PASTOR IRENE STAGGERS HARRIS HON. CARLOS CURBELO OF FLORIDA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Mr. Curbelo of Florida, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pastor Irene Staggers Harris. Pastor Irene Staggers Harris was canonized a Bishop in December of 2013 and has been selected as the first woman president of the South East Dade Ministerial Alliance. God placed Bishop Harris in a position to make a difference in her family, her church, and in the community-at-large. After receiving her education in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and graduating from the South Dade Senior High School, she sought higher education and attended the Miami Dade Community College. Following her academic endeavors, Bishop Harris was employed at the Turkey Point Nuclear Plant for numerous years before hearing the call from God to embrace full-time ministry in the Lord’s Church. After being licensed and ordained an Elder by the House of God Saints in Christ, Inc., Bishop Harris led the congregation of the Greater St. Matthews Holiness Church where she extended the church name to include and embrace the ‘‘Temple of Love’’. In October of 1997, Bishop Harris became the Shepherd of Greater St. Matthews Holiness Church and communicated to her congregation a message of dependence on the Word of the Lord. Bishop Irene Staggers Harris has dedicated her life to the Call of God. Her invaluable contributions to the Miami-Dade community serve as the embodiment of her selflessness. I commend Bishop Harris for her unyielding commitment to the word of God and love for all people. She will undoubtedly continue to serve admirably as the president of the South East Dade Ministerial Alliance.