Hear Pastor Midkiff's story for yourself.
(MARYVILLE, TN) -- Nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, Jack Midkiff leads his congregation at High Praises Church with a personal testimony of his own.
Much like many church conceptions, HPC started with nothing more than a bible and a house basement in 1998.
At the time, Jack and his wife, Ladonna, say they felt a need for a more inclusive ministry where everyone, regardless of denomination, age, ethnicity, political ideologies, and more can come together to learn about Jesus.
“It doesn’t matter what you look like, act like, smell like, or talk like, you are welcome at High Praises Church.”
Jack says that the religious landscape in Blount County, Tennessee needed this and he felt God had called on his life to make that happen.
26 years later, HPC now serves hundreds of people from all different backgrounds and have continued to grow large enough to have their own ministry building in the heart of East Tennessee.
High Praises Church is a family affair. Jack’s 3 children, Jackie Lee, Kinsey, and Gracie all contribute to the ministries' mission through their talent of music serving on their worship team.
“At first, I don’t think my kids had a choice,” Jack laughs while talking about his kid’s earliest involvement. “But as they have grown up, I am so honored they choose to give their talents.”
Jack says he values his children’s outlook and is grateful they ‘keep him relevant.'
“I believe you can be involved in this world and still love Jesus, and my kids teach me that.”
From the looks of it, it may seem that High Praises Church has been full of happiness, success, and victories throughout their journey, however, the church, congregation, staff, and family experienced an unimaginable loss that rocked the church and its’ foundation.
After a successful 27 years of marriage, Jack and his wife were confronted by a situation that shocked them both.
Ladonna was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and spent the next three years fighting until she passed away in June 2016.
The family spent the last few years with Ladonna creating a space of normalcy for her, the church, and the community, however, Pastor Midkiff recalls a time where he was unsure how to be the best pastor and husband at the same time.
“There was a huge fight going on between my ears.” I feel like our enemy wanted me to feel guilty.”
The family chose to honor Ladonna’s wish of keeping her health battles private and in doing so, Pastor Midkiff recalls having to split his time up between his home life and church life.
“I would literally leave my house just in time to park in the back of the church, walk onto the platform and then before people were even in the parking lot, I was on my way back home to be with her,” he recalls.
Years after Pastor Midkiff’s home-life took a different turn, he still owes gratitude to the congregation and church family that respected their privacy during that time.
“Thank you for allowing me to be the husband I wanted be,” he emotionally says.
Several weeks after her death, Pastor Midkiff says he felt lost, angry, and even unsure, but he knew he had to remain strong for the ones that look to him for strength—his children and congregation.
After receiving a phone call from a close friend, Pastor Midkiff heard something that changed his perspective on how he chooses to discuss loss now.
“They said, The Lord wanted me to tell you that nothing is lost when you know where it is," he explained. In that moment, Pastor Midkiff was confronted by what the Christian faith believes happens beyond death here on Earth.
“Ladona’s not lost; she is in a place where we all aspire to be at," he shares.
Pastor Midkiff understood the process of grief, which is natural and validated, but he knew he could never let grief take over and allow him to lose hope because that is not God’s plan in all of this.
"We have a hope past what happens on this Earth, hold onto that,” he says.
Years later, Pastor Midkiff holds onto his battle wounds to be a better pastor, husband, father, and friend. Since losing his wife, his mission and message is to relate to your own struggles when you take a seat at High Praises Church.
The will to keep going, knowing that God will provide, is certainly what kept him going, and now that has come to fruition.
In 2024, life looks very different for Pastor Midkiff. As his own children grew and became husbands themselves, so did Pastor Midkiff.
Jack and his wife, Heather, have just celebrated one year of marriage.
Heather had been a member of the congregation and staff of HPC for 18 years and spent much of her time with the Midkiff family. Through friendship and understanding, the couple made the decision to let the Lord lead their relationship to wherever He wanted it to be.
“I felt healed. I needed someone that would be compassionate where I came from and someone that was hidden in plain sight. She is such an incredible blessing, and such a God send."
Heather now serves the church in a larger role and leads their women’s group to connect with each other, grow in their faith and become renewed.
Pastor Midkiff’s story is not over, and he continues to lead at High Praises Church as well as High Praises Global, their all-access virtual experience that allows you to connect with them anywhere in the world.
As he continues to walk in his own journey with Jesus, he will still remember the journey that led him to where he is today. A passionate pastor who’s passion goes beyond anything he has said, but more through what he has done.
He has and continues to keep Ladonna’s memory alive through High Praises Church and even in his own marriage today.
One thing is certain when you walk through the church doors Pastor Midkiff will keep this at the forefront:
“Keep the main thing the main thing, and that is the love of Jesus Christ.”