Morningside Church History
First service in 1957, Incorporated in 1958
Serving the Lord on the beautiful morning side of Greenville
Our Humble Beginnings
In 1957 Pastor Bob McClure was led of the Lord to resign his pastorate and radio work in Bristol, Virginia and return to his home town, Greenville, South Carolina. He and Mrs. McClure built their new home in the "Morningside" subdivision of Greenville, where after a short time God burdened his heart and the hearts of a few other interested saints that "our side" of Greenville needed an old-fashioned, Bible-believing, Baptist church.
After much prayer, seeking the "mind of the Lord" on the matter, they felt led to "move ahead" with the founding of Morningside Baptist Church. Thus, the church was born and began meeting in the living room of the McClure's home, located at 4 Estanolle Drive just off Richbourg Road.
Pastor McClure writes, "In Proverbs 8:34, God says, 'Blessed is the man that heareth me' (when I listen ? He talks!). I listened and He said, 'with my help and leadership build a church that will be 1) A friendly church, a warm-hearted, caring church, always with a warm Morningside handshake of love to all people; 2) a Fundamental, New Testament church, proclaiming the Gospel in power, autonomous, missionary, with Jude 3 in mind, always preaching the Book, Blood, and the Blessed Hope; 3) an educational church, teaching the whole Bible. 4) a musical church, with good spirit-filled music; 5) an evangelistic church in practice and outreach?all this as a foundation to a busy growing, glowing, prosperous New Testament Church.
God did it all! To Him goes all the glory and honor and praise! As the great hymn says, 'I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene'.'"
Historical Account
Morningside Baptist Church had its beginning in the living room of Pastor and Mrs. Bob McClure in October 1957 with eight people present at the first meeting. The group continued to meet in the McClure's living room and later moved to their basement.
In August 1958 the as yet unincorporated congregation began to meet in a small house on Fisher Drive. This home has since been torn down to make a right-of-way for Duke Power Company equipment. In September of the same year, the group erected a tent on the site of what became Alexander's store, and evangelistic services were held. Rev. Rufus Mitchell was the evangelist, and Mrs. Catherine Inglesby Fisher was the first convert when the church was incorporated. She became one of the charter members. In October 1958 the church was incorporated according to the laws of the State of South Carolina.
An important event of 1958 was the purchase of the property on East North Street. The property consisted of two lots and a small frame house that was purchased for $11,000.
The congregation held services in the house which stood where the parking lot is presently located. Membership in 1958 reached fifty-seven.
The congregation began praying and planning toward building a church sanctuary. The church faced many difficulties, including much opposition from homeowners in the community who did not want a church built in their residential area. The pastor and board members contacted the homeowners and presented to them the church's statement of faith, the goals for a future attractive sanctuary, and their certain belief that the Lord wanted the church in that neighborhood for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel.
The new building was primarily designed by Pastor McClure with some help from others. The final designs and plans were drawn up by the architect brother of Cecil Edwards, one of the first deacons.
Ground was broken in 1960 and the building begun. Some difficulties developed with the contracting work, but the Lord overruled and the basement was completed and occupied in 1961. The church then sold the little house for $500 and it was moved away to make room for the parking lot.
East North Street Property
The sanctuary on East North Street was first occupied in 1962. Since then many improvements have been made. At first metal chairs were used in both the basement and the auditorium. In the mid-sixties the pews, pulpit furniture, and choir seats were installed. The pulpit itself, however, was put in place in 1960. Pastor McClure designed the pulpit and had it built. Later Mr. Clyde Howard reworked it to match the pews. In 1967 the piano and organ were purchased, and in 1968 the carpeting was installed. The East North Street property was completely free of debt when Pastor McClure resigned in 1972.
In the early eighties when the congregation began to outgrow the seating capacity, the metal chairs were moved from the balcony and folding theater-style seats were put in. Additional seats were also added in the choir loft and the platform extended to accommodate them. A new Public Address system was designed and installed by Mr. George Rogier, and the organ console speaker was placed in the wall above the baptistery window.
