Highland Hills Baptist Church

Tucked away in the Highland Hills neighborhood of San Antonio, the Highland Hills Baptist Church has a captivating history. It didn’t begin as a Baptist church. Our story starts in the early 1950s as an outreach of the Harlandale Church of Christ. The congregation purchased land at the corner of Burkedale Boulevard and Meeks Avenue. They established a new church named Highland Hills Church of Christ. The very first service at Highland Hills Church of Christ was held on July 1, 1951. About 100 people attended, contributing $192.32. The church thrived under God’s blessing. In February 1952, they expanded, adding five classrooms and a baptistry. The church continued to grow. In 1956, the auditorium was enlarged, and more classrooms were built. Just three years later, a new Bible School Annex was constructed. This growth led to a significant move in 1966. The congregation relocated to a new facility at 422 Pennystone Avenue. Expansion continued in 1972 with an additional 3,000 square feet of classroom space. The Highland Hills Church of Christ merged with the Houston Terrace Church of Christ. This merger resulted in the formation of Southeast Church of Christ on May 4, 1986. They continued to meet at the Pennystone Avenue location until 2003. They then began holding joint assemblies with Harlandale Church of Christ. This arrangement lasted until 2005. The Southeast Church of Christ decided to find new property and build a new facility. However, before construction began, they received an offer to sell the Pennystone Avenue property. The sale went through, and the congregation moved back in with Harlandale Church of Christ for 31 months while their new building was constructed. The new facility at 5860 US Highway 87 East was completed. The move was bittersweet, filled with the excitement of a fresh start and the sadness of leaving Harlandale. The Harlandale congregation, now too small to continue, closed its doors. Some of its members joined the Southeast Church of Christ at their new location. The first service in the new building was held on September 11, 2005. 173 people attended, with a contribution of $3,399.00. The sermon, titled “Are You Really Ready?” was taken from Luke 22:31-33. While the current location of the Highland Hills Baptist Church isn’t directly part of this narrative, its roots are deeply intertwined with this rich history of faith and perseverance. This journey demonstrates the evolution of a congregation, constantly adapting and growing. It underscores the enduring power of faith and community.