NAOBC For Life Spotlight – Lisa Harris
When you are a member at NAOBC, no matter where God takes you, the love for NAOBC remains. It’s part of your DNA. Periodically we’ll spotlight women who were former members – see where they are today and what NAOBC means to them. Today we’re meeting Lisa Harris.
Q: Tell a little about yourself – family, occupation (if applicable), etc.
A: I currently live in Bradenton/Sarasota, Florida, with Roger, my husband of 31 years. I work full-time as a realtor on a team with my special friend Trish Chandler. She is a fellow believer I met years ago in a ladies mentor group in Knoxville, Tennessee. We are able to use our business as a ministry that brings God glory!
Q: When did you attend NAOBC? What brought you to NAOBC?
A: Roger is from Louisville and attended NAOBC in their original location as a young child. We moved to Louisville in late 2005 so I could attend seminary and immediately began attending until we left for the mission field in 2009.
Q: Where did you serve while at NAOBC?
A. My first memory was being plugged into an amazing BFG where we were fed and grew spiritually with other like-minded couples. Most of these couples have become life-long friends though most of us have relocated. (Sims, Stauffer, Schwarz, Stephens, Wilsons, Arnolds, Yates, Cabals, Sills, Roys, Sutherlands, Buchanans, Hendersons, Walkers, Woolsons, Tiemans, Burchams, Sweedens, Stancils, and more!)
Vanessa Sims and I became very close and she slowly but surely encouraged me to serve in Children’s summer VBS with Jenny Montoya. I became more involved when she asked Roger and me to become Awana Ambassadors.
I also served in Women’s Ministry with Rose Booth, Jaylynn Cook, Rebecca Lucius, Chanda Brown, and Jessica Joslin.
Q: What memory from your time at NAOBC means the most to you still today?
A: One of my greatest memories is when Roger and I experienced a close friend, Candace, come to the Lord and be mentored and nurtured at NAOBC.
Roger had been sharing the gospel and inviting Candace to church for over a year. We had continually asked our BFG to pray for her salvation. The one day she showed up, we were out of town, but Philip Brown welcomed her with open arms. He realized she was the one we had been specifically praying for and took her to our class where she was loved on in a way she had never experienced.
We were able to see first hand how the love and unity of fellow believers speaking and demonstrating truth in love affected a person’s walk with the Lord! We always tell about this story of God’s faithfulness when we encourage others to share the gospel!
Q: What is one thing you loved about NAOBC?
A: What I loved the most about NAOBC was experiencing biblical fidelity from Dr. Cook and our leaders. I was still a fairly new believer and this was only my third church where the Bible was taught and I experienced real Christian love and fellowship. I am so thankful for the example of a healthy, Christ-centered church with a real family atmosphere. It was a wonderful training ground for us prior to going on the mission field where we were affiliated with a struggling church.
I love seeing so many of the kids that have now grown into solid followers with their own families!
NAOBC and their leadership have remained faithful and humble over the years and I can see God’s fruitfulness in their outreach and growth!
On a side note, I will never forget Toby Jennings and his welcoming smile and bow tie at the front door, or the amazing meals at the Sirles’ home!
