Heritage News
Q1 2024: January - March
BREATHE
Growth
We have seen an increase in families attending this quarter, and we are working on building the Breathe team.
Night to Shine
Night to Shine was a huge success! After reviewing all of the walk-in sheets, we had more families attending than we realized. Night to Shine had 364 participants and 503 volunteers!
Out of Space?
Growth is a great thing, but it comes with challenges. We are still dreaming of more space since we have exhausted every inch of the Breathe center.
We have seen an increase in families attending this quarter, and we are working on building the Breathe team.
Night to Shine
Night to Shine was a huge success! After reviewing all of the walk-in sheets, we had more families attending than we realized. Night to Shine had 364 participants and 503 volunteers!
Out of Space?
Growth is a great thing, but it comes with challenges. We are still dreaming of more space since we have exhausted every inch of the Breathe center.
COMMUNICATIONS
Web Updates
During the first quarter of 2024, the Communications Department successfully executed various initiatives outlined in the church communications plan. This included the maintenance of the church website to ensure up-to-date information and resources were readily available to the congregation. Services were consistently published online, facilitating access for both physical and remote attendees. Additionally, our team managed Church Online platforms, ensuring seamless streaming and fostering engagement with virtual attendees.
Social Media
Across social media platforms, we maintained an active presence, facilitating community interaction and outreach efforts. Announcement videos were produced and disseminated to support Sunday morning services, enhancing the congregation's experience. Engaging sermon bumpers were crafted to captivate attention and set the tone for sermons, enhancing the overall service experience.
Event Support
The Communications Department provided valuable support for various events throughout the quarter. Graphics and video content were created to promote events such as Fam Jam, Parent Equipping, and Discover, facilitating communication with the congregation and driving attendance.
Video Production
We crafted sensitive and impactful videos addressing important topics within the community, such as grief and personal testimonies. The Ulakovits grief video and the Away Testimony video featuring Nedra Moore were particularly well-received, providing support and inspiration to congregation members.
During the first quarter of 2024, the Communications Department successfully executed various initiatives outlined in the church communications plan. This included the maintenance of the church website to ensure up-to-date information and resources were readily available to the congregation. Services were consistently published online, facilitating access for both physical and remote attendees. Additionally, our team managed Church Online platforms, ensuring seamless streaming and fostering engagement with virtual attendees.
Social Media
Across social media platforms, we maintained an active presence, facilitating community interaction and outreach efforts. Announcement videos were produced and disseminated to support Sunday morning services, enhancing the congregation's experience. Engaging sermon bumpers were crafted to captivate attention and set the tone for sermons, enhancing the overall service experience.
Event Support
The Communications Department provided valuable support for various events throughout the quarter. Graphics and video content were created to promote events such as Fam Jam, Parent Equipping, and Discover, facilitating communication with the congregation and driving attendance.
Video Production
We crafted sensitive and impactful videos addressing important topics within the community, such as grief and personal testimonies. The Ulakovits grief video and the Away Testimony video featuring Nedra Moore were particularly well-received, providing support and inspiration to congregation members.
NEXT GEN
By The Numbers
In March, Heritage Kids averaged 200 attending preschool and elementary ministry (184 on average if you don’t count Easter), with Heritage Students averaging 105 students at our middle school (45) and high school (60) weekly worship/small group gatherings.
Preschool- Yes Day
We are planning to have our very first " Yes Day " in April! The Yes Day will be a push to get more families/ individuals serving in the Pre-K Ministry, and will give information for our classrooms, roles, and needs. Also, we will launch our wagon ministry which is where a volunteer will pull children down the Pre-K hallway and deliver them to their room. We are excited for this new step! As far as attendance goes, we have seen an increase of families attending consistently, with between two and four new families coming weekly. On Easter, we had to repurpose our team meeting room as an additional classroom because of the influx of preschoolers.
