Craig Francis Harrison graduated from Bakersfield High School, and UCLA, where he obtained a degree in Business and Economics with a minor in Psychology. He entered the Seminary at St. Johns and received a Masters Degree in Divinity.
Craig Harrison has legally adopted multiple children and 19 grandchildren, who have enhanced both his life and ministry.
He is a sought-after speaker and has donated many hours to numerous philanthropic organizations in Bakersfield, including Rotary, Kiwanis, Bakersfield Museum of Art, Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, Friends of the Children, Jim Burke Dream Builders, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Catholic Charities. Craig has also served on the Boards of the Bakersfield Art Museum, the Wheeler Foundation, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
In 2020, Craig Harrison formed Transition Ahead, LLC, allowing him to help others achieve the best version of self through healing. He has performed countless workshops on grief, trauma, and living in peace; and is the author of “Angel Girl,” written in memory of an 11-year old girl who passed away from cancer, and “Pax et Bonum,” a tribute to his beloved Assisi, Italy. He is currently writing two new books.
Craig Harrison’s daily reflection, “Coffee with Jesus,” and weekly Sunday video, “The Message,” bring spiritual inspiration to thousands.
Craig's Latest Inspirations
God made this day and gave us 24 hours, but it is up to us what to make of it; we can dedicate it to God, bring joy, and look for the miracles He is doing, or we can grumble and complain. There are no laws or ordinances that can take away our ability to make this the BEST day ever, so take a deep breath, go for a walk, and make a difference.
When times are difficult and we feel like we are barely “hanging on”—struggling with grief, depression, or anxiety—we need to remember that when Jesus is in our lives, HE is HOLDING US UP. These difficult times become lessons of our trust in Him and His Word, so today, instead of hanging on, feel His arms wrapped around you, knowing that He is allowing this for your growth and holiness.
When we turn to Jesus in times of struggle, we grow strong in **perseverance,** remembering Romans 5:3-5, which states that tribulation brings about perseverance, leading to proven character and hope that does not disappoint. We must surrender and realize how, as a world, we have turned away from Him, trusting that **this, too, shall pass,** and Jesus is in control.
As the holidays approach, those who have dealt with loss often experience deep grief, which has been described as “just LOVE with no place to go”—all the unspent love gathering in tears and a hollow chest. We need to turn that love around and give it out to our families, the poor, and the lonely, letting that love flow with our tears and paying it forward as we remember those we miss.