PART I
NAME, VISION, MISSION AND CORE VALUES
NAME
This church shall be known as “Harvest International Center” which is abbreviated as “HIC.”
The registration name as 501(c)(3) organization is Harvesters Gospel Center, as known as
Harvest International Center.
CHURCH VISION
HIC is a family uniting in the heart of Jesus Christ. HIC is a family of God-fearing people who
are called to allow God to reign, to exalt the name of Jesus and to allow the Holy Spirit to move freely. HIC will become the resting place of our Heavenly Father to advance His Kingdom on
earth (Isaiah 66:1-2).
MISSION STATEMENT
HIC is a family that welcomes all people who want to know Him and seek His heart. “I have
given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:33).
Together as a family along with other believers and churches of the same heart, we want to carry out the will of the Father. In order to do so we want to grow and be equipped in our apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral, teaching, administrative, and serving gifts in the hope to extend God’s Kingdom and bring Him glory.
(1) HIC is a multi-ethnic, cross-generational church where all members earnestly seek the will of the Heavenly Father in unity, genuinely love each other, and with one heart build a church that is pleasing to the Lord (1 Peter 1:22).
(2) Through the establishment of the fivefold ministry, members of HIC will be equipped for
works of service based on their gifts and passions (Ephesians 4:11-13), and to perform
various functions that will build the body of Christ. Some may teach, some may share
messages, some may evangelize or perform community services, some may lead small
groups, some may do healing and deliverance, some may intercede, some may prophesize,
some may be sent to mission fields with apostolic anointing, or some may network with other churches.
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(3) HIC has a heart for God’s kingdom, to be a forerunner church for Jesus’ second coming,
and to become a blessing for the entire body of Christ (Isaiah 49:6; Matthew 6:10).
CORE VALUES
(1) Being led by the Holy Spirit, HIC belongs to the Lord with Jesus being the head of the
church. We determine to humble ourselves before the Lord for all matters, and to seek His
will through worship, prayers, waiting, hearing and discerning what the Holy Spirit is
speaking, and then to obey and carry out His will (Acts 13:1-4; 15:28).
(2) HIC believes the Bible is the inerrant word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), to which we follow
whole heartedly. We are the disciples of Jesus who practice the teachings of the scriptures in all areas of our daily lives. (Romans 8:6; Matthew 7:21-27; Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 2:12;
James 1:14-25).
(3) HIC desires the restoration of each of God’s children, enabling them to be His glorious
creation and having a healthy spirit, soul and body to accomplish God’s purpose for His
people on earth.
(4) HIC believes that God’s children are to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to exercise
various spiritual gifts. With the understanding of spiritual warfare, in the power of the Holy
Spirit, we are to heal the sick, delivered the oppressed, set the captive free and release those in bondage (Matthew 9:35-38; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Hebrews 13:8).
(5) HIC believes that the church is part of God’s family (Ephesians 2:18-22; 3:14-15; 1 Timothy 3:15). As a family we endeavor to submit to each other in love, to plan and build our future together, and to develop different ministries based on loving relationships. Furthermore, we are to spread the Lord’s love beyond our church, increasingly drawing more people into God’s love to grow and mature in Christ, and to be fit to be used for His purpose of redemption.
(6) HIC believes that God’s design of marriage is a covenant and sacred union between a man and a woman. HIC should only perform wedding ceremony for such kind of marriage.
PART II
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
HIC leadership consists of two leadership bodies: Overseer Council and Steering Committee (as known as Bridge Group).
OVERSEER COUNCIL
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(1) The Overseer Council is the eldership and decision-making body of the church. It also serves as the board of directors for the non-for-profit organization.
The responsibilities of the Overseer Council are:
a) Oversee the operation of the church
b) Appoint and terminate Senior Leaders in the Steering Committee
c) Give final approval for church personnel hiring and payrolls
d) Give final approval of annual budget and other church financial decision.
e) Make final decision about controversies which cannot be resolved in the steering
committee
(2) The Overseer Council shall have a minimum of three (3) members. The Overseer Council
consists of the following:
a) A Chair
b) A Secretary
c) A Treasurer
d) Other Council Members
(3) The qualifications of the Overseer Council Members:
a) Meeting the requirements according to Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
b) Demonstrating recognizable commitment to HIC vision, mission and core values.
c) Having a father’s or mother’s heart.
d) Having a serving heart demonstrating by serving in HIC ministries in any capacity.
e) Demonstrating openness and sensitivity to the works and leading of Holy Spirit
f) Demonstrating to be a good team player, being willing to lay down personal agenda
and committing to corporate walk with other leaders.
g) Council Members constituting the Overseer Council at any time should comply with
the regulations and meet the expectations to avoid conflict of interests.
(4) The process of installing an Overseer Council Member is following:
a) Nomination: The Overseer Council shall hold discerning meeting(s) for nominating.
The Overseer Council will nominate a candidate when all existing Overseer Council
Members reach a consensus in unanimity about the nomination.
b) Confirmation: The Overseer Council shall consult with church leaders about the
qualification of the candidate and then shall well communicate with the candidate
about the requirements, responsibilities and commitments. After sufficient
consultation and communication, the Overseer Council shall hold a meeting with the
candidate to confirm the appointment as a new Council Member.
c) Installation: The Overseer Council shall install the candidate as a new Council
Member in the presence of the congregation.
