Church staff

Pastor Jim and family moved to Fredonia during the summer of 2015 after serving a church in Niagara Falls, NY for nearly ten years. He’s a Western New Yorker through and through, hailing from the thriving metropolis that is small town Corfu, NY. Pastor Jim married his best friend Deb in 2001 and they have been blessed with four delightful daughters who ensure that there’s never a dull moment at home (and if you see him wearing a pink shirt, you’ll know why).  

He enjoys reading and truly loved the seven years he spent in school at Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary preparing to be a pastor. Early morning Hebrew classes birthed in him an appreciation for good coffee. Pastor Jim knew that God was calling him to be a pastor before he could legally drive, and he loves serving God’s people through the Church. He is passionate about helping people find life in Christ and allowing faith in the resurrected Jesus to permeate our everyday lives. 

Lisa Leavitt, better known as “Miss Lisa,” is the Director of Children’s Ministries. She has been on staff at Harvest Chapel since 2000 and she oversees Children’s Ministry at Matteson Street in Fredonia, as well as on Courtney Street in Dunkirk. Lisa would tell you that she has the best ministry (“job”) at Harvest because it includes children and all the people that love to love children, who serve alongside her.

In addition to her ministries here at Harvest Chapel, Lisa is also a Psychology Instructor at JCC. She loves to teach and doing so provides her another way to minister outside of the walls of Harvest Chapel.  When not busy with ministry and school work, Lisa enjoys working in the garden, walking, spending time with family and friends and meeting with Jesus in the pages of scripture. Lisa also enjoys shopping of all sorts and she gets quite excited when she can combine coupons with sales and find no or low-cost items to stock her shelves. The Leavitt family resides in Silver Creek.

Josh and his wife Raychel lead the youth and young adult ministries of Harvest Chapel. They have 3 adorable children, Theo and Opal, and Lilian! Josh graduated from Elim Bible Institute in Lima, NY with a major in Biblical Studies and a minor in Pastoral Ministry, and from Lancaster Bible College with a major in Theology and a minor in human services. He has a passion for youth and young adults, having worked at several camps ranging in positions from snack shop director to summer program director, and cook’s assistant to cabin counselor. Josh spent 2.5 years of his childhood in the Philippines doing missions work with his family, and has been to Guatemala, Honduras, and the US Gulf Coast on mission and relief trips. He has a heart to see the local church be all it can be in building God’s Kingdom both locally and around the world.

Kim Waag has attended Harvest Chapel since 2004 and has served as the Children’s Ministry Assistant. Kim also helps with the WIRED youth group and serves as a community group leader.  She is a former primary school teacher who has found the perfect way to combine her love for children with her love for Jesus.  

Kim lives in Cassadaga with her husband Darrell, her daughter Melinda and her son Andrew. Darrell is a middle school science teacher at Fredonia, Melinda is studying Biology at Fredonia State, and Andrew is studying IT Network Administration at Alfred State.  Kim loves music, fellowship, crafts, kids, and laughter!

Kim accepted Christ as a young adult when she attended a Kingdom Bound music concert in 1993, and she has always felt a special connection to God through worship music.  Her testimony is one of triumph over tragedy, when God carried Darrell and Kim through devastating losses.  He has strengthened their marriage and blessed them with two beautiful children whose lives and leadership reflect their love for Christ as well. 

Bill has attended Harvest Chapel for almost 30 years. His wife, Ann, and their three daughters began attending Harvest Chapel after moving to Fredonia in 1986, when he accepted an accounting position at Carriage House Companies. After 35 years in manufacturing accounted, Bill retired in 2014. Bill has since joined the staff in July 2015 as Harvest Chapel’s accountant.

Bill accepted Christ as his Savior as a young person but drifted away for a few years as he got older. He reaffirmed his faith in Christ and baptism after he began attending Harvest Chapel. Ann and his belief were firmly tested when they lost their daughter, Rene, to a massive blood infection in September 2011. Living through that time has strengthen their own faith. 

Ruth Ann is married to Michael who has a great big servant’s heart. She has three wonderful adult children (with awesome spouses) and 11 lovely grandchildren. She enjoys nature, crocheting, and reading mysteries.

She asked Jesus into her heart at the age of eight. Every day at Harvest Chapel is a new experience in which she wears several hats. Her desire is to serve Christ by caring for those who walk in the door, call on the phone, and give support to her fellow staff members. She is referred to as the glue that holds the staff together. Her prayer is that Christ can be seen in her and that she can see others through His eyes as she lives for Him in her position of Office Ministry.