Bishop Paul S. Morton spending time with Editor-in-Chief Tracey Harris

GTA: Tell us about the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship and what’s going on at the church?

Bishop: First of all we are grateful for the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship   It was something God gave to me early in the 90’s.

What happened is in 1990, I began to transition our church from a traditional Baptist church to Full Gospel – when we talk about Full Gospel it’s more of a Pentecostal Baptist or a charismatic Baptist. But what we were endeavoring to do is bridge the gap between Baptist and Pentecostals because those were the two fighting groups basically.

I wanted to see it happen in my church first at Greater St. Stephen in New Orleans.  I taught on the Holy Ghost, being filled with the Holy Ghost, and how important the Holy Ghost was for two years to a traditional Baptist Church. I told them after the two years, “listen I’ve been teaching you and now it’s time to operate in it so those of you who want to be filled come to the altar.”  And I mean people were just everywhere.  So I watched the transition of a ministry change from traditional to really believing in the power of God and the fullness of the Holy Ghost.  More of Him and less of you. That’s what it’s really all about – you need more of Him to build you up that way.  So I thought it was over.  I said my God the Lord is blessing St. Stephen let me sit down and take my rest, we have arrived.  Because He definitely talked to me and said the church was going to split.  It was a large church and now you’re coming in with this Pentecostal flavor and that’s something they weren’t used to but the church actually quadrupled. So we knew that it was God so I thought that that was it and the Lord said do you think that I have blessed you like this for you to keep it to yourself? He said no, you’ve got to take this to the world.  So how do you begin? I didn’t know who to really go to. In fact, I felt that I was the only one that had transitioned a Baptist church to a Full Gospel Baptist Church.  I was on BET at that particular time and I told pastors through the television program if you want more and are believing like I’m believing, doing what I’m doing, traditional Baptist church, if you’re transitioning or have already transitioned, give me a call and I’ll fly in free of charge, preach, or just have a gathering there where I can talk to people. My phone started ringing, ringing, ringing and I mean literally I went across the country.  I actually waited a whole year before we had our first conference because there were so many people who had questions.  What is a Full Gospel Baptist Church?  I’d have prayer breakfasts, services.  So when it came together it was July 1994 and that was our first conference.  30,000 people in the Dome gathered because we had really proclaimed the message of what we were trying to convey.  I had never seen anything like it.  So that was the beginning for Full Gospel.  We paved the way.  I really believe not only in doing something but doing it right, so there has to be organization.  God said seek out 12 people who can really help you in this ministry like the disciples.  So in different cities and in different regions we made people overseers. God gave me the 12 that were going to help me put it together.  They helped me work it and that’s why we have Full Gospel today.  God gave it to me and I obeyed and walked out on heart.

GTA:  So Bishop, where is Full Gospel going?

Bishop: Again I believe we are still proclaiming the message as to what we’re all about.  I am showing people of course operating in excellence, balance and all of those things but now we’re at the level of really teaching people.  You know with schools we want to get across the country where pastors can go, ministers can go, people in ministry can really, really understand ministry.  One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 1:17 where it says, “Learn to do well.”  You don’t have to learn to do bad that’s automatic.  You have to learn to do well and that involves a lot of discipline. So we’re teaching people in this area how important it is through the discipline. And training pastors that’s why we believe our Pastors and Ministry workers conference is important in taking that to the next level.  Just giving them the training and the tools that they need.  And now of course the message is extended because you’re showing pastors how to deal with the recession. This is very hard because you are used to a budget and things being in place. Now people in your ministry are losing their jobs and pastors are about to give up.  It’s really a season of encouragement.  I always tell people don’t allow the recession to control you let the word of God control you.  You can either participate in the recession or participate in God’s word.  And His word says, “and my God shall supply all of my needs”,  and that’s what I stand on.

GTA:  Given the recession right now and all that people are going through, hurting, losing -  what is your message of hope, your message of love to all of our readers and viewers today?

Bishop:  My message of hope is just believe God’s word.  I just spoke it and I stand on that. There is nothing in there about a recession.  My God shall supply all of my needs.  And on the rock of His word builds the church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  If it would have said,

“everything but a recession”, then hey I’d have said the gates are coming against us. But no gates of hell can come against us if we stand on the word.  What I am finding in this season and what we have to be careful of, is there is a spirit out there that is scaring people and it’s called the spirit of fear.  And I teach against that spirit of fear that stops people from their destiny, stops them from their goals.  Because with the spirit of fear, you can have the word right in front of you where God says give and it shall be given unto you.  But the spirit of fear has you so bound you won’t even trust God with your tithe, you won’t even trust God anymore with your offering, because you are going through. So we have to break that bondage of fear. That spirit of fear is so strong because of what people have experienced in their lives that they have to know God is greater than the spirit of fear.

