Hyland Heights Family,
Dr. Wheeler and I (Pastor Josh) want to take a few minutes to share with you some things that ARE happening at Hyland Heights in spite of the world being under quarantine guidelines these past couple of weeks.
1. We are worshiping. Each week, we are encouraging our church family to gather for worship online. Sing. Rejoice. Pray. Listen. Grow. As we all adjust to worshiping in a different way these next few weeks, do not let it hinder your ability and intentions to worship as the Church!
2. Our Life Groups are meeting. We are using technology to still meet to pray for and encourage one another around the Word of God.
3. Our Food Pantry is serving. Last week our food pantry supplied just shy of 90 families with food. Meeting needs and sharing Jesus at a time when people need hope exemplifies the heart of who our church is.
4. Our pastors and staff are working. We continue to meet together, praying earnestly for our church family, talking out the challenges, connecting to our leaders. Throughout the coming weeks we are striving to connect to our members through a variety of means. We want you to know we are here for you. In a church our size it may be impossible to connect to everyone individually, but know we are reaching out and you can reach out to us too!
5. Our deacons are ministering. The deacon team is committed to checking in on families throughout the coming weeks to offer Scriptures to encourage them, pray with them, and listen to how they are feeling.
6. Our facilities are being cleaned. We want to give our facilities the best care we can during this time to make sure they are cleaned and ready for everyone to return soon!
7. Hyland Heights members are being the Church! We have already seen so many other examples of our church family stepping up to serve the community and share the love of Jesus with those around them. Thank you for being the church!
During this time, especially, one of the things our staff wants to commit to is keeping the church family updated with current finances. It is through your faithful generosity that all Hyland Heights needs will continue to be met and ministries will continue to thrive and be able to serve through this unique opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our communities. Church family, you have shown yourselves faithful and generous so far this year. Thank you! To share real numbers, as of March 8th, finances received were 107% of our year-to-date budget.
Over the past two weeks, we have seen giving drop 7%, so that we are now just over 99% of our year-to-date budget. While this may not seem very significant, it points to a trend that we do not want to continue and want to encourage you to remain faithful to what God has called us to do together. Even while we may not be able to meet together physically, we still remain the Church. Right now, it might look a little different than “dropping a check in the offering plate,” but we are still called and able to give. Here are ways you can continue to give your tithes and offerings:
- Go to hhbc.net/give to set-up online giving - Physically mail your tithes and offerings to 11452 Wards Rd, Rustburg VA 24588
We know that even in this time of great uncertainty that we, you and us together, can continue to trust God as we honor him with our time, talents, and treasures in the days to come. We know that God honors those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30) and that God uses a church as a whole when the church is faithful to be generous as well. Let me leave you with this word of encouragement from the Apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
In the Love of Jesus,
Dr. Josh Carter
Dr. David Wheeler