In order to make more space for Sunday School and for choir practice, the church began to the use the YMCA quarters next door as well as two rooms in the Medical Center. Junior Church was also begun in the YMCA so that more space in the auditorium would be available for the growing congregation.
Strange Road Property
In August 1974, property on Strange Road in Taylors, consisting of a house and over three acres of land, was purchased for $33,500. Under the leadership of Pastor Looper, the new property was financed by a cash down payment and the selling of $23,000 worth of bonds to the church members. By the time Pastor Looper resigned in 1977 there was money on hand to pay off all the bonds that were still outstanding.
The house was used for several years for homecomings, young people's meetings, and other church related activities, including temporary housing of missionaries while home on furlough.
After Pastor Kaster came and need for expansion was evident, it was felt that the property on Strange Road was not suitable for future church growth, and it was sold in 1981 for $46,500.
Pelham Road Property
In 1981, after a diligent search for land suitable for an expansion program, Morningside Baptist Church purchased a six-acre tract on Pelham Road just two miles beyond the East North Street building. The acreage is a beautiful level tract in a residential neighborhood. The church paid $135,000 for the land, with $40,000 down on the property and obtained a fifteen year, 11% loan on the remaining balance. The building on East North Street was listed for sale, and a new facility was planned when the sale was completed as the Lord opened the way.
Interim Location at Wade Hampton Boulevard
Meanwhile, as Morningside was "popping at the seams" the church was thrilled when, in September 1983, larger facilities became available at 2701 Wade Hampton Boulevard in an abandoned church building. In just a few days equipment was moved to the new location and the people were praising the Lord that there was now room for expansion. The newly rented building seated three times as many people as the former building and had a floor area of 14,500 square feet.
More Pelham Road Property
While the church was in the Wade Hampton facility, the church was able to purchase additional Pelham Road frontage property that included a house and its accompanying land. This completed the Pelham Road property purchase.
Building at Pelham Road - Phase One
The new building at 1115 Pelham Road was occupied in May 1988. This building included a 500 seat auditorium, office wing, nursery facilities, and three Sunday School classes.
Pelham Road - Atkins Wing
A new addition to the Pelham Road property was completed in the summer of 1993 and included a full-size gymnasium, more nursery facilities, a fellowship hall, a kitchen, and approximately 12 Sunday School class rooms.
Pelham Road - Phase Three
Phase three of the building on Pelham Road includes the present Auditorium, additional nursery facilities, meeting rooms, Sunday School class rooms, and unfinished sections to be completed later.
Pelham Road - Hogate Wing
The Hogate wing of the new Auditorium wing includes 11 classrooms on the two floors of the west side of the building and was completed in the summer of 2000. This wing is dedicated to the memory of Lewis Hogate who was a deacon and who was taken to be with the Lord in a tragic motorcycle accident.
Pelham Road - Harvey Wing
The Harvey wing completed in the fall of 2001, is made up of the second floor south side of the Auditorium wing. This section will be used as classroom, and music space until the rest of the classroom areas are completed. Once that is finished this area will revert to its original planned purpose of being the music wing with some education space, complete with choir and instrumental practice rooms and a music library.
Pelham Road - Future: Final Education Wing
This area will be on the east side of the Auditorium wing above the Nursery wing, and will house additional classrooms.
Pelham Road - Future: Administration Wing
The Administration wing will be comprised of the first floor south wing of the Auditorium wing, and will house the Church Offices, Open Door Baptist Missions, a conference room, and a reception area.
Pelham Road - Future: Conversion of Old Admin Wing to Classrooms
Once the offices are moved from the original wing to the Administration wing of the Auditorium wing, the old offices will be converted into classrooms, and there is the potential to convert a portion of the old auditorium into four to six classrooms as growth demands.