 

GTA: Full Gospel – I hear you have a big event coming up next year?  6 in 1 conference?

Bishop: 6 in 1 you know we did it several years ago but the timing was off.  I guess I have always been a little ahead of my time.  But I knew how important it was to reach people in every area that we can.  We call it 6 in 1 that means  pastors from all over the world are going to come together so there’s going to be a pastors conference.  There’s going to be a separate track in the pastors conference for college ministerial alliance because these may be the wanna-be pastors in the future so you will have a chance to get training in that area.  Then we have the men, because I believe that when men see a whole lot of men coming together fired up they are able to go back to their ministry and say look because of Full Gospel the men’s conference we are excited.  Men have to know their rightful place, the head and not the tail.  So the men’s conference is going to be awesome.  And the women – they are already on fire.  You just say women come together and they do it.  My wife is the general overseer of Daughters of the Promise, so women are going to be coming together for this conference.  And then we are focusing in on our young adults, ages 18 – 35.  The overseer is Terrance Johnson – this is the group that helped get President Obama elected.  So if we helped President Obama, we can help the Lord in some areas. It’s about people meeting people that make the difference.  We already have a successful youth conference with several thousand young people that already come to the conference so they are solid in their area.  That’s five.  And the last one is our music conference.  Full Gospel is known for its Praise and Worship, entering into the presence of God.  We really want to show others how to do it.  So with Overseer William Murphy who is so anointed for this area. He’s going to be teaching choir directors, musicians how to flow with their pastors. Choirs that will be coming together.  Even our regional and state choirs.  It’s going to be exciting. We’ll all come together for a general conference for our night services and during the day the individual conferences will be going on.

GTA:  Given today’s music where is gospel music going from your perspective? Are we on track or are we a little bit off?

Bishop: I think in anything that we do our ultimate goal has to be to give God the glory.  I think that we take it to the level.  I am one that is open to different kinds of music.  Many times people get stuck. One of my favorite sayings is the future belongs to those who are open to positive change.  We must remember in the day right before my time and in my early days especially they said Amazing Grace was just a little too modern, too contemporary.  I know now it’s a relation to some of the music.  I believe with young people you express yourself the way that God is speaking through you. That’s why I have no problem with the hip hop – I feel as long as you’re singing about God, giving God the glory, its nothing dirty, nothing vulgar I think that we have to do that.  But I always talk to gospel artists, you have to be careful.  Don’t try to just get a hit  to cross over.  And so you take Jesus out and anything that has to do with God out just because you just want a hit on the other side and they can take it either way.  I still think that whatever we do God has to get the glory in what we do.  I am focused in on that – giving Him the praise.  When you look through the bible the Psalmist that’s what he talks about – we can talk about life,  we can talk about different things that is what is important, not just Jesus.  There are messages in some of the songs that we sing that you know that God is getting the glory out of it.  I love the music industry.  I think the gospel music industry has gone to a whole new level.  Finally we are respected. The world respects us, the Grammy’s now, too.  Years ago we weren’t a part of all of that.  People have learned  how to respect even if we take it to another level -  Black Gospel. Others try to sing like us many times because they see something in our music and so I think that if we cherish it and appreciate it then we can take it to the next level.  I do tell people if you are going to be in the gospel industry it does not mean you have to put out mom and pop junk.  I just believe in excellence.  Give God your best. That’s what I think is important.

GTA:  God has kept you over the years, how do you maintain balance?

