Dear Morningside Church Family,

On Thursday, March 24th, I attended the first Truth Spring Pray & Plan gathering at Highland Community Church. Pastor Rob Strickland and his wife, Carrie, led the meeting. Various individuals from different churches had gathered in support of the Truth Spring 6th Avenue Project. I was already hooked, having gone to dinner with the Stricklands last fall and having heard them tell the story of Highland Community Church and Truth Spring. My main interest at the Pray & Plan gathering was to discern how the Lord would allow us to connect as a congregation with this important kingdom work and mobilize as a congregation for all that God is preparing to do.

At some point during the gathering, I recall Carrie Strickland asking each group representative to share a bit about why we had come to the meeting. What had drawn us to the Truth Spring 6th Avenue Project, she wanted to know. When it was my turn to share, I responded: “Jesus said that the wind blows where it wills. He was talking about the Spirit moving, working in the world. I may not be able to predict what he will do or control how he will move, but above all else I long to be where he is doing what he is doing. That’s why I’m here. I can see the wind blowing, and I want us, the people of Morningside, to be here—where he is, doing what he’s doing.”

I share this experience with you, church family, because I want you to hear my heart. My heart is for the Highland Community, for the Truth Spring 6th Avenue Project, and for the kingdom work God is doing there. But make no mistake, my ultimate desire is to find God where he is working and join him in his work!

The reason we have joined in partnership with these wonderful ministries, the reason I recruited a Leadership Team and requested the Missions Committee and Elders to lend their support, the reason I invited Carrie Strickland to speak at Morningside last month, and the reason we are asking all of you to give generously to this project… is because the wind is blowing. The Spirit of God is on the move!

May we always be a people who seek the Lord, who follow where he leads, who listen for his voice and join him in his work.

Your Servant in Christ,

The deacons continue to focus on family ministry and meeting any needs that arise around the church. Please let your deacon know if you have any questions, concerns, or prayer requests. Keep in mind they can be one of your prayer partners.

This is a reminder that the first and second week of October is when we as a church nominate both deacons and elders for the next term. So, between now and October, prayerfully consider those that you feel should be nominated for those roles. Two attributes to consider are "service" and "discernment".

The finance committee has met monthly and reviewed the finances for the quarter. We feel we are in good financial condition despite the increases in prices for goods and services. Our church, like our own households, is impacted by inflation and the rising prices we all have to pay. We are blessed that we have the reserves to weather the storm and are carefully reviewing our expenses.

I am pleased to report that all of the bills for the Freely project have been paid and as of June 30, 2022, we have $47,540.50 in the Money Market Account for seed money for the future needs of the FMC.

As inflation is hitting all of us, I encourage you to remain faithful in giving to the church so we can continue to minister to our members and community.

The NextGen summer ministry calendar has distinguished this ministry quarter as one of the most exciting. The student summer calendar is filled with pool parties, summer camp, a day retreat at Impact 360, and a Chatt-a-hoots game. The most significant week for children's ministry was the Spark Studios VBS throughout the week of June 20. We were blessed with 54 leaders who made it possible to serve 105 preschool, elementary, and middle school students. The week was filled with music, biblical teaching, crafts, missions, games, and snacks that were designed to spark kids' creativity and imagination as they learned about our Creator's plan to redeem, reclaim, and transform us.

Also, a group of elementary boys and dads just returned from a trip to Camp McCall, which is an adventure camp in the South Carolina mountains that also features worship, teaching, and missions education.

The kids’ ministry had one more Wonder Filled Summer Bible study on July 20 and the Rigsby Water World Trip is planned for July 27.

As the next quarter of kids’ ministry approaches, we are looking forward to relaunching Kids’ Worship each week during the morning worship service. The first Sunday of Kids Worship was July 17. Promotion Sunday is August 7. Wednesday night Breakout for elementary kids will relaunch September 7.

The personnel committee will hold its next meeting in August. We have been working with the new Director of Weekday Preschool, Christina Baptiste, on job descriptions and questions regarding new teachers for the upcoming school year. We are looking forward to a great 2022-23 enrollment. We ask each of you to keep our weekday preschool program in your prayers. It is a great outreach program for MBC. We are doing well with our staffing currently and look forward to a new and exciting year to continue to build God’s kingdom! We would ask you, the church, to please keep all our staff in your prayers each day as they strive to serve and disciple any and all who need or reach out to them!

In May, Bob Jordan led a Construction Mission to Camp Hawkins in north Georgia. This week-long mission included several Morningside men as well as men from other churches. They worked hard in the Georgia mountains repairing the camp in time for the first campers to arrive.

Kathy Sims, joined by volunteers from Bible Fellowship classes, hosted a breakfast for Weekday Preschool parents in May. Morningside hosted a lunch for Faith & Blue, a law enforcement support organization, on May 6. On June 16, Morningside hosted a regional meeting for leaders of Operation Christmas Child (part of Samaritan's Purse). Morningside has a long history of participation with this mission, and the meeting was a way of sharing the OCC idea with other churches.

Charles Ellis coordinated household supplies and goods donations to Trinity House, a women's shelter which is part of the Wynnton Neighborhood Housing mission. Rick Stallings coordinated with SafeHouse Ministries, a local mission working with homeless and substance abuse recovery, with food distribution operations.

Carrie Strickland from Truth Spring, Inc., spoke to Morningside on June 26 about this local mission field in Columbus's North Highland neighborhood. Truth Spring concentrates on an Academy, family housing, and vocational training. Morningside will have a Construction Team when work begins on October 24. The Global Missions Committee encourages everyone to get involved in this local mission, which is showing such spiritual, life-changing results.

Morningside's Global Missions Committee has been at work with these local, state, and international missions and projects. We want to share the good news and we want to be careful with the offerings entrusted to us. Most importantly, we want to bring the mission field to each member of the congregation so that we can each find a way to share in God's work.

Chris Deal provided approximately 30 hours of labor to prepare and paint walls in the church offices where office doors have been relocated.

The Bereavement team provided meals for two Morningside families at the loss of their loved ones. 

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