To understand Harold E. Long is to witness the profound story of a man who chose transformation over despair, purpose over pain, and ministry over comfort. He is not merely a pastor or author. He is a rebuilder of lives a spiritual architect who has used the broken bricks of his past to construct healing bridges for others.
Born in the small town of Nevada, Missouri, on July 20, 1965, Harold's early life did not hint at the magnitude of the mission he would one day embrace. Harold's teenage years were marked by deep struggle when he moved through Arnold and eventually Kirksville, Missouri, with his family. By the age of 15, he had left home and school. For many, that would have been the end of the story—a lost youth slipping into obscurity. But for Harold, it was the beginning.
He worked challenging jobs to survive, fought through isolation, and eventually found strength not in bitterness but in faith. That faith did not arrive in lightning bolts or fire but in quiet moments of surrender and grit. Over time, Harold sought education as a tool of transformation. He earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies, an MBA, and a Master of Divinity. Currently pursuing his Doctor of Ministry, Harold's academic credentials reflect the diligence of a man deeply committed to truth, growth, and service.
But Harold's true power lies not in degrees or titles but in empathy forged through lived experience. Having battled and overcome alcoholism, he has spent over three decades walking alongside others on the road to recovery. Since 1987, Harold has mentored countless individuals fighting addiction, not from a pulpit of perfection but from the shared soil of struggle and grace.
His book, The Big Delusion: Shattering the Delusions of Alcoholism and Addiction, speaks directly to the heart of a society often lost in quick fixes and spiritual confusion. His writing combines theology, mental health insight, and hard-earned wisdom to guide readers toward liberation from cycles of destruction.
Harold's ministry reaches far beyond books or sermons. Since 1993, he has served primarily in Missouri's high-security and maximum-security prisons, volunteering to share "The Best News Ever" and brotherhood with men the world has discarded. Through his corrections ministry, he reminds incarcerated individuals that redemption doesn't belong to the lucky but to the willing.
Even before entering full-time ministry in 2016, Harold led a successful insurance and financial services career. Inspired by his mother, Patricia "Momma" Long—a pioneer in the insurance field—Harold built and managed agencies, earned seven professional designations, and co-founded "American Insurance & Financial Services LLC." This business acumen continues to serve him today as he builds recovery ministries, secures funding for mental health programs, and launches faith-based initiatives like Transformation Church, set to open in Eureka, Missouri, in 2025.
Yet Harold's mission is deeply personal. It's in how he talks about mentoring youth, advocating for the wounded, the excluded, and suffering, and fostering a Jesus-centered, practical, and powerful life. He doesn't speak to people—he speaks with them in coffee shops, recovery circles, church pews, and prisons. He meets people where they are because he's been there too.
Married to his partner in purpose, Susan (Suzie) Long, and a father and grandfather, Harold lives a life of joyful service. He's a passionate advocate for recovery, community, and inclusive ministry. He finds solace in music, golf, fishing, and cheering for his beloved Missouri sports teams.
Harold E. Long is not just a man of faith—he is a man of action, humility, and vision. His life reminds us that no past is too broken, no heart too far, and no calling too great when it's grounded in purpose, powered by compassion, and led by God.
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