Rev. Samuel A. Harris, Jr.

Rev. Samuel A. Harris, Jr., a native of Independence, Missouri received his calling at the age of 12. He graduated from William Chrisman High School, Independence, with honors, being one of first African Americans to earn a position in the National Honor Society, being the first Vice President of the Student Council, and being the only African American to receive the Independence School District Most outstanding Senior in 1981.  Rev. Harris proceeded to College at Baker University in Baldwin City, KS, receiving his double major in Mathematics and Computer Science in January of 1986.  Enjoyed being part of the Student Senate, President of Mongo, an African American religious group and a member of the Beta Tau Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, being its first African American brother in its history.

Rev. Harris’s ministerial journey includes Zion AME Church, Mayview, Missouri – 1988, on staff at Holy Trinity, Wilberforce, Ohio 1989-1990, on staff at United AME Church, Xenia, Ohio 1990-91, pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church, Marion 1991-96, pastor of Cyrene AME Church, Piqua, Ohio 1996-2011, and New North Street AME Church, Springfield, Ohio 2011 to 2013, Bethel AME Church, Oxford, Ohio 2013 to 2020, St. Paul AME Church, Fairfield, Ohio 2020 and Payne Chapel, Duquesne, PA 2023- present.

Rev. Harris has a love in reviving our African Methodist Episcopal Church literature which he has edited and reprinted so that these can be shared and reviewed by lay and clergy. “We must have an understanding of our past to make sense of our future.” These priceless books of our church are ‘First Disciple 1817', ‘The Genius and Theory of Methodist Polity, or the Machinery of Methodism’, ‘The Life Experience and Gospel Labours of the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen’, and ‘Recollections of Seventy Years: Daniel Alexander Payne’.

Rev. Harris’s work career includes working for the Girls and Boys Clubs of American, Independence, Missouri, The Independence Board of Education, Independence, Missouri, Maintenance Coordinator of the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City, Missouri, Sr. System Administrator IT Department at Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, Systems Administrator Cooper Energy Services, Springfield, Ohio, School of Education at Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, and Administrative Support Manager, the IT Department at Greene Metropolitan Housing Authority, Xenia, Ohio.

Rev. Harris is now enjoying full time ministry.