How We Started

Hillside Church was started by a small group of believers in Antioch, California on May 28, 1961 with Rev. Ralph Chandler as pastor.  First known as Antioch Bible Church, the church met in a rented Seventh Day Adventist Church.  The home of one of the members was used for additional Sunday School rooms.  Soon the church united with a fellowship called the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC). On August 12, 1962, a charter roll was signed with 42 adult members. After land was purchased on Hillside Road, the name of the church was changed to Hillside Baptist Church.  In October of 1963 Pastor Chandler resigned to start another work and Pastor Norman Edwards was called.  While Pastor Edwards served at Hillside, the building was completed, and the first worship service was held June 6, 1965.  Pastor Edwards resigned August 4, 1965, due to health problems and Pastor Clark Mann of Milford, Michigan was called.  Pastor Mann remained pastor until he retired on December 23, 1979.  Clyde McGee was called and served as pastor from December 30, 1979 to April of 1981.  In October 1981, Dr. Clarence Billett of Hawthorne, Nevada came to pastor.  Dr. Billett remained pastor until resigning in August of 1989.  David Clift came as interim pastor from September to December of 1989.  He was asked to take the pastorate and began in January of 1990 and serves as the senior pastor to the present.  Since its founding, Hillside Church has always been a non-denominational church.  Because of this important distinction, Pastor David Clift and the church membership thought it best to distinguish themselves as “Hillside Church” in 2001 and it remains the church’s name to this date.
Hillside Church exists to reach, teach and raise loving followers of Jesus Christ.

Meet Our Interim Pastor

Jim Hanna

OUR PASSION:  We simply seek to know, love and follow Jesus wherever He may lead in life, marriage, family and ministry and to serve His Church however we can for His glory.
 
OUR ROLE:  In our role as Directors of Church Strengthening for our denominational movement called Converge PacWest, we serve local churches in a variety of capacities. At Hillside, Larry is serving as the Transitional Pastor, providing pastoral guidance until God brings the next Lead Pastor for the church.

OUR FAMILY:   We have been married for 45 years and have been blessed with three great children, a son and two daughters, all married and serving the Lord. We have seven wonderful grand children, ages 3 through 16.

OUR BACKGROUND:  Larry attended Central Connecticut State University, Cascade Bible Institute and Multnomah University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Education and a Master’s Degree in Ministry. Karla attended Bethel University in Minnesota and graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Home Economics and Music. For over 35 years, we served at Golden Hills Community Church in Brentwood, CA where Larry was the founding Senior Pastor and Karla served as a worship leader, choir director and office receptionist. For the last seven years we have served as the Director of Church Strengthening for Converge PacWest.