Our Heart: Who We Are:
- We are a people of faith, hope, and vision.
- We want to express love, care, and concern for people of all ages
and cultures. Each person is important, and our hope is that you feel at
home when you attend and that you feel the presence of the Lord while
you are here.
- We are a Bible-Believing Baptist Church Shining His
Light and Sharing His Love.
- Hillcrest Baptist Church is NOT a Non-Denominational Church!
- Our beliefs and convictions make us WHO we are! We proclaim the
truths of God’s Word and are committed and unapologetic followers of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
- Our preference for scripture is the King James Version of the Bible.
- We are landmark Baptists (independent and self-governing) and
fellowship with the American Baptist Association.
- We are 800 members strong and continue to grow as we reach out in
love to our community in north metro Atlanta.
- We are conservative in Bible Doctrine but progressive in our approach
to ministry.
- Our worship services reflect a blend of musical styles from
traditional hymns to contemporary praise and worship.
Our Vision and Mission
I.
TO MAGNIFY THE LORD GOD JEHOVAH
Believing the Great command of Matthew 22:37 to “Love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” it is our
purpose to honor, glorify, worship, extol and praise the excellence,
virtues, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence and great character of God
in whatsoever we do.
(I Corinthians 10:31)
The Preaching
of the Gospel is to have Pre-eminence.
(I Corinthians 1:17-25; 15:1-14)
Through the Preaching of God’s Word
sinners are converted (Acts 2:38-41), the backslider is corrected (II
Timothy 4:2), believers are challenged to greater service
(I Corinthians 2:4-5), and the Church is edified (Ephesians 4:12-16) thus
glorifying God.
The Teaching of God’s
Word is to have Priority. (II Timothy 2:15)
Through Bible study the believers’ Faith
in God is built (Romans 10:17), Hope for victorious living secured (I
Corinthians 13:1-13), and Love for others and the things of God revealed
(John 14:23), thus honoring God.
The Music of the
Church is to have Purpose. (Colossians 3:16)
Through
Music the Word of God is sung and the doctrinal position of this church is
stated. The music of Hillcrest Baptist Church should reflect a variety of
musical styles from classical to southern gospel, from hymns to contemporary
(Psalm 149-150). Because the church is made up of people from many
different musical backgrounds and cultures, the music should
reflect this variety. The music should never
reflect extremes and should always enhance the service, thus worshipping
God.
II.
TO MULTIPLY
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
Believing the Great
Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. .
.” it is our purpose to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our
neighborhoods, marketplace, communities, schools, universities, cities,
nation and regions beyond believing that by the Gospel of God all nations of
the world are blessed. (Genesis 12:3).
The Evangelism of the World is our Precept. (Mark 16:15)
Through Evangelism we are to live a witnessing life before a wayward world.
(Acts 1:8) This Witnessing Life is a testimony of the Gospel of Christ by
our lifestyle, priorities, values, ethics, standards, and righteousness in
the sight of God and His Word.
The Discipleship of Believers is our
Precedent. (John 13:34-35)
Through Discipleship the believer must learn and recognize his/her
responsibility in faithful attendance to the Church of God (Hebrews 10:25),
prayerful support of the Ministry of God (I Thessalonians 1:2-3), aid in
out-reach and growth of the Church and Kingdom of God (Luke 14:23) financial
support of the House of God (Malachi 3:8-10), and loyal, constant commitment
to the Work of God (Acts 2:42).
The Establishment of Local Churches (Missions) is our Preference.
(Acts 14, 15, 16)
Through Missions the church accepts its far-reaching responsibility to
carry the Gospel beyond its community and borders. While there are many
worthy causes such as Seminaries, Youth Encampments, Missionary Services,
Media Ministries, Orphanages, and Benevolent causes, we believe the greatest
and most expedient way to truly fulfill the Great Commission of winning the
lost, baptizing them and teaching them, is to Establish Local Churches
(Missions) in various communities and countries.
Conclusion: This Vision and Mission Statement of the goals, vision and
ministry of Hillcrest Baptist Church is for the purpose of better informing
our membership of the duties and responsibilities required of each member.
Our Purpose: H.i.l.l.c.r.e.s.t.
HEART
To
follow the Great Commandment "Love the Lord God with all your
heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor
as yourself." - Matthew 22:37
INSPIRE
To
inspire each believer to be the best he or she
can be and "to do all for the glory of God". - I Corinthians 10:31
LOVE
Loving the Lord, His work, one another, and the
lost world is the core of Christianity. ". . . for ye yourselves are taught
of God to love one another." - I Thessalonians 4:9
LEARN
Discipleship is being a pupil, Learner, and
follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Study to show yourself approved unto God
. . ." - I Timothy 2:15
COMMIT
A
consistently committed walk with God is the
only way to ensure spiritual growth and maturity. "They continued
steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:42
REVERENCE
To
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and to
reverence, honor, extol, and praise His character, mercy, and grace.
