LEADERSHIP

PASTORS

Jeff & Valerie Morrison

My name is Jeff Morrison, and I live in Gillette, Wyoming with my wife, Valerie, and our daughter, Grace. I gave my life to Jesus when I was twelve and grew up in a Christian home with loving parents and four siblings. Even so, Gillette in the 1970s and 80s was a wild boom-town full of rowdy cowboys, hard bitten oil field workers and coal miners, and although we never abandoned our faith in our Jesus, the Morrison boys ran with some of the wildest of the wild. Needless to say, no one would have guessed any of us would have become preachers. After the shock wore off when my first brother was called into full-time ministry, my oldest brother soon followed. My thoughts at the time were, good for you, but I am definitely not called to do that.

Although many people in my life have recognized God's calling over me, until recent years the idea of becoming a church pastor was something I've pointedly ignored. Two of my older brothers were called into full-time ministry and I was content to help them from the sidelines. I was convinced that public speaking was not my forte. Ironically, I have been involved in music ministry since I was a child. I began singing in church choirs from the age of six, and later playing guitar, bass and/or mandolin on worship teams. I majored in music at college with the plan of pursuing a career in full-time music ministry. Needing to work my way through school, I took a job with a sound and lighting service at the University and found I had a talent for mixing audio. I ended up being hired to manage the department and worked for the University for the next several years. My career path moved into electronic communications and seemingly further away from full-time ministry.

My wife, Valerie, and I met when I was 41 years old. She too had been involved in music ministry at her church for many years. Our first five years together were spent in Montana before returning to my home town to pursue better job opportunities in my career field. It took a few years before we found a church home where we could both grow in the Lord and be part of a true church family. Our church is very small but active, and it wasn't long before we were called on to explore our callings and use our gifts; both in the church and in the greater community.

I found a way to combine my passion for history and caring for the elderly into a 'ministry' of presenting a series of history talks at a local elder care facility. Valerie and I also joined with another couple from our church doing a mission ministry of helps at a reservation in South Dakota. Together we have led bible studies, served on the church council and, inevitably, have been leading live worship. One day, seemingly out of the blue, our Pastor, Pastor Dal Grubbs, asked me if I would be interested in doing a presentation on the history of the local churches in the area. That led to being asked to preach every two months, or so. Valerie and I began to discuss eventually serving in a ministry of some sort in retirement. Little did we know, God had something ready and waiting.

A few weeks ago, Pastor Dal announced that he would be stepping down this year and asked if I would consider stepping into the role. After prayerful consideration and consulting my wife and brothers, I realized this is what God was preparing me for all my life. I also realized that at 60 years old, and still working a full time job, I have neither the time nor the finances to pursue a traditional ordination. One of my wife's work colleagues told her I should check out the Christian Leaders Alliance web site. With the extensive variety of courses and programs that will ultimately allow me to become an ordained minister, this is a true Godsend. Between the hands-on mentorship of Pastor Dal and the in-depth training provided by CLI, I feel optimistic and excited as Valerie and I embark on our next chapter of our walk with God.