Arizona Conference Belle Morris, and grew up with four brothers and two sisters. The Morris family was very active in the Seventhday Adventist church, particularly in music ministry. “Everybody in our family learned to sing and/or play an instrument,” Chris Morris said. Morris attended Las Vegas Jr. Academy and Thunderbird Adventist Academy during his high school years. Although he was baptized at age 7, he felt like he truly gave his life to Christ as a junior at TAA. “My religion teacher and assistant Pastor Christopher and Cesiah Morris celebrate Chris’ ordination with Arizona Conference President Ed Keyes and executive secretary Mike Ortel. dean helped me see the love of Jesus in ways I hadn’t seen before,” include the Maricopa Village church in Laveen, time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of said Morris. “I wanted to know Jesus for myself Ariz. a woman, born under the law, to redeem those and not just have a blind faith.” Morris partners in ministry with his wife, who were under the law, so that we might Morris graduated from Southwestern Adven- Cesiah, and their two children, Miles and receive adoption as sons. And because you are tist University with a bachelor’s in mathematics Carissa. “Ministry is always more effective sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into and a minor in religion, and obtained his Pacific through collaborative efforts,” he said, “and we our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no Union Conference standard teaching credentials. enjoy working together to share the beautiful longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an “I knew going in that I wanted to be a math love of the Father, Son and Spirit to everyone we heir through God.” teacher,” he remembers. “Working with people encounter.” and showing them that math wasn’t as difficult The text that fuels Chris’s ministry is found Phil Draper as they imagined was my passion.” in Galatians 4:4-7. “But when the fullness of After his graduation, Morris worked 16 years in various academies teaching math, religion, science and music. He also worked eight summers at Camp Yavapines and Camp Rio Grande as a counselor, boys’ director and program director. The 30th regular Constituency Session of the Arizona Conference Corporation In 2012, the Adventist Worship Center in of Seventh-day Adventists is called to convene as follows: Phoenix called him to full time ministry. “I was scared out of my mind to even think about Camelback Seventh-day Adventist Church becoming a pastor, so I turned down the call,” 5902 East Camelback Road • Phoenix, AZ 85018 he said. “I am thankful the Holy Spirit and the October 23, 2016 , 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., or until business is completed AWC church family were more stubborn than I was. In ministry, God has used me in ways I The purpose of this session is to receive reports, to elect Conference Officers, could never have imagined.” Departmental Directors, the Executive Committee, Bylaws Committee, and the Morris volunteered as the associate pastor Adventist Scholarship Committee; and to transact any other business that may properly at the Adventist Worship Center under Pastor come before the delegates in session. Ruben Escalante for one year before working Ed Keyes, President as the senior pastor for the next three years. In Mike Ortel, Executive Secretary April 2015, he extended his pastoral ministry to
NOTICE OF ARIZONA CONFERENCE CORPORATION REGULAR CONSTITUENCY SESSION
July 2016
29