Church of the Highlands sits on 1900 Monterey Drive in San Bruno, California, tucked into the Portola Highlands neighborhood where it has been for more than half a century. It is a Christ-centered, Bible-teaching congregation known in the Bay Area for the depth of its ministries across generations, its steady involvement in jail and convalescent outreach, and its long-running missions partnerships in Indonesia, the Philippines, and West Africa. Five Sunday services, a packed calendar of weekday classes, and a K-8 Christian school share the same campus.
Five Sunday Services and Communion Every Week
Highlands meets five times on Sunday morning and evening to give visitors plenty of room to choose a time. A 7:00 AM gathering in the Multi-Purpose Center is followed by sanctuary services at 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, and 5:00 PM. Each service opens with music led by the Worship Arts team, includes a brief teaching time and an offering, and centers on a Bible-based message that the pastors describe as both biblical and relevant to everyday life. Communion is celebrated every Sunday, and visitors who choose not to participate are welcome simply to observe.
An offering is collected at each service and may also be given online, but first-time guests are explicitly told not to feel any pressure to give. Online services are available too: they are live recordings of the previous week's Sunday service, shared on YouTube. The church's app, currently available for Apple devices, lets members set up giving directly from their phone and stay connected to news and events.
Reaching the campus from either Highway 101 or Interstate 280 is straightforward. Visitors exit at San Bruno Avenue, head west until the road ends at Skyline Boulevard, turn right, then left onto Sneath Lane. A right turn there leads to the auxiliary lower parking lot, where shuttle buses run to the main building on Sundays from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM and during selected weeknight and weekend events. Those who prefer to walk in can take a left onto Monterey Drive and turn left into the main lot at the first stop sign. SamTrans route 140 also runs from the San Bruno BART station to the area.
From Colma Community Chapel to Portola Highlands
The congregation's story begins in 1959, when Pastor and Mrs. Donald B. Sheley founded it as Colma Community Chapel. The first service was held on Saturday, October 3 of that year. By July 1960, the young church had moved to Daly City and incorporated under the name Calvary Cross Church. As attendance grew, negotiations began in 1970 to purchase what had been the Portola Shopping Center at 1900 Monterey Drive in San Bruno. The deal was something of a miracle: the church assumed the existing mortgage and more than twice that amount in equity was simply written off.
The name changed as the church moved into the new San Bruno building. There were already five Calvary-named churches and funeral homes in the area, and the big corner sign read "Portola Highlands," which was easy to update. Palm Sunday 1972 was the first official service in the new home. The earliest gatherings in the converted grocery store were so informal that congregants brought pillows and chairs to sit on, earning it the nickname "the pillow service." On Father's Day, July 5, 2006, Pastor Leighton Sheley was installed as Senior Pastor. Donald Sheley continued to hold the titles of Founding Pastor, Pastor of Missions, and Preaching Pastor until his passing on February 7, 2016. For eight consecutive years, Church of the Highlands has been awarded the Best of San Bruno Award in the Community Churches category by the U.S. Commerce Association in Washington, D.C.
Highlands Kids, Inertia Youth, and the College and Young Adult Ministry
The church places a strong emphasis on caring for children and students, and that emphasis is visible in the depth of its next-generation ministries.
Highlands Kids offers childcare for children ages 2 to 4 at the 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 AM services, and a Nursery for babies up to age 2 where parents can listen in on the sanctuary service. Sunday School for preschoolers through 5th grade runs at the 10:00 and 11:30 AM services in age-divided classrooms (Tots, Elementary I, and Elementary II). The 5:00 PM service offers a distinctive option: children worship with their parents in the sanctuary first, then head to "Bible @ the Science Lab" with Mr. Mozzone. Each Sunday class includes a time of worship, teaching, sharing, learning, and praying, with lesson plans prepared specifically for each age group. Preschoolers attending any of the kids' programs must be fully potty trained.
On Wednesday evenings during the school year, AWANA (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, from 2 Timothy 2:15) gathers preschoolers through elementary-age children from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, with a family dinner at 6:15 PM. The hour and a half includes a large group Bible lesson, small group workbook time with memory verses, and game or craft activities. The program's three goals are leader-child relationships, Bible engagement through Scripture memory, and spiritual development.
Safety is built into the experience. Parents sign children in at a check-in station every time they attend, children are released only to the parent or guardian who checked them in (unless the church is notified in advance of another approved person), and every team member passes a background check and classroom safety training. If the church needs to reach a parent during a service, it texts the number provided at check-in.
