Jim Dreier
Associate Pastor
Childhood: I grew up in Kansas where my father was a high school football coach. With his profession, we lived in five different Kansas towns in six years. Beginning in high school, our family lived on a farm near Hesston, Kansas where we raised livestock and wheat. I enjoyed being involved in sports and working on the farm.
Family: My wife, Joyce, and I have five sons and one daughter. We are known as the “J” family: Jason, Justin, Jeremy, Jenna, Joshua, and Jordan. Five of our children are now married and we currently have 10 grandchildren.
Education: Associate degree from Hesston College, Certified as a Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT), In 2000, Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Goshen College. In 2017, Master’s Degree in Social Work from Indiana University South Bend.
Before I was a pastor: I was a respiratory therapist and worked in maintenance and carpentry.
How I got saved: I was raised Methodist and went with my family to church as a child. At the age of 19 and my first year as a freshman in college at Emporia State University, I felt I was confronted with a choice on the direction for my life. My uncle had started a church and began reaching out to me. It was at that point I gave my life completely to Christ, was water baptized and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Hobbies: Woodworking, building countertops, raising calves and doing home repair projects
Places in the world I’ve visited: Cuba, Costa Rica, Haiti and Germany
One thing on my bucket list that I haven’t accomplished yet: Visiting Israel
The one person I’d swap lives with for a day: Kansas State Football Coach
As a kid, I was: Sports crazy
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given: Live within your means and be yourself
Favorites:
Movie: Jesus Revolution
TV Show: ESPN Sports
Junk food: Ice Cream
Restaurant: Chick-Fil-A
Place in the world: Florida beaches
Bible verse: But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved! - Ephesians 2:4-5
Sports team: Notre Dame, Kansas State, and Kansas City Chiefs
Worship song: Our God is Greater, Chris Tomlin
Cory Witmer
Staff pastor
Student Ministry Director
Childhood: I grew up in and around Goshen. I went to Wakarusa Elementary, I was homeschooled, I went to a private school then to Goshen High School. My parents took us to church every week and taught us about the Bible.
Family: I am the second of 7 children. My wife (Amanda) and I have been married since December 18, 2004. We have three children (Elijah, Lucas, and Abigail).
Education: I graduated from Goshen High School (2002), I received a Bachelors in Youth Ministry and Adolescent Studies from Bethel College (2007), and a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grace College (2014).
Before I worked at HCC: I have worked with youth and their families in many different roles since graduating high school. I have worked in the schools, in residential treatment, as a youth pastor, and a professional counselor. I have also worked with youth in the juvenile justice system as a mental health consultant.
How I got saved: I prayed a prayer of salvation when I was around 4-5 years old. I grew up in the church and always knew about Jesus and the Bible. It wasn’t until high school and beyond that my faith started to become my own and I started to develop a relationship with Christ as my Lord.
Hobbies: Camping, Hunting, Reading, Playing Games
Places in the world I’ve visited: Mexico, Canada, Kenya
One thing on my bucket list I haven't accomplished yet: Visiting New Zealand (where LOTR was filmed) and Skydiving
As a kid, I was: A peacemaker… and I’m told I was whiny
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given: “Trust the process.” Oftentimes God takes us through a process to get us to where He wants to use us. The process is not always fun or enjoyable, but He uses it to shape and prepare us for the job He has for us to do.
Favorites:
Movie – Lord of the Rings, Batman (with Christian Bale)
TV Show – NFL Football
Musician – DC Talk or Jars of Clay or Skillet
Junk food – chips and salsa or ice cream
Restaurant – I like most food but locally owned restaurants are the best!
Season –Fall (aka: Hunting Season)
Place in the world – With my family by a campfire.
Bible verse – 1 Timothy 4:12-13
Sports team – Green Bay Packers
Amanda Witmer
Adminstrative assistant
Childhood: I was born in Peru, Indiana. I moved to Goshen when I was in elementary school. My brother and I lived with our parents.
Family: Cory and I have been married since December 18, 2004. We have three children (Elijah, Lucas, and Abigail).
Education: I graduated from Northridge High School in 2002. I attended Indiana Wesleyan University for a year and a half, but did not graduate.
Before I worked at HCC: I have been a home health aid for several years and continue to do so while also working at Harvest part time.
How I got saved: I grew up going to church. One night at home I asked Jesus into my heart. The longer I have had a relationship with Christ, the more I truly understand the importance of my personal relationship with Him.
Hobbies: Camping, Attending our kids activities, games with my family
Places in the world I’ve visited: Kenya, Turkey, several states in the US
Favorites:
Musician – I enjoy a wide variety of music. I wouldn’t say I have one favorite musician or group.
Junk food – (Sweet) Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (Salty) Chips & dip
Restaurant – I love eating at local restaurants. When we are out of town we try to visit new places we don’t have locally.
Season –Fall
Bible verse – Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”
Sports team – Green Bay Packers
Laura Peachey
Children's Ministry Director
Childhood: I am a small-town girl who enjoyed bike rides around the block, a walk to the post office, and playdates with neighborhood friends.
Family: Family is one of the most important things to me! I am married to the love of my life, Stan Peachey. We have two amazing children. We love outdoor adventure, being spontaneous, and investing in the lives of friends and family. I have loving parents, and two siblings.
Before I worked at HCC: I worked as a substitute teacher, and an Elementary Librarian for the Fairfield Community School District.
