In 2004, Elder Tony Smith, Sr. felt the call from God to start a new church. This after being a church plant in Gary, Indiana under An Open Door Church, where he served for more than 20 years as a director of ministries. Elder Smith along with his wife, Phyllis were ordained pastors of World Harvest Family Center (WHFC) on July 4, 2004. Services were held inside the Youth Family Community Learning, a community center in Gary, Indiana. For the next year, the church, under the leadership of Pastors’ Tony & Phyllis, continued to grow until it was required to find a larger home.

In 2005, God blessed WHFC with a new church home in the city of Chicago, Illinois. The church continued to embrace and flourished throughout the community for the next 10 years. A food pantry and many outreach ministries were birth as a result.

As the ministry increased, a satellite location in Lansing, Illinois was started. The WHFC, led by Pastors’ Tony & Phyllis, held its services at Our Saviour Lutheran Church.

Under Dr. Tony Smith’s Pastoral leadership, there has been an emphasis on the spiritual disciplines necessary to develop the believers walk with Christ. The spiritual focus has been worship, prayer, studying God’s Word, fasting and consistency in giving.

Along with the established spiritual direction and disciplines that have been established, Dr. Smith and WHFC decided to move all services to the southeast suburb location. Our Pastor has made it clear that the primary purpose of the move was to continue the work of the Kingdom of God, which is our mission to reach the whole man.

As we continue to journey into the future, we follow the admonition found in St. Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV), “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Our mission will be to continue reach all seven parts of man, which are socially, emotionally, spiritually, environmentally, occupationally, intellectually and physically.

In 2017, WHFC moved to its present home location at 19800 Burnham Ave. in Lynwood, IL 60411.

In December 2021, Dr. Phyllis Smith was installed as the senior pastor of WHFC.

WHFC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to making a difference in the community. We provide the highest quality programs that benefit all residents in our city and surrounding areas.