BIO:

JAMES M. HARRIS III, PhD, LPC

Jim has spoken in the local church, seminar and workshop venues since 1981. He has been ordained with the Assemblies of God since 1984, however, he does not limit his services to Assemblies of God or charismatic groups alone. He has been in pastoral ministry for 8 years and has been a university and seminary professor for 14 years. He has taught in the areas of counseling theory and practice, psychology, human development, human sexuality, personality, the personality of the minister, stress management, the life and home of the minister, parenting, mental health, premarital counseling, and marriage and family. He has been a trainer for the PREPARE/ENRICH premarital inventory for 14 years and has used the materials in premarital counseling since 1985. He has taught counseling skills and marriage and family topics overseas as well.

Currently Jim is a counselor in private practice at Eagle Crest Counseling Center in Springfield, Missouri. He specializes in marriage and family counseling, young adult adjustment, working with men who want to leave the homosexual lifestyle, teen boys and their families struggling with identity issues surrounding homosexuality, grief counseling, communication, and conflict resolution. He also consults with businesses on customer service and team building themes. He and his wife Jane have been members of Central Assembly of God in Springfield Missouri since 1989.

Jim and Jane have two grown married sons, and became grandparents on Valentines Day of this year.

Jim holds an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University, has completed all but his dissertation for the Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Saint Louis University, and holds an earned Ph.D. in Social Psychology and Practical Theology from the University of Wales at Bangor, Bangor, Wales in the United Kingdom.

Jim speaks with authority as he relies on God’s leading, his own life experiences, and the science of psychology. His engaging style draws people in as his down to earth, straightforward, and humorous presentation resonates with them. He sees each speaking engagement as an opportunity to help each individual present to become all that God has created him or her to be. He is committed to the significance of each individual as a unique creation of God who has a specific task to accomplish in the Kingdom of God for His glory and his or her good. When you hear Jim speak you will feel like you are the only person in the room and that he is having a personal conversation with just you from which you will grow and prosper.