The Next Generation

Greetings, Highland Brothers and Sisters!

From Pastor Dan MacDonald - Weston Campus Pastor

A Great Opportunity Then!  Eight years ago Highland-Wausau was growing rapidly.  We had just finished a capital campaign and paid our debt on Phase 3 of the Wausau building.  We realized even with three services, it would not be long before we would outgrow the building again.

We soon learned about the effectiveness of multi-site churches and began to plan and pray fervently to establish a Highland Campus in Weston.

Those were exciting days.  Highland was thrilled with the opportunity to expand ministry reach to the Southeast part of Marathon County and we prayed, planned, and gave of our time, resources, and talents.  On March 16, 2008, because of God’s great kindness, we held our first service at Mountain Bay Elementary School in Weston and became one church meeting in two locations.

As the Weston Campus continued to grow, three and one-half years later, God gave us the opportunity to purchase the building we now occupy.  As I write, the Weston Campus building is used regularly for ministry many days each week.  With financial help from the Wausau Campus along with many volunteer hours from both campuses, we were able to prepare the new Weston Campus building; and we held our first service in the new building in November of 2011. God has continued to grow His work here.

A Great Opportunity Now!  Much has changed in the last eight years for Highland, but our mission has remained the same; to glorify God by helping people take the next step in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  That was the mission that brought Highland to Weston and the same mission that brought Highland to Marathon City.  We are now one church meeting in three locations. There is no part of Marathon County – the most expansive county in Wisconsin – more than a thirty minute drive from a Highland Campus.

God continues to draw people to Himself, and Highland-Wausau Sunday School classes are overflowing. Wednesday night youth and children’s ministries host 400 people under age 20 and many adult volunteers.  The place is filled with energy and the building is maxed out.

God is raising a people up through the generations to be with Him forever. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us and we pass that legacy to the Next Generation. 

I am excited about the Next Generation Capital Campaign because by God’s great grace we are not just building a building.  Rather, we are building a tool to advance the Kingdom of God!  Effective, Biblical, and Godly ministry to children and youth is part of our DNA.  These young people in our midst today are the future leaders of the church. 

Sue and I praise God for the impact of Highland’s Children and Youth Ministries on the lives of our sons.  Highland has been a wonderful help to us as we seek to fulfill our God-given responsibility as parents in teaching and training the next generation. And we want to see that continue. We want every family in Marathon County to have the opportunities our children had to grow deep in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  Sue and I are thankful and excited to be a part of this Capital Campaign.  Would you please join us as we share the joy and excitement of growing God’s Kingdom and bring Him glory?  Here are some ways you can help.