I am sending this e-mail to everybody who is in my Outlook address book listed as "family" as well to those of you who get our Harris Hotline e-mail updates. Therefore, some of you may get it twice.
I want to share this exciting news with all of you, and I would like you to "hear" it from me as much as possible.
As you know, I have tried half-heartedly off and on for the past few years to locate my father, Delmer R Harris. My mother and he had divorced when I was younger and I lived with my father until I was 16. I left home on very bad terms on my 16th birthday.
I visited my father once during a break in my first year of college. Then, I received a letter while in school where he told me not to try to find him. he was moving to an undisclosed location and the letter said something like "You go your way, and I will go mine." That was either 1977 or 1978. I have never seen or heard from my father since.
Over the last few years especially, I have tried to locate him, but I didn't really push it to much until this past Christmas. Tyler, my 18 year old son and I had an argument. It ended with us both crying and asking each other's forgiveness. This happened on Christmas Eve!
From that point on, I decided that I had to find my Father and do whatever I could to restore a relationship and introduce him to his only child's wife and three kids! I spend a long time creating a database of all the D Harris, Del Harris, and Delmer Harris names I could find, from every state. Hundreds. I wrote a letter, intending to send it to all these people. but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
But for some reason, I could bring myself to call each of these names, a few at a time. Little by little I had been working my way through the list when, to my amazement, I talked to my father on the phone yesterday - - for the first time in 25 years. At first, it was just another number on the list. When a man answered the phone, I said "I'm looking for the Delmer R Harris who lived in Silver Springs Maryland in the 1960's and 1970's." The voice on the other end answered "Where did you say?" I repeated my opening line. "Umm . . . I think you've got him."
I was dumbfounded. It's one thing to be making the calls. The list had become just that - a list of names that I needed to get through. "NA" was the notation for "No Answer." Those who had told me over and over again, "Sorry, not here" or "Wrong Number" softened somewhat when I gave them the rest of the story, and often, they would say "I hope you find him!: Or "Good Luck."
"This is Gary, your son.!" Silence. We were both satisfied just to be silent for a few seconds.
Then we talked.
We talked for almost two hours. Apparently he was saved in a street mission in San Diego. Yes - my father had accepted Christ many years ago!
He now is semi-retired, living alone in a two bedroom apartment, still in San Diego. Some of the details are a bit sketchy - - - and what do you expect, trying to catch up on 25 years. And for me it's "just" him - - but for him, he's got a daughter-in-law and three grandkids to get to know.
Please pray that, as I try to make plans with him for him to come up here to Alaska and visit, that we will simply not "overload" with all the new emotions and feelings. I'm pretty "raw" emotionally right now! Needless to say, I want everything to "work out." It's neat that, in Christ, whatever animosity or hurt that there has been - - - - just doesn't seem to matter. Kris and Cassie are still in King Cove. But I told Kris on the phone last night. As soon as she gets home on Monday, I think I'll break down and cry some more!
On a lighter side - - I want to walk up to every one I meet and say "Guess what! I found my father!" Feel sort of silly!
I just had to share this with all family and those who pray for us in our ministry with Arctic Barnabas Ministries. Some of you, aware of the estrangement between my father and I, have been praying for years. Others are hearing about it for the first time in this e-mail. It just seemed appropriate after calling and telling immediate family, that I should let you all know about it.
In summary - - -the subject line of this e-mail is "My Father." Up until yesterday, I would have thought that meant only my Heavenly father. But now, I see it just a bit different. By the way, thanks Mom - - and thanks Chelsie!
Gary
Sunday, April 13, 2003
Thursday, April 10, 2003
Kris and Cassie are in the Aleutians! 4/10/3
I just saw Kris and Cassie off as, along with Joel as pilot and two other ladies, they headed down to the villages of Chignik and King Cove in our Seneca III. Chignik is located on Anchorage Bay on south shore of the Alaska Peninsula. It lies 450 miles southwest of Anchorage and 260 miles southwest of Kodiak. King Cove is located on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula, on a sand spit fronting Deer Passage and Deer Island. It is 18 miles southeast of Cold Bay and 625 miles southwest of Anchorage. Both villages are somewhat "out there" even for Alaska! The Aleutians!
The weather down in those parts is cold and rainy - - - or maybe it's rainy and cold. Winds can also be high. I guess it's easier for me to put myself on an airplane than put my wife and daughter on one! Please pray for them as they travel. it's about a 4 hour flight to Chignik from Kenai, with a fuel stop in King Salmon
The ladies will be doing Teas in both villages. The Missionary couple in Chignik will use this as an outreach into the village, while in King Cove, it will be mainly a time for a core group of ladies to enjoy each other's company in a way they don't really experience in the bush. I must admit, I once though the idea of doing a tea party in a village was a bit silly - - until I had one missionary wife thank me with tears in her eyes afterwards, saying "We just don't get to do this sort of thing." Of course, the focus for Kris is on the devotional she will share . . . all about slowing down and being at peace. Two other ladies will be helping out and taking the experience back to their churches. Mutual Encouragement!
