After more than three decades, Morrisses step down as worship leaders
Josh Morriss III is chief justice of the 6th Court of Appeals, but that is not the only way he serves people. He also contributes his talent as a leader at Fellowship Bible Church, which he helped to found 34 years ago.
Through the years, Morriss, as worship leader, has led the faithful in song most Sundays, accompanied on keyboard by his wife Diana. But recently the Morrisses decided to step down as primary worship leaders.
Their pastor, the Rev. Richard Hornok, explained, “Josh and Diana are not retiring. They are simply transitioning to serve Fellowship and Texarkana in other ways. And they both will continue to serve in worship ministry from time to time. Diana will play keyboard occasionally, and I’m sure Josh will sing or minister on the technical side of things occasionally as well. The Morrisses have always personified a Steve Green song: ‘Find Us Faithful.’”
This past Sunday, in the middle of the service, the sermon stopped and the Morrisses were surprised and the congregation treated to a 25-minute video tribute, featuring about 30 past and present members of the church.
The video has since been posted to the church’s Facebook site (Fellowship Bible Church of Texarkana).
Hornok met the Morrisses when he first came to speak at Fellowship Bible Church in 1983. “The church was a Bible study that evolved into a church, he said. “Meeting on Sunday morning for the first time on May 8, 1983, I don’t remember who spoke, but I do know Josh and Diana did the music and have done so regularly up until just a month ago when we hired a worship pastor … “
Hornok continued, “What I appreciate most about the Morrisses is their humility and faithfulness. Last Sunday we took the sermon time to highlight their service. We showed a video of various folks sharing short testimonies of how Josh and Diana’s music ministry impacted them. We also presented them with a copy of a plaque that will hang in our lobby. We had to keep it all a secret because we knew that if they found out we were doing something like this, they would nix it. They don’t look for the spotlight or recognition.”
During the years of the church’s existence, the Morrisses and Hornok have seen church music evolve. Hornok said. “We sought to evolve with the times. I believe we were the first church to stop using hymnals and start projecting lyrics on large TVs. The music has changed from being piano- and organ-driven to being guitar- and drum-driven. We’ve always, always sought to make sure the content was totally biblical. Josh was a stickler on making sure we had good theology.”
Hornok said that Morriss has also been a role model for others who served alongside the Morrisses from time to time, and then became worship leaders in other churches. Morriss and Diana have also always been involved in many other areas of the church’s life, such as leading Bible studies and prayer groups. He also serves as a church elder. As an elder, he helped choose his successor as worship leader: Justin Leverette.
Leverette, new worship leader, said of the Morrisses, “Having been one of the founding couples of Fellowship Bible Church, their dedication to seeing it grow and develop—as well as serving as worship leaders these 34 years—is an example every pastor can draw from. It is such a rarity to see that. It reminds me more of the apostles’ work in planting churches than I’ve ever seen out of volunteers. Some people speak about their love of God and their desire to see the church succeed, but Josh and Diana’s work is nothing short of proof of their love for God, whether or not they had ever spoken of it. They’ve really ‘put their hand to the plow’ and haven’t looked back.”
Hornok agreed, describing the couple as humble, faithful servants who have continued to serve for years and years.
“As a pastor, it’s wonderful to know that I could count on Josh to step up and make happen whatever it was we were planning to do—be it a special Easter service or an evening event,” Hornok said. “Diana is so supportive of Josh and the ministry as well. She’s been right there with him the whole time. I don’t know of any other volunteers in any nonprofit, church or otherwise, who have served in the same position for 34 years. Their commitment and servanthood is amazing.”