Forest Hill Church,
In the Spring of 2024, our Eastland Campus Pastor Keith Burney approached the Executive Leadership Team with an update on where God was leading him in his ministry. Keith was feeling called to start a new church plant, and Forest Hill wanted to support that calling. In fact, Keith Burney will be the first Pastor in Residence at Forest Hill Church.
As we looked at how to move forward with our Eastland Campus, with the people of East Charlotte at the forefront of our minds, it became clear that our current model was not what the community needed.
What we did find was that Casa Viva Church, a bilingual church just a few minutes from our Eastland campus, had outgrown its space within 22 months of opening – serving a congregation of over 700 people every Sunday. As we began to talk with Pastor Josue Rodriguez, it became clear that subleasing our Eastland facility to Casa Viva would be an answer to many prayers.
Although Eastland will no longer be a campus of Forest Hill, the Church has not left the Eastland community. It will continue to endure, Lord willing, for many years to come through Casa Viva, with whom we are committed to partnering in order to continue to bring Heaven to Greater Charlotte one person at a time.
Many of our current Eastland congregants will either continue to meet at the current facility, attending Casa Viva, or they will join Keith when he opens his new church in 2025. This move was not about expanding Forest Hill, but a leap of faith to help more churches grow and impact the Kingdom of God throughout Charlotte.
Church Family, while we’re so excited for what God is doing through Casa Viva, we wanted to let you know that this decision was not made lightly, and even now is bittersweet, as we recognize four years of ministry from our Eastlandstaff. Please join us in praying for them as they move forward in their next steps in their ministries and in thanking them for all their service to Forest Hill and the Lord.
Together in Faith,
Doc Hanberry, Lead Pastor
Glenn McCorkle, Council Chair