Heritage News
Q3 2022: July - September
SUNDAY SUPPORT
Team Building
Between all Sunday Support teams we average about 25 volunteers on a Sunday morning. We are currently trying to grow the Usher and Offering Teams.
Between all Sunday Support teams we average about 25 volunteers on a Sunday morning. We are currently trying to grow the Usher and Offering Teams.
DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY
Discover Heritage
From July to September we had 13 Participants in Discover Heritage, with 69% of those getting connected with their next step at Heritage. We are working to bring in more participants through personal interactions on Sunday morning.
New Team Members
We celebrate having 3 new team members join the Discover Heritage Team! We've offered a booth in the Atrium for Discover Heritage in order to help people with questions about how to connect at our church, and we're thankful that this has been successful! We are also dreaming of a celebration type event for past Discover Heritage participants to come and share their stories of connection since attending the class.
From July to September we had 13 Participants in Discover Heritage, with 69% of those getting connected with their next step at Heritage. We are working to bring in more participants through personal interactions on Sunday morning.
New Team Members
We celebrate having 3 new team members join the Discover Heritage Team! We've offered a booth in the Atrium for Discover Heritage in order to help people with questions about how to connect at our church, and we're thankful that this has been successful! We are also dreaming of a celebration type event for past Discover Heritage participants to come and share their stories of connection since attending the class.
SMALL GROUPS
Moving Forward • Mid-Sized Groups
We're thankful to have 4 new small group leaders this quarter, and we're celebrating the impact of the new mid-sized groups. It's important for us to continue to increase the amount of small group offerings to meet the needs of our congregation. The future direction of small group ministry will help us to develop a plan for growth.
By The Numbers
During this quarter we've had 15 ongoing groups (year round), 10 new small groups, 3 mid-sized groups, 4 new small group leaders, and an average monthly small group attendance of 380.
We're thankful to have 4 new small group leaders this quarter, and we're celebrating the impact of the new mid-sized groups. It's important for us to continue to increase the amount of small group offerings to meet the needs of our congregation. The future direction of small group ministry will help us to develop a plan for growth.
By The Numbers
During this quarter we've had 15 ongoing groups (year round), 10 new small groups, 3 mid-sized groups, 4 new small group leaders, and an average monthly small group attendance of 380.
BREATHE
Open And Growing
We're excited to say we've had a 10% growth this quarter, and we're gearing up for our first respite since Covid! Respite is a precious time for special needs individuals to have a blast with fun activities as their loved ones get a well-deserved night off to accomplish tasks or just get a moment of relaxation.
Reaching Out
We had a mother bring her child on a Sunday morning. She was desperate and felt like she had nowhere to turn. Our team wrapped her up and ministered to her, and she is now meeting with Nettie once a week one-on-one to learn about who God says she is.
Needing Transport
We are in need of a handicap-accessible van. We have several families who don’t have access to transportation but long to be a part of the church, and a van allows us to help those families be a part of a community that can help.
We're excited to say we've had a 10% growth this quarter, and we're gearing up for our first respite since Covid! Respite is a precious time for special needs individuals to have a blast with fun activities as their loved ones get a well-deserved night off to accomplish tasks or just get a moment of relaxation.
Reaching Out
We had a mother bring her child on a Sunday morning. She was desperate and felt like she had nowhere to turn. Our team wrapped her up and ministered to her, and she is now meeting with Nettie once a week one-on-one to learn about who God says she is.
Needing Transport
We are in need of a handicap-accessible van. We have several families who don’t have access to transportation but long to be a part of the church, and a van allows us to help those families be a part of a community that can help.
COMMUNICATIONS
Social Media
In social media, our Facebook posts reached 41,000 users and Instagram reached 21,000 users. Our Instagram and Facebook followers both grew by over 100 followers each. While our overall reach was down this quarter by about 20%, we saw a 25% increase in Instagram users visiting our profile which shows interest in our content. We see a trend shifting, however. Facebook is turning away from video content while Instagram is turning towards short-form video content. We are working to create Instagram Reels that are power packed with God nuggets, and the community seems encouraged by these videos. The Social Media team is dreaming up ways to collect more stories about what God is doing in our midst so that we can celebrate and encourage others through testimonies.
Legends Series
We completed the Legends series in July. It was an honor to tell the stories of Jay Jordan, Ted Texer and CJ & Sheila Poole.
Promotions
We've had an extremely full Fall season. We've been busy promoting all of our various Fall events such as mid-size groups, Fam Jam, Night of Prayer, Jump Up Sunday, and so much more. It was so busy that we worked on a churchwide events calendar for people to stay current.
