Morningside Baptist Church History
Morningside Baptist Church began as a mission church in 1949 at the corner of Converse Street and Collins Avenue when Southside Baptist Church in Spartanburg purchased a military chapel from the former Camp Croft facility and moved the building to this site. The first service was held in the reconstructed chapel July 31, 1949. By March 1950, the mission church had progressed to the point that members voted to request independence from Southside. Morningside became an official entity on June 4, 1950, with former Southside Associate Pastor Lewis Brazell becoming its first pastor and establishing a solid foundation.
Rev. Fred Dabney, who became the second pastor November 23, 1952, led the church to rapid growth. A new sanctuary, seating 800, opened May 8, 1955. Rev. James Gibson, who had been pastor in Salisbury, North Carolina, became Morningside's third pastor May 20, 1962. After a study of the church's existing facilities, plans were made for an additional educational building. Rev. Gibson resigned in September 1965 to accept a call as pastor of First Baptist in Asheboro, North Carolina.
Rev. Joe Crook became Morningside's fourth pastor in April 1966. Two years into his ministry, the church's education addition was opened. The 1970's brought monumental change to Morningside. The church moved from a changing inner-city neighborhood to the edge of town, reconstructing itself on a new site, while keeping alive the heart of its mission as a force to be used by God. Thompson Street Baptist Church, which purchased the original property, is now known as Cornerstone Baptist Church.
While Morningside's new Pine Street facility was under construction, the congregation held Sunday morning services at Pine Street Elementary School and used the facilities of the former Ruth Memorial Presbyterian Church on Union Street. The new church building was dedicated February 6, 1977. Rev. Crook resigned in May 1979, and Rev. Mike McGee became the fifth pastor of Morningside in November 1979. Mission trips became a major emphasis as church members traveled to Belize, the Grand Cayman Islands, Korea, Uruguay, Chile, and many other parts of the world. The church's youth group began an annual summer mission trip that has become a highlight of the youth ministry each year.
Dr. Kirk Neely, already familiar to many in the Spartanburg community, became the sixth pastor of Morningside in June 1996 when Rev. McGee retired at the end of May 1996. The church enjoyed phenomenal growth following Dr. Neely's arrival. For the church year ending September 1996, 221 new members had joined. During the next two years, 435 more individuals joined Morningside. The accelerated attendance at Sunday morning worship resulted in a decision to have two morning services so that no one would be turned away. The theme of "We are a Family of Faith, Living in Hope, Serving in Joy, Bonded in Love" has become a trademark of the ministry under Dr. Neely.
As Sunday School attendance soared, rooms used for storage were converted into classrooms. In 1998, an annex building was constructed for use by church Scout troops and as Sunday School classroom space. In December 1998, the church purchased the adjacent 2.2 acres and the Reidman office building, which was converted into educational space for youth, young and median adults.
By the end of 1999, Morningside was drawing active members from five counties. The church had 1,594 members and employed nine full-time staff. Morningside Baptist Church celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday, June 4, 2000, with an outside worship service and dinner on the grounds. The church's master plan called for an addition of a two-story education and fellowship facility to afford space for the growing congregation. With the adoption of a fundraising campaign known as “Growing Together for God,” the church broke ground on Sunday, August 12, 2001, for an educational wing containing a Fellowship Hall that would seat 550, 22 new classrooms for youth, young and median adults, and a youth recreation room that would hold 100 young people. Dedication services were held in the completed facility, built by Roebuck Builders, on Sunday, November 17, 2002.
The work on the "morning side" of town, which began over a half-century ago, continues. As a Global Mission Church, we are seeking to advance the Kingdom of God. Morningside is a Southern Baptist Church and fully supports Southern Baptist missions. The church recognizes God's call in the lives of all people and ordains both men and women as deacons and as ministers.
Purpose Statement
Morningside Baptist Church is a family of faith, bonded in love.
Our purpose is to welcome people into God's family upon repentance of their sins and profession of their faith in Jesus Christ and enable them to grow to Christian maturity.
To fulfill its purpose:
We ENCOURAGE growth in faith and knowledge through the teaching of God's Word and Christian discipleship.
We INVITE every person .to meaningful and reverent worship of God that renews, refreshes, and restores.
We PROMOTE Christian fellowship through unconditional acceptance and an attitude of Christian unity.
We SERVE God through ministry according to our spiritual gifts and the leadership of His Spirit in individual lives and in our community.
We SHARE our personal faith in Jesus Christ through personal testimony and a Christian life-style in the context of our relationship.
