A Taste of Heaven on Earth in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Pastor Matt Gilmore and wife, Mandy

The people of Northern Heights Baptist Church experienced a powerful moment of grace the Saturday before Palm Sunday.

For two decades, Pastor Matt Gilmore faithfully led this growing Norfolk, Nebraska, congregation. But ministry challenges took their toll, and he resigned in fall 2023. In response, the church formed a Transition Team and invited Interim Pastor Jim Fleming to guide them through healing and preparing for the future.

Pastor Jim soon recognized unresolved relational wounds holding the church back. In fall 2024, he preached on “Graces of Reconciliation,” calling the congregation to confess sin, grant forgiveness, and pursue restored relationships—starting with their former pastor.

The Transition Team drafted a letter thanking Pastor Matt for his service, acknowledging where they had wronged him, and asking forgiveness. The congregation overwhelmingly affirmed the letter and signed it. Matt and his wife Mandy were deeply moved. In reply, Matt freely forgave the church and, in humility, confessed his own shortcomings as their shepherd.

On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, Pastor Matt and Mandy returned from Texas for a special reception. Matt read his letter publicly, expressing forgiveness and seeking the congregation’s grace. Pastor Jim then invited members to stand if they were ready to fully forgive him in return—and the entire congregation rose to their feet. For the next hour, people shared personal stories of how the Gilmores had impacted their lives, followed by a reception filled with encouragement and blessing.

The next morning, Matt prayed at the close of worship before heading back to Texas. Days later, he texted: “What a wonderful time this past weekend! It felt like a taste of heaven on earth to be back together with you. ...Your love, care, and gracious words were very encouraging and we drove back with full hearts.”

This season of confession, forgiveness, and blessing has set Northern Heights Baptist Church free from its past, ready to embrace a new future as a people fluent in the language of grace and encouragement: “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).