To The Church

Friday morning, I and the team from Mount Zion Baptist Church will board a plane from Miami bound for Cuba. Our plan is to spend a week serving alongside our sister church—5th Baptist—as well as working at our Baptist rest home and retirement center there. This mission work in Cuba lies at the core of my heart.

I love Mount Zion Baptist Church.

I love that you know how to forgive each other without categorizing. You understand that everyone has bad moments and at times we all can act in ways that doesn’t align with who we are. And at Mount Zion Baptist, bad moments don’t end wonderful relationships. You understand that grace is not merely a doctrine we learn, it is the way we live our lives.

I’m deeply thankful to serve a congregation that cares for me enough to not expect perfection. To laugh at my foibles. To tell me that my suit coat would look better as a horse blanket. To call my singing caterwauling and much much more. You call me friend, not employee. You love me, pray for me, laugh with me, and forgive me ... just like you do everyone else.

I’m not sure that you know how rare this truly is, especially for a pastor. You don’t think of me as a resource, you call me brother and son and hold me and my family up in prayer--constantly. I cannot fully express how much Heather and I love you and thank God for you.

And what is even more extraordinary; your love doesn’t stop within the walls of the church. Mount Zion is on mission! Many churches say they want to be missions minded, but they only mean that up to a certain point. Not you! You believe in the Great Commission not as a verse to quote but as a wonderful opportunity to glorify Christ.

Whether you are serving our community here in Lincoln County, Alexis, Appalachian backpacks, Prayer walking in WV, meals on wheels, Christian ministries, Hesed House, IMB, NAMB, NC on mission or traveling across the ocean to support brothers and sisters in Cuba. Your sacrifice for the gospel has won my heart. It is my highest privilege to be your pastor.

So, while we are away this week, I just wanted to publicly say, thank you, Mount Zion Baptist for who you are. Thank you for your grace, your faithfulness, your generosity, your passion, and your love. You are a living testimony to the gospel we proclaim.

— Pastor Dr. Nathan T. Morton