We recently asked our members to answer the question, “Why do you love our church?” Their responses were enthusiastic and descriptive. And we’re eager to share with you why we love our church!
The first thing that I love about my church is that in it’s basic sense we are a “family church” committed to serving God in this community and around the world through our Global Servants. I attend worship services in various churches throughout the year with other brothers and sisters in Christ, but there is always that special feeling when I return to Highland – I am “home” at FBC. For years, many of us have celebrated, mourned, struggled, laughed, disagreed, and dealt with all that life has to offer – together. We have been on this journey of serving God where we are welcoming new folks along side us and saying difficult goodbyes to others. We are a strong community of believers – an extended family.
The second thing I love about my church is that we are affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, USA. Missions is an extremely important piece for me, of what it means to be a Christian – serving people worldwide. Our denomination does this work in a wonderful way and I am blessed to be a part of it through our local church.
When I think of church, I think of the people. So, I would have to say I love my church because of the people. The memories and relationships with the people in the church are everlasting. It’s amazing that people from so many different backgrounds can come together as one “Family of God”. The people are truly an extension of my immediate family. I know in my heart that the people in our church genuinely love me, as I love them. They don’t even have to do anything for me really, just knowing that they are there for me, when and if I need them, can get me through the week of difficult times. When I think about it, they are like a reflection of God to me. 1st John 4:12 describes it best for me – “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
I believe our church represents, in a very real way, what a church should be, and why I love FBC Highland:
- The people love the Lord; they want to serve others; and they are not selfish about sharing their gifts.
- We, as an ABC congregation, are committed to our own local autonomy, while recognizing that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves.
- Through our mission programs, our people have invested themselves in our local, regional, and international work. They have a loving caring attachment to our Global Servants.
- We have beautiful well-maintained property, but it doesn’t consume us; financially or otherwise
- There is Joy.
- Last, but certainly not least, we have a Pastor who shares himself and his family, with his congregation, in many ways; musically, spiritually, intellectually (in thought provoking ways), and lovingly.
We are blessed.
Why?? It’s a multiple of reasons. Topping the list of course is the biblical & spiritual based American Baptist foundation. But that could be found in other ABC congregations. So what I love about “my” church is the close knit feeling of family and community — how everyone here is my family; how if I hurt or have a need everyone feels it, cares for me, prays for me and pitches in to help in whatever way they can. They all wrap me and mine in a Christian love deeper than I would have ever dreamed possible. You don’t find that just anywhere but you find it here each and every day. I do thank God daily for First Baptist Church.
[I love the] sense of community and support; sense of peace in my life. Sunday school and sermons are so informative about the bible. For me [this] background knowledge of bible makes bible reading come alive.
I feel I have to try to keep going to Church to keep trying to help where I can,people have said don’t give up it might not look as if what you’re doing even matters but you keep trying because it’s for God not for Show.It’s because Our Church Truly Believes In God & knows that what it comes down to at the end of each of our Lives is Heaven going to be your Eternal Home.🙏✝️ I Love sitting in the Sanctuary & feeling God’s Presents by Myself & with Others.Listening to the Music 🎶 people has spent A Lot of time preparing,& watching Others join in whether reading Scripture or singing 🎤 Especially the Children’s time,We have a Fun Time with that.Most of all our Pastor Messages & his Sense of Humor,everyone is Laughing & at the same time Worshipping Our Great & Powerful God.🌈
I love our church because: we preach the gospel, we know each other by name, we know the power of prayer intimately, and we work and strive together to put the Lord God first.
I love our church, because our pastor is exactly the sort of person who should be a pastor—devout, caring, committed, energetic, funny, highly educated, organized, thorough. I also like the way our church and denomination are organized, how we have the freedom to make many important decisions at the local level while still having support from the national organization when we need it. I like the people here, have known many of them for years and consider them to be extended family. I love the building itself, the design of it and the potential that the property has for future growth. The recent addition of the playlet shows our love of and dedication to the children who are our future. There is a spirituality and dedication to the Lord’ work there, as witnessed by generous giving and missions support of our congregation.
I love our church, because it offers so many opportunities for personal ministry. If you like music, there’s praise team and choir. If you’re the domestic sort, there’s the social committee. If you like books and reading, we have an amazing and well-organized library. If you like to do things for others, there’s ABWomen and ABMen with multiple opportunities for ministry and evangelism. If you have an inquiring mind, there’s Sunday School, Adult Bible Study, and several smaller weekly Bible studies groups to choose from. If you’re handy with tools or have a bent towards mathematics and finance, you can be a Trustee. If you’re the friendly, outgoing sort, you can serve as an usher. If you’re a grown-up, but you love working with kids and still get a kick out of playing with toys, there’s the puppet ministry. If kids are your main focus, there’s Discovery Club, the Nursery, and Children’s Church where your talents and interests can be put to use. No one is excluded in this church; everyone is encouraged to worship and to do good works according to his or her willingness, interests, and talents. And we all truly care about one another. That’s what I like about First Baptist!