Our History
Highland Park began as the "Free Church Chapel" in the Spring of 1948. Located at the corner of 16th Street and 36th avenue in the Highland Park subdivision of Columbus, it was known as "the church the pastor built." Don Olson was a new graduate of Wheaton Bible College and the first pastor of the Columbus church plant. Upon completion, Don Olson left Columbus to spend his ministry career in the Mexican mission field. Pastor, Herb Kirk arrived in 1949. He and his family actually lived in the tiny church structure until a parsonage could be built. The church was officially organized and incorporated as Highland Park Evangelical Free Church in 1951.
From the beginning, there has been a strong commitment to the Scriptures as the complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life. Through faithful Bible preaching and teaching and personally sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, the Highland Park family has grown spiritually and numerically as God has honored His Word and added to the church those who were being saved.
God has provided for growth by adding to the 16th street church building several times over the years followed in 1998 by a new 40,000 square foot facility at our current 16 acre site at 4115 38th Street. We are thankful for God's faithfulness in the past and look to the future with confidence in Him as He continues to write history of His work in this place.
Today at Highland Park nearly 1100 people call this church their home. We offer two Sunday morning services, coffee connection and Sunday Bible School each Sunday morning. There are multiple ministries occurring during the week. Why is our history important? The answer is easy -- looking back through the corridors of time, we can see the faithful hand of God. We praise God for all He has done these fifty years plus and to eagerly await the future He has planned.
"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord'" (Psalm 122:1).
