Cartersville’s Morton to preach in view of a call as co-pastor at First Woodstock

WOODSTOCK — Woodstock First Baptist Pastor Johnny Hunt announced this morning that Jeremy Morton, senior pastor of Cartersville First Baptist Church, will preach next Sunday, Sept. 16, in view of a call to serve as co-pastor of the congregation.

Jeremy Morton, senior pastor of Cartersville First Baptist Church, announces to his church Sunday morning, Sept. 9 that he will be preaching the following week in view of a call to become co-pastor of Woodstock First Baptist Church. SCOTT BARKLEY/Index

The co-pastor title will be viewed as a time of indeterminate transition. Hunt will remain a member of the congregation while taking on new duties as senior vice president of evangelism and leadership at the North American Mission Board. After a period of time, Morton will begin as lead pastor of Woodstock First Baptist.

On the day of Hunt’s announcement to join NAMB, the pastor addressed his congregation regarding the church’s future. Much prayer, he said, had gone into finding a potential successor, not identified publicly at that time as Morton. Hunt did tell First Woodstock that he had mentored the 36-year-old candidate for the last 15 years, intensely for the last three.

“He can preach the paint off the walls,” Hunt added. “He’s a much better preacher than I am.”

A minister at 16

Morton arrived at Cartersville First Baptist with his wife, Carrie, and children, Zeke, Madie, and Abe in the fall of 2013. A native of Warner Robins and graduate of Brewton-Parker College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Morton entered the ministry at 16 years old. Before accepting the call to Cartersville, he’d served as pastor of Cross Point Baptist Church in Perry, a position he’d held since the church’s inception in 2002.

On social media Morton recently celebrated his 30-year anniversary of becoming a Christian. He was baptized at Second Baptist Warner Robins by his father, Gary, who serves the church as executive and senior adult pastor.

During Morton’s time in Cartersville CFBC’s worship attendance has doubled from 600 to approximately 1,200. The church also completed construction of a new preschool ministry wing, The Nest, as part of ongoing steps to accommodate growth.