MAPLE CITY BAPTIST CHURCH

updates - March 2011

Jeffrey Harris was born in Marysville, Ohio, in 1967.  He was born to Christian parents, David and Linda Harris.  Growing up he was the middle child with one brother and two sisters.  On one June day his mother called Jeff into their country home and sat him next to her on a gold loveseat that was in the family's livingroom.  Mrs. Harris gave Jeff the truth of salvation from what he affectionately calls her "big, blue Bible."  That day Jeff accepted Christ as his Saviour.

Jeff grew up in a Christian home, attending church weekly.  After graduating from grade twelve he attend a technical school and earned his certificate in Mechanical Drafting.  He spent five years working for a mechanical engineering firm in Ohio.  He moved on to working in a new field of gas fireplace service eventually starting his own company, Handlebar Harris Services, Inc.  During this time Jeff and his younger sister started a puppet ministry they named the "Feed My Sheep Puppet Ministry."  Through this ministry Jeff started a home study course in ventriloquism.  Jeff volunteered his Sunday afternoons at the local children's hospital cheering up little guys who were stuck in bed.

Jeff surrendered his life to the ministry at a missions conference at the Grace Baptist Church pastored by Pastor Corey Bane.  He left for Bible college in 1997 and there met his beautiful wife, Virginia.  The two were married in Canada and Jeff continued his education.  After graduating with his Bachelor's degree in Pastoral Theology he spent two years serving as youth pastor in his home church.  Jeff spent ten months serving as senior pastor at a church in West Virginia before moving to Canada and founding the Beacon Baptist Church of Welland in 2004.  During the first 5 years of the church Jeff took home study courses and earned his Master of Theology and also his Doctor of Theology degrees.   During this time, Jeff was granted his Canadian citizenship.

Pastor and Mrs. Harris have three children, Luke, AJ and Victoria, and still serve at the Beacon Baptist Church of Welland.

Recent Letter to MCBC:

Thank you so very much for your prayers!  Things are going well and God is blessing here in Welland.  We have been in our new "miracle" building for almost two years now.  Our church family has grown since moving into this bigger building and we are excited.  In the last year, we were able to purchase a 19-passenger bus that runs every Sunday morning.  Most Sundays it is filled to capacity and we have begun praying for an additional bus.  We have begun handing out a weekly Bible study to our church folks.  They are very excited about learning more about God's Word.  We put out a 3-5 minute audio devotional at www.pastorsmorningmusings.com.  Many of our church people (as well as folks all over North America) listen to this each morning as a part of their morning devotions.

Thank you again for your prayers and support.  Your church is a huge blessing and encouragement to our family and our church!

May God richly bless you as you serve Him,
The Harris Family
(Jeff, Virginia, Luke, AJ & Victoria)