TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sharing Faith, Challenging People

By correspondent Derek Maul

The Rev. Steve Morris is the minister of education and administration at First Baptist Church of Plant City.

ADVERTISEMENT

By DEREK MAUL, Tribune correspondent

Published: September 29, 2007

Updated: 09/27/2007 09:11 pm

EDITOR'S NOTE: This an occasional series spotlighting local clergy members. This week's column features the Rev. Steve Morris, minister of education and administration at First Baptist Church of Plant City, 503 N. Palmer St. Church service times include Sunday school at 9:15 a.m., Sunday morning worship at 10:30 and evening worship at 6:30. Wednesday's midweek service is at 6:30 p.m. The church's telephone number is (813) 752-4104.

PLANT CITY - Close to 3,000 people call First Baptist Church of Plant City their spiritual home. On an average Sunday, the Rev. Steve Morris said, about 1,100 people show up for the 10:30 a.m. worship. However, Morris insisted there are no average Sundays at First Baptist. 'We want to do the best we can for the Lord. Everything we do we want to do better than it's been done before.'

Q. How long have you been on board?

A. Eleven and a half years. I'm a long-term sort of guy. I don't move around a lot.

Q. How would you characterize the experience?

A. Very much positive; hard work, very rewarding, lots of good people. There's no end to the work, and you never ever think you've got enough done.

Q. How important is Christian education?

A. I see two aspects of ministry. One: to lead people to faith in Christ.

Two: maturity in faith, so people become more Christ-like in their lives. Teaching, growing and discipleship are all absolutely essential. Maturity doesn't happen by accident.

Q. To teach is to learn?

A. Very much so. I'm getting ready to teach in the new Evangelical University and Seminary. I learn a lot when I teach, and I'm all about learning.

Q. Evangelical University?

A. It's being started to provide Christian leadership training. It's supported by the Shiloh Baptist Association and the South Florida Baptist Association. Independent, but we're supporting and providing space.

Q. What are you learning?

A. I began my doctoral studies last year. I'm working like crazy, reading dozens of books. I'm working through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. It's been the most exciting, challenging time of my life.

Q. And your dissertation?

A. I wish I knew.

Q. Do you have a ministry goal?

A. I believe our role is to share faith and to challenge people. We need to do a good job of ordering our lives so we are not invalidating Jesus when he said, 'Come and see.'

Q. What encourages you?

A. Every time I see an individual excited, motivated and realizing God has a purpose. It's a real turn-on to me to see people come to Christ and get moving.

Q. What concerns you?

A. Studies tell us that more people than ever are interested in spiritual things - yet the church is not where they're looking. That's tragic.

Q. Why First Baptist?

A. We do our very best to do our very best. We work on ministry as hard as we know how. People don't watch mediocre TV or go to mediocre shopping malls. They don't want their children in a mediocre high school, and they don't want mediocre church.

Q. What is your niche?

A. To present a strong witness for Christ. We believe everyone needs to know Jesus Christ, and that it needs to make a difference. We also try to provide services to the community that further the cause of Christ.

Q. Where were you raised?

A. Vero Beach. I was born in 1954. A dozen guys in my youth group went into ministry.

Q. Where did you go to school?

A. After community college I attended USF (in 1976). My wife, Kay, and I took the same classes; we knew we were called to ministry. We attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, Ky.) and both earned our masters in religious education (in 1978).

Q. Talk about your family.

A. I married Kay Oldham in 1976. Our son Jeff (25) was married last month; he's in seminary. We have twins (22); Daniel is in seminary, and David's an engineering student. Lauren (13) is just starting high school.

Q. What makes you proud of your wife?

A. She has all the same training I have. She raised our children and she's done a good job; they've always been active in church. She's currently director of women's ministries here; her office is right down the hall.

Q. Where has your career taken you?

A. We did youth ministry together in southern Indiana. Then I served at Lakeshore Baptist in Jacksonville. Next came Bluegrass Baptist in Hendersonville, Tenn. We bought an old house on the lake, got very comfortable, and then God called us here.

Q. Do you like Plant City?

A. I like the small-town atmosphere. I like the slow pace of life. It's a wonderful town and the people are great.

Q. Is this a Christian town?

A. I don't think so. But it's refreshing to see so many Christians as teachers in the schools, running businesses and in government. So, in a sense, yes.

Q. What's the big challenge?

A. To reach people for the Lord. That's what I am about, getting serious about what God wants us to do. Then this town might become what we all like to think that it is, what you could credibly call a Christian community.

Q. Any plans?

A. We're working on a four-part process designed to move people from where they are to the next level. From new believers, to involved and active, to maturing, to people in service. God wants that for everybody.

Q. What are you reading?

A. 'Unveiling the End Times,' by Charles Stanley. I'm learning a lot. I'm also reading 'Pastors at Risk.'

Q. Who's your Bible hero?

A. Probably Moses because he considered himself incapable, yet God was good enough to use him anyway, more than Moses ever thought possible.

That's been the theme for my ministry.

Q. Do you have a favorite hymn?

A. I'm a contemporary music person. My sons are active in contemporary Christian music. I enjoy people like Stephen Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith.

Q. Do you have a favorite Scripture?

A. The Great Commandment; Matthew 22:37-39. 'Love the Lord with all your heart, your soul and your mind.' It's such a tremendous challenge, a day-by-day kind of thing.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. I'm interested in lots and lots of things, but don't spend much time.

Woodworking; I enjoy renovating old homes; I recently started scuba lessons; then the doctoral study is a challenge that excites me.

Q. Do you think the learning curve will continue in eternity?

A. Or will we just have all knowledge? I can't wait to ask some of these questions.

Is there someone you would like profiled? Call Derek Maul at (813) 245-2304 or e-mail him at derekmaul@gmail.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT