bank. Because of God’s favor a meeting was set up with First National Bank and the loan was financed. As stated in the prophecy the third bank would finance the loan.

On October 21, 2001 loan papers were signed. Vineyard became the  youngest church to get a loan with no guarantees. At 5:00 PM that day, the congregation went to the church property to clean and paint. On October 23, 2001 the company in Rome, Georgia making the church chairs called to say they were
ready to ship the order. By October 26, 2001, the church was cleaned painted and the chairs were delivered.

On Sunday October 28, 2001 Vineyard Church of the Harvest held its first official service in the building. October 28 was also Pastor Brown’s birthday.

Third Vision
The third vision for Vineyard church of the Harvest, Inc. was received by Pastor Brown in 2005. God gave Pastor Brown the vision of a third  location for Vineyard at the old Roberts Showroom on Poe Avenue.

New Life and deliverance can be found at Vineyard Church of the Harvest
Miracles, Healing and Salvation have occurred at Vineyard Church of the Harvest, 3110 Stop Eight Road, Dayton, Ohio.

Vineyard Church of the Harvest now and always follows God’s plan. From the pulpit to the door Pharisees, Scribes, Jebusites have tried to distract and destroy
God’s plan for his church, but we’re still holding on and Pastor Brown has
stayed focused on the will of God. People have come with their own agendas,
but God’s agenda has prevailed.