"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them" - Revelation 14:13District Elder John T. Harris was born December 18, 1935 in Brandon, Virginia (Prince George) to the late William Leroy Harris and Ida Blanch Savoy. He was one of six brothers and one sister raised on a farm.
Elder Harris received the gift of Holy Ghost and was baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ in his late teens. He truly loved the Lord. At the age of 20 Elder Harris was called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and he served in the Highway Christian Church of Christ. In 1963, he joined The Refuge Temple Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith in Richmond, Virginia under the leadership of the late Apostle John W. Purnell where he served as youth minister and was later ordained as Elder. At an early age while attending a revival in Scotland Neck, North Carolina with his uncle, he met the love of his life, Annie Elizabeth Howard. On August 16, 1959, after a short courtship, Elder Harris asked Annie Elizabeth Howard’s hand in marriage.
In 1966 Elder John Harris and Lady Annie Elizabeth Harris moved to Concord, North Carolina and was appointed as pastor of The Good Samaritan Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The organization then appointed him as District Elder of the Western District in North Carolina.
District Elder John Harris was mild mannered and humble, He devoted many hours to studying God’s Word so that he could prepared to preach the Word of God without compromise.
District Elder John Harris remained faithful, committed, and disciplined, as he and his wife made both each other and the ministry a priority for 60 years.
Elder John T. Harris was truly a man after God’s own heart. Elder Harris exemplified the word of God in all aspects of his life and was not afraid to stand for truth. He was the epitome of a man of God who truly loved the Lord, loved His people and served with both passion and compassion.
Anyone who came into contact with Elder Harris couldn’t help but be drawn to his character. He touched so many lives and was a great leader.
District Elder John departed this life to be with the Lord on April 30, 2020. He made his mark and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him.