Staff

Pastor Jim Pitt

Originally from Tarboro, North Carolina, Brother Jim is following in the footsteps of his father, Rev Billy Pitt, a bi-vocational Pastor. He is married to the former Cathy Bough, from Brighton, Michigan, whom he met and married at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi in November 1980. They have two grown children, Elizabeth and Jeff, who live in the Valdosta area.
In December 2004, Brother Jim retired from the U.S. Air Force at Moody Air Force Base after serving his country for 25 years. His plans were to do some type of construction work and continue actively serving in various ministries at Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta. In June 2005, the Pastor Search Committee for Morven Baptist Church, with the recommendation of others, contacted Brother Jim to come fill the pulpit on Sunday, July 3, 2005. Following the evening service he was asked to finish out the month and then in October, he was ordained and called as the interim pastor, then as Pastor in January 2006.

Our History

Morven Baptist Church was organized in 1905. The majority of the church’s first members came from Corinth Baptist Church, which was the mother church in the community and was disbanded soon after the Morven church was organized. The first church building, a one-room wood frame building, was located on a lot across from the present Morven United Methodist Church and faced south. Rev. J.D. Evans from Philadelphia Baptist Church was elected as the first pastor in 1905. In 1917, the Morven Field of churches was organized which included Barney, Morrison, Morven, and Philadelphia churches. Preaching was held one Sunday each month at each of the four churches. On every fifth Sunday the four churches came together for a union service, each church taking turns serving as host. Sunday School and Preaching services were held in the morning with dinner and an hour of fellowship on the grounds, then a business session in the afternoons.

In 1923 a pastorium was built in Morven for the Morven Field pastors, and members from each of the four churches comprised the building committee. In 1928, with the need to expand and add Sunday School rooms, the church started to consider remodeling or to build a new house of worship. After prayerful consideration a Building Fund Committee was formed and plans were put into effect to start raising money for a new church building. The second house of worship was located on the northeast corner of Main St and the Adel Highway. The old church was torn down and all material, such as lumber and brick, that could be saved was used in building the new church. The new church was a wood frame building with Sunday School rooms around the main auditorium. These rooms could be opened into the auditorium when needed allowing seating for 200 people.

In 1947, Morrison Baptist Church decided it was strong enough to leave the Morven Field of churches. Philadelphia received a letter of dismissal from the Morven Field in 1951 and in 1959 Barney First Baptist Church separated from the Morven Field.
In 1951, again needing to expand, the Morven congregation entered into a third building program and formed a new building committee. The congregation decided not to build any part of the new church until they could pay for it. On April 13, 1955 a deed was presented to the church by Mr. Edwin Shiver for the current church property. Construction began on the new church building in 1957. The majority of the construction was completed by church members with the exception of some of the brickwork and the flooring in the auditorium. The first service was held in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday in 1959. The steeple was constructed on site and placed on top of the church in 1964. Since 1964 there have been several improvements and some remodeling to the church, but it has retained its overall original design.
For over 100 years Morven Baptist Church has been a beacon of light for Morven and the surrounding community. Though the Morven Field of churches disbanded in 1959 the churches still get together every fifth Sunday night for a joint service of music and fellowship, with each church taking turns as church host. Morven Baptist Church’s current service times are Sunday School at 9:45 A.M., Worship at 11:00 A.M. and 6 P.M., Celebrate Recovery on Wednesdays at 7:00 P.M., and a weekly prayer time at 7:14 A.M. on Fridays. In addition there are Discipleship classes offered on Sunday afternoons, choir practice on Sunday evenings, and numerous other opportunities for worship and fellowship throughout the year.
In Jeremiah 29:11 God said, “I know the plans I have for you.” God’s plan for our lives is not always our plan. So it is with our Pastor, Reverend Jim Pitt. In December 2004, Brother Jim retired from the U.S. Air Force at Moody Air Force Base after serving his country for 25 years. His plans were to do some type of construction work and continue actively serving in various ministries at Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta. In June 2005, the Pastor Search Committee for Morven Baptist Church, with the recommendation of others, contacted Brother Jim to come fill the pulpit on Sunday, July 3, 2005. Following the evening service he was asked to finish out the month and then in October, he was ordained and called as the interim pastor, then as Pastor in January 2006.
Since coming to serve at Morven Baptist Church, the church has experienced growth numerically and spiritually. Sunday School attendance has increased from an average of 30 in 2006 to over 40 in 2012; average morning worship attendance of 50 in 2006 to 75 in 2012; and increases in mission activities to include being nominated as a 2009 Church on Mission by the Georgia Baptist Convention. The church has led the Mercer Baptist Association in baptisms for the past 5 years averaging 20 baptisms per year, and was recognized as a top 100 GBC churches in baptisms in 2009. Morven Baptist Church is active in reaching people in the name of Jesus Christ in Morven, Brooks County, Georgia, and all around the world. God is truly at work in Morven and He desires for us to join Him. Brother Jim’s vision for Morven Baptist Church is that it will continue to be a lighthouse for Jesus Christ in the community and that the church will be the church outside the walls of the church building.