They are due back on Monday. In the meantime, I will be holding down the fort with Chelsie, our 15 year old. Our oldest son, Tyler, moved into a place with a friend- - - but we are still keeping his room open. Please pray for him. Relations between him and us are very good, but he just wants to be out on his own. Pray that Chelsie wand I will have a fun weekend. I just got back on Tuesday from 5 days out. I'm gonna play catch-up in the office today, and relax tomorrow, and then play catch up with our oldest daughter this weekend!
See ya!
Gary
The weather down in those parts is cold and rainy - - - or maybe it's rainy and cold. Winds can also be high. I guess it's easier for me to put myself on an airplane than put my wife and daughter on one! Please pray for them as they travel. it's about a 4 hour flight to Chignik from Kenai, with a fuel stop in King Salmon
The ladies will be doing Teas in both villages. The Missionary couple in Chignik will use this as an outreach into the village, while in King Cove, it will be mainly a time for a core group of ladies to enjoy each other's company in a way they don't really experience in the bush. I must admit, I once though the idea of doing a tea party in a village was a bit silly - - until I had one missionary wife thank me with tears in her eyes afterwards, saying "We just don't get to do this sort of thing." Of course, the focus for Kris is on the devotional she will share . . . all about slowing down and being at peace. Two other ladies will be helping out and taking the experience back to their churches. Mutual Encouragement!
They are due back on Monday. In the meantime, I will be holding down the fort with Chelsie, our 15 year old. Our oldest son, Tyler, moved into a place with a friend- - - but we are still keeping his room open. Please pray for him. Relations between him and us are very good, but he just wants to be out on his own. Pray that Chelsie wand I will have a fun weekend. I just got back on Tuesday from 5 days out. I'm gonna play catch-up in the office today, and relax tomorrow, and then play catch up with our oldest daughter this weekend!
See ya!
Gary
Tuesday, April 08, 2003
From ABM's Director 4/8/03
Praying Friends,
Joel has asked that I forward this letter to all who receive our newsletter and e-mail updates. As you know, we are reluctant to talk too much about support in these updates, but we are seeking the Lord in ways to increase our current support base.
Since some of you also get our written newsletter, you may get hit with this twice! Thanks for your understanding and your continued prayers as we seek God!
Gary & Kris
April 3, 2003
Dear Friends of Gary and Kris Harris,
I need to tell you what an integral part the Harris’ have become in the big picture of missions in Alaska statewide. Their giftedness in many areas of ministry is helping to encourage missionaries and pastors in their work and resource some of them with tools to do more than they ever could have before. God has uniquely equipped the Harris family and is greatly using them to build His Church in the villages of the North.
Gary is trained as a Pastor to Missionaries, but he also serves as Director of Administrative Services for Arctic Barnabas Ministries. In-between his traveling, training, and managing the office here Gary has built deep personal relationships with key Christian leaders in the villages of rural Alaska and has earned the trust to help them carry their own burdens as they minister to the people they are responsible for. Gary has also used his technical skills in not only designing and maintaining our website but also working on sites for two other ministries that we serve. He is currently setting up an accounting program for one of the remote Bible Camps in the bush. Gary Harris is a key element not only to the successful operation of Arctic Barnabas Ministries but also an increasing number of other ministries throughout Rural Alaska.
Kris Harris leads one of the most important areas of Arctic Barnabas Ministries. She is Director of Women’s Ministries. Many pastor and missionary families have left the field due to the burnout and lack of pastoral care for minister’s wives. Those of you that know her well have most likely been recipient of her giftedness in this area. Kris has a passion for the care of ministry wives and needs to be freed up to give as much as she can to this vital aspect of our work. She is currently spending much of her time working at Alaska Christian College to make ends meet in their personal support. No other member of our team can do what she does so well.
Cassie keeps up with cards and notes of encouragement for missionary kids throughout the bush. She has been very involved this last year with Child Evangelism Fellowship and is also traveling in the villages. Her call to ministry is as strong as that of her parents. I am so proud to see her say "yes" to God’s call in the same way that her parents have.
How can they go unless they are sent?
Most of you know that the Harris’ as staff of Arctic Barnabas Ministries raise their salary by partnering financially with churches and individuals called to send workers for the growing of God’s Kingdom. They work more than full-time in a vital ministry that cannot exist without the commitment of those called to give. Some of you are already giving as part of their team and know the joy of being yoked with such worthy servants.
