Meet The Pastor
Pastor / Elder John Dirkse
John and his wife Betsey were married in 1993 and are both from the west coast, Washington State and Southern California. Together they share 5 children. Luke is an accountant in the Rockford area, Alyssa, Lauren and Emma are in college, and Olivia attends Hononegah High School. In 1982 the Lord radically changed John’s life and ever since he has had an unwavering desire to share the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone he meets. That desire continued to grow in John and it was in 1988 at The Master’s University (formally the Masters’ College) where the Lord solidified a calling to full-time ministry under the ministry of Dr. John MacArthur. In 1993 John graduated from The Master’s Seminary. Having ministered in youth and worship in various places, John and Betsey moved their family to Rockford, IL in 2005. Since then, John has been the senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel of Rockford. John's heart to proclaim the Word of God without apology, and to lift high the name of Jesus in worship continues to be central to all he does here at Harvest.