Rev. Harris

Dr. Richard Allen Harris went home to be with his Lord on Thursday, January 14, 2021, after serving as a pastor and teacher to hundreds for over 60 years. He was known for his love of the Scriptures, his love for his people, and his desire to share the love of Christ and the gospel message with others. He is remembered as a great Bible teacher, a leader in the state of Pennsylvania and in the nation for promoting Christian Education and the preservation of the founding principles upon which the United States was founded. He was born in Doylestown, PA, to Olin and Flora Harris, the seventh child out of eight. After graduating from Central Bucks High School, Doylestown, PA, he married his sweetheart Erla Pauline (Duckworth) Harris. They were married 68 years. The Harrises had six children: Barbara Ann (Harris) Peev, Richard Dwight Harris (deceased), Dr. Allen Gene Harris, Melvin Paul Harris, Cynthia Pauline (Harris) VanOsten and Rebecca Faye (Harris) Frederick. He attended Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC. He then attended ‘Faith Theological Seminary' in pursuit of his Masters degree. While pursuing his Masters, he accepted an interim position at a ‘One-room school house' where the First Baptist Church of Perkasie was holding a Sunday School ministry in Rockhill Township, Sellersville, PA. From the Sunday School, Dr. Harris and several families started an independent Baptist Church. The church, Bethel Baptist Church, was constituted on October 31, 1962, with 14 families. Ultimately, Bethel would have a membership of over 1,000. In 1967, convicted about the need for Christian, Bible-based education for children, Dr. Harris led Bethel to start Upper Bucks Christian School. From the one-room schoolhouse, which still stands today, Bethel's campus now covers over 22 acres in Sellersville, PA. Hundreds have graduated from Upper Bucks and are serving in a myriad of ministries and vocations around the world. Dr. Harris co-founded KCEA (Keystone Christian Education Association) to support Christian Schools across the state of Pennsylvania. He also co-founded the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America (IBFNA), served on the Council of ten for the Pennsylvania Association of Regular Baptist Churches, (PARBC) was a leader in the American Association of Christian Schools, was a director in the American Council of Christian Churches (AACS), and directed the Grace Independent Baptist Mission, (GIBM), with missionaries in over 20 countries. Dr. Harris was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Hyles-Anderson College, Crown Point, Indiana. He also received the "Defense of the Scriptures" Memorial Award from Bob Jones University and the "Faithful Servant Award" from the Pennsylvania Association of Regular Baptist Churches. In 2000, he retired from Bethel Baptist Church. Since then he helped four other churches; Bible Baptist Church of West Chester, PA; Kendall Park Baptist of Kendall Park NJ; First Baptist Church of Oxford PA; Shickshinny Baptist Church of Shickshinny, PA; and Dr. Harris recently helped constitute "Bible Baptist Church of Quakertown," PA. Visitation: 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Fri. Jan. 22, at Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, 135 W. Pumping Station Rd., Quakertown. Funeral Service: 11:00 AM, Sat. Jan. 23, at Bethel Baptist Church, 754 E. Rockhill Rd., Sellersville, viewing at 10:00 AM. Burial is private. **MASKS REQUIRED, CURRENT SAFETY GUIDELINES WILL BE OBSERVED** Pastor Harris' funeral service will be livestreamed and available to watch live at the following link: https://livestream.com/bethelbc/harris In lieu of flowers, we encourage gifts to be given to Keystone Christian Education Association at 6101 Bell Rd., Harrisburg, PA 17111. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.NaugleFCS.com.