Harold Morris, a man of unwavering faith and a deep commitment to spreading the gospel, was born on August 2, 1925, in Clarksville, Texas. Raised in a farming family, Harold worked on farms through his early years until he completed high school. He pursued higher education at multiple institutions, including Arkansas A&M, Texas A&M, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Biola), California Baptist Theological Seminary, and Geneva College. 

Initially studying to become a doctor, his life took a dramatic turn when Clyde Lesley, a pastor from Arkansas, led him to Christ while he was working in the fields. Harold then realized that instead of healing bodies, he was called to heal souls, leading him to dedicate his life to mission work.

His wife, Lois, was born on September 19, 1926, in Phoenix, Arizona, also to a farming family. She attended high school in both Pennsylvania and Phoenix before pursuing theological education at Biola and California Baptist Theological Seminary. Lois gave her life to Christ at the age of 16 and, like Harold, felt the undeniable call to missionary work.

In 1950, Harold and Lois were elected as the first foreign missionaries of the BMA. Without formal missionary training beyond their studies at Biola, they embarked on a freighter bound for Brazil from New York City. When they arrived, they could not speak a word of Portuguese, but through immersion and the help of a young boy, Harold and Lois quickly learned to read and communicate in the language.

The couple dedicated themselves entirely to ministry, traveling house to house to share the gospel, conducting services on street corners in Campinas, and playing instruments to draw crowds. Their outreach efforts were relentless, and their faith never wavered despite the many hardships they faced. The Morrises planted between 15 and 20 churches throughout southern Brazil, ensuring each was left in the capable hands of a trained local pastor before moving on to the next community.

Life in Brazil was challenging. Catholicism dominated the country, and those who converted to Christianity often faced severe persecution. Tragically, two of Harold and Lois’ children, James and Caroline, died in a Brazilian hospital because Lois refused to renounce her faith and convert to Catholicism, a requirement for receiving medical care at the time. Despite the pain of such loss, the Morrises remained steadfast in their mission, knowing that the people of Brazil desperately needed the gospel.

After a decade of dedicated service, Harold developed severe heart problems, forcing the family to leave Brazil in the late 1950s. In 1957, he underwent groundbreaking open-heart surgery performed by Dr. Michael DeBakey in Philadelphia, making him one of the first people to survive the procedure. Despite the severity of his condition, he returned to Brazil until 1960 before spending three years doing missionary work in Portugal and other parts of Europe.

Persecution in Europe was just as intense as in Brazil. In Portugal and Spain, where Catholicism held tight control, churches operated underground. Distributing Bibles or evangelizing openly often led to imprisonment. Harold himself was once dragged out of a church service by a priest who held a knife to his throat, ordering a local man to beat him to death. In an act of divine intervention, Harold told the man, “Sir, I love you.” Overcome with emotion, the man broke down in tears, accepted Christ, and became an active member of the church.

Harold’s incredible linguistic ability—he was fluent in 12 languages, including Portuguese, Italian, French, Russian, and Mandarin—allowed him to communicate with diverse communities worldwide. His approach to ministry was unconventional yet effective; he would buy a one-way train ticket deep into remote areas, carrying Bibles and a PA system, trusting that God would provide a way back. In one instance, after running out of money and being stranded in a town, a man whose son had recently converted to Christianity offered Harold and his team food, shelter, and a venue to continue their ministry. The resulting revival led to the formation of a new church, and one of the converts from that trip later became a professor at a Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Harold Morris was a firm believer in the power of prayer and never accepted “no” as an answer when it came to fulfilling God’s calling. In 1965, despite his declining health, he pioneered a media-based ministry, launching The Harvest Gleaner Gospel Hour (HGH) from his home in Conway, Arkansas. Recognizing the potential of radio to reach multitudes, he partnered with Trans World Radio (TWR) and began broadcasting gospel messages worldwide. Under his leadership, HGH expanded into what is now Lifeword, an influential ministry that continues to spread the gospel across the globe.

Harold’s health struggles persisted, and he passed away in November 1970 at the young age of 45. His wife, Lois, continued to serve faithfully until her passing in 2022 at the age of 96. Even in her final days, she played hymns on the piano in her assisted living facility, never ceasing to worship the God she and Harold had devoted their lives to serving.

Harold and Lois Morris left behind a powerful legacy of faith, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the Great Commission. Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren continue to serve the Lord, ensuring that the gospel remains at the heart of their family’s mission. As their grandson, Tim Morris, put it: “I thank God that I had a grandpa that would teach us God’s word. We’re still giving that message to the world. God honored him and allowed his whole family to know him, even when he wasn’t here to preach to them. God took care of his descendants because Harold was faithful to Him and obedient to what God called him to do.”Harold Morris’ life stands as a testament to the unwavering power of faith and the impact of one man’s obedience to God’s call. His story reminds us that the same God who worked through him is still working today, calling believers to step forward in faith, just as Harold and Lois did so many years ago.