Heritage News
Q4 2022: November - December
SUNDAY SUPPORT
Merry Christmas!
We had 65 in attendance for our Christmas Gathering. The Safety Team has added 2 more members! We created a Christmas in the Atrium Team of five people, three of which were newcomers! Christmas in the Atrium was a great team builder and was a success. The vision of "Journey to Jesus" was shared well and people seemed to enjoy it. The occasional live manger scene was a bonus!
What's Now
We are currently working on establishing a core leadership team for Sunday Support. We are also checking-in on "inactive" members and updating info on current members.
What's Next
We are dreaming! Atrium updates are being discussed and researched to make a more appealing, user-friendly, and modern atmosphere for our guests and members. Our vision for Sunday Support Teams is "Care and Equip", and we will be working toward finding personal and creative ways to care for and equip our current team members and all the new ones coming! Also, we are brainstorming ways to make the first 7 minutes our guest enter our parking lot more personal and memorable. Finally, we are dreaming of putting a parking lot team together!
We had 65 in attendance for our Christmas Gathering. The Safety Team has added 2 more members! We created a Christmas in the Atrium Team of five people, three of which were newcomers! Christmas in the Atrium was a great team builder and was a success. The vision of "Journey to Jesus" was shared well and people seemed to enjoy it. The occasional live manger scene was a bonus!
What's Now
We are currently working on establishing a core leadership team for Sunday Support. We are also checking-in on "inactive" members and updating info on current members.
What's Next
We are dreaming! Atrium updates are being discussed and researched to make a more appealing, user-friendly, and modern atmosphere for our guests and members. Our vision for Sunday Support Teams is "Care and Equip", and we will be working toward finding personal and creative ways to care for and equip our current team members and all the new ones coming! Also, we are brainstorming ways to make the first 7 minutes our guest enter our parking lot more personal and memorable. Finally, we are dreaming of putting a parking lot team together!
DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY
By The Numbers
We've had 11 participants in Discover Heritage (Oct-Dec), with six of those connected. Our team enjoyed a wonderful "Friendsgiving" with 100% participation plus their families! We had 65 total (Sunday Support and Discover Heritage) at our Christmas Gathering.
Current And Future Dreams
We are currently dreaming of ways to funnel guests from the atrium to Discover Heritage and how to re-incorporate "Meet the Pastors," and Atrium updates. We are also discussing how to gather more stories from past Discover Heritage participants and how to grow our team.
Watching The Change
Lisa McLemore, Discover Heritage team member began serving very quietly and only being willing to serve/participate in the background. Now she leads the Discover Heritage class with confidence, and has shared that she is thankful for this team and how it has pulled her and husband in and stretched her! Other teams members love that even though we serve together it feels more like we are family. We have watched people come into Discover Heritage unsure of their next step. These people then get connected and blossom, and move to serving on a team, or creating relationship from joining a small group, opening businesses, leading prayer and sharing at conferences!
We've had 11 participants in Discover Heritage (Oct-Dec), with six of those connected. Our team enjoyed a wonderful "Friendsgiving" with 100% participation plus their families! We had 65 total (Sunday Support and Discover Heritage) at our Christmas Gathering.
Current And Future Dreams
We are currently dreaming of ways to funnel guests from the atrium to Discover Heritage and how to re-incorporate "Meet the Pastors," and Atrium updates. We are also discussing how to gather more stories from past Discover Heritage participants and how to grow our team.
Watching The Change
Lisa McLemore, Discover Heritage team member began serving very quietly and only being willing to serve/participate in the background. Now she leads the Discover Heritage class with confidence, and has shared that she is thankful for this team and how it has pulled her and husband in and stretched her! Other teams members love that even though we serve together it feels more like we are family. We have watched people come into Discover Heritage unsure of their next step. These people then get connected and blossom, and move to serving on a team, or creating relationship from joining a small group, opening businesses, leading prayer and sharing at conferences!
