Pastor Barbara holds a Bachelors degree from the New Institute of Biblical Studies where she was a bible school teacher for seven years and a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College in Elementary Education.  She graduated magna cum laude with a Masters of Science degree and with an advanced degree in Guidance and Counseling from Brooklyn College.  She holds a Masters in Religious Education from Great Plains Baptist Divinity School where she is currently completing her doctorate.

            For seven years, Barbara was given the honor to assist Rev. Clarence Norman Sr. as Coordinator of the Woman’s Organization at the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights from 1994 to 2001.  In November of 2001 with his blessing she became the Pastor and Founder of Onward Ministries Inc. where she has been serving since November of 2001.  She has been in ministry since the age of 14.

            Barbara was a New York City Police Detective working in Community Affairs.  She has created many programs which have become legendary in the Police Department.    The Community Affairs Talent Show, the C.C.A.P. Youth Dialogue Program and the Brooklyn North Basketball League just to name a few.  She retired from the Department after over twenty years of service in 2003.

            In 1989 she was appointed and known as the first Reverend Detective in NYPD.  She was appointed the first female Chaplain for the Guardians Association (NYPD) in 1994 and continues to serve in that capacity today.  She was appointed in 2004 as a Chaplain for the United States Air Force Auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol.  In 2008 she became the first female chaplain for N.O.B.L.E. (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives) in New York City.  She is the first person to hold the position of Chaplain in the Guardians Association, NYPD and N.O.B.L.E., N.Y. chapter simultaneously.

            She has been featured on television, in magazines, and newspapers across the country.  Most recently on the Today show in New York, Higher dimensions in Japan, the Charlie Rose Show, Eyewitness News, the 700 Club, P.B.S. Network and America’s Most Wanted.  She has been written about in JET magazine, First magazine, New York Newsday, the Miami Herald and the Daily News, just to name a few.

            She is the wife of Elder Leandras Harris and the mother of one son, Rev. Will, who is the Youth Pastor at Onward Ministries.

            Barbara is an actress, singer, preacher, teacher, educator, writer and counselor.  Yet she would not be able to achieve what she has if it was not for Jesus Christ, her family and the pioneers who have gone on before her ‘building bridges for others like her to cross’.