The vision of Urban Harvest Ministries was birthed on the streets of the South Bronx in 1992 while Dr. Tom Grassano was leading a short-term missions team there. Standing on the sidewalk, gazing at an abandoned coffin factory just after walking out of a store that was actually a “front” for the sale of illegal narcotics, God spoke to Tom’s heart: “Prepare yourself; I have future ministry for you here.”
In 1994, he resigned the directorship of a thriving short-term missions agency and moved to New York City. When they arrived, the Mott Haven community of the South Bronx known as Fort Apache was the poorest community per capita in the US, with over 50% of households having an annual income of $11,400 or less. Still today, 25% of expectant mothers are HIV Positive. More than three out of four students drop out of high school. It is the highest ranking community in the nation for poverty and single-parented homes.
Dr. Grassano and his family began building relationships with people on the streets of the South Bronx. By reaching people with the gospel and empowering them toward their destinies, a solid base for urban outreach – The Harvest Center – was established.
At first, they met in the homes of drug addicts and dealers. After the first year, they moved into that very same storefront Dr. Grassano had walked into three years earlier. In that building, the first Harvest Center was established and remained for five years. For four of those years, they suffered through challenges such as no heat in the winter, rat infestations, and continual water damage from apartments above. But they knew this was the place God meant for them to be, and so they persevered with faith in the vision of seeing urban citizens empowered toward their true destinies.
In 2001, UHM moved across the street into that old coffin factory that had been abandoned for more than 30 years. The place had been used by drug dealers and homeless drug addicts for years. With no funds available to do even basic renovations, Dr. Grassano signed the lease by faith. Miraculous provision followed, and they renovated part of the factory into a beautiful facility to empower and equip the urban community around them.
When they arrived in this community, they did not seek to employ short-term methods that would place a “band-aid” on persistent problems, but to engage in long-term solutions one person and one family at a time. The ministry methods developed over the years increased the individual’s capacity to pursue his/her destiny and live a productive life in the context of faith.
God has brought powerful change. Playgrounds, streets corners and parks formerly controlled by drug dealers have been returned to the people. Drug dealers once controlling the streets are working jobs, raising their children, and learning to be responsible fathers. Housing conditions have improved. Employment has increased. More than 96% of the students involved in programs at The Harvest Center have graduated high school on time and then have proceeded to college. This is a major accomplishment in a community where more than 85% of students drop out of high school.
A new sense of hope has come to this community, and it has come because God has raised up people from this community in Christ-centered faith. Now they not only walk in freedom, peace and joy on the road to their destinies, but they are leading efforts to bring change in this community. They are now a significant part of the hope for the future. They are now a part of real change. They are living with dignity and integrity, equipped as godly leaders effecting change in their own community.
With discipleship focusing on faith, family responsibility, moral values, education and work ethic, generational cycles are broken. A sense of God-designed destiny is instilled in the hearts of people, and real change can come.