SMALL GROUPS
By The Numbers
During 4th quarter, 25 small groups were attended by approximately 500 people. Number of group leaders was 26 with no new leaders during this time.
What's Happening Now
We're working to increase the number and variety of small group offerings during January launch. It's all hands on deck to ensure leaders are prepared, and Brad has helped kick start this by working with the Communications team on a leader guide website. Alicia is also updating the Small Groups website with all of the groups who are already ready to go, or will be soon. It was amazing to see the number of people who continued with small group as we were approaching the holiday season, as this has in past been a much slower time for small groups.
What's Next
We're encouraging new leaders to step up to lead small groups and trying to provide the tools that will help them feel confident to do so. Brad is also teaching people what this looks like in the Sunday AM service for two weeks. We would like to see some of our "seasoned" small group leaders who are considering leading a small group in future.
During 4th quarter, 25 small groups were attended by approximately 500 people. Number of group leaders was 26 with no new leaders during this time.
What's Happening Now
We're working to increase the number and variety of small group offerings during January launch. It's all hands on deck to ensure leaders are prepared, and Brad has helped kick start this by working with the Communications team on a leader guide website. Alicia is also updating the Small Groups website with all of the groups who are already ready to go, or will be soon. It was amazing to see the number of people who continued with small group as we were approaching the holiday season, as this has in past been a much slower time for small groups.
What's Next
We're encouraging new leaders to step up to lead small groups and trying to provide the tools that will help them feel confident to do so. Brad is also teaching people what this looks like in the Sunday AM service for two weeks. We would like to see some of our "seasoned" small group leaders who are considering leading a small group in future.
BREATHE
By The Numbers
Last quarter we averaged 15 participants a week and 8.5 Team Life people. During our Respite event we served 122 individuals with disabilities and had 89 volunteers.
What's Coming Up
Night to Shine is almost here! It's always an incredible event that blesses our community and surrounding counties as well. It's a powerful night of volunteers serving individuals with special needs, and it's always a blessing watching participants smile and dance! Night to Shine will be February 10th, and we can't wait! We would also love to have a Spring respite. We're also excited about getting a van soon so that some of our friends who’ve missed church so much can return. We're growing the Sunday Breathe Team, as well as starting the Breathe Moms small group back up. God is good!
Christmas With Breathe
The Breathe Moms Christmas party was a beautiful evening. We cried and laughed together. We received this text from a Mom after the event: "My dearest Nettie, I don’t remember when was the last time that I could talk so open of my REAL life and laugh so hard. This was my special Christmas
present. Thank you so much. ❤️"
Last quarter we averaged 15 participants a week and 8.5 Team Life people. During our Respite event we served 122 individuals with disabilities and had 89 volunteers.
What's Coming Up
Night to Shine is almost here! It's always an incredible event that blesses our community and surrounding counties as well. It's a powerful night of volunteers serving individuals with special needs, and it's always a blessing watching participants smile and dance! Night to Shine will be February 10th, and we can't wait! We would also love to have a Spring respite. We're also excited about getting a van soon so that some of our friends who’ve missed church so much can return. We're growing the Sunday Breathe Team, as well as starting the Breathe Moms small group back up. God is good!
Christmas With Breathe
The Breathe Moms Christmas party was a beautiful evening. We cried and laughed together. We received this text from a Mom after the event: "My dearest Nettie, I don’t remember when was the last time that I could talk so open of my REAL life and laugh so hard. This was my special Christmas
present. Thank you so much. ❤️"
COMMUNICATIONS
Social Media
We recently had an Instagram video go viral, accumulating over 220,000 viewers! Usually our videos attract on average 1,000 viewers, so this one video doubled our Instagram following. This means that the majority of our followers don't have any direct connection to Heritage, but follow us for the weekly content produced by Lance Ruis and Erica Pierce. We're still not sure why this one video caught on. Instagram continues to trend toward video and away from photos, but on Facebook we are writing about the real live stories from our church family.
