

	Our History In 1998 Pastor Doug Thompson founded Harvest Rain Church International in Fairburn, Georgia. With no members, God instructed him to purchase a 16,700 square feet commercial plaza that occupied three tenants of over 20 years. By faith, Pastor Doug purchased the facility and began Phase I of the building project with renovations of over $25,000 that would house enough space for the sanctuary and children’s ministry. With his wife Co-pastor Ingrid and four children they hosted a kickoff service on March 1, 1998. In November of 1998 Pastor Doug and Ingrid founded Project R.O.C.K. (Reaching Our Community Kids). With the support of family and friends, in the first year they provided turkeys and groceries to over 75 low income families in the community during the Thanksgiving holiday. In December 1998 they sponsored their first Christmas Outreach that provided over 100 children in the South Fulton community with toys for the holiday. In October of 1999, Phase II of the vision was birthed. With a $40,000 renovation, Harvest Rain Early Learning Academy was established becoming the first full service licensed Child Care Center in the Fairburn Community. The Academy was licensed by the state of Georgia for 60 children ages 6 wks - 12 yrs of age. As we continued to make strides toward our vision in the area of evangelism, God blessed us with an opportunity to reach people where they are and to minister to their needs through means of radio. In October of 2000, Harvest Rain Broadcast began its daily radio show at 7:30am on WAEC 860 AM. The outreach extended to programs aired on Streaming Faith internet broadcast that were heard worldwide. In the summer of 2000, the academy began its first Summer Enrichment Camp under Project R.O.C.K. along with beginning the Federal Summer Food Service Program which feeds low-income children a healthy and nutritious breakfast and lunch daily. From its inception in 2000 the Summer Food program has grown to feeding over 10,000 meals during the summer at up to 10 sites in the Fulton, Coweta, Clayton and Henry counties. From the Summer Camp in 2001, the After School Program was launched to meet the needs of 4 schools in our area. In 2002 we enlarged our licensed capacity to accommodate up to 85 children. As we moved forward, our vision and focus was directed towards four key initiatives: Education, Economic Development, Evangelism, and Facility Expansion. In July of 2002, we began renovations on Phase III of our vision and within 90 days completed a $10,000.00 renovation to the building and opened the doors to the multi-purpose/youth center called the Pavilion. On the Economic Development front, the vision continued to progress and in August of 2002, the vision for Nehemiah Project Community Development Corporation was incorporated in the State of Georgia. In 2003 we opened the “Word Bookstore in our local facilities. We also began our Missions outreach when Pastor Doug journeyed with Bishop Ray to Nigeria, Africa to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the area of Education, we completed our Multimedia Technology center in 2004 and today have state of the art Mac computer systems acquired through the Capital Compassion Fund. From 2004-to present, we were awarded funds by various other organizations to sponsor Dance, Piano, Karate, gymnastics and other programs to the youth in our community. In 2005 we expanded our sanctuary to house the growth of our membership and began the renovations of the administrative office expansion. Also in 2005, Harvest Rain Academy began to service families from 6:30am to 12 midnight, Monday-Friday. In 2006, we were awarded funds by United Way for our Youth Leadership Program that has made a tremendous impact in the lives of youth in our community. Project R.O.C.K. has also continued to grow in numbers and from 1998-2007 we have fed over 1,000 families during the thanksgiving seasons and have serviced an average of 150-300 children each year for Christmas. We are continuing to house a thriving Christian educational, recreational, and performing arts program for over 150 children and youth daily. Harvest Rain Early Learning Academy has continued to increase and has expanded to a state licensed capacity for 156 children and currently serves 8 schools in the South Fulton community. In 2007, Harvest Rain Church International is continuing to grow and impact the lives of multitudes through the dynamic teaching and leadership of Pastor Doug and Ingrid Thompson. As of today, Harvest Rain has purchased 14.5 acres of beautiful land in Fairburn, Georgia. This property will house the headquarters of our new Ministry facilities as we continue in our mission to transform communities that will impact nations. In 2008, Harvest Rain Church Celebrated ten years of life-changing Ministry. Harvest Rain Academy received accreditation from the state of Georgia as a Center of Distinction. The Academy also received accreditation form the National After School Care Association (NAA). Harvest Rain Academy also increased its licensed capacity to 176 children. In 2009, Harvest Rain was awarded the F.R.E.S.H. (Fulton Roundtable Expanded Service Headquarters) Grant Program. F.R.E.S.H. is a grant funded program sponsored by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, and has been created to expand and/or enhance existing services of youth activity programs that provide a variety of structured activities for children and youth that are aimed to improve the achievements, values and attitudes of Fulton County Youth. In 2010, Harvest Rain was awarded by the city of Fairburn from seven competitive proposals, the Management of the Fairburn Youth Center in Fairburn, Georgia. Harvest Rain Church received approval of its 14,000 square feet building plans and is scheduled to break ground for our New Ministry Facility (Phase I) on the beautiful 14 acres of land on Bohannon Road in Fairburn, Georgia at the end of August. Pastor Doug was selected as one of 10 Pastors in Georgia to be honored at the Gospel Choice Awards in September for the exemplary service Harvest Rain has provided to the South Fulton community.
51 Senoia Road \| Fairburn, GA 30213 \| 770-969-2040 \| harvestrainintl@aol.com \| www.harvestrain.org