Elementary
This quarter we had several opportunities for elementary families including a Family Picnic with Kickball, a Fam Jam event with 190 in attendance, and our annual 4th-5th grade Basic Training, which helps teach faith foundations to our preteens and parents. Additionally, our Bible Skills team led by Amy Bloodworth and John Michael Hall participated in our church Easter service singing a very meaningful rendition of “On that Day” by Cityalight.
Student Ministry
This Spring, our student ministry taught our annual series on sexual integrity, purity, and relationships. We also have a group for students who want to go deeper in their faith and they are going through the Freedom study with Donny and Trina Eubanks. Student ministry is currently going through the Alpha study which is an evangelistic study designed to answer core questions about life and faith. We are hoping we can offer it in the future to interested students at CCHS.
This February we took our high school seniors to the Send, which is an event in Nashville, Tennessee to give them vision for making their lives count as they are graduating from high school. We also took a group of student ministry leaders to Snowbird for a student ministry Iron on Iron training retreat.Student ministry is continuing to do weekly outreach ministry through FCA in the CA Gray courtyard with 50 students attending and 10 of our HS students helping lead devotions and worship. We also have 21 students actively involved in one on one discipling/mentoring relationships.
2nd Quarter Ministry and Family
March was full of great opportunities! This Spring, we launched a 2nd Quarter Community Group that is averaging 25-30 people every Sunday night. We are eating at tables, talking about habits of a healthy family, and studying the letter to the Colossians together. We also started a monthly gathering for dads of young kids and a monthly gathering for young adults (18-25 years old). Both of those groups have helped to cultivate relationships among those who have attended.
We offered a Saturday Parent Equipping aimed at equipping and supporting parents of preschool and elementary age kids. There was a large group session by the Reeves on principles we believe and habits to cultivate healthy families. We offered breakouts on cultivating character, wisdom and boundaries with technology, navigating conversations about sexuality and gender, etc. Additionally, we hosted a Facebook Live conversation with Emily Hall on the power of intentional moments to strengthen the family.
We had a very meaningful Child Dedication in January. We were able to offer an equipping before the dedication and then pair up an older mentor in our congregation with each young dad to encourage and support them. We are looking forward to hearing about the fruit of those relationships!
What's Next and Dreams
We’re currently working on our Fam Jam Family Field Day Finale. We’re expecting a ton of family fun! We’re also working on two significant Milemarkers- our 5th grade moving up and our Graduation Event. Our heart with all of these milemarkers is to provide families with a space to celebrate together each unique phase of their child’s journey.
We are very excited about a student ministry leader mission trip to Honduras this summer on June 19-24th. We have 18 people traveling to Honduras to get vision for building relationship with a local community and leading an annual trip for our students moving forward! And of course, we're busy with preparing for a fun and fruitful summer- Kids Mission initiatives, Student Snowbird Camp, weekly summer hangouts, weekly student prayer room sessions with worship and Scripture reading, and the Beach Retreat.
We are very excited about the planning we have done with Jason Cox about a new playground for our kids ministry! This is an excellent opportunity to provide a fun, safe, and inviting playground to our growing population of families during both Sunday morning ministry and Kids Club on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. It will also be utilized by our homeschool community weekly with Classical Conversations!
In March, Heritage Kids averaged 200 attending preschool and elementary ministry (184 on average if you don’t count Easter), with Heritage Students averaging 105 students at our middle school (45) and high school (60) weekly worship/small group gatherings.
Preschool- Yes Day
We are planning to have our very first " Yes Day " in April! The Yes Day will be a push to get more families/ individuals serving in the Pre-K Ministry, and will give information for our classrooms, roles, and needs. Also, we will launch our wagon ministry which is where a volunteer will pull children down the Pre-K hallway and deliver them to their room. We are excited for this new step! As far as attendance goes, we have seen an increase of families attending consistently, with between two and four new families coming weekly. On Easter, we had to repurpose our team meeting room as an additional classroom because of the influx of preschoolers.
