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Morris Jordan sang ‘just like dad’ Sa First Baptist Minister of Music retires to begin new ministry with senior adults ELIZABETH STEWART &. Herald Correspondent “Teach me how to sing a hymn like my Dad,” were Morris Jordan's first words to his voice teacher at Carson-Newman College in 1958. Kings Mountain peo- ple who have heard Jordan sing and direct choirs at First Baptist Church would agree that the teacher kept her promise. Jordan, who is retiring after 19 years as Minister of Music to work part-time as First Baptist Minister to Senior Adults, said there was no choir in his dad’s early church in northern Alabama and his dad was the song leader and sang from the Broadman Hymnal and was such an inspiration that young Morris wanted to be just like him. Jordan's father, George Jordan, was 63” and a farmer and when the family moved from Alabama to Georgia, both Mom and Dad were in the choir. Like his father, Jordan sings tenor and plays trum- pet. Jordan has served four Baptist Churches in North Carolina and began his career at Dover Baptist Church in Shelby where he met his bride of 40 years, the former Marjorie Hamrick, in 1966. The couple moved to New Bern in 1967 and Morris was minister of youth and music for 2 1/2 years before a call came to the Canton Baptist Church Bundon © ELIZABETH STEWART Herald Correspondent as music director. Before moving to Kings Mountain, Jordan was Minister of Music and Senior Adults for 17 years at the Canton church. Jordan graduated in 1961 from Carson-Newman College and completed his master’s degree at Appalachian State University while serving the Shelby church. He has par- ticipated in numerous Southern Baptist seminars and clinical pastoral educa- tional classes and said he thought he had been called into the gospel ministry to preach but in effect his music has been a calling for him and a ministry to the hundreds of people who have been in his choirs and in congregations in which he sang to the glory of God. Jordan said that one of the newest happenings in the First Baptist congregation, which numbers 1,400 with Sunday attendance of about 700, is the involvement of lay people in directing youth and children’s choirs. “I made this change seyer- al years ago because we had so many musically talented people in the church who brought their kids to choir practice on Wednesday night. Those parents who didn’t serve as volunteers were invited to participate in an educational program while their children prac- ticed for choir. ; “This new program worked well to involve more adults,” he gave him a said. different out- First Baptist look on the has also ministry. The begun a con- group sang temporary in the worship serv- Crystal ice every Cathedral in Sunday at California, 8:30 a.m. with and in for- 150 more eign coun- people in tries includ- attendance ing Brazil, than in the 11 the People's a.m. service. Republic of “We were China, surprised by Russia, attendance SR No Poland, The when we Czech decided to MORRIS JORDAN Republic, offer a con- Spain, temporary service but have been well pleased with attendance at both services but the early service has fea- tured the praise team and band and people like it,” said Jordan. Singing with The CenturyMen has been a double blessing for Jordan and another avenue to praise the Lord which he said came by accident. He auditioned for this profes- sional chorus of 100 Baptist Ministers of Music in 1972. His pastor in Canton heard about the audition which was advertised as the Baptist Answer to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Morris sent in a tape and auditioned at Ridgecrest Assembly Grounds. For Jordan, traveling the world with the professional choir changed his life and Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Israel, and Turkey. The CenturyMen’s 2001 East Coast Tour afford- ed them appearances at the United States Capitol and on the CBS Early Show. Public performances include exten- sive touring in the United * States, nationwide telecasts and church and concert hall appearances. In 2008 Jordan plans to be on the interna- tional’ tour to Wales and Ireland. “We've never sung the hymn ‘Rise Up Oh Men of God’ as this men’s group sings it,” says Jordan, who says worshippers can feel the moving of the Holy Spirit as those voices blend in the familiar words. The100 Ministers of Music march into the churches in black tuxedos and as they sing surround those in the new Minister of Worship Jonathan's mother, Joy, is a music specialist in the Clinton City Schools and - his “gospel magical show” Music and Worship for two years at Mountain Brook Baptist Church in pews on all sides of the sanctuary. This week Jordan and other Senior Adults enjoyed the regular Tuesday monthly luncheon at the church.The Golden Fellowship wel- comed retired highway patrolman E.T. VanHoy for church that Jordan applauds is the encouragement for every member to participate in a foreign mission trip at church expense. There have been mission trips to Rumania, Haiti and current- to Honduras and two of the young people, Chris and and made plans for the sen- ior trip to Hershey, PA and Dutch Country next week. The Jordans have one son, Michael Jordan, a 1990 grad- uate of Kings Mountain High School who is publici- remain in Honduras as free- lance missionaries. Jordan has participated in three adult mission trips and in” semi-retirement hopes to be able to go on more of the ty and promotional director trips to help spread the for Coastal Heritage gospel. Historical Society in First Baptist Church has Savannah, GA and has just returned from a trip through the Mediterranean for a TV series on troops aboard the USS Enterprise and their families. In retirement Jordan's wife has already presented him a ‘honey do’ list and they plan to travel to Hawaii later this year to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Mrs Jordan has been the church secretary for nearly 19 years and has no plans for retire- ment. Rev. Chip Sloan has been pastor for 18 years and other ministers on staff include Jonathan M. Bundon, worship; Jeff Johnson, students; Shane Doty, education and