Our Story —

Built on faith.
Rooted in community.

Twenty-five years of showing up for Baltimore, one family at a time.

The Beginning

A small gathering
with a big idea.

Harbor City Church began in 2001 — a small gathering of faithful hearts who believed Baltimore deserved a church that would meet people where they actually were.

Founders Michael and Lisa Collins had spent years preparing for this. Michael trained at Rhema Bible Training College under Kenneth E. Hagin. He worked alongside John Osteen at Lakewood Church. He and Lisa carried decades of ministry experience from Texas to the Baltimore region with one question guiding them: what would a church look like that actually helps people know God, find freedom, discover their purpose, and make a difference?

The answer has been unfolding ever since.

We came to Baltimore to build a city of faith.

Our Foundation

What we believe.

  • We believe the Bible is the living Word of God.
  • We believe Jesus is who He said He was — God in flesh, crucified, risen, returning.
  • We believe the Holy Spirit is present and active, and that He still speaks, still heals, still transforms.
  • We believe every person — every age, every background, every story — can find a home in God.
  • And we believe Baltimore is worth preparing for the return of Jesus Christ.

How We Grow

A long walk,
not a short program.

We don’t believe in shortcut spirituality. We don’t sell seven tips or promise instant transformation. Real change takes time — hearing the Word, speaking the Word, doing the Word, over and over, year after year, in the rhythm of your actual life.

Because life has rhythm. Single, married, raising kids, empty nesting, retired — every season has its own pace, and every season is a legitimate place to grow. We meet people wherever they are and we walk alongside them. Some of us are brand new to faith. Some have been following Jesus for forty years. Both are welcome. Both are growing. The Word keeps working, and we keep growing.

Harbor City is a good place to begin your walk with God. It’s also a good place to go deeper and further than you’ve ever gone before.

The Founders —

Pastor Michael
& Lisa Collins.

Michael and Lisa have been pastoring in the Baltimore area for over twenty-five years. Michael trained under Kenneth E. Hagin at Rhema Bible Training College, served in ministry alongside John Osteen at Lakewood, and maintains a personal relationship with Joel Osteen today. Lisa — known around the church as “GmaGirl” — has been his partner in ministry from the beginning, and the warmth of her presence is part of why Harbor City feels like home to so many.

Together they’ve raised four children, walked countless families through the hardest and holiest seasons of life, and kept showing up for Baltimore — one Sunday at a time.

We’re just getting started.

Twenty-five years in and the vision hasn’t shrunk — it’s grown. We believe God is building something real in Baltimore. We’re here for the long walk. We’re here for the next twenty-five years. We’re here for you.

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