The Higher Ground Church began as an act of obedience in 1987 to the voice of God by our pastor, Bishop Butler. The Lord gave instruction to Elder Butler that it was time to fulfill the destiny he had already spoken prophetically for his life.

The first step began with a giant leap of faith in God. Whenever God speaks, our flesh asks questions. How will I handle this awesome responsibility to pastor? What is God saying -- Higher Ground? Where will we worship? Will anyone help us? What will people think? There were so many questions, but God had all the answers and would get all the glory.

As the end of 1987 approached, the search to find a place to worship became a priority. Our thoughts were to ask people we knew and thought would help us. However, God had intended to get the glory in our story and touched the heart of strangers to us but instruments for Him. One of the key elements in our inception was the vision God had for Higher Ground -- to break down the middle wall of partition that separates His body. He instructed Elder Butler to add the word "Interdenominational" to the name of the ministry and started the process of showing us His glory.

During the last few weeks of 1987, God directed us to contact ministers from various denominations. An Episcopal minister agreed to allow us to use the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church for our first service in January 1988. When God anoints a leader, He has already prepared people who will follow and 13 people became the first members of the Higher Ground Interdenominational Church.

After two weeks, we needed to find another place to worship and God directed us to contact a Catholic priest from Incarnation Church who suggested we speak to another Presbyterian minister at the West Trenton Presbyterian Church for our third worship service. Pastor Butler sought God for a more permanent place for the congregation to worship and the Prospect Presbyterian Church became our temporary location for the next two years.

As each need emerged, God's glory was revealed. We purchased an organ and drums to praise God with and microphones and speakers to declare his Word loudly. The Lord added additional members and challenged us in new ways. Our pastor continued to meet the needs of the people while working a full-time job, preaching the gospel and having to change out of clothes wet with perspiration in an unheated stairwell in the church. His main goal was for God to get the glory.

During the spring of 1989, we were informed that our lease would expire in a few months and a new location for Higher Ground would be required. The members began looking for a place to worship in Trenton, however one of the places we selected required a public meeting with the residents who opposed having a church in their community and God allowed the councilman of that district to refund the $100 city application fee out of his own pocket.

We were then led by God to inquire about the Kingdom Hall in Ewing Township, even though the property was not for sale at the time. Another portion of God's glory was unfolding right before our very eyes. The Lord gave us favor and our second offer was accepted that summer. Upon the advice of our attorney, we were asked to make personal sacrifices during the holiday season in order to acquire approximately $60,000.00 as a down payment to purchase the building.

At the end of 1989 we had only accumulated $6,000 but our faith was growing rapidly. The Lord instructed Pastor Butler to preach a message regarding Moses and the children of Israel when they were at the Red Sea, the enemy was behind them and the Red Sea was in front of them and they were told to "stand still and see the glory of the Lord". It was time for Higher Ground to see God's glory again.

We applied for a mortgage from several banks to purchase the property. While waiting for an answer from the banks, we attended a conference in Maryland trusting that God would work out the situation for our good. As we prepared to rest during the afternoon break, our attorney called and informed us that God had worked a miracle and the Kingdom Hall representatives had reduced the purchase price by $45,000. Another measure of God's glory was demonstrated because now the purchase price reflected what we had originally offered. In addition, we obtained a mortgage commitment by fax from a bank without ever meeting us, and the Lord blessed us to have the necessary funds to purchase 611 Parkway Avenue in April 1990. We celebrated and dedicated our first church in June 1990.

Throughout the years of the ministry, God continued to be faithful to us and we learned with each new endeavor to depend on God. The Lord blessed us to purchase a 2l-passenger bus, two vans, additional musical instruments, etc. As our congregation increased, it became evident that we needed a larger place to worship. We placed 611 Parkway Avenue up for sale and began looking in the beginning of 1994. God still had more glory to add to our story.

The prophetic Word was spoken by Pastor Butler that we would be in our new church before the end of 1994. We did not have the finances to purchase another building, but we did have faith in God. Our attorney informed us about a property and when we visited the location, we immediately knew that this would be the site for Higher Ground. Our confidence in the promises of God were so firm in our mind that we began looking for furniture to place in our new edifice and offices even though we did not know what God had planned.

God directed us where to go for every item (lighting, carpet, tables, chairs, desks, etc.) and gave us favor at every store. Pastor Butler placed the pulpit chairs in 611 Parkway Avenue so that we could be reminded every time we looked at the chairs of what God had promised. When we had no place to store the furniture we purchased, God would allow us to store the furniture at the place we had purchased it from or at the new church location.

As time progressed, the owners offered to reduce the purchase price by $100,000, give us a mortgage on the property at a lower interest rate than the banks were offering, changed the old locks and gave us the master key to the new locks which allowed us to visit the property at any time and make cosmetic changes and purchased the paint for the walls.

Exactly one week prior to closing on the property, a cash offer was made to the owners. They declined the offer and proceeded to show the individuals the changes we had made. When God makes a promise, He delivers, and in October of 1994 we moved into 1009 Whitehead Road Extension.

Every time we face a new challenge (Higher Ground), please remember our story. And whenever you share your story -- make sure God gets the glory.