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In November, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention will mark 25 years of answered prayer at its annual meeting at Cross City Church in Euless. Each month until then, the Texan will feature a brief conversation with past SBTC presidents about how they have seen God answer their prayers for the convention over the past quarter century and how they are praying God will bless the convention moving forward. This month, we feature past SBTC President George Harris (2001-2003).
What were some of your earliest prayers for the SBTC?
I remember praying for our first executive director and God leading us to Jim Richards. He was an unheard of preacher in Arkansas. I had serious reservations at the time, but those were all eradicated as I prayed.
Our church was divided down the middle [about being] part of the new convention. I was strongly in favor of the new convention but had to get our church unified first. My greatest prayer was [that God would] keep our church from splitting over the issue. Prayer was our only hope. There was a group of men who joined a doctor and myself in a covenant to pray for unity and the right time to push for a vote to make the change. We were given the go-ahead after the convention had its first anniversary. The church voted without a dissenting vote to become part of the SBTC. All of our mission churches followed behind us and the rest is history. Prayer is the only thing that kept us together.
When I look back, it is with deep gratitude to God for leading in that direction and letting me have a small part in such a colossal movement. It was the single most important thing I had a part in over my nearly 30 years at Castle Hills First Baptist Church.
“I have seen God answer those early prayers by doing more than I ever asked Him to do.”
During your service as president, how were you praying for our convention?
I saw God adding to the convention numerous churches of a small size. I wanted to see more large churches that were conservative come into the convention, and that began to happen in the third year. Larger churches began to attract others of like size. That is when we began to be noticed as an organization worth paying attention to. A group of people with a purpose and a vision, not just a bunch of disgruntled people.
How else have you seen God answer some of your prayers regarding the convention?
I have seen God answer those early prayers by doing more than I ever asked Him to do. The outreach in missions, Cooperative Program gifts, and Christian education affiliations crowned our efforts and brought respect nationwide.
What is your prayer for the next 25 years of the SBTC?
My prayer for the future is that we will not lose our missional vision and our zeal for winning people to Christ and that we never compromise our stand on the Holy Scriptures. These are the things that have brought us where we are. We must not lose them.
