Morris Barton
One of God's Singers Gone Home

On Sunday morning, October 26, around 10:30, our beloved brother in Christ, Morris Barton, passed from this life into eternity. It seems very fitting that around the time many Christians in the Eastern time zone were singing praises to God in their morning worship assemblies, Morris, as we know the Scriptures and are confident we knew him, was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom (cf. Lk. 16:22). In fact, one of the first songs we sang at Eagle Lake that morning was “It Is Well with My Soul.” As we sang the chorus, the bass part needed more support. I looked around for Morris, reminding myself that he was not present and realizing that although he may never again be in our earthly assemblies, we can sing with him again in that city so bright, when all of God’s singers get home.

In the short time I knew Morris on a weekly basis (since 2003), there were three loves that stood out in his life. First and most obvious, Morris loved to sing. It was not long after I began worshiping with the Eagle Lake congregation that I began to think of Morris as a one man chorus. This was not because he was a show off, but because he could sing any of the four parts, and not only could he sing each of the parts flawlessly, but he could also change parts in the middle of a measure and go back and forth between parts during an entire song, depending on which part was needed at the time. I learned this the hard way early on while Morris was leading “Anywhere Is Home.” My limited singing ability usually restricts me to singing the lead part, so after Morris led the second verse, there was an awkward pause before the chorus. Come to find out, while I was waiting for Morris to keep singing, he was actually waiting for me to take the lead so he could sing bass. From that point on, when Morris led, I would keep right on singing the lead part, and allow him to sing whatever part needed support, and he did it magnificently! In a congregation the size of Eagle Lake, Morris’ skill and enthusiasm were extremely valuable, and this was the reason why my first instinct was to look for Morris last Sunday morning when the bass part of “It Is Well with My Soul” needed support. Morris was also a remarkable singer worthy of imitation in that although he had probably been leading singing for fifty or sixty years, he was still learning and leading new songs. God certainly blessed us through our song leader!

Second, Morris loved God’s grace and love. This became apparent to me over the last year or so. When Morris would attend Wednesday night Bible study, he would occasionally make comments. When he did, they usually, if not always, centered around the “Wonderful Grace of Jesus,” who, “while we were yet sinners... died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Morris realized that all of us are frail human beings, and that “Without Him,” we could do nothing. For awhile, Morris often led “If That Isn’t Love,” which also emphasizes this point.

Third, Morris loved his family. He came from a large family himself, and one of the highlights of his year was the Barton family reunion, especially the beautiful singing in the Barton pavilion at CFBC. Morris’ love for family was evident by the fact that our last “Family Focused” Gospel Meeting was, to a large degree, Morris’ idea. I know for sure that he was the one who first suggested that we make the Sunday of our Gospel Meeting “bring your family day.” It just so happens that this “Family Focused” meeting was the best attended and most well received of all our meetings since I have been with Eagle Lake. Those of us who were around Morris know that he was very emotional over the last year or so. Whether this was due to age, medication, or spiritual maturity, only God knows, but either way, his family is that over which he became emotional most of the times I talked with him. He loved his wife and family and always wanted what was best for them.

We will miss Morris. However, let us realize that we can reunite with him, when all of God singers get home.