Morgan steps into big shoes to lead Fellowship Bible Baptist Church

Stepping into the shoes of a beloved pastor who founded -- then served -- a growing church for 30 years can be daunting.

For almost a year now, Tolan Morgan has met that challenge at Fellowship Bible Baptist Church.

Morgan said his national ministry and 14 years serving as pastor at a thriving Detroit church helped him meet the challenge, along with the fact that he's the son of a pastor who served a single church for 35 years.

He said that -- and the fact he felt clearly called by God to lead the church -- gives him a sense of comfort and security taking it into the future.

Morgan said he doesn't feel threatened being in such big shoes.

"The way I see it -- and my church will tell you this -- I not only join in celebrating Rev. Willie Reid Sr., who founded the church and led it so well for so long, but I'm the one leading the celebration," Morgan said. "I'm standing on Reid's shoulders, benefiting from his labors. It doesn't take away from who I am and where God is calling Fellowship Bible Baptist to in the future to honor and celebrate Pastor Reid and our past. I join in celebrating him and honoring his widow and keeping his name alive. Why wouldn't I?"

In 1980 Reid founded the church, which met off Watson Boulevard in the aging Buzzell Village with a handful of people. The fellowship grew to almost 2,000 after moving to Dunbar Road. Always a visionary, Reid built a significant worship complex north of Dunbar, then expanded to build the 2,500-seat Faith Dome on the south side.

Reid died in 2012 from kidney failure and long-term health issues.

Morgan said Reid's plan was to eventually use the facility as a concert venue and build two other domes: a sports complex and a 5,000-seat worship center.

Morgan said Reid's greatest legacy was not in buildings, but in building the kingdom of God through teaching God's word and discipling and mentoring others. Many of those people were launched into ministries and started churches of their own.

Morgan said he's delighted to continue building people's lives as Reid did, but he doesn't feel compelled to build the two additional domes.

"Pastor Reid was a visionary, and I believe the last thing he would want would be for us to make Fellowship Bible Baptist a monument to him rather than a living, growing church following God today," Morgan said. "I don't have to be an enemy of the past, but I do have to take us into the future. I came here to teach and preach and to see if I can help make better what is already being done so well. I don't have to establish my authority in a demanding way, I just have to be faithful, and God will do the rest."

Morgan, 41, is a native of Detroit, where his father pastored Faith Temple Baptist Church. He said his father was his mentor and role model, and he keeps a photograph of him at his right hand on his desk. Morgan and his wife, Laneen, have three children. Morgan served as pastor of New St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit for 14 years prior to being called to Fellowship Bible Baptist. At New St. Paul, he saw the church grow and move to a new facility with a 1,000-seat sanctuary.

Fellowship Bible Baptist had gone three years without a pastor before Morgan came to fill the role.

"It's another testimony to Willie Reid that the church could go that long without a pastor and continue to grow and be so healthy," Morgan said.

He also said when first contacted, he declined an invitation to consider pastoring the church. He said some time later while speaking at a national event, a Fellowship Bible Baptist member approached him about reconsidering. Still hesitant, he said after prayer and a series of sure confirmations, he made the decision to move to Warner Robins.

"So here I am," he said. "I'm very glad to be here and very glad to report I'm sure it's by the will of God. We've seen his blessing, and in the time I've been here God has added more than 500 new members. The community and the church family have welcomed us wonderfully."

Though he was successful in Detroit, Morgan said he didn't bring a method for growth -- spiritually or numerically -- to impose at the new pastorate.

"Every church has its own personality, its own strengths and weaknesses and its own call as to what it's to do -- and its unique way of doing it according to God's design. You have to seek that, not what worked somewhere else or was successful in the past. Fellowship Bible is exemplary in love, discipleship and evangelism, and of course we continue that. I can honestly say it's the most loving church I've ever set foot in. Ever. From there we look to God to show us how to better execute ministries we have and expand and build new ministries."

Morgan said he hopes one day the many classrooms at Fellowship Bible Baptist will be filled through the week with educational opportunities and vocational training for adults.

He said if he was granted one wish right now, the only thing he could think of would be that the church facility would be dropped into a more central location in Warner Robins.

"But God seems happy to bless us right where we are," he said. "So I'm not really even sure about that wish. Things are good. They really are."

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.

FELLOWSHIP BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH

Address: 431 Dunbar Road, Warner Robins

Phone: 478-929-0828

Leadership: Tolan Morgan, pastor

Worship: Sunday Christian enrichment, 8:30 a.m., worship 10 a.m., Wednesday Bible studies noon and 6:30 p.m.

Website: www.fbbchome.org

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 8:13 PM with the headline "Morgan steps into big shoes to lead Fellowship Bible Baptist Church ."