Hilldale Church of Christ sits along Highway 76 on the south side of Clarksville, Tennessee, a stone's throw from the Kentucky state line and the steady rhythm of Fort Campbell life. From that single campus on Highway 76, the congregation has built a body of work that stretches well beyond Montgomery County: a PreK through 12 school, a child care center serving more than 200 families, preaching students supported in Tennessee and Colorado, mission teams in Honduras, French-speaking Africa, and the Philippines, and a steady stream of weekly sermons, podcasts, and YouTube lessons that carry the Hilldale pulpit into living rooms around the country.
What Worship Looks Like at Hilldale
Visitors walking into the auditorium on a Sunday morning will find the worship shaped by a few clear convictions. The congregation sings a cappella, without the accompaniment of musical instruments, and every voice in the room is invited to join. The church points to Colossians 3:16 and Hebrews 13:15 for this practice: "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name."
The Lord's Supper is observed every first day of the week. Members gather to break bread in obedience to Christ's example in Matthew 26:26-29 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, and to Acts 20:7, where the disciples came together on the first day of the week to break bread. Preaching is taught by men, with the goal of giving listeners a more in-depth knowledge of what God wants and useful, relevant applications for daily life, grounded in 2 Timothy 3:16-17's picture of Scripture as "breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
Prayers are spoken by one man while the rest of the congregation prays along silently, lifting requests from the heart. James 5:16 anchors the practice: "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." Giving is a free-will offering collected each Lord's Day as members carry out their own stewardship, drawn from 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Visitors are not solicited.
A Full Week on the Hilldale Calendar
Sunday is the anchor of the week. Morning worship begins at 9:00 AM, followed by a full slate of Bible classes at 10:15 AM for adults and children. A second worship gathering or activity meets at 5:00 PM. Wednesday carries two teaching moments: an early service at 2:30 PM and a 6:30 PM devotional with classes for every age. A ladies' Bible class meets on Tuesdays at 10:00 AM.
Two monthly rhythms bring the building alive. On the second Saturday of every month, the men of the church meet at 8:00 AM in the fellowship hall for a hearty breakfast, hot coffee, and time together. On the last Wednesday night of each month, the fellowship hall fills again at 5:30 PM for a shared dinner and fellowship. Both events are open and welcoming.
A Preaching Team and a Network of Shepherds
Hilldale is led by two full-time ministers. Matt Jones serves as the preaching minister, and Cliff Hand serves as the youth minister. Paul Smith coordinates the music program, supporting the a cappella worship tradition that defines Sunday morning. Behind them is a lay leadership structure built around seven elders - Pat Biter, Lance Carpenter, Tim Fulton, Steve Gordon, Robert Graves, Steve Kirby, and Jerry Richmond - and a deacon team that takes responsibility for the practical work of the church.
The deacons each carry defined assignments. Dakota Bishop oversees education, organization, and the House to House Heart to Heart outreach. Thomas Bleyle manages missions, the church office, and higher education scholarships. Justin Boyd oversees the Acadia Senior Living communion and building and grounds. Chase Daniel leads the nursery and the Seedlings youth group. Tony Goodwin and Tom O'Neill share responsibility for visitation and shut-ins. Mark Hall directs fellowship and transportation. Rory Kennedy and Barry Travis share security and emergencies, with Travis also handling technology alongside John Murray, who additionally manages outreach and the library. Scott Thomas serves on building and grounds, and Drake Thompson oversees bereavement, Clarksville Christian School liaison work, youth and family ministry, and member involvement.
Children, Youth, and Family Discipleship
Children's ministry at Hilldale is organized by stages of growth, each with a memorable name that reflects a biblical image. Seedlings, the nursery youth group for ages zero through PreK, hears the word of God for the very first time. Sprouts, the elementary program for PreK through third grade, has a budding faith planted in the good soil of Matthew 13. Roots, the junior youth program for third through sixth grades, deepens in the knowledge of God's Word, with the goal set out in Colossians 2:6-7 of being rooted in Christ. Sycamores, the senior youth group for sixth through twelfth grades, works at firm foundations that produce fruit, taking their name from the sycamore tree that helped Zacchaeus see Jesus in Luke 19:4.
On Sunday mornings during the 9:00 AM service, an attended nursery is available for children three years old and under, and a mother's nursing room sits at the back of the auditorium for nursing mothers. The Lads to Leaders program runs twice a month during the school year and takes the young people of the congregation to the National Convention in Nashville at Easter, training them to develop the talents they will use to serve God for a lifetime.
