In 1995, then Area Minister Chuck Babcock cast a vision of a new Disciples congregation in the Bluebonnet Area. He formed a new church
establishment committee, which was chaired by Paul Smith of Genesis Christian church. The Bulverde/Spring Branch area was selected
as the target location because of the rapid growth and preferred demographics in that area. A call was extended to Rev. E. Ross Richardson
in July of 1996. There were very few funds available through the area, and Rev. Richardson agreed to accept this call without a salary.
He and his family arrived on site in August and the first Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting was held in that month. Paul Smith
was elected PAC chair and Rev. Richardson suggested naming the new church “Hill Country Christian.”
Rev. Richardson established
a post office box, purchased a cell phone and began advertising in the local paper. Next he began having gatherings for prospective
members. In November, about 25 interested participants began holding Sunday evening worship services at Singing Hills Retreat Center,
in preparation for an official beginning Sunday of December 1st of 1996. The Party Hall on Hwy 281 was rented for the month of December
and when the first Sunday came the church was established with 17 members joining that morning.
January 1st of 1997 the church
relocated to a small-framed building in the Village of Bulverde. This location served as church office and worship center for the
next seven months. During that time the church grew to over 50 in membership. Through the generosity of benefactors within the Southwest
Region, Hill Country Christian was gifted 6.3 acres of land, which the church had identified as an ideal location along Hwy 46 West.
Harold Cline, an Interim Regional Minister of the Southwest Region, used money from the Region to purchase the land for Hill
Country Christian Church. He personally guaranteed a note on the property, and personally made payments on the note. When
his wife Ruby died, he used insurance proceeds to pay off the note.
In September of 1997, having outgrown the frame building
in Bulverde, the church moved Sunday morning worship services to Arlon Seay School located on Hwy 46 West, next door to the newly
acquired church property.
Having reached over 100 in membership, Hill Country Christian was recognized by the Southwest Region
as a church in full standing in May 2000.
Week by week the church continued to grow. A building fund was established
and a committee was charged with creating a design and securing a contractor. Timbercon builders was retained as general contractor.
Construction began in March of 2001. The first Sunday in the new building was August 5th, 2001, with the building being dedicated
in October.
Ministers who have served Hill Country Christian are: Rev. E. Ross Richardson, Rev.'s Villa Jean and Lynn Tiller,
and Rev. Amy BeVille Elder.
Our current Minister is Rev. Larry Garcia and our Associate Minister, Rev. Janie Harrison.
Today God continues to bless our church with a wonderful, spirit-filled congegation, with growth, and with dynamic ministry.