Watch the video of the vision message:

The following is an article written by Ms. Janis Rowland, who serves as editor for the Highland Park Baptist Church newsletter:

When tornadoes tore through Harrison, Tennessee in March of this year, it wasn’t merely the force of nature at work. When Dr. Jeremy Roberts was called as the youngest pastor in the history of Highland Park Baptist Church in April, it was not a random selection. When fast moving plans for the Extreme Camp Makeover at Camp Joy abruptly ground to a halt, it was not an ending but a new beginning.

The very hand of God Himself was swirling winds that would makeover more than the landscape on Hunter Road. He put events into motion that will forever change the face of Highland Park Baptist Church and all of our property on Highway 58, including Camp Joy.

This morning, Dr. Jeremy Roberts connected the dots for us with a fresh vision that charts a new course for Highland Park Baptist Church. The bold plan reveals a new Church of the Highlands as the centerpiece of God’s “Master” Plan for our property on Highway 58.

This vision is of epic proportions and one that received unprecedented, unanimous endorsement by the long-range planning committee, the deacon body, and the church staff. It comes as no surprise that God weaves grandeur into every fiber of his tapestry and, once again, he has held nothing back.

The broad-brush plan is detailed below. As with any project of this magnitude, there is much to be decided. Details are still in the making and will flex to meet our needs. More information will be disclosed as it becomes available.

THE VISION

• Relocate the church
• Build a multi-purpose building on the mountain top
• Change the name of the church
• Become debt free through the sale of buildings and property in Highland Park
• Emerge with enough cash to fund the new beginning
• Hold services temporarily in the Camp Joy Dining Hall
• Move to two services on Sunday morning
• Become more servant oriented

Relocate 

   The vision physically moves us from the community of Highland Park to the 58 acres on Highway 58, directly across the street from the Harrison Bay Marina beginning January 20, 2013.

Build

A new multi-purpose Worship Center will be built on the top of our mountain on Highway 58.

Change the Name of the Church

The name of the church will become Church of the Highlands. The name change will take place at the time we make the move.

Become Debt Free and Emerge with Cash

The church will become debt free through the sale of buildings and property in Highland Park. Prospects are good for the sale of major properties. Proceeds will allow us to pay cash for the new worship facility.

Temporary Meeting Location

The relocated congregation will meet in the Camp Joy Dining Hall temporarily.

New Format for Sunday Services

We will adopt a new format for Sunday morning services. There will be a “classic” service and a “contemporary” service. Sunday school classes will meet in the gymnasium.

New Mission Statement

Our new mission statement is “Reaching our community and the world for Jesus Christ”.

New Mission Strategy

As our mission statement is reaching our community, America and the world for Jesus Christ, we are transitioning to an Acts 1:8 strategy where we are a ministry-called to love Chattanooga.

One Saturday per quarter, our church will go into the community to engage in servant evangelism where we will show Jesus and then share Jesus.

The Missions Committee will lead our church to adopt one city and one country for us to engage with in a three-year partnership. It is Pastor Jeremy’s goal that over 50% of our church will go on a mission trip to either our adopted American city or adopted country over a three-year period.

We will have a heavier emphasis in our worship services about missions and testimonies from around the world by people who have been touched for Christ.

Become More Servant Oriented

   These events are planned to become more servant oriented in support of the new mission strategy:

• 10/6 – Camp Joy Fall Fun Fest with “Single Parent Care” – free oil changes and car washes will be offered to single parents
• 11/9-10 – Church of the Highlands members will hit the streets to canvas a 5 mile radius around Camp Joy to promote the launch of the church.
• 12/15 – Caring for Our Community Christmas” – We will give gifts to children of the community. We will also give the gift of free child care to parents in the community to allow them to shop for Christmas. This is part of our effort to promote “Healthy Families in Our Community”.
• 1/18-19, 2013 – Church of the Highlands members will hit the streets to canvas a 5 mile radius around Camp Joy to promote the launch of the church.