Bishop:  It took me awhile.  I think it was a generational curse I had to break.  My dad was a workaholic and my wife would probably say I still somewhat a workaholic.  But I’ve learned how to balance it out because we do vacations I think that’s important.  We do two major vacations every year.  A summer vacation we take one week with the whole family then another week by ourselves.  And, then in December we take a couple weeks because we got married in December. We take little mini vacations sometimes on the 5^th Sunday or a few days after the 5^th Sunday and then come right back. Because you must to rest your mind.  That’s what I teach pastors sometimes you burn out and you don’t even know that your burn out. Just so tired and you minister and you think something is wrong and nothing is wrong you are just tired.  You need to get away.  I believe that sometime God will let you go through some things to even bring your body into order. In 2006, I was diagnosed with colon cancer but I thank God, God brought me through.  But when I came through I listened to the doctor some things that I had to change about exercise.  I had to change my diet.  I was a red meat everyday consumer.  My wife would talk about me because I was a Wendy’s person.  I just loved their burger with ketchup, pickles, onions and mustard – I was in good shape.  The people who went to get it for me knew it had to be just that way.  I loved it just that much.  But when I found out it was hurting me I stopped because I’m not going to let anything destroy what God has given me.  It’s amazing how we can teach people the devil is busy so you’re on drugs; you can get off those drugs but there are people that can get hooked on ice cream.  They have to have ice cream before they go to sleep.  You can get hooked on anything. But you can’t cast a demon out of somebody else until you cast a demon out of yourself. So, I jog 5 miles a day.  I do it in about an hour.  That helps me.  I got off of the red meat.   I went extreme when the doctor said no red meat.  I got totally off of it.  The doctor said please eat some because it’s good for you but it is very little.  Believe me, I don’t go to Wendy’s everyday anymore.  So just eating right – I stay off of the fried foods. Just balance.  That’s really what it’s all about.  Even in our diets we go to the extreme which is why we get off of those diets.  But if we really just learn how to balance everything out and you’re eating and you’re exercising that maintains balance.   That’s why I tell people if you can’t spend one hour a day on your body out of 24 hours in a day, I mean do you really love your body?  I am 61 years old and God has been good to me and I want to be able to make sure that I’ve given my people the best as it relates to presenting my body, my mind. To make sure I am doing the things that I need to do.  I don’t want to come in and not know where I am, too tired,  gotta sit down to preach.  Not that there is anything wrong with sitting down and preaching but… as long as you know you are doing your best, that’s what I do with my balancing.  Taking time off is key, exercising, eating right, spending time with my family.  As a pastor I spend a lot of time counseling people and that is a major problem, putting your kids in the background.  No, they have got to be a part of your life and even your church has to understand that your family is priority to you.

GTA:  Pastor’s Kids (PK’s) – what would be your message to all PK’s?

Bishop:  First of all appreciate and understand that your parent or whoever that pastor is has to be shared.  I know that is sometime difficult for PK’s because they want the full attention.  But then as parents we have to make sure you are participating in their dreams and they will participate in what you are doing.  I think what has to happen is you have to let them be what they want to be.  I know I want my children preaching and following in my footsteps and inheritance and even my son wanted to go a different way.  I wanted to say, “you’re going to preach boy.”  But no, you have to let them be who they are.  I think that’s important.  We try to mold them so and make them bitter as it relates to what church is all about but there is balance.  Of course, my children had to go to church, no if ands or buts about that. But we could not allow them to be there 7 days a week. They have to have a life too and so again that is where that word balance comes in. So I thank God for 3 great children.  They all love the Lord.  They all love ministry.  There is no hate in them about the church.  And so my prayer is for pastors that you know how to really, really  talk to your children, spend time with them and let them know that you love them.

GTA:  First Lady Morton, what is she into? What’s going on?

Bishop: You know I thank God for her! That’s the love of my life. I know God gave her to me!  Because, of course, even in the raising of our children she is  just the best of the best.  And even in the beginning of our ministry she was first lady and did that part well.  When I married her she was in the choir and she stayed in the choir for a while, taught Sunday school and then I saw leadership ability in her.  She began to organize the women in our ministry.  So there was definitely a gift of leadership inside of her. Now the level of her preaching is awesome.  She is just one of the greatest preachers that I know.  She studies, she prepares herself.  A great preacher and that’s something that I had to deal with because after Hurricane Katrina you know when you’ve been with people for 30 years and then God is telling you to then expand your territory and go to Atlanta you know how some folks felt.  We were there for you and now you then left us.  I was trying to do all the running back and forth.  I told God, “Lord I just wish there were two of me.  I know my assignment here in Atlanta but I know you still have purpose for us in New Orleans.  People needed us there.”  I thought If I was just two people it could work.  And the Lord said you are two people.  You and your wife are one. And so with both of you being one with the same kind of vision, the same kind of goals, then she can work New Orleans as Senior Pastor.  I work with her as her Co-Pastor. She works here as Co-Pastor with me.  And it works out well. I do our Lord’s Supper in New Orleans on the First Sunday night so they see me every First Sunday night and then we switch pulpits every second Sunday my wife and I. She comes to Atlanta and I am there.  So they get a taste of both of us and so everybody is happy now.  We are listening to God and we call it one church in two states to instill it in within their minds.  People want both of us here in Atlanta at the same time and both together in New Orleans at the same time so our theme became changing the way we do church.  Get that in your mind.  Changing the way we do church because it’s a new season.  So she has been a great, great, great blessing.  New Orleans is just growing. People are still moving back after 6 years it’s amazing. And so the church is growing there and of course in Atlanta.  We started our second location on the East side of town and God has just been good to us.

