Mark Harris

Name: Mark Harris

Job Title: Site Pastor, Word Alive Gadsden
On Staff since:  March, 2008
Birthday:  Friday, January 27, 1967
Family:  Lisa and I met when I was only 13 and she was only 12.  We have been together ever since.  We married November 1, 1986 and have two wonderful children, Charity and Micah.  Charity (9-5-88) is in college at Gadsden State on music scholarship and plans to transfer to Jacksonville State to continue study in Early Childhood Development.  She plans to then seek her Masters degree in speech therapy.  Charity also continues to lead worship and sing in the choir at CrossPoint Community Church in Gadsden.  Micah (4-18-92) attends Coosa Christian High and is pursuing a career in baseball.  Coosa has gone to the state playoffs 2 years running and this year Micah had 40 RBI, batted over .500 and was All-State honorable mention at First Base as a sophomore. Lisa is a wonderful wife and mother.  She is a Realtor with Prestige Realty in Gadsden.  She is also a fantastic cook.  
When and where you became a Christian:  I started going to church approximately 9 months before I was born.  I grew up in a small rural Pentecostal church where my grandfather was pastor.  As early as I can remember I have wanted to be in God’s presence.
How I got saved:  My earliest experience of calling on the Lord for salvation was at a Sunday evening service when I was 10 years old.  I had actually fallen asleep on the front pew with my head in my grandmother’s lap when I woke to hear the guest preacher sharing passionately about the great pangs of hell.  I don’t remember much about what he said now but I do remember running to the altar and begging God to save me from that awful place.  I have, of course, come to discover a great deal more about God’s salvation than the avoidance of hell.  I think I have learned that mostly… He has saved me from myself.     
Favorite movies: Lord of the Rings, (Believe it or not, I really like Sylvester Stallone movies. I am a sucker for a good “hero saves the day” plot.)
Favorite food:  More recently I am very fond of grilled wild salmon.  Usually I prefer great Italian food but give me some collard greens, corn bread and black eyed peas with maybe a “corn on the cob” and I‘m happy.
Favorite music:  I love great Rhythm & Blues.  Give it to me all day long.      
Favorite books:  Anything philosophical.  I love the classic C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, even Charles Spurgeon.          
Favorite store: Wherever Lisa likes to shop.
Favorite TV shows: Everybody Loves Raymond, House, CSI, ER, and because Lisa loves it so much, Wheel of Fortune.
First job: Working on a farm; bailing hay, cleaning stables, etc. or flipping burgers at Jacks.
Hobbies: Still looking for one of those.
Favorite Song: Just too difficult to choose one.  Although, presently, I have developed a great liking to a song writer by the name of Brian Whalen.
Historical Figure(beside Jesus):  Martin Luther  “I shall never be a heretic; I may err in dispute, but I do not wish to decide anything finally; on the other hand, I am not bound by the opinions of men.”
Interesting and Unusual Facts about yourself:  I have been in full-time ministry for 20 years.  I have served mostly as a Worship Pastor.  I graduated from the University of Mobile with a degree in Vocal Performance.  While at the University of Mobile I enjoyed extensive study of Biblical Greek language along with other Biblical studies. In 2001 I was blessed to receive a Dove award nomination for songwriting and performance work with Anna Mullin, a local songwriter with several published works.