Stephen (Steve) Harris serves as a regional mission catalyst with the Baptist state convention.

Before joining the state convention, Steve served as founding pastor of New Life Community Church in Asheville for 16 years. Steve has led church planting movements in the Buncombe Baptist Association, nationally and internationally as a strategy coordinator with the International Mission Board, including starting churches with the Quechua Indians in the Andes mountains of Peru. Steve has also served as associate pastor at Bent Creek Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina, and Fellowship in the Pass in Beaumont, California; and as pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Morehead City, North Carolina.

Steve received his bachelor of science in business management from Western Carolina University, master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and his doctor of ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

Steve and his wife, Ann, have three children and five grandchildren.

Steve’s life verse is the Great Commandment, and his passionate focus is simply loving God and loving people. He enjoys backpacking (having hiked the Appalachian Trail), trout fishing and golf.