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Richard Harris was born in Kokomo, Indiana in a KKK hospital. Yes, that’s a real thing….
His childhood was already a turbulent one, but when his mother died unexpectedly, Richard was left in anguishing isolation. Compounding matters further, he was often bullied by his peers, but when segregation opened his school to Black students, he seized the opportunity to move up the social ladder by bullying them.
Unsurprisingly, the torture he inflicted upon African-American kids established a mindset of hatred and bigotry within him. Richard made no bones about his racism; he even used school speeches to propagate his prejudice. One of his teachers – an active member in the Ku Klux Klan – took note of young Harris’ talent for public speaking and began mentoring him until, at the tender age of just 16, Richard was inducted into the KKK after taking a blood oath during a nighttime ritual. During the dark and satanic ceremony, he was given a blood-stained white robe after swearing allegiance to the Klan, to America, to the Confederacy, to secrecy, and ironically enough, to Jesus…at least, his very flawed understanding of Jesus.
Young Richard was sharp and had a knack for communicating. He was passionate about developing the KKK’s influence in his state, and though he was unaware of it at the time, the older members of the hate group were grooming him to become the next Grand Dragon in their jurisdiction. When he was awarded the high-ranking position, Harris was as surprised as anyone else, but he took the role seriously. He immediately went to work doing all he could to suppress the Civil Rights movement, intimidate Black families, and harass any Whites that allied with them. His squads regularly used psychological terrorism and outright violence to inflict their will upon the community.
But being top dog had its liabilities. Richard soon learned that a hit had been placed on his life, ironically, by his personal security guard. (Evidently, hate affects all skin colors.) Fearing for his safety, Harris reached out to the Imperial Wizard, the nation’s highest-ranking member of the KKK. The young racist explained his precarious situation and was told that if he took a national position, the Klan would afford him professional protection. The only role available was National Chaplain of the KKK – again, a real thing – but Harris admitted he wasn’t qualified for the job because he’d never been all that religious. The Imperial Wizard gave him a simple solution: Just read The Bible and sprinkle some verses into your upcoming speeches…and he’d take care of the rest.
Later that same night, Richard began reading The Gospel of John in order to give his bigotry and hatred a “proper” foundation. Just four chapters in, Harris read about Jesus’ interaction with a Samaritan woman at a well. The story is a simple, but profound, one. While Jesus sat by a well, a Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus asked her for a drink, and the woman voiced her surprise at Jesus’ request. Why would a Jew like You take water from a Samaritan like me? After all, according to Verse 9, “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”
Ironically, this story was frequently cited among members of the KKK. Leaders would read the story up to Verse 9 and then slam The Bible shut before explaining how Jesus hated “race mixers” like this Samaritan woman. If Jesus rejected them, so should they! But for the first time in his life, Richard learned the truth about Jesus’ interactions with the woman! To his shock, he read about Jesus’ love and care for her! He read how Jesus accepted her and how she put her faith in Him! It was in that moment that God’s grace penetrated Richard’s bitter heart of hate. If Jesus loved a sinner like her…could He love a sinner like him? He prayed the first real prayer of his life that night. “God, if You can get me out of the Klan alive, I want to be a real Christian.”
Within hours, he asked to resign his position of Grand Wizard and his membership within the KKK. A gun was put to his head and he was threatened with execution. However, through God’s mercy, he didn’t die then…or in the three assassination attempts that followed across the years.
After exiting the Klan, Richard went to college, studied theology, and became a pastor. He led congregations for 31 years and even took a role in an historic African-American church in Central Florida. He also earned his doctorate, taught in colleges, and traveled the world to expose the sin of racism and share his testimony of Jesus’ love.
This incredible transformation started because Richard Harris read God’s Word…one time! He wasn’t in a Bible study. He wasn’t listening to a sermon. He wasn’t engaged by someone sharing their faith. He was simply reading Scripture…alone…for the first time…with the intent to misuse God’s Word…and Jesus still saved him!
That’s the power of God’s Word! Reading it can change your entire life!
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