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.
Children’s Minister
Megan Arledge
Megan has served as the Children’s Minister at Hillcrest Baptist Church since October 2018. She loves to serve the Lord in the church, and she loves children.
Megan grew up in southern Louisiana where she served as children’s leader for 10 years. At an early age, Megan made a profession of faith and committed herself to serving God. After high school, Megan attended Southeastern Louisiana University where she obtained a Master of Arts in History in 2016. The following year, God called her into ministry. She earned a MDiv in Christian Ministry (2021) and a Doctor of Education (2024) at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. She desires to write children and preteen curriculum for churches.