Podcast Summary: Church of the Highlands – “Hope and Future”

Date: December 7, 2025
Host/Speaker: (Speaker “A”—Lead Pastor)
Theme: An update and encouragement during the “Legacy” season, focused on hope, future, and God’s faithfulness amid challenges.

Main Theme Overview

This episode weaves two primary threads:

1. A Celebration & Update on how God is moving through Church of the Highlands’ ministries and outreach during the “Legacy” season.
2. A Message of Encouragement centered around hope and the assurance of God’s future for each person, drawing from Jeremiah 29:11 and practical applications for faith, purpose, and relationships—especially during the Christmas season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Presence and Expectation in Worship

• The episode opens with an exuberant acknowledgment of God’s presence and power being tangibly felt during the service.
• [00:00] “Our God has no rival. I said our God has no equal... The same power that raised him from the grave is in this place today, available to us today.”
  – Speaker A sets the expectation for an encounter, urging listeners to open their hearts in faith, not just to attend in body.

Legacy Season: What’s Happening at Highlands

• The church is in its annual eight-week “Legacy” season—an intentional time of ministry, generosity, and strategic outreach at year’s end.
• Recap and “good report” of the revival being witnessed within the congregation and the impact beyond the church walls.
• Dream Team Shout-out: Over 23,000 serving weekly; God is credited for all accomplishments.

Ministry Updates & Testimonies

Daphne Campus & Tent Revival

• [04:20] New property purchased for the Daphne campus (paid in cash) and dedicated with a tent revival attended by 1,000 people. Notably, the first person saved on that (formerly peanut farm) property—“God always knew there would be a church here. We just finally caught up with God’s plans.”

Student Ministry: High School Retreat

• [05:15] High school retreat at Shocko Springs:
  • 181 students baptized, highlighting the impact on the next generation.
  • “What a beautiful picture of declaring Christ that young. I’m gonna serve him for the next 20, 30, 40, 50 years to God be the glory.”

Freedom Conference

• Over 2,000 attended—testimonies of people experiencing spiritual liberation.
• Endorsement: If you haven’t been to a Freedom Group, be encouraged by those who have—“Put your hands together…”

“At the Movies” Series

• [07:30] Used secular films for ministry—acknowledging that even movies “made for money” can become tools for God.
  • 1,360 documented salvations in three weeks.
  • 104% increase in first-time guests.

Outreach & Service

• Massive Service Impact: 3.79 million service hours logged through various projects and outreach in the past year.
• Thanksgiving outreach: Nearly 5,000 families served, over 100,000 pounds of food, 240 salvations.

Correctional Facilities Ministry

• Present in every Alabama facility; now expanding in Georgia.
• “People are getting saved. God is moving in a powerful way… In Jesus name, I believe we’re gonna be in all those as well.” [03:40]

Upcoming Opportunities

• Giving Hope (Dec 13): Focus on enabling parents to be the “heroes” at Christmas—10,000 children to be served; nearly $1 million in gifts.
• Legacy Offering: Once-a-year giving beyond regular ministry needs—everything brought in is distributed outside the church, partner ministries locally, nationally and especially in the 10/40 window and Israel.
  • “Our prayer is that we would all participate, that we would bring it to God. It is all for Jesus.”

Church Mission and Stewardship Commitment

• Vision remains unchanged despite leadership transition:
  • Great Commission-driven: Help people know God, find freedom, discover purpose, make a difference.
• Emphasizes integrity and fear of the Lord in stewarding every donation—“Every single penny any of us bring to God, it’s worship.” [10:48]

Message of Encouragement: “Hope and Future”

Setting the Tone: Christmas Tensions & Traditions

• Recognizes Christmas as “a season of contradictions”—joy for some, struggle for others.
• Engaging, lighthearted “hot takes” on Christmas traditions:
  • Decorations only after Thanksgiving, real trees, presents on Christmas morning, and “Elf” as the best Christmas movie.
  • [15:33] “Polar Express should be rated T for terrifying.”
• Swiftly transitions to acknowledge the pain, loneliness, and darkness many also feel.

Central Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

[16:22] “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… plans to give you hope and a future.”