Church Online
Our Church Online team now has full control of the live stream, which allows us to relieve some of the pressure from the Sunday AM Media team as we directly control when the livestream begins and ends. We still miss the interactive table experience. It was an incredible opportunity to directly speak to our online audience, and we are dreaming bout how we can bring that feel back in our current set up. Our Online Church Family continues to thrive with an average weekly attendance just shy of 200.
Celebrating What God Is Doing
Our church family and friends loves to hear stories of celebration. They get behind anything God is doing such as testimonies, God encounters and groups serving together. Our most loved Facebook post for this quarter was of the guys that delivered the Compassion Journey materials to the church (3,400 people reached. Our most loved Instagram video post was a short video on 1Peter 5:7, giving your burdens to the Lord. It reached over 9,000 users! How amazing is it that our most popular post was directly from the gospel! One recent scenario from our Church Online Team: We had a lady request prayer for her and her husband who were going through a rough time and it looked like divorce was eminent. Two weeks later, the member of the team who prayed for her, saw she and her husband together at church. Hallelujah!
In social media, our Facebook posts reached 41,000 users and Instagram reached 21,000 users. Our Instagram and Facebook followers both grew by over 100 followers each. While our overall reach was down this quarter by about 20%, we saw a 25% increase in Instagram users visiting our profile which shows interest in our content. We see a trend shifting, however. Facebook is turning away from video content while Instagram is turning towards short-form video content. We are working to create Instagram Reels that are power packed with God nuggets, and the community seems encouraged by these videos. The Social Media team is dreaming up ways to collect more stories about what God is doing in our midst so that we can celebrate and encourage others through testimonies.
Legends Series
We completed the Legends series in July. It was an honor to tell the stories of Jay Jordan, Ted Texer and CJ & Sheila Poole.
Promotions
We've had an extremely full Fall season. We've been busy promoting all of our various Fall events such as mid-size groups, Fam Jam, Night of Prayer, Jump Up Sunday, and so much more. It was so busy that we worked on a churchwide events calendar for people to stay current.
Church Online
Our Church Online team now has full control of the live stream, which allows us to relieve some of the pressure from the Sunday AM Media team as we directly control when the livestream begins and ends. We still miss the interactive table experience. It was an incredible opportunity to directly speak to our online audience, and we are dreaming bout how we can bring that feel back in our current set up. Our Online Church Family continues to thrive with an average weekly attendance just shy of 200.
Celebrating What God Is Doing
Our church family and friends loves to hear stories of celebration. They get behind anything God is doing such as testimonies, God encounters and groups serving together. Our most loved Facebook post for this quarter was of the guys that delivered the Compassion Journey materials to the church (3,400 people reached. Our most loved Instagram video post was a short video on 1Peter 5:7, giving your burdens to the Lord. It reached over 9,000 users! How amazing is it that our most popular post was directly from the gospel! One recent scenario from our Church Online Team: We had a lady request prayer for her and her husband who were going through a rough time and it looked like divorce was eminent. Two weeks later, the member of the team who prayed for her, saw she and her husband together at church. Hallelujah!
FINANCIALS
MISSIONS
By The Numbers
Storehouse sales revenue is $174,206 as of Sept. 30. During the 3rd quarter, 33 households were assisted through the Storehouse Relief Team. The Storehouse team has added several people for a total of about 75 members. The altar fund received 11 requests for assistance during 3rd quarter and assisted financially with 8 of these for a total of $2,499.08 in funds dispersed to assist with rent, food, utility bills, car repair, etc. for those in financial crisis. In June Eddie Seagle took a team of 6 to Peru. In August, Emily Hall led a team of 25 people to Cyprus for 150 children of Frontier workers from all over the Middle East, and Johnny Ray took a team of 4 to Honduras in August and another team of 4 in September.
The Storehouse
The Storehouse has a team preparing for the 10th anniversary celebration on Saturday, November 5. Missions Leadership is preparing for the annual review of all local, national, and global partners as we look toward 2023 mission budget allocation.
At Home And Abroad
The Cyprus mission was a huge success! The Frontier organization was so grateful for the team of 25 that came to serve their children. The workers from all over the Middle East were overwhelmed that one church and community would send that many people to serve them.
Drew and Kate were so blessed that their home church and community showed such a heart to serve their organization.
A team of men and women from the Storehouse did a makeover on the ISS room at CA Gray to provide a beautiful lounge for the teachers. The Storehouse Relief team was able to help B., a young lady fleeing an abusive situation in Mexico. In order for her children to join her, she had to prove she had adequate housing for them. We were able to provide beds, mattresses, bedding, and other furniture and items for her to welcome her children into a safe and inviting space.