 GTA:  How have you seen the business side of ministry change over the years and how do you stay on the forefront?

Bishop:  We have to be focused even when you talk about business.  I think, again, for pastors in churches there needs to be more teaching in this particular area.  You have your 501c3 – it’s amazing how many pastors in churches don’t have that as yet, because there has to be a business side of you.  You have to have a good CPA – all those things as it relates to business. And so what happens is God will expand your territory.  I appreciate the faith based programs and things that we work with.  I know because we’ve been here a few years but it’s what we’ve done in New Orleans with the senior citizens home.  We bought a Naval base in New Orleans and it’s a home for families, a gated community.  Those kinds of things business wise that we have done.  It’s important to do that. To let people know that you don’t just sing and shout. If you want people to invest into the kingdom then you’ve got to put something into the kingdom.   And so that’s why God is blessed.  And that’s why we didn’t want to have a raggedy place here in Atlanta.  We have a school here.  There is just so much that is going on. God’s been good!

 GTA:  You just celebrated 25 years in music and great gospel music I must add.  Who are some of your favorite gospel artists?

Bishop: Well I know Pastor Marvin Winans and that man is just awesome.  It’s amazing his gift, his unique talent and so I appreciate him so very much.  And of course if I mention him, cause if it’s in writing  I gotta mention Be Be because I’ll hear it.  That’s the only reason I mention you Be Be because I know you’ll talk about it.    I love the whole Winans family though, Ce Ce, I mean they are an awesome, awesome family.  And of course Pastor Marvin Sapp, I think God in ministry has taken him and his singing gift – great preacher too, using his singing gift.  So these kinds of people are making a serious impact. I think in this day and time if you want to know the mentors of the past that I have appreciated are like the James Clevelands, the Mattie Moss Clarks, those are the people that I grew up under and watched them motivate me  to do what I did.

GTA:  What can we expect?  Any new releases coming out from you?

Bishop: There is one coming out real soon. I am doing another solo project on our label.  I am excited because two of the greatest producers are coming together to produce it – Donald Lawrence and my son PJ.  So I am going to kind of get a mixture – it’s going to be unique, it’s going to be special.  It’s going to be out probably the Summer of 2012.

GTA: So Bishop I notice you have an I-pad with you, how do you use this tool in your ministry?

Bishop:  Listen I focus in on my I-pad. Of course it’s so important to me.  I use it on the plane to prepare my sermons.  I get my notes off of it and get emails.  And also I Tweet.  I believe that there are messages to be shared and I want to speak to people and followers who appreciate my ministry. It’s about communicating with people. I know some pastors say they don’t have time for it but if you don’t have time for people then what are you doing in ministry?  And so yes I like to be involved.  And what I love about it is that I’m encouraged so by the Tweeters.  They are always encouraging me.  I try to give them a word but they’re always coming back saying I bless them.  It is just remarkable, this is 21^st century and I refuse to get stuck in the 20^th century.  I am not going to do it! I don’t care if I’m 61 or if I’m 70. I am not going to get stuck in the 20^th century.  So this is the way we have to go. In fact I encourage every pastor to Tweet.  I think that that’s important. Start with the people in your church and let them know how important it is so they can follow you.  And I appreciate all of our Tweeters.  Social media is the key it really is.  It’s amazing, I go to a city and let them know I’m coming and they say thank you for Tweeting and then they show up!

GTA:  So if someone wants to get involved in your ministry how can they contact you?

Bishop:  You can Tweet @BishopPMorton or you can go to our website www.changingagenerationministries.org.  You can call our offices.  We are available for people because whatever we can do to help, we will. We are a full time ministry and we are serious about ministry – that is what we do!

GTA:  Any parting words that you would like to leave with our readership?

Bishop:  I think we have a good example in you and how you operate in excellence.  I think that that’s important. So you are what people need to see.  That’s why I am glad and honored to be a part of this great newspaper. I see what God is doing in and through you.  And this has to happen as we take our gifts together. We cannot be jealous of one another.  We must appreciate each other’s gifts, encourage one another.  We’re all in this together.  If we bring our forces together I tell you we can really change a generation.  And that’s what we are endeavoring to do.  So that is what I ask you to do.  Continue to strive for excellence and trust God and you will be blessed!