Popular COG Minister Enters Gates of Heaven
Reverend John W. Hill, father of Director Of Church Of God World Missions, Dr. Tim Hill, passed away May 19, 2016, after many years of serving the Lord as pastor and encourager to anyone he met. Known as a man with a kind spirit and tender heart, he will be greatly missed by his family and those to whom he ministered.
Dr. Tim Hill stated of his dad, “Among several important components of his legacy he mentored, influenced, and set forth well over 25 individuals and couples into ministry in the Church of God. I am one of those. I love my Dad, Reverend John W. Hill.”
John was born in Shamrock on July 18, 1928, to John W. Hill Sr. and Jewel Hill. Accepting Christ as his personal Savior in his early 20s, John became a credentialed minister in the Church of God in 1954. Soon after, he was evangelizing and pastored several churches. John loved missions and avidly supported church planting overseas.
John pastored 13 churches, evangelized in nine states and participated in international ministry in Mexico, Panama and Puerto Rico. During the course of his ministry, he preached 5,100 sermons resulting in 1,820 commitments to Christ.
The ministry of John Hill is one of achievement, obtaining and earning various degrees. A favorite emphasis of his ministry was the mentoring of more than 25 ministers who became pastors, evangelists, missionaries and church leaders.
In recent years, John traveled as a growth consultant to small churches, training and mentoring pastors in various programs and church growth techniques. Ever faithful, he continually counseled, prayed and encouraged many by phone.
A man of great character and integrity, his life can be encapsulated by the scripture found in 2 Samuel 3:38: … “And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?” John’s legacy has been forever established.
Survivors: His wife of 71 years, Mildred; children, Cathy Miller (Lewis), Gayle (Ivan Abbott), Johnny (Carolyn Hill), Helen (James Story) and Timothy (Paula Hill); grandchildren, Dianna, Johnny, Edgar, Amanda, Crystal, Melinda, Justin, Kimberly, Brittany and Tara; great-grandchildren, Jessica, Lacee, Alyssa, Ryder, Brayden, Hailey, Seana and Lucas; great-great-grandchildren, Lylah and Hayden; and sisters, Juanita Walker and Barbara Jett.
