Senior Pastor
Bro. James and the Guy Family
James has been serving as Senior Pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church since January 2020. His Ministry is Gospel-Centered and Great Commission-Focused. God has put a vision on his heart for the church from Acts 2:42-47. It is a picture of healthy and loving fellowship doing what God has called it to do. God has also given him a heart for families. The Church is a family of families, and James believes that as each individual family is strengthened, the Church Family will be strengthened. The Church is called to do the Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations. The Great Commission starts at Home.
James grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended Oklahoma State University and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. James attended The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and graduated in 2010 with a Master’s of Divinity in Christian Education and he has been serving in full-time church ministry ever since.
James and his wife Cindy have been married since 2006, and they have 6 beautiful kiddos: Ruth, Hannah, Samuel, Elizabeth, Abigail, and Elijah. Cindy is a full-time homemaker and home-schools.
Youth Pastor
Philip Smith
Philip has served as the Youth Pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church since July 2025. Philip loves to serve the Lord in the church, and he loves youth. Philip accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior during VBS when he was 9 years old. Philip has a bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Louisville and a Masters in Ministry Leadership from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
In 2010 Philip met his wife Alyson on a mission trip to Haiti and they were married in July 2013. They now have 5 children: Mary, Lydia, Charlote, Daniel and Eleanor. Alyson has been involved in ministry as well, has gone on many mission trips, and is very supportive and eager to serve alongside Philip as they do ministry together. She is great with women of all ages. Her favorite age group to work with is Middle School girls.