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In this week's Family News (Scroll to Learn More):
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From Dr. Don Gordon: It's Hard to Keep a Secret
- Introducing Rev. Laura Heikes
- Words from Dennis
- Update on Leadership Structure Proposal and Invitation to Congregational Conversation
- New Member Recognition
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Softball Season Announcement
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Finding Home - 25th Anniversary Luncheon of Lost Boys Coming to the USA: May 17! RSVP Now!
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Children’s Paint Party at Noah’s Art: June 6 (Register)
- Children's Sunday School: Summer Edition
- Nursery Assistance Needed for Summer and Beyond
- Youth Summer Activities: Save the Dates
- Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations
- Financial Update
- Minister On Call Schedule
- Staff Contact Info
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It's Hard to Keep a Secret
by Dr. Don Gordon, Interim Minister
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Well, the secret is out. We now know who will be the eighth Senior Pastor of St. John’s Baptist Church. Laura Heikes, currently Pastor of Missions and Community Engagement at Myers Park United Methodist Church, will begin her ministry at St. John’s in September. For many weeks, the Pastor Search Team knew she was the one, but respect for our process—and for the fact that Rev. Heikes was serving a congregation just “down the road”—necessitated keeping the news confidential. We needed to let Rev. Heikes tell her congregation on her terms and in her way, rather than having it leak out slowly and unintentionally among her current flock. Leaving one congregation is hard enough without the hurt feelings that can come when people do not hear the news directly from the minister who is about to leave.
It’s hard to keep a secret, especially when you believe your secret is good news. You want to tell people your good news, because good news naturally expands as it moves from smaller to larger circles. Withholding good news can feel like depriving a hungry child of nourishing milk.
The gospel of Jesus Christ literally means “good news.” The Greek word euangelion comes from two smaller words: eu, meaning “good,” and angelion, meaning “message,” “news,” or “announcement.” In the ancient Greek and Roman world, euangelion was not originally a religious word. It was commonly used to announce a military victory, the birth of an heir to the emperor, or the coronation of a new ruler. Euangelion was the good news of victory, new birth, or a new ruler. The early Christian community adopted this word because they believed the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus were truly good news for the world. It proclaimed victory over sin and death and the accession of a new ruler over human history. It is no wonder the early church became a cauldron of proclamation, eager to share this good news with the world. It was a secret they simply could not keep to themselves.
Of course, good news for some almost always means sad news for others. The good news that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords necessarily meant that Caesar was not. Likewise, the good news of Rev. Heikes coming to St. John’s Baptist Church as our next pastor means that she will be leaving Myers Park United Methodist Church. There will undoubtedly be many there who feel sad, disappointed, or even angry about her departure. I have always found that when I left one congregation to serve another, some people struggled with that transition. “If he really cared for us, he wouldn’t leave us. We were just a stepping stone to something bigger.” Let’s remember that for all the excitement Laura brings with her, she also carries the grief, disappointment, and perhaps even anger of those she is leaving. She is carrying pastoral emotions across the full spectrum for people in two congregations. She is, after all, human—just like the rest of us.
There have been a few at St. John’s who have voiced disappointment that Rev. Heikes does not come from a Baptist background. Their concern has nothing to do with Rev. Heikes as a person or preacher, but rather with the institutional investment many have made in nurturing women in ministry within the Baptist tradition. I want to offer a word of counsel to those of us who are thrilled that Rev. Heikes will become our pastor, spiritual leader, and primary preacher in September. Let’s give space to those who need to feel sadness, to grieve, or to voice dissent in a spirit of love. We do not need to persuade or placate those who are struggling. We can allow them to move through this season of change in their own way and at their own pace. We do not need to fix them or convince them to “get with the program.” One of the marks of a healthy relationship—both personal and organizational—is the capacity to make room for both assent and dissent. At their best, Baptists have found ways to love and serve God while embracing a diversity of voices in sharing the good news with the world. We can be excited about the good news we have to share while simultaneously holding space for those still discerning what this good news means for them.
I am deeply grateful for the diligent work of the Pastor Search Team, who researched, prayed, vetted candidates, and compiled their findings to share with the rest of us. We owe them our heartfelt thanks. They did it the St. John’s way, just as Pastor Search Teams did when they presented Dr. Kremer and Dr. Foust as our sixth and seventh Senior Ministers 35 and 15 years ago, respectively.
I’m glad I can now share this secret with others. It has been hard to keep. But now that we are free to proclaim it, it is a great joy to do so. And I am praying that we can make our motto our mission: We are a servant church—faithfully active and actively faithful. That is really good news.
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Introducing Our New Senior Minister:
Rev. Laura Heikes
It is with hearts overflowing with prayerful gratitude that the Pastoral Search Team and your fellow members were able to share exciting news about the call of Rev. Laura Heikes last Sunday. Read the Letter from the Pastor Search Team here. Additionally, Rev. Heikes penned her own letter of introduction to you. Read Laura's letter here.
