“We had been looking for ways to encourage multi-generational events and also to give back to the community, “says Morton, “So lending our facility to this event fit our mission perfectly.”

      Pastor Mike gives about seven hours of his time for each Trivia event, helping set up a roomful of tables and chairs and preparing the audio/visual equipment.  He next joins his church team in a competitive game of Trivia and then stays until everything is put back in place, sometimes as late as 11:00 p.m.

     Mike has been “giving back to the community” most of his life.  He was born in Council Bluffs and raised on a farm near Logan, Iowa.  He began volunteering in the youth program of his home church soon after high school graduation and that led to a personal call to the ministry.   Mike enrolled in Ozark Christian College where he met his future wife, Mary.  (Graduation day was also their wedding day!)   His subsequent ministries took them to the inner city of Hartford, Connecticut; then to Ansonia, Connecticut near New Haven; and finally back to Iowa in 2005 to NG Christian Church.

     Morton’s pastoral role currently focuses on family ministry and community outreach.  He works with the Youth Program and also heads the Angel Food Ministries (food items at reduced price). 

     Mike and Mary have two sons Josiah, age 10 and Ethan, age 7.  Mike treasures his leisure time just being a dad and enjoying physical activities with his sons, especially biking.

     With this coming Trivia event on March 5 we will have raised nearly $17,000 for Heartland’s programs. Thank you, Pastor Mike and NGCC, for your unwavering support of seniors in our community.