One Church, One Family on Park Drive
Hillcrest Baptist Church stands at 3324 Park Drive in Nederland, Texas, a small Southeast Texas city in Jefferson County near the Gulf Coast. The motto stamped across the church's welcome materials, "ONE CHURCH, ONE FAMILY," captures what members describe as a family commitment rather than a Sunday obligation. The congregation's stated mission is short and direct: "We love Jesus and are here to serve." On a typical week, that conviction shows up in three set gatherings on Park Drive: Sunday morning Bible study, a single Sunday morning worship service, and a Wednesday evening MidWeek service, with additional classes, small groups, and outreach woven around them.
The church's welcome statement leaves no ambiguity about its center. "We believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God, inspired by God, and it is the sole authority of our faith and practice." That sentence frames everything else at HBC, from the style of preaching in the Sanctuary to the structure of the leadership, from the way children are taught on a Wednesday night to how members step into the community to share the gospel.
A Confession Rooted in Scripture
Hillcrest holds to The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, the confession of the Southern Baptist Convention, and affirms in full The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. The full text of both confessions is reproduced on the church's About Us page, with each article accompanied by long lists of supporting Bible verses.
The eighteen articles of the BFM 2000 spell out the doctrinal commitments the church asks of its members. Scripture is described as "a perfect treasure of divine instruction" that is "totally true and trustworthy." God is one in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, infinite in holiness and perfections. Man is the special creation of God, made in His image, who by his free choice brought sin into the human race. Salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, encompassing regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. Election is the gracious purpose of God, and all true believers endure to the end. A New Testament church is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, observing two ordinances: baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper, and governed by pastors and deacons. The first day of the week is the Lord's Day, set apart for worship and devotion. The Kingdom of God includes His general sovereignty and His particular kingship over those who acknowledge Him as King. Last things include the personal, visible return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and final judgment. Evangelism and missions are a duty and privilege of every follower of Christ. Christianity is described as "the faith of enlightenment and intelligence," with Christian education held alongside missions and benevolence. Stewardship means recognizing all that Christians have as entrusted to them for God's glory. Cooperation among churches is voluntary and advisory, never authoritative. The Christian and the social order call believers to oppose racism, greed, and sexual immorality, to care for the vulnerable, and to contend for the sanctity of human life. Religious liberty is rooted in the idea that "God alone is Lord of the conscience." Marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman for a lifetime, and the family as God's foundational institution. The Chicago Statement then adds a detailed defense of the inerrancy of the original autographs of Scripture.
Sunday in Nederland
The Sunday rhythm at Hillcrest begins at 9:15 AM with Sunday School for every age. Classes run from "Bed Babies" through Senior Adults, and greeters stationed around the building help families find the right room. The morning Worship Service follows at 10:30 AM, the single Sunday gathering where the whole church comes together. Average morning attendance is between two hundred and three hundred people. Sunday School rooms are organized by life stage, so children, students, and adults all study in age-appropriate settings before rejoining for the main service.
Sunday does not end at noon. At 5:45 PM, the church runs "Sunday Night Seminary" alongside "Jr. Theologians," a parallel children's track. The seminary is a teaching hour for adults, while the Jr. Theologians program offers a discipleship-focused evening for younger children whose families are already on the property.
Wednesday Evenings in the Sanctuary
Wednesday is the second main gathering of the week. The MidWeek Worship Service begins at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary and runs in the same blended style as the Sunday morning service, with a sermon that picks up where the previous Sunday's message left off. Some Wednesday nights include a fellowship meal at 5:30 PM, and the choir rehearses at 7:15 PM after the service concludes. For students in sixth through twelfth grade, the Wednesday Student Worship Service runs at 6:00 PM, providing a parallel gathering designed for their age group.
Wednesday is also the night when the children's Awana program takes over the building. From 6:00 to 7:30 PM, September through May, three-year-olds through pre-kindergarteners meet in the KidZone and kindergarteners through sixth graders meet in the Gym. The program centers on Scripture memory, interactive Bible studies, and high-energy games, with patches and prizes offered as encouragement.
Modern and Majestic
HBC's music is described as "both modern and majestic" and "a mix of modern and traditional, taking great care that whatever we are singing is Christ honoring." The preaching is expository, working through books of the Bible in sequence. Recent sermon series include a walk through First Corinthians, sermons from Colossians, a series on Joshua, and a series through selected Psalms. Sermon lengths generally run between fifty minutes and ninety minutes.
Two convictions shape every service. The first is biblical preaching that opens up the text book by book. The second is Christ-centered singing that draws the congregation into prayer and response rather than entertainment. Above all, the church says, "All of our Worship Services are Christ-centered and designed to lead you closer to Jesus."
A Discipleship Economy
The church describes its ministry model as "a discipleship economy," a deliberate path through three steps. The first is Learning the Word, which happens through faithful preaching and teaching on Sundays and Wednesdays and through personal Bible study during the week. The second is Growing Together, which happens in Sunday School classes, in small groups, and in one-on-one discipleship relationships. The third is Sharing the Gospel, which is the mission of the church and is carried out through the Missions Team and the various outreach ministries. The aim is for every follower of Jesus to keep moving through the same path of hearing, becoming, and speaking.
The Council of Elders
Hillcrest is led by a Council of Elders rather than a single senior pastor, with eight deacons serving under them. The Council includes Jim Johnson as Pastor of Administration, Seth Franke as Pastor of Worship, Eric Roberts as Pastor of Discipleship, Gene Marsh as Pastor of Missions, Bruce Tarver as Pastor of Congregational Care, and Ezekiel Turk as Pastor of Families. The deacons, chaired by Brandon Washburn, include Dale Roberts, Carlton Simmons, Thomas Lee, Andy Arnold, Garrett Craver, Nick Anderson, and Dietrich Hövener. Several of these men also serve as ministry directors: Dietrich Hövener leads Men's Ministry, Andy Arnold leads College Ministry, Garrett Craver leads Youth, Thomas Lee leads the Preteen track, Lori East leads Children's Ministry, and Ezekiel Turk, Brandon Washburn, and Maggie Taylor oversee Online, Service, and Digital Media respectively.
