2026 Highlands Missions Festival
We had a wonderful week at the 2026 Missions Festival: How Far Can You See?" On Sunday, Joseph Wheat preached from Gospel of Matthew 9:36 in his sermon “What Does Jesus See?” reminding us of Christ’s compassion for the crowds and His call to pray for laborers. Bibek G. also shared about his upcoming return to Nepal to begin ministry there.
Wednesday night, our church family gathered for a Colombian-themed Missions Festival Dinner followed by a missionary panel discussion. It was a blessing to hear firsthand how God is working around the world and to spend intentional time in fellowship together. Our children enjoyed their own Kids’ Missions Fest with pizza, activities, and time learning from our missionaries.
Thursday evening, our Community Groups gathered at several locations for an encouraging night of updates and prayer. Crossroads met in the Fellowship Hall with Tim & Beverly Hart and Brent Kooi; Seekers, Refuge, and Lighthouse met at Chris & Christy Burgess’s home with Bibek Guiday and Nate & Nikki Bonham; and Covenant, College, & Young Adults met at Cory & Stephanie Wilson’s home with Clarke Norton and Trey & Kiki Adams.
On Friday, the Croslands hosted the Missions Committee and all our missionaries at their home for fellowship and a delicious dinner
On Saturday, our men gathered for a hearty breakfast prepared by Andy Sensing and team, heard from Clarke Norton, and closed in a time of prayer together. The ladies enjoyed a beautiful luncheon and thoughtful panel discussion with several of our missionary wives. We concluded the week with Dr. Nathan Bonham preaching and our children singing in Sunday worship, along with missionary speakers visiting Community Groups from K4 through Crossroads.
It truly has been a week of learning, engaging, fellowshipping, and discovering how we can see, pray, give, and go as the Lord leads. A heartfelt thank you to our Missions Committee for their months of planning and leadership, to every volunteer who cooked, hosted, set up, cleaned up, coordinated details, and served behind the scenes, and to all who participated so faithfully. It was an impactful week for our entire church family.
If you would still like to give a Faith Promise, we invite you to pray and ask God how He would lead you. You can click below to give or make a pledge. Every gift helps support missionaries and the work God is doing around the world. View all the photo HERE.
Make a Faith Promise 2026 Pledge or a One Time gift HERE
We would like to see every family at Highlands involved in giving through Faith Promise. To continue supporting our current missionaries, we need a Maintenance Goal of $160,000 in Faith Promise giving. A Challenge Goal of $175,000 will allow us to consider supporting additional missionaries.
Short Term Missions Opportunities
We are excited to share several upcoming mission opportunities in 2026. Highlands members have previously served in both the Bahamas and El Salvador, and we are preparing to return. A potential trip to the Bahamas is being planned for July 4–11, open to adults 18+ and to qualifying Highlands Student Ministry students attending with a parent or grandparent. We are also planning a trip to San Salvador September 5-12 for adults 18+. In partnership with Joni and Friends, we will offer family-friendly options, including two single-day trips (March 28 or August 29) and two week-long trips (July 5–10 or July 12–17). Visit https://highlandspca.org/shortterm for more information.
Our Supported Missionaries
Teresa Wilson, USA, with Japanese Team
Craig and Stacy Pohl, Japan
Trey and Kiki Adams, Thailand
Brent Kooi, Australia
Tim and Bev Hart, Bahamas
Lenden and Gemma Fleeman, Spain
Derek and Shannon Ebbers, Romania
Scott and Christine D., Turkey
Bob and Andrea Burnham, Ukraine
Jon and Tracy Eide, Ukraine
Clarke and Krysta Norton, Ukraine
Doug and Masha Shepherd, Ukraine
Andrew Sheppard, Ukraine
Jonathan and Olya Powell, Ukraine
Daniel and Katie Brink, Belgium
Nate and Nikki Bonham, Colombia
John and Lorena McCall, Colombia
Manny and Terri Bersach, Colombia
Rick and Betty Aschmann, Ecuador
Rodney and Janna Davila, El Salvador
David and Lynelle G., India
Bibek Guidey, Nepal
Franklin and Beth Beaver, USA
Graham and Emily Guo, Taiwan
Glenn and Sharlene Grubb, International
(USA)Oliver and Kim Pierce, Belgium
Anna Jordan Butts, Peru
David and Jill Martin, Romania
Alex and Irena Ponomarev, USA Slavic Tribes (USA)
Richard Pratt, Third Millennium Ministries (USA)
Jonah, Muslim Ministries (USA)
Deddy and Desta Simanjuntak, Indonesia
Jim and Bubbles Delfin, Philippines
Mike and Robin McMahon, Panama
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Mission to the World - see our supported missionaries above.
World Missions is a vital part of the vision and core values of Highlands Presbyterian Church. Worship, Teaching, Nurture...REACHING! “Reaching” means to take our place as partners in ministry together, seeking to be faithful to do our part in fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to strengthen His church and extend His Kingdom through the proclamation of the Gospel at home and abroad. Highlands “reaches” out in three areas of ministry: Home Missions, World Missions, and Mercy Ministry. For World Missions, we will seek to do this by praying for our missionaries, keeping in touch with our missionaries, providing monetary support to individual missionaries and agencies through Faith Promise, and organizing and supporting Highlands’ short-term mission teams. We would love to raise up and support people within our congregation to consider long-term service on the mission field if the Lord is calling them there. We seek to offer warm, loving hospitality to missionaries that visit our church, giving them the opportunity to share with us God’s work through them in their particular place of service. We also try to send our people “there” from time to time to be an encouragement and help to our missionaries on the field. The biggest World Missions event of the year is our annual Missions Festival. Missionary guests, a challenging speaker, and multiple opportunities for growth and fellowship make this a special time in the life of our church.
