CECIL MORRIS

Lead Pastor

I was born and raised in Cadillac, Michigan, an only child, completely spoiled, the apple of my mother's eye. God has a great sense of humor. He took that kid and gave him a wife and seven children. It's been chaos, and I wouldn't trade a single day of it.

I was saved in 1999, ordained in 2007, and sent out of Sara Bay Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida, where I served as Director of Youth and Children's Ministry and Assistant Pastor.

God called me to preach while I was there, and in February 2010, Kim and I packed up and moved to Prospect to lead Bethel.

I hold a Bachelor and Master of Ministry from Andersonville Theological Seminary and a PhD in Philosophy of Biblical Studies from Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary.

I'll also tell you that I'm loud, goofy and have been known to completely butcher a perfectly good saying and replace it with something that makes no sense whatsoever. I'm at peace with that.

What drives me is people. I believe nothing is impossible when God is at work, and I've seen it too many times to doubt it. My burden is to lead with community in mind — to live and love like Jesus, and to help others do the same.

Kim and I have seven children and two grandsons, and our home is exactly as loud as you'd expect.

I love coaching, I love football, and I will always be a Michigan Wolverines fan. I am also, reportedly, a legendary cook.