Higher Ground International Church
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History of Higher Ground
God gave Pastor Joseph Rice a vision to create a worship facility based on the word of God and dedicated to building the kingdom of God. Rev. Dr. Joseph Rice, Assistant Pastor, Rev. First Lady Cheryl Rice and a few dedicated friends began praying and asking God for direction and guidance. God answered the prayers of his people. September 11, 2005, Higher Ground held its’ first service in a classroom owned by Nwani’s Barbershop located at 3528 West Hamilton Road, Nashville, Tennessee.
The first sermon, Pastor Rice preached was titled, “Doing the Impossible”. Sixteen members joined the kingdom building efforts. Rapid growth soon prompted relocation on January 8, 2006, to 3730 Clarksville Pike. God added more souls and once again the facility became too small to house the congregation.
August 24, 2008, the assembly moved to 1700 Fatherland Street in East Nashville. Structural challenges and parking problems prompted the search for a more suitable location. Dr. Rice was led by God to a former grocery store in a strip mall at 2517 Clarksville Pike in North Nashville. Parking was ideal, God blessed the renovation efforts and Higher Ground continued to serve in the community.
Relocation became necessary again due to gentrification in the North Nashville area. Because of the kind heart of Pastor Louis Taylor, Cowan Street Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1717 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN became the next temporary home for the ministry. When God called Pastor Taylor home to glory Higher Ground relocated to Hadley Park Community Center.
During this time of worship at the Community Center, God spoke to Dr. Rice regarding the true Sabath. The service day was changed to Saturday and God blessed the ministry once again through his servant Rev. Dr. James Clay. An invitation was accepted for Higher Ground to worship at New Visions Baptist Church located at 2830 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214.
We are eternally grateful to God for his leadership and for New Visions opening their doors and showing love to us by welcoming us into their facility. We are currently holding services there at 9:00 a.m. every Saturday morning. We will remain obedient servants trusting God for our next advancement to even higher ground.
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Our Name: Higher Ground
This very day the Lord desires us to reach a higher standard than we have ever reached in the past. Day by day we are to advance upward, ever upward, until it can be said of us as a people, ‘Ye are complete in him’ [Colossians 2:10].”
In Memoriam
We would like to pay tribute to our members that have left and gone to glory.
"Those we love remain with us, for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one is gone. Those we love can never be more than a thought apart, for as long as there is memory, they willl live on in our hearts"
Rest in Love!!