Icabod 5
The current state of MorningStar Ministries
News Update
Not long ago, on Substack, the issue of Morningstar attendance rose up, so I made a request to any of my subscribers in the Fort Mill area to provide that information. Last week, I put a small addendum at the end of a post thanking that person. Now we have more information to provide a better picture.
Now, before I go on, to all of you who have been detached from what is going on, or have no idea why are are doing this. I will provide a really good video, Wanda Alger did that will help to explain our intent behind all this. Of the names and faces you will see on this video, I have spoken on the phone or emailed almost all of these people more than once. There have been some good and some very good conversations, so I have no problem trusting the ones I know.
These are a part of what some day I feel will be the new faces of reformed Charismatic movements. Elders who will judge by integrity and righteousness. They are young now, but give them time.
What is happening behind closed doors @ Morningstar?
Currently, this international ministry is consistently dipping below 150 people on a Sunday morning, with much of its staff attending other churches. This lack of internal support is being felt just as much as the lack of funds. The “bleed off” is very, very slow with so few kids; you will not need both hands to count them.
Conferences
What will happen now?
Well, there are several possibilities. Normally, I would say that Rick would move product distribution back to Moravian Falls. But from what I have been told, they may be in worse shape than the Fort Mill facility. I mean, I see the dude who I replaced in distribution, who eventually got rehired, is now working as a security guard.
This, to me, along with the attendance records, makes me believe Rick is on the verge of (if he has not already done it) doing a serious cutback on staff. I would expect 50% cuts with another 25% on the way, as he needs to pay his attorneys' fees for the ministry.
At 150 people in a building this big, it is now costing the ministry more to run it on a Sunday than they are getting back.
Will Morningstar remain open in 2026? Unknown at this point. If it does, Rick will need to lean into all the money he has been paid in the past to keep the lights open. Let me give you an example of how much Rick gets paid based on the federal 990 tax forms they filed.
