Posts by John Heiser
Pastoral Residency Program
POSITION OVERVIEW South Highland’s Pastoral Residency Program seeks to nurture, equip, and send out the next generation of pastors and church leaders by integrating theological education and ministry experience. The program is open to men and women discerning a call to vocational ministry. This program is open to applicants form any Christian tradition, although preference will be given to those interested in being ordained in the PC(USA) or within the broader Reformed tradition. Applicants should be pursuing or planning to…
A Volunteer Testimonial
South Highlander Nancy VanCleve offered this heartfelt testimonial in a Moment for Mission during Sunday worship on September 14. I have had the privilege of volunteering a few times for South Highland’s Saturday Showers ministry. As with all such opportunities, I have found that I receive much more than I give by serving in this way. The ministry provides a place for unhoused people to sign up for showers. There is also the opportunity for the men to shave and sometimes…
Mission to Madagascar
Please be in prayer for the PC(USA) team traveling to Madagascar August 26-September 12. The seven-member team will include Lois Palacek of First Pres Tuscaloosa (and mother of South Highlander Sarah Hewitt). The two-week “Gift of New Eyes” journey will be in support of mission partners Dan and Elizabeth Turk and the FJKM (Reformed Church of Jesus Christ) in Madagascar. The team will observe FJKM ministry and mission, including Dan’s work with the Fruit and Vegetable center, Elizabeth’s public health…
Assistant Minister for Discipleship
Position Overview The Assistant Minister will serve SHPC by providing direction and vision for our adult Christian discipleship, with an emphasis on members under 50 and young adults. He/she will work closely with the other ministerial staff to create a consistent and intentional approach to discipleship at SHPC. He/she will also provide leadership and vision for a hospitality ministry and intentional assimilation of visitors and new members. For the full job posting, please click here. Interested candidates may email Senior…
Shave and a Haircut … and a Shower
On a Saturday in May, I joined volunteers Kevin, Susan, Mark and Lu to welcome our neighbors to Saturday showers. The ones who came enjoyed fresh coffee as they waited their turn on the “first come, first served” shower list that Mark kept updated. The waiting area, a hallway, has a long pew with chairs added so everyone can be comfortable. Above the pew, is a beautiful new wall mural that says: “This is the day the LORD had made;…
2025 Mission to Poland
Please be in prayer for Larry and Kathryn Michael as they journey once again to Poland in the name of Jesus Christ. We are traveling this week with a team from The Outreach Foundation to Gdansk, Poland to lead a marriage retreat, sponsored by The Novus Foundation, their Polish Partners. “Recovering Sabbath Rest in Marriage,” the theme of the retreat, seeks to give clergy and teaching couples the opportunity to embrace rest as an essential part of a healthy, Christ-centered …
Refugee Families Thriving
This is an update from Matthew 25 Ambassador Linda Butler on the Afghan refugee families who have settled in Birmingham and are being supported by SHPC members through Inspiritus. Gul Bakht, Nasir, Omid, and Arman Akbary are so appreciative of the opportunity to build a life in Birmingham. Omid (second grade) and Arman (kindergarten) continue to thrive at Hall Kent Elementary in Homewood. Arman gets sad when there is a holiday or weather event and he doesn’t get to go…
Progress and Challenges in Madagascar
Here is a condensed version of a winter 2025 update from our mission partners in the island nation of Madagascar. Dan and Elizabeth Turk, mission co-workers serving in Madagascar whom we support, send their greetings! PC(USA)’s partner church, the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, whose initials in the Malagasy language are FJKM, continues its holistic work to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the Malagasy people. The Fruits, Vegetables, and Environmental Education Program (FVEE) that Dan works…
An Expression of Gratitude
In 2009, South Highland began supporting an orphanage in Zimbabwe called the Lovemore Home, through the Outreach Foundation of the PC (USA). Due to economic and other factors, the home was forced to close in 2014, leaving many young people in a difficult situation. But our church was able to maintain contact with some of the boys, following and supporting their progress through the educational system. The letter below, sent to South Highlander Lee Cooper, is from one of the…
Building a Life in Alabama
Inspiritus, Birmingham’s local refugee resettlement organization, has been active in Birmingham for three years now and has settled 326 refugees in our area. For most of the first year, the new arrivals were from Afghanistan but now they are from all over the world. The Akbary family fled Afghanistan on August 24, 2021, and arrived in Birmingham in January of 2022. They were welcomed by Inspiritus and a care team of South Highlanders. This care team relationship has evolved over…
Children’s Ministry (Part-time)
Part-time Children’s Ministry Director Hourly Expectations: 20 hours/week Reports to: Associate Pastor Rev. Abby Gatliff (will report to Sr. Pastor Rev. Cort Gatliff while Associate Pastor is on maternity leave) Position Summary: Plan and implement discipleship ministry to families and children 0–5th grade. Roles and Responsibilities: Skills/qualifications: To apply, please send résumé to shpcjobs@gmail.com.
Building Project Progress August 2024
Various projects of SHPC’s building renovation continue to make progress. Pointing Repair work is fully underway on mortar joints in the exterior block of the 1926 Education Building (now housing our offices, library, youth and music suites). The process involves pressure washing the surfaces, preparing and injecting material into the joints. Rotted Wood Window frames and other rotted wood are being replaced with long-lasting mahogany. Roof Repairs Our church’s beautiful slate roof is being lovingly tended to. G-15 and G-16…