When Faith Finds You in the Aisle: A Pastoral Encounter in Kalamazoo
By Pastor Steven T. Morrow • Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Kalamazoo
Sometimes God meets us in sanctuaries.
And sometimes, He meets us in grocery store aisles.
Recently, I was standing in Town & Country Market here in Kalamazoo, walking down one of the aisles looking for something simple — a pack of Red Vines licorice. It was one of those everyday moments, the kind we hardly think twice about. As I reached the section, I noticed a young lady standing nearby in the same aisle.
We exchanged a simple greeting.
“Hello.”
She said hello back — but something was different. There was a heaviness in her face, the kind you recognize when you’ve spent years pastoring people. Pain doesn’t always announce itself, but it often shows up quietly.
I asked her a gentle question.
“Are you okay?”
She paused, then shared that her mother was in the hospital, and she was deeply worried. Like many people in moments of crisis, she didn’t have the words fully formed — only concern, fear, and love for her mother.
I introduced myself.
“My name is Steven Morrow. I’m a pastor here in Kalamazoo.”
We talked for a while — not as strangers anymore, but as two people sharing a human moment. She told me they didn’t have a church home. They didn’t have a pastor. And then she asked a question that still humbles me when I think about it.
“Would you come to the hospital and pray for my mother?”
She explained that her mother was being treated at Bronson Hospital in downtown Kalamazoo, just a short drive from places many of us pass every day — Westnedge Avenue, Stockbridge Avenue, and the Edison neighborhood. In moments like that, titles don’t matter. Schedules don’t matter.
I told her yes.
Because that’s what pastoral care is.
I explained that you don’t have to be a member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Kalamazoo for me to show up. You don’t have to already belong. When families need clergy support, prayer, and presence — that’s part of the calling.
She was surprised.
And honestly, many people are.
Ministry Beyond the Building
That same day, I went to Bronson Hospital and prayed with her mother. We talked. We prayed. We trusted God together in a difficult moment. And even after her mother was released from the hospital, I stayed in contact — checking in, encouraging, and walking alongside them.
This is ministry beyond the pulpit.
Not confined to Sunday mornings.
Not limited to a church directory.
Not restricted by membership rolls.
Faith happens in grocery stores.
Pastoral care happens in hospital rooms.
And church begins long before someone ever walks through a sanctuary door.
If You’re Looking for a Church Home — or a Pastor Who Will Show Up
If you’re reading this and you find yourself in a similar place — maybe you’re:
- Looking for a church home in Kalamazoo
- Searching for a pastor who is accessible
- Needing prayer, guidance, or pastoral care
- Or simply looking for faith that feels real and present
I want you to know this:
You are welcome.
Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Kalamazoo is located at
1009 East Stockbridge Avenue, in the Edison neighborhood.
We gather every Sunday, but ministry happens every day.
And whether you live near Stockbridge Avenue, drive past Town & Country Market, work near downtown Kalamazoo, or find yourself walking the halls of Bronson Hospital — faith can meet you right where you are.
Stay Connected
If you need prayer, pastoral support, or are looking for a church family:
- Reach out to Pastor Steven T. Morrow
- Visit us in person
- Or connect with us online to become part of our growing community
You don’t have to face life alone.
And you don’t have to “have it all together” to belong.
Sometimes, God starts the conversation in a grocery aisle — and carries it all the way into healing, hope, and community.
Join Our Online Family
If this message encouraged you, we invite you to connect with Pleasant Hill and become part of our online community.
Text Ministry Family (TMF): Join Here
Location: 1009 East Stockbridge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI (Edison Neighborhood)
Sunday Service: 11:00 AM — Come meet Pastor Morrow in person.