The Altar fund was able to significantly help a family in our church who had a tree fall on their home. Because their home was in such disrepair, they could not pass an inspection to have their utilities restored. Elvira worked closely with Roy Reeves who oversaw the repairs to help the family get back into their home. Eight members of The Storehouse team and others have been facilitating Table Talk on Tuesdays. Table Talk is a mid size gathering for women to share a meal and dig into the Bible together. There have been 45 women participating.
Upcoming Plans
Several of our global mission teams- Bethlehem, Honduras, Honduras Medical, Peru, Frontier International Conference- are currently making plans for 2023 mission opportunities. We're currently working with kids ministry to plan a Sunday focusing on teaching children about the persecuted church.
Storehouse sales revenue is $174,206 as of Sept. 30. During the 3rd quarter, 33 households were assisted through the Storehouse Relief Team. The Storehouse team has added several people for a total of about 75 members. The altar fund received 11 requests for assistance during 3rd quarter and assisted financially with 8 of these for a total of $2,499.08 in funds dispersed to assist with rent, food, utility bills, car repair, etc. for those in financial crisis. In June Eddie Seagle took a team of 6 to Peru. In August, Emily Hall led a team of 25 people to Cyprus for 150 children of Frontier workers from all over the Middle East, and Johnny Ray took a team of 4 to Honduras in August and another team of 4 in September.
The Storehouse
The Storehouse has a team preparing for the 10th anniversary celebration on Saturday, November 5. Missions Leadership is preparing for the annual review of all local, national, and global partners as we look toward 2023 mission budget allocation.
At Home And Abroad
The Cyprus mission was a huge success! The Frontier organization was so grateful for the team of 25 that came to serve their children. The workers from all over the Middle East were overwhelmed that one church and community would send that many people to serve them.
Drew and Kate were so blessed that their home church and community showed such a heart to serve their organization.
A team of men and women from the Storehouse did a makeover on the ISS room at CA Gray to provide a beautiful lounge for the teachers. The Storehouse Relief team was able to help B., a young lady fleeing an abusive situation in Mexico. In order for her children to join her, she had to prove she had adequate housing for them. We were able to provide beds, mattresses, bedding, and other furniture and items for her to welcome her children into a safe and inviting space.
The Altar fund was able to significantly help a family in our church who had a tree fall on their home. Because their home was in such disrepair, they could not pass an inspection to have their utilities restored. Elvira worked closely with Roy Reeves who oversaw the repairs to help the family get back into their home. Eight members of The Storehouse team and others have been facilitating Table Talk on Tuesdays. Table Talk is a mid size gathering for women to share a meal and dig into the Bible together. There have been 45 women participating.
Upcoming Plans
Several of our global mission teams- Bethlehem, Honduras, Honduras Medical, Peru, Frontier International Conference- are currently making plans for 2023 mission opportunities. We're currently working with kids ministry to plan a Sunday focusing on teaching children about the persecuted church.
BABY HERITAGE
A Sense Of Comfort
We are always planning engaging ways to interact with our families on Sunday a.m. and throughout the week. Letters to children, attending games, and finding ways to celebrate accomplishments. Several of our team members are connected to families through the school system and this provides our families a sense of comfort when they attend church. Seeing familiar faces helps in this season of life.
Families As Well As Children
We are working on Family Dedication classes leading up to our Child Dedication. This is an opportunity for us to connect with our families more intimately, offer parenting small group opportunities, and help connect our families in the same season of life together.
Haley Stewart
Haley Stewart is one of our volunteers who serves faithfully every month in the 1-2yr old room. This area is challenging since most of the children in this season of life don't understand mom/dad are coming back to get them. Haley jumps right in to serve our families and speaks words of encouragement to each child that has a difficult transition. It brings a sense comfort to our families knowing that someone is loving and speaking life to their child. We adore Haley in Baby Heritage!
Into The Community
Baby Heritage team is working towards being present at the 2nd Saturday event on the square. The vision is to offer a fun experience while sharing insightful ways to connect with our local churches and connect with our community more. Baby Heritage On the Move!
We are always planning engaging ways to interact with our families on Sunday a.m. and throughout the week. Letters to children, attending games, and finding ways to celebrate accomplishments. Several of our team members are connected to families through the school system and this provides our families a sense of comfort when they attend church. Seeing familiar faces helps in this season of life.
Families As Well As Children
We are working on Family Dedication classes leading up to our Child Dedication. This is an opportunity for us to connect with our families more intimately, offer parenting small group opportunities, and help connect our families in the same season of life together.
