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On June 20, 2010, we welcomed our 41st pastor,
the Reverend Robert Brandon Harris, and his family.
We look forward to a long and fruitful ministry under his leadership.
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Brandon Harris comes to us from Anniston First United Methodist Church, where he has served for six years as associate pastor. During his tenure at Anniston First, Brandon has worked primarily with Worship at The Bridge, the new worship service he helped launch, where he has enjoyed the opportunity to share God’s word through weekly preaching and playing keys and guitar with the worship band. He has also worked closely with ministries of teaching, focusing specifically on finding fresh and innovative ways to shape Christians for their journey of discipleship. In his teaching role he has led dozens of small groups and Bible studies, but one of his most fulfilling teaching roles has been in teaching the annual confirmation classes.
In 2009, Brandon began coursework for his doctor of ministry degree at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He is focusing his studies in the area of church leadership, seeking to understand how better to help the United Methodist Church wrestle with and adapt to the difficult challenge of sharing the Gospel in a rapidly changing world. He will finish his coursework in January 2011, and following this will spend 18-24 months completing his D.Min. project.
Prior to beginning full-time ministry in Anniston, Brandon attended Duke Divinity School, where he earned his M.Div. in 2004, and Auburn University, where he earned a B.S.B.A. in 2001 focusing on Management Information Systems. Brandon is a graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts where he concentrated in math and science.
Brandon married his wife, Jennifer, in 2004, only a month after beginning full-time ministry. They met at Auburn where they became great friends through the Wesley Foundation. Jennifer is a graduate of Auburn, East Carolina University, and the University of Florida, where she earned her doctor of audiology in 2007. She currently works full time in audiology for an E.N.T. practice in Anniston and is interviewing with hospitals and private practices in the Birmingham area.
Brandon and Jennifer both have roots in the Birmingham area. Jennifer grew up in Helena, where her parents and younger brother still live. Before moving to Hoover during high school, Brandon’s family lived in Sylacauga. He has a younger brother, who lives in Milwaukee, Wis., and his parents live in Vestavia Hills. Brandon and Jennifer welcomed their son, Parks, in 2007, and daughter, Ava, in 2009.
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