Elementary
This quarter we had several opportunities for elementary families including a Family Picnic with Kickball, a Fam Jam event with 190 in attendance, and our annual 4th-5th grade Basic Training, which helps teach faith foundations to our preteens and parents. Additionally, our Bible Skills team led by Amy Bloodworth and John Michael Hall participated in our church Easter service singing a very meaningful rendition of “On that Day” by Cityalight.
Student Ministry
This Spring, our student ministry taught our annual series on sexual integrity, purity, and relationships. We also have a group for students who want to go deeper in their faith and they are going through the Freedom study with Donny and Trina Eubanks. Student ministry is currently going through the Alpha study which is an evangelistic study designed to answer core questions about life and faith. We are hoping we can offer it in the future to interested students at CCHS.
This February we took our high school seniors to the Send, which is an event in Nashville, Tennessee to give them vision for making their lives count as they are graduating from high school. We also took a group of student ministry leaders to Snowbird for a student ministry Iron on Iron training retreat.Student ministry is continuing to do weekly outreach ministry through FCA in the CA Gray courtyard with 50 students attending and 10 of our HS students helping lead devotions and worship. We also have 21 students actively involved in one on one discipling/mentoring relationships.
2nd Quarter Ministry and Family
March was full of great opportunities! This Spring, we launched a 2nd Quarter Community Group that is averaging 25-30 people every Sunday night. We are eating at tables, talking about habits of a healthy family, and studying the letter to the Colossians together. We also started a monthly gathering for dads of young kids and a monthly gathering for young adults (18-25 years old). Both of those groups have helped to cultivate relationships among those who have attended.
We offered a Saturday Parent Equipping aimed at equipping and supporting parents of preschool and elementary age kids. There was a large group session by the Reeves on principles we believe and habits to cultivate healthy families. We offered breakouts on cultivating character, wisdom and boundaries with technology, navigating conversations about sexuality and gender, etc. Additionally, we hosted a Facebook Live conversation with Emily Hall on the power of intentional moments to strengthen the family.
We had a very meaningful Child Dedication in January. We were able to offer an equipping before the dedication and then pair up an older mentor in our congregation with each young dad to encourage and support them. We are looking forward to hearing about the fruit of those relationships!
What's Next and Dreams
We’re currently working on our Fam Jam Family Field Day Finale. We’re expecting a ton of family fun! We’re also working on two significant Milemarkers- our 5th grade moving up and our Graduation Event. Our heart with all of these milemarkers is to provide families with a space to celebrate together each unique phase of their child’s journey.
We are very excited about a student ministry leader mission trip to Honduras this summer on June 19-24th. We have 18 people traveling to Honduras to get vision for building relationship with a local community and leading an annual trip for our students moving forward! And of course, we're busy with preparing for a fun and fruitful summer- Kids Mission initiatives, Student Snowbird Camp, weekly summer hangouts, weekly student prayer room sessions with worship and Scripture reading, and the Beach Retreat.
We are very excited about the planning we have done with Jason Cox about a new playground for our kids ministry! This is an excellent opportunity to provide a fun, safe, and inviting playground to our growing population of families during both Sunday morning ministry and Kids Club on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. It will also be utilized by our homeschool community weekly with Classical Conversations!
SUNDAY AM
Worship
The worship team is growing! We recently added six new worship team members, and we're thankful to have them. We also have three individuals who are are currently going through auditions for the team.
Lighting
We are moving along with our LED lighting upgrade. We have now manufactured 100 light fixtures! They are currently in storage awaiting installation. This gives us several benefits. We can not only control each light better, but we can have more light with better coverage in areas such as the sanctuary and the atrium. And that's not even to mention the cost savings on our electrical bill, as well as bulb replacements!
The worship team is growing! We recently added six new worship team members, and we're thankful to have them. We also have three individuals who are are currently going through auditions for the team.
Lighting
We are moving along with our LED lighting upgrade. We have now manufactured 100 light fixtures! They are currently in storage awaiting installation. This gives us several benefits. We can not only control each light better, but we can have more light with better coverage in areas such as the sanctuary and the atrium. And that's not even to mention the cost savings on our electrical bill, as well as bulb replacements!
SUNDAY SUPPORT &
DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY
Sunday Support
We started the year off with a total of 78 volunteers! In January, we had our 2024 Kick-Off meeting! We shared and celebrated 2023 accomplishments, our 2024 vision of "providing remarkable hospitality," as well as tangible wins for each team represented on Sunday Support to strive for. New t-shirts for Sunday Support teams were launched to help visitors/members identify who is available to help and to represent unity and love among teams.
Baptisms
January - 1 baptized
February - 1 baptized
March - 4 baptized
Second Saturdays
Heritage on the Square at Second Saturday is up and running again! This group has grown and recently shared they believe the community is responding well to their presence and with requesting prayer. We've started getting contact information in order to invite those we have conversations with to a Sunday morning service. Our Sunday Support teams are excellent at pastoral care, and we have provided several meals to team members in need.
Discipleship Pathway
Pastor Brad has joined the Discover Team. It's exciting to have him share in person the vision behind SAVED, HEALED, RESTORED, FULFILLED as we work through how Discover Heritage might help people discover their next step.
We started the year off with a total of 78 volunteers! In January, we had our 2024 Kick-Off meeting! We shared and celebrated 2023 accomplishments, our 2024 vision of "providing remarkable hospitality," as well as tangible wins for each team represented on Sunday Support to strive for. New t-shirts for Sunday Support teams were launched to help visitors/members identify who is available to help and to represent unity and love among teams.
Baptisms
January - 1 baptized
February - 1 baptized
March - 4 baptized
Second Saturdays
Heritage on the Square at Second Saturday is up and running again! This group has grown and recently shared they believe the community is responding well to their presence and with requesting prayer. We've started getting contact information in order to invite those we have conversations with to a Sunday morning service. Our Sunday Support teams are excellent at pastoral care, and we have provided several meals to team members in need.
Discipleship Pathway
Pastor Brad has joined the Discover Team. It's exciting to have him share in person the vision behind SAVED, HEALED, RESTORED, FULFILLED as we work through how Discover Heritage might help people discover their next step.
MISSIONS
The Storehouse And The Community
The Storehouse started 2024 with a strong first quarter! With no sales in January, the team enjoyed several weeks off for the holidays, and the rest of January was spent organizing and preparing for the big February bag sale. Storehouse revenue for first quarter (February and March sales) is $53,059. This is a significant increase from the 2023 first quarter total of $45,516.
The Storehouse Relief team was able to assist and encourage 36 households in crisis, with a large number of these being fire victims. The Storehouse Team has added several vital new members - Ellis White and April and Bradley Bentley. We’ve also added Helen, Vickie and several other great additions to the team.
About 20 Storehouse members are participating in a Revelation Bible Study Small Group on Thursday afternoons. This is facilitated by Becky Carlton, PJ Selph, and Tina Stralka. In local missions, we were able to contribute $1000 toward the new 24 hour prayer room on the Courthouse Square. Storehouse was also able to help with some rug, furniture, and other items.
We’ve also begun to participate in a ministry led by Pat and Eric Garlick on our Storehouse Team. Their organization, Pride Packages, sends packages of needs and gifts to service members several times a year. We’ve been able to contribute financially as well as helping to pack.
Around The Globe
Johnny Ray has just returned from serving rural Honduran communities by distributing materials and instructions for 90 water filters. He conducted a meeting at a school in which parents from 45 households were represented and were taught how to install and maintain the filters. A lady who had previously received a filter walked a significant distance to thank Johnny and to testify to the other families how well the filters work. Seth Berl just returned from a successful medical mission. His team of 25 doctors, dentists, medical students and other medical personnel and volunteers served over 900 people in rural Honduran communities. They were able to distribute over $18,000 in medicines for those in need. Almost 100 households took “Taste and See” prayer guides to pray for Muslims during the 30 day Ramadan season. This is in partnership with D and K in the Middle East and Benjamin and his family in the Horn of Africa. Both of these HGM’s are serving with a heart to worship and pray in difficult areas and through relationship invite Muslims to “taste and see” that the Lord is good.