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Mission to North America (Home Missions)
The Home Missions Ministry of Highlands reaches out through church planting, campus ministries, and the support of other ministries and institutions we believe in within North America.
Ministries We Support :
Church Planting
Campus Ministries
Other Ministries and Institutions -
Short-Term Mission Opportunities
Short-Term Missions Opportunities
Highlands is planning several mission opportunities in 2026! A return trip to Nassau, Bahamas is planned for July 4–11 for adults 18+ and qualifying Highlands Ministry students attending with a parent or grandparent. A San Salvador trip is planned for September 5–12 for adults 18 and up. Family-friendly trips with Joni and Friends include single-day options (March 28 or August 29) and week-long trips (July 5–10 or July 12–17). Learn more at https://highlandspca.org/shortterm .
Highlands Bahamas Missions Report Team #1
Praise God for His protection and provision! Our Highlands Bahamas Short-Term Missions team (Cameron Walters, Laura Antoon, Jack Lanier, Will Day, John, Karen & Harry Thomas, David, Kathryn, Hannah & Sarah Day, Cindy & Chip Johnson) returned safely from their trip to Nassau on July 19. It was a powerful week of ministry and an incredible opportunity to see God at work.
The team served alongside MTW missionaries Tim and Bev Hart—faithful partners supported by Highlands—hosting a literacy and STEM camp for approximately 35–40 students in grades 1 through 6. Each day, the team had the opportunity to share the gospel and lead a Vacation Bible School, planting seeds of truth in young hearts. We’re especially grateful for our gifted and dedicated teachers who led literacy, STEM, and VBS activities. The students were engaged, and the gospel was clearly communicated throughout the week. On Sunday, the team canvassed a nearby neighborhood that was vastly different from what many of us experience in the U.S. It was a deeply humbling and eye-opening experience, particularly for our teenagers, who were struck by the contrast and reminded of how blessed we are. One of the greatest praises is that God kept the team safe and mostly healthy, even as a few members fell ill toward the end. The team pressed on with strength and unity. We are also incredibly thankful for Tim and Bev Hart—gracious, faithful hosts who have built a remarkable ministry presence in Nassau.
Please join us in praising God for:
His protection and faithfulness throughout the trip
The gospel going forth clearly and consistently each day
The students who attended and heard about Jesus
The life-changing experiences for our team members
And join us in praying for:
Tim and Bev Hart, as they continue this week’s camp—asking God to provide extra hands and strength for the work
The second Highlands team heading to Nassau July 26–August 2—for safety, team unity, flexibility, and spiritual impact
The hearts of the children, that they would truly be moved to know and trust God
Thank you, Highlands family, for your prayers and support!
Highlands Bahamas Missions Report Team #2
Highlands Bahamas Short-term Missions – Team 2 Update
Highlands’ Bahamas Missions Team 2 (Chip Johnson, Brad, Kate, Jane Bradley, Beckham, Brooke & Maddox Madden, Darlene, Clay & Kendra Quarterman, and Laura Antoon) served alongside Tim and Bev Hart July 26–August 2 and returned home safely, grateful for a fruitful week. Team 2 led VBS, STEM activities, and literacy classes for children and teens of all ages at a community center in an at-risk, poverty-stricken neighborhood. Each day brought challenges—shifting schedules, disruptions from unruly teens, and very limited space—but the team, serving alongside the Harts, met each one with Christlike patience and grace. They faithfully shared the parables of Jesus, showing love to the youth with the hope of growing God’s Kingdom.
At first, the community center’s staff were hesitant to engage. However, once they saw the team’s gifts and servant hearts, they eagerly invited them to help with other projects—including assembling a video for a special Thursday program for benefactors and parents. The team was also invited to attend and participate in this program!
Team 2 is deeply grateful for the prayers offered on their behalf. Their safety, flexibility, endurance, and joy in service were a direct answer to those prayers.
Please continue to pray:
For the Harts, as they review and assess the five weeks of camps, and for their rest and refreshment.
For the youth and teens from the community center, that the seeds of love and truth planted would take root and bear fruit.
For Taliya, a humble and grateful young girl who apologized for others’ behavior and warmly welcomed the message of Jesus.
Thank you, Highlands family, for your prayers and support!
Current Missions Committee Members:
Joseph Wheat
Craig Crosland
Brad Tisdale
Susan Pettis
Chip Johnson
David Harbaugh
Lynn Johnson
Karen Thomas
Terry Sensing
Clay Quarterman( ex officio)
Trey Toler (chairman)
Faith Promise Goals
Below are our goals for 2026 Faith Promise Giving.
Maintenance Goal – $160,000
Support our current missionaries
Challenge Goal – $175,000
Add a missionary
Add funding for short-term, support, trips
Add special projects funding
Increase funding for current missionaries