Family, friends and partners from 40 years of ministry gathered May 19 at Macedonia Baptist Church in Ranburne to honor longtime pastor Morgan Bailey as he transitions from full-time pastoral ministry to a new season of ministry to the Church.
“When I think of Morgan, I think of a difference maker,” said Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, who praised Bailey’s commitment to missions, evangelism and discipleship. “Difference makers are not always ones who have the spotlight, but they are the ones who shine the light on Jesus.”
Lance called Bailey’s walk with Christ “exemplary” and noted his commitment to serving the church and community.
“We have valued the contribution Morgan has made to our Alabama Baptist family,” Lance said. “He has served us in immeasurable and innumerable ways. … Thank you, Morgan, for being a difference maker.”
Ministry and service
Bailey has served in pastoral ministry for 40 years, most of those in three Alabama Baptist churches: Santuck Baptist Church in Wetumpka (14 years), Canaan Baptist Church in Bessemer (13 years), and Macedonia, where he has served the past five years. He has been part of many national and international missions projects, including leading medical and evangelistic teams to Guatemala for the past several years.
Bailey is a past chair of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. He completed two years of service as first vice president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention in 2023 and previously served three years as ABSC second vice president (2018–2021). He chose not to run for president of the convention in 2023 due to health concerns. Bailey is a 16-year cancer survivor.
‘Grateful and humbled’
Bailey said he is “grateful and humbled” by the number of people who have reached out to him and his wife, Ritta, in this season of transition and said “thank you seems inadequate” for the love and support they’ve received.
But “today is not about Morgan and Ritta,” Bailey said before preaching his final sermon as pastor of Macedonia. “It’s about Jesus and about His bride, the Church, that I’ve had the privilege of pastoring for 40 years. I want to give Him all the glory and the praise.”
“I cannot understand why God, who saved me and then called me, why God would use a wretched, horrible, depraved sinner like me, but He did. It’s a testimony to His grace. God is good.”
Bailey said his future plans include writing a book; leading workshops on evangelism, discipleship, prayer and other topics; and perhaps serving churches in an interim capacity.
The Baileys recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. They have two adult sons.
Share with others: