Our Story
Significant Factor Group
This doesn’t have to be your story:
According to Barna:
- 90% of pastors feel inadequately trained
- 80% of pastors believe that ministry has negatively affected their family
- 70% of pastors fight depression
- 70% of pastors admit that they do not have one close friend
- 50% would quit vocational ministry if they could find another job that would pay them
….and only 1 out of 10 pastors will retire in this field
Don’t become a statistic. There’s help available.
Hal and Sondra Hardy have a passion to partner with ministry leaders and provide coaching, community and care for their family.
Meet The Founders
Hal and Sondra Hardy
Hal Hardy is the founding and senior pastor of Highlands Church. Pastor Hal’s ministry focuses on building the local church, reaching people with the gospel, and developing passionate leaders for Christ. His passionate, practical and often humorous presentation impacts believers and connects with the unchurched.
In 2011, Hal and Sondra spent time with their spiritual father and founder of the Association or Related Churches (ARC) before Bro Billy went home to be with the Lord. During their time Rev. Hornsby shared a prophetic word for them that would eternally mark their lives. Billy said, “Hal, Sondra, if you’ll be the significant factor in the success of someone else’s life, you’ll fulfill the will of God for yours.”
From that day forward, the Hardy’s have given their lives to that very thing; To be the friend Pastors wish they had and the coach every leader needs.
We get it.
Pastoring is not for the faint of heart. With a handful of families, my wife, Sondra, and I planted Highlands Church back in the fall of 2006. We launched on opening day with 145 people and in just one week grew that thing to 127!
It was the first year of our church plant. We were doing ok at best, not breaking any growth records by a long-shot, but still, we were ok. We saved up enough money to attend a Pastor’s conference and met a guy who had planted a church a year before us, and it was exploding with growth. I really looked up to him. Before the weekend was finished, I ran into him and he said, “Why don’t you just quit wasting your time with that little church and come work for me.?” I remember how shocked, mad and utterly defeated I was leaving that conference.
And I remember, praying that night, “God, if you bless our church with growth and influence and resources, I promise I’ll be every Pastor’s biggest cheerleader.”…and God answered that prayer.
Billy Hornsby, one of the founders of the ARC was our spiritual dad. He was the guy we called on our best days and the one we confided in during our darkest hour. In 2011 Bro. Billy went home to be with the Lord, but before he did Sondra and I and others had the chance to be with him. We walked into the hospital room to pray and encourage him, but wouldn’t you know it, Billy is the one who encouraged us. Before we left he laid his hands on us and prayed for us and spoke this prophetic word over our lives….”Hal and Sondra, if you’ll be the significant factor in the success of someone else’s life, you’ll fulfill the will of God for yours.”
From that day forward, Sondra and I have set our hand to running beside ministry leaders and helping them stay in the race so they can finish strong. We’d be honored if you would let us help you….let us be the significant factor in the success of your church, your marriage, and your life.