New Heights’ story begins in the mid-1950’s, when a group of Christians in Murfreesboro knew that God was calling them to gather as a local church without a denominational label.  Meeting only as believers in Jesus Christ, they moved from a Bible study at a dining room table...to services in a small laundromat…to the purchase of property on Main Street…to a pillared brick building built in 1959 named College Heights Chapel.  An addition in 1980 provided more classroom space, and another addition in 1996 provided a half-court gymnasium and more classrooms.  In 2000, the Chapel purchased a home behind the church building; and in 2007, MTSU’s expansion plan prompted the leadership to begin a new facility on St. Andrews Dr., where property had been donated.

During all of these changes, several things have remained constant: 

• A plurality of leadership.  No one person directs the ministries at New Heights Chapel; we are led by a group of elders and deacons, who are assisted by staff.  Several gifted speakers share the pulpit ministry.
• Regular observance of the Lord’s Supper.  Christ directed His disciples to remember His sacrifice for sin; we do this weekly with a Communion service open to all those who have trusted Christ as Savior.
• Priesthood of believers.  This New Testament term means that all believers in Christ have direct access to God without an intermediary (priest, pastor, etc.) and are free to use their gifts in ministry to build up the church and share the Gospel.