Pastor Ward Harris, wife "Mimi" and Family

Ward has lived in Giles County his entire life.  He came to Riverview Baptist Church at the age of fifteen.

Ward graduated from Narrows High School in 1989.  From there he attended both New River Community College and Radford University.  His plans were to become a chemistry professor, but God had different plans.

In 1991 Ward met and fell in love with Demetria “Mimi” Kendall.  Shortly thereafter the two were engaged to be married.  During that time Pastor Shahn was preaching a series of messages on being a godly husband and father.  Through the example of his own parents and the anticipation of his upcoming wedding, the Lord began working in Ward’s heart.  He wanted to be the kind of husband and father that he had witnessed growing up and that Pastor Shahn was preaching about.  Ward knew that he had to be right with God in order for that to happen.  God continued to work on his heart through that series of messages and on the second Sunday of November, 1992, Ward received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. After a long engagement Ward and Mimi were married on August 12, 1995. 

It was during that year that God burdened Ward’s heart for ministry.  During one of the evening services Pastor Shahn asked Ward to help with the communion service.  From that night forward God increasingly worked in his heart.  Ward had a desire to serve God, but did not know in what capacity.  He realized that he had to learn more of the Bible in order to serve God effectively.  In January of 1996 Ward enrolled in Piedmont Bible College as a Biblical Studies major.

While studying at Piedmont Ward was called by the congregation of Riverview to be the Youth Director.  On May 5, 2001 Ward graduated from Piedmont Baptist College with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies.

On April 14, 2002 Ward was ordained into the Gospel ministry by Riverview Baptist Church.  In August of that year the congregation voted to have Ward’s ministry title changed from Youth Director to Youth Pastor.  In 2006 his ministry title was changed to Associate Pastor.

Ward has served in various capacities here at Riverview: Awana leader, director, and commander; Sunday School Superintendent; finance committee, Sunday School teacher, and V.B.S. director. 

Ward continues to serve as associate pastor for youth here at Riverview.  His life verse is Philippians 3:10, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”