Outside of Sunday, the youth ministry publishes a recurring bulletin and maintains its own calendar of rallies and gatherings. For younger couples and families, a Mother's nursing room and the nursery make the auditorium an easy place to bring small children.
Two Schools That Grew Out of the Hilldale Mission
Two affiliated schools give Hilldale a distinctive footprint in Clarksville. Clarksville Christian School was founded by members of Hilldale in the early 2000s, with the dream of offering Montgomery County families a Christ-centered education. The school opened in 2007 and was fully housed within the church building in its earliest years. It has since grown into a thriving PreK through 12 institution with its own dedicated facilities on the Hilldale campus and hit a milestone enrollment of 500 students in the 2022-2023 school year. Hilldale ministers help conduct chapel programs for both the Lower and Upper Schools.
Hilldale Christian Child Care Center serves children from six weeks old through age 12, offering a variety of classroom options in a secure, loving environment where each child can develop mentally, physically, and spiritually. As a ministry, the center teaches children to rejoice in God's love and find comfort in His Word, and the Hilldale ministers conduct Childcare Chapel programs every Tuesday and Thursday morning. The center serves more than 200 families in Clarksville.
Local Outreach: Loving Neighbors in Clarksville
The local missions work begins with a simple statement of intent: "Love Your Neighbor." The church frames its work in Clarksville with the conviction that ministry begins at home and that the goal is to love God, love people, and make a difference where God has placed them.
Project F.U.E.L. is one of the longest-running partnerships. On the second Tuesday of every month, the ladies of Hilldale set aside time to pack bags of needed food items for a local school. The mission of Project F.U.E.L. is to relieve hunger in school-aged children, enhance spiritual, physical, and emotional health, relieve anxiety, and improve attention, self-esteem, academic performance, and ultimately graduation rates.
The Wednesday Night Ladies Class runs "Wrapped in Love," inspired by Matthew 25:36 ("I was naked and you clothed Me"). Each quarter the class assembles bags for expectant mothers in need at Tennova Hospital. Each bag contains a new outfit, a receiving blanket, and a bottle, with additional items such as a burp cloth, pacifier, or bib when available. The clothing is collected in a range of sizes from preemie to 0-3 months. Every bag also includes information about the plan of salvation, information about Hilldale, and a personal note from the class, with the hope of sharing both practical help and the gospel.
The Hilldale Winter Coat Drive collects new and gently used coats to bring warmth to students in Montgomery County schools, supported by Galatians 6:10: "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
On the third Monday of every month, members of Hilldale drive into downtown Clarksville to take clothing donations and serve dinner at The Well, partnering with the ministry that operates there. The congregation also sends worship teams to conduct worship once a month at Ahava and to take communion to Arcadia every other month, partnering with other local congregations for that work.
The church partners with House to House, Heart to Heart to send a newsletter and Hilldale's congregation information to homes surrounding the building, keeping the surrounding neighborhood aware of who Hilldale is and how to connect.
American Missions: Preaching Students and Outreach Partners
The American missions program centers on supporting preaching students and ministry partners across the country. Hilldale walks alongside Gordon Sawyers, a Tennessee native raised in Weakley County who most recently served as the full-time minister for the Knob Creek Church of Christ in Dukedom, Tennessee, and is completing his summer internship at the Sycamore Church of Christ in Cookeville before continuing his Bachelor of Biblical Studies at the Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver. Wesley Nicks is supported for the French African Christian Education and Bible Training Center work in Benin, a training program equipping preachers and teachers to share the gospel across French-speaking Africa, where more than 141 million people speak French as their primary language. Chance Hicks, a graduate of Memphis School of Preaching and Heritage Christian University, is currently pursuing a Master of Ministry at Heritage while serving at Bear Valley, where he helps combine his passion for teaching and discipleship to equip others for ministry. He co-hosts the podcast "Four Preachers and a Podcast" on The Light Network.
Hilldale also partners with HomeMission, a group of evangelists and support staff that visits and helps churches and individuals throughout the United States. Their work follows the pattern of Acts 11, where Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to encourage, equip, and evangelize - the three E's that shape HomeMission's work. The church sponsors the annual Connect Conference in Nashville, hosted by the Crieve Hall church of Christ, which promotes evangelism and discipleship. Dean Miller's Widowhood Workshop Ministry travels throughout the year to congregations and cities across the United States to raise awareness and minister to those who have lost a spouse. Hilldale is a supporting congregation of each of these efforts. The church also points members to Apologetics Press, a resource that defends New Testament Christianity through biblically, logically, and scientifically sound materials.
