About Us
Pastor Billie W. Dempsey has faithfully served at Higher Ground since September 5, 1999. He and his wife Jaquay have been married since June 2001 and have three beautiful children.
Our History and Future
"The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet,
and He will make me to walk upon mine high places."
~ Habakkuk 3:19
At the age of 26, Pastor Billie W. Dempsey began a work for the Lord. On September 5, 1999 Higher Ground Bible Fellowship Church was established with a vision to bridge the generation gap between the young and old to restore classic New Testament doctrine to the Lord's church.
Higher Ground received its name after Pastor Dempsey received illumination from reading Habakkuk 3:19. This verse serves as a reminder that no matter what the circumstance, the Lord will elevate and give certain comfort and consolation in the midst of struggle by placing the feet of His followers on higher ground. This church is blessed to be led by a faithful pastor who has proven himself to be a committed servant of the Lord through undying service, sacrifice and leadership to God's church and His people.
After five years of worshipping at Western Christian Bookstore in downtown Oakland, God provided a facility of our own. On October 3, 2004 we opened our doors and held our first worship service at the new location. Since that time, our congregation has grown tremendously with new families and children, more than tripling the amount of members we once knew. More importantly, we have grown spiritually as our faith has been stretched to limits we never knew and our commitment to the Lord challenged in ways that have brought about true sanctification. Pastor Dempsey has been an excellent father in the faith to us all. As a teacher, pastor and friend, he wholeheartedly imparts the Word of God to his flock.
Over the past eleven years we have accomplished so much more than a small bookstore could ever allow. Yet we realize that our work is far from finished. Psalm 102:28 reads, "The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be estabilshed before You." Our aim and call at Higher Ground is to leave a legacy of faith for the generations to come. There is much more to do as we strive to accomplish this hope. We trust that God will give us the courage, strength and endurance needed to flesh out this vision and will keep looking to Him as He continues to plant our feet on Higher Ground!
