After a decade of seeking U.S. Congressional office, N.C. native and longtime pastor Mark Harris is finally headed to Washington. In November’s election, Harris won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives where he’ll represent North Carolina’s 8th District, which runs along the state’s southern border from Mecklenburg to Robeson counties.

Shortly after wrapping up orientation for newly elected members of Congress, Harris took time to answer some questions from the Biblical Recorder about the election, what he and his colleagues hope to accomplish, and how lessons learned from pastoring can help him as he begins his first term as a member of the 119th Congress.

The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What has life been like for you since being elected?

Life has been a whirlwind since Nov. 5. I had to attend some meetings in Washington on Nov. 6 and 7 followed by two weeks of new member orientation. While it has been a lot of work the past few weeks, I’m honored to be in the position to serve the district.

You’ve been running for public office since 2014. Why have you continued to run, particularly in light of some of the challenges you have faced at times during the process?

I’m often asked why I’ve stepped back in this arena. I fully understood by running for office again, I was putting a huge target on my back. The Democrats, as well as some Republicans, would like nothing more than for me to walk off into the sunset in silence after what they did in 2018.

The answer, however, is simple. I’ve got 10 grandkids, and I refuse to stand idly by as radical leftists continue to drive our country off a cliff. I’m not going to just watch liberal Republicans acquiesce to the whims of Democrats by not securing our border, eroding our values and driving our country into unsustainable debt. I felt I had no other choice but to step up and be a part of the solution.

What are some of the legislative priorities for this new incoming Congress?

I believe Congress will act swiftly to address some top issues relating to securing our southern border, getting inflation under control, extending the Trump tax cuts and expanding education opportunities for students.

With Republicans winning the presidency, maintaining control of the House and gaining a majority in the Senate, President Trump and other party leaders have said voters have given them a policy mandate. What is your perspective on the election results, and how will they impact the work of you and your colleagues?

I think the mandate from the voters was clear. They have given Republicans control of the presidency, the Senate and the House. It’s incumbent on us to deliver what they voted for. After spending some time recently in Washington, I think there is a lot of unity of purpose. While there are some disagreements on some things, we all agree in the Republican Conference, (and) we owe it to the nation to deliver on the campaign promises we made.  

You were a political science major in college. Has running for public office been something that’s always been on your radar?

I’ve been involved in politics since I was young. As a teenager, I stuffed envelopes for Jesse Helms and Ronald Reagan. I loved our country and always wanted to be a part of the process. It wasn’t until 2012, when I was President of the Baptist state convention, that I got officially engaged in the movement to lead the effort for the Marriage Amendment. 

I knew I needed to do something. I never thought I’d see a day where our elected officials would embrace socialism, erode our religious liberties and attempt to destroy all the values that make our nation great. I knew at that point God was calling me to run for public office. 

As a longtime pastor, are there any lessons or principles from pastoring that you can apply to serving in Washington?

Absolutely! As a pastor, I understand that every problem our society faces has a face with it. I know what it’s like to sit across the table from someone who just found out they got laid off from work and don’t know how they’re going to pay the rent. I sat down with a scared young lady as she told her parents she was pregnant and didn’t know what to do. I have wept with parents who the police just told they found their son dead from an opioid overdose. 

Frankly, when you can see faces rather than simply statistics, it allows you to understand the problem better and, hopefully, know better how to solve it.

Do you plan to continue pastoring your local church?

Yes. Our nation was founded on courageous men of God who serve their nation while still actively ministering in their churches. As long as the Lord wants me to do it and the members of Trinity Baptist Church will support me, I plan to remain as their pastor.   

What are you hopeful for as you begin your first term in Congress?

I’m hoping to deliver on what I committed to on the campaign trail. I have said I plan to not simply be a solid vote on issues, but also a strong voice for our values.

I hope to be responsive to the needs of the district and represent the citizens of the 8th District to the best of my ability.

MARK HARRIS AT A GLANCE

FULL NAME
• Mark Everette Harris

AGE
• 58

HOMETOWN
• Winston-Salem, N.C.

FAMILY
• Wife, Beth; 3 children; 10 grandchildren

EDUCATION
• B.S., Political Science, Appalachian State University
• M.Div., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• D.Min., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

OCCUPATION
• Pastor

MINISTRY EXPERIENCE
• Senior Pastor, Center Grove Baptist Church, Clemmons, 1989-1999
• Senior Pastor, Curtis Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga., 2000-2005
• Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Charlotte, 2005-2017
• Senior Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Mooresville, 2020-Present

LEADERSHIP & SERVICE
• Trustee, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999-2009
• President, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, 2011-2013

POLITICAL PARTY
• Republican

POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
• 2014 U.S. Senate Primary
• 2016 U.S. House (N.C. 9th District) Primary
• 2018 U.S. House (N.C. 9th District) Primary & General Election
• 2024 U.S. House (N.C. 8th District) Primary & General Election

(EDITOR’S NOTE — This article appears in the January/February 2025 issue of the Biblical Recorder magazine.)