Joey Cope

My decision to follow Jesus came early – and easily. I have no dramatic "one day it happened" conversion story.

Instead, my conversion continues to unfold. Each day, I am introduced to little truths and assurances from God. I have been blessed to see the Lord work in both miraculous and everyday ways. As I’ve grown in Him, I’ve come to recognize His touch in every event, to hear His voice in the sweet tones of life’s harmony, and to see His justice and mercy bear on all things.

I’m amazed at how He changes me... and challenges me. I’m amazed at how He surprises me... and humbles me. I’m amazed at how He loves me... and cares for me. I’m amazed – and grateful – that He walks with me.

My view of the role of shepherds has been shaped profoundly by my few years as an elder. In my early days of shepherding, I imagined that the Lord would rain great wisdom on me. I looked for powers of insight and discernment. I thought that He would expand my abilities.

Instead, I found that God wants much simpler things. listen to others, rejoice when they rejoice, and be sorrowful when they are sad. He wants someone to pray in times of need. He wants someone to gently instruct and lovingly guide in spiritual things. He wants someone to stand or sit close by. He wants someone to watch over and protect His people.

God wants a shepherd who welcomes, nurtures and loves His flock.

I love the Highland Church and its wondrous people because of the way that God’s love moves them to service. It is my prayer that we will allow God to make us outrageously successful in sharing the Gospel with every individual who crosses our path. And that He stretches our paths into every neighborhood and nation.

I see the Highland Church as a refuge for the hurting and an outpost for the adventuresome. My hope is that we will be known for our acceptance of all people and our unrelenting mission to bring them to Christ.

The Highland Church of Christ must be a place where the message of reconciliation drowns out all else.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:17–19