Who We Are
Because we love, glorify, and WORSHIP God, our purpose as Hillcrest Baptist Church is: To bring people into FELLOWSHIP with God and His church and help them GROW in the faith, equipping them to MINISTER in the church and EVANGELIZE the world.
Our Future
We have been meeting in our current facility since October of 2010. Currently our place of worship is our Fellowship Hall. We are actively engaged in working toward construction of our future Worship Center located at the new facility (formerly the Lowes Food building)
Our Past
An idea blossomed from Mrs. Stone about the children in the community, who could attend a public school, but did not have a church to attend Sunday School. This inspiration flowed to the mothers in the community, which sparked a desire for not only the children, but for the adults to have a church to attend on Sundays. Corbett Bottomley offered a tract of land for the possibility to build a church. Mrs. Stone passed the word to her pastor, Rev. Herbert R. Carlton, of the First Baptist Church in Galax.
The Friendship Circle emerged with the help of Mrs. H.R. Carlton. The purpose of the circle proved to be far greater than themselves. They studied missions, praying and giving for it. During the first year the membership grew to twenty on roll with an average of fifteen.
A Daily Vacation Bible School held at the Popular Grove School House in the last week of July as well as an afternoon Sunday School held at the school house sprouted the beginnings of a vision to come. Many events outreached to the community and beyond by the making of quilts for the Baptist Orphanage and giving to the Lottie Moon mission program. The growth proved to be the start of greater revelation.
A long awaited event took place on May 3rd, 1948, the bursting forth of an organization of the church. In the home of Mr. Vince Clark, a group of people met for the purpose to organize a Missionary Baptist Church. Officers were elected and the Rev. Hebert R. Carlton would serve as pastor until the church grew sufficiently to the need of a full time pastor. The group of charter members was established. Sunday School and worship services were conducted in the basement of the home of Mr. Mrs. H.O. Stone. The sapling had flourished into a tree.
A building was constructed to hold the first service in 1949. Rev. Carlton served until 1950, when Rev. Brady Snow would then step in as a full time pastor. In 1958 the church voted to go on a full time service. This service has continued through many generations growing stronger daily. It shall be the continued mission of Hillcrest Baptist Church to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ.