Our motto-His Heart, His People, His Way.
Our Mission (His Heart)
Highland Church exists to…
Love God with our very lives, abiding in Him, knowing, magnifying, obeying, and serving Him- everywhere, with everyone, all the time
(Deut. 6:4-5, John 15:5, Phil 3:9-10).
Pursue unity within our church family, committed to the Lordship of Jesus, the authority of His Word, and the truth of the gospel; obeying Christ’s command to love one another the way He loves us- devoted to each other, as we forgive, support, serve,
and care for each member.
(John 13:34-35, John 17, Acts 2:42-47, Romans 12, I Cor. 12, Eph. 4:5-6, I Peter 4:8).
Love and serve others throughout our city and the world, and sharing the good news of salvation-
offering hope and love to those who are lost, suffering, and broken, and
(Mark 10:45 and 12:31-33, II Cor. 5:18-19).
Make disciples of the Lord Jesus, who grow In the knowledge of His Word, pray unceasingly, serve and care for His church, and share the gospel with others
(Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Col.1:28)
Love God with our very lives, abiding in Him, knowing, magnifying, obeying, and serving Him- everywhere, with everyone, all the time
(Deut. 6:4-5, John 15:5, Phil 3:9-10).
Pursue unity within our church family, committed to the Lordship of Jesus, the authority of His Word, and the truth of the gospel; obeying Christ’s command to love one another the way He loves us- devoted to each other, as we forgive, support, serve,
and care for each member.
(John 13:34-35, John 17, Acts 2:42-47, Romans 12, I Cor. 12, Eph. 4:5-6, I Peter 4:8).
Love and serve others throughout our city and the world, and sharing the good news of salvation-
offering hope and love to those who are lost, suffering, and broken, and
(Mark 10:45 and 12:31-33, II Cor. 5:18-19).
Make disciples of the Lord Jesus, who grow In the knowledge of His Word, pray unceasingly, serve and care for His church, and share the gospel with others
(Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Col.1:28)
Our “DNA”
Vision 2030
Who we will become (His people)
In grateful obedience to the Father's commands, to the glory of Christ, and under the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, Highland Church will move forward as ambassadors of the gospel-the Body of Christ; reaching within and beyond our walls to engage and connect with thousands of people-sharing the good news of Christ and making disciples. By God’s grace, we will be a community of faith, made up of ordinary people who have been rescued, redeemed, and reconciled to God through Christ and are committed to the following:
● Pursuing Christ and growing in the disciplines of the Christian faith daily (Luke 9:23).
● Embracing and ministering to the needs of everyone from every walk of life- “every nation, and every generation.” As a result, we reflect the diversity of our city - young and old, single or married. Everyone will have a place in our church.
● Reaching hundreds of children and students with the gospel and making young disciples who are actively growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus and discovering their calling.
● Serving the Lord within and beyond the church walls - meeting the needs of others within our church and our city with love, thankfulness, and joy. We embrace the hurting, the broken, and the lost with the love of Jesus.
● Gathering to exalt, enjoy, and encounter the Spirit of Christ in and among us in worship. We model the foundational disciplines of Christian growth in our church.
● Genuinely loving and caring for one another, rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn.
● Pursuing Christ and growing in the disciplines of the Christian faith daily (Luke 9:23).
● Embracing and ministering to the needs of everyone from every walk of life- “every nation, and every generation.” As a result, we reflect the diversity of our city - young and old, single or married. Everyone will have a place in our church.
● Reaching hundreds of children and students with the gospel and making young disciples who are actively growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus and discovering their calling.
● Serving the Lord within and beyond the church walls - meeting the needs of others within our church and our city with love, thankfulness, and joy. We embrace the hurting, the broken, and the lost with the love of Jesus.
● Gathering to exalt, enjoy, and encounter the Spirit of Christ in and among us in worship. We model the foundational disciplines of Christian growth in our church.
● Genuinely loving and caring for one another, rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn.
