BY VANESSA C. ROLLE Guardian Staff Reporter
"I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of a miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth. Praise to our God." Psalms 40:1-3
The Lord comes to us in many ways.
He speaks in the wind and the sunlight - the air and trees - in everything that has life which the scriptures say should all praise Him.
God speaks to his people in many different ways - subtle and sound and in the mighty crackling of the thunder.
For international inspirational singer Michael Harris, God spoke through his pain after a drug-induced automobile accident left his wife Amber paralyzed from the chest down.
Swallowed up in feelings of isolation and desperation, Michael opened up his heart to a God, who crept in to comfort, to heal and to save.
What evolved out of this beautiful relationship are the baritone melodies that will permeate the hall of the Government House Ballroom when Michael Harris will be in concert on Sunday, October 12, at 5:00 p.m.
Out of the emotional turmoil sustained in the accident, a rich music ministry was birthed from within him and Mr. Harris, who appears on the Three Angels Broadcasting Network, and who has also made appearances on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and the Power to Cope Broadcasting Ministries, now shares his gift with the world.
Although this is his second appearance in The Bahamas, Mr. Harris has ministered to churches, convalescent homes, rehabilitation centers, missions and prisons throughout the United States, Canada, Fiji, Australia, Europe and throughout the West Indies.
While in Nassau, he will also be ministering to the Let God Speak Crusade which continues this week opposite Government High School.
Local gospel recording artist Allison Mason of Seraphic Sounds, is somewhat responsible for Mr. Harris' appearance in The Bahamas this time around.
"We've been working together for the last two -three years. We are sharing our music ministry. This is pretty much an exchange because I have been to California in July. This is his second visit here. This time, we are having him here in New Providence and Grand Bahama," she said.
"To me, he has a powerful testimony in that he had a drug addiction- had an alcohol addiction and after a long struggle, he cleansed himself. He never entered any rehab program. He took one step to Jesus and that has turned His life around. He never really even wanted to sing. He never thought he could but his wife encouraged him because she recognized the gift that God has given to him," she said.
Some of the more popular songs that he ministers on his new CD "Days of Elijah", "Lord I lift Your Name on High", "Mt. Calvary" and "The Midnight Cry".
Ms. Mason said that Mr. Harris is extremely focused in his ministry.
" His wife plays a very strong role in his ministry. To me, she was the victim in this experience and so, she has endured a whole lot and depended on God to teach her how to forgive. He has given her a great insight to the ministry and she is really the one who keeps it all organized. She is a spiritual tonic for him. She stays in the word and continues in prayer concerning his ministry because she is not able to go every time he goes. She is so forthright, you would think that she was the one with the gift of singing. Anything that is not like God, she will speak up," she said.
While in Nassau Mr. Harris will make courtesy call at the Bahamas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists headquarters on Harold Road on Friday, October 10.
Tickets are priced at $20 and can be purchased at Healthy Lifestyles Center and Deli, East Street, Bahamas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists on Harold, Better Living Health Center and Deli, Charles Vincent Street.
For more information call 341-6637.
Posted Saturday 4 October, 2003
