LEGACY OF MYRTLE BEATRICE HARRIS
On May 21,1949, Myrtle Harris gave birth to her seventh surviving child and named him Loyd Clay Harris.
He shared his Father’s name. She began teaching her children the Word of God and required them to study and memorize Scripture on a regular basis. She began a class for young men and taught them Scripture and had them recite speeches, often written by her.
Children from the community would often join in the classes and other church children.
When she saw, that Loyd was taking to the training, she put in more time with him and encouraged him. Since there was not a congregation near that community, the minister would conduct services in their home.
Several young men from the class began preaching. Loyd was one of them and by the time he was ten he was the speaker when the minister was not there.
This picture was a driving force in motivating Loyd to found the School of Religious Studies 20 years later in 1978. After attending Jarvis
Christian College, Stephen F Austin and East Texas State, Loyd first began teaching in the jails and established SRS at Hwy 82 COC. Greenville, MS
The School of Religious Studies began in February 1978 as School of Personal Evangelism on Highway 82 in Greenville, MS. Dormitories were provided by a local church with strong support from other churches throughout the region. Different congregations helped provide facilities, transportation, and supplies for the school. The dormitory was furnished by contributions of furniture, bedding, and kitchen supplies from patrons throughout Mississippi and Arkansas. Food was donated to students from Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. In the fall of 1978 a ministerial program was begun. The teaching staff was all volunteers from educated men who have received a degree or some form of training in biblical studies. The first student graduated with honors in December 1980, receiving the ABM.
(Associate of Bible Ministry).
The Origin Of SRS
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The Mission Of SRS
1.TRAIN:COMEPETENT;MINISTERS TO SERVE CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY.
2.PREPARE:STUDENTS TO DEAL SCHOLASTICALLY WITH THE TEXT USING THE TOOLS OF ACADEMIC BIBLE STUDY.
3.DEVELOP:A CAMPUS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING ADEQUATE STUDY STATIONS FOR THE GROWING STUDENT BODY.
4.ENLIST:CAPABLE INSTRUCTORS WITH BOTH ACADEMIC PREPARATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.
5.EXTEND:THE POSITIVE IMAGE AND REPUTATION OF THE SCHOOL BY HONORABLE,ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL INTERACTION WITH THE BROADER BROTHERHOOD
MISSION OF SRS
Helping saints serve thkingdom
Students with full load of 12 credit hours * cost $1200 per semester plus books, housing or travel, etc. SRS was free to all students at the first.
But later the cost of location, instructors and student needs made it necessary for the school to charge tuition and seek funding to meet the growing financial needs.
The church at Hwy 82 in Greenville, MS and churches across the Delta joined in support and the students showed tremendous knowledge and skill after attending SRS. The college installed a Board of Directors in 1980 and for 42 years the Board has been carrying the school; providing direction and support.
Loyd and his brother and sisters came together to set up a scholarship to support students who attended SRS with financial need for tuition and other expenses.