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Hillcrest Christian Church Church Defined: Week 5: October 10, 2021 Play Video All Videos Listen on Sound Cloud Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on Youtube

OUR STORY We honor all those who have gone before us because of their service to the Lord and their dedication of providing for our future. The history of Hillcrest Christian Church dates back to 1905 at which time the First Christian Church of McKinney saw the need to start a “Mission Church” in East McKinney. Little did they realize the effect this would have for the Lord and the people of McKinney. ​ In early 1905, a small group of men organized a Sunday School class in a four-room house at the corner of Anthony and Kincade Streets in McKinney, Texas. During the week of July 7, 1905, the Reverend George Bush held a tent revival on a vacant lot next to this house. Thirty-one people were baptized. A few months later, on October 4, 1905, the church was officially organized with a membership of forty people. ​ Wallace Wilson donated the land at 1109 East Anthony in McKinney and the construction of the first church building began in December 1905. Many members donated their time and resources to the construction of the building. First Christian Church of McKinney also provided financial assistance for the construction which cost approximately $1,500. ​ On February 6, 1906, the first service (a special prayer meeting) was held at the building site. The building was completed on April 12, 1906. The new church was commonly known as the “Second Christian Church”, but the dedicated name of the church was “East McKinney Christian Church”. For several decades, the church flourished as members came from east McKinney and the rural areas outside of southeast McKinney. But the church did not survive the early years without problems. During the Great Depression, the church had to close its doors for a brief period of time. In the early 1930’s, there was simply not enough money to pay the bills. This did not last long as two members took it upon themselves to pay the bills and reopen the church doors for services again. ​ God provided the way and the church flourished again. In 1956, exactly 50 years after the first service, attendance had outgrown the original church building. So, plans for construction on another building at the same location began. The men who could work all day did so. Others with regular day jobs would help with construction in the late afternoon and evenings. Women assisted by pulling nails from lumber that was to be reused. On Saturdays, teenagers would also assist with the construction. The members of the church had banded together to complete this significant project, and the new building was dedicated on December 6, 1956. ​ The new building allowed East McKinney Christian Church to grow again. Members invited their friends, family and neighbors. People from all over McKinney and the surrounding areas were attending services regularly. This was especially true for Sunday School classes as over 300 people were regularly attending. Because of this growth, the church purchased three houses adjacent to the church building. This provided much needed parking area. One house was also converted to the church office and additional Sunday School classes. ​ As time went by, the congregation continued to grow and, once again, more room was needed. Because of this, plus other issues, it was decided to purchase land to build in the future. The church purchased five acres on West Virginia Street to construct a new building. Unfortunately, building on that site could not proceed. A few years later, the land at 509 South Graves Street was purchased. As plans for the new building developed, it was also decided to change the name of the church to bring a new identity to those who did not know us and give us a fresh start in bringing the lost to Christ. Hillcrest Christian Church held its first service at the new building on July 26, 1987. The dedication of the church occurred on September 20, 1987. Since that date, Hillcrest Christian Church has been and remains to be a very active part of the community. ​ Although Hillcrest Christian Church has never been a member of any denominational group or organization, the appropriate legal documents were filed on November 18, 1964 to be recognized as an Independent Christian Church. The church has retained that status to date. Since its inception on October 4, 1905, our church has been blessed with dedicated men and women who have taken personal responsibility for seeing that our past will never be forgotten and that the work of the Lord is done as He intends it to be now and in the future. Hillcrest Christian Church remains true to its past in being a friendly, caring, compassionate group of Christian people serving the Lord and our community with their abilities and love for each other. ​ **Please note that specific names of individuals who have served or helped build our church buildings are not included in this short history of our church. This is done in fear of overlooking anyone who has helped make our church what it was in the past or what it is today. ​

CORE VALUES GOD'S WORD The Bible is God’s way of conversing with man. Although forty authors penned sixty-six “books” in the Bible, they were inspired to do so by God Himself. We believe the Bible to be inspired and to provide all knowledge necessary for genuine life. Preaching and teaching at Hillcrest is from the Bible. COMMUNITY We exist to be in relationship – first with God and then with one another. The ultimate picture of community is the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Living apart from God is impossible. Secondly, man was made to exist with one another. One cannot be the person God desires them to be without another. At Hillcrest, we value opportunities to establish community with God and with each other. People doing life together is important! DISCIPLESHIP Jesus Christ told us to become followers and then encourage others to be followers. Discipleship is a life-long journey toward becoming like Jesus Christ. As Christ served those around Him, we value opportunities to do the same. Hillcrest provides age-appropriate possibilities for spiritual growth.

