Pastor Craig J. Hillsman felt the call of ministry at an incredibly early age. Being raised by his grandparents had him working in church from an early age. His first position in the church at the age of 10 was as an Usher. He was sick as a baby and his grandparents took him in, prayed for him, and gave him over to the Lord. God healed him and at that point his grandparents raised him in the church, teaching him the ways of The Father. He was called into the position of Deacon in

 

He continued to serve Our Lord and Our God’s people in Ministry as a Deacon as well as an Usher. His love for Our Lord and Our God and Jesus Christ Our Lord and Our Savior kept him in service even until today.

 

He has always been a Servant for God. Every secular job he had was in service in some type of way. His life's mission has always been to serve others. You can always find him giving a word of comfort, hope, or love to everyone around him.

 

Rev. Richardson the founding Pastor of Second Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Curry the Moderator at New Mount Calvary, and Rev.Tyron Herndon were a substantial influence on him as he was growing in service. They taught him what the true meaning of serving God was and how to stand on the Word even when others will not.

 

God sent him a message in his early 30's as he was going through an extremely challenging situation. It was told to him that maybe Our Lord and Our God had something better for him. At the time he did not understand the message but as the time went on, he began to understand. Our Lord and Our God began to speak to him and show him himself standing on the pulpit preaching the Word of Truth. It is then that the better plan began to manifest in his life. Our Lord and Our God and Jesus Christ Our Lord and Our Savior began to open doors and put him in the position that he needed to be in to be able to preach and teach His people. Minister Craig is not a loud and boisterous Preacher; he believes in taking the same approach as Jesus Christ Our Lord and Our Savior took by just speaking the Truth in a calm and peaceful voice. He preaches, teaches, and lives by everything that is found in The Book of Holy Scriptures.

 

In 2015 he met the gift that Our Lord and Our God had prepared just for him, Sis. Melinda Hillsman and they were bonded in marriage on May 1, 2016. This marriage has been a great blessing to his life and his ministry. Our Lord and Our God took them away from Sanford, Florida for a while so that He would have his undivided attention and be able to speak to him about his journey ahead. Our Lord and Our Savior spoke to him through a dream on April 13, 2018, and told him to feed His sheep. Under the tutelage and leadership of Rev. Terry Robinson at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Vero Beach, Florida he was licensed and ordained to preach and teach the Gospel of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in November of 2019. In March of 2020, Our Lord and Our God spoke to him and gave him his mission. It was then that he was sent out into this cruel and unclean world to bring back His lost sheep and ensure that they were feed. In April of 2023, Our Lord and Our God spoke to him again and helped him to know what the true meaning of his first name Craig is. That name means rock. Not even knowing the true meaning of his name he has always found himself being the rock in his daily life. He has always been the one who family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers on the street come to for help, a kind word or even a hug just to be able to make it through. It was at this time that Our Lord and Our God told him it was time to go back home and minister to his family and friends to get them back on the right track of serving Him in spirit and in truth. It was also at this time that Our Lord and Our God showed him a vision of the church that He wanted him to start, and build based on all the biblical principles, laws, and regulations and that is where Upon This Rock of Jesus Christ Ministry was birth. Standing on the solid foundation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was on Sunday, June 30, 2024, he was blessed and anointed by Rev. Tyrone Herndon according to The Book of Holy Scriptures in Leviticus chapter 8. Now he is equipped to move forward in the Ministry and do just as Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commissioned him to do which is to feed His sheep and win lost souls back to the Kingdom of God. 

 

Pastor Craig is married to his devoted wife Lady Melinda and together they have 7 wonderful children and 5 adorable grandchildren with more on the way. He is loved and adored by his family and feels that a strong family builds a great lineage with the Maker and Creator as the foundation that we build upon with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the glue that holds it all together. Amen 🙏🏽

.