Church of the Highlands


Church of the Highlands is a non-denominational, Christian multi-site megachurch headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. It is the largest congregation in Alabama and the second largest church in the United States as of 2018. It averages 51,900 attendees every week. The senior pastor is Chris Hodges.

History

The church was founded on February 4, 2001 by Pastor Chris Hodges and a core group of 34 people. In 2007, it opened its main building, with a 2,400-seat auditorium. The church has opened numerous campuses in the Birmingham.

Affiliations

Church of the Highlands is affiliated with the Association of Related Churches. Its pastoral staff are among the founding members of ARC.
Highlands College was founded by Church of the Highlands staff.
Students of the college serve on various teams at the church. Highlands College states that they offer, "a unique approach to higher education through a holistic training experience," and focus on 4 areas of instruction: academic instruction, ministry training, character formation, and spiritual development. Students who attend Highlands College have the option to receive a degree through the college's affiliation with Southeastern University.

Campus locations

Church of the Highlands simulcasts the sermon portion of the service from the Grants Mill campus to its other campuses via video feed. Each campus has its own pastor, worship experience, small group gatherings and ministry opportunities.