“was to create a destination for people of all ages that would offer a variety of services that could enrich their lives in a Christ-centered environment.” With that, the concept of the Community Center was born. The church met with an architect in 2007 and broke ground in 2008. Anderson explains: “This is actually phase four of a master plan that started five years ago. There are two phases left on the master plan for this property. I’ve served as senior pastor for seven years. Before that, I was assistant pastor for 17 years. But I can’t remember how long it has been in my heart.” The new facility was built in 11 months and cost $7.5 million. Completed totally debt-free, it was dedicated with the intent of being an outreach to the entire community, not for just the church people. Open daily, the spacious facility features a Starbucks coffee shop, a gymnasium, work-out facilities, a weight room, game room, preschool snack and play areas, and a fellowship hall/auditorium with an adjoining full-service kitchen. Aerobics, fitness, dance, and martial arts classes are offered on a daily basis. The Community Life Center is a missional extension of the multiple ministries at Rose Heights. Two worship services are conducted each week to accommodate more than 1,600 members—a traditional service is held at 8:30 a.m. and a con- temporary worship service follows at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Anderson usually speaks in both services.


The Rose Heights Church, says Pastor Anderson, is continually looking outward to discover new ways to reach the community and to bring individuals into the fellowship of the body of Christ.


“ELEVATE YOUR LIFE!” THE MISSION OF NEW HEIGHTS CHURCH


New Heights Church in Longview, Texas, began with 23 peo- ple in a storefront building in September 1995. Originally called Rose Heights (Longview) and established as an extension of the vision of Pastor James Dill, then senior pastor of Rose Heights (Tyler), the congregation was organized as a separate local church on October 28, 2001. A successful church plant from the beginning, the congregation now has a regular Sunday morning attendance of more than 1,100 people in two worship services. The New Heights website (www.newheightschurch.tv) and its Facebook page feature testimonies of people whose lives have been changed by the missional ministries of the church. With a basic foundation in dynamic worship, preaching, and teach- ing, and in addition to its full schedule of traditional church ministries, New Heights reaches beyond its walls through such ministries as Operation Blessing (assisting people in emergen- cies), the Healing Rooms prayer ministry, and a Mother’s Day Out program. Other specialized ministries include Rolling Holy Christians (a classic car group), and the Spirit Riders Motorcycle Ministry. The church also operates a complete professional recording studio with project support from prerecording to track- ing, and with professional engineers and studio musicians. More than six years ago, the Oneighty youth ministry moved its Wednesday service from the church building to a vacated theater inside the Longview Mall. Four special activities are pre-


state-of-the-art ministry center. Pastor Devin and Joanne minis- ter to over 400 children each week.


In 2009, Lead Pastor Tommy Jackson introduced the theme “Going to New Heights.” An expression of the mission and vision of the church, the theme caught on, resulting in the mis- sion statement, “Love God passionately; love people intention- ally,” and the vision statement, “Our vision is to influence our community while passionately pursuing Christ, while develop- ing servant leaders who love others into active relationships with God.” Pastor Jackson says New Heights is best described as a community of faith, hope, and love.


“While we have a physical building,” says Pastor Jackson, “a building is not what we are about. We are about building people.” The name change to New Heights that took place in September 2009, along with the prominently displayed slogan, “Elevate Your Life!” reflects this mission and vision.


A pastor for 25 years, state youth director for six years, and state administrative bishop for seven years, James E. Cossey currently serves as the editor in chief of Church of God publications and as the senior editor of the Church of God Evangel.


EVANGEL • JULY 2010 13


sented each week. From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. a Junior Varsity service (grades 6-8) is conducted while the Varsity group (grades 9-12) is in the game room. At “halftime” this reverses, with the Var- sity group in service, and the Junior Varsity in the game room. The New Heights bus ministry brings students from throughout Longview and surrounding areas to participate. Student Life Pastor Chris Reid reports that 250 students typically attend Oneighty, and that some of the current leaders are former stu- dents whom they have discipled and trained.


A focal point of the New Heights campus is Kidz World, the center for children’s ministry. Children’s Pastor Devin Winter- myer and his wife, Joanne, say the objective of Kidz World is to lead children to Christ, provide them a biblical foundation for life, and disciple them to become strong Christians. Occupying the old sanctuary, Kidz World is a brightly decorated, interactive,


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