Labrador retrievers put their paws on the gospel

Labrador retrievers put their paws on the gospel

Johnny Morgan’s life has really gone to the dogs, and he couldn’t be happier.

“I’m getting to use a passion of mine for God. It’s a blessing to use my Labrador retrievers to teach about obedience, and present the gospel of Jesus Christ in a unique way,” said Morgan, founder of the ministry Obedience 2 Death.

The nonprofit organization, based in Denham Springs, Louisiana, uses dogs as visual illustrations, and blends timeless biblical truths with humor to show the power of obedience in a believer’s life. Morgan named his ministry after Philippians 2:8: “Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross.”

“We have to die to ourselves,” Morgan said.

An avid hunter, Morgan was raised around hunting dogs. While growing up he trained and hunted with rabbit dogs, coon hounds and squirrel dogs. He is amazed at the quirks and turns in his life that opened the door to a ministry where dogs help lead people to the Lord.

“God can use anything we have if we make ourselves available. It’s very humbling to me that God is using a country boy and his dogs for His glory,” Morgan said.

Obedience 2 Death ministry was birthed in July 2013.

Morgan, pastor of Live Oak Baptist Church, Denham Springs, since April 1 of this year, served as the student minister and associate pastor of the church from 2004.

When a tornado ripped the roof off the worship center in 2008 the congregation started meeting in a local high school gym.

In May 2008 the church invited Hank Hough, founder of Kingdom Dogs Ministry in Houston, to make a presentation.

Led by the Holy Spirit

After that event, Morgan and Hough became friends, and eventually Morgan became a presenter for Kingdom Dogs Ministry.

By 2013, Morgan knew the Holy Spirit was leading him to start his own dog evangelism ministry, and through a group of generous friends Morgan was able to purchase his first dog, a chocolate Labrador retriever.

Morgan calls the dog “Glory” when giving commands. But the canine, a dual champion in land and water competitions, is officially registered under a different name — a name that spoke personally to Morgan.

“When I asked Hank what Glory’s registered name was, he told me and I got real quiet. Glory’s registered name was Psalm 46:10. That’s my life verse. It was like God had ordained Glory to be my first dog in this ministry,” Morgan said, explaining that Hough uses Scripture to register his ministry dogs with the American Kennel Club.

It is a practice Morgan has continued with the purchase of his two other dogs. Zach, a 4-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, is registered as “Proverbs 3:5–6.” Morgan calls his 18-month-old yellow Labrador Trinity, but registered the retriever as “2 Corinthians 13:14.”

“The curiosity about the dogs’ registered names has sparked conversations that have led to salvations,” Morgan said.
Morgan has traveled all over with his dogs, visiting churches for youth events, men’s retreats and revivals and, appearing at a number of schools under the umbrella of the Fellowship of Christian Students — sometimes with the entire student body present.

During the last five years, Morgan said, the Obedience 2 Death ministry has reached out to more than 120,000 people, with more than 13,000 people accepting Christ.

During his presentations Morgan shares his testimony and tells how Matthew 6:24 — that no man can serve two masters — relates to him. He says there was a time in his life when he entered beagle dogs in competitions all over and it consumed his life.

He gave that up, but God gave him a new passion in training dogs for gospel presentations.

As the “missionary dogs” listen to his voice to find a hidden stuffed sheep or go to fetch a “bumper” that Morgan has tossed, he communicates the simple and profound truths found in the word of God. The dogs demonstrate obedience in a variety of ways, much to the delight of audiences young and old.

“My heart is for people to come to the Lord and be discipled,” Morgan said. “I want to be obedient and go where the Lord leads.” (BP)