[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4581]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE LIFE AND DEDICATED SERVICE OF EVANGELIST STEVE HILL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 14, 2014

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and 
dedicated service of Evangelist Steve Hill, who passed away on March 9, 
2014, after a courageous battle with melanoma. Pastor Hill served as a 
mentor and an inspiration to countless individuals. The loss of a 
devoted husband, father, and unparalleled servant of our Lord and 
Savior Jesus Christ is felt not only in Northwest Florida but 
throughout this great Nation and around the world.
  Pastor Hill was born to a military family in 1954 in Ankara, Turkey. 
It was during his teen years, after his family moved to Huntsville, 
Alabama, where Pastor Hill felt the power of prayer for the first time 
more than ever. Though, this was only the beginning; Pastor Hill's love 
for God and helping others only grew.
  Leaving behind a difficult past, Pastor Hill attended David 
Wilkerson's Twin Oaks Bible Academy located in Lindale, Texas. He met 
the love of his life there, the former Ms. Jeri Larson, and the two 
were married in 1979. Both began serving Christ through full-time 
ministry with Outreach Ministries of Alabama and then as youth pastors 
in Panama City and Tallahassee, Florida. Pastor Hill and his wife then 
felt the Lord's calling to serve His people abroad. Within seven years, 
they had managed to spread God's Word throughout South America and 
Europe, establishing ministries and churches.
  In 1995, Pastor Hill touched the Northwest Florida community when he 
spoke at a revival at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, 
Florida. Following his sermon, what would become known as the 
Brownsville Revival was ignited, attracting millions of people from all 
over the world. Pastor Hill's ability to encourage and empower those 
seeking the Lord led to one of the longest running church revivals 
throughout our Nation's history. Preaching four nights a week for five 
years during the revival and leading thousands of individuals to 
Christ, Pastor Hill was inspired to continue the revival around the 
world.
  In 2003 and 2004, Pastor Hill established Heartland World Ministries 
Church and Heartland School of Ministry in Irving, Texas, where he 
served as the senior pastor up until 2012. Despite facing a difficult 
health battle, his passion and heart for helping others did not cease, 
and his service to Christ continued, as he ministered through his 
website, ProdigalsOnly.com; his writing; and television broadcasts.
  For over three decades, Pastor Hill was deeply committed to spreading 
the word of the Lord and helping others find salvation. Northwest 
Florida and the countless individuals whose lives were touched by Steve 
Hill mourn the loss of an exceptional man of God.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged 
to honor the service and contributions of Evangelist Steve Hill to the 
Northwest Florida community and around the world. My wife Vicki and I 
offer our prayers to his wife, Jeri; son, Ryan; daughters, Shelby and 
Kelsey; and the entire Hill family and friends.

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