Dear Morningside Church Family,

Following God’s will for our lives is not an easy thing. As Scripture makes clear, following Christ means walking the way he walked, enduring the hardship and suffering he endured, dying to self in order to live for him. I’m honest enough to admit this is not easy for me. I prefer my comfort over his cross.

In many ways, I started 2022 very hopeful. I hoped our worship attendance and shared participation in church life would bounce back quickly after Covid. I hoped the economic downturn wouldn’t impact our giving. I hoped Morningside would stand out as an exception to the downward trends impacting countless churches around the country and in Columbus. I imagine we all hoped the same!

The truth is my hopes were that following God during this season would be easy. As I said, following God’s will is not an easy thing. It’s not supposed to be.

We are, as a congregation, at a crossroads of sorts. Down one road is comfort and ease. Down the other road is challenge and hardship. The first road requires very little of us and offers very little reward in the end. The second road requires vision and faith. What awaits us at the end of that road is a King ready to offer his “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Since much earlier in this year, I have been asking the Lord for the vision and faith I would need to lead you down the second road. I am confident the Lord has given me both. Next month, I will begin to share this vision with you in a new message series, “Time to Plant.” I’ve already shared this vision with the Elders and the church staff. I’m happy to report they’ve all responded with enthusiastic support.

Now, I invite you to join me for three Sundays in November as I unpack this vision for the season to come. I invite you to pray and fast throughout these three weeks, asking God to grow your faith. I invite you to commit yourself, as I have—not to the easy, comfortable way, but to the way of the cross, the way of faith, the way of the Lord.

Your Servant in Christ,

In the past few months, the Deacons have been busy helping with various service opportunities including moving truckloads of household items and assisting with the Morningside Market.

You, as the church body, have submitted names for both deacon and elder roles earlier this month. We are currently contacting those individuals and will begin the interview process in November to produce the final list of men willing to serve in 2023. From those names we will bring a slate of deacons and one elder for the congregation to vote on in December.

Please feel free to contact your deacon with any questions or needs.

The finance committee met each month this quarter to review the finances of the church. Wanting to be good stewards of the church's money, we are encouraged by the expense controls we have put in place that have helped us save money in these uncertain times. We are going to continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed until our financial position gains momentum during this market time. We are blessed to have adequate cash on hand to cover the shortfall and encourage everyone to give as the Lord directs you.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” - Matthew 6:21

Wednesday Night Breakout has a new time 6-7:30pm. This helps students engage in their bible study longer and to work toward the goal of knowing their memory verses to earn their "black belt" via our Memory Verse Karate plan. The Children's Ministry area has been undergoing a makeover. Classrooms have been cleaned out to create a functional space for small group lessons during Sunday School.

Upcoming Events & Activities include Mini Fall Festival (Date TBD), Advent & Tree Decorating, College Ministry Serving Project and a Painting Party
 

Fall is the season of work for the Recruitment Committee.  As such our team has convened and prayerfully considered names of Morningside Members for service in the various committees and service positions as prescribed in the bylaws.  Basing eligibility for service on the criteria that those bylaws set forth, your Recruitment Committee submitted a slate of qualified names for service to the Elders for approval and following that approval began approaching those recommended for each position.  At this time the Recruitment Committee has received commitment from these and therefore recommends the following members for service on the Committees listed:

Finance:  Amber Oliver and Richard Leary
Personnel: Jenny Hale and Mike Babb
Recruitment:  Carolyn McCraw
Global Missions:  Lori Worley and Allison Drummond.  Also, for Barbara Ingle to serve a one year term in completion of a vacated position.
Trustee:  Larry Coger
Clerk:  Abby Helms

Personnel Committee has been very busy this quarter as we have met several times and held several subcommittee meetings working and discussing many personnel items. 1)  We have identified and approved the hiring of a Children’s Ministry Director, Barbara Port. Barbara will be responsible for MBC children’s department within our Bible Fellowship group, children’s church, and children’s programs on Wednesday nights. 2) We have accepted Pastor Zach Masdon’s resignation as Next Gen Ministry Director, as he has moved on to accept a new position. 3)  We have worked through and made recommendations on the 2023 personnel budget to the Finance committee for approval.

Continue to pray that the Lord will bless our staff and all the hard work they are providing to Morningside and its membership! We look forward to wonderful things ahead!

3rd Quarter Highlights
The Global Missions Committee worked closely with Truth Spring 6th Avenue Project. Volunteers for construction have been organized, and funding for this project has been realized through the generous donations from Morningside members.

Additional local missions help has been given through donations to Brown Bag Ministries, SafeHouse Ministries, and Sound Choices.

Assistance to foreign missions has been given through donations to Healing Hour Ministries, CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), Baptists in Israel, and International Friendship Ministries.

4th Quarter upcoming missions
October 23rd will be a street celebration and banquet at the 6th Avenue construction site.        
November 13th will be a Pack & Pie session to prepare boxes for Operation Christmas Child.              
November 17th will be a ministry to parents of the Morningside Preschool. One-minute videos of a missions nature are being played in the Gathering Room to highlight mission opportunities.
December is Lottie Moon Offering emphasis. All donations go to support overseas missions.

Our Building & Grounds Team donated 173 man-hours of service during the third quarter. Their projects included:

• Built Handicap Ramp for church family (84 hours)
• Paint walls/door frames in office area (40 hours)
• Build frame easel for church anniversary card (3 hours)
• Repair carriages in the Children’s Ministry Center (10 hours)
• Repair outer doors to Sanctuary (4 hours)
• Repair door hinges in Sanctuary/ladies' room and prayer room (4 hours)
• Clean storage room under the library (16 hours)
• Mark parking lot in preparation for the Market on October 15 (12 hours)  

Those who volunteer for this team are Mike Allmond, Ron Armstrong, Mike Babb, Chris Deal, Jeff Ezell, Shay Ingle, Mike Jones, Bob Jordan, Ed Karnotski, Dewey McCabe III, Dan Snow, and Joe Tassoni

Our Bereavement teams were blessed to be given the opportunity to provide meals to three of the four families who lost loved ones. We were able to serve, comfort and minister to these families and share the love of Christ in their time of grief.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 
~2 Corinthians 1:3-4