Children on Park Drive
The children's ministry at HBC partners with parents to disciple children from infancy through sixth grade. The children's ministry states the conviction that "children are a vital part of God's covenant family" and need "sound doctrine and biblical teaching just as much as adults." The goal is to "nurture young hearts and minds with the truth of God's Word" through "engaging lessons, interactive activities, and loving guidance."
The Wednesday Awana program is the centerpiece. Children ages three through pre-kindergarten meet in the KidZone; kindergarteners through sixth graders meet in the Gym. The program focuses on Scripture memory, with patches and prizes as incentives, alongside Bible study and games. Parents register their children online and complete a Parental Consent Form before participation. On Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, childcare for infants through age three is provided so that parents of young children can attend the main services.
The 409 and the Students of Southeast Texas
The HBC Youth Ministry gathers students in sixth through twelfth grade "from all across the 409 area code," the regional telephone prefix that wraps around Beaumont, Port Arthur, Nederland, and the surrounding Mid- and South-Jefferson County communities. The students meet most weeks in a building called "The 409," the church's Student Center at the corner of Hill Terrace and Park, next to the parsonage. Each week includes Christ-centered worship, service projects, and fellowship, with the stated aim of grounding teens in God's Word and "equipping them to live for His glory." 2 Peter 3:18 captures the heart of the ministry: "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
A separate College Ministry, directed by Andy Arnold, walks with students attending Lamar University and other area schools. The men's ministry highlights serving lunch periodically at the Lamar University Baptist Student Ministry throughout the school year, with brownies baked by Hillcrest members as a regular contribution.
The Men of Hillcrest
The men of Hillcrest meet on the last Sunday of each month at 5:30 PM for a shared meal, words of encouragement, and "biblically sound teaching." The ministry is built around four explicit standards. Submission recognizes that all authority flows from God the Father and begins with repentance and faith in Christ as head of the church. Discipleship takes seriously Christ's command in the Great Commission to make disciples at home, in the church, and in the community. Shepherding calls men to imitate Christ's sacrificial love for the church in how they love their wives and children. Commitment holds the Bible as "the ultimate standard for all faith and practice," to be studied and applied daily.
The Women of Hillcrest
Women's Ministry at Hillcrest exists "to encourage women to glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the study of God's Word and the deepening of relationships with other women through accountability and fellowship." Small groups meet on different days and times during the semester, walking through Scripture together and providing accountability. The ministry also offers a separate Discipleship program for women who want a more structured path of growth. Sign-ups for both are available on the church's online forms.
Serving Nederland and Beyond
Hillcrest takes seriously the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. The Missions Team aims to be present in the Nederland community "ready with the Good News of the saving grace of Jesus." Internationally, the church has a long-standing partnership with believers in Peru, with a Peru Missions team dedicated to "spreading the Gospel, serving the local church, and equipping believers with sound biblical doctrine." Locally, members serve lunch at the Lamar University Baptist Student Ministry through the school year, provide blessing bags for Nederland Heritage Festival carnival workers each fall, host a community Trunk or Treat, collect and pack shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child in November, and deliver Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets to local families. The Missions Team welcomes new outreach ideas from church members.
GriefShare
GriefShare is a thirteen-week ministry for grieving teens and adults that meets at the church. Each session combines three elements: a video seminar featuring experts on grief and recovery, a small-group discussion focused on what was presented and on what members are walking through personally, and a week of personal study and reflection in a workbook. The group is open to anyone who has lost a spouse, child, family member, or friend. Registration is available through GriefShare.
Preparing Future Preachers
The Ministry Associates program is a long-term investment in the next generation of preachers. Members of Hillcrest who feel called to pulpit ministry are trained and given opportunities to preach, teach, and serve within the church, with the stated goal of "preparing them for a lifetime of gospel proclamation." Recent Wednesday and Sunday services show Ministry Associates regularly stepping into the pulpit, including Thomas Lee and Alex Fadhli, while Dietrich Hövener has preached as a Ministry Associate as well. Program participation requires current membership at Hillcrest.
Hillcrest Christian Academy
Hillcrest operates Hillcrest Christian Academy, a private school connected to the church and housed on or near the same campus. The academy operates as a ministry of the church family.
Visiting Hillcrest
First-time visitors will find the church at 3324 Park Drive in Nederland. Sunday mornings begin with Sunday School at 9:15 AM, followed by the morning Worship Service at 10:30 AM. Wednesday evenings add a second main gathering at 6:00 PM. There is no dress code: members wear everything from suits and dresses to jeans and t-shirts, and visitors are encouraged to wear whatever makes them comfortable. Childcare is provided for infants through three-year-olds on Sunday and Wednesday services, and Sunday School classes are offered for every age from Bed Babies through Senior Adults. A greeter at the door will help families find the right classrooms. Membership at Hillcrest is open to those who confess Christ as Lord and Savior and have been baptized by immersion; applications go through the Council of Elders and are presented to the congregation for affirmation.
Online and Giving
Worship services are livestreamed through the church's online platform, with a full archive of recent sermons available. Recordings can be replayed at any time. Giving is available online through the church's secure giving page, by check placed in the secure drop boxes at the front of the Sanctuary, by check in the offering plate during the service, or through the HBC Nederland mobile app. The app also carries announcements, member-only content, and a directory. The church maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and merchandise is available through an online shop connected to the church.