New North Pointe pastor envisions church's future

SANDUSKY — A pastor with local roots has goals for his recent promotion. Jeremy Highlander took over senior pastor duties at North Pointe Baptist Church from retired pastor Wally Gilbert, who passed the torch Sunday. For the past four years, Highlander was the church's associate pastor. Highlander's wife, Kristi, and children, Jesse, 7, Lydia, 6, and Charles, 4 will help develop the church, too. Highlander's journey into ministry had some bumps in the road. He graduated from Margaretta High School and EHOVE Career Center's carpentry program in 1997 and become a Christian at 26 years old. "I was into drugs and alcohol," Highlander said. "I understand what God's saving grace is. I know that God still works miracles in the lives of people. He can break the chains of the drug addict and alcoholic. God is in the life-changing business and we are a testimony to it." In 2007, Highlander began serving at Castalia's Wayside Temple as a van driver, usher, guitarist in the worship band and jail ministry volunteer. Seven years later, he took a job as an assistant pastor to Fishertown Community Bible Church in New Paris, Pa., but returned felt called by God to return to Erie County in 2016. In his new role, Highlander seeks to continue sharing Jesus' story so community members can become Christians and go into the world to share the same message. North Pointe Baptist Church's motto is "win, grow, go." He also hopes to continue to hire more staff and grow North Pointe's children, teen and young adult programs and small groups that meet during the week. Before COVID-19 hit, about 75 people attended the church on average. After a couple of months of virtual worship services, North Pointe Baptist came up with a three-phase reentry plan to slowly get back into in-person services by following state health guidelines. Right now, only Sunday school and the 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship service have returned and young adults now meet on Wednesdays. "We're still honoring the guidelines — we're cleaning and creating a sense of normalcy while we're here," Highlander said. North Pointe Baptist's has a "friendly environment" that's a mix of older and younger people, Highlander said. "Baptist doesn't mean formal dress here — it's a relaxed atmosphere," he said. "We invite anyone to come through the doors. We're trying to reach Sandusky. There's a lot of people looking for hope, especially during the pandemic." Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood