Monday, September 27, 2010

Chasing Lions

This weekend’s message was about courage and overcoming fears. We shared the account of one of the Old Testament’s most courageous heroes, Benaiah. You can read about him in 2 Samuel 23:20-23. One of the most courageous things he did was to chase a lion into a pit on a snowy day.

We discussed how we have fears in our lives that are “lions” we shouldn’t run from but chase. If we’re to overcome our fears we have face them and step out in faith that our God is bigger than any lion (fear) you may be facing. Chasing and overcoming our fears involves risk. Most of us want absolute certainty before we step out in faith. But the problem with this is that it takes faith out of the equation. There is no such thing as a risk free faith.

I highly recommend a book written by Mark Batterson about Benaiah called In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I love what Batterson said in his book:

“Obedience is a willingness to do whatever, whenever, wherever God calls us. And it looks different for each of us. It doesn’t always necessitate going halfway around the world. Often the most courageous actions only require us going across the room or across the street.”

In my message this weekend I challenged the Lexington campus to do just that. We don’t have to chase our biggest fears first. Let’s chase a “baby lion”, a smaller fear and experience that we can actually do it! Then let’s start looking for a bigger lions to chase.

Happy Hunting!

Mike

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

New Blog

My blog has moved to http://highrock-mikehillard.blogspot.com/
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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

WOW!!!

WOW!!! What an incredible first two weeks at HRCC's newest campus located in Lexington. Our launch service was on August 29 and on that weekend and this last we had over 400 visit and attend our services.

It was an amazing feeling walking out on the stage that first Sunday after the praise band led us in our first worship song set and seeing all those God sent to hear His Word and hear the Gospel. If you are reading this an attended one of these services...thank you so much. We were so glad to see you and hope you'll visit again and if you're searching for a church home and family that you will consider HRCC Lexington.

We have had the Lexington campus in planning for almost two years. It has taken a lot of people, planning and prayer for us to get to this day, our 5th HRCC campus. I want to personally thank everyone who has been and will be a part of all the "labor of love" that has gone into our campus. God is up to something BIG in Davidson County and has BIG plans for us to reach the people in the area to see people's lives changed by experiencing Jesus in a personal way.

If you want to know more about High Rock Community Church please visit our website. Or contact me with any questions. We would love to see you some Sunday!

Come see for yourself why High Rock Rocks!

In Christ,

Mike
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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Change of plans...

Jeremiah 29:11 says,  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This scripture recounts God's promise that He had a plan for Judah after their 70 year exile in Babylon.

 

We all know that God has a plan and a plan for our lives. I had a life plan. I was given certain skills and abilities from God which allowed me to have a successful business career. And MY plan was to retire on my 62nd birthday. I made this plan when I was still living in New York and was thinking ahead to what my future would look like.

 

Well, this past Sunday, August 15th, I turned 62. But God's plan obviously trumped my plan.

 

Instead of saying goodbye on August 15th, 2010 to my job in the business world, and goodbye to my business associates as I had planned so many years ago, I began, on my planned retirement day, a "new" career. I was giving a sermon at the HRCC Lexington campus. It was our first "practice service" with me as a campus pastor, my new career. Isn't that interesting? So much for my plan!

 

Change of plans? I'll say! Sunday, standing there, delivering a sermon on my planned "retirement day" and officially starting a new assignment was the best birthday I have ever had.

 

This was God's birthday present to me. Thank you God.

 

I love God's plans! (and His birthday present to me)

 

In Christ,

 

Mike

 

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

This service brought to you by....

 
...the Core and Launch Team from the Lexington Campus. We decided to let these teams serve and fill every volunteer ministry this past weekend at East as our Lexington team heads into the final stages of our preparation for our August 29th launch of HRCC's 5th campus.
 
It takes a minimum of 38 volunteers to be adequately staffed for each of our services at East. We had some of the team pulling double duty serving as greeters and ushers and a couple of other double service volunteers. It was a great experience and everyone did an excellent job. Thank you teams! It was awesome to see the Lexington campus praise band for their first public services after several weeks of practice after the band was created. I heard great reviews!
 
It's only 6 weeks to launch and the next weeks will be busy finishing up training, purchasing of equipment, practice set ups and a couple of practice services in addition to our promotion and marketing to get the word out about the launch. We've learned from our experiences with the other 4 campuses as we launched so we pretty much have our time table and planning sequence "down" based on these experiences.
 
We still can use anyone who wants to help for a short while or longer term as a core or launch team member. Just contact me and we can discuss.
 
Several things you can do to help. Pray...pray every day leading up to the launch that God will bless our efforts and that we are honoring God in all our preparations. You can support financially. The Gospel is free but ministry isn't...particularly a multi-site strategy which is one church in multiple locations. If you wish to give, please designate your gift for the Lexington campus. You can support us by giving your gift at any campus or you can support us with an on-line gift. You can serve... as I mentioned above, we can always use more volunteers to help us get launched and up and going.
 