Our History

In 1998 Pastor Doug Thompson founded Harvest Rain Church International in Fairburn, Georgia. With no members, God instructed him to purchase a 16,700 square feet commercial plaza that occupied three tenants of over 20 years. By faith, Pastor Doug purchased the facility and began Phase I of the building project with renovations of over $25,000 that would house enough space for the sanctuary and children’s ministry. With his wife Co-pastor Ingrid and four children they hosted a kickoff service on March 1, 1998. In November of 1998 Pastor Doug and Ingrid founded Project R.O.C.K. (Reaching Our Community Kids). With the support of family and friends, in the first year they provided turkeys and groceries to over 75 low income families in the community during the Thanksgiving holiday. In December 1998 they sponsored their first Christmas Outreach that provided over 100 children in the South Fulton community with toys for the holiday.

In October of 1999, Phase II of the vision was birthed. With a $40,000 renovation, Harvest Rain Early Learning Academy was established becoming the first full service licensed Child Care Center in the Fairburn Community. The Academy was licensed by the state of Georgia for 60 children ages 6 wks - 12 yrs of age.

As we continued to make strides toward our vision in the area of evangelism, God blessed us with an opportunity to reach people where they are and to minister to their needs through means of radio. In October of 2000, Harvest Rain Broadcast began its daily radio show at 7:30am on WAEC 860 AM. The outreach extended to programs aired on Streaming Faith internet broadcast that were heard worldwide.

In the summer of 2000, the academy began its first Summer Enrichment Camp under Project R.O.C.K. along with beginning the Federal Summer Food Service Program which feeds low-income children a healthy and nutritious breakfast and lunch daily. From its inception in 2000 the Summer Food program has grown to feeding over 10,000 meals during the summer at up to 10 sites in the Fulton, Coweta, Clayton and Henry counties. From the Summer Camp in 2001, the After School Program was launched to meet the needs of 4 schools in our area. In 2002 we enlarged our licensed capacity to accommodate up to 85 children.

As we moved forward, our vision and focus was directed towards four key initiatives: Education, Economic Development, Evangelism, and Facility Expansion. In July of 2002, we began renovations on Phase III of our vision and within 90 days completed a $10,000.00 renovation to the building and opened the doors to the multi-purpose/youth center called the Pavilion. On the Economic Development front, the vision continued to progress and in August of 2002, the vision for Nehemiah Project Community Development Corporation was incorporated in the State of Georgia. In 2003 we opened the “Word Bookstore in our local facilities. We also began our Missions outreach when Pastor Doug journeyed with Bishop Ray to Nigeria, Africa to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the area of Education, we completed our Multimedia Technology center in 2004 and today have state of the art Mac computer systems acquired through the Capital Compassion Fund. From 2004-to present, we were awarded funds by various other organizations to sponsor Dance, Piano, Karate, gymnastics and other programs to the youth in our community. In 2005 we expanded our sanctuary to house the growth of our membership and began the renovations of the administrative office expansion. Also in 2005, Harvest Rain Academy began to service families from 6:30am to 12 midnight, Monday-Friday.

In 2006, we were awarded funds by United Way for our Youth Leadership Program that has made a tremendous impact in the lives of youth in our community. Project R.O.C.K. has also continued to grow in numbers and from 1998-2007 we have fed over 1,000 families during the thanksgiving seasons and have serviced an average of 150-300 children each year for Christmas. We are continuing to house a thriving Christian educational, recreational, and performing arts program for over 150 children and youth daily. Harvest Rain Early Learning Academy has continued to increase and has expanded to a state licensed capacity for 156 children and currently serves 8 schools in the South Fulton community.

In 2007, Harvest Rain Church International is continuing to grow and impact the lives of multitudes through the dynamic teaching and leadership of Pastor Doug and Ingrid Thompson. As of today, Harvest Rain has purchased 14.5 acres of beautiful land in Fairburn, Georgia. This property will house the headquarters of our new Ministry facilities as we continue in our mission to transform communities that will impact nations.

In 2008, Harvest Rain Church Celebrated ten years of life-changing Ministry. Harvest Rain Academy received accreditation from the state of Georgia as a Center of Distinction. The Academy also received accreditation form the National After School Care Association (NAA). Harvest Rain Academy also increased its licensed capacity to 176 children.

In 2009, Harvest Rain was awarded the F.R.E.S.H. (Fulton Roundtable Expanded Service Headquarters) Grant Program. F.R.E.S.H. is a grant funded program sponsored by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, and has been created to expand and/or enhance existing services of youth activity programs that provide a variety of structured activities for children and youth that are aimed to improve the achievements, values and attitudes of Fulton County Youth.

In 2010, Harvest Rain was awarded by the city of Fairburn from seven competitive proposals, the Management of the Fairburn Youth Center in Fairburn, Georgia. Harvest Rain Church received approval of its 14,000 square feet building plans and is scheduled to break ground for our New Ministry Facility (Phase I) on the beautiful 14 acres of land on Bohannon Road in Fairburn, Georgia at the end of August. Pastor Doug was selected as one of 10 Pastors in Georgia to be honored at the Gospel Choice Awards in September for the exemplary service Harvest Rain has provided to the South Fulton community.

51 Senoia Road | Fairburn, GA 30213 | 770-969-2040 | harvestrainintl@aol.com | www.harvestrain.org