Tony Morgan - The Unstuck Guy

This week I unexpectantly lost a dear friend and his departure leaves me broken-hearted.

My colleague and comrade Tony Morgan, founder and CEO of The Unstuck Group passed away on the morning of Sept 4 after suffering a heart attack two days earlier.?At 55, his departure was not expected and leaves a huge hole in so many lives—his family (Emily and four adult children), his Unstuck team and the Body of Christ.

I first met Tony in 2007 at a church conference at NewSpring Church in Greenville, SC where he was serving as the Chief Strategic Officer. I won a give-away book in his workshop having come the farthest (all the way from Colorado!). Our friendship was born.

In 2009 when he started The Unstuck Group to help churches “get unstuck” we quickly became strategic partners. When churches asked Tony to help them get healthy so that they could multisite he would tell them, “I can help you get unstuck, then you need to call Jim Tomberlin at MultiSite Solutions.” When unhealthy churches called me to help them multisite, I would tell them to call Tony Morgan first, get unstuck, then I can help you multisite.” It was a mutually beneficial partnership that served our two growing companies well!

Ten years later Tony reached out to me with the idea of joining The Unstuck Group. It became another mutually beneficial relationship that expanded our capacity to assist more congregations to become healthy, growing, reproducing, and multiplying churches. Though our business relationship completed at the end of 2023 our friendship and partnership continued. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Anyone who knew Tony knew he was the real deal. His Public Administration education (BS and MPA) and 15+ years as a City Manager & Administrator prepared him well to help local churches be effective and efficient.?He was a smart, no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is, compassionate, self-deprecating kind of guy. ?

He was the same person privately that he was on a podcast, webinar, or platform. He had an uncanny ability to quickly diagnose where and why a church or organization was stuck and how to help them get unstuck. I often bragged to others that Tony would say what I was thinking and say it better.

I don’t understand why God allowed this seemingly premature homegoing to happen. But I do know that Tony Morgan was living his life purpose, finished well at the top of his game, was deeply fulfilled in his life’s work, and will be sorely missed by thousands.

Now David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died, and was buried with his ancestors. . ." Acts 13:35 (ISV)

A devoted Cleveland Indians fan, Tony did not live long enough to see his beloved team make it to the World Series. But when they do, I have no doubt Tony will be sitting on the front row behind the home plate in the heavenly skybox surrounded by a countless number of “unstucked & equipped” church leaders who were better leaders because of Tony’s practical coaching and thousands of redeemed people who were the result of Tony’s passion to see "local churches reach more people and help them follow Jesus.”

Goodbye for now, partner. . .

“The?Lord?is close to the brokenhearted; ?He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Ps 34: 18 (NLT)