Thanks so much for your prayers.
 
In Christ,
 
Mike  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

53 days: 21 hours: 14 minutes and 2 seconds

This is how long it is until the launch service of the HRCC Lexington Campus (or at least it was when I typed the title in). I have been so excited anticipating what God is doing as we continue to ramp up for the launch on August 29 at 10:30 am. Directions on website at highrockcommunitychurch.com. Click on Lexington campus.
 
At present we have 24 adults committed as Core Team members and almost as many committed to be a part of the Launch Team that will help us and support us for 60 days or so after we launch. We still need more members for both teams if you're interested.
 
Some have asked what our planning schedule looks like. We've been meeting monthly since January and several times a month in April though June. If you are interested in the planning calendar, here it is from today on:
 

July 9th – Core Team and Launch Team meeting for July 17 & 18 planning (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm) East Campus

July 10th & 11th - Saturday & Sunday - Mike's Pastor's Choice message - West Campus - attendance optional

July 17 & 18 - Saturday & Sunday - East Campus - Lexington Campus Team does all the services at the East Campus

Saturday July 17 at 6 pm and Sunday July 18th at 9:30 & 11 am

All Core Team both days – we will have our Lexington praise team, Mike gives message, all ministries staffed by Lexington Core Team & Launch Team - Video promo - Campus wide special offering for Lexington Campus

July 18th – Sunday - Core & Launch Team meeting at Y – Go over the plan for launch sequence and the schedule

July 25th - Sunday - Lexington campus training at Y (10:30 am - 12:30 pm)

AUGUST

August 1st - Sunday - Lexington campus training at Y (10:30 am - 12:30 pm)

August 7th – Saturday - door hangers; distribute invite cards Time (TBD)

August 8th – Sunday - practice set up at Y (9 am -12 pm) – Afterwards - launch party at Hilliard's house on the lake

August 14th – Saturday - door hangers; distribute invite cards (TBD)

August 15th – Sunday - 1st LIVE FULL PRACTICE – core & launch team (7am -1 pm)

 

August 21st – Saturday - door hangers, distribute invite cards, (TBD) & Community event in Lexington @ Grimes Park

 

August 22nd – Sunday - 2nd LIVE FULL PRACTICE - 7 AM -1 PM - Invite Friends

August 27th – Friday - 24 hr fast (optional) and prayer for Launch

August 28th – Saturday - door hangers; distribute invite cards, (TBD)

Cook-out and prayer meeting at the Carol & Kevin Brady's house in Lexington

Sunday, August 29th - LAUNCH SERVICE!!!!!!

 

Again, if you want to be a part of the Core of Launch Team please contact me. I want to thank all of you for supporting us and praying for the launch and the campus.

By the way, it's now 53 days: 20 hours: 55 minutes and 22 seconds 'till Launch!!!

 

In Christ,

 

Mike

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

"We're almost there!"

Almost a year ago I wrote a blog asking "are we there yet?" I was referring to the launch of our 5th campus. At that time we were looking to launch in the fall of 2009. However, God did not open any doors for us showing us a location and timing.
 
Instead, He opened the door for the launching of the West campus. We were faithful to His leading and put our immediate focus on the up fitting of the building He made available to us. The West campus was launched on November 1, 2009. All the while, the 5th campus which we felt God leading us to launch in the Lexington/Midway area was still be planned. Actually the plans for this 5th campus have been in works for almost 2 years as we searched for a location and decided on timing.
 
Well, to answer my year old question...we're almost there! We will be launching the Lexington campus on Sunday, August 29, 2010. We have our Core Team of current HRCC members from other campuses who have committed to at least 1 year of service and support for Lexington. At this point we have 23 Core Team members. We have been meeting as a group since January. We are talking to others who feel led to be part of the Core Team families and individuals. We are also discussing with others who have said they want to support the campus and help with the launch and serve with us for several months. We're calling these faithful volunteers the Launch Team. I will keep everyone posted of our progress and ask that if you have a desire to help us that you contact me at the church.
 
We have been looking at many buildings over the past year but nothing has opened up in a manner which clearly indicates to us that "this is the place" God has selected for us. We are continuing to look for a building and when the time is right and we feel that God has shown us the location and timing, as he has in Denton, Kannapolis and West, we will we react. So while we wait for that revelation of location, we have decided to launch the Lexington campus as a "portable" church. This is how we launched the Denton and Kannapolis campuses.
 
We will launch in the banquet and meeting wing of the J. Smith Young YMCA in downtown Lexington. We have almost 6000 square feet of space and will have 3 rooms to use, one as the worship area, others for Kid's Club and nursery and welcome area.
 
I will use my blog to provide updates of our progress towards launch. We ask that you keep these plans and efforts in your prayers. Again, if you want to help in any way, please contact me.
 
In Christ,
 
Mike
 
 
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