Funeral service with military honors for Chaplain Martin Joseph Harris, 71 of Georgetown, TX will be held Thursday, October 19, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at Christian House of Prayer in Copperas Cove, TX. Viewing will be held two hours prior to the service (9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.) at the church.

Inurnment will be held Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, TX.

Services can be viewed via Zoom - Meeting ID - 4778772534    Passcode - Harris

Or click link below to watch the service, Passcode - Harris
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4778772534?pwd=bzlFVEtxNXFMWGtTOUdadkFSWEpNdz09#success

For those of you who would like to, in lieu of sending flowers, the Harris family respectfully request a monetary donation be made to the following foundation in honor of Chaplain Martin J. Harris:
The Refuge Corporation Christian House of Prayer
Crisis Chaplaincy of America
Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches Inc
College of Supervision and Psychotherapy
Austin Disaster Relief Network
Interfaith Action Central Texas
Wounded Warrior Project

The Martin family expresses their sincere gratitude and appreciation.

Chaplain Harris was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was born on January 10, 1952, to the late Homer and Elizabeth Harris. Always an avid learner, he enjoyed parochial school and sports.  There were fond memories of his serving as an altar servant and listening to jazz with his father over pancakes.  After graduating from high school from Bishop's Latin School of Pittsburgh, Chaplain Harris proceeded to college at Duquesne University. During his college studies, Martin studied in Switzerland as a foreign exchange student. After graduating from college Chaplain Harris entered the US Air Force and eventually served 14 years as both an enlisted service member and officer, rising to the rank of Captain. Working in various Joint Service Air Force, Navy and Army environments throughout his career, Chaplain Harris' last and most challenging duty was as a Radar-Surveillance Aircraft Controller on the E-3 Airborne Warning Command System (AWACS). While serving in the military Chaplain Harris gained a Master of Science degree in Safety Administration.

After the military, Martin worked as a Veteran Service Officer for the Texas Employment Commission in various training and supervisory positions. He was part of the first Department of Labor/Department of Defense joint team to formulate and develop the Transition Assistance Program Services (TAPS) which to this day continues to serve military service members and their families as they separate from the service. Through further employment stints in both private industry and government, Chaplain Harris developed certified expertise through community partnerships in public health, community mediation and veteran support services. Martin worked 10 years as a medical claims adjuster for the Social Security Administration.

Rev. Martin Harris became a member of Christian House of Prayer of Killeen, Texas in 2002 under the late Bishop Nate & Pastor Valerie Holcomb.  He served as a counselor, and graduated from Sonship School of the Firstborn, class of 2009. Martin became a licensed minister under Covenant Connections International (CCI) in 2011.

In December 2022, he received a Doctor of Ministry from Newburgh Theological Seminary. He was an active member of the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy since 2015 and a certified Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Emotional and Spiritual Trainer as of 2017. He was certified and ordained by the Crisis Chaplaincy of America in 2019 and was endorsed for hospital, mental health, hospice, law enforcement, and workplace service by Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches, Inc.

Chaplain Harris began to seriously move towards ordination in 2011 when he became licensed under Covenant Connections International. After serving as an in-house minister at Christian House of Prayer for several years, Martin became a chaplain intern at the Austin State Hospital from 2015 – 2018. Acquiring over 1600 hours of supervised clinical hours, Martin served and supported hospital patients, staff, and partners in a transdisciplinary, interfaith setting of medical and spiritual clinical treatment. Chaplain Harris volunteered with Crisis Chaplaincy Texas and as a Spiritual and Emotional Support Trainer with the Austin Disaster Relief Network, working with both organizations as an emergency management asset in various disaster situations. Martin recently served as a chaplain at Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital through My Company Chaplains, as well as workplace service assignments with Marketplace Chaplaincy. He had recently accepted a new position at St. David's Hospital Georgetown as their Spiritual Director.

Chaplain Harris was joined in ministry by his grace-given wife Vivian of over 35 years. They both as ordained chaplains were actively involved in advocating for the achievement of social justice, civil and human rights, and community medical and mental health.

Martin's guiding biblical principle in advancing the cause of Christ was 2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God." "To God be the Glory – It's All About Him!"

Martin passed away suddenly in the early morning on October 6, 2023, following his last assignment from God, which was always to offer hope and the love of Christ to the sick, hurting and dying.

Martin leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife Vivian, his daughter Kristina Harris, his mother-in-law Alice Williams, his sisters-in-law, Marsha Moses (Ahmad) from Bangor, Pennsylvania, Candice Hall (Demond) from Brooklyn New York, his brothers-in law Leonard Williams from Brooklyn, New York, Lieutenant Commanders (retired) Timothy Williams (Kathylyn) from Lakeland Tennessee; Nieces Roberta Asque, Martha Mercer, from Pittsburgh, Jacqui Thompson, from Philadelphia, Brittany Moses from Bangor, Kaia Williams, from Lakeland, Chloe Hall and Hayden Hall from Brooklyn; Nephews Robert Lewis, Raymand Lewis, from Pittsburgh, Terence Anderson from Bangor and Jared Moses from Charleston; Grandnieces Jeneen Asque-Wilson (Wendell) from Pittsburgh, Olivia Latham from Bangor; Donn Thompson from Philadelphia, Grand nephews, Eugene Asque (Lydia) from Pittsburgh, Ahmir Thompson from New York and great grandnephews Geno Asgue, Luther Parrish, and Dorian Asque, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In addition, a host of cousins, friends, mentees, associates and brothers and sisters in arms and in Christ.

He was preceded in death by the late Homer I Harris and Elizabeth B Harris, his parents, Robert Lewis his brother, his sister-in-law Peggy E Williams and niece Nia E. Williams. May he Rest in Peace.