Leadership Team
Pastor Mark J. Thiboldeaux, Sr., Senior Pastor
With his roots in Philadelphia and his branches in Lancaster, Pastor Mark has served as a pastor in the Lancaster region from 1992 until 2019. In 2020, he resumed his pastoral ministry with the High View Church of God and remains committed to Biblical teaching, practical counseling, passionate worship and strengthening families. He loves to communicate truths that will transform and engage in discipling those around him. He and his wife, Julie, were married in 1987 and have four grown children.
Pastor Jason Smith, Community Pastor
As a volunteer community Pastor and Emergency Services Chaplain, Pastor Jason has the great opportunity of ministering to and encouraging people outside of the church walls during unique and challenging circumstances. Over the years, he and his wife Heidi have been involved in several types of ministries in the church and with mission work in other countries. Their life experiences as young children, young adults and in over 17 years of marriage, have helped prepare them for the situations they are involved with today. Both Jason and Heidi have a passion for helping others who are going through difficult times and it is very clear God has gifted them both in ways where they can minister effectively as a team.
Pastor Jason’s main goal in life is to live in a way that reflects the character of Christ so that others may come to the understanding of who He is and what He has done for them. He is beyond grateful for the opportunities he and his wife have to pour into the lives of others and remain focused on encouraging others in the church to do the same.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 4-7
Elder Team:
High view is structured by the leadership of elders. Pastor Mark and Pastor Jason are teaching elders. The other elders at High View are Jeff Suter, Matt Hill and Tom Welk. We are very blessed to have these men of God help to lead and guide the ministries at High View.
Elder : Jeff Suter
Elder :Matt Hill
Elder: Tom Welk
History
In August 1978, East Pennsylvania Churches of God Missions and Church Development endorsed a new group Bible Study east of Lancaster with the purpose of planting a new church. The group started meeting on October 2, 1978, with members from New Providence, Smithville, and Lancaster Churches of God. The following year, High View Church of God was announced with J. Thomas Lefever appointed as the pastor. The first service at High View was held on September 23, 1979 at the Historic Strasburg Inn. In June 1980, land was purchased along Route 896 and a new church building was built. The first service in the new building was held on May 29, 1983. By 1995, worship service attendance had grown and it was decided to add a new fellowship area. In 1996, a group of 30 people from the congregation formed a church plant, Living Faith Church of God. In 2008, a second addition was added increasing the number of classrooms, an expanded youth area, additional open area and additional restrooms. A playground area was also part of the expansion. High View Church continues to “Build more and better Disciples”.
Today
In August 1978, East Pennsylvania Churches of God Missions and Church Development endorsed a new group Bible Study east of Lancaster with the purpose of planting a new church. The group started meeting on October 2, 1978, with members from New Providence, Smithville, and Lancaster Churches of God. The following year, High View Church of God was announced with J. Thomas Lefever appointed as the pastor. The first service at High View was held on September 23, 1979 at the Historic Strasburg Inn. In June 1980, land was purchased along Route 896 and a new church building was built. The first service in the new building was held on May 29, 1983. By 1995, worship service attendance had grown and it was decided to add a new fellowship area. In 1996, a group of 30 people from the congregation formed a church plant, Living Faith Church of God. In 2008, a second addition was added increasing the number of classrooms, an expanded youth area, additional open area and additional restrooms. A playground area was also part of the expansion. High View Church continues to “Build more and better Disciples”.
Today
We have one Sunday morning worship service offered at 10:15am. We also have small group bible studies each Sunday from 9am to 10am.
There are a variety of Bible studies to assist God’s people to grow in their faith as well as to help those who would like to know more about why we believe what we believe. We have various weekly Bible study opportunities and offer Vacation Bible School every August. There are various Ministry Teams to aid in the growth and development at High View.
We are a growing family at High View, our goal is to “Make more and Better Disciples”. We are a prayerful church that believes strongly in Missions and support of various Mission Fields.
Future Goals
High View Church of God longs to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God on a continual basis (Micah 6:8). We will be lifting up the name of Jesus Christ through doing all that God equips His people to do by using the spiritual gifts that He has given the Church (I Corinthians 12:1-11). What this means to where we are going in the future is not up to us as leaders or even to the believers who gather for worship, but to the direction of God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit who alone leads us into all truth (John 14:26; 16:13).
Therefore we are commit ourselves to prayer, Bible study, and deepening our relationship with Jesus Christ. We want the Spirit of God to transform us to think and act more like Christ Jesus in order to know what the Lord’s will is for us individually as disciples of Christ and as a congregation in the Churches of God, General Conference denomination located in the Eastern Regional Conference.
Worship Service Times:
Sunday Morning Worship: 10:15am
Tuesday Morning Bible Study: 9:30 – 11am for women 50 Yrs. and older
Thursday Morning Bible Study: 8am to 9am for all men
Wednesday Evening Bible Studies:
Bible Study for Everyone at 7:00pm room #13
Men’s Bible Study in Room #4
7:00pm every Wednesday (September – May)
7:00pm every Wednesday (September – May)
Women’s Bible Study in the Cafe’
7:00pm every Wednesday (October – April)
Sunday Morning Bible Study Classes: Currently our Children’s Bible Classes are not meeting. We offer Kids Church the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month during the 10:15 Worship Service.
Adult groups:
Cafe’ at 9:00am Bible elective
Room 13 at 9:00am Bible elective
The worship service may also be viewed from the Nursery, where parents may take their children during worship. The nursery is equipped for children ages infant through preschool.
