(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights pastor Michael Morgan of Goss Baptist Church.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Laurel on Sept. 16, 1972.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended Northeast Jones High School, Jones County Junior College, William Carey University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Q: Where all have you lived?
A: We have lived in Alabama and Mississippi.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I’m the pastor at Goss Baptist Church in Columbia. I started April 16 this year, Easter Sunday. I was at Rawls Springs Baptist Church in Hattiesburg for five years before this. I had heard good things about the church and its big events like Blessing of the Hunt, but also the spirit of the Lord drew us to a new position and a new place. I make visits, preach on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night and manage the affairs of the church.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I was called when I was 18 years old to do ministry after the death of a teammate on my high school baseball team. The Lord spoke to me about sharing the love of Christ with people, so that’s been my basis of my motivation.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: I enjoy discipling people, encouraging people, but also just building relationships with people and looking at them not for what they are but what God wants them to be.
Q: What was your first job? Most unusual job?
A: My first job was as a veterinarian tech in Laurel. The most unusual job I’ve had was selling shoes at Dillard’s.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: I would probably say the most influential person for me has been Bud Swindall. He’s been a mentor for me in the pastor role. On the youth ministry side of things — I was a youth minister for 18 years before I became a pastor — Dr. Mike McQueen in Enterprise, Ala., who is an ear, nose and throat physician. My father as well, he was a big encourager for me as well.
Q: If you had to relive one day from life over and over again, what day would you choose?
A: There’s two. First, when the Lord saved my soul as a senior in high school. If I could relive that over and over, that would be most encouraging. Second, Probably the birth of my two children because it’s such an exciting time, and they’ve grown up so much. Those days were exciting for family as well. Just seeing what God has developed through them since their birth has been exciting.
Q: What is your spouse’s name? What does she do for a living?
A: Jamie Morgan. She is an eighth-grade English teacher at Jefferson Middle School.
Q: Do you have any children?
A: Alex is 15 and a sophomore at Columbia High School. Kara is 13 and an eighth-grader at Jefferson Middle School.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: My wife’s chicken salad. It’s pretty astonishing.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would say Australia just because of the scenes I’ve seen, the people that have been there and the things I have heard about it.
Q: What hobbies/activities do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I enjoy reading, I’m also a high school sports official, I like playing golf and spending time with our three dogs as well. We have a basset hound named Bryant, a beagle hound named Ellie and a lab named Sadie.
Q: What do you enjoy most about living and working in Marion County?
A: I would say the spirit of motivation. These people here do work hard. Also, the spirit of motivation in the schools — they do a great job of supporting the schools and the students. And the small-family atmosphere seems to make a good time for anybody.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: I would have lunch with former President George W. Bush. I looked at him as a leader and his faith during the times of 9/11 really inspired and motivated me.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I want to be remembered as a motivator, an encourager and as a person who always looks at the best in people rather than the worst.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
A: The biggest impact for me would be when I graduated from the seminary because now the real work begins. All the training you’ve put forward becomes a part of the word. Not only that but you’re now in a ministry role where you can get out there and motivate people to follow the Lord.
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie and why?
A: I’d probably read a good book because I’m not a big movie person. I find more excitement in learning what others think than seeing things in action.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Besides spending time with his family, Goss Baptist Church pastor Michael Morgan enjoys reading, officiating high school sports, playing golf and playing with his three dogs. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
