PASTOR CHRIS HARRIS, SR.

Pastor Chris Harris, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of two rapidly growing churches, Bright Star C.O.G.I.C. (www.BrightStarChurchChicago.com) and St. James C.O.G.I.C. (www.StJamesMinistriesChicago.com), succeeding Dr. James Stovall, Sr. (November 1999) and Bishop Willie James Campbell (June 2021). He has preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and taught leadership development sessions in countless cities throughout the United States. A noted singer in the gospel music industry, Pastor Harris has ministered in song in over 24 countries on 21 different world tours. In 2006, he produced his own album entitled “So Amazing.” He travels the world building relationships between African-American and Jewish clergy and has visited the Holy Land seven times, leading more than 70 faith leaders to Israel on interfaith trips.

Recognizing the need for more “community-minded clergy” and due to increasing violence and trauma in Chicago, he established Bright Star Community Outreach (BSCO) (www.BrightStarCommunityOutreach.com) in 2009. With an annual operating budget of over $7 million, BSCO employs more than 200 people annually and leads a collaborative of 70+ organizations in the Greater Bronzeville Community. Backed by hospitals, philanthropic, and corporate funding, his TURN (The Urban Resilience Network) model has received more than $16 million in support, placing the faith community at the forefront of addressing community issues. In June 2023, Pastor Harris repurposed his former 68,000-square-foot elementary school, now called the TURN Center. BSCO’s work has served more than 50,000 Chicagoans, and Harris now endeavors to teach other pastors and churches how to replicate this important work. His booth here at Holy Convocation has more information that can help pastors bring his TURN model and programs to their local cities.