Heights Church — Attraction in Short Pump

First, the good: The lead pastors and staff are gifted speakers who obviously love the Lord, the church has a passion for local missions (such as their RVA Week and the extremely well-run grocery ministry), and because everyone is encouraged to serve there is a high level of engagement that contributes to a welcoming atmosphere on the surface. The facility is beautiful and well-appointed, and the story of how the campus came to exist is truly inspiring. That said, there is much that cannot be overlooked. For example, the ministry team and praise and worship team, aside from a few who are minorities, do not "look like" the congregation or the community. No one appears to be over 40-ish and all are attractive. Although these teams are undeniably talented, it is very obvious that the lack of true diversity of all ages, sizes, races and ethnicities demonstrates a clear focus on and preference for the younger demographic, even though I observed many people in the congregation who are older than 50 but very few who are older than 70. Of course, it is vital to the life of the church to encourage and develop the young into the next generation of leaders, but equally important is ministering to and developing those who still have gifts to offer as well as ensuring the church's reach includes everyone in a community. If a lack of diversity, and I'm not talking just racial diversity, does not bother you, as appears to be the case for Heights and is not surprising given the current political climate, then this might be the church home for you. The Bible offers many examples of those who were called to lead who led alternative lifestyles or were older, such as Abraham, Sarah, Anna the Prophetess, Rahab, Mary Magdalene, and so many others. Heights Church would do well to remember this as they consider their growth and outreach, and how to develop the gifts of the...

I've been going there for about a month and I still don't know the pastor's last name. I like the children classrooms and that the check-in is very safe and secure. I don't like that the kids don't come to praise and worship I'm a single mom so I drop her off and then I go sit by myself I've met a few people but I'm surprised after a month I still feel like a stranger. Every time they have a guest speaker they say this is so and so they just say the first name so I'm taking notes to better myself but I don't know who this person is and then it doesn't say it on their Facebook page or on their website like looking forward to seeing apostle John Smith they don't do that I think that's weird it's a nice place but it's really far for me so we'll see if we're able to keep going my daughter made some friends but it was just kids that she already knew. I go there originally cuz my brother goes there so my daughter gets to see her cousins and children's church and then we see some kids that I babysit on the weekdays. I signed up for the small groups I'm hoping that I can make some friends and find some people to sit with because going by myself and sitting by myself for over a month now that's not enjoyable or as enjoyable as...

My daughter attended this church and was very impressed with Pastor Josh. Unfortunately she passed away on 12/23/21. I reached out to the church and eventually the father in law returned my call after 3 days. Josh was not available for her service. He advised most of church had Covid as did he but he’d call me back next day by noon if released by his doctor. What was most upsetting was my daughter had strong faith and religious beliefs and I felt dismissed by this pastor from a church she truly loved. In our conversation his attitude became even more dismissive when I mentioned how welcome she felt at The Heights as being gay she often felt unwelcome in other places. He proceeded to tell me the church does not condone her lifestyle. I was a grieving mother who did not feel any blessing or kindness from this man. I waited until 2pm next day & no call back. I didn’t hear from the father in law until after 4pm. He informed me he nor anyone else from church would be available for either funeral or graveside. I tried to honor what my daughter would have wanted. We were very fortunate that my sisters wonderful, kind, loving Pastor was able to perform...