The Past

New Horizon Church was founded as New Horizon Baptist Church in September 1987 by Pastor Ronnie C. Crudup and 56 charter members who began meeting in space rented from New Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church.  The name New Horizon was inspired by the Holy Spirit who instructed Pastor Crudup to “go and start a church that will be on a new horizon.”

During the course of NHC’s first three years, the congregation also worshipped at the Holiday Inn-Medical Center (now The Cabot Lodge-Millsaps, The Grove Park Community Center, and The Jackson Mini Mall.  During this time the church experienced significant growth in membership. In September 1990 the congregation purchased a building in South Jackson that was formerly occupied by the Belvedere Church of Christ.  In January 1998, the congregation voted to delete the term Baptist from its name and has since that time been known as New Horizon Church (NHC).

The Present

Church Vision
The vision of NHC is “to be a people of love and victory.” This is based on the Scriptural admonition given in Romans 12:2 which states: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

Church Mission
NHC is remaining faithful to this vision by: (1) reaching the uncommitted and those seeking a change in their worship experience and see them become active and productive members of Christ’s body, (2) teaching biblical principles as they apply to every aspect of life, and (3) equipping all people to exercise their gifts, abilities, and influence for the building of Christ’s church and God’s kingdom.

Church Purpose
NHC’s purpose is multi-faceted and is based on six goals which the membership is striving to achieve.  The goals are:

1. Goal One is to propagate the Holy Bible for what it is: the source of what we believe and practice.  It is the Word of God, rather than the will of man, that directs our church.  The message we declare to young and old alike is based on a literal, grammatical, and historical interpretation of the entire Bible.  We proclaim the truths of the Bible because we are confident that God is glorified and man’s needs are met when God’s truths are presented and obeyed.
2. Goal Two is to implement an aggressive fellowship which is designed to promote interpersonal caring and sharing among our membership, as an outgrowth of their fellowship with God.
3. Goal Three is to facilitate a supernatural experience in the Holy Spirit for each member.  We strive to assure that each member of the body of Christ discovers and develops his/her Spiritual gift(s) for the edification of the body as a whole.
4. Goal Four is to promote a Holy Spirit inspired life-style that provides a distinctly divine alternative to the worldly approach to living starting within the church and extending to society at large.
5. Goal Five is to encourage committed stewardship by our members and other people of God.  We seek to promote learning among God’s people that enhances their commitment to the giving of tithes and offerings, and the proper use of their skills, abilities, and influence.
6. Goal Six is to motivate our members to replicate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ in their daily pursuits as they touch the world at large with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Organizational Structure
NHC is an independent congregation which is affiliated with The Fellowship of International Churches (FOIC).  The church is governed by a Board of Elders which currently consists of the Senior Pastor and five others who are elected from the ranks of the church’s ordained deacons and ministers.  Elders serve a three year term and may be reelected for one additional term before they are required to rotate off the Board.

The church is organized into four ministry divisions that report directly to an Executive Pastor.  Each division is headed by a full-time pastor who is responsible for carrying out the goals objectives of  that respective division.   The divisions are:

1. Finance and Administration
2. Reaching
3. Teaching 
4. Equipping

Membership
NHC is a cell church. This means that our entire congregation is divided into small cells (groups) of not more than 10 family units each.  Each cell is overseen by a trained lay leader, who in turn is overseen by an ordained deacon.  The purpose of cells groups is to ensure that each member of the church receives the pastoral care and attention that he/she needs and deserves.

Church membership is open to persons who openly and publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and who submit to be governed in the manner stated in the NHC Constitution and Bylaws.

Operational Philosophy
We are orthodox in our view of Scripture, elder led in our polity, and reformed in our theological perspective.  We are charismatic in our orientation and worship style, and uncompromising on consecrated living by leaders and the general body.  We are prayerful in our meditations and actions, missionary to all people, and committed to excellence in whatever we do.

Emphasis and Style of Worship
Worshipping God, which reveals the depth of one’s understanding of whom God is and what He requires is the single most important activity of a believer’s life.  Individual worship is the activity through which a believer seeks, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to give God the glory, honor, obedience, and praise that is due Him.  Corporate worship is the activity of a congregation of believers in which they seek to give God the adoration, praise, confession, thanksgiving, and obedience to which He is entitled.