The Storehouse started 2024 with a strong first quarter! With no sales in January, the team enjoyed several weeks off for the holidays, and the rest of January was spent organizing and preparing for the big February bag sale. Storehouse revenue for first quarter (February and March sales) is $53,059. This is a significant increase from the 2023 first quarter total of $45,516.
The Storehouse Relief team was able to assist and encourage 36 households in crisis, with a large number of these being fire victims. The Storehouse Team has added several vital new members - Ellis White and April and Bradley Bentley. We’ve also added Helen, Vickie and several other great additions to the team.
About 20 Storehouse members are participating in a Revelation Bible Study Small Group on Thursday afternoons. This is facilitated by Becky Carlton, PJ Selph, and Tina Stralka. In local missions, we were able to contribute $1000 toward the new 24 hour prayer room on the Courthouse Square. Storehouse was also able to help with some rug, furniture, and other items.
We’ve also begun to participate in a ministry led by Pat and Eric Garlick on our Storehouse Team. Their organization, Pride Packages, sends packages of needs and gifts to service members several times a year. We’ve been able to contribute financially as well as helping to pack.
Around The Globe
Johnny Ray has just returned from serving rural Honduran communities by distributing materials and instructions for 90 water filters. He conducted a meeting at a school in which parents from 45 households were represented and were taught how to install and maintain the filters. A lady who had previously received a filter walked a significant distance to thank Johnny and to testify to the other families how well the filters work. Seth Berl just returned from a successful medical mission. His team of 25 doctors, dentists, medical students and other medical personnel and volunteers served over 900 people in rural Honduran communities. They were able to distribute over $18,000 in medicines for those in need. Almost 100 households took “Taste and See” prayer guides to pray for Muslims during the 30 day Ramadan season. This is in partnership with D and K in the Middle East and Benjamin and his family in the Horn of Africa. Both of these HGM’s are serving with a heart to worship and pray in difficult areas and through relationship invite Muslims to “taste and see” that the Lord is good.
FINANCIAL
PRAYER & PASTORAL CARE
Sharing The Load
We're so thankful to report that more and more of our pastoral care is taking place organically as small groups and team life teams care for their people. The fourth quarter has had a large number of needs over the last several months with sicknesses and surgeries. Melody Harrison has led the charge in caring for and encouraging participants in the 4th quarter Sunday School class. In addition, the Storehouse team members have cared for many needs within the Storehouse family through phone calls, visits, and taking meals.
By The Numbers
We've seen 98 people touched through calls, visits, or meals through 85 people who served. Dawn continues to make pastoral team aware of needs as well as communicating with team leaders to ensure that people are being covered. If someone in need isn’t connected, Dawn serves them or enlists volunteers to do so. A big initiative this quarter was hosting the lunch and service celebrating the life of our beloved Jean Brown.
Tracking The Needs
We're working with EST and Comm Team to come up with a digital method of tracking all pastoral care needs and touches. This will help to keep everyone on the same page with needs and how people are being served.
Prayer
John and Mary Kaye Turrentine are doing a great job leading the Sunday morning prayer team. We’ve added several people to the team this quarter- Jay Jordan, Shannon DeMott, Leslie Peretti Dawn Barnett, and Laura Volf. Besides the Sunday morning prayer team, we’re grateful for another team of over 20 people who are willing to be on standby for the times when Brad calls for altar ministry. We are truly blessed to have so many faithful prayer people.
In early March, we had a prayer lunch gathering with about 25 of our prayer people. Cathy Owen did an excellent in-service training and we discussed all of the opportunities to plug-in in the prayer ministry. Next, Roy and Cheryle will be leading a training on inner healing prayer tools. Brad Bentley continues to lead a men’s prayer meeting on Saturday mornings and the Wednesday morning ladies prayer for the nation group continues to meet faithfully.