Online Church
Our average weekly attendance online is just shy of 200, with a 2022 yearly average of 210. Online is alive and thriving! The interactions with our Online Family are meaningful, and relationships are flourishing organically.
Busy, Busy, Busy
We've had an extremely full season, with the church's calendar full of events. We've promoted tons of events, from SALT to Storehouse to Fam Jam and beyond. We continue to work on weekly website maintenance, monthly church calendars, production of this News page, and magazine ads. As far as video production, we've created supporting videos for Fam Jam, One Night, Storehouse, Cram the Cruiser, weekly Pre-Service slideshows, Child Dedication, and a new upbeat Announcement video series.
Stories Of Hope
Lori Meisenheimer has served with the online team over the last year. She started out watching with us online, and is now a Team Life member, bringing passion to our online team. We can't wait to share her video testimony in January! Debora Thornton is part of our online team, and has struggled with forgiveness for years. She reached out for help and was referred to the Inner Healing Team. God has freed her from those feelings, and she's walking tall!
The Future
We're dreaming about a team that will look at upcoming events and series and create special elements. Brad has pitched the idea of a 30sec mini bumper to prepare people for the message. We are also looking out months ahead at upcoming calendar events and trying to plan communication based on what events need to be promoted. Finally, Liz is making steps toward sharing leadership roles with Admin and Church Online Team Life members.
We recently had an Instagram video go viral, accumulating over 220,000 viewers! Usually our videos attract on average 1,000 viewers, so this one video doubled our Instagram following. This means that the majority of our followers don't have any direct connection to Heritage, but follow us for the weekly content produced by Lance Ruis and Erica Pierce. We're still not sure why this one video caught on. Instagram continues to trend toward video and away from photos, but on Facebook we are writing about the real live stories from our church family.
Online Church
Our average weekly attendance online is just shy of 200, with a 2022 yearly average of 210. Online is alive and thriving! The interactions with our Online Family are meaningful, and relationships are flourishing organically.
Busy, Busy, Busy
We've had an extremely full season, with the church's calendar full of events. We've promoted tons of events, from SALT to Storehouse to Fam Jam and beyond. We continue to work on weekly website maintenance, monthly church calendars, production of this News page, and magazine ads. As far as video production, we've created supporting videos for Fam Jam, One Night, Storehouse, Cram the Cruiser, weekly Pre-Service slideshows, Child Dedication, and a new upbeat Announcement video series.
Stories Of Hope
Lori Meisenheimer has served with the online team over the last year. She started out watching with us online, and is now a Team Life member, bringing passion to our online team. We can't wait to share her video testimony in January! Debora Thornton is part of our online team, and has struggled with forgiveness for years. She reached out for help and was referred to the Inner Healing Team. God has freed her from those feelings, and she's walking tall!
The Future
We're dreaming about a team that will look at upcoming events and series and create special elements. Brad has pitched the idea of a 30sec mini bumper to prepare people for the message. We are also looking out months ahead at upcoming calendar events and trying to plan communication based on what events need to be promoted. Finally, Liz is making steps toward sharing leadership roles with Admin and Church Online Team Life members.
FINANCIALS
MISSIONS
Not Just The Numbers
The Storehouse had a strong fourth quarter with October-December sales of $73,538.60, giving us a year end total of $251,181.00 - a new record! We had an exciting 10 year anniversary sale with lots of giveaways and record crowds. Also during 4th quarter, 32 households were assisted through Storehouse Relief Team. The altar fund received 6 requests for assistance during 3rd quarter and assisted financially with 4 of these for a total of $9,152.86 in funds dispersed to assist with rent, food, utility bills, car repair, etc. for those in financial crisis. The Christmas Blessing service gave us the opportunity to recognize, bless, and come alongside Hope House, CrossRoads for Her, Titus Ranch mentoring, and several others. We also helped a single mom with her spring semester tuition as she is completing her teaching degree! Our Cram the Cruiser partnership with DFCS and local law enforcement was a great success, and we saw $22,542.78 contributed toward the BREATHE Organization’s purchase of wheelchair accessible van.
