A few years back, at a program at Denver Academy of Torah, Cheryl Morrison tearfully confessed, “I was raised an anti-Semite.”
Yes, this devout Christian, lover of Israel and champion of the Jewish people admitted that she grew up in an atmosphere of ignorance about Jews and Judaism.
Fortunately, over the next 40-plus years of her life, Cheryl Morrison, in a complete 180, would, along with her husband Pastor George Morrison, become the most vocal pro-Israel Christian voices in the Rocky Mountain West. The Denver-area Jewish community would become the recipients of their and their very large congregation’s love and support.
In the beginning, the love affair wasn’t exactly mutual. In the 1970s, when evangelical Christians began expressing their support for Israel and love of the Jewish people, many Jews were skeptical and confused. They suspected that the Christian evangelicals were angling for an “in” to the Jewish community for the purpose of soliciting converts. Even after the second intifada began in 2000, some Jews who accepted this support did so hesitatingly with the disclaimer, “Israel needs all the friends she can get.”
Pastor George and Cheryl Morrison, as leaders of the Faith Bible Chapel mega-church in Arvada, were undeterred. As time passed, more and more Jews saw their sincerity. Indeed, their help to Israel economically and politically has only grown.
The Morrisons explained their faith as based on an acceptance of the Bible with an emphasis on Genesis 12:3: “I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse . . . ”
The Morrisons graciously credit their predecessor at Faith Bible Chapel, Pastor Robert Hooley, for planting the culture of affinity for Israel and the Jewish people, at “FBC.” Upon Pastor George’s ascent to the position of senior pastor, the Morrisons took Pastor Hooley’s cue and ran with it.
From their pulpit to thousands of congregants, in small groups and on frequent missions to Israel, Pastor George and Cheryl teach their fellow Christians why they should stand behind Israel. Their respect for the Jewish people is illustrated annually at Faith Bible Chapel’s Israel Awareness Day when Pastor Morrison omits Christian references from his prayers so as to make his Jewish guests feel comfortable in his space.
Faith Bible Chapel makes its voice heard on behalf of Israel to Colorado’s top political leaders.
After 33 years as senior leaders at Faith Bible Chapel, Pastor George and Cheryl are stepping down from their day-to-day duties — a well deserved retirement, to be sure. The good news, however, is that they will remain at Faith Bible Chapel, heading its Israel ministry, continuing to strengthen Christian Zionism and further deepening the ever-growing bond between Christian lovers of Israel and the Jewish people. For that we are fortunate and grateful.
May Pastor George and Cheryl Morrison be blessed with many years of good health and happiness so they may go from strength to strength.
Copyright © 2017 by the Intermountain Jewish News