"He sent redemption to His people . . . Holy and reverend is His
Name." - Psalm 111:9
EVANGELIZE
To
carry out the Great Commission and to preach the cross of Christ in our
church, community, county, country, and to every corner of the globe. ". .
. . to evangelize the whole world." - Matthew
28:18-20
SERVE
Where
every member is a minister. To serve the Lord, His church, and
minister to the world. "Serve the Lord with
gladness . . ." - Psalm 100:2
TRUTH
Living, Speaking, Teaching, Preaching, and Telling the
Truth in love. "But speaking the Truth
in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head even
Christ." - Ephesians 4:15
Our Beliefs
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
1. We believe that love one
for another as Jesus loves the believer manifests our discipleship, proves
our love for God and symbolizes our authority as New Testament churches.
Love is therefore the great commandment of the LORD Jesus Christ upon which
all others are dependent (Matt. 22:35-40; John 13:34, 35; John 15:12; I John
4:7- 21; I John 5:1-3; Rev. 2:4, 5).
2. We believe in the
infallible, verbal inspiration of the whole Bible and that the Bible is the
all-sufficient rule of faith and practice (Psalm 119:160; II Tim. 3:16, 17)
3. We believe in the
personal triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in divine
perfection (Matt. 28:19).
4. We believe in the Genesis
account of Creation (Gen. 1; 2).
5. We believe that Satan is
a fallen angel, the archenemy of God and man, the unholy god of this world,
and that his destiny is the eternal lake of fire (Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek.
28:11-19; Matt. 25:41;II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:10-17; Rev. 20:10).
6. We believe in the virgin
birth and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:18-20; II Cor. 5:21; 1
Peter 2:22).
7. We believe in the deity
of Jesus Christ (John 10:30; John 1:1, 14;II Cor. 5:19).
8. We believe the Holy
Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches (Luke
24:49; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; Acts 2:1-4).
9. We believe that
miraculous spiritual manifestation gifts were done away with when the Bible
was completed. Faith, Hope, and Love are the vital abiding Spiritual Gifts
(I Cor. 12—14).
10. We believe that Man was
created in the image of God and lived in innocency until he fell by
voluntary transgression from his sinless state, the result being that all
mankind are sinners (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12, 19).
11. We believe that the
suffering and death of Jesus Christ was substitutionary for all mankind and
is efficacious only to those who believe (Isa. 53:6; Heb. 2:9; I Peter 2:24;
I Peter 3:18; II Peter 3:9; I John 2:2).
12. We believe in the bodily
resurrection and ascension of Christ and the bodily resurrection of His
saints (Matt. 28:1-7; Acts 1:9-11: I Cor. 15:42-58; I Thess. 4:13-18).
13. We believe in the
pre-millennial, personal, bodily return of Christ as the crowning event of
the Gentile age. This event will include the resurrection of the righteous
to eternal heaven, and the Millennium will be followed by the resurrection
of the unrighteous unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire and that the
righteous shall enter into the heaven age (John 14:1-6; I Thess. 4:13-18; II
Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19; Rev. 20:4-6; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 21:18).
14. We believe that the
depraved sinner is saved wholly by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and
the requisites to regeneration are repentance toward God and faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 13:3-5; John 3:16-18: Acts 20:21; Rom. 6:23;
Eph. 2:8, 9), and that the Holy Spirit convicts sinners, regenerates,
seals, secures, and indwells every believer (John 3:6; John 16:8, 9; Rom.
8:9-l1; I Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 4:30; Titus 3:5).
15. We believe that all who
trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally secure in Him and shall not
perish (John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39; Heb. 10:39; I
Peter 1:5).
16. We believe that God deals
with believers as His children, that He chastises the disobedient, and that
He rewards the obedient (Matt. 16:27; Matt. 25:14-23; John 1:12; Heb.
12:5-11; II John 8; Rev. 22:12).
17. We believe that Jesus
Christ established His church during His ministry on earth and that it is
always a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized believers in
covenant relationship to carry out the Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and each church is an independent, self-governing body, and no other
ecclesiastical body may exercise authority over it. We believe that Jesus
Christ gave the Great Commission to the New Testament churches only, and
that He promised the perpetuity of His churches (Matt. 4:l8-22; Matt. 16:l8;
Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 1:14-20; John 1:35-51; Eph. 3:21).