recre- ation; and Jackie Fisher, children’s preschool. Traci Aderholdt is church pianist not only grown in members but in staff since Jordan came to work in 1987. The, Christian Ministry Center added addition and parking facilities have increased along with new office space and a new youth ministry center as well as renovation of the youth department and children’s rooms. On any given day of the week, workmen are busy at the church renovating and building more to make room for a large and grow: ing congregation. ; “It has been exciting for me to direct the music pro-. gram but now I will be singing in the choir under a new, young, versatile direc- tor leading our choirs and contemporary worship serv- and Mike Sisk is church ice,” said Jordan.” am organist. pleased to welcome my One of the policies of the friend and colleague.” at First Baptist concert in Dallas, Texas in September. If Jonathan passes the audition - and Jordan believes he will pass with flying colors - ly youth are on a second trip Donna Myers Keeter, plan to has been a much needed and CS ERR EE A me = directs orchestra in Knoxville, TN and his father, the Rev. Mike Bundon, has been minister of music at Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Knoxville for 24 years. Jonathan and Heather came to Kings Mountain May 22 and have moved into a new home on Marcella Drive off Crocker Road, Birmingham, Alabama. For several years he was music and worship leader for the Tennessee Baptist Convention in Nashville and in 2000 he was assistant musical director for the Knoxville Nativity pageant. From 1998-2001 he was youth worship leader at Beaver Dam First Baptist Church can boast two ministers of music in the professional touring choir - and a father-son team of Jonathan and | Michael Bundon. i Since music is an important part of wor- ~ ship, young Bundon said God called him to share his love for music and he plans to involve everyone in the congregation in worship and music as testimony of God's love. Music is in Jonathan Bundon’s blood and he is excited in his new position as Minister of Worship at First Baptist Church. Whether he’s leading the Praise Team and Band in contemporary songs for the 8:30 a.m. Sunday service or the choir at the 11 a.m. worship hour, Bundon, 27, expertly holds the baton given him by the retiring minister of music Morris Jordan and directs the splendid voices in an arrangement of “Here I Am To Worship” which can be sung : i 2 i 3 Would you like to work with funeral in contemporary style or as an anthem. He Mrs. Bundon is an accom Baptist Church | Garp ent PI' 4 ; will be busy with adult choir, orchestra, plished pianist, a Charlotte in Knoxville. : as praise team and band, the contemporary banker, and music major He studied JONATHAN BUNDON truly meaningful funeral experience? Funeral Home, Jur. “Shaping the Future of Caring” with numerous music conduc- tors, including his father, and voice professors and says that worship includes not only the familiar old gospel songs but contemporary versions that can be adapted to anthems that can be sung by a chancel choir. “Sometimes worshippers get hung up on choice of style instead of the words put to For a Life Worth Celebrating bi music,” he said. a Jonathan, who sings high tenor, has been encouraged all * his life by his father and now by his mentor, Morris Jordan, to try out for The CenturyMen and attend the group’s next who directed the premier choir at Carson-Newman College. Jonathan's sisters are also alumni of Carson-Newman College: Michaela is in seminary and Lesley, with a business degree, is pursuing a career as an ophthalmologist. It’s a proud tradition of this musical family that thy all sang in A Cappella Choir at Carson- Newman. i Bundon earned a Bachelor of Music in Church Music in 2001 from Carson- : Newman College and Masters of Divinity from Samford University and Beeson Divinity School in 2005 where he was gradu- ate assistant to Drs. Banks and Lawhon for University Chorale. In May 2005 he also earned a Masters of Music in Church Music with emphasis in conducting and voice, also from Samford. service and children’s and youth choirs and looks forward to also organizing a handbell choir. Jordan and Jonathan's father are longtime friends and are both members of the 100 Southern Baptist Ministers of Music in the prestigious The CenturyMen, established in 1969, an auditioned men’s chorus of profes- sional musicians who travel the world to present church concerts. Jordan had heard Jonathan sing and direct choirs. “I knew Jonathan would be great for our church,” said Jordan who decided two years ago to retire as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church and has just begun this month a new calling as the part time Minister of Senior Adults at First Baptist. Music is Jonathan Bundon’s life. Fourteen members of his family graduated from When the time comes to honor a loved one’s memory in a personal way, give . us a call. P.O. Box 607 Cherryville, NC 28021 J. Carroll Carpenter Tel: (704) 435-6711 Funeral Director John W. Porter Funeral Director > ? SS y-~. proud Membe, A u KINGS MOUNTAIN Pablishede every Thursday Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Before com- Periodicals postage at Kings Mountain, NC 28086 : { TN where his father courted Jonathan's ing to Kings Long-Term Care Insurance USPS 118-880 by Republic Newspapers, Inc. mother and where Jonathan also met his Mountain - Postmaster, send address changes to: : : bride, Heather Hogan, four years ago when ~~ Bundon was Is like bubble wrap P. O. Box 769, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 : they were in school together and very active Minister of Phone (704) 739-7496 © Fax (704) 739-0611 in the music program. Contemporary F or your nest egg Office: 824-1 East King Street © Kings Mountain, NC 28086 0 E-mail: heraldnews@kingsmountainherald.com I» Needing long-term care when you're older should not mean having to exhaust your savings trying to Bill Parsons (bparsons@kingsmountainherald.com)...... 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The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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