Pastor Emeritus Jimmy L. Harper Sr.
Pastor Jimmy Harper had no intentions of growing up and becoming the Pastor of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Scott, Arkansas when he joined the church at the tender age of 9 years old; which was over 46 years ago under the leadership of Pastor Henderson White. Later at the age of 28 under the leadership of Pastor Julious Dodson, he announced his call into the ministry. Little did he know that it was God’s architectural design and providential will that at his home church he would be shaped, fashioned and formed into the shepherd; a man after God’s own heart, that God is seeking in these last and evil days to minister to the masses.Pastor Harper came from humble beginnings, and as fate would have it, he literally grew up in Scott, Arkansas, both physically and spiritually. He is the son of the late Benjamin and Mary L. Harper. He graduated from Sylvan Hills High in 1973, and continued his education at Shorter College. In an effort to pursue his education further, he went into a trowel trade apprenticeship and graduated with honors as a journeyman plasterer. He has been an entrepreneur for the past 18 years, specializing in buildings and wall partitions.
Pastor Harper has been married to his high school sweetheart, Geraldine Harper for 40 years, and to this union was born four children, Chris, Mark, Jimmy Jr., and Lakeitha, and they have 12 beautiful grandchildren. Being the Visionary that he is, in 1999, Pastor Harper introduced a vision to his congregation to build a new edifice and renovate the existing structure. By the grace of God, this major project was completed a year later. Pastor Jimmy L. Harper is definitely a visionary, a leader and a pillar of the community. He is currently presiding as President of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Arkansas and has an official staff of 12 Pastors from various churches in our state. Their goal is to “….carry on more effectively, the work of Christian Missions, Christian Education, Christian Benevolence and Charity, and any other religious enterprise that may seem right and best to further promote and strengthen the unity of faith and practice….”. Additionally, Pastor Harper is grooming a ministerial staff of 9 at Mt. Moriah in an effort to serve the growing ministry. Pastor Harper believes in and teaches his congregation consistently that we are servants of the most high God and it is our duty to “Exalt the Savior, Evangelize the Sinners and Equip the Saints” in order that we as a church may perpetuate the vision that Christ left us over in Luke 14:23 “…….go into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in that my house may be filled.” Mt. Moriah is growing in leaps and bounds and is definitely the place to be in Scott, Arkansas.