2024Â Church Theme: "Committment" Commit to thel Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans Proverbs 16:3
Our Pastor
Rev. Duane F. Hunter
The Reverend D.F. Hunter is the son of Dennis and Dorothy F. Hunter and the grandson of the late Reverend Dr. A.H. Hunter. Reverend Dr. A.H. Hunter pastored for over 50 years. Sensitive to God’s calling in his life, Pastor Hunter followed in his grandfather’s footsteps. Under that influence, Pastor D.F Hunter accepted Christ as his Savior in 1965, was ordained as a Deacon in 1987, received his calling in 1988, and ordained to preach the Gospel in 1989 at Antioch Baptist Church under the Pastorship of his grandfather.
Pastor Hunter has a kind and open spirit that reaches out to everyone in which he comes in contact with. His laughter is infectious, smile is contagious and his personality exuberates joy for the Lord our God. He is a graduate of East High School in Erie, Pa. Pastor Hunter, has been blessed to serve as a Driver for the Erie Metropolitan Transportation Authority "E" for over twenty-five years. He also served as a Union Officer for twenty plus years while employed at EMTA. Pastor Hunter is a member of the African American Concerned Clergy (AACC) and has taken an active role in encouraging the community to get vaccinated through the Covid-19 pandemic “Don’t Hesitate, Vaccinate campaign.
Reverend D.F Hunter was called to serve as the Pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church in Erie, Pa. in 2013. Pastor Hunter’s vision for Morning Star Baptist church is to bridge the gap to bring together people of all ages, race, ethnicity, and stages of life in spiritual worship and ministry. Since his appointment to Morning Star Baptist Church, he and the congregation have been actively involved in examining the church’s internal and external operations.
Pastor D.F. Hunter is married to the former Kicole S. Watson. They were joined in holy matrimony on November 21, 2015. He continues to pray someday First Lady Hunter will become a Cleveland Browns fan. Pastor D.F. Hunter shares with First Lady Hunter 3 beautiful children: 2 daughters, Tyler and Jalena, and a son Andrias. They are blessed with 3 beautiful grandsons and a precious granddaughter.
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"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land". II Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
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May God continue to rain blessings on you and your family Pastor and First Lady Hunter.
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Covid 19 Pandemic
&
Our Response
In 2019, a virus known as COVID 19 quickly became a global pandemic. Preventive measures such as social distancing (6 feet apart), wearing masks outside as well as indoors (during large gatherings) became the norm. The government recommended and at times mandated interventions such as travel restrictions, lockdowns, business restrictions and closures, and workplace safety protocols. Those exposed to COVID-19 were required to quarantine for 7-14 days, pop up testing and vaccination clinics were available and contract tracing was conducted to get a count of how worldwide the various had spread. While the government recommended and mandated lockdowns, Pastor D.F. Hunter, relied on religious freedom and creatively worked to ensure that Morning Star doors remained open. Although the pews were empty the preached Word continued to be spread to members via Facebook Live Stream and YouTube.
In 2019, to prepare the church for the return of members, structural renovations were made to the building and the sanctuary. The Communion table was removed from the pulpit and placed in front of the altar to open up the pulpit. Also, a room was reconstructed and made into the new Trustees office. These changes provide adequate space for social distancing. To provide even more access to weekly services, the Morning Star Baptist Church website was created. The website will make remote attendance possible for members and guests who do not have Facebook and when in person attendance is not possible.
Lastly, according to the CDC, COVID-19 is constantly changing, and new variants of the virus are expected to occur. Pastor Hunter and the leadership team will continue to find ways to make church services more accessible in times of crisis, and keep up to date on technology for future improvements for the safety and growth of the church and membership.
Pastor Hunter and Morning Star Baptist Church give our sincere condolences to the members, families and friends that have contracted the virus and/or lost love ones during this pandemic.