Jeffrey Harrison

Jeffrey Harrison (1909 - 1990)
Jeffrey Harrison was born into a religious home. In the service of religion he learned to play the organ and before the age of seventeen was deputy church organist, although in heart and often in life he was a rebel. His first job was as a film projectionist, but later he worked on the railway. It was there he met George Barton, who invited him to his wedding at the old wooden Gospel Hall in Widnes (Lancashire). Returning from honeymoon, George and his wife invited him to Sunday tea and then to the gospel meeting. It was the first time he had heard the gospel as he said later, he had been under deep conviction for two years. He was converted that very night. He was surprised to find that his family were far from pleased at his decision, especially when he was baptised and received into fellowship at the Gospel Hall at the age of nineteen.

Soon afterwards, he was made redundant but used his time to study the Word of God. He would stay up studying until two o'clock in the morning despite opposition from the family who allowed him only a candle to study by, complaining that gas was too expensive. However, his faith was rewarded and eventually he saw his mother, grandmother and brother saved, baptised and received into fellowship in Widnes.

This early experience gave him a conviction about assembly truth that he never lost. He took his first gospel meeting twelve months after he was saved. It was in Manchester and he had the joy of seeing a woman converted. He began to take ministry meetings and by the 1930's he had become committed most evenings and weekends. He married his wife Hilda in 1939, a marriage God blessed with seven daughters.

Mr. Harrison was a conscientious objector in the war and eventually obtained employment as a caretaker in Bromborough. He held this position until 1949, by which time he was so busy that he was considering becoming a full-time worker. He was invited to take a series of meetings in Kent, beginning on the first of September. He had prayed for the Lord's guidance, having been told that he was to be made redundant six weeks before that date; but this was later changed to the last day of August. Thus he ended work on the Friday and took up full-time service on the Saturday! By this time he had become well known in many parts of the country and his long association with South Wales had begun.

In 1951 he took over responsibility for the Counties Evangelist work in Norfolk and commuted for two years until the family moved with him to Norwich. This summer work centred on gospel tent and caravan. He specialised in evangelising villages with no testimony and after long and patient work saw two or three assemblies established. He also began the Norfolk camp work for boys and girls. During the winter he ministered throughout the country.

In 1960 the family returned to Merseyside and Mr. Harrison’s ministry widened, not only in England and Wales, but eventually in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Malaysia and South Africa. His favourite ministry was the often-neglected Old Testament. He also had a wonderful strategic grasp of God's purpose through the ages. He used a number of charts to good effect. His "Seven World Crises" chart involved a combination of Bible history and prophecy together with the gospel. His characteristic style was unforgettable and he abhorred notes! He ministered until his 79th year, thus fulfilling forty years in full-time service.