In The Trenches
We're working on giving a facelift to the front of The Storehouse building in January. Some of the Storehouse leadership will be going on a vision trip in January as they dream of some updates for the interior space. Global trips are also being planned. Those on the horizon so far are Seth Berl’s Honduras medical mission in March, Eddie Seagle’s Peru mission in June, and Emily Hall’s Frontier International Conference team in Germany in August. Emily has been invited to the pastors track at the upcoming candidate school at Frontier headquarters in Arizona, which should be a great equipping and connecting time.
Stories And Celebrations
The Storehouse Team were especially moved to partner with a sponsoring family in Pelham in serving a Ukrainian refugee family of 8 who had very little with which to start their new life. We communicated through a translation app and provided clothing, home goods, linens, and toys. The Ukrainian family was so overwhelmed and appreciative. On the global front, we had two of our longtime HGM’s Amy Taylor (Bethlehem and Egypt) and Shanda Best (Nepal and South Africa) come off the field and get married! Amy met her husband teaching school in Egypt. They are currently stateside as they're working on his US residency. D and K and family have relocated from Sohar to Muscat and Eric Foster Whidden was invited to share his St. Andrews doctoral work at two prestigious conferences- one in Denver and one in UK.
The Storehouse had a strong fourth quarter with October-December sales of $73,538.60, giving us a year end total of $251,181.00 - a new record! We had an exciting 10 year anniversary sale with lots of giveaways and record crowds. Also during 4th quarter, 32 households were assisted through Storehouse Relief Team. The altar fund received 6 requests for assistance during 3rd quarter and assisted financially with 4 of these for a total of $9,152.86 in funds dispersed to assist with rent, food, utility bills, car repair, etc. for those in financial crisis. The Christmas Blessing service gave us the opportunity to recognize, bless, and come alongside Hope House, CrossRoads for Her, Titus Ranch mentoring, and several others. We also helped a single mom with her spring semester tuition as she is completing her teaching degree! Our Cram the Cruiser partnership with DFCS and local law enforcement was a great success, and we saw $22,542.78 contributed toward the BREATHE Organization’s purchase of wheelchair accessible van.
In The Trenches
We're working on giving a facelift to the front of The Storehouse building in January. Some of the Storehouse leadership will be going on a vision trip in January as they dream of some updates for the interior space. Global trips are also being planned. Those on the horizon so far are Seth Berl’s Honduras medical mission in March, Eddie Seagle’s Peru mission in June, and Emily Hall’s Frontier International Conference team in Germany in August. Emily has been invited to the pastors track at the upcoming candidate school at Frontier headquarters in Arizona, which should be a great equipping and connecting time.
Stories And Celebrations
The Storehouse Team were especially moved to partner with a sponsoring family in Pelham in serving a Ukrainian refugee family of 8 who had very little with which to start their new life. We communicated through a translation app and provided clothing, home goods, linens, and toys. The Ukrainian family was so overwhelmed and appreciative. On the global front, we had two of our longtime HGM’s Amy Taylor (Bethlehem and Egypt) and Shanda Best (Nepal and South Africa) come off the field and get married! Amy met her husband teaching school in Egypt. They are currently stateside as they're working on his US residency. D and K and family have relocated from Sohar to Muscat and Eric Foster Whidden was invited to share his St. Andrews doctoral work at two prestigious conferences- one in Denver and one in UK.
NEXT GEN
Baby Heritage, Heritage Kids & Students
By The Numbers
We've had an average of 189 babies and kids on Sunday morning over the last quarter, with an average attendance of 90 in our Middle School & High School Ministries. When it comes to serving, we've seen 71 students step into that role! During our Summer Heritage Beach Retreat 84 students and leaders participated.
Train Up A Child...
We've been working on Child Dedication training/class for families before celebrating Child Dedication in order to show them the value and importance of teaching about Jesus and leading your children. We've also increased our intentional shepherding of kids and students through a Discipleship Pathway for kids and students that includes each child who is part of our ministry. This effort is to help us know the engagement/condition of our flock and help us engage them and encourage them with next steps in their faith. We've also provided opportunities for families to connect and learn while having fun. (ex. Fam Jam, Compassion Weekend, Parent Round-table etc). We were excited to see 58 kids sponsored at the Compassion Experience Weekend, and will have several Fam Jam family events over the quarter.
Staffing Changes
We're happy to say that Jessica Strickland has come on board as supplies coordinator, and Jenny Brown as elementary small group director. Leah Gaines will be our PreK and K director and small group childcare director.
What's Coming Up
The playground needs to be updated with a shade cover in order to keep the equipment cool in the summer, and we're working on a Mom's Nursing Room. We look forward to starting the Middle School worship band at the end of January. We are also starting to plan for summer beach retreat.
We've had an average of 189 babies and kids on Sunday morning over the last quarter, with an average attendance of 90 in our Middle School & High School Ministries. When it comes to serving, we've seen 71 students step into that role! During our Summer Heritage Beach Retreat 84 students and leaders participated.
Train Up A Child...
We've been working on Child Dedication training/class for families before celebrating Child Dedication in order to show them the value and importance of teaching about Jesus and leading your children. We've also increased our intentional shepherding of kids and students through a Discipleship Pathway for kids and students that includes each child who is part of our ministry. This effort is to help us know the engagement/condition of our flock and help us engage them and encourage them with next steps in their faith. We've also provided opportunities for families to connect and learn while having fun. (ex. Fam Jam, Compassion Weekend, Parent Round-table etc). We were excited to see 58 kids sponsored at the Compassion Experience Weekend, and will have several Fam Jam family events over the quarter.
Staffing Changes
We're happy to say that Jessica Strickland has come on board as supplies coordinator, and Jenny Brown as elementary small group director. Leah Gaines will be our PreK and K director and small group childcare director.
What's Coming Up
The playground needs to be updated with a shade cover in order to keep the equipment cool in the summer, and we're working on a Mom's Nursing Room. We look forward to starting the Middle School worship band at the end of January. We are also starting to plan for summer beach retreat.
ONE NIGHT
Making Connections
Over 800 volunteers and attendees were present in person, and 100 people watched online. 113 different churches were represented, and 63 ladies attended who do not have a home church. Laveta followed up with these ladies through Text In Church, and some of them plan to attend Discover Heritage.
Over 800 volunteers and attendees were present in person, and 100 people watched online. 113 different churches were represented, and 63 ladies attended who do not have a home church. Laveta followed up with these ladies through Text In Church, and some of them plan to attend Discover Heritage.
PRAYER
Growth
We've added a couple of new prayer warriors to our team, and we've actually seen several salvations in the prayer room this quarter! Praise God! We are excited to add more people to our team and continue making Night Of Prayer a priority this year.
Sunday Mornings
We're happy to say that approximately 30 people have been attending our Sunday morning prayer time.
Night Of Prayer
We're preparing for Night Of Prayer after a break from the Holidays. This will be held in the main service and will coincide with a day of fasting.
We've added a couple of new prayer warriors to our team, and we've actually seen several salvations in the prayer room this quarter! Praise God! We are excited to add more people to our team and continue making Night Of Prayer a priority this year.
Sunday Mornings
We're happy to say that approximately 30 people have been attending our Sunday morning prayer time.
Night Of Prayer
We're preparing for Night Of Prayer after a break from the Holidays. This will be held in the main service and will coincide with a day of fasting.
PASTORAL CARE
Covering The Needs
Our MOMS ministry has been less busy due to many of the needs being met by small groups and Team Life groups. These groups have covered the meals of those who've lost a loved one, and it's actually been happening organically, which is amazing. The MOMS ministry has gotten smaller in size, and we intend to combine the two MOMS groups into one.
By The Numbers
Over the past 3 months we've seen MOMS covering 151 needs, while we've covered 84 other needs and counseled 11 individuals.
