Kenneth Morgan honored for 61 years of teaching Sunday school

Kenneth Morgan has been teaching Sunday school for a long, long time.

In fact, over the last 61 years, Morgan has probably opened up God’s Word to the people of Red Oak Grove Baptist Church in Modoc (Edgefield Baptist Association) more times than any other person in the church’s history — including any of the pastors who served during the church’s 203-year history, according to current pastor Steve Cartin. (One pastor served for 32 years but preached only once a month.)

Read Morgan’s handwritten notes from his last Sunday school class.

Morgan was honored for his faithful service on Oct. 11.

Cartin, who has pastored churches in four states over more than 25 years, said having someone of Morgan’s caliber to “share his wisdom about life in general and congregational life in particular has been a one-of-a-kind blessing.”

In the early 1950s, Morgan thought his family was moving from Beech Island to Edgefield County because their farm was threatened by the building of what is now the Savannah River Nuclear Site. What he didn’t know was that God had a plan behind it all, said Cartin. God was looking for a faithful soul to play a key role in the life of a church and a county, he said.

Morgan has worked on boards and in businesses that have been crucial to the development of Edgefield County commerce, education and life. “But nothing he has ever done carries the eternal weight of God’s glory as does his 61 years teaching God’s Word at Red Oak Grove,” said Cartin.

In a day when church-hopping and church-shopping seems to be so much in vogue, Morgan’s story is one of commitment to the Lord’s work in the life of a local church.

Presenters included, from left: Ben Covar (grandson-in-law), letters from Gov. Haley, Sen. Graham, and Edgefield director of missions Tim Shull; John Byrd (grandson-in-law), reflections and prayer; Johnny Murrell (son-in-law), who sang "Thank You"; Kenneth Morgan; Diane Murrell (daughter), presented certificate from Rev. Dr. Bill Johnson; Steve Cartin (pastor), presented plaque from church; Daryl Price (SCBC), presented certificate and Bible from convention; Drew Richardson (grandson-in-law), benediction.

Presenters included, from left: Ben Covar (grandson-in-law), letters from Gov. Haley, Sen. Graham, and Edgefield director of missions Tim Shull; John Byrd (grandson-in-law), reflections and prayer; Johnny Murrell (son-in-law), who sang “Thank You”; Kenneth Morgan; Diane Murrell (daughter), presented certificate from Rev. Dr. Bill Johnson; Steve Cartin (pastor), presented plaque from church; Daryl Price (SCBC), presented certificate and Bible from convention; Drew Richardson (grandson-in-law), benediction.

In addition to recognitions presented by the church, the South Carolina Baptist Convention and on behalf of Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the most touching moments was the presentation of a custom-made plaque by a young couple from the church who recalled how Morgan voluntarily gave up his sales commission of $2,000 in order to make it possible for them to purchase their first home.

 The church was packed with family and friends. Morgan’s son-in-law, Johnny Murrell, and three grandsons-in-law, Ben Covar, Drew Richardson and John Byrd, had special parts on the program. Each testimony pointed out the value of one life lived faithfully for the glory of God. The flowers in the sanctuary were placed by the family of Delane Morgan Murrell, Morgan’s older daughter who passed away earlier this year.

Morgan has kept in touch with his good friend, Rev. Dr. Bill Johnson, a boyhood friend whom to this day he talks to every Sunday evening. Johnson provided a certificate for 75 years — because that’s how long he’s known Kenneth as a faithful friend.

Kenneth Morgan, left, with his friend, Bill Johnson.

Kenneth Morgan, left, with his friend, Bill Johnson.

“Whether it’s a commitment to teaching, to a friend or to a community, Kenneth has been faithful,” said Cartin.

The plaque the church presented Morgan included a paraphrase of Ezra 7:10: “For he set his heart to study God’s Word and to live it; and to teach it to God’s people throughout the land.”

The worship bulletin from "Kenneth Morgan Day."

The worship bulletin from “Kenneth Morgan Day.”