Harris expands ministry with new TV show
Calhoun native and resident Walter Harris is a busy man these days. The Calhoun High School graduate, who has spent the past 28 years entertaining listeners every Sunday on WJTH radio with his radio ministry, has recently began a television ministry, with a goal of expanding his personal ministry, expand Walter Harris Ministries, even further.
Harris, who was born and raised in Calhoun, said that his radio show, which is held at 3 p.m. each Sunday, was born all those years ago out of a state of depression.
“In April, it will be 28 years since I began my radio ministry at WJTH, bringing good Gospel music to the fine folks of Calhoun,” said Harris. I remember the night it began, I was laying in bed, feeling down and depressed, and every song that I heard on the radio, laying there, was making me feel more depressed,” said Harris. “So, I got up, ran to my mom and dad and said, ‘I want to do something like this (on the radio), but if I do something like this, I want to play songs that encourage people.’ My thought was, people who are going through bad times, people that might not go to church, I need to provide songs to encourage people, because the songs I listened to that day were making my situation worse. So, the next day, I went to Sam Thomas, the owner of WJTH, and asked him how to go about it. And he explained the process and told me he had a spot available for broadcast. And since that time, it’s grown from a half hour show to an hour.”
Harris is an energetic man who loves the Lord. The son of Lula Mae Harris and the late James Harris, he stays busy in his ministry and in the community, even serving as an emcee. “I do gospel concerts, pastoral anniversaries, fashion shows. I host any kind of event that needs an experienced emcee.”
Harris has traveled throughout the Southeast performing emcee duties. “Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee; my next event is a Pastoral Anniversary and Birthday Concert in Brunswick.”
As he’s traveled and emceed at events, he has made invaluable contacts that has helped him to continue to expand his Walter Harris Ministries, and in November 2016, Harris embarked on the next phase of his ministry.
“God has blessed me now with my own television ministry,” said Harris. “It’s broadcast on Comcast channel 24, MTM Television out of Cartersville, every Saturday at 3 p.m. It reaches Cartersville, parts of Calhoun, Adairsville, Rome, Emerson, Acworth and parts of Atlanta. It’s a talk show, and I interview different people- preachers, pastors, authors, singers- anybody with an awesome testimony. We hear enough bad news. I want somebody on my show with some good news. So, if God delivered you from drugs or alcohol, or set you free from doing something you know you needed to be set free from, I want to hear those testimonies.”
His new venture has Harris excited about the next phase of ministry. “I enjoy it. It’s going great,” said Harris of his new endeavor. “I like going to Cartersville every Saturday afternoon and sitting in front of the camera. I always loved radio, but now, this is a new medium to reach people. And I want the television ministry to flourish and grow. My theme is ‘ Walking into a new season with promise’. A preacher had prophesized to me a long time ago that he didn’t see me in radio, he saw television for me, so it came to pass. I am delighted at what God is doing for me in this season. In this season, I am content with the television ministry.”
Harris keeps busy throughout the community. In addition to his ministry, he is active in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee in Gordon County and organizes the Calhoun- Gordon County Historical Basketball Game each year.
Another important part of Harris’ ministry and service is addressing race relations. “I just want to help unite everyone regardless of race and religion,” said Harris. “I want people to come together as one, and if we can’t come together, then let’s start with loving.”
He is excited about some plans that have sprouted from a presentation he recently gave at a meeting at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Calhoun. “I asked those in attendance, why can’t we come together, why can’t all churches, regardless of denominations and races, come together and talk about issues relevant to our society,” said Harris. “Get local law enforcement and others in the community together and talk about these things.”
Discussions are now taking place on organizing a committee to begin these talks, and Harris has been asked to participate.
“My ministry is not just to flourish at church, my ministry to help anybody regardless of race or nationality,” said Harris. “And that includes addressing issues together, not separately.”
“God has opened doors,” continued Harris. “I am just sharing the good news.”
Even though he’s been offered better ministry opportunities in the Atlanta area, Harris chooses to stay in the Calhoun. “The reason I stayed is because, first, it was my dad who needed me; now it’s my mother,” said Harris, who takes care of his 86-year-old mother. “And I want to stay here-I see a need in Calhoun. I want to serve in Calhoun.”
Another project Harris would like to tackle is beginning a ministry for people who have been recently released from jail or prison. “Say someone goes to prison, and when they get out of prison, they can’t find a job. I want them to come to me, the first stop, before that person gets in trouble again,” said Harris. “Let them talk to me so I can minister to them, help find them a job, something like that. Maybe the Lord will let me do it before I leave this world. We don’t have anything like that here, but they have this ministry in other cities.”
“I want to be known as a positive role model for anybody,” said Harris. “If somebody needs me, I’m there for them.”
Outside of his ministry and community activities, Harris, who participated heavily in track at Calhoun High School, still enjoys running and working out at the gym today; along with spending time with his mom.
“We enjoy day trips,” said Harris. “But when I’m traveling, for emceeing and public speaking, it’s not a vacation for me,” said Harris. “That is strictly work.”
Harris sees no slowing down of his service anytime soon, and plans to do it in Calhoun. “Calhoun is where I’m called to be, it’ss a wonderful place to live and serve,” said Harris.
Walter Harris Ministries can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and has just started a YouTube ministry.