Sermon Series at The Heights


Missions

“The kingdom of God is near.”  Jesus makes this declaration in the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark.  He goes on to pose a kingdom question to twelve of his closest friends in Mark 4:30 when he asks with almost a hint of pontification, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like…?”  As I consider this question I cannot help but think about people and places both near and far where The Heights is proclaiming and demonstrating the kingdom of God in love, gentleness, boldness, kindness, generosity and prayer-laced faithfulness.  In the local and global community The Heights is investing in people, partnerships, and ministries as they continue living lives of mission.

“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like?”  I say the kingdom is like:

  • Quarterly GO and BE projects that so many of our church family invested in this year

    --3 Trees: over 200 people from The Heights family provided Christmas for over 220 children from 70 family units in our community

    --Habitat for Humanity: over 120 people from The Heights family helped build a new home for Maria Martinez of Plano

    --Cornerstone: over 200 people from The Heights family served in a day of urban ministries completing 14 different projects

    --Teacher Lounge Makeover: over 300 people from The Heights family blessed 17 public schools with new teacher lounges

  • Adult Bible Fellowships who have adopted a local community ministry and find themselves serving others on a monthly basis  
  • Teams from The Heights putting shoes on orphans’ feet in Bulgaria while serving with missionaries Paul and Judy Ridgeway
  • Heights’ missionaries Tyler, Kelly, Hannah, and Joshua Sanderford living and making a difference with the good news of the Gospel in the Ukraine with the Navigators. 
  • Volumes of Heights family members serving families at The Lighthouse at Park Plaza every day of the week
  • Partnering with 3 church plants in New York City and Austin: www.apostlesnyc.com (J.R. Vasser), www.mosaicaustin.org (Don Vanderslice), www.oakgroveabbey.com (Greg Willis)
  • Partnering with Rafiki ministries in Africa to serve the poor with medical attention
  • Heights’ summer missionaries Jeff Sutton, Paul Henry, Erin Rodermund, Caroline Brown, Missy Zabka, and Emily Holder investing the summer months in Africa, India, and England.
  • The way Heights’ musical missionary Brent Clifford has helped lead students to Christ the past two years of his life throughout the southern United States while playing the drums in a worship band through Enlightened Ministries.
  • Heights’ missionary Brian Dusek planting his life in New Zealand this year with a team that is sharing the Gospel through Adventures in Missions
  • Hearing the stories of changed lives from the United Kingdom as Heights year out missionaries Paige Winborn, Melissa Carlsen, Mallory Zabka, Rachel Harris, and Ashley Boysen serve faithfully with Tees Valley Youth for Christ in Northeast England.
  • The way Heights’ missionary Molly Adams uprooted her skills in teaching High School English in Plano and is now planted in Middlesbrough, England not only teaching English to the English, but also has been  building relationships for the purpose of evangelism in partnering ministries across the pond for the past two years.

These are just 12 pictures that come to mind when I consider what the kingdom of God is like.  There are volumes of other stories and pictures that could help give us answers to Jesus’ question in Mark 4.  This Sunday will you join us as we celebrate what God has done in his kingdom through The Heights and our many mission endeavors both near and far over this past year?  We are in for a real treat as Jon Burns, director of NE1 (www.ne1online.org) from Northeast England will be sharing a British perspective on what The Heights and their team of 50 missionaries last July had to do with over 100 social action ministry projects, 600 decisions that responded to the message of Jesus, and thousands of seeds of the Gospel which were sewn in the United Kingdom to potentially bear the fruit of the kingdom of God.  (Click here for more information on Jon Burns) 

Yes, I look forward to hearing that wonderful English accent on Sunday once again.  More importantly, I look forward to celebrating what God has done in and through The Heights in missions this past year.  I also look forward to praying with you about what God would have you to do as a part of The Heights family on mission in the coming year.  The kingdom of God is indeed near. 

God Bless,
Gary

ChapelEVENING OF PRAYER 5:00pm Sunday in the CHAPEL

Join us in the chapel on Sunday evening at 5:00pm as we seek the Lord together and pray for wisdom concerning upcoming mission opportunities for The Heights that are on the horizon as the Holidays and the new year approach.  We will have a special time of prayer for those people, places, and partners serving on the mission field both near and far.  One of the local community ministry points where great mission work and ministry takes place on a daily basis is The Lighthouse at Park Plaza.  Over the past months the Missions Committee as well as a Park Plaza sub-committee appointed by the Missions Committee have been exploring how that ministry point in our community might continue to evolve for greater impact in the community in the coming days.  During our hour together we will also vote on a recommendation that is being brought from the Missions Committee asking that the church empower the Missions Committee to explore the possibility of starting a church plant at Park Plaza.  This would be done in conjunction with the BGCT, DBA and other potential partners.  Any recommendations would be brought to the church for approval at a later date.  Will you be praying for the men and women giving leadership to The Heights missions endeavors while they serve on our Missions Committee?  Those individuals are: Scott Seale-Chairman, Allie Flo Voss, Darrell Grice, Anita Blankenship, John Basinger, Jennifer Harrell, Dave Swiney, Nancy Viamonte, Ron Boring, Wes Spiegel, Stacey Raymer, and David Vanderslice.  Those serving on the Park Plaza sub-committee are: John Basinger-Chairman, Don Barr, Peggy Edwards, Scott Seale, and Marcos Hernandez.  David Rogers and Richard Covington are staff liaisons on both committees.  Will you commit to praying for God to continue showing The Heights the people, places, and partners He would have us linking hearts, hands, and lives with in the coming days?  Will you be so bold to ask God what part He desires for you to play in this kingdom story of mission He continues to write?  How will you pray?  What will you give?  Where will you go?  Whose life will be changed during the Holiday season because of your obedience to follow God’s lead?

Countdown to ChristmasCOUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS KICKING OFF THE SEASON

Speaking of the Holidays…over 600 women bought tickets to enjoy an evening of fellowship and to hear a fresh word from God about this special season of the year celebrating the birth of Christ.  Will you join me in praying for this great invest and invite opportunity among our community?  May God use this year’s COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS to bring many women into a relationship with Himself during the holidays.  May they indeed be Holy-Days.

 

HOLIDAY AT THE HEIGHTS—SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9th

Point of Grace Concert

CHILDREN’S MUSICAL—SUNDAY @ 6:30pm in the WORSHIP CENTER

The Heights Baptist Church - 201 West Renner Road - Richardson, Texas 75080 - 972.238.7243
www.theheights.org | www.thegreenelephant.org