Lisa Harper

Rarely are the terms hilarious storyteller and theological scholar used in the same sentence, much less used to describe the same person but then again, Lisa Harper is anything but stereotypical! She has been lauded as a gifted communicator, whose writing and speaking overflows with colorful pop culture references that connect the dots between the Bible era and modern life. Her style combines sound scriptural exposition with easy-to-relate to anecdotes and comedic wit.

Best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado calls Lisa one of the “best Bible tour guides around,” and speaker Priscilla Evans Shirer adds, “If anyone can help us to hear, understand and receive the truth of Scripture it is Lisa Harper. Her God-given ability to not merely teach the Word but package it in a way that stirs the heart and calls to action is incomparable. When she speaks ears perk up!” Lisa’s pastor – Scotty Smith of Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN – sums up her appealing approach with this commendation, “In a day in which people deeply connect with stories and yet too often find the Bible abstract and irrelevant, Lisa shows us that the 66 books of the Bible are telling one grand story of personal and cosmic redemption, with Jesus starring as the lead character.”

Her vocational resume includes six years as the director of Focus on the Family's national women's ministry where she created the popular Renewing the Heart conferences, attended by almost 200,000 women, followed by 6 years as the women's ministry director at a large church in Nashville. Her academic resume includes a Masters of Theological Studies with honors from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis. Now a sought-after Bible teacher and speaker, Lisa is currently featured on the Women of Faith tour and speaks at many other large multi-denominational events as well as at hundreds of churches all over the world. She's been on numerous syndicated radio and television programs and was featured on the cover of Today's Christian Woman.

She's written ten books including A Perfect Mess: Why You Don't Have To Worry About Being Good Enough For God and Stumbling Into Grace: Confessions of a Sometimes Spiritually Clumsy Woman. Lisa's latest book (August 2013) is titled Overextended and Loving Most of It: The Unexpected Joy of Being Harried, Heartbroken and Hurling Oneself Off Cliffs. She also has two best-selling video-based Bible study curriculums with LifeWay: Malachi: A Love That Never Lets Go (June 2012) and Hebrews: The Nearness of King Jesus (January 2014).

Yet in spite of her credentials, the most noticeable thing about Lisa Harper is her authenticity. When recently asked about her accomplishments she responded with a grin saying, “I’m definitely grateful for the opportunities God’s given me; but don’t forget, He often uses donkeys and rocks!”