(5) The term of a Council Member:
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a) Each Council Member shall seek the Lord in the end of every two years about
whether to continue to serve as a Council Member, with the confirmation from all
other Council Members.
b) If a Council Member is found an issue related to integrity or actions that consistently
cause controversies and diminish the unity of the church, all other Council Members,
after seeking the Lord and consult with the Senior Leaders, can decide to terminate
that Council Member at any time.
STEERING COMMITTEE
The steering committee consists of Senior Leaders and Ministry Leaders.
SENIOR LEADERS
(1) The Senior Leaders are the shepherds of the church. The responsibilities of the Senior
Leaders are:
a) Discern and clarify church directions
b) Make strategic planning
c) Shepherd and nurture church members
d) Equip church members
(2) The Senior Leader Team consists of following:
a) Overseer Council Members
b) Other Senior Leaders appointed by the Overseer Council
(3) The qualifications of the Senior Leaders:
a) Meeting the requirements according to Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
b) Demonstrating recognizable commitment to HIC vision, mission and core values.
c) Having a father’s or mother’s heart.
d) Having a serving heart demonstrating by serving in HIC ministries in any capacity.
e) Demonstrating openness and sensitivity to the works and leading of Holy Spirit
f) Demonstrating to be a good team player, being willing to lay down personal agenda
and committing to corporate walk with other leaders.
(4) The process of appointing a Senior Leader is following:
d) Nomination: The Senior Leaders shall hold discerning meeting(s) for nominating.
The Senior Leaders will nominate a candidate when all existing Senior Leaders reach
a consensus in unanimity about the nomination.
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e) Confirmation: The Overseer Council shall consult with church leaders about the
qualification of the candidate and then shall well communicate with the candidate
about the requirements, responsibilities and commitments. After sufficient
consultation and communication, the Overseer Council shall hold a meeting with the
candidate to confirm the appointment as a new Senior Leader.
f) Installation: The Overseer Council shall install the candidate as a new Senior Leader
in the presence of the congregation.
(5) The term of a Senior Leaders:
c) Each Senior Leaders shall seek the Lord in the end of every two years about whether
to continue to serve as a Senior Leader, with the confirmation from all other Senior
Leaders.
d) If a Senior Leader is found an issue related to integrity or actions that consistently
cause controversies and diminish the unity of the church, the Overseer Council, after
seeking the Lord and consult with other Senior Leaders, can decide to terminate that
Senior Leader at any time.
MINISTRY LEADERS
(1) The Ministry Leaders are the leading executive force of the church. The responsibilities of the Ministry Leaders (as known as Bridge Group Leaders) are:
a) Participating in strategic planning
b) Make and implement action plans
c) Encourage and training church members to be involved
(2) The qualifications of the Ministry Leaders:
a) Demonstrating recognizable commitment to HIC vision, mission and core values.
b) Having a serving heart demonstrating by serving in HIC ministries in any capacity.
c) Demonstrating openness and sensitivity to the works and leading of Holy Spirit
d) Demonstrating to be a good team player, being willing to lay down personal agenda
and committing to corporate walk with other leaders.
(3) The process of appointing a Ministry Leader is following:
a) Nomination: The Senior Leaders shall hold discerning meeting(s) for nominating.
The Senior Leaders will nominate a candidate when all Senior Leaders reach a
consensus in unanimity about the nomination.
b) Confirmation: The Senior Leaders shall consult with church leaders about the
qualification of the candidate and then shall well communicate with the candidate
about the requirements, responsibilities and commitments. After sufficient
consultation and communication, the Senior Leaders shall hold a meeting with the
candidate to confirm the appointment as a new Ministry Leader.
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c) Installation: The Senior Leaders shall install the candidate as a new Ministry Leader
in the presence of the congregation.
(4) The term of a Ministry Leaders:
a) The Senior Leaders shall review and evaluate in the end of year whether a Ministry
Leader is capable to continue the assigned duties for the following year.
SERVING TEAM AND CELL GROUP LEADERS
(1) The Senior Leaders may appoint a serving team leader to form a serving team for a specific
function or need of the church.
(2) The Senior Leaders may appoint a cell group leader to form a cell group to help church
members in spiritual growth.
PART III
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
(1) HIC members are Christians who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and fulfill the following requirements:
a) Commit to HIC vision, mission and core values.
b) Attend church services on a regular basis.
c) Be willing to submit to HIC leadership guidance and church training.
d) Have tithe to HIC on a regular basis.
(2) The church membership should be validated by the Steering Committee on a regular basis.
PART IV
OPERATION GUIDELINE
PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
(1) HIC is a family in Christ: love, honor, and trust one another.
(2) Decisions and operations shall be aligned with HIC core values.
(3) Decisions and operations shall follow the governmental regulations concerning 501(c)(3) organization.
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POLICIES OF OPERATION
The Steering Committee can approve policies of operations based on the needs and operations of church administration and specific ministries,
PART V
INTERPRETATION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAW
INTERPRETATION
In the event of any question or matter arising out of any point which is not expressly provided for in the rules, the Overseer Council shall have power to use their own discretion through seeking and discerning God’s guidance and with the manners of love, honor and trust with one another.
AMENDMENT
This Bylaw shall be reviewed by the Steering Committee at least once every five (5) years and amendments shall be approved by the Overseer Council.
Last amended on November 3, 2019