Salvation Story: I grew up going to church. Every time the church doors were open, we were there. I watched my mother and father give of their time repeatedly for kingdom work. The strength of my parent’s faith and their active involvement in the church was a tremendous example to me and helped me realize at a young age that I too wanted to serve the amazing God that they served. I spent several summers, as a camper at our local church camp, were I first made a commitment at the age of 13. The summer after my junior year in high school, I went to Camp Hebron, in Halifax, PA to work as a counselor for the summer. It was that summer that I made a deeper commitment, to what I knew, I was already called to do, Serve Jesus. He has been faithful ever since! I serve a mighty God!
Hobbies: Decorating, bargain shopping, antiquing, cooking and gardening
Places in the world I’ve visited: Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, Haiti
As a kid, I was: I was stubborn, strong willed, & creative.
Favorites:
TV Show - Anything that gets my creative juices flowing, HGTV, This Old House, etc.
Music- Worship Music
Junk Food – Donuts
Favorite Food – Anything Homemade
Season - Fall
Place in the World - Nature - Love being outdoors!!!
Bible Verse - It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. -Galatians 5:1
Sports Team - I’ll cheer for whoever is losing!!! For my husband, GO, STEELERS!
Nancy Bontrager
Accountant
Childhood: I was born and raised in Goshen. We lived on the same street my entire childhood, but moved across the street to switch things up a bit. Harvest has been my home church from the very beginning and I feel blessed to now help further the mission in a new way.
Family: I have been married to my husband, Aaron, since February 2020 and we welcomed our first daughter, Eleanor, in June of 2022. We are lucky to have many family members living close by to help us as we navigate parenting.
Education: I graduated from Goshen High School and went on to Indiana Wesleyan University where I graduated with a double major in Accounting and Spanish.
Before I worked at HCC: I worked at two different public accounting firms in Elkhart and Goshen doing auditing and tax work, primarily.
How I got saved: Growing up in the church, I made a commitment to become a Christian at a young age, but it was not until I was 14 that I rededicated my life to following Jesus and began my relationship with Him. God used a speaker at Bible Memory Camp to speak into my life of His great love for me and the lengths He went to in order that I might live and be free.
Hobbies: Crocheting, biking, traveling, and reading
Places in the world I’ve visited: I have traveled to 17 different countries around the world and can’t wait to add to that list!
One thing on my bucket list I haven't accomplished yet: Visiting every state in the US
Favorites:
Movie – Pride and Prejudice (the 5 hour BBC version of course)
TV Show – The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Musician – Bethel Music or Esperanza de Vida
Junk food – Brownies (must be fudgy)
Restaurant – El Camino Real
Season – Autumn
Place in the world – Not possible to pick just one
Bible verse – Proverbs 3:5-6
Worship song – “Great Are You Lord”
Becky Shultz
Administrative assistant
Childhood: I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago with my family. I played volleyball competitively and stayed very busy with that!
Family: I have been married to my husband, Matt, since 2006, and we have 3 children. Hailey is 15, Joslyn is 13, and Graham is 11. We live in the Middlebury area and our kids attend school there!
Education: I graduated from Lincoln Way Central High School in the Chicagoland area. I then attended Indiana State University, where I met my husband. We moved to the Goshen area after college.
Before I worked at HCC: I’ve worked for several years in both banking and for a home decor store as a customer service manager. I feel blessed to now work at one of my favorite places!
How I got saved: I don’t have an exact date of being saved. I grew up Catholic, and my dad is Jewish! After getting married, I began attending Christian services with my husband. I feel like I’ve always known Jesus, but in the past several years, my relationship with Him has grown SO much. Being surrounded by Christians has taught me a lot in my life!
Hobbies: Crossfit, decorating our home, watching sports (especially football), being a taxi driver to our kids, reading books!
Favorite Verse: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. — Philippians 4:6
Favorites:
TV Show – The Chosen
Musician – Taylor Swift :)
Junk food – Reese’s Cheese
Restaurant – Aurelio’s Pizza
Season – Spring!
Worship song – “What a Beautiful Name”
Sports teams: Chicago Cubs, Notre Dame, several NFL teams!
Ruth Hochstetler
ASSSITANT TO LEAD PASTOR jEREMY gWALTNEY
Childhood: I grew up 30 miles northeast of Philadelphia, two miles from the NJ border. I'm a PK and attended Christian private schools all the way through college. I was the oldest of four in our family.
Family: I am married to the kindest, most thoughtful man, Kevin. We have five kids between us who are all married and have blessed us with 15 grandchildren. All but one family lives out of state.
Education: I graduated from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in Lansdale, PA. I started Goshen College after high school, dropped out after two years, raised a family and then returned to Goshen College for an Organizational Leadership BS degree in their adult completion program.
Before I worked at HCC: I worked in Circulation in the Goshen College Library; prior to that I was librarian at West Goshen Elementary School.
How I got saved: I asked my parents to pray with me to become a Christian after listening to a drama about Christ's return on the Uncle Charlie and Aunt Bee radio program. Summers at camp in the PA Pocono Mountains inspired me to love Jesus in a deeper way. My 50 years at Zion Chapel/ Harvest has taught me how to live the Christian life in community and offered many opportunities to grow in my faith.
Favorites:
Movie – Woodlawn
TV Show – White Collar
Musician – We the Kingdom
Junk food – popcorn and ice cream
Restaurant – The O
Season – I love summer mornings, the sun and longer hours of daylight.
Place in the world – Home
Bible verse – Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
Sports team – Philadelphia Phillies
Worship song – Build My Life- Housefires
Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Walking, Baking, Playing Games and Spending Time With Friends
Places in the world I’ve visited: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Turkey, Kenya
One thing on my bucket list I haven't accomplished yet: Write a children's book.
As a kid, I was: Compliant, loved sports and enjoyed school
Best piece of advice: Be a lifelong learner