History

The Morningstar United Methodist Church was “launched” in 1995 in what is now the South-Central District of the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church. The Reverend Doctor Steve West, founding pastor, was sent as a “Church Planter” to Chelsea to begin a new church. Pursuing the dream of a vibrant and regional United Methodist Church for the growing Chelsea area, he began gathering a “launch team,” a team of twelve leaders called the “Pioneer Team” to begin the journey.
 
With ministries and opportunities for service geared specifically for all ages as a cross generational community of faith, Morningstar – in the almost 26 years of its existence - has grown to a wonderfully thriving congregation with approximately 290 active servant leaders. With God’s help, we plan to start on the second phase of our building (multi-purpose facility for Modern Worship, Youth, Children, Small Groups, and a commercial kitchen) in the next few years. 

All thanks to our God who has and will continue to make all things possible!

June 1995 – Steve West appointed as pastor to the Chelsea area to “plant” a new church   
November 12, 1995 – First service held in Chelsea High School auditorium
May 26, 1996 - Morningstar was “chartered” as a United Methodist Congregation with 98 “charter” servant leaders  
September 1998 – 15 ½ acres was purchased for our current campus location of 11072 Highway 11, Chelsea, AL 35043.
May 5, 2002 – Ground-Breaking Ceremonies were held for the first phase of the building on campus.
December 24, 2002 – The first Worship Experience was held in the new facility on Christmas Eve. The first offering received in this building directly benefited the construction of a new Worship Space for a United Methodist congregation in Mozambique on the African continent.
January 5, 2003 – Morningstar began full ministry operations within the new facility.
September 2003 - The Shining Stars Mom’s Day Out Pre-School ministry was established. 
June 2004 – Rev. Bryan Sisson appointed as the 2nd Lead Pastor of Morningstar UMC.
June 2008- Rev. John Mullaney appointed as the 3rd Lead Pastor of Morningstar UMC.
June 2012 - Rev. Mark Puckett appointed as the 4th Lead Pastor of Morningstar UMC.
June 2013 - A commitment was made to be a Community of Faith with an “Acts 1:8 Mindset,” in which we choose to serve God and seek to build the Kingdom of God with a local, regional, and international ministry mindset.
June 2014 - Our first international ministry team was sent to Guatemala to serve in the mountain villages. God has worked through us as we partner with the ministry of “Eyes Wide Open Ministries,” led by Daniel and Brandi McIntyre.
May 2015 - A concentrated effort on reducing our capital debt began and we were able to eliminate almost $1 million dollars of debt through a three-year pledge drive, refinancing our loan at a lower interest rate, and paying more above the principle each month through wise budgeting. The driving catalyst for this effort was to become debt free and able to invest more money into actual ministry.
June 2016 - We brought the New Heights UMC on to the campus and began the adoption process.
June 2017 - We planted a new Church in Zambia (African Continent).
June 2018 - Team 316 began as an effort to serve and invest in our children and youth.
April 2020 - A full Online Worship Experience was added alongside our LIVE and In-Person Worship Experiences