Morgan to retire after 15 years of ministry to LBC pastors

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer

ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – For the past 15 years, Stacy Morgan has championed Louisiana Baptist pastors around the state through multiple roles on the state missions team.

Morgan, who is set to retire Dec. 31 from the Louisiana Baptist commu­nications team, said he is grateful for the opportu­nity to build relationships with pastors.

“I have enjoyed being able to love and encour­age pastors,” Morgan told the Baptist Message. “I’ve met and had the privilege of loving so many pastors over the last 15 years and would encourage them not to grow weary in well doing. Though we may not see the fruit now, we know the laborers do not go unrewarded. Each of us has a role. Some sow, some water, but it’s God Who gives the increase.”

CALLED TO SERVE

Morgan’s journey be­gan as a 16-year-old who actively participated in his local church, Winbourne Avenue Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, but had not realized his need for Jesus. One evening, while sitting under a tree at Dry Creek Baptist Camp, the Holy Spirit brought him under conviction that he needed the Savior.

“It occurred to me that I was a sinner, and I had no hope in this life or the life to come,” Morgan said. “I was overwhelmed by the extent of my sin. I had tried to find solace in the activities I was involved with at church and finally realized I had no hope except in Christ. I cried out for Jesus to have mercy and save me from my sins.”

Seven years later, Mor­gan had dropped out of classes at Louisiana State University and was work­ing in the petrochemical industry when he realized this was not what God wanted him to do with his life. Though he sensed the call to ministry, Morgan resisted initially.

However, he finally surrendered while serving as an adult chaperone for a youth camp at the Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico.

He returned home, made his call public, asked his girlfriend at the time (Jan) to marry him, and made plans to re-enroll at LSU where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1983. He then attended New Orleans Baptist Theologi­cal Seminary to further his preparation for ministry, earning the Master of Di­vinity in 1986. Years later, he would pursue doctoral work at Midwestern Bap­tist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri.

While attending LSU, Morgan served as youth director with Oakcrest Baptist Church, Baton Rouge (1981-1982). During the next 23 years, Morgan served the Lord as pastor with several congrega­tions: Pine Grove Bap­tist Church, Livingston (1985-1989); Philadelphia Baptist Church, Deville (1989-1995); New Hori­zon Church, Baton Rouge (1995-2000); and Jerusalem Baptist Church, Hammond (2001-2008).

In 2008, Morgan ac­cepted the call to join the Louisiana Baptist pastoral leadership team as church administrative strategist. He remained in that role until 2019, when he was named Louisiana Baptist communications associate for stewardship and the Cooperative Program.

During his time on the state missions services team, Morgan served 11 churches as an interim/transitional pastor; started the Shepherd’s Rest minis­try which provides support for a pastor to take a brief sabbatical (up to four Sun­days) with the assurance that the church where he serves will have pastoral oversight at no cost to the pastor or congregation; served as a GuideStone Financial Services repre­sentative for Louisiana for eight years; developed numerous resources to aid churches with finances and policies; helped promote generosity and the Coop­erative Program; crafted a comprehensive conflict resolution strategy; and cultivated strong relation­ships with the association­al missions strategists.

GRATEFUL THOUGHTS

Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn said he is thankful for Morgan’s service to Louisiana Baptists.

“We are grateful for the ministry of Stacy Morgan,” Horn said. “Due to the nature of Stacy’s varying assignments throughout his tenure, literally every church in our Convention has benefitted from his ministry. Stacy has been a faithful servant to his fam­ily, his Louisiana Baptist family, our churches, and most of all, His Lord.”

Louisiana Baptist Com­munication Team Director John Kyle added: “When we were searching for a Cooperative Program/stewardship strategist, we needed someone with a pastor’s heart and a heart for missions. Stacy Mor­gan was that person. Even though he’s served on the state missions services staff for over 15 years, his heart has always been with the local church. He has been as asset to our communications team. His wisdom, perspective and input will be missed.”

PRESSING ON

Looking ahead, Morgan anticipates spending more time with Jan, traveling to see his children and a grandchild who is expect­ed to be born in January, serving as interim AMS with the CENLA Baptist Association and as interim pastor for churches in the state.

“When I took this posi­tion, I had some concern I would remain a church man,” he said. “Christ didn’t die for a convention, He died for his church. It’s important in our work that our ministry is not about an organization, but it is about Christ’s church. Local congregations come and go but the church of God endures eternally.”

Reflecting on his min­istry, Morgan said, “I hope that I’ve been faithful to shepherd the flock of God which He purchased with His own blood. Faithful­ness to the call of God – that’s what really matters.”