Mr. Benjamin Lawrence Morgan

Our thoughts today are of what we will be missing when we leave. Pastor Ben Morgan will no longer be at Glad Tidings Chapel to shake our hand and to preach, or to share stories of his youth and the miracles that he saw. What is important, and the reason that so many of us have gathered here today, is that Ben Morgan left behind a legacy.

Born to Ellen and Benjamin Morgan on October 7, 1928, Benjamin Lawrence Morgan grew up in Gravette, Arkansas. There he lived and worked on the family farm with his four siblings: Walter Morgan, Mary Louise Pearson, Pauline Daubin, and Samuel Morgan. Ben was preceded in death by his siblings, and leaves behind his sister-in-law Bonnie M. Richards, 4 nieces, a nephew, 20 great nieces and nephews, and 3 great-great nieces and nephews.

As a teenager, he was given the responsibility of the family farm and its care, as his father and older brother went to serve in World War 2.At the age of 18, Ben moved to Kansas City to attend the Grace and Glory Bible School. During that time, Ben worked nights at Milgram’s Grocery Store to send money home so that the family could hire additional help on the farm since he couldn't be there. One summer Ben worked alongside Brother and Sister Peck to plant a church in Pennsylvania. During his time in Grace and Glory Bible School, his heart for God was drawn even further. Upon his graduation, he was asked to stay and teach at the Bible School for an additional 3 years.

Ben's love for Jesus only grew as he finished Bible School. He began his ministry as a pastor in the basement of a church at 10th and Charlotte, and in 1956 bought the building that is now Glad Tidings Chapel, at 7th and Prospect. Saturday’s were for visitation and services in the park, where he would share with all he came in contact to, desiring that all would come to know Jesus.

He held jobs that included: painting, hanging doors, and Guaranteed Roofing Company. He worked not to have, but to give: here in his community and around the world to missionaries and ministries in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Michigan, Texas, California, Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Surinam and Israel.

Along with his heart for Jesus, Ben had an incredible heart for children and young adults. He took busloads of kids to church camps in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Michigan. This was something that he faithfully continued to do for the next 40 years. The camps grew, and most summers, he was attending more than one; where he would bring a vanload of kids to camp, teach during the week, and watch as lives were transformed by the gospel.

Ben served as a board member of Grace School of the Bible for over 25 years and taught Old Testament Survey for 10 years.

Ben was a prayer warrior. He prayed by name for each person in his assembly, his neighbors, and each ministry he supported. Even when he was confined to a hospital bed, he never stopped sharing his passion for Jesus and praying with all that he met.

Ben left behind a truck, a home, a few clothes and some roofing ladders. But more importantly, he left behind a legacy. A legacy of selfless giving. A legacy of crossing boundaries and doing things that may seem hard, to share his love of Jesus. A legacy of an 'others-first' lifestyle. A legacy of spiritual offspring that includes people of all nationalities and walks of life. A legacy of Jesus.