Lincoln church ordains
first black woman pastor
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“In the national organization, she’s
the first installed black Baptist female
minister in Nebraska,” said Watkins,
who has known Morris-Quarells for
seven years.
Watkins said he had confidence in
the church’s vote electing Morris
Quarells as pastor of the Mt. Hermon
church at 40® and Sheridan streets.
“She speaks the word - the truth
-that’s all we ask,” he said.
The road of Baptist ministry that
led to Lincoln began when Morris
Quarrels decided at the age of 13 to
devote her life to Christ At the time she
was at a youth camp near her home
town of Casper, Wyo.
But it was when she was working as
a security guard in 1985 in Los Angeles
that she was called.
“I heard the voice of the Lord call
ing me to preach the word of the
gospel,” Morris-Quarells said “I heard
a voice say to me ‘I want you to preach
the gospel’; that’s exactly what I heard”
It was not until she was called that
she became focused on living the min
istry. In 1990, she graduated from
Swisher Bible College in Denver with a
theology degree.
“That’s when you really feel some
thing special going on inside you,” she
said of being called “You know there’s
some presence that is calling you to a
higher form of living.”
After graduation she moved to
Lincoln. She later joined her present
church, where she has been an associ
ate pastor for the last three years. She
was informally installed as pastor sev
eral months ago.
At Mt Hermon she has lived by her
personal philosophy of “Each One
Teach One To Reach One.”
If one person reaches out to one
person, and then that person reaches
out, eventually everyone could be
reached she said.
Teaching is the best part of the job,
Morris-Quarells. She said the two to
four hours she spends reading the Bible
each day gave her fuel for her sermons
and for the biweekly bible study classes
she teaches.
“That’s where the answers to life
are,” she said of the Bible.
Morris-Quarells’ value goes
beyond the pulpit and into the class
room, Watkins said.
“She is very dynamic,” Watkins
said. “She is very thorough. She breaks
it down so everyone can understand.”
She brings visual aids to class,
teaches by telling stories from her own
life, giving her teaching a practical ele
ment, Watkins said.
Morris-Quarells also teaches nutri
tion part-time at the University of
66
She speaks the word
- the truth - thats
all we ask”
Deacon Curtis Watkins
Nebraska-Lincoln. She teaches in the
homes of about 10 elderly citizens and
women on the state welfare program,
Women, Infants and Children.
The value of Morris-Quarells as a
teacher and a preacher was recognized
Sunday at the Second Baptist Church
near 58* and Vine streets. The ceremo
ny was moved to that church because it
could hold more people.
Morris-Quarells’ 12-year-old
granddaughter, LaQuilla Phillips, was
one of those people.
LaQuilla made the trip from Casper
with her mother, Bethine, to sing in the
choir at the ceremony.
LaQuilla reflected on the value of
her groundbreaking grandmother, and
then ran off the altar and gave her
Morris-Quarells a hug.
“She’s the best grandma anyone
could ever have,” LaQuilla said.
“Mount Hermon, you are really lucky
to have her as a pastor.”
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Lunch links students, senators
From staff reports
Students have the opportunity
to air their concerns to Nebraska
state senators today over lunch.
The ASUN Government
Liaison Committee’s annual lunch
with the senators will take place
today at the Wick Alumni Center.
All students are invited to talk
to senators about concerns they
have concerning any issue, said
Angie Klein, Government Liaison
Committee chairwoman.
“Senators on campus provides
an opportunity for students to meet
with some of their elected state
officials to discuss their home
communities and the University of
Nebraska,” Klein said.
The luncheon comes at a time
when the Legislature is considering
some important issues that will
affect University of Nebraska
Lincoln students, Klein said.
With UNL’s biennial budget
being considered, Klein encour
aged students to look at specific
issues within the budget they feel
strongly about lobbying for.
Some of the areas included in
the budget are faculty and staff
salary increases as well as funds for
need-based scholarships.
The lunch begins at noon with
the senators arriving soon after,
Klein said.
The lunch is sponsored by the
Association of Students of the
University of Nebraska. Admission
is free.
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H>ril 20,
V 1999
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