re: Church of the Highlands pastor meets Birmingham mayor, plans new branch in city

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But i do question Church of the Highlands intentions. I'm skeptical of a lot of megachurches. Are they really seeking to be a member of the community and help the people there. Or are they just strategically planting a church in an area where they know they can easily get money from gullible people.

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I attend CoH and I can understand why people question the motives of a mega-church. I questioned it myself and attended only after hearing so many great things about it and attending some of their small groups. Once I started attending the church, it didn’t take long for me to realize why so many people attend. Pastor Chris is a great man and does his best to live the example. All of the financial books for CoH are left open for anyone to look at, at any time. Everything is paid for with cash so the church is not in any debt that could be used to leverage them. He also does not preach about tithing with money because he understands that not everyone has money to give. He does preach more about “tithing your time and talents”. He wants the church to be involved in the community and do your best to teach the gospel by serving others. We do this through our small groups by helping those in the small groups and people the small groups knows that need help.
Trust me, I understand the skepticism surrounding mega-churches but I can not deny the impact this church has had on my life and my marriage. I wouldn’t consider myself a Christian or believer before this church. Yes I did attend churches growing up but never got anything from it. I actually enjoy church now because CoH not only teaches the gospel but also the context of history which helps explain the significance of so many things I never understood. The change that it has made in my life and marriage has caused several friends, family and co-workers to attend and keep going.

I say all of this to simply say this isn’t a reach for more money. In fact CoH will probably lose money doing this but he believes we must try. This area is extremely bad and something must be done to break the cycle of crime. At least he is trying and not giving up on those people. Sometimes people need hope and that is what we are offering by not only placing a church there but also a dream center.

As far as Dino is concerned, I understand the negative outlook on it. I don’t care for his style of preaching but I know many who do. I don’t know his personal life but what I have learned from the Bible is that you have to forgive people and give them a shot a redemption. Jesus gives us that freely to each of us while none of us deserve it. Who are we to condemn a person the rest of their lives, without giving him/her a shot to redeem themselves? Whether a Christian or not, what Dino did was wrong but the shame he carried for letting his church down was justified but for how long should he have to carry that? Maybe it’s time to allow him a chance to redeem himself so that his life can be a testimony to people he can relate to, looking for hope?