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James Harris is finishing his second 3-year term as a non-staff pastor on December 31, 2022. When he does, he’ll be the first non-staff pastor in HPBC’s history to finish two full terms back-to-back. This means that he’s been serving as one of our pastors since January 1, 2017. And per our Bylaws, it means that he’ll be on his required Sabbatical during 2023, but we look forward to having him back, Lord-willing, in 2024. Since James will be taking some time off next year, I wanted to take some time to ask him some questions about his time on the pastoral body.

James, you’ve served as a pastor at HPBC since 2017, but your desires for pastoral ministry started long before that. When did you first start desiring to serve in pastoral ministry?

I have always had a deep love and heart for people. It was during my senior year of high school that the desire to serve God in pastoral ministry started to grow. Throughout my college years God confirmed this desire in my heart and through those around me that pastoral ministry was where He was guiding me.

How did God use your time here at Hampton Park (during your college years and after) to increase those desires and equip you for serving as a pastor?

After Angie and I joined in 2007, we were a part of the Singles Bible Study which I had the opportunity to help lead and teach for a couple years. It later morphed into what we know as LifeGroups today. Since that change, I have had the joy of leading a couple LifeGroups. Over the years, before becoming a pastor, I participated in Training in Ministry and other similar leadership training, spent time with a couple of the pastors who helped mentor me, and was active in teaching various SS classes and Bible studies. In 2015, I took on the role of lead teacher in the College SS and have been leading in that capacity since.

Six years is a long time! Do you remember that you had your second daughter the day before you began as a non-staff pastor? What was that like?!?

Those first couple months were hectic and joyful. There were a couple complications after Skylar’s birth that added to the stress and busyness of life coupled with the new ministry needs and taking on responsibilities with that. It was a time where we saw the love of God through His people, and that made the yoke of everything lighter. Being a part of a pastoral body who prayed and cared for us made the transition into being a pastor joyful and easier.

As you look back at the last six years, what do you most thank God for regarding your time as a pastor here?

I am thankful for the ways we have seen God work in our church family through the faithful preaching of His Word, the church becoming a community of believers that consistently show the love of Christ to one another, and for the opportunity to serve alongside a group of pastors called by God to pray and minister to our church family! I have also loved getting to know more of our church family, praying for them, and seeing God work in their lives, even as they walk through some dark valleys. 

What have been some of the challenges with serving in pastoral ministry with a young family?

Time is one of the biggest challenges. The meetings throughout the year that often take 3+ hours, the various discipleship opportunities both one-on-one or small group, and the late-night trips to the hospital or to a home to spend time with hurting or grieving members. That time can take away from family time. Another challenge that comes with what I just mentioned is the added burden and weight of ministry as you walk through some of those difficulties with members. You, as a pastor, naturally take those burdens on to a degree, and you shoulder that weight, grief, and heartache. It can be easy to bring that home with you, and it can overwhelm you if you are not resting and relying on God to lead or if you do not have a wife and family who are supportive. Praise God that Angie and the girls have been such a blessing in this and God has been so gracious!

We often get the question, “What do non-staff pastors do? How is it different from staff pastors?” How would you answer that?

I often answer that by saying we do a lot of the same work as a staff pastor, just without the pay. :) Non-staff pastors have their own pastoral groups and work throughout the week to connect with our people, care for their needs, be there for them in trials and tribulations, and pray for them. We will also serve on any given pastoral sub-committee(s) throughout the year to work through various topics or ideas. This is on top of the regular (or unplanned!) meetings that take place throughout the year. The difference between the staff and non-staff is that the staff have specific areas of oversight that they have been called to by the church for daily attention (i.e. Youth Ministry, Missions, and Administration). The non-staff still will help out with that oversight alongside the staff pastors, but we do not necessarily have a specified area we oversee and lead.

What are some specific ways that Angie has been helpful to you in your ministry? Go ahead, brag on her!

Angie has been such a help to me over the past six years of ministry. She has cared for our family and been a rock on the home front. When I have had pastoral meetings, counseling, or late night hospital visits, she has been understanding and helpful to take care of things at home while I am away. She has helped out in different ways with ministry over the years, though because of our stage of life, her main ministry has been to our girls. She enjoys connecting with others in the church and has been a gracious hostess when showing hospitality to others. She has always been supportive of my ministry within the church and has been a great source of wisdom and advice when I needed her perspective on things. She is a great wife and a loving mother and I cannot imagine doing life, much less pastoral ministry, without her love and support!

If someone in our church reads this who is feeling a desire towards pastoral ministry, what wisdom would you share with him? 

First, pray for God’s clear leading. Purposefully seek out the pastors and “sit at their feet” to learn how to properly handle God’s Word as a pastor, glean wisdom from them on what ministry looks like day in and day out in the weeds, and learn what it means to bear the burdens of the people God has called them to. Pastoral ministry is not about having a position, but rather shepherding and caring for the people of God. It’s not glamorous but it is rewarding.

How do you hope to continue serving at Hampton Park during your Sabbatical year?

I will continue leading and teaching the college Sunday school class as well as leading the MacMillan LifeGroup. I will also continue to disciple, counsel, and care for those within our church over the coming year. I will continue to pray for our church family that God would lead us as we seek to live Life by the Book.

What most excites you when you look at how God is at work at Hampton Park right now?

I love the life-on-life that is happening within the community of our church family. All throughout the New Testament we see commands for believers to “one another” each other and to use their gifts for the sake of the church to the glory of God. I see that happening in so many ways here and pray that it continues. I pray that we would continue to be sensitive to the needs around us and not just wait for others to care for needs, but jump in and use the gifts that God has given us for the sake of others. I am also excited for the continued commitment to the faithfulness in the preaching and teaching of God’s Word and our commitment to keep the gospel pure.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions, James! When you see James in the coming weeks and months, be sure to thank him for his faithful service over the past six years. We’ll miss him on the pastoral body this next year!