A man, who was once convicted for drug trafficking, is all set to become a full-time pastor at a Welsh village church.
Brian Morris, who was jailed for 12 years for being a drug dealer, will take over as the pastor of Oakdale Baptist Church near Caerphilly in September. The congregation, unanimously, voted for him to take over as the pastor of the church.
Morris, who is now 57, has just graduated out of Cardiff University with a theology degree and had been working part-time at the church.
He had told the congregation that he once had a £100-a-day heroin habit and was jailed for smuggling cocaine.
Talking to media persons, he said: “To get voted in with my background shows people still trust me and that anyone can be forgiven.”
According to reports, he was jailed for 12 years at Swansea Crown Court after being arrested when armed police raided a hotel where he was found with a kilo of cocaine.
He said: “I was sitting in a police cell waiting to be interviewed by police when I heard a little voice.
“It said ‘this could be the chance to turn your life around, to become a better person’.
“It was like God shaking me awake and saying ‘have I got your attention now?’.”
Morris was jailed in Dartmoor where he earnestly began studying for the first time in his life. He even launched a prayer group for other prisoners at the jail.
After five years he was freed on parole and joined the Baptist church where he trained to be a pastor.
He added: “I have come through a tumultuous time with lots of hurdles and I could have given up easily.
Morris, who is married and has five children, has written a book about his experiences called ‘Chased by the Dragon, Caught by the Lamb’.
And he has just completed a degree in theology after a two-year course at Cardiff University.
