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The Church of the Highlands is off to a welcoming beginning in Troy. 

With 750 in attendance in the combined two morning services on both the first Sunday, Oct. 11 and the 18^th, Blake Cotter, head church pastor, said the opening Sundays for the Church of the Highlands were a great success.

Church of the Highlands is a non-denominational Christian multi-site, megachurch headquartered in Birmingham. The Highlands’ senior pastor is Chris Hodges. His weekly sermons are streamed by video to more than 20 Alabama branches.

“We greatly appreciate the generosity of the Troy University administration in allowing us to hold services at the Crosby Theater,” Cotter said. “Chancellor Jack Hawkins and his wife, Janice, are members of our Montgomery campus and they attended our first service here on the Troy University campus as did Dr. Lance Tatom, vice-chancellor. Members of the Troy University faculty attended as well as students.

Cotter said people from around the Wiregrass area were in attendance and were also plugged into the services.

Cotter said the Church of the Highlands services begin with a song and, as the head pastor, he welcomes the worshipers to the service and a time of songful worship.    

The Highlands’ senior pastor Chris Hodges’ weekly sermons are streamed to the Troy campus as well as the other campus sites.

Cotter said there will be times when he will conduct the worship service at The Church of the Highlands Troy University campus site. He is a part of every service through personal interaction.

The Sunday services will continue to be at the Crosby Theater at 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. and services will be added as the church grows.

“We are a church for all ages. Everyone who has a breath in their lungs and a beat in their heart is invited,” Cotter said.