How it all began...
Hilltop Free Will Baptist Church began August 28, 1966 in the basement of the home of Donnie and Harold McLeod. Four families who had been saved through the ministry of Prospect Church in Dunn N.C. began to pray for God to send someone to this area to began a mission church. Reverend James Denton was with them that day in August when the first service was held and souls were saved that day.
Almost immediately God provided a way to purchase 3 acres of land on Highway 401.The pastor and the congregation worked diligently for 3 ½ months and the first service was held December 25th, 1966 in the new building. In February 1967 there were 70 charter members and the church was named Hilltop Free Will Baptist Church.
It was in the very beginning that this church began it’s Bus Ministry, and Home and Foreign Missions work.. The goal of soul winning, teaching and training others in the work of the Lord was the goal of the church in its beginning and remains so until this day.
In the fall of 1970 a new building expansion project was began, On July 25, 1971 our first service was held in our new sanctuary, with over 600 in attendance. The church grew rapidly and in the fall of 1979 there was another addition and the purchase of additional land.
Tragedy struck on February14, 1975 when arsonists set a fire that destroyed part of our building and its contents. But with adversity comes a closeness and with a great deal of hard work the building was restored and on July 13, l975 the first service was held in the restored sanctuary,
Over the years the growth has continued with the formation of our Christian School and our Spanish Ministry. In order to accommodate our growth land was purchased on Highway 401 on September 20, 2003 to build a new facility. After much hard work our new building was completed late in 2006 and we held our first service there on December 24, 2006.
God continues to bless us with many new families as we strive to stay faithful to His calling.