First published in the June 4, 2005 edition of The Citizen:
It is always interesting to discover what inspires a call to serve God as a Christian by working full time for Him. In many churches, that decision is accompanied by having the candidate for ministry write a faith statement -- a highly personal, intimate document which literally bares the soul. The opportunity to read one is a privilege, as is the unique chance to get the man to tell you what led him onto that path.
In a way, Lance Morgan followed in the steps of his Nicaraguan father who, when Lance was a baby, moved the family to Jamaica and trained at a Baptist theological college there. At church, young Lance had watched his father preach, and wanted to imitate that example. He remembers being about seven years old when he would go out in the tropical forest and practise preaching to the colourful birds. By the time he was sixteen, he was allowed to do some real preaching at his father's church.
For a career, the Morgan family expected their son to become a teacher. He went to McMaster University and completed a bachelor of arts degree in English and history. Going on to a master's degree seemed like a good option for his career objective, but there was something else.
While lining up in the convocation hall at McMaster to register for the master's degree program, he distinctly felt the call instead to become a minister. The conflict of that thought must have registered on his face that day because one of the professors took him aside. Dr. Parker said to Lance, "You want to be a minister, don't you? Why don't you finish what you're doing and then decide." Lance took that advice and earned a master's degree in English, specializing in the poetry of William Wordsworth. Understanding that poet's beautiful ballads and sonnets - inspired by love of nature and the spectacular scenery around England's Lakes District - is itself food for the soul.
Having achieved literature degrees, it was time to address what direction his career would take. Lance was on track to become a professor and even had a position lined up to start the doctorate program at McMaster and then finish at the University of Toronto. Instead, he had to listen to a persistent feeling that he had a call to ministry which he'd been trying to avoid. In the end, his decision was clear. How did he know it was the right one? Lance explained it this way: "I felt I could do nothing else."
And so, he entered divinity college, graduating with a theology degree in 1961. His first pastoral assignment was to Calvary Baptist Church in Brantford, Ontario. It was around that time that a pivotal meeting occurred with Tommy Douglas, then national leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and later New Democratic Party (NDP). Douglas' own career had begun as pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Weyburn, Saskatchewan where his reputation as a brilliant orator was built long before his entry onto the political stage. Lance had heard him speak, recalling "Man, was he ever good!" - and invited Douglas to preach at his church in Brantford.
The Brantford church was a beautiful building and the church was known for having the largest and best church choir in Ontario. Lance could have stayed there but, by his own admission, "I'm a person who needs adventure." That characteristic made him receptive when the recruiter in the Baptist Union of Western Canada approached him about considering coming to the Baptist Church in Prince George. "I had never heard of Prince George. I got the idea soon after that the place had cowboys and horses."
He was ready to move on. There was nothing more to do for building or expanding in Brantford, and there was some friction with the board. "They had given me a bad time over Tommy Douglas." The preaching from Douglas had been outstanding, but the board disagreed with his social gospel approach. Lance believed he could turn his energies and talents to another congregation.
Arriving in Prince George in March 1962, the basement at Central Baptist on Fifth Avenue was flooded. The building was in a shocking state of disrepair, and the recruiter thought Lance would give up. Instead, he started thinking what it would take to turn the situation around. The little building could hold just 60 worshippers, but that was academic since the congregation numbered about eight. As he agreed to take the posting, Lance remembered standing there and thinking to himself, "This is an opportunity for God to move because only God could help."
As the new pastor, Lance Morgan announced that there would be a new Baptist Church built within a year and that the name would be changed to First Baptist.
His steps toward making the new church a reality are a study in determination. He took action at a defining meeting with the church hierarchy in Vancouver. In advance of that meeting, Lance studied the backgrounds of the provincial Baptist Union board members in order to speak to them in their terms. Vancouver businessman Robert Bentall (Dominion Construction) was on the board. Delivering his report, Lance made three requests: First, that the $10,000 owed by the Prince George church be forgiven; second, that $30,000 be provided to build a new church in Prince George; and third, that Lance would have his salary paid by them for five years.
After a short discussion wherein Lance pointed out that Prince George was in a period of rapid growth, it was Robert Bentall who broke an awkward silence. He moved that all three requests be granted. "We will back you." Before leaving the meeting, Lance made an even bigger impression by asking not to have the building money right away. He promised that the congregation would match the money. That happened almost immediately.
The First Baptist Church was built within a year. That had become a matter of conviction, since Lance had a sign erected which included the date, 1963. They made it. Bentall travelled to Prince George to attend the ceremony when Lance Morgan was installed as pastor. Another distinguished visitor arrived in July 1966 when the congregation welcomed Lance's father, the Reverend David Morgan, as guest preacher. He discussed the work of building his own congregation in Brooklyn, New York.
The church has been added to three times in the four decades since that first dedication ceremony. The other measure of its success is growth from eight members to a congregation of 800.
In retirement, Morgan was often called back to officiate at friends' weddings and funerals. There is a Lance Morgan legacy of a very community-minded church and the service of 36 years as chaplain at the jail. Since 2001, he had been Honorary Chaplain for the City of Prince George.
Morgan's popularity can be easily explained by his powerful personality and memorable sense of humour. But, there is a much more important feature. Perhaps that can be understood through the dignity and solid foundation of his faith. When Max Ehrmann wrote Desiderata in 1952, he could have looked to Morgan's spirit for inspiration, especially in those lines about delighting in life and remembering to be at peace with God.
Morgan stressed the power of prayer above all.
"I tell people prayer is talking to God; expressing yourself and your feelings to Him," he said. "He cares and understands."
