Highland is in an extended partnership with Ridgewood Baptist Church in southwest Jefferson County in order to enhance and support their progressive voice of faith to this part of our city.

HBC ministers Joe Phelps and Nina Maples, along with the entire congregation, are giving considerable energies to this outreach project.  Members attend worship, participate in work days to revitalize the building, teach Bible study classes, work on task forces, provide expertise in project management, PR, and offer financial and spiritual support to the revitalization of RBC.

History

Ridgewood Baptist Church began in the 1960's and has always been a moderate, progressive Baptist congregation.  They are affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and American Baptist Churches, U.S.A.  Following the resignation of their pastor in 2007, Ridgewood struggled with declining attendance, limited resources, and an unclear direction for the future.

Conversations with Highland began in early 2008 that resulted in a plan to partner together to strengthen RBC.  A task force, with three members from each church, was formed to give oversight to this effort.  The plan included moving RBC's worship service to 1:00 p.m. on Sundays in order to allow HBC to provide worship leadership.  Joe Phelps and Nina Maples began as co-pastors of RBC in September 2008. 

Plans

After our successful Easter "relaunch" the congregation has turned its sights toward outreach. This summer we split our membership into three teams with a goal of bringing in at least 20 new visitors in June and July and 15 new members by the end of August. We met most of our outreach goals and got our members out into the community with flyers and other literature to invite people to visit Ridgewood. It was a very successful venture.

A revitalized deacon ministry, new programming to meet real needs in the community, a growing youth ministry, our web site, and seasonal programs for youth and children are also part of our focus.  

Future

Where the effort goes from here is unknown.  Early in our discussion we broached the idea of merging our two congregations to make one church in two locations.  This option has some benefits but many challenges.  We have also discussed working together until Ridgewood becomes strong and independent again. 

At this point we are suspending judgment on these options in order to work together to enable Ridgewood to be a vital community of faith that provides an important witness to God's love in this community.  Once this happens we will be in a better position to discern what is best for our congregations.  We seek God's guidance as we move forward. 

Current Partnership

After approval by both congregations in October 2009 Ridgewood and Highland moved into Phase IV of their partnership. During this Phase RBC will be searching for a mission pastor to serve full-time with a job description focusing on developing the congregation, marketing the church's mission and message in the community, discovering ways to serve the community in Christ's love, and cultivating the unity of the congregation. Pastor Phelps will continue preaching for the foreseeable future and Pastor Maples will help the new pastor transition into the areas she has been responsible for.

Ridgewood has been blessed with financial support for this endeavor from many sources. The following funds have been pledged in support of this position:

  • $10,000 from RBC
  • $10,000 from HBC
  • $7,500 from ABC Indiana and Kentucky
  • $5,000 from Kentucky Baptist Fellowship has been promised, as well as 1/3 of the State Mission Offering (exact amount to be determined)
  • $5,000 from Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Total: $37,500 (with hopes of receiving at least $3,000 more from the state offering)