Texas couple Cliff and Tina Harris advancing the kingdom mightily as the faces of Gilmer Community Development Corporation

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:35-40 NIV)

EVERYDAY IS THANKSGIVING

**WE’RE ALL IN —** A rising faith-based institution that began as the Tabernacle of Gilmer Outreach Center and was spearheaded by Bishop Vincent and Lady Sharon Mathews, the organization has since been renamed the Gilmer Community Development Corporation. Texas couple Cliff and Tina Harris have been assigned to oversee this Gilmer, Texas organization.

DALLAS — Approximately one week before Thanksgiving, Cliff and Tina Harris wasted little time giving thanks.

Once again.

“It was a great day! God did it again! We have about 15 volunteers and (KLTV) Channel 7 News was there today talk with us,” Tina Harris wrote in a November 24 Facebook post in the aftermath of her organization’s latest community-wide event.

“Special thanks to my Pastor and Bishop, Vincent and Lady Sharon Matthew and Tabernacle of Southaven, and Abundant Grace with Pastor Terrance Perkins, and Miracle Tabernacle House of Prayer with Archbishop Lawson for partnering with Tabernacle of Gilmer Outreach Center! God has been so good to us!”

Indeed, He has, especially since the Harrises steadfastly obeyed God’s Voice by stepping up and helping steer a notable Gilmer, Texas-based

nonprofit organization in the right direction.

MORE ON GCDC: https://www.facebook.com/groups/725202708340417/

A rising faith-based institution that began as the Tabernacle of Gilmer Outreach Center and was spearheaded by Bishop Vincent and Lady Sharon Mathews, the organization has since been renamed the Gilmer Community Development Corporation.

The Senior Pastor of The Tabernacle Church of God In Christ in Southaven, Mississippi, Bishop Mathews is the International President of the Mission Department for COGIC, a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership.

**DOING IT GOD’S WAY —** A native of Longview, Texas, Cliff Harris, 69, is retired as a glassman contractor, a position he occupied for approximately four decades. Tina Harris, meanwhile, is a native of Detroit who was a well-known hairstylist and salon owner for 25 years.

Comprised of nearly five million members throughout the United States and roughly 12,000 congregations, COGIC is widely regarded as the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S.

Also, COGIC-based institutions can be found in more than 60 countries. Interestingly, its worldwide membership is comprised of about six-to-eight million members and the church is comprised of approximately 15,000 congregations globally.

DONATE TO GCDC VIA CASH APP: $tabofgilmer

**STAMP OF APPROVAL —** Besides the fervent support of Bishop and Lady Mathews, Harris said she is especially grateful to longtime Dallas/Fort Worth area Pastor, Superintendent Pastor Andrew Jackson Jr. of West Irving COGIC whom, in the infancy stages of her mission work, she credits for assisting in saving “our first baby” in Dallas December 11, 2018.

As for the Gilmer Community Development Corporation, amongst the things about which Tina Harris relishes is the sustained success this organization has enjoyed since its ceremonious inception.

“We have been active for over five months and have been able to help and feed over 6,500 families,” Harris told Making Headline News this week. “To God be the Glory.”

Besides the fervent support of Bishop and Lady Mathews, Harris said she is especially grateful to longtime Dallas/Fort Worth area Pastor, Superintendent Pastor Andrew Jackson Jr. of West Irving COGIC whom, in the infancy stages of her mission work, she credits for assisting in saving “our first baby” in Dallas December 11, 2018.

‘CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS’

**VISION UNFOLDING —** *To their credit, the Harris’ steadfastly obeyed God’s Voice by stepping up and helping steer a notable Gilmer, Texas-based organization nonprofit in the right direction.*

The Harrises were members of West Irving before relocating to East Texas, where they have become actively involved in Christian-based mission work on a full-time basis.

“It was birthed out prayer,” Tina Harris said of the startup of the Gilmer Community Development Corporation.

A native of Longview, Texas, Cliff Harris, 69, is retired as a glassman contractor, a position he occupied for approximately four decades. Tina Harris, meanwhile, is a native of Detroit who was a well-known hairstylist and salon owner for 25 years.

**ANSWERED PRAYERS —** “We (met the) challenge to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and for us to be a light in a dark world, (we must become committed to) meeting the needs of others,” Tina Harris said. “We are living in the last days, and it’s important that we reach as many as we can to spread the good news of Jesus Christ anyway we can and to be the hands and feet of Jesus until He returns.”

Together, this couple has joined forces to advance the kingdom for such a crucial time as now or, as Tina Harris approximately acknowledges, “a mission without walls,” considering their valiant kingdom contributions are mobile, for the most part.

Nevertheless, such limitations aren’t merely stopping the Harrises from carrying out their God-mandated purpose through a rising organization that was birthed amid humble beginnings.

“We (met the) challenge to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and for us to be a light in a dark world, (we must become committed to) meeting the needs of others,” Tina Harris said. “We are living in the last days, and it’s important that we reach as many as we can to spread the good news of Jesus Christ anyway we can and to be the hands and feet of Jesus until He returns.”

Once again.

DONATE TO GCDC VIA CASH APP: $tabofgilmer

**DOING GOD’S WILL —** *“We have been active for over five months and have been able to help and feed over 6,500 families,” Harris told Making Headline News this week. “To God be the Glory.”*

For more information about Cliff and Tina Harris of the Gilmer Community Development Corporation, to inquire about becoming a volunteer or to make a donation, call 313.455.7272 or connect with them via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008019825005 or https://www.facebook.com/BishopVincentMathews/?ref=page_internal. Also, send email to: [email protected].

CONNECT WITH THIS AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST FOR MEDIA EXPOSURE

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.

Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.