CORE VALUES

• We Are All About Jesus Who is Revealed in His Perfect Word—We keep the main thing the main thing.
• We Are Simple—Simplicity enables excellence.
• We Lead the Way in Generosity—Giving is a big deal at our church. We go above and beyond to give sacrificially to the work of God.
• We Never Assume There is a Box—Some try to think outside the box, but we never assume there is a box. Creativity is key.
• We Make Each Other Laugh—The joy of the Lord is our strength and our church is a place that is fun.
• We Are Spiritual Contributors, Not Spiritual Consumers—We will not cater to your personal preference to fulfill our mission. We are more concerned with the people we are trying to reach than the people we are trying to keep.
• We Are United Under One Vision—We are built on the vision God gave our church. We will aggressively defend our unity and that vision.
• We Are Known for What We Are For—We will speak vision and life over our people. We will lift up the salvation of Jesus rather than using our platform to condemn.
• We Act in Audacious Faith—In order to fulfill our mission, we can’t think small. We will set impossible goals, take bold steps, and watch God move.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• When will we relocate?
  • January 20, 2013
  • How will TTU students and others who can’t drive but live near Highland Park get to Harrison?
    • A shuttle will be provided from TTU to our Highway 58 property for each service.
    • What will we do with existing buildings?
      • All properties at the Bailey Avenue location will be sold.
    • What are the financial implications of relocating?
      • When the Highland Park campus is sold, we will be “debt free” with money to build the new worship facility and pay cash.
      • Once we relocate, fixed expenses will be reduced by $350,000 annually.
      • Seventy-two percent of 73 relocated congregations surveyed in one study experienced increased levels of financial giving.
    • What plan do we have to build new facilities at the Highway 58 property?
      • Our leadership is partnering with Billingsley Architecture and is in the early stages of developing a master plan for the property.
      • Initially, plans are to build a multi-purpose facility that will serve as our Worship Center.
      • The new Worship Center will feature audience seating that faces a glass wall overlooking Harrison Bay in the southeast mountains of Tennessee for the enjoyment of the beauty of God’s creation as the word of God is proclaimed.
    • How will this affect our relationship with Tennessee Temple University and WDYN-Radio?
      • TTU will remain in the Highland Park neighborhood while the church relocates.
      • The only difference to the current relationship is that the buildings where the church and TTU meet will be further apart.
    • Why are we changing our name?
      • The church’s name will change to Church of the Highlands.
      • Our church has met in 3 different locations in our 122 years of ministry and every time we moved we changed our name to fit the location:
        • 1890 – Founded as Orchard Knob Baptist church at Orchard Knob School House
        • 1891 – Relocated to Beech Street and became Beech Street Baptist Church
        • 1904 – Relocated to our current location and became Highland Park Baptist Church
      • As the church will no longer reside in the Highland Park neighborhood, it will confuse people who may be looking for Highland Park Baptist Church.
      • As the church will be located at the peak of a mountain, it is on the high land so Church of the Highlands if befitting of the surroundings.
      • Further more, the new name grasps some of our history as HPBC.
    • Are we still going to be Baptist?
      • Absolutely!
      • Only our location and name is changing – not our theology.
      • Methods must change in order to minister to a changing culture with God’s unchanging message.
      • We are Baptist, we want to be Baptist, we will continue to be Baptist and cooperate with our Independent Baptist missionaries and the Southern Baptist Convention.
    • Who approved these decisions?
      • The Long Range Planning Committee encouraged these decisions and a motion was brought to the deacons by Dr. Roberts on Saturday, August 25, 2012 when the deacons voted unanimously in support of the relocation and renaming of our church.
    • What statistical data is available about other churches that have relocated?
      • Gary W. Kidwell’s article “Looking at Relocation Results” based on a survey of 73 relocated congregations reported that the majority experienced the following positive results:
        • Revitalization of the congregation’s life
        • More opportunities for ministering to the community
        • Redefinition of the congregation’s mission
        • A more attractive, modern facility
        • A safer neighborhood
        • Better accessibility
        • Greater involvement of younger people
        • Improvement of the congregation’s image
        • More visibility
        • More versatility in worship style

Dr. Roberts’ prayer for this body of believers is that we will embrace the vision and go to the top of the mountain together, in unity. 

Here are the thoughts about HPBC’s new direction from several of the church’s members:

Watch this video of Dr. Roberts sharing about what things will look like when Church of the Highlands is located on the Highway 58 property: