Joshua Harris

PASTOR

PERSONAL

Rev. Dr. Joshua Antoine Harris, Sr. is a proud product of inner city of Cincinnati, Ohio. Being the son of a pastor and skilled social worker, he developed an early awareness and sensitivity for the human condition. Dr. Harris accepted his calling into the preaching ministry at the age of eighteen. He has served as an Associate Minister of the Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio; Youth Pastor for the Zion Hill Baptist Church of Blue Ash, Ohio; the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Mathews, Virginia; and the Senior Pastor of the St. Timothy Missionary Baptist Church of Cleveland, OH. In the Fall of 2020 he became the senior pastor at 1st Gethsemane Baptist Church

Dr. Harris earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations with a Minor in Marketing from Northern Kentucky University, a Master of Divinity Degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and has an earned Doctorate Degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. Harris believes that the church is still the cornerstone of the community and the source of both spiritual and social change. With this in mind, he continues to focus on doing what he calls “Ministry that Matters” which has led him to establish ministries that have addressed issues such as drug addiction, civic engagement, community development, and economic empowerment. One of Dr. Harris’ proudest achievements was becoming one of the first African American pastors in the country to develop a ministry that served individuals of the Special Needs population along with their families. Dr. Harris is currently working on launching “Project: Change the Narrative” which will be a nonprofit organization solely devoted to assisting young African American men successfully matriculate through college or trade school.


Dr. Harris is a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He is married to his best friend, the former Courtney Lynn Murphy, who he affectionately calls his “Amazing Grace”. They have one son, Joshua Antoine Harris Jr. ​