Dear Highlands Family,

Decade of Destiny is built on God’s promises of blessing that He’s given us in His Word.  Each of these promises has a premise – a condition we must follow in faith in order to receive God’s blessing.  

Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done unto you.” Matthew 9:29.  

For the next 3 years, Highlands will focus on helping you grow in these 7 key areas through seminars, resources, sermon series, events, personal tools, retreats, small group curriculum, mentoring,  social networking, service opportunities, and many other channels.

Between Easter 2011 and Easter 2014, we intend to work toward...

1.  Finishing The Great Commission by bringing in key leaders/pastors from every nation to train in the purposes of God and sending them back to reach the world.  We will partner with Nigeria, equipping the nation’s pastors for national transformation.  We will partner with PEACE churches around the world to reach the last unreached people groups, plant PEACE and finish Jesus’ command to go to all nations.

2.  Reaching and Raising Up The Next Generation by pouring into our youth and children, equipping them to carry out God’s purposes.  We will empower the next generation of Highlands’ leaders, using our first generation of  members to mentor our second generation of young leaders and families. We will establish an intern program to train both young and second career staff leaders.

3.  Starting Churches by opening new Highlands campuses throughout the Appalachian mountains and beyond, being one church in many locations.  We will establish a church-planting academy at our Global PEACE House to train both young and second career members/partners to be church staff leaders and serve at our new campuses.  

4.  Personalizing the Purposes by equipping our members/attenders through purpose pastors specially trained to deepen every member/attender spiritually, serve supernaturally and share boldly.  We will embark on finishing out our permanent facilities for our many campuses!   Half of the DOD offering given at each regional campus will go to building fund accounts for each particular campus.  In Bristol, this means we’ll finish the site plan to build.  In Johnson City, we’ll finish out the second floor for youth/children and purchase the facility.  In Marion, we’ll finish out the new facility and move in.  We will establish a PEACE Center on our Abingdon campus to house our food pantry, clothes closet, counseling, a free clinic, benevolence, and car ministry in one location.  We will refurbish our Abingdon site and upgrade our video capabilities to connect all our sites to a live feed.  We will energize our congregation with a comprehensive fitness and wellness program to help us all become healthier.  We will enrich our lives, marriages, and families through a Retreat Center offering programs for renewal and revival.

These four major initiatives will help us embody the love of Christ, exalt Him in all we do, entrust him with our lives, encourage each other, experience the thrill of being used by God, expect God to keep his promises,  and enjoy the life we’re destined to live!

GOD’S BLESSING ON YOU

God’s Word tells us repeatedly that both acting in faith and giving in faith release God’s blessing in our lives, so one of the faith commitments we’re making this weekend is our three-year giving commitment. 

“Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle  matters like this triggers God’s blessing in EVERYTHING you do, in ALL your  work  and your ventures.”   Deuteronomy 15:10  

Only one other time in our history have we made three-year commitments.  In 1997, the attenders and members of Highlands (230 in average attendance) committed to “Time To Build” so we could worship in our own facility.  They gave and sacrificed for the vision and three years later, on Easter Sunday 2000, God did a miracle and we worshiped together at the Abingdon Campus.  Today every campus enjoys the benefits of their sacrificial generosity.  Now God is taking us to the next level of trusting Him.

1.  Hold a family conference to pray and discuss your faith gift.  Involving children is a learning experience and teaches them generosity and faith.

2.  Talk about the ways has God has blessed your life.  Ask “How can I show how grateful I am to God?”

“I will give you an offering to show thanks to you God”  Psalm 116:17
"I will not sacrifice to the Lord an offerings that cost me nothing."                    2 Samuel 24:24

3.  Expect God to stretch your faith!  Giving by REASON asks “What can I afford?” Giving by REVELATION asks, “Lord, what do you want to give through me? What amount would stretch my faith, force me to really trust you and depend on your promises?” The first number that comes into your mind is usually just a starting point.  Don’t decide in a hurry. If you’ve never tithed (giving the first 10% of your income) that’s a good place to start.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”  Hebrews 11:6

“Your giving proves the reality of your faith...”  2 Corinthians 9:13

“What matters is not the amount but what you are willing to give.”  

                                                                                 2 Corinthians 8:12

4.  Give four different ways:

1)  Give a cash gift- by check, cash, card, or online  

www.highlandsfellowship.com  transfer.

2)  Make a 36 month faith commitment. Use the enclosed envelope.

3)  Give stocks or securities. 

4) Make Highlands Fellowship  a beneficiary in your will.  I have, you can too!

The easiest way is to do this online at www.highlandsfellowship.com . We can help assist you in any of these four ways, including setting up a simple and easy automatic online giving account for you.   Call 1-276-628-3297 and ask for Lora Fuller or e-mail her at lfuller@highlandsfellowship. com.

“NOT EQUAL GIFTS BUT EQUAL SACRIFICE”

Our theme is “Not equal gifts but equal sacrifice.” God doesn’t expect us to give the same amount, but we can each give in a way that represents a sacrifice for each of us. For some, a sacrificial gift given over three years might be $1,000.  For others a sacrifice might require giving 100 times that amount.  If you’re honest to God, He will impress an amount in your mind.

Dear Father, I pray for your blessing, peace, and wisdom on the one reading this letter. For 15 years you have used ordinary people in our church family to do the impossible over and over.  You have challenged us and stretched our faith – and sometimes it scared us to death!  But every time you keep your promises, and you come through.  I now pray that you will raise up another generation of individuals and families who will trust you completely so you can do mighty things in our lives, our careers, our families, and in our church . We want to create a spiritual legacy so that when we stand before you one day, we’ll hear you say “Well done, good and faithful servant!”  Help each of us to take the greatest step of faith we’ve ever taken so that Decade of Destiny will be our best and most blessed years. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

I am so excited to see you this weekend!  It’s a privilege to be your pastor. 

Pastor Jimmie

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