World Missions: Honduras, Africa, and the Philippines
Across the ocean, Hilldale supports a network of missionaries and church-planting efforts. In Honduras, the church partners with the Bible Institute of Central America (BICA), founded in 1998 and directed by Jim Camfield under the oversight of the Marble Falls congregation. BICA's main emphasis is training students to be evangelists and to spread the gospel in Central America, and students are also taught a trade to help supplement their income while evangelizing. BICA will be a vital part of the Hilldale Global Church Plant Program in Honduras.
In French-speaking Africa, Hilldale supports the work of French African Christian Education (FACE) and the Bible Training Center in Benin, overseen by the Benton, Kentucky, church of Christ. The training school prepares local men to spread the gospel in their native languages - a model built on the recognition that natives are more receptive to local messengers than to outside missionaries.
In the Philippines, the church supports the Buhisan family. Manny and Joyce Buhisan continue planting and supporting churches throughout the Rizal Province. Through daily evangelism, children's programs, and leadership training, they help churches grow in spirit and in number. Hilldale directly supports the congregations at Kasiglahan, Gulayan, and Dela Costa as part of the Global Church Plant Program, and over 90 people were baptized through the Buhisan Mission's efforts in 2022 alone. Joyce uses a children's feeding program and a preschool program to reach families in the communities. The Buhisans also use the COCSTA training program and a minister training program to develop leaders.
Dale Byrum and his wife Karen serve in the Philippines, supporting and establishing churches in various provinces. New work in 2023 includes the support of the Dingras Congregation in the Ilocos Norte Province, along with Sarah Banogon's ministry to young girls and ladies in the congregations Dale supports and her in-country logistics work.
Hilldale also points members to Great Cities Missions, which has placed more than 100 families into lives, communities, and churches of the Latin world. Using the Great Cities Missions model, over 250 congregations are now meeting, teaching, and serving the people of their communities. World Christian Broadcasting uses shortwave radio to share the love of Jesus and the Bible with people everywhere. Herald of Truth Ministries comes alongside churches and leaders with communication tools, gospel-centered resources, and collaborative outreach. Reports from each of these efforts are shared regularly.
Preaching, Podcasts, and the Livestream
The pulpit at Hilldale carries a steady diet of Scripture-based teaching that reaches well beyond the walls of the auditorium. Each Sunday, the worship services at 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM are livestreamed, along with the Wednesday night devotional at 6:30 PM. Visitors and traveling members can follow along through the livestream link.
The preaching ministry also produces a video series called "Organic Christianity," in which Matt Jones walks through passages of Scripture to explain their meaning and how they apply to everyday life. "Wisdom for Women" is a separate video playlist designed as a resource to help women deepen their Bible study. Both are available on the church's YouTube channel.
Two podcasts extend the teaching further. "A Biblical Truth" carries the audio of the weekly lessons, designed to encourage and convict listeners with Bible-based truth. "From the Hill" is the ministry team's broader podcast, bringing a Christian perspective to politics, pandemics, propaganda, and everyday events. Matt Jones's regular articles, published under the "Read" section, range from cup imagery drawn from the Last Supper to thoughts on abiding in Christ, on being the salt of the earth, on the shield of faith, and on standing up for the truth. Together, the livestream, the podcasts, and the written articles give the Hilldale pulpit a year-round, anywhere-you-are reach.
Becoming Part of the Family
Visitors who want to learn more before their first Sunday can find a member directory and a members-only page through the church's online tools. Online giving is available for those who want to support the work of the church, and the church secretary, Gigi Snyder, can be reached at the church office during the week.
For new faces arriving on a Sunday morning, the rhythm is simple: come as you are, find a seat, and let the singing, the Scripture reading, the preaching, the prayers, and the Lord's Supper unfold in the order the New Testament describes. There is a nursery for the smallest children and a mother's nursing room at the back of the auditorium. After the 9:00 AM worship, the 10:15 AM Bible classes give a chance to dig deeper in age-appropriate groups, and the fellowship hall opens again and again through the month for men's breakfasts, Wednesday night dinners, ladies' days, youth rallies, and the regular round of fellowship nights.
The mission is summarized in three phrases: Sow the seed, Make Disciples, Continue in Faith. The church spreads the good news of Jesus through ministry efforts in Clarksville and around the world, strives to offer as many learning opportunities as possible for those who want to grow, and provides opportunities for the church family to come together and encourage one another through the inevitable roadblocks of life. From Highway 76 in Clarksville, with a cappella voices in the auditorium, students in the classrooms, missionaries on three continents, and a livestream connecting it all, Hilldale Church of Christ keeps working at that threefold mission week after week.