Our Story
Morning Star New York’s story is one of God’s hope and redemption in the midst of pain and brokenness. Our congregation was birthed immediately after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, when Senior Pastor Ron Lewis, Pastor Rice Broocks, and a team journeyed to New York City to minister to a city reeling from the shock of this unspeakable tragedy.
Driving into Manhattan, Pastor Ron was deeply moved when he saw the pillar of smoke that had once been the World Trade Towers. At that moment, he felt God clearly speak to him, “Out of these ashes I will build a great church.” Sensing the urgency of the need, Pastor Ron & Pastor Rice began making immediate plans to birth a new congregation in New York.
Within a few weeks, Morning Star New York held its first worship service in the historic Lamb’s Theatre in Times Square. Over the next 5 years, MSNY saw hundreds of New Yorkers from all walks of life come through its doors. Many found God in our services and while meeting with our members, and many lives were permanently changed for the better. In 2006, the Lamb’s Theatre was sold, and MSNY entered into a new chapter of its history. We soon ended up meeting in the New York public schools, and thus began reaching the community in deeper and more effective ways.
In 2008, MSNY played a key role in birthing Stop Child Trafficking Now, a social justice movement that raises awareness for the heinous crime of child sex trafficking by targeting the demand side of this endemic. In addition, MSNY adopted Gifted Hands and a number of other ministries which serve the needs of our city.
In 2009, MSNY launched its Youth Ministry by conducting evangelistic outreaches in the streets around our headquarters at 414 West 51st St. We were blessed and amazed to see dozens of high school students come to Christ in this time. Since then, our Youth Ministry has grown, and is reaching over one hundred young people on a weekly basis. Many of the youth we reach come from broken homes, and MSNY has become a real family to them.
In 2010, MSNY birthed the 2020 Vision to plant 20 worship sites around the Greater New York City area by the year 2020. Taking the motto “One Church, Many Locations,” the 2020 vision provides New Yorkers with a local community where they can build relationships and grow spiritually, while also taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by a larger church.
Today, who we are is a diverse, multi-ethnic congregation consisting of people from all kinds of backgrounds, career fields, and aspirations. We are committed to seeing God transform this city one life at a time, and we invite you to be our guest – God may just have something incredible in store for you, too.
