Dr Micha Jazz (1954-2025): The Urban monk whose unusual insights on the scriptures blessed many

For the first half of his life Mike Morris, who changed his name to Micha Jazz following the death of his first wife Katey, was best known as a leader in British Youth for Christ and then in the Evangelical Alliance (EA), with a particular focus on building bridges into Europe and the persecuted church. 

Charismatic in every sense of the word; he was a lively and larger-than -life character who was fun to be with, as well as charismatic in his theology. Bouncing onto the stage at Spring Harvest, which he was influential in developing, dancing with abandon, hands aloft and lost in worship he was hard to miss or ignore.  

Mike and Katey joined the leadership team at Revelation Church in Chichester, which had grown from an Anglican Youth Group into a charismatic house church. 

Praying for, fasting and expecting God to give them children, and then praying for, fasting and expecting God to heal Katey from Multiple Sclerosis, led to double disappointment. Mike nursed Katey as her health deteriorated and in her last months he resigned from his post at the EA to provide full-time care. Then Katey died.

Debts and a spell of unemployment followed. During this difficult and dark time Mike become a practising Roman Catholic, moved house and changed his name to mirror the latest chapter in his spiritual journey.

Micha became a spiritual director, his great listening skills, twinned with his academic rigour (his PhD was in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke), gave him unusual insights and abilities to come alongside and mentor others.  

he influenced many Premier Christian Radio listeners through his ‘Be Still & Know’ daily devotionals

Micha remarried a close family friend, Jayne, and adopted her teenage daughter, so his prayer for children was answered, albeit years later and in a surprising way.  

While we are all unique, Mike/Micha was a particularly surprising man. A lifelong learner of Jesus, he influenced many, including listeners to Premier Christian Radio, through his ‘Be Still & Know’ daily devotionals on air and in print.

In recent years Jayne and he moved to Scotland – he loved the culture and wide open landscapes.  

An evangelist, a communicator, an academic, a team builder, a listener, a wounded care-giver, a charismatic, a mentor, a disturber of the status quo, a writer, a broadcaster, an urban monk and much more besides, he will be missed, remembered and celebrated. May he rest in peace and rise to glory.