Each person who passed away, two elderly matriarchs in our local church, a middle-aged man who valiantly fought cancer, a lady who lived with more long-term physical suffering than anyone I’ve met, and an older gentleman whose body finally grew tired—had different stories and struggles. All of them were followers of Christ. Each left behind a different legacy shaped by the choices they made along the way, but all stepped across the finish line through the finished work of Christ. None of them were perfect. Some lived with earthly consequences. But all were received into the presence of the Lord because of their faith in Christ.

“I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.”

Psalm 116:14-16

The word “precious” means God values the lives of His children and cares for them even in the transition from life through death into eternity. What glorious comfort this should bring us! But it should also cause us to be intentional in our choices as we live this life.

Our earthly life is short and fragile. Our eternal life in Christ is unshakeable and forever. This truth should frame how we live in the here and now. To not live for temporary pleasures and fading glory, but to “fulfill our vows to the Lord in the presence of people.”

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.”

Philippians 1:27

This season of grief has deeply stirred my heart. I want to live in light of eternity. To live on mission. I want my life to participate in the legacy of Christ, leaving behind a testimony of His grace, mercy, goodness, and truth. We pray that Higher Place Ministries is doing just that: helping to stir your heart to live in light of eternity and become ambassadors for Christ!

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Ministry Update

We were incredibly busy in the office this month! Scott started recording the audiobook for Welcome Home. Prayerfully, it will be finished in the coming weeks, and it should be available by the end of the year. The workbook is well underway and on track to publish by the end of October! We’re also in the planning process for a podcast companion for Welcome Home, plus a limited-run series for our book The More Excellent Way! We can’t wait to get these resources into your hands, phones, and e-readers.

We had the wonderful opportunity to attend Kenny Davis’ annual retreat in Red Oak, NC. His minsitry has a retreat center there called Yeshua’s Vineyard and they were dedicating a new building in honor of my dad. They’re calling it the “Hobknob.” It will serve as a meeting space for retreats and events. It was a powerful time of worship, testimonies, ministry, and tears. My mom, brother and his wife, and my sister were all there. My dad would have absolutely loved it!

On the family front, Lisa and I are doing great and figuring out this new season with all adult children. We had a wonderful time visiting Olivia during parents’ weekend at ECU. Joseph is doing well, and we’re looking forward to seeing Victoria and her husband Viktor in December!

We are so excited for all the Lord has in store as the ministry continues to grow! We’re so grateful for all the testimonies and encouragement many of you have shared about Welcome Home. None of this would be possible without your prayers and partnership! Thank you so much!

Would you consider partnering with us?

As we are in the launch phase of Higher Place Ministries, your prayers and support mean the world to us! Each month, we’re hard at work serving our local church while also building Higher Place Ministries. Writing, recording, publishing, and traveling all require time and resources. Would you pray and ask the Lord how He’s calling you to journey with us?

You can get involved in three powerful ways: Pray, Recommend, and Give.

We need all the prayer we can get as we seek the Lord for guidance, direction, and creativity. Subscribing to our monthly newsletter is a great way to stay updated on how to pray for us!

It is such a blessing every time someone purchases or passes along our books and resources. We believe God has given us a calling to write content that will encourage and equip the Body of Christ to become devoted to Word, Worship, Fellowship, and Prayer. You can help us accomplish this by purchasing, reading, and recommending our resources!

Books and Resources

Would you prayerfully consider becoming a financial partner? Your donations help cover the costs of recording, writing, publishing, and our ministry engagements. You can give a one-time gift or become a monthly partner through recurring giving. All giving is completely secure, and Higher Place Ministries is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible non-profit ministry.

Give

Scott serves as the full time Senior Pastor of Liberty Christian Fellowship in the Outer Banks of NC. Be sure and check out all that God is doing in and through liberty at www.libertyobx.com.

Visit www.higherplaceministries.com for more information in Scott and Lisa’s personal ministry. Higher Place Ministries exists to help people become devoted to Word, Worship, Fellowship and Prayer through training, ministry, books, and resources.

We’re excited to announce a new chapter in the ministry God has entrusted to us. After months of planning and hard work, Higher Place Ministries is now officially a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization! We are so excited about this milestone because it will help us develop more resources, books, training materials, and ministry opportunities to spread the Gospel and help people devote themselves to Word, Worship, Fellowship, and Prayer (Acts 2:42).

Over the last year, the Lord led us to take this step as demand for our books and resources has grown and new opportunities have emerged to minister to and equip the Body of Christ. We needed a way to channel the resources we’ve been developing and make it easier for others to partner with us. We’re excited to work alongside each of you and see the continuing fulfillment of the vision God placed in our hearts years ago.

And it will be said:

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!

Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”

For this is what the high and exalted One says—

he who lives forever, whose name is holy:

“I live in a high and holy place,

but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly

and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Isaiah 57:14-15

Our core vision is to build up, prepare the way, and remove obstacles for believers with practical discipleship and ministry resources rooted in Scripture and centered on Christ. Through books, courses, podcasts, coaching, and live ministry events, we hope to strengthen believers and churches for generations to come.

