Held Up By God
Highland Park Baptist Church may be small in numbers, but the impact of their ministry is mighty in the eyes of God. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, Highland Park is a church missionally focused on feeding the poor, visiting the sick, and reaching the lost—all of which Christ emphasized more than anything.
Growing up in the church, Pastor Sedgwich Washington witnessed not only transitional changes, but also physical changes. Historically, the foundation of the church was established from two army barracks joined together through a buckling system. However, as time passed, the structural integrity of the building began to deteriorate, leaving the church in critical condition. As Washington recalls, “The city had given us an ultimatum. They didn’t shut it down, which they probably were supposed to, but they gave us some time.”
Despite the walls leaning dangerously outward, Highland Park continued leaning on the Lord for wisdom and provision. Considering the options to rebuild, fix, or close down, Washington was passionate about keeping the doors open. After receiving a referral from a woman he encountered at the store, he reached out to the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation (SBTF), desperate for a solution. It was clear that where there was a need, God provided the solution.
Unlike a typical loan at the Foundation, this church didn’t quite meet all the metrical requirements. However, SBTF leadership knew they had to do this loan, and the committee agreed. Every challenge thrown toward Highland Park was met. Eventually, builders came out to restore the walls and cosmetically redress the sanctuary, giving the church the revitalization makeover it needed. Washington knew then that God was with them through it all, and looking back after it all happened, he says, “I tell my church all the time that there ought to be some knee prints right down here at this altar.”
Year by year, the congregation grew—not only in number, but also in its ability to invest in the church they call home. From building a fence and installing a new roof to remodeling the kitchen and adding air-conditioning units, each improvement became a testimony of the Lord’s provision through the congregation’s faithful giving. Washington witnessed firsthand what it looks like when the Lord blesses His bride—the Church—as the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed and lived out.
As a word of encouragement to other pastors serving in similar circumstances, Washington emphasizes the importance of never losing sight of the Church’s mission. For him, that mission includes caring for those who are most vulnerable, addressing not only their physical needs but also their deeper need for Christ. He believes when we serve those in need, we are ultimately serving Christ Himself. And when the work is done, there is no greater reward than to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
So whether you are volunteering within your local church, praying for missionaries, or investing in Kingdom work like the ministry taking place at Highland Park, “Whatever we can do, God expects us to do,” says Washington. This story reminds us that God will not abandon His bride to wither away, but He will work through His people to preserve and strengthen His church.
What could have been the end of Highland Park’s story became a new beginning. What could have been a closed building is still a place where people are fed, cared for, discipled, and introduced to the hope of Jesus. This church continues to grow and reach their community—not because they discovered a perfect formula but because God has remained faithful to a church that’s remained willing. As Washington simply puts it, “I don’t have any type of secret or ordeal that draws people to us. We don’t have any strategy; all we have is Jesus.”
- Written by Kaitlyn Jeffries