Healed And Restored
We've seen healings and emotional breakthroughs from people who have been in counseling and been covered while in a crisis. Inner healing continues to happen each month.
Hopes & Dreams
We are still assisting the Hope House with mentoring and mommy mall. We're starting a Prayer Walk in February, and are hopeful that a spiritual warfare group will be started for some who are intercessors.
Our MOMS ministry has been less busy due to many of the needs being met by small groups and Team Life groups. These groups have covered the meals of those who've lost a loved one, and it's actually been happening organically, which is amazing. The MOMS ministry has gotten smaller in size, and we intend to combine the two MOMS groups into one.
By The Numbers
Over the past 3 months we've seen MOMS covering 151 needs, while we've covered 84 other needs and counseled 11 individuals.
Healed And Restored
We've seen healings and emotional breakthroughs from people who have been in counseling and been covered while in a crisis. Inner healing continues to happen each month.
Hopes & Dreams
We are still assisting the Hope House with mentoring and mommy mall. We're starting a Prayer Walk in February, and are hopeful that a spiritual warfare group will be started for some who are intercessors.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Maintenance And Repairs
Currently we are redoing the nursery 4 room because of a small flood that happened over Christmas weekend. We are replacing flooring and cabinets and adding a wall to create a 5th nursery room. We're also making minor repairs around campus, including a project to improve the kitchen in the Pathway building for the many meal meetings happening there.
Taking Care Of The Campus
We finished up the remodel of the east campus house. This is a place for a small group and also 4 one-on-one spaces for ministry. We moved Amy Owen with counseling from Staff 4 to East house and freshened up the Staff 4 building to be ready for staff to move in that space. With end of year surplus money we revamped the landscape around North Campus, added pond chemicals to reduce the pond grass, added layer of playground mulch, removed a dead tree and debris from lower pond, and freshened pinestraw over the whole campus.
Dreams and Plans
We are in the process of planning and dreaming to make Staff 2 building a place for small groups. We'd also like to add coverings/porches over the mobile unit doors to prevent future water damage. We're also partnering with Laveta to improve our atrium flow as well as function and aesthetics.
Currently we are redoing the nursery 4 room because of a small flood that happened over Christmas weekend. We are replacing flooring and cabinets and adding a wall to create a 5th nursery room. We're also making minor repairs around campus, including a project to improve the kitchen in the Pathway building for the many meal meetings happening there.
Taking Care Of The Campus
We finished up the remodel of the east campus house. This is a place for a small group and also 4 one-on-one spaces for ministry. We moved Amy Owen with counseling from Staff 4 to East house and freshened up the Staff 4 building to be ready for staff to move in that space. With end of year surplus money we revamped the landscape around North Campus, added pond chemicals to reduce the pond grass, added layer of playground mulch, removed a dead tree and debris from lower pond, and freshened pinestraw over the whole campus.
Dreams and Plans
We are in the process of planning and dreaming to make Staff 2 building a place for small groups. We'd also like to add coverings/porches over the mobile unit doors to prevent future water damage. We're also partnering with Laveta to improve our atrium flow as well as function and aesthetics.
SUNDAY AM
What's The Latest
We've been designing, manufacturing, and installing new LED house lighting in order to improve both the illumination in the room and possibly the monthly electrical cost. We're also helping with the launch of small groups.
What's Coming Up
We have new young kids of team members getting into tech ministry. This is amazing! Seeing these teams grow with the younger generation lets us know that we're investing in the future. We're dreaming about whether a choir might be possible on Sunday mornings, and we continue to upgrade lighting.
We've been designing, manufacturing, and installing new LED house lighting in order to improve both the illumination in the room and possibly the monthly electrical cost. We're also helping with the launch of small groups.
What's Coming Up
We have new young kids of team members getting into tech ministry. This is amazing! Seeing these teams grow with the younger generation lets us know that we're investing in the future. We're dreaming about whether a choir might be possible on Sunday mornings, and we continue to upgrade lighting.