To all who served on committees in 2024, we thank you for your time, guidance, and prayers. We appreciate those who suggested names to possibly serve on committees in 2025. We could tell you had considered each committee and its purpose.

If approved, these are the Committees, Trustees, and Church Clerk for 2025. The names bolded would be new to these positions.

Finance Committee: Tracey Beatty, Chair, Lisa Adams, Debbie Braun, Alice Hiltibrand, Dan Snow, and Marie Taylor
Global Missions: Becky Brown, Roy Davis, Allison Drummond, Sheila Ezell, Sondra Hart, Barbara Ingle, and Donna Stallings
Personnel: Mike Babb, Sarah Barr, Linda Deal, Keith Heard, and Dan Malchalk
Recruitment: Rick Beatty, Stephanie Heard, Carolyn McCraw, Alan McWilliams, and Holly Sutherland
Church Clerk: Abby Helms
Trustees: Debbie Ball, Larry Kees, and Mary Stewart

Thank you.

The student ministry enjoyed a solid 4th quarter with steady attendance and participation. The major events for this quarter were The Fall Retreat and our annual Thanksgiving Cracker Barrell Breakfast. These events were not only well attended, but also brought the group closer together though worshipping Jesus. I would like to thank all my volunteers for a wonderful year, and I look forward to all the upcoming events in 2025. If you would like to be a volunteer in the student ministry, please email me at zwalsh@morningsidebaptist.com

The NextGen ministry is working with interim pastor Matt Stephens and the elders on how to best reach college students. In October we worked with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries to share the gospel on the CSU campus in Howard Hall, we plan to continue that work with the BCM as often as possible in 2025. We are also working alongside the Young Family Ministry to host family meals and various events throughout the year. The NextGen Ministry finished the quarter with a huge Christmas party for families with kids of all ages. We look forward to continuing to minister to families and students of all ages in our church and community. If you would like to know more about NextGen ministries, please email me at zwalsh@morningsidebaptist.com

The Young Family group has been walking through a Lifeway study call “Revive Us” in Bible Fellowship over the last several months. The study focuses on revival: how we position ourselves to experience it, how we recognize it when we see it, and what we should do with it. The study will conclude at the end of January, and then we’ll continue our walkthrough of Romans, starting back at chapter 9.

First and foremost, I would like to thank every volunteer who served in the Children’s Ministry for 2024. The kids have been steadily learning their way through the Bible and spent the Christmas season learning about Advent. We teamed up with the Student Ministry for our Christmas party and had a lot of fun with everyone. We will be hosting our Kids Movie Night on February 14th from 6-8pm. Sign up to reserve your spot. We have also celebrated with Blanchard Elementary with their Owl of the Month event by providing light refreshments for their achievements. We are looking forward to what the new year brings. To serve in Children’s Ministry, please email Barbara Port, bport@morningsidebaptist.com.

On November 16th, eight men spent the morning volunteering at Mobility Worldwide in Phenix City. Directed by its manager, Sam Singer, the group heard a presentation about the work of the small factory and then assembled carts to be boxed and sent to Kenya. These carts greatly impact the lives of those who have lost legs and are unable to walk. To learn more about this charity and how you can support it,  go to www.maketheworldmobile.org.

W.N.O. is continuing to be a hit as we come together and meet on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Every month, we try a different restaurant. We are meeting next at Dishoom Bistro, February 20th, and hope to see you there.

Last year, the different ministries came together for a study on mentoring and discipleship based off the Kendrick Brothers’ movie, “The Forge.” With so much in the news about mentoring, this movie showed an excellent example of just such a program. We discussed seeing the movie together once the DVD is out. It is out so stay tuned.

We are hosting Bible Studies on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday nights. Our next Tuesday morning study is “Revelation” by Jen Wilkin and will start on February 4th in the Fellowship Hall. On Wednesday nights, we are continuing with “Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament.” Our next Wednesday night study should start sometime in March.

We are hoping to start a craft night in 2025. Please contact Holly Southerland with your ideas and suggestions for a meeting time and date.

The Women’s Ministry is always looking for suggestions. Whether it is studies, pop-up events, or trips, please let us know.

The Widows Ministry has been active this last quarter. We are still collecting for Brown Bag at our gatherings. In October, we went to Olive Garden, November and December we met at the church. For our Christmas celebration, we sang Christmas carols and played Mischievous Elf. Looking forward to a great 2025!

Morningside Christian Preschool wrapped up 2024 with their Grateful Gathering and Christmas Program. Both events were well attended and brought families together to celebrate with their students. Registration for the 2025/2026 school year begins February 1st . The Reading Support Program with Blanchard Elementary has been successful in helping these students further their education. If you would like to volunteer as a tutor or come aboard as a preschool substitute, please email Barbara Port, preschooladmin@morningsidebaptist.com.

The Bereavement teams led by Diane Padgett and Cathy Gilson were blessed to provide meals for the families of Theresa Starnes and Glynn Chesser this past quarter.

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