The structure of HBC youth exists to impact students for Christ and to teach them how to impact others for Christ as well.  This is accomplished by

• Sound Biblical teaching of the Word of God
• Challenging them to become involved in personal Bible study
• Create opportunities for them to fellowship with other genuine believers
• One-on-one discipleship
• Giving them opportunity to become involved in ministry

Our ministries to the youth include Sunday school that focuses on teaching the Bible to the students.  We also include them in corporate worship on Sunday mornings so they can learn to worship God as a body in the church.  We have opportunities for them to minister in music in the youth class and in the corporate worship hour of the church.  There are ministries designed for this age group in mind.  The Drama team is designed for students in High school and the Puppet team is designed for students in the junior high age.  These students can also choose to minister to the shut-ins and widows through community service days or when we take teams of people to the nursing home to preach to them and sing with them.  On Wednesdays during the school semesters, we have a program called PARADISE.  This is an exciting time for teens with different themes and games each Wednesday to get them excited about what God is doing in the Youth Department.  We also have worship through song, and preaching each Wednesday.  Grades 7-12 all meet together during this time.

Youth Pastor and Wife:
John and Kristen Bingham

John was saved on Jan 31, 1988 as a child and called to Pastor at youth camp when he was a teen.  He graduated high school and married his high school sweet-heart on July 7, 2001.  He and Kristen attended Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO.  John graduated in 2005 with a BA in Pastoral Studies.  He and Kristen have been active members of Hillside since they moved to Springfield in 2001.  John has been on staff since 2003 as youth and music pastor and has been full-time since 2006.  John & Kristen have two boys (Asa & Josiah) who love to play!  They love working with teens and are excited about the opportunities that God has given them at Hillside.