El Shaddai Ministries

The Highland Hill Community Church began meeting in May of 1954 as a Southern Baptist Mission work in cooperation with Baptist General Convention of Oregon-Washington. Their first services were held in a rented home on S. 11th St. in Tacoma, Washington. Their first pastor was Dr. Robert Leazer who received the “ huge” starting salary of $250.00 per month. On Oct. 10, 1954, the church was officially organized as the First Southern Baptist Church with 27 charter members. By August of 1955, the church was able to purchase a new building site, consisting of 42 lots, in a new area known as the Woodlawn Addition (Part of Highland Hill). The total cost for these lots came to $3,500.00.