• Hope: Not wishful thinking, but “a faith-filled expectation”—like a slingshot pulled back, ready to launch.
  • “Hope is active in our heart. Hope is an expectation. Hope is a confidence. Hope is a peace-filled—God’s gonna show up. I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but I’m not gonna worry about it.” [17:08]
• Future: The divine outcome (not just output or the number of days), but a God-written destiny for every believer.
• Reframes “future” not merely as passing time or output, but as God’s irrevocable outcome—“the destination that God has for your life.”

Practical Encouragements: “It Is Not Over”—Three Areas

1. Purpose

• Ephesians 2:10 and Romans 11:29 reinforce that every believer’s purpose and calling is “irrevocable.”
  • “God is not a Walmart. He has a no return policy. Failure is not final.” [20:35]
  • Special encouragement to those in correctional facilities: “God still has a future for you and your church family.”

2. Relationships

• Navigates family, marriage, friendships—especially challenging at Christmas.
• Testimony of Britain (from Shoals location):
  • Broken marriage, addiction, and restoration after encountering Jesus—“No addiction, no sin, no broken marriage is too far gone for Him to heal.” [24:34]
  • “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, without Jesus you have nothing... If He could take me from my lowest point to where I am today, he can do the same for you.”

3. Faith

• Addresses those struggling in belief—whether never having a real relationship with Jesus or wrestling with doubts as a Christian.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Even if you’re offended at Him, He is not offended at you.”
  • Quotes Blaise Pascal and St. Augustine on the “God-shaped hole”—“Our heart is restless until it rests in you.” [26:07 – 26:47]
• Matthew 11: “Come to me, all who are weary…and I will give you rest.”
  • “That word is talking about the soul level… relief from striving.” [27:39]

The Context of Hope

• Explains the true context of Jeremiah 29:11:
  • God’s promise of hope comes as His people enter 70 years of Babylonian captivity.
• [28:53] “God says, I know things don’t make sense...but in the middle of it, I’m still with you. You can have a faith-filled expectation that no matter what comes your way, the outcome doesn’t change.”
• Zechariah 9:12—After captivity, God calls His people “prisoners of hope” and promises to restore double; the enemy cannot stop destiny.

Advent Reflection

• Advent as a countdown, “arrival,” and symbol of light in darkness:
  • The four candles: hope, peace, joy, love. All find their fulfillment in the central “Christ candle.” [31:29]
  • “Unless this candle is on fire… there’s no possibility for any of these other things.” Because Jesus came, hope, peace, joy, and love are available to all.

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “Our God has no rival. I said our God has no equal.” — [00:01]
• “God always knew there would be a church here. We just finally caught up with God’s plans.” — [04:54]
• “Failure is not final... God is not a Walmart. He has a no return policy.” — [20:35]
• “No addiction, no sin, no broken marriage is too far gone for Him to heal.” — [24:34] (Testimony)
• “Even if you’re offended at Him, He is not offended at you.” — [26:49]
• “You are not disqualified… the enemy cannot steal it… it is not over in Jesus name.” — [19:50]
• “On the other side of captivity… they were now prisoners of hope.” — [30:49]
• “Unless this candle is on fire… there’s no possibility for any of these other things. But today, because this candle has been lit…we now have the opportunity in every situation to come to Him and to receive.” — [32:18]
• “It is not over. Come on, can I get an amen in church today?” — [27:17]

Actionable Next Steps & Spiritual Practices

Prayer & Ministry Moment

• Listeners are guided in practical, faith-filled prayer:
  • “Whatever your situation is, bring it to Him today… Marriage, finances, pain, betrayal—put it into His hands.”
• Emphasis on petition, thanksgiving, and expectancy for the peace of God.

Invitation to Salvation

• Closing Prayer (from Jeremiah 29:12–13): Anyone seeking or returning to Jesus is invited to pray, commit, and receive the Holy Spirit.

Final Encouragement

• The episode closes with a celebration for those who made decisions for Christ.
• The central call resounds: step into hope, participate in the ongoing story of God’s purpose, embrace His peace, joy, and love—because “it is not over. You have a hope and a future.”

Useful For:

• Anyone needing encouragement in difficult seasons.
• Members or supporters of Church of the Highlands wanting to catch the latest vision and impact updates.
• Listeners seeking a practical, gospel-centered Christmas message.

[End of Summary] (For important moments, see the timestamps noted throughout.)