Church of the Highlands, Alabama’s largest congregation, is continuing its growth with a major expansion to the state’s Gulf Coast.

According to AL.com, the church scheduled a land dedication ceremony in Daphne to celebrate plans for a new permanent campus serving the Eastern Shore region.

The event was held at the corner of DISC Drive and U.S. Highway 181, where the church has acquired about 27 acres for approximately $4.6 million.

Plans call for a 50,000-square-foot facility that will function as a hub for church ministries and community outreach throughout coastal Alabama.

The new campus is scheduled to open in 2026. Until construction is complete, worship services will continue at the Daphne Civic Center, where between 850 and 900 people attend each Sunday.

Established in 2001 by Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands has expanded to more than 20 locations across Alabama and Georgia.

Its main campus sits on Grants Mill Road in Irondale near Birmingham. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, weekly attendance at all campuses topped 50,000 people.

In addition to its church growth, Hodges founded Highlands College in 2011 in Birmingham, a school dedicated to preparing students for ministry leadership. He continues to serve as the college’s chancellor.

The Daphne project marks a major milestone for the church as it broadens its footprint throughout South Alabama and strengthens its commitment to serving families and communities along the Gulf Coast.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].