Harris Cook retires after 50 years of ministry

Harris Cook recently retired as pastor of Crossbridge Community Church in Helena after more than 50 years in ministry.

Cook transferred to Samford University in Birmingham, graduated and went on to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He later earned his doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Cook has served several churches, including West End, Birmingham; First, Alexander City; and Northside, Jasper.

While in Jasper, Cook’s wife of 24 years died of cancer at age 42. God later provided Jenny, to whom Cook has been married for 27 years. They went from Jasper to Venezuela together in 2000 as some of the first International Mission Board workers chosen in the new millennium.

In 2006, Cook was called as co-pastor of Crossbridge.

There definitely were difficult times during 50 years of ministry, Cook acknowledged.

“You just have to be loyal and faithful and true and obedient to the Lord Jesus, and that makes for a wonderful, beautiful experience with God,” Cook said. “Even in retirement I know I can do anything He wants me to do because my life is His.”