Harris’ joined Arctic Barnabas Ministries before raising any of their necessary financial support and have been working on building that team along the way. They are now so valuable to the cause of Christ in Alaska that we cannot imagine having them available any less than full time in ministry. However, they are currently receiving less than 40% of what they need to meet their personal living needs. Will you please help us meet this urgent need?
Our prayer is that some of you might commit to regularly supporting Harris’ or consider increasing what you are already giving. It is important to build a good base of churches and individuals for a support team of prayers and givers. Would you please help us in connecting Harris’ with other churches and individuals that may be interested in hearing about the work of Arctic Barnabas Ministries? We would like to put together an itinerary for the Harris’ to present their ministry both in Alaska and the Lower 48 in the next months and you may know just the right place to send them.
Please pray with us that 100% of Harris’ support might be raised soon. The longevity of Ministers in our villages is a matter of life and death. Harris’ play a key role in the spiritual and emotional health of many families serving in Rural Alaska. Let us know what you can do to help through giving and connecting us with other potential support team members. Thank you for your commitment to the care of the Body of Christ in Alaska.
Sincerely,
Joel Caldwell
Director
Arctic Barnabas Ministries
joel@arcticbarnabas.org
Joel has asked that I forward this letter to all who receive our newsletter and e-mail updates. As you know, we are reluctant to talk too much about support in these updates, but we are seeking the Lord in ways to increase our current support base.
Since some of you also get our written newsletter, you may get hit with this twice! Thanks for your understanding and your continued prayers as we seek God!
Gary & Kris
April 3, 2003
Dear Friends of Gary and Kris Harris,
I need to tell you what an integral part the Harris’ have become in the big picture of missions in Alaska statewide. Their giftedness in many areas of ministry is helping to encourage missionaries and pastors in their work and resource some of them with tools to do more than they ever could have before. God has uniquely equipped the Harris family and is greatly using them to build His Church in the villages of the North.
Gary is trained as a Pastor to Missionaries, but he also serves as Director of Administrative Services for Arctic Barnabas Ministries. In-between his traveling, training, and managing the office here Gary has built deep personal relationships with key Christian leaders in the villages of rural Alaska and has earned the trust to help them carry their own burdens as they minister to the people they are responsible for. Gary has also used his technical skills in not only designing and maintaining our website but also working on sites for two other ministries that we serve. He is currently setting up an accounting program for one of the remote Bible Camps in the bush. Gary Harris is a key element not only to the successful operation of Arctic Barnabas Ministries but also an increasing number of other ministries throughout Rural Alaska.
Kris Harris leads one of the most important areas of Arctic Barnabas Ministries. She is Director of Women’s Ministries. Many pastor and missionary families have left the field due to the burnout and lack of pastoral care for minister’s wives. Those of you that know her well have most likely been recipient of her giftedness in this area. Kris has a passion for the care of ministry wives and needs to be freed up to give as much as she can to this vital aspect of our work. She is currently spending much of her time working at Alaska Christian College to make ends meet in their personal support. No other member of our team can do what she does so well.
Cassie keeps up with cards and notes of encouragement for missionary kids throughout the bush. She has been very involved this last year with Child Evangelism Fellowship and is also traveling in the villages. Her call to ministry is as strong as that of her parents. I am so proud to see her say "yes" to God’s call in the same way that her parents have.
How can they go unless they are sent?
Most of you know that the Harris’ as staff of Arctic Barnabas Ministries raise their salary by partnering financially with churches and individuals called to send workers for the growing of God’s Kingdom. They work more than full-time in a vital ministry that cannot exist without the commitment of those called to give. Some of you are already giving as part of their team and know the joy of being yoked with such worthy servants.
Harris’ joined Arctic Barnabas Ministries before raising any of their necessary financial support and have been working on building that team along the way. They are now so valuable to the cause of Christ in Alaska that we cannot imagine having them available any less than full time in ministry. However, they are currently receiving less than 40% of what they need to meet their personal living needs. Will you please help us meet this urgent need?
Our prayer is that some of you might commit to regularly supporting Harris’ or consider increasing what you are already giving. It is important to build a good base of churches and individuals for a support team of prayers and givers. Would you please help us in connecting Harris’ with other churches and individuals that may be interested in hearing about the work of Arctic Barnabas Ministries? We would like to put together an itinerary for the Harris’ to present their ministry both in Alaska and the Lower 48 in the next months and you may know just the right place to send them.
Please pray with us that 100% of Harris’ support might be raised soon. The longevity of Ministers in our villages is a matter of life and death. Harris’ play a key role in the spiritual and emotional health of many families serving in Rural Alaska. Let us know what you can do to help through giving and connecting us with other potential support team members. Thank you for your commitment to the care of the Body of Christ in Alaska.
Sincerely,
Joel Caldwell
Director
Arctic Barnabas Ministries
joel@arcticbarnabas.org