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 outreachall 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.
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 Jr., 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
