Meet Our Pastor

Meet our pastor here at Sperring Memorial Baptist Church!

Reverend (Dr.) John Harris

     Reverend John Harris was born in Red Springs, North Carolina to Deacon Jesse and Flora Harris. He is the youngest of fifteen siblings and a graduate of Peterson High School. He was raised in a warm loving Christian home. The first fifteen years of his life were spent on a small farm. On this farm, he learned how to work smarter, not harder. He confessed Christ at the age of fifteen and joined Johnson Chapel Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir and served as a junior trustee.
     In December 1971, he joined the United States Army. He served overseas in Hawaii, South Korea, and Germany. After twenty years, one month, and three days of honorable
active military service, he retired on February 1, 1992, with many awards and decorations for outstanding meritorious service.
     Reverend Harris is the father of two children: Marshel and John Jr. He answered the Lord’s call to the gospel ministry on April 17, 1994, at Star Bethlehem Baptist Church, Triangle, Virginia. He later joined Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. He served the Lord in many capacities while a member of Star Bethlehem and Mt. Jezreel. He served two years at Sperring Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N. C. He has served effectively as Interim Pastor, Superintendent of Sunday Church School, Director of Christian Education, adult Sunday school teacher and director of Vacation Bible School. He served as Pastor, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Advance Mills, Virginia for four and a half years. He served as Pastor, Green Chapel MBC, Havelock, NC for six years.
     He has earned and received a master’s degree in theology and a Doctor of Religious Education Degree from the Cornerstone College and Seminary, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Additionally, he has acquired a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science Degree in Computer Management of Information Systems from Strayer University.
     Reverend Harris uses his God given gift of teaching to break the yoke of spiritual blindness. He served as dean and taught the Word of God at the Alexandria Extension of Cornerstone College and Seminary. He served in the same position in Madison Virginia. He is often called upon to conduct training on church polity, church growth, discipleship, debt management, tithing and personal finance.
     Reverend John Harris is a highly motivated Christian gentleman that God has called to encourage, enlighten, equip, and empower His people. He is levelheaded, result-oriented
and totally committed to teaching and preaching the inspired Word of God with clarity and competence. His purpose in life can be summed up as: “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free John 8:32.”