Volunteers gather to rebuild Morningstar Baptist Church’s playground

Dozens of volunteers got together on Saturday to bring a playground back to life for one church community.

There were weeds in the ground, a crooked basketball hoop and busted swings. This playground has not been used in years and has seen better days.

But, with new paint, the place could begin to improve.

The Morningstar Church Community in Tice is still recovering from a fire that burned the main church building down about two months ago.

“Buildings burned, ministry goes on,” said Dwight Williams, former Morningstar interim pastor.

The recovery goes on as well.

Through a partnership with its sister church, Crossroads Baptist Church, more than 40 teenagers showed up to revitalized the playground.

“We’re just coming alongside to assist in that to help get them to a healthy place and get to a better place,” said David Gold, lead pastor at Crossroads Baptist Church.

Michael Lemon also came out from Crossroads to help. “Everyone knows how to play. Everyone knows how to have fun. So we’re trying to build a bridge into the community.”

Volunteers were hard at work pulling weeds, shoveling and raking fresh mulch and installing brand new mulch, and installing brand new swings.

This gives the community more than just a place to play.

“It’s going to give hope to the community because I see them playing in their driveways, playing in the street. Now they have a place to they can play be safe,” Lemon said.

“It means everything to the community just that we’re still here,” Williams said.

Part of the renovation is scaling down the high fence that surrounds the playground, in hopes of making the playground more inviting.