By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
Steve Morrow and his wife are now calling Parsons their home as he has been assigned the Parsons Nazarene Church as his new full time place of ministry. He is originally from Ohio, just across the river from Chester, West Virginia. He then relocated to North Carolina where he began his ministry approximately fourteen years ago as an Associate Pastor in the Holiness Denomination in a part time capacity.
After he retired in 2014, Morrow relocated to Charleston, WV where he spoke to the pastor of the First Nazarene Church of Charleston about taking his ministry to a full time status. Morrow was then deemed pastor of the Buffalo Nazarene Church. After serving as their pastor for a short time, he and his wife decided they wanted to relocate closer to their family, bringing them to Tucker County. “We love it here in Parsons”, Morrow stated as he explained his mother’s family was from the Davis, Thomas, Elkins, and Grafton areas. “I love Parsons, it’s a nice town with hard working and friendly folks”, he continued.
Morrow said even though he has only been a full time minister for a short period of time compared to some, he has been a born again Christian for over thirty five years. “God used my secular job to minster to people”, he explained. Morrow gave a brief background on serving within the Nazarene denomination and the requirements one must follow. He stated that in order to be ordained there are a certain amount of bible courses to be completed. Morrow partook in two years of bible courses through Liberty Home Bible Institute, which the Nazarene Bible College accepted his credits towards becoming ordained.
When asked his intentions and hopes for his new endeavor in our small town, his first mention was to establish a youth group and draw more kids into the church. Morrow would also like to see an outreach in our school system as well. “This creates a safe haven within the schools”, he said. According to Morrow, the ladies within the Nazarene Church are extremely involved and would love to see more of their initiative throughout. Some other areas of interest for his new home church would be crafting prayer shawls, offering a Vacation Bible School over the summer extending toward five days, developing a Christmas program, and continuing to do the trunk or treat festivities for Halloween.
Morrow extends a warm welcome to anyone looking for a home church or who even wants to stop by and introduce themselves to our new residents in our county. He holds office hours at the church from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. On Sundays, Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. followed by morning worship at 11 a.m., with an evening worship service at 6 p.m. During the week, prayer and Bible Study is held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.