What does this change mean?

Scott will continue his primary work as Senior Pastor of Liberty Christian Fellowship, just as he has for the last 15 years. Liberty is our primary calling and our covering. Launching Higher Place Ministries as a nonprofit will help us extend our reach beyond the local church with the books and resources we develop. Our nonprofit status opens doors to new resources, ministry partnerships, and opportunities for you to partner with us!

Scott has published 4 books, a children’s book, and several guided journals. His latest book, Welcome Home, just launched this month, with a companion workbook currently in development! We publish a monthly eNewsletter and maintain a regular blog on our Substackpage. We’re also developing several podcasts, classes, and video resources. Scott and Lisa will continue to be available to minister for a number of dates each year outside of the local church.

How can you be a part?

First, prayer is the most important way you can partner with us! In the devotional My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers is quoted as saying, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; it is the greater work.” One of our elders at Liberty Christian Fellowship has said, “There are things in the universe that happen that otherwise would not because of prayer.” Please join us in praying for what God wants to do in and through Higher Place Ministries.

Second, we’d love for you to read Scott’s books and pass them along to others. If our resources encourage or bless you, please share them! If you bought a book from Amazon.com, leaving a review helps more people discover our work. Subscribing to our eNewsletter keeps you connected with us and all that God is unfolding through Higher Place Ministries. You can also share links to our YouTube channel, Substack posts, and website. And if you’d like to collaborate on an event for speaking, training, leading worship, or coaching, let us know!

Third, you can partner with us financially. Since Scott’s first book in 2018, The More Excellent Way, we’ve worked hard to self-fund these projects. Now, with your financial partnership, we can create new resources and reach more people as we spread the Gospel, encourage the Body of Christ, and help others grow in their devotion to Word, Worship, Fellowship, and Prayer. We have several exciting projects planned over the next two years—including books, workbooks, launching podcasts, and training courses that will have great Kingdom impact—and your support can help make them possible.

Partner with us today!

To those who’ve been part of this journey over the years and those joining us today: Thank you! We’re excited about what the Lord has in store and look forward to connecting with you at our local church, on the road, in books and blogs, and more.

Scott and Lisa Hobbs

March 2026 Volume1/Issue 2

Lately, my prayer journal has been filled with requests and petitions for direction. In a season where there have been many changes, victories, disappointments, and moving parts, I have found my self asking God to help me hear in Him in the midst of it all.

I am so thankful that we are invited to do exactly that… ask.

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

What is even more wonderful than the invitation to ask, is His promise to hear and answer.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

Jesus said that His sheep listen to His voice and He knows them. This is relationship language. When we couple this with the Apostle Paul’s passion for knowing Christ, we are left with the truth that our faith is not one of rites, rituals, and legalism, but it is one that is conversational, relational, and intimate.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

I can’t encourage you enough to spend time learning God’s voice. Yes, learning it. You can. It comes from three main things: Communication, Proximity, and Time.

Communication is simply about talking with God. Not just acquiring information. Often this is where we settle for less than what is available to us. We read scripture to learn it, which is necessary and transformative. We listen to sermons to grow in our understanding or to apply truth, with is also necessary. But there is more. If we will approach scripture understanding that it is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) meaning it comes from the breath of His lungs. It is filled with His life. It’s not just information, it is a place where God will speak to you. In the same way, we need to approach our times of prayer as conversation. Speaking and listening. Pay attention to the thoughts and impressions that come as you dialogue with God. Certainly, nothing you feel or hear will violate the unchanging truths laid out in scripture, but He will speak.

Proximity is about intentionality. It begins with the desire to draw close to God knowing that He will draw close to you (James 4:8). This involves humbling ourselves, being willing to repent, be silent, and to wait on Him. Will fill our lives with so much clutter and we rush from one thing to the next. We must learn to be still in our hearts, minds, and bodies (Psalm 46:10). Set a time and place. Learn the spiritual discipline of solitude and silence. See if the voice of God doesn’t become more clear as you do.

Time is a non-negotiable in learning God’s voice. There’s no replacement or quick fix. We must go to the scriptures, places of prayer, and times of worship and remain. Our whole society is oriented around getting things done and moving on to the next thing. We get so much of a dopamine hit from the rushing. But what we miss are eternal encounters that cannot be microwaved. I often say to our local church, “spend time in prayer, stay until it’s uncomfortable and then stay a little longer.” I promise you that as you take the time to listen the more you will begin to hear.

I talk about these principles and practices in my little book, A Conversation with God: a simple guide to prayer journaling. If you would like to dig more into this practice and learn to have conversations with God, I would encourage you to grab a copy. Knowing that God listens and speaks to you brings such confidence and strength in your walk with Him. I’ve needed it, continue to need it, and I am so thankful He has invited me into daily conversations with Him.

Order “A Conversation With God”

Blessings to each and every one of you from Lisa and I. I pray that this season, even if it is a challegning one like mine, is filled with God’s voice and direction. Remember, He wants to talk with you, share His heart with you, and to be close.

Scott J. Hobbs