Haley Stewart
Haley Stewart is one of our volunteers who serves faithfully every month in the 1-2yr old room. This area is challenging since most of the children in this season of life don't understand mom/dad are coming back to get them. Haley jumps right in to serve our families and speaks words of encouragement to each child that has a difficult transition. It brings a sense comfort to our families knowing that someone is loving and speaking life to their child. We adore Haley in Baby Heritage!
Into The Community
Baby Heritage team is working towards being present at the 2nd Saturday event on the square. The vision is to offer a fun experience while sharing insightful ways to connect with our local churches and connect with our community more. Baby Heritage On the Move!
KIDS MINISTRY
Shepherding And Connecting
We're gearing up a Child Dedication training/class for families before celebrating Child Dedication. Our regular Facebook Live events for families are ongoing, and we're increasing our intentional shepherding of kids and students through a Discipleship Pathway made just for them that includes each child who is part of our ministry! This helps us know the engagement/condition of our families and help us engage them and encourage them with next steps in their faith. We also have opportunities for families to connect, including Fam Jam, Compassion Weekend, Parent Round-table and more! We are preparing for the kids Christmas performance, which should be a fun time for all.
Recent Celebrations
The Compassion Experience Weekend was very successful. Hundreds of people from our church and community went through the experience and 58 kids were sponsored! The experience was very sobering and inspiring as it taught families what life looks like for those across the world who go without the blessings that we have. Our Fam Jam kickoff was a blast, and tons of kids played games as a family while learning more about God! 22 families participated in 10th Grade Freedom Milemarker, where many parents were inspired to engage with their students with fresh vision to help their kids discover and grow in God’s design for their life!
Upcoming Changes
We hope to update our children's playground and add shade covers, as well as create a Nursing Room for new moms.
We're gearing up a Child Dedication training/class for families before celebrating Child Dedication. Our regular Facebook Live events for families are ongoing, and we're increasing our intentional shepherding of kids and students through a Discipleship Pathway made just for them that includes each child who is part of our ministry! This helps us know the engagement/condition of our families and help us engage them and encourage them with next steps in their faith. We also have opportunities for families to connect, including Fam Jam, Compassion Weekend, Parent Round-table and more! We are preparing for the kids Christmas performance, which should be a fun time for all.
Recent Celebrations
The Compassion Experience Weekend was very successful. Hundreds of people from our church and community went through the experience and 58 kids were sponsored! The experience was very sobering and inspiring as it taught families what life looks like for those across the world who go without the blessings that we have. Our Fam Jam kickoff was a blast, and tons of kids played games as a family while learning more about God! 22 families participated in 10th Grade Freedom Milemarker, where many parents were inspired to engage with their students with fresh vision to help their kids discover and grow in God’s design for their life!
Upcoming Changes
We hope to update our children's playground and add shade covers, as well as create a Nursing Room for new moms.
STUDENT MINISTRY
By The Numbers
We had an average attendance in August and September of 56 students in Middle School ministry as well as 69 in High School, with 72 students who helped serve!
What's Going On
We are holding a Fire Night Kickoff for student ministry, and a Freedom Night Beach Retreat.
At The Beach
The Beach retreat was an awesome, Holy Spirit-filled weekend. We had students worshipping for 5 hours, along with prophesy being spoken over them. We had a big group of 6th graders come into student ministry, and most of them are currently serving.
What's Coming Up
We're holding a FCA Equipping day for public schools, and we're looking forward to establishing a student-led middle school worship team.
We had an average attendance in August and September of 56 students in Middle School ministry as well as 69 in High School, with 72 students who helped serve!
What's Going On
We are holding a Fire Night Kickoff for student ministry, and a Freedom Night Beach Retreat.
At The Beach
The Beach retreat was an awesome, Holy Spirit-filled weekend. We had students worshipping for 5 hours, along with prophesy being spoken over them. We had a big group of 6th graders come into student ministry, and most of them are currently serving.
What's Coming Up
We're holding a FCA Equipping day for public schools, and we're looking forward to establishing a student-led middle school worship team.
PRAYER
Growth
We're striving hard to bring awareness of the prayer team at Heritage. Part of that effort is helping people grow in their individual prayer lives, as well as adding more volunteers to the prayer team.
Sunday Mornings
We're happy to say that approximately 30 people have been attending our 8:30am prayer time on Sunday mornings
Night Of Prayer
We've seen high numbers consistently with the monthly Night Of Prayer event. There have been 60-70 people who have been attending Night of Prayer.
We're striving hard to bring awareness of the prayer team at Heritage. Part of that effort is helping people grow in their individual prayer lives, as well as adding more volunteers to the prayer team.