Founding Pastor
Rev. Bob McClure
October 1957 - December 1971
John Robert McClure and Carolyn Frances McClure are the parents of five children: John Robert, James Steven, Carolyn Leight, Jonathan Taylor, and Mark David. Pastor McClure was born April 15, 1926. His educational background includes the M.A. Degree from Mars Hill College, and the B.A. degree from Bob Jones University. He attended Moody Bible Institute and holds the Honorary Doctor of Law degree from Florida Research, and the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Fundamental Bible Seminary. Dr. McClure's present ministry involves Missionary Radio. His life verse is Philippians 1:6.
Other Pastors
Rev. Bob Persson
December 1971 - March 1972
The late Robert Edward Persson and Ada Frances Persson are the parents of three children: Robert E., Cindy, Steven. Pastor Persson was born October 23, 1923 and went to be with the Lord on April 14, 1979. His educational background includes training at the University of Wisconsin and Bob Jones University. His other ministries include the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Elizabethtown, Tennessee, and the First Baptist Church, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. He served many years in the field of evangelism.
Interim Period
March 1972 - August 1972
Rev. Wallace Looper
August 1972 - August 1977
Wallace Robert Looper and Mary Joann Looper are the parents of two children: Rick, and Randy. Pastor Looper was born September 9, 1932. His educational background includes the M.A. Degree from the University of South Carolina. Other pastorates were Midway Baptist in Pickens, South Carolina; Fairview Baptist in Norris, South Carolina; Roanoke Baptist in Loerbty, South Carolina, and the Calvary Baptist Church in Belvidere, Illinois. He left Morningside to serve as a staff evangelist at Calvary Baptist Church. Pastor Looper's life verse is Ephesians 2:10.
Interim Period
August 1977 - February 1978
Rev. William Miller
February 1978 - July 1979
William Raymond Miller and Jennie Mae Miller are the parents of three children: Danny, Susan, and Tim. Pastor Miller was born February 3, 1936. His educational background includes the B.A. Degree from Dallas Bible College. Pastor Miller's other ministries were as pastor of the Kenderick Bible Church in Rush, Colorado. His present ministry is the Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Sebastian, Florida. His life verse is Galatians 2:20.
Interim Period
July 1979 - December 1979
Rev. Max Kaster
December 1979 - July 1986
Max James Kaster and Linda Ruth Kaster are the parents of five children: Jonathan, Jennifer, Jefferson, Jacquelyn, and Joshua. Pastor Kaster was born October 25, 1941. His educational background includes training at the University of Wisconsin, College of Lake County (Illinois), Kenosha College (Wisconsin) and holds a B.A. Degree from Bob Jones University. He served with the U.S. Navy on active duty for fourteen years plus nine years in the Naval Reserve, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 1982. His previous ministries include the pastorate of Faith Baptist Church, Greenville, South Carolina and Founder-Pastor of the Faith Baptist Church in Sweetser, Indiana. His life verses are Ephesians 6:18-20.
Interim Period
July 1986 - October 1986
Pastor Al McClaran
May 1982 - May 1983: Part-Time Youth Pastor
May 1983 - August 1986: Full-Time Youth Pastor
July 1986 - October 1986: Interim Pastor
October 1986 - May 30, 2004: Senior Pastor
Alvie C. and Julie McClaran are the parents of four children: Alvie III, Robert, Holly Jean, and Jordan. Pastor McClaran was born June 10, 1958. His educational background includes a B.A. Degree from Bob Jones University, an M.A. Degree from Bob Jones University. He also holds the Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Ambassador Baptist College. His previous ministries include traveling with the Phil Schuler Evangelistic team and the Youth Pastorate of Morningside Baptist Church before becoming the senior pastor, and three summers of ministry with Neighborhood Bible Time during his college years. Pastor McClaran took Morningside through a relocation, and three seperate building programs, from a 200 seat building to a 1200 seat auditorium, and full educational and recreational facilities.
Interim Period
May 30, 2004 - August 15, 2004