Middle school and high school students are part of Inertia Youth Ministries, named for Newton's first law of motion. Just as an object at rest tends to stay at rest, the natural trajectory of life tends to either stand still or drift from God. God is the outside force who changes that direction. Inertia meets on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM in Room 111, with a 11:30 AM discipleship track available by invitation. Wednesday nights include family dinners starting at 5:45 PM and programming from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. The Wednesday rhythm alternates between Bible study on the first and third weeks, games and fellowship on the second and fourth, and a special event on the fifth week.
The College and Young Adult Ministry gathers 18- to 29-year-olds on Friday nights at 7:00 PM in the Multi-Purpose Center, the building across the parking lot from the main sanctuary. The group studies the Bible and builds community together, and is open to anyone in that age range, whether or not they already have a relationship with God.
Eight Ministries for Adults
Eight adult ministries serve the church family: Women's, Men's, Marriage, Singles, Worship Arts, Recovery, Asian Pacific Outreach, and Hispanic.
The Women's Ministry meets throughout the week for Bible study, prayer, crafts, and fellowship. Wednesday evenings include Moms in Prayer at 6:30 PM, covering children from preschool through young adults in prayer, and Open Bible Prayer at 7:15 PM via Zoom. Saturdays bring a Spanish-language prayer group, Mujeres en Oración, from 8:00 to 9:00 PM via Zoom. A women's fitness and fellowship group walks or swims together on Wednesdays at 11:30 AM. A deep bench of women's Bible studies fills the week: When You Pray on Sundays at 10:00 AM, When We Pray on the first and third Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, He Speaks To Me on the second and fourth Tuesdays, No Other Gods on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM, More Than Enough by Christine Hoover on Saturdays at 10:30 AM, How Much More on Fridays at 10:00 AM, and Luke in the Land on Fridays at 2:00 PM. The Monday-night BSF study of Romans (September through May) is also part of the women's lineup.
The Men's Ministry draws men together around the shared goal of Christ-centered living, drawn from Ephesians 4:1-3. Wednesdays at 11:00 AM bring a coffee fellowship in the lower parking lot. Optional tennis and weight-training fellowships run during the week, and a monthly breakfast fellowship on the third Saturday combines worship in the sanctuary, a meal in the cafeteria, and a guest speaker. The men's jail ministry brings the gospel of Christ's forgiveness into the local jail.
The Marriage Ministry exists to teach God's design for marriage and offers both mentoring and counseling. Trained husband-and-wife mentor couples walk alongside other couples to build Christ-centered marriages, and Pastor Dave Smith provides marriage counseling. Couples preparing for marriage complete a 12-session premarital class held twice a year on Sunday afternoons, with an interview with Pastor Dave required before admission. The Growing Your Marriage class meets on Sundays at 10:00 AM and a Friday Night Marriage Group gathers at 7:00 PM.
The Singles Ministry brings together singles 30 and older, including widowed, divorced, and never-married, for Bible studies, fellowship, and special events. The Recovery Ministry runs a Celebrate Recovery meeting every Tuesday at 7:00 PM. The Celebrate Recovery curriculum is distinctively Christian and uncompromisingly Biblical, addressing alcoholism, divorce, sexual abuse, codependency, domestic violence, drug addiction, sexual addiction, food addiction, gambling, and similar struggles. Periodic support groups also cover grief and loss, stress and anger management, and codependency.
The Worship Arts team gives musicians, vocalists, audio engineers, and other creatives a place to serve on Sunday mornings and at special events. The team's philosophy incorporates a variety of musical genres and elements, and the church's published hiring standards call for proficiency in both modern worship music and choral or orchestral settings.
The Asian Pacific Outreach Ministry (APOM) reaches out to friends and family members, especially those from Asia and the Pacific Islands. Activities include Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) co-ed classes, ping pong fellowship, fishing, a monthly coffee break, and special events like Christmas at the Highlands. The Hispanic Ministry visits nursing centers, distributes supplies to the homeless in San Francisco, partners in missions to Mendota, Madera, and Fresno, and evangelizes regularly in East San Bruno. Hispanic Bible School meets on Sundays at 10:00 AM on site, with a Spanish-language class on Fridays at 7:30 PM via Zoom.
Bible Studies, Classes, and Growth Groups
The church runs a deep bench of ongoing studies for every age and language group. The Co-Ed BSF study of Romans meets Sundays at 10:00 AM and Tuesdays at 7:00 PM. Wednesdays at 6:30 PM bring a study in the Book of James led by Brother Dalton Miranda and the elders. The Filipino Christian Living Class meets Sundays at 10:00 AM, the Filipino Bible Study and Prayer group gathers Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in person and via Zoom, and Bible Study and Prayer with Pastor Abner meets the second and fourth Thursdays at 7:00 PM offsite. Morning Bible Reading with Brother Bob runs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6:00 to 8:00 AM on Zoom. S.A.L.T. (Seasoned Adults Living the Truth) brings adults 55 and older together on Sundays at 10:00 AM for fellowship and Bible study, currently working through the Book of Revelation.
