By Pastor Stephen Hess –
This March marks a significant milestone for me because it will be exactly ten years since I was installed as the Pastor of Highview. After the congregation voted to call me as Pastor in January of 2015, our family packed up our house and made the long drive from Florida to Wisconsin. Then, on March 15, 2015, Highview held an installation service where the elders prayed for me as I began my ministry.
If I could pick one word to summarize the past ten years it would be “gratitude.” God has been so good to our congregation, to my family, and to me personally. Psalm 31:19 says, “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!” Below are just a few of the things we have experienced together over the last ten years and in which we have seen God’s goodness.
We’ve observed milestones. In 2018 we celebrated the 25th anniversary of our congregation. We gave thanks for what God has done in our past and looked forward to what he will do in our future. This was also an opportunity to pause and reflect on our vision, which we refined with a new statement of our vision and values.
We’ve grieved sorrows. During the last ten years we have said more than a few goodbyes as some of our brothers and sisters have moved away, and others went home to be with the Lord. Even as we grieved these losses, we gave thanks for the promise of the resurrection, and the assurance that we will be reunited in heaven.
We’ve celebrated joys. We have welcomed many new members into our fellowship. Each year of the decade we’ve had at least one new members class, and God has brought new people into our church family. As I think about the members who are here today that were not here when I started, I give thanks for the unique people whom God has brought to us.
We’ve encountered surprises. The biggest surprise was in 2020 when COVID brought all our ministry to a halt. This was a challenge I never anticipated facing as a pastor, and our whole congregation had to adapt and adjust. But I am immensely grateful for the way we stayed united and weathered the storm, and I believe God has made us stronger because of it.
We’ve experienced changes. Change is an inevitable part of life, and this is true not only for individuals but for churches. Over the past ten years we’ve experienced many changes—changes to our facilities, our worship schedule, our leadership structures, our ministry practices, and more. I am grateful for the way God has continued to help us see areas where we can change and grow.
Although many things change, the most important things remain the same. God’s word, his promises, and his gospel never change. As Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” This is yet another reason to give thanks, because it is a reminder that although so much in this life is uncertain, Jesus is the solid rock on which we can build our lives.
I often tell people that when I accepted the call to the be the Pastor of Highview, I got the better end of the deal. I truly feel that I have received far more blessings from the Highview family than I have given. This is yet another reason I give thanks. I don’t know what the next ten years will bring, but I do know that we will continue to see the Lord’s goodness in new ways, and we will have many more reasons to give thanks.