NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Phil Harris, former head of the discipleship area at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, died March 16, nearly 25 years after retiring from the agency. He was 89.
The funeral was March 19, at First Baptist Church, Nashville. Mariam Harris, his wife of 59 years, died Feb. 15, 2002.
Director of the Training Union Department at the Sunday School Board (now LifeWay) in Nashville from 1960-1977, Harris was recognized as a visionary in discipleship.
He was also remembered for giving out hundreds of silver dollars one-by-one to people he had known for years or whom he had just met. With each silver dollar, he passed out a unique inspirational message.
“To Dr. Harris there was no such thing as an unimportant person. He felt each person was placed on earth to do a certain work,” said James L. Sullivan, chief executive of the Sunday School Board from 1953-1975. “Perhaps his major strength was his love for people and his skills in helping individuals find their greatest influence for good.”
Harris was professor of youth religious education at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, from 1949-1959 before joining the Sunday School Board. He served as Sunday School and Training Union Director for Southern Baptist Churches in Illinois from 1939-1943.
“Phil Harris is one of the true giants of Southern Baptist life under whose leadership we did some of the best training in Southern Baptist doctrine, polity and denominational life,” said LifeWay President James T. Draper Jr.
“He was ahead of his time in introducing us to undated training resources, such as Equipping Centers and other short-term studies, which are the standard in many churches today. I have a great sense of love for him and gratitude for all he did to help build the foundation upon which we stand today.”
After retiring, Harris did missionary work in Brazil, Argentina, Taiwan, Hong Kong and ten countries in Europe. He was Guest Professor of Religious Education at Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss. and Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla.
“Dr. Phil Harris was one of Southern Baptist finest educators. He brought to Church Training skills from his years of teaching at Southwestern Seminary. He added to Church Training a new and deeper commitment to life application,” said Roy Edgemon, Harris’ successor as director of LifeWay’s discipleship area and now also retired.
“He led the department to address the social and ethical issues of society. In his time this called for bold and courageous leadership. He left a wonderful foundation for those of us who followed him. We will miss his warm wit and humor.”
Harris was active in First Baptist Church, downtown Nashville, and in the Nashville Downtown YMCA.
He is survived by a daughter, Nancy Herrin Harris and her husband Scott Lake of Evanston, Ill.; sons, Joseph Owsley Harris of Albuquerque, N.M. and James Howard Harris of New York, N.Y.; a sister and two grandchildren.
–30–
(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at https://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: PHIL HARRIS.
Related posts:
Experiencing God … The Musical: Momentum continues after 1st year 
4 entity heads address messenger questions 
World Changers: ‘We believe in what they do’ 
Main Event examines what it means to ‘be a man’ LifeWay’s revamped Internet sites offer help for churches, individuals 
Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live conf. marks 20 years ‘Prayer of Jabez’ is top hardback in Jan. sales at LifeWay stores 
Lifeway trustees approve revisions to mission and ministry statements
