MEET OUR LEAD SERVANT
AND LEADING LADY
Pastor Alan M. Harris, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, commenced his preaching ministry at the age of nineteen and has served in full-time ministry since he was twenty-two years old.
Believing the words of Malcolm X that “education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Pastor Harris holds the following degrees:
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B.A. in Biblical Studies from Washington Bible College, Lanham, MD
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Master of Divinity. Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY
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Master of Theology. Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY
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Executive MBA. Sydney Lewis School of Business, Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA
As Pastor has the distinct and signal honor of serving as the Lead Servant of the Historic Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, under his leadership the church has grown numerically, financially, but most importantly spiritually!
Embracing the mindset and model of the Black Church during the Civil Rights movement, under his leadership Beulah seeks to be a place of refuge for those who experience racism, oppression and discrimination. Using the words of Dr. Jeremiah Wright, here at Beulah we proclaim we are unapologetically Christian and unashamedly black.
With Pastor Harris’ strong bent and commitment to social justice, Beulah has built a ministry of practical, transformative compassion that touches nearly every dimension of community life. Since being sent by God to Beulah towards the end of December 2022, Beulah has implemented many ministries but some such as the Social Justice Ministry, Beulah Stylez Clothing store, Personal Financial Stewardship Ministry and Health and Wellness ministry were implemented all in an effort to minister to the “total person” and to be a blessing to those on the margins of society.
In addition to various ministries being added to the church to bless others, under Pastor Harris’ leadership, Beulah has adopted 10 Title One Schools in Hillsborough County, implemented the Beulah Blessing Bazaar, the Christmas Miracle Market, the Shoe-in for Success Back to School Drive, the Feeding of the 1600, the Beulah Community Health Fair and the “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” community-wide Baby Shower.
Though Pastor Harris is intentional about doing ministry outside the walls of the church, believing “all things should be done in a spirit of excellence and that anything that has God’s name on it, deserves the best,” due to Pastor’s vision, the members commitment to follow and most importantly the grace of God, both church buildings have experienced major renovations which include but are not limited to repainting of the entire A Leon Lowry Center, renovation of the A Leon Lowry Center kitchen and fellowship hall and new furniture in all of the classrooms and offices. In addition, new carpet has been installed in the sanctuary, LED screens have been installed in the pulpit, the Narthex has been renovated and the entry way of the Worship Center has been completely redone, thus remodeling the prior entrance which was completed during the original construction of the building in 1969.
Though one of Pastor’s greatest blessings is having the opportunity to lead Beulah, outside of the gift of salvation, Pastor Harris counts being married to his high school sweetheart Joy L. Harris for over twenty years and being the father to their son Isaiah Alan Harris and their daughter, Avianna Elle Harris (who is often referred to as their blessed surprise) one of his biggest blessings.
Believing that walking in humility and holiness is the key to being used by God, Pastor’s favorite Bible verse can be found in 1st Corinthians 4:7 “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?”
Joy Harris is a woman of faith who is passionate about her family, her church, and creating meaningful opportunities for others to grow and thrive.
A proud Virginia native, Joy earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and her Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Region for Better Together, a nonprofit committed to preventing children from entering foster care by strengthening families and mobilizing communities to support them.
Throughout her professional career, Joy has been dedicated to supporting individuals, families, and organizations and helping others recognize their strengths, navigate challenges, and reach their full potential. has been dedicated to supporting individuals, families, and organizations and helping others recognize their strengths, navigate challenges, and reach their full potential.
Joy’s faith is central to who she is, and she believes leadership is best expressed through humility, love, and a willingness to serve. She has been actively involved in the life and ministry of the church, having previously led the Health and Wellness Ministry and currently providing leadership to the Women’s Ministry here at BBIC. Through her involvement, Joy is passionate about creating spaces where women can grow in their faith, encourage one another, build meaningful relationships, and become all that God has called them to be.
Family is at the heart of Joy’s life, and she treasures the opportunity to grow alongside her husband and children while supporting the work and ministry of the church.
In her free time, Joy enjoys reading, traveling, and discovering new interests. She strives to approach every season of life with purpose, grace, and a heart for growth. For Joy, servant leadership is not about a position or title, but about leading with humility, loving others well, and being willing to pour into the lives of those God places in her path.