Pastor Claude Harris, Jr. talks Hurricane Helene aftermath, importance of everyone working together

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Many people here in Augusta and the CSRA area are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene . However, people are coming together to definitely support the community including residents, city leaders, businesses, organizations, and churches, who are all coming together to help one another including Claude Harris, Jr. , who is the new pastor of New Life Worship Center .

Harris talks with WJBF about the importance of the community coming together to help one another.

Thank you for being here on Celebrating Black Excellence. How are you doing?

I’m doing good. It took me almost a week, but I got power back at my personal residence. Our church took about eight days for the church to get power, and that’s what delayed us actually being able to do things. We also had trees blocking our entry way to get into the church. So once we got all that cleared, we got power, and we’d say, “Hey, let’s get busy. Let’s start doing some things.”

What were your initial thoughts after the hurricane hit and now we’re days in like as far as the community is concerned?

Just looking around in disbelief like, “This never happens in Augusta to this magnitude.” Normally, we get maybe some rain, some flash flooding, and some heavier winds, but nothing that does what this did. So just looking around and just asking myself, “What can I do?” So that has been the feeling.

At New Life Worship Center, you all had a food and distribution give away including grilling hot dogs. What was that feeling like to be able to give back?

So rewarding. Let me tell you, someone saw our efforts, and they blessed us with over 150 cases of water. They brought nonperishable items, and so just a couple of days later, we were able to do another giveaway. We’re expecting another drop off from those gentleman, and we’ll be putting out there soon when our next one is. It’s just a rewarding feeling to be able to do something and to let people know, “Hey, we care about you.”

What is it like for you to see people coming together?

Man, it’s beautiful to see, and it’s something that I hope remains. You know, we not just in our times of need and disaster, but we really need one another. I just thank God for even word of mouth. You know, we got word that students were being bused out just a couple of days after Helene here. At Augusta University, our campus fellowship was able to get over there and give out over 50 care packages to those students that were getting ready to be bused out. So that word of mouth, the social media, you know… we can use it for good, and so I just thank God for every avenue to get the word out.

Someone posted this question on social media: “Where are the churches?” Even though we do see and recognize that churches are doing their part, how do you answer that question for the ones who are asking that question?

You know, a couple of things. One thing, as you alluded to, we are the church; we’re the hands and feet of Jesus. Also, there are physical gathering places called churches, and a lot of them were hit. A lot of them were immobilized and had to take care of some things first before they could get out and do things, but I thank God that our people, while we were waiting on our building to get together, we have different people in our church like Sister Miriam Corley, who has something called Women In Action, and they just went out to different nursing homes and facilities and were just looking after people. Again, our campus fellowship, Sister Chelsea Bridges… people were just looking for what they could do. But I like to say to those people who asked where the church is, where are the clubs? Where the clubs that you go to? Everyone always wants to call out the church, but this is something that we all can do together. WE are the church.

You are now the new Pastor of New Life Worship Center. How does that feel?

It’s a good feeling. It’s a really good feeling. I just was like, “Well, God, okay. A hurricane right after? Okay, I see. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Let’s go.” (Laughs) But it’s been great, and I have wonderful help, and my parents Dr. Claude and Dr. Regina Harris, and just the team of people that we have… the staff has been a big help in helping with this transition be as smooth as it has been. So I’m grateful.

What encouraging word could you give somebody right now who may be watching who is still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene?

Continue to just hold on. Hold on. Trust in God. There is somebody that’s looking for you to be a blessing to you, and while you’re waiting on your blessing, serve someone else because miracles happen when we serve others. So look for what you can do. It may not be much, but put that effort out there, and it’s going to come right back to you.

New Life Worship Center has two campuses: 3550 Morgan Rd, Hephzibah, GA 30815 and 3940 Desoto Dr, Martinez, GA 30907. For more information, visit www.nlwconline.com .

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