Paul D. Sisson Minister A Message from Paul I am amazed at what God has done in my life of 71 years. My desire for you is to find the true purpose of your life in Christ. The realization of fulfilled goals that lay before us are God’s victories yet to be revealed. “To the Work, To the Work, we are servants of God”. May a joyful song ring out in serving Jesus today! My Story My sister Patty and I were baptized into Christ on Easter Sunday when I was 13 years old. My young life was formed by the love of the Church membership who ignited a spiritual desire within me to always serve Christ. I graduated from Rapid City Central High School in 1969. The following year at the urging of my father I attended college at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City. There I studied Civil Engineering for one year and realized that this is not what I wanted to do. My home Church continued to encourage me to go to Bible College. It was a hard meeting informing my father that I wanted to prepare for the ministry and felt God’s calling on my life. He informed me that he would not help me and I would be on my own. That fall I loaded my old car and drove to Huron, SD to attend Dakota Bible College for the next 4 years. My home church paid for every semester for all four years until I graduated with a Degree in Sacred Literature. While in Bible College I married, Janice Dietz, the love of my life and partner in ministry for 48 years until her death from cancer at Christmas time in 1999. God blessed us with two children, Jennifer and Bryan. Jennifer lives in Lewisville, TX. She and her husband Chris have two grown children Lydia and Titus. Jennifer is the principle 2nd Violinist with the Allen, TX Philharmonic Symphony. She also has a private studio teaching violin and viola. Bryan lives in Galveston, TX and is both a published writer and Anthropologist. He specializes in Egyptian History and has made several trips to the Middle East. While spending one summer in Jordan he worked on an archeological dig and was able to recover a piece of clay pottery that bore the insignia of the Kings Potter at the time of Ruth. The Jordanians were very excited and have placed Bryan’s find in their Museum of Antiquities and noted as found by Bryan D. Sisson. Through the windows of family life there have been many challenges. However the dedication to family has never wavered from our desire to lift up Christ. I am a proud father and blessed for the gifts that He has given to my wife Janice and I. Now I gaze alone through the window of more dreams yet to be realized in serving Christ. Contact paul.sisson@hillcrestmckinney.org

HILLCREST STUDENTS 6TH - 12TH Grade About Hillcrest Students HCC Students welcomes youth ages 6th grade through 12th grade. Each week, we offer Sunday morning bible classes as well as weekly bible studies, service projects and fun gatherings. All of our Students programming is focused on helping our students (and their parents!) develop a deeper understanding of God’s word as well as strengthen their relationship with Him and with each other. It is our prayer that our Students will be prepared to go out into the world with a solid faith that enables them stand firm in a fallen world, love the people around them, and continue our mission to spread the gospel to those that do not know God.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS Jame and Naomi Kautt Tübingen, Germany kautt@christianchurch-teubingen.com ​ International Student Mission ​ Faye Kautt - c/o 2945 Meadow Green Dallas, TX 75234 (972) 241-8763 ​ German Mail: Mohlstr. 26 72074 Tübingen Germany 011-49-7071-255104 Pioneer Bible Translators (Multiple) Greg Pruett - President https://www.pioneerbible.org (972) 708-7406 ​ Pioneer Bible Translators 7500 West Camp Wisdom Road Dallas, TX 75236 ​ Stephen and Alisa Walton Moycullen, Ireland stephen@stephenandalisa.net http://www.stephenandalisa.net Toby Parker East-West Ministries http://www.eastwest.org/blog ​ ​ Kontakt Mission USA PO Box 825 Humboldt, TN 38343-0825 http://kontaktmissionusa.org

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Wed, Dec 13 | Hillcrest Christian Church Adulting Academy Free life skills class Registration is closed See other events Time & Location Dec 13, 2023, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Hillcrest Christian Church, 509 S Graves St, McKinney, TX 75069, USA About the event Find More Information and Sign up Here Read More > Share this event

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