about hvc

Beginning: Preview Services and Meeting in Homes 

HighView’s beginnings can be traced back to the Summer of 2012 when Pastor Chad Williams and Pastor Josh Hildebrandt began discussing plans to plant a Gospel-centered church in the West GA area. That summer, a core team of five people met and committed themselves to forming HighView Church. From this small team, HighView began.

In September and October 2012, HighView Church held two preview services in a small community center in Villa Rica, Georgia, and plans for the launch of weekly gatherings began. In the Fall and Winter months of 2012, HighView met two Sundays each month for a worship service in Josh and Bethany Hildebrandt’s living room. Approximately 20 people attended, some of whom expressed interest in being a part of HighView Church.

Constituting: The Chapel Era 

Expansion: The Edge Road Era

A Turning Point: HighView and Cornerstone 

2015 began with a truly momentous event, as after months of conversations, Cornerstone Baptist Church, a local church planted in 1985 in the West GA area, dissolved and donated its building and 19 acres of land to HighView Church. Most of Cornerstone’s remaining members went through HighView’s membership process and became a part of the HighView family. This generous, Kingdom-focused act enabled HighView to continue its rapid growth and provided much-needed educational space for children. In 2016, HighView Church created a new Student ministry and completed a sanctuary expansion project that allowed an additional 30% more attendance during Sunday morning services.

An expansion and development plan was formed in October 2017, and it was shared with the congregation in December. 

Maturing in Mission: Leadership and Discipleship Growth

As HighView entered its sixth year as a constituted church, the congregation continued to grow in depth and number. In 2019, Pastor Tyler Workman joined the pastoral staff as Pastor of Connection and Community, also overseeing the church’s student ministry. This season marked a shift toward intentional leadership development and the solidifying of Gospel Community Groups, equipping members to grow in spiritual maturity and relational discipleship.

In early 2020, like churches across the globe, HighView faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our plans for campus expansion were halted, and for a couple of months, the church moved online. Yet by God’s grace, HighView not only endured this trial but saw numerical and spiritual growth during this time. Returning to in-person gatherings became a key priority, and the church leaned into its identity as a family of faith centered around the Word, the Gospel, and meaningful membership.

Make Disciples: A Vision Refined

In the years that followed, HighView launched a renewed three-year vision titled Make Disciples, emphasizing the core mission of Jesus given in Matthew 28. The church’s rhythms were increasingly shaped around three discipleship spaces: Worship, Teaching, and Community. Lay leaders began stepping into strategic ministry roles across Kids, Littles, Students, and the Connect Team—reflecting the church’s commitment to developing faithful servant-leaders.

During this time, HighView also underwent a significant building expansion project (February–June 2023). This addition provided much-needed sanctuary seating, new children’s classrooms for Sunday discipleship, and expanded pastoral office and counseling space—an investment in both present ministry and future mission.

New Beginnings for HighView

In late 2024 and into 2025, HighView entered a new season of leadership transition as the community reflected on the profound impact of Pastor Chad Williams. A visionary leader and one of the church's founders in 2012, Pastor Chad dedicated many years to nurturing the spiritual growth and development of his congregation. His passion for preaching and genuine care for individuals led to countless lives transformed through his ministry. As he stepped away from his role to pursue a new ministry assignment, the community celebrated not only his contributions but the lasting legacy he created through his unwavering commitment to faith and community. Pastor Chad's influence will continue to resonate in the hearts of the HighView family as they embark on this new chapter, inspired by his example and the teachings he imparted.

Listen to a Special Episode of the HighView Podcast where Pastor Josh and Pastor Chad share their reflections on the first 12 years of HighView's History.

HighView is preparing for the next chapter in its disciple-making vision. Now anchored in the desire to become a Legacy Church, HighView is committed to forming deep disciples, activating them on mission, and multiplying churches across West Georgia and beyond. The church continues to press forward, rooted in Gospel faithfulness, with joyful expectation for what God will do next.