Members of Iola’s Church of Christ welcomed the Rev. Norm Morgan as their new minister on Aug. 1. He was serving a church in Junction City prior to coming to Iola.
Morgan has served as a minister for 32 years in Iowa, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky and Kansas.
“I was semi-retired and began looking for a smaller church in a more rural area and was delighted when I heard that Iola’s Church of Christ was looking for a new minister,” Morgan said.
A native of Tupelo, Miss., Morgan enlisted in the U.S. Air Force following his graduation from high school in 1965. He served for six years and after his discharge enlisted in the Air National Guard where he served for several more years.
“While serving in the Guard, I also worked in an assortment of factory jobs. These jobs have helped me understand the problems that members encounter on their job,” he said.
He received an associate of arts and bachelor of science degrees from Regions University, formerly Southern Christian University, in Montgomery, Ala., and attended the Christian Communications Program at Harding University, which is now School of Biblical Studies, in Searcy, Ark.
Morgan said he feels that for a minister to be successful in his work, he needs to preach and teach the gospel in an enthusiastic manner; visit homes of both members and non-members; visit individuals in the hospital and help Christians mature in their faith.
“I have found the people of Iola to be very warm and welcoming. Now that I’m semi-retired I would like to become involved in a civic organization, perhaps the Lions Club,” he said.
Services at Church of Christ, 2205 S. State St., begin at 10 a.m. on Sundays with Bible class followed by 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. worship services. A Bible class also meets at 7 o’clock on Wednesday nights.
New minister joins church
