Lingleville Baptist Church offers The Hill ministry for young adults

BY BETHANY KILPATRICK

Multimedia Journalist

About 15 minutes from Tarleton State University's campus lies a church on a hill in Lingleville, Texas, that hosts weekly gatherings for young adults from all walks of life.

The Hill is a ministry of Lingleville Baptist Church for young adults that focuses on building community and helping to further every individual’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Joey Fraley has been a part of serving and leading within The Hill alongside his wife since it was established five years ago.

“Our mission statement and basis for everything we plan is that The Hill is a Jesus-centered ministry with the goal of creating a welcoming discipleship-centered space,” Fraley said.

The ministry holds its weekly meetings every Tuesday with the doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and the service beginning at 7 p.m. There is typically a dinner provided prior to the evening service beginning.

“Up until 7 p.m., it is just a time to grab coffee, hang out, meet new friends and eat some dinner,” Fraley said. “Then at 7 p.m., we typically kick off our service, which will include a time of worship, prayer and someone leading a message or Bible study. Every week is different, though. We love to keep things fresh.”

The Hill is designed for young adults around the age range of 20 to 30 years old, regardless of what season of life they are currently in.

“We have lots of college students, newlyweds and on up to 30-year-olds with kids,” Fraley said. “We offer child care services on site each week for those that need it. Regardless of your circumstances, we would love to have you.”

Amanda Smee is a student at Tarleton currently earning a master’s degree in accounting. She has been attending The Hill with her friends for three years. 

“The Hill has helped me grow in my relationship with God and have more consistency,” Smee said.

Building a Christ-centered community is a goal that The Hill strives for continuously.

“There is so much power in community and gathering together,” Fraley said. “Everyone is going through something, and there is a really good chance that someone else is struggling with the same exact thing you are or has been through it, and would love to help you through it.”

Smee has been able to personally experience the effects of genuine friendships and connections made at The Hill.

“The Hill is something I look forward to each week,” Smee said. “The friends that I have made at The Hill are true friends that check up on me throughout the week and hold me accountable.”

Emma Halcomb is earning a Master of Science in marketing at Tarleton in addition to being on the university’s indoor and beach volleyball teams. She has attended The Hill since the fall of 2023.

“(The Hill’s) motto is, ‘Come as you are,’” Halcomb said. “When I first started coming to The Hill, that resonated with me and has been a saying that changed my life. The Lord meets us where we are, and I am so thankful that I was told that statement early on.”

Halcomb was originally invited to The Hill by her roommates and explained how that invitation eventually led to her realization of who Christ was and her decision to be baptized. 

“If I hadn’t lived with the girls that I did, nor attended The Hill, I wouldn’t have found Christ,”  Halcomb said. “I ended up being baptized in Dec. 2023, and it was because of the way God reached me through The Hill.”

The Hill has recently noticed a growth in attendance and encourages newcomers. 

“The Hill has definitely seen growth that is in direct reflection (to) the growth of the church as a whole,” Fraley said.

The Hill meets on a weekly basis at 21543 N FM 219 Dublin, Texas 76446, and encourages young adults, including Tarleton students, to attend. 

For questions or concerns, one can contact the church’s office via cell at (254)434-8062, visit https://www.linglevillebaptist.org/, or contact Fraley via cell at (325)330- 0689.

“When they say, ‘Come as you are,’ they mean it,” Halcomb said. “The Hill family is welcoming and loving. They want everyone to find a place to meet God without being perfect.”