At Shepherd, we want to create a place that feels safe for our neighbors to come, a place they want to go, a place where they can find authentic community, and a place where they can find hope for the next 40 years. For 30 years, Jay Height has been a champion for Shepherd’s mission and vision to break the cycle of poverty for our neighbors and transform our community.
In 1995, Jay Height joined Shepherd Community as Director of Development. He, his wife Jane, son Jeremy, and daughter Jenna (Jill wasn’t born yet) moved from Ohio to serve at Shepherd as the Director of Development as well as serve as the pastor of Shepherd Church of the Nazarene. In 1997, Jay Height was named Executive Director and “Crime Fighter of the Year” by the Indianapolis Police Department. A two-time recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash Award (2016 and 2024), Jay has been recognized for his leadership across the state of Indiana.
Under the prayerful leadership and humble direction of Jay Height, Shepherd Community has grown tremendously. Although he’s the last one to boast about his accomplishments, Shepherd Community exists largely because of his faithfulness and devotion to our mission. Jay has served alongside Shepherd staff, leadership, Board members, volunteers, churches, and corporations for 30 years. Jay has sacrificially served and given his heart (and sometimes physical body) to the service of Shepherd and the community in need.
The same Jay Height who asks for a million-dollar donation, speaks to government leaders, and casts a vision for Shepherd’s next 40 years is the same man who grieves with a neighborhood family after tragedy, clears the parking lot of vandalism, and sits at lunch with students on their first day of school.
When asked how he so successfully runs Shepherd, his answer is simple. “I pastor the city.” For Jay Height, ministry is not simply to the families that walk through the doors of Shepherd Community or the neighbors who live down the street; it extends in all directions to care for, pray alongside, and love every person with whom he comes into contact. Shepherd Community is blessed with the humble and faithful man we all know as Pastor Jay.
As we embark on our next40 years, we look at the passion, love, commitment, success, and divine sacrifices of our team. We invite you to join us as we embark on an exciting next chapter because we truly cannot do it without YOU!
Learn how you can be a part of the next 40 years of Shepherd at ShepherdCommunity.org/Ruby40