18. We believe that there are
two pictorial ordinances in the Lord's churches: Baptism and the Lord's
Supper. Scriptural baptism is the immersion of penitent believers in water,
administered by the authority of a New Testament church in the name of the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord's Supper is a memorial ordinance,
restricted to the members of the church observing the ordinance (Matt.
28:19, 20; Acts 8:12, 38; Rom. 6:4; I Cor. 5:11-13; I Cor. 11:1, 2, 17-20,
26).
19. We believe that there are
two divinely appointed offices in a church, pastors and deacons, to be
filled by men whose qualifications are set forth in Titus and I Timothy.
20. We believe that all
associations, fellowships, and committees are, and properly should be,
servants of, and under control of the churches (Matt. 20:25-28).
21. We believe in freedom of
worship without interference from the government and affirm our belief in
civil obedience, unless the laws and regulations of civil government run
contrary to the Holy Scriptures (Rom. 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-15).
Our Concise Church History
Easter of 1990 Hillcrest Baptist Church held its 1st service “in
house” with 25 present (including visitors from Arkansas and Texas)
1990, July - Missionary Church Planter Paul Vance came “on the field” as an
Interstate Missionary. (Sponsored by Ten Mile Baptist Church in Lonsdale,
Arkansas)
1990-1993 - Met in various homes, Woodstock Jaycee Building, and rented
house on Highway 92
1993, October - Purchased 7+ acres and 9000 square foot facility from Oak
Grove Methodist Church
1994 - Bro. Mike Maxwell began his ministry as Youth Pastor
1995, April - Hillcrest Baptist Church, with the help of her sponsoring
church and sister churches, became “debt free”
1996 - First sponsored the Olympic Bible Project and distributed 63,000 New
Testaments at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta
1998, April - Organized into a New Testament Baptist Church (No longer on
mission status)
1999 - Bro. Barry Collins became our first Music Minister
2000 - Built our first addition—10,000 square foot Educational Building and
Fellowship Hall
2000 - Dianne Moore became our first “Full Time” staff member—Administrative
Assistant/Church Secretary
2002 - Called Bro. Mark Thornton as missionary church planter to coastal
Georgia in the Brunswick, Georgia area
2002 - Expanded our Sanctuary--added 100 seats to the Sanctuary; elevated
and expanded the stage to a 50-seat choir loft; installed stage lighting and
a new sound system
2003 - Bro. Mike Maxwell became our first “Full Time” Youth/Associate Pastor
2003
- Bro. Perry Johnson became our fourth “Full Time” staff member--facilities
Manager
2004 - Purchased 8000 square foot building on five acres for Lakewood
Baptist Mission in St. Mary’s, Georgia for $290,000
2005
- Appointed David Hardin as Promotions Director of the Olympic Bible Project
2006 - Voted to sponsor Brant Lane with Macedonian Missionary Service and
voted to sponsor Mike Maxwell to Remote Island Ministries.
2007 - Started two service format: 9:00 AM Service and 11:00 AM Service
2008 - Became debt free on all land and facilities
2009 - Called Tim Albritton as Music Minister and Brandon Nolan as Youth
Minister. Voted to sponsor "Jesus the Redeemer Philipino Mission".
Voted to endorse Kevin Smith to Haiti
2010 - Voted to be the sending church for Jay Ross to Brazil, endorse
Jack & Lynn Slay to be the Landmark Camp Manager and endorse Paul Lamb
as a mission builder
Our Invitation
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF
HILLCREST BAPTIST CHURCH
How to respond to the invitation:
At the end of the worship
hour, those guided by the Holy Spirit are urged to come forward to the
altar. Our pastor or a well-trained counselor will be available for each
person who responds.
By Profession of Faith
and Baptism:
If you will receive Jesus
Christ as your personal Savior and Lord and follow him in baptism by
immersion, we will welcome you into our fellowship.
By Letter:
As a member of another
Baptist Church of like faith and order, should God lead you here, we will be
happy to welcome you into our church family. We will gladly take care of
the details for transferring your membership.
By Baptism from Another Denomination:
If you know in your heart
you are saved and want to become a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church, we
invite you to join by Baptism. This gives testimony of your salvation and
your obedience to Christ’s example.
By Statement:
In the event your church
membership records are not available for transfer of membership from another
Baptist Church, or if you were once a Baptist church member but are
presently a member of another denomination, we will accept you upon your
statement of these conditions.