Words from Dennis
Our recently retired Senior Minister Dennis Foust also shares these words with the congregation:
Dear St. John’s:
Week by week for eight months, Paula and I have worshipped with you online. Your faithfulness in worship participation and leadership through choral music, prayers, passing the offering plates, etc. are inspiring. Your pastor search team has worked diligently supported by your prayers. We now pray with you as you enter this new exciting chapter of your ministry by calling Rev. Laura Heikes to serve alongside you as your next senior minister. Please remember, since you are following Jesus Christ, God is going before you into the future preparing your path.
Shalom,
Dennis W. Foust
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Leadership Structure Update and Invitation to Congregational Conversation
Over the past several months, the Church Council and deacons have been engaged in careful, prayerful work around our leadership structure—work shaped by listening, reflection, and a desire to steward the church’s life faithfully in this season. As part of that ongoing discernment, we are inviting the congregation into deeper conversation.
A congregational meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, in Broach Hall, to continue discussion of the proposed leadership structure. This gathering is intended to be conversational and participatory, offering space for shared reflection, questions, and dialogue rather than rushed decisions.
To help prepare for that conversation, four short essays are attached to this issue of Family News. Each essay explores a different aspect of the proposed structure, approaching the topic from a distinct angle. Together, they are meant to provide context, explanation, and thoughtful reflection—not to replace conversation, but to enrich it.
Here is a brief overview of the essays (click the linked title to open a PDF in a new window):
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“Why Moving Forward Now Matters” — This essay addresses a question many have raised: whether it would be better to wait until a new Senior Minister is in place before making structural changes. It explains why the Church Council believes moving forward now is an act of stewardship and care—both for the congregation and for a future pastor—while emphasizing that the proposed structure is intentionally flexible and open to ongoing reflection.
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“The Diaconal Calling: Heritage, Service, and the Work of Renewal” — This piece reflects on the spiritual and historical roots of the diaconate in Baptist life. Rather than focusing on tasks or committees, it centers the diaconal calling as a vocation grounded in service, presence, and faithfulness. The essay introduces the Relational Action (RA) and Governance Action (GA) framework as two complementary expressions of that shared calling.
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“How the Proposed Leadership Structure Would Work in Practice” — This essay focuses on the practical question of how the proposed structure would function day to day. It outlines how leadership priorities are discerned, how work is prepared, where decisions are made, and how responsibility flows through the structure over the course of a year, with an emphasis on clarity, sustainability, and shared discernment.
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“A Practical Example of Decision Making Under the New Structure” — The final essay offers a concrete illustration using a familiar operational scenario. It walks through how the same decision moves through the current structure and how it would be handled under the proposed model, making the differences in coordination, accountability, and information flow easier to see and discuss.
Before we go further, a word of honest—and hopefully reassuring—acknowledgment: we know this is a lot to read. Four essays may feel suspiciously like homework, and we recognize that not everyone appreciates being assigned reading by their church (especially first thing on a Sunday morning). Rest assured, no pop quizzes are planned. We will provide plenty of background and framing at the congregational meeting itself, and the conversation is designed to be accessible whether you have read every word carefully or are encountering some of this material for the first time.
We also recognize that not everyone is able to be present early on Sunday morning. A Zoom conversation will occur on Monday, May 4 at 6:30pm (see meeting link/info below) to share the same information and provide space for questions and discussion for those who cannot attend in person. The session will be recorded this time with a shared access link. Our goal is to make this process as open, transparent, and participatory as possible.
We encourage everyone to engage in whatever way they are able—by reading, by attending, by asking questions, or simply by listening. Thank you for your care for the life of the church, your good humor, and your willingness to walk together through an important season of discernment. We look forward to continuing the conversation on May 3-4 and beyond.
Monday, May 4 Zoom Meeting Information:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88276395962
Meeting ID: 882 7639 5962
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,88276395962# US (New York)
+16469313860,,88276395962# US
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New Member Recognition
In the past year, we’ve been glad to welcome new members into our church family. If you haven’t met them yet, take a moment to say hello and help them feel at home!
- Stephen Davis
- Kera Hemstreet
- Mike Hemstreet
- Swift Livingston
- Jesse Roberts
- Anita Thigpen
(Pictured left-to-right in photo above)
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Softball Season Announcement
If you or someone you know is interested in playing softball with St. John’s please let Dan Redding dpredding2@gmail.com or Lee Gray LGray@sjcharlotte.org know. The season runs from May to early August with all games being played at Providence Baptist Church on weeknights from Monday to Thursday. You must be 18 to play, and though most players are male, we do have at least one female on our roster. The competition level is mild to moderate (and the fellowship level is high) with players of varying skill levels. We need a fairly large roster as players go on vacations throughout the summer.
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Finding Home - 25th Anniversary Luncheon of Lost Boys Coming to the USA: May 17!
It’s the 25th year since 40 “Lost Boys of Sudan” arrived in Metro Charlotte through a State Department initiative that recognized the resilience of children who fled war and survived a thousand-mile walk to refugee camps.
Learning of the epic journey, St. John's Baptist Church members invited Lost Boys into their community. Relationships grew into enduring friendships, including support for the goal of UNC Charlotte graduate James Lubo Mijak (“Lubo”) to bring education back home.
Inspired by Lubo's dream, 700+ individuals, churches, schools, and foundations have helped open and sustain three primary schools in the Raising South Sudan initiative.
Join Us to Remember, Reflect, Celebrate
Special Lunch Event – Broach Hall
Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Worship Service: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
RSVP by May 4
tinyurl.com/25-years-together or email: nancyefuller@aol.com
Everyone is Welcome!
Finding Home, Part 3
This is the third episode describing the perilous journey of the Lost Boys to our city. See part 1 in the April 9 Family News and see part 2 in the April 16 Family News.
Along the way, Lubo and the other boys from their village cattle camp ran from the danger of the militia. Other boys and some adults joined them in their flight to safety.
Lubo speaking now, “It was a bitter journey. Some people call us ‘the boys who ate leaves.’ Because when there was no food, we ate leaves and mud to get whatever nourishment we could and to try and stop the hunger. I will never forget walking, when I was eight, with a little boy of four years old. I guess you could say I became his mother. For years, I considered my responsibility to look out for him.”
Along their way they faced lions, crocodiles and starvation. They experienced listening helplessly to the cries of another young boy being dragged into the bush by a hyena, or standing on the banks of a rushing river considering 4 things: you’ll be shot if you don’t get across, you can’t swim, many crocodiles are lurking in the dark waters, and the other side doesn’t guarantee safety.
Finally they arrived at a United Nations camp in Ethiopia, where they stayed until 1991, when civil war broke out and the rebels took the camp. They decided to try and return to Sudan. On the way the Khartoum government once again attacked them.
Lubo recalls, “Thousands of boys were killed. Many drowned crossing the river Gilo, a branch of the Nile. I was lucky, I could swim. It was in the camps, that I had my first experiences with leadership. I was elected leader of food at 10 years old!”
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Children's Paint Party at Noah's Art: June 6
Children, let's dive into summer with a paint party at Noah's Art on Saturday, June 6, 11am. The cost is $10 per artist. Registration is required. Register today.
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Children's Sunday School This Summer
Kheresa will offer a combined Sunday school this summer for children ages 3+. Volunteers are needed weekly. Please prayerfully consider assisting this summer. Click here to sign up.
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Nursery Needs
The youngest members of our church need you! Would you please prayerfully consider serving one week per month, beginning June 2026-May 2027?
- 2nd Sunday of each month — 2 volunteers are needed
- 5th Sunday of each month — 1 volunteer is needed
Please contact Kheresa (kharmon@sjcharlotte.org) as soon as possible to sign up.
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Youth Summer Activities: Save the Dates
- Graduate Sunday — June 7
- Youth Out of Town Mission Trip — July 29-July 3
- Youth In-Town Mission Trip — August 1-4
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Prayer List, Sympathy, Thanks, and Celebrations | |
Current Prayer Concerns:
Dale Johnson, Gayla Tyson
Continuing Prayer:
Warren Howell, Anna Lynn Kearse, Vivian Ann Wilson (Jane Lineberger’s sister-in-law)
Sympathy:
Please remember Julie & Doug Hammond, and their adult children - Drew Hammond, Amy Ruhl, Grace Rogers, and Davis Hammond - in the death of Varion Spear (Julie’s mother) on Saturday, April 11th in Dunwoody, Georgia. The service to honor Varion’s life will be held on Saturday, May 2nd at 11:00 am at Dunwoody Baptist Church. Here is a link to the obituary of Varion Spear.
Please remember the family of Mitzi Herrill (long-time former member) who passed on ahead of us on April 25th. A service to honor her life will be held on Friday, May 15th at 4:00 pm at her home - 17301 Due West Drive, Charlotte, NC 28278. Here is the link to her obituary.
Keep Kathy & Gary McFarland, and their adult children - Elizabeth Whipple and John McFarland in your prayers in the passing of Kathy’s mother Phyllis Brewer on April 21st. Gary McFarland led the service to honor her life in Sanford, NC on April 25th. Here is the link to the obituary of Phyllis Brewer.
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2026 Full Year Budget – $1,230,000
Budget thru March - $307,500
Actual Income Received - $257,983
Income over(under) budget - ($49,5517)
Income over(under) prior year - ($37,274)
Actual Income/Expense Surplus (Deficit) - $2,409
| | Minister On Call Schedule |
- Apr. 13-19: Kheresa
- Apr. 20-26: Lee
- Apr. 27- May 3: Don
| | - Todd Stillerman - (704) 763-6611
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Staff Contact Information
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Dr. Don Gordon, Interim Minister - 704-333-5428, ext. 2012; 919-972-1933 (cell)
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Rev. Lee Gray, Minister for Congregational Care - 704-333-5428, ext. 2015; 704-451-1309 (cell)
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Rev. Kheresa Harmon, Minister for Children & their Families - 704-333-5428, ext. 2018; 910-890-3392 (cell)
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Noel Lance, Minister for Worship & Music
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Amanda Morrison, Church Administrator - 704-333-5428, ext. 0
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Kristina Hartzell, Interim Weekday School Director - 704-333-5428, ext. 2039
- Chloe Salmeron, Children's Choir Director
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Liza Wade, Media Coordinator
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