Church Beginnings
For several years, the SW Florida Presbytery and Florida Church Planting Network dreamed and prayed about planting a PCA church in West Bradenton. A number of families and singles from Cornerstone Church of Lakewood Ranch, along with others in the area, shared similar dreams and prayers.
With the closing and sale of the former Hope Presbyterian Church building in Bradenton, the need, opportunity, and seed money opened the door for a church planter to come and begin the work which God had already begun. Pastor Geoff Henderson and family moved to the area in May of 2013 after three years in West Virginia.
With the closing and sale of the former Hope Presbyterian Church building in Bradenton, the need, opportunity, and seed money opened the door for a church planter to come and begin the work which God had already begun. Pastor Geoff Henderson and family moved to the area in May of 2013 after three years in West Virginia.
Our Pastor
Geoff grew up in Tampa before heading to Furman University. Upon graduation, he spent three years in Clinton, South Carolina as a youth director. Feeling the call to full time pastoral ministry he headed back to his beloved state of Florida and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. He served as an Associate Pastor in Bradenton for 4 years, overseeing youth, outreach, community groups. Surprisingly enough, God opened up a door for him to apprentice under a seasoned church planter and experience a unique gospel-centered church in West Virginia. After three and a half years up north, Geoff and his family were called back to Bradenton to start a church. No place else feels more like home to him and his family than West Bradenton. He and Amy have two boys, Connar and Cade, and a daughter, Charis. Whenever the opportunity arises, he can be found kayak fishing for snook and redfish. He’s also a long-suffering Buccaneers and Rays fan.
Harbor’s core group began meeting on a bi-monthly basis in homes throughout the Fall of 2013 for prayer, Bible study, vision-casting, fellowship, and food. We also enjoyed parties and get-togethers in our area, with the hopes of introducing people to our new church. In late February 2014, we broke up into smaller, multiplying community groups and got together for several semi-monthly “preview” worship services in various locations. By April 2014, we transitioned to worshiping at the Bradenton YMCA and hosted our first “official” service on April 20, 2014, Easter Sunday morning.
Harbor’s core group began meeting on a bi-monthly basis in homes throughout the Fall of 2013 for prayer, Bible study, vision-casting, fellowship, and food. We also enjoyed parties and get-togethers in our area, with the hopes of introducing people to our new church. In late February 2014, we broke up into smaller, multiplying community groups and got together for several semi-monthly “preview” worship services in various locations. By April 2014, we transitioned to worshiping at the Bradenton YMCA and hosted our first “official” service on April 20, 2014, Easter Sunday morning.
Organization and New Building
On November 12, 2017 Harbor Community Church held a special worship service as we became a self-governing church within the Presbyterian Church In America. On Sunday, Feb 11, 2018, Harbor hosted its first worship service in our current building. We lease the church building from The Church at Bradenton (next door to us) and are very thankful for this partnership.