Our Approach
The Connect Initiative (His Way)
One Another (Highland Church)
1. Revise and realign our mission and vision statement.
2. Raise the importance of church membership as an investment of time, treasure, and talent in Highland Church- a call to servanthood.
3. We will develop a small-group culture, starting with Wednesday night as our primary means of training, nurturing, and support.
4. We will intensify our focus and intentional investment in our children’s and student ministries (curriculum, leadership, and training). We will develop a new curriculum and implement new scheduling/programming.
5. We will form an ongoing church-wide leadership recruitment and development program, including training and teaching. We will also develop a mentoring mindset and approach in all ministries.
6. We will develop an ongoing outreach ministry for those who move to Laurel or visit our church.
Our Christian Community
1. We will work with city leaders and local churches to develop Love Laurel, setting aside two or three specific days each year to meet the city's needs, such as cleaning up, caring for, and assisting others.
2. We will include regular prayer/intercession for other churches in our city during Wednesday night groups and Sunday worship.
3. We will offer special worship and music events that unite and celebrate the family of God throughout Laurel and Jones County.
4. We will partner with local colleges to develop a residency program for worship leaders and worship technical ministries (teaching, training, mentorship).
Our City and County
1. We will develop a Hispanic ministry. This would include staffing and space for participants to meet for worship and bible study.
2. We will start an after-school tutoring Program.
3. We will form a community music program.
4. We will develop an ongoing outreach to local colleges.
5. We will increase partnerships with and, as needed, form local need-based ministries (food, clothing, single moms, recovery).
6. We will nurture an ongoing campus connection with students and staff at all local High Schools (prayer for teachers, invite school programs join us in worship).
7. We will continue to develop regularly scheduled events and projects in conjunction with national and global ministry efforts (e.g., Samaritan’s Purse).
Our Nation and Our World
1. In addition to our ongoing support of SBC mission organizations, we will actively seek out and adopt specific church plants, missionaries, and organizations to support directly.
2. Offer two to four annual “come and see” discipleship trips for church members to support and inspire-setting aside time to focus upon the Lord and His work in these specific areas of mission work.
1. Revise and realign our mission and vision statement.
2. Raise the importance of church membership as an investment of time, treasure, and talent in Highland Church- a call to servanthood.
3. We will develop a small-group culture, starting with Wednesday night as our primary means of training, nurturing, and support.
4. We will intensify our focus and intentional investment in our children’s and student ministries (curriculum, leadership, and training). We will develop a new curriculum and implement new scheduling/programming.
5. We will form an ongoing church-wide leadership recruitment and development program, including training and teaching. We will also develop a mentoring mindset and approach in all ministries.
6. We will develop an ongoing outreach ministry for those who move to Laurel or visit our church.
Our Christian Community
1. We will work with city leaders and local churches to develop Love Laurel, setting aside two or three specific days each year to meet the city's needs, such as cleaning up, caring for, and assisting others.
2. We will include regular prayer/intercession for other churches in our city during Wednesday night groups and Sunday worship.
3. We will offer special worship and music events that unite and celebrate the family of God throughout Laurel and Jones County.
4. We will partner with local colleges to develop a residency program for worship leaders and worship technical ministries (teaching, training, mentorship).
Our City and County
1. We will develop a Hispanic ministry. This would include staffing and space for participants to meet for worship and bible study.
2. We will start an after-school tutoring Program.
3. We will form a community music program.
4. We will develop an ongoing outreach to local colleges.
5. We will increase partnerships with and, as needed, form local need-based ministries (food, clothing, single moms, recovery).
6. We will nurture an ongoing campus connection with students and staff at all local High Schools (prayer for teachers, invite school programs join us in worship).
7. We will continue to develop regularly scheduled events and projects in conjunction with national and global ministry efforts (e.g., Samaritan’s Purse).
Our Nation and Our World
1. In addition to our ongoing support of SBC mission organizations, we will actively seek out and adopt specific church plants, missionaries, and organizations to support directly.
2. Offer two to four annual “come and see” discipleship trips for church members to support and inspire-setting aside time to focus upon the Lord and His work in these specific areas of mission work.
