OUR PASTOR
REV. DR. MEL HARRIS

The Reverend Dr. Mel Harris is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia, and a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant with twenty-six years of honorable service. During his tenure, he received two Meritorious Service Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, two Presidential Unit Citations, several outstanding Unit Citations, and numerous other awards and decorations.

He is the former Deputy Director of Services, MacDill Air Force Base Tampa, Florida, and the former Director of Administrative Services for the Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office, Inc., (DACCO) of Tampa. Rev. Harris served as Vice-Chair of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS of Tampa Bay, and as Chair of the Ecumenical Committee. He is a past member of Pastors on Patrol, Inc., and for many years served as the Corporate Secretary. His past appointment to the Children Services Advisory Board by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, Tampa, Florida, speaks most admirably of his devotion to community service.

Rev. Harris is an active participant in the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., where he has served as the Regional Director for Missions Southern Region (for eight southern states), served on the National Executive Board for Missions for the PNBC, served as Dean for the Congress of Christian Education for the Southern Region PNBC, and served as President, Progressive Baptist State Convention of Florida. Rev. Harris currently serves as General Secretary, Progressive Baptist State Convention of Florida.

Rev. Harris served as Interim Pastor, St. Mary M.B. Church, Plant City, Florida; pastor of the ‘Contemporary Gospel Service' Lages Field Azores, Portugal; spiritual leader of the Protestant Service, Erach Air Base, Turkey; pastor of the Ebenezer M.B. Church Tampa, Florida; Assistant Pastor for the historical Beulah Baptist Institutional Church of Tampa, Florida; and as Executive Board Member of the Florida Council of Churches. He is the Senior Pastor of Destiny Baptist Church, Spring Hill, Florida.

Rev. Harris is married to Mary Ellen (Reedom) Harris of Hartford, Conneticut, and is the father of Pastor Tracy (Harris) Horton (deceased) of Norfolk, Virginia, Alvin, Terry, and James Harris.  He is the proud grandfather of twelve and great-grandfather of twelve.

Education and Degrees

Community College of the Air Force Associate of Science Degree Management

Non-Commission Officers Academy

Air University Senior Non-Commission Officers Academy

Department of the Air-Force School of Social Science

Substance Abuse Counseling

Andersonville Theological Seminary, Bachelor of Divinity

C.B. Graham Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Divinity