The church's goal is to have every member involved in a class or small group experience, framed by two basic commitments: a commitment to God and his Word, and a commitment to significant Christian relationships.
Jail, Convalescent, CityTeam, and the Living Waters Village
Missions are woven into the church's identity, both close to home and far away. Locally, the church partners with CityTeam SF, CityTeam Oakland, and CityTeam San Jose, supporting food distribution at the Skyline College Food Pantry and other outreach events. Concerts, barbecues, a car show, harvest festivals, and seminars bring the campus and neighborhood together. A Convalescent Ministry visits seniors at San Bruno Skilled Nursing Center and Golden Pavilion in Daly City each month for fellowship and a short message, with additional visits on request.
The Jail Ministry team conducts five services a week at the San Francisco County Jail (three in English, two in Spanish, and one for women), along with individual counseling. Each December, the Gifts for Kids at the Gate outreach collects Christmas gifts for the children who visit their parents at the jail. On a Saturday in December, the team provides Christian literature for the adults, gifts for the kids, and hot chocolate for everyone.
Internationally, the church has longstanding partnerships in Indonesia, the Philippines, and West Africa. In Borneo, the focus is the Living Waters Village, a missionary outreach to orphans and other children from jungle villages that provides the gospel, safety, medical attention, and a Christian education. Teams have been traveling there roughly every six months since Pastor Tony and Pastor Donald Sheley's first visit in October 2010. The Philippines ministry includes projects in Metro Manila (a footbridge), Toclong (a church feeding center), Home of Joy Orphanage, the Manubo Training Center, Camp Mariano Christian Camp, and various building projects in Manila, Cebu, and Mindanao. Mission teams also serve in West Africa and in Central and South America. Each year, the church hosts a Global International Missions Rally that brings the congregation together with sister churches to pray, hear reports from the field, and plan the year ahead.
An Apostles' Creed and a Thirteen-Point Statement of Faith
The church's doctrinal convictions are organized around an Apostles' Creed statement and a thirteen-point Statement of Faith that begins with the inerrancy of Scripture. Church of the Highlands teaches that the entire Bible is the inspired, God-breathed Word, written by men moved by the Holy Spirit, and is the sole and final authority for faith and life. God exists eternally as one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each fully and equally God.
The church confesses that Jesus Christ is the only begotten eternal Son of God who became fully God and fully man in one person forever, miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the all-sufficient sacrifice for sin, was buried, rose bodily, ascended into heaven, and will return personally and visibly to judge the living and the dead. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, regenerates, indwells believers permanently, and gives spiritual gifts for the edification of the church.
Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The ordinances of the church are baptism by immersion, Holy Communion, and Holy Matrimony, defined as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman. Marriage is treated as a profound spiritual institution that reflects the relationship between Christ and his church.
Church membership requires a personal declaration of faith in Jesus Christ, water baptism following salvation, willingness to participate in the life of the church, and completion of a Membership class taught by Senior Pastor Leighton Sheley, usually held over three weeknights and covering the staff, history, Statement of Faith, structure, and biblical basis of the church's vision and mission. New members are expected to be involved in a ministry and to give their time and talents to God's work.
On the Airwaves, Online, and Across the Bay
Two radio programs extend the church's reach beyond San Bruno. Study Verse by Verse with Pastor Leighton Sheley airs on KDIA (AM 1640) Monday through Friday at 6:45 AM and 8:55 AM, on Sunday at 8:30 AM, and on KFAX (AM 1100) Monday through Friday at 7:45 PM. The podcast version is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music. Daybreak Radio features the late Founding Pastor Donald Sheley on KFAX (AM 1100) Monday through Friday at 6:30 AM and Sunday at 7:30 AM.
Online giving is available for the general fund, the school, and missions. Giving can also be set up by texting COTHIGHLANDS to 77977 or by check made out to Church of the Highlands. A RightNow Media streaming library is offered to the congregation at no cost, providing a wide range of Bible study content for children, teens, and adults.
Highlands Christian Schools, a ministry of the church, is a K-8 Christian academy and preschool serving more than 300 students and their families each school year. The school partners closely with the church's family ministries, including shared events like the Parenting Circle, a quarterly gathering hosted by Principal Jonah Erickson that focuses on raising kids in a technology-driven world, with childcare provided for ages 3 to 10.