FLASHBACK...PG 8
Vol 18, No. 7 • December 2018
Merry Christmas
News You Can Use
Harris follows in grandfather's footsteps to lead same church as righteous as I can be. By Lucy Weber "I try to be an example for Leroy Harris's family tree grows my children (four daughters in faith and ministry. and a son), and my grandchilWith decades as a minister, dren," he said. Harris watched and learned from Harris said his children Ammon Harris, his grandfather or grew up in the church, PawPaw, and his uncle Prince although most of the time it Harris preach the Gospel. His was the Methodist Church his brothers, nephew and son are wife Annie attended. "I also ministers, and he wanted them to make up believes that someday their own minds. I didn't his now 7-year-old want to persuade them great-grandson which one to attend. I will one day join just wanted them to be the ministerial in church." fold. Harris didn't become For 36 years, a minister until he was he has led older. "I just know I Pleasant Grove was called to pastor. Church in When you're called by Rienzi, the same God, you can't quit. At Baptist church age 41, I didn't accept his grandfather my calling right away. served. Harris It took about a year, remembers but I had to surrender. walking to I had to accept my church, about Rev. Leroy Harris calling." three or four Harris led two miles, with his other area churches before finding his PawPaw as a youngster. place in the Pleasant Grove pulpit. "I "It is amazing to preach where he enjoy it there. It's growing, and people preached," he said. "I'm proud to know who grew up in the church there are he laid a foundation, and that's what I try my best to do to be who I am and be coming back." Harris embraces his role as pastor at the church. "If Return Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS 38835 you're pastoring, you care about your people. You're concerned about their lives POSTAL PATRON and you're concerned about whether you are ministering to them." see HARRIS pg 4
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Harris's heart is to help others see God's Word working in their lives feels blessed by the quick actions of his By Lucy Weber family, friends and medical team who Tony Harris, the son of a preacher, saw he quickly got the help he needhas a heart for ministry. ed. And, it's a heart that beats "I thank the Lord," said Harris, stronger now after surviving two who is doing cardio rehabilitation heart attacks in quick succession. while he takes some time off work. "I A minister for three years, Harris believe the Lord saved me and was preaching a sermon on "Lord, had it all planned out for show me your mercy" on Oct. 28 at me." Hopewell Baptist Church in Harris wants to Rienzi when he began feelmake sure that others ing pain in his chest. He left know God's love as he the pulpit during the altar does. call as the pain became "My heart's desire unbearable. is for people to be An ambulance ride saved and have a relalater he was at Magnolia tionship with this preRegional Medical cious man called Jesus Center. "I saw a team of Christ," the Corinth resfolks waiting on me," he ident said. said, thanks to the quick Harris realizes his role thinking of friend Ronnie as a minister by reaching out Chapel, who was sitting in the to people wherever and congregation that morning whenever he can. He assists and made calls to doctors. Minister Tony Harris in teaching the Gospel at An examination showed a Hopewell Baptist Church. Not assigned to blockage - the type usually referred to as the church, he helps whenever he's called "the widow-maker." He was rushed into upon. "I believe that we are led by the the operating room for a stent. However, Lord into pastoring." almost immediately after as Harris was The son of Pastor Leroy Harris of being wheeled to his recovery room, the Pleasant Grove Baptist in Rienzi, Tony pain began again. It was a second heart Harris said he knew for several years the attack because of an immediate blockage Lord was calling him to serve. "I felt the to the stent. call of the Lord on my life for years. One "They turned right around to do it day at work, He made his voice clear and again," he said. plain. I felt the leading of the Lord to Today, Harris is fine. "There was no serve at Hopewell." heart damage, no scarring." Harris grew up in the church, attending As the doctor told him, "You're a miracle. You were at the right place at the right Danville Methodist in Biggersville where his mother was a member. Before being time doing the right thing." Harris, who had no history of high cho- led into ministry, Harris was active in lesterol or high blood pressure, said he see TONY pg 4