Sandy and Jerry Williams have started a Monday night prayer meeting focusing on praying for our church. In addition, they’ve joined with Dawn to start “Watchmen on the Wall”, an intercessory prayer team that walks and prays on North Campus on Sunday mornings. The newest prayer initiative is the 24/7 prayer room on the Courthouse Square. This community wide effort led by John Eubanks launched during Holy Week. Dawn and several of our prayer people and students are taking some leadership in this new initiative. Heritage is responsible for covering prayer on Mondays. We launched with over 25 people participating onsite in prayer. Dawn reports that because so many people have faithfully prayed in and for this community for years, there seems to be such a unity and Presence of the Lord in the prayer room. All who participated in the launch week were encouraged and moved and so excited to do what the Lord does in and through the coming together of this vision for 24/7 prayer in our community.
We're so thankful to report that more and more of our pastoral care is taking place organically as small groups and team life teams care for their people. The fourth quarter has had a large number of needs over the last several months with sicknesses and surgeries. Melody Harrison has led the charge in caring for and encouraging participants in the 4th quarter Sunday School class. In addition, the Storehouse team members have cared for many needs within the Storehouse family through phone calls, visits, and taking meals.
By The Numbers
We've seen 98 people touched through calls, visits, or meals through 85 people who served. Dawn continues to make pastoral team aware of needs as well as communicating with team leaders to ensure that people are being covered. If someone in need isn’t connected, Dawn serves them or enlists volunteers to do so. A big initiative this quarter was hosting the lunch and service celebrating the life of our beloved Jean Brown.
Tracking The Needs
We're working with EST and Comm Team to come up with a digital method of tracking all pastoral care needs and touches. This will help to keep everyone on the same page with needs and how people are being served.
Prayer
John and Mary Kaye Turrentine are doing a great job leading the Sunday morning prayer team. We’ve added several people to the team this quarter- Jay Jordan, Shannon DeMott, Leslie Peretti Dawn Barnett, and Laura Volf. Besides the Sunday morning prayer team, we’re grateful for another team of over 20 people who are willing to be on standby for the times when Brad calls for altar ministry. We are truly blessed to have so many faithful prayer people.
In early March, we had a prayer lunch gathering with about 25 of our prayer people. Cathy Owen did an excellent in-service training and we discussed all of the opportunities to plug-in in the prayer ministry. Next, Roy and Cheryle will be leading a training on inner healing prayer tools. Brad Bentley continues to lead a men’s prayer meeting on Saturday mornings and the Wednesday morning ladies prayer for the nation group continues to meet faithfully.
Sandy and Jerry Williams have started a Monday night prayer meeting focusing on praying for our church. In addition, they’ve joined with Dawn to start “Watchmen on the Wall”, an intercessory prayer team that walks and prays on North Campus on Sunday mornings. The newest prayer initiative is the 24/7 prayer room on the Courthouse Square. This community wide effort led by John Eubanks launched during Holy Week. Dawn and several of our prayer people and students are taking some leadership in this new initiative. Heritage is responsible for covering prayer on Mondays. We launched with over 25 people participating onsite in prayer. Dawn reports that because so many people have faithfully prayed in and for this community for years, there seems to be such a unity and Presence of the Lord in the prayer room. All who participated in the launch week were encouraged and moved and so excited to do what the Lord does in and through the coming together of this vision for 24/7 prayer in our community.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Upcoming Remodels And Repairs
We're working to finalize repairs on the S2 building remodel. We're also ready to finish the Storehouse Porch. At the church we're looking into updating our bathroom urinals as well as other bathroom equipment.
Dreaming
We're helping to dream of improvements to the kid's playground, south campus parking, as well as figuring out the best septic scenario for east house.
We're working to finalize repairs on the S2 building remodel. We're also ready to finish the Storehouse Porch. At the church we're looking into updating our bathroom urinals as well as other bathroom equipment.
Dreaming
We're helping to dream of improvements to the kid's playground, south campus parking, as well as figuring out the best septic scenario for east house.