Sunday Mornings
We're happy to say that approximately 30 people have been attending our 8:30am prayer time on Sunday mornings
Night Of Prayer
We've seen high numbers consistently with the monthly Night Of Prayer event. There have been 60-70 people who have been attending Night of Prayer.
PASTORAL CARE
Covering The Needs
Over the past 3 months, we’ve fed 67 people who were from a family grieving the loss of a loved one, we’ve covered the needs of 39 in crises or sensitive situations and helped 2 people to attend counseling.
The Hope House
We're excited to support Katrina Bivins and her staff at Hope House by praying with them and mentoring a lady who is in a difficult pregnancy situation. It's nice to help Katrina when she has specific needs or just needs support. The work her ministry is doing is vital to our community.
Prayer and Praise
There have been some individual healing praise reports! God is moving! We've also seen some powerful prayer and worship through teams we’ve been able to partner with.
Challenges and Future Vision
The Care Team (shut ins and nursing home residents) and MOMS (ministry of funeral meals) seems to have lost vision or momentum. We'd love to find someone who has vision for this to take this over and see it grow. This ministry is only part of what Dawn Barnett does, and meeting with people in need or who are in a crisis situation is a huge undertaking. Praying with these people and evaluating their situation while getting them to their next step is an important part of what we do. Dawn adores helping others get to Jesus and healing. We will continue to navigate what's next with God's guidance, as well as Emily Hall's leadership.
Over the past 3 months, we’ve fed 67 people who were from a family grieving the loss of a loved one, we’ve covered the needs of 39 in crises or sensitive situations and helped 2 people to attend counseling.
The Hope House
We're excited to support Katrina Bivins and her staff at Hope House by praying with them and mentoring a lady who is in a difficult pregnancy situation. It's nice to help Katrina when she has specific needs or just needs support. The work her ministry is doing is vital to our community.
Prayer and Praise
There have been some individual healing praise reports! God is moving! We've also seen some powerful prayer and worship through teams we’ve been able to partner with.
Challenges and Future Vision
The Care Team (shut ins and nursing home residents) and MOMS (ministry of funeral meals) seems to have lost vision or momentum. We'd love to find someone who has vision for this to take this over and see it grow. This ministry is only part of what Dawn Barnett does, and meeting with people in need or who are in a crisis situation is a huge undertaking. Praying with these people and evaluating their situation while getting them to their next step is an important part of what we do. Dawn adores helping others get to Jesus and healing. We will continue to navigate what's next with God's guidance, as well as Emily Hall's leadership.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Taking Care Of The Campus
We're finishing up repairs and a remodel of the east campus mission house. The Storehouse has had a front face lift that should brighten up the environment. A few other tasks have been completed...from replacing the pergola at the prayer chapel to asphalt repairs.
Dreams and Plans
We are dreaming about making better use of the space we have that isn't being utilized. We'd also like to add coverings 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. The atrium is one of the first impressions of our church, and it's important to make it a great experience for guests and members.
We're finishing up repairs and a remodel of the east campus mission house. The Storehouse has had a front face lift that should brighten up the environment. A few other tasks have been completed...from replacing the pergola at the prayer chapel to asphalt repairs.
Dreams and Plans
We are dreaming about making better use of the space we have that isn't being utilized. We'd also like to add coverings 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. The atrium is one of the first impressions of our church, and it's important to make it a great experience for guests and members.
SUNDAY AM
In....Stereo!
We've been upgrading our systems, including converting our audio for the sanctuary and the online video sources from mono to stereo. In addition to this, the internet and network connectivity infrastructure has been extended to east campus. We've also expanded our camera connection points, allowing for flexibility when it comes to where the cameras are at during the services. Tally feedback lights have been added to cameras, and this required additional cable runs. A tally light lets the person on stage see which camera is live at any given time by turning a right light on above the current camera.
Busy Times Coming
Our goal is to simply survive the challenges we face during the holidays as a team. Christmas time always puts a load on media, sound, lighting, and camera teams, and so we're just preparing for the extra work.
We've been upgrading our systems, including converting our audio for the sanctuary and the online video sources from mono to stereo. In addition to this, the internet and network connectivity infrastructure has been extended to east campus. We've also expanded our camera connection points, allowing for flexibility when it comes to where the cameras are at during the services. Tally feedback lights have been added to cameras, and this required additional cable runs. A tally light lets the person on stage see which camera is live at any given time by turning a right light on above the current camera.
Busy Times Coming
Our goal is to simply survive the challenges we face during the holidays as a team. Christmas time always puts a load on media, sound, lighting, and camera teams, and so we're just preparing for the extra work.