Shannon
Harris




I was born in Ridgewood, NJ and moved to Frederick, Maryland when I was six. I've lived in Maryland ever since. I didn't grow up in a Christian family, but I had wonderful parents and a great brother. I love them all so much.

As long as I can remember, I wanted to be either a singer or a Broadway actress. Growing up, I made my parents watch me perform my rendition of "Annie" a zillion times. I loved to take my record player out to the garage where the acoustics were great and sing my heart out to Annie & Oklahoma. One Christmas I got a "Mr. Microphone." I don't even know if it even really worked. I just remember that that started a trend where I would get dressed up in my leotard and a tutu and sing Kenny Rogers songs on top of the coffee table in our family room.

I took piano lessons & did school plays and that kind of thing. Then in middle school I got involved in the choir and singing took on a life of its own. In high school I continued with the choirs and was incredibly fortunate to have a really talented man teach me, David Crawford. He had his master's degree from Peabody Conservatory and a heart of gold. He directed a school within our school called VPA (Visual & Performing Arts). My junior and senior years I was in VPA & continued to be taught by Mr. Crawford. Half of my classes every day were devoted to music. It was a wonderful experience.

I became a Christian the summer after I graduated from college. (I went to the University of New Hampshire.) That of course, is a whole story in itself for another time and place! What I can say is that it was a truly life changing time for me. Everything changed. I changed. The words to the song Amazing Grace were real to me: "I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see."

As a new Christian, I still struggled with the desire to move to Nashville and become a singer. It was difficult to understand how God could give me such a strong desire to be a singer & yet possibly not want me to go. I wanted to do God's will, but I was used to doing my own.

After eight months of hemming and hawing (as my country music lovin' friend says), God made it clear that it would be best for me to stay put. A good friend of mine had written out the parable of the seed from Mark 4. I read it over and over again. This scripture convinced me that as a new Christian there was no better place for me to be than my local church. Nothing was more important than letting my "roots" grow deep. I knew deep down that in Nashville my relationship with God would wither.




 
 
 
 
 
I wanted to do God's will, but I was used to doing my own


Shannon, with her
husband, Joshua Harris

 
 
 
 
 
The only one who could have made my dreams come true was God & He did it in his time, in His way, for His own glory

Three years later and wouldn't you know it, I'm doing more singing than I would have ever done in Nashville. I have had the chance to work on many of PDI's worship albums & have so enjoyed working with the guys on the New Attitude Band album. I even got to record my vocals in Nashville! Isn't that ironic? The only one who could have made my dreams come true was God & He did it in his time, in His way, for His own glory.

Well, enough about the singing. The other thing you ought to know is that I am married to the greatest husband in the world (some of you might try to disagree with me, but it won't work!). And on top of that, we're going to have a baby! I am so excited to be a mom.

I also love sports. Every year in school I had a hard time choosing between sports and the school play. I love soccer, tennis, water skiing, snow skiing & swimming. I really don't like basketball though. Maybe it's because I'm so short. Sorry to all you basketball fans. Actually, I don't mind shooting hoops, especially with Josh's little brothers. That is a lot of fun!

I like cooking (although eating is a awfully nice too) and cleaning. Yes, cleaning the bathroom and doing laundry are my favorite. Hee hee. Just testing to see if you are still awake.

I do love to shop, especially with my mom, and I like to do creative stuff ... take pictures, learning how to make things, decorate our house. Mostly, I just love being Josh's wife and doing all those wifely things so that he can be the most effective for the Lord.

Ps. 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.