William Harrell

In 1981, after spending three years in Aberdeen, Scotland, where he completed a divinity degree, William Harrell was called to be the organizing pastor at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

A native of the Tidewater area, he was born in Norfolk, grew up in Virginia Beach and graduated from Princess Anne High School in 1969.

After marrying his high school sweetheart, Debra, in 1970, the Harrells moved to Utah where William Served for four years in the United States Air Force.

It was there, in 1971, that both William and Debra were converted to Christ. In 1974, they returned to Norfolk, where William studied at Old Dominion University, graduating in 1977 with a degree in English. The Harrells have three daughters, Rachel, Melodi and Gabrielle.

Pastor Harrell is committed to a ministry which is simple in structure, and profound in effect. It is his conviction that only the Holy Spirit of God, and not the innovations of man, can change the lives of people.

Such changes are wrought as Jesus Christ is proclaimed and appropriated by believers in the context of a prayerful, worshipping ministry of the whole Word of God.

Accordingly, Pastor Harrell preaches from the Bible in a systematic, expository way, seeking faithfully to let God speak to the consciences of all through His Word. Such a ministry, to be effective, must be saturated with prayer.

Thus, not only in private prayers, but also weekly prayer meetings of the church, are maintained and emphasized as vital parts of this ministry.