WOODSTOCK — New Victoria Baptist Church in Woodstock is welcoming a new pastor into their congregation.

The church’s Pastor Search Committee chose Pastor John Harris, who was later approved by the church and the members of its congregation.

Harris began his work as pastor at New Victoria on July 8, and after being asked about his experience so far, he said, “I love it! (Woodstock is) a great area with great people. It’s a friendly and welcoming community.”

According to the values of the church, the search committee was seeking a leader that “should be a servant leader, displaying the heart and character of Christ.” A native of East Alabama, Harris is not a novice when it comes to stepping into the pulpit.

“I have been preaching for 16 years and have been a pastor since 2000. I’ve been a pastor for two churches before coming here, both of which were in Alabama,” Harris said.

Harris, who graduated from Trinity Christian Academy in Oxford, Ala., recently moved to Woodstock with his family and is attending Covington Theological Seminary in Rossville.

The family of the new pastor consists of his wife, Bronya, and their three children, Ryleigh, Hayden and Jayce. “I’m a very family-oriented guy”, says Harris. “My wife taught third-graders in our church back in Alabama, and here she will be teaching elementary kids as well. She loves kids.”

When asked about how his children are handling the change of scenery, he said they are adjusting very well.

“There’s a lot more kids here than the area in which we were in back home. My kids are excited about school starting up and trying to make new friends,” he said.

While his children are getting ready for a new school, Harris is working to guide the future of the Woodstock church. The new pastor is excited for what is to come in the future and what “God has planned” for him.

The new pastor has some ideas for the church,whose mission statement is, “Our mission is to declare God’s glory, disciple His people, and help everyone to discover Him.”

Harris said, “(The church is) trying to get people to look outward and be more evangelistic. We want people to open their hearts outward and become more caring.”

He said future events will come in time, but “really the goal right now is to get the hearts of people in the right place.”

New Victoria Baptist Church is located at 6659 Bells Ferry Road, off Bells Ferry Road and Towne Lake Parkway. The church worship service is every Sunday at 11 a.m. and office hours, with office appointments for Harris will be Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon.

For more information on New Victoria Baptist Church, call (770) 926-8448 or visit www.newvicbaptist.org.