WHO WE ARE
The Vision of Grace Hill Church is to be A Community of Faith, Living in Hope, for the Love and Glory of Christ. Our mission is gathering people to the Table of Christ, who is the Bread of Life, to be Transformed by His Grace, Renewed in His Truth, and Sent on His Mission.
We are affiliated with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church. Being Presbyterian gives us the advantage of a church structure that supports responsibility and accountability at multiple levels. God's Spirit speaks through a multitude of elders and leaders. In addition to our pastor, we have three elders, elected by the congregation. Our theological perspective is reformed, drawing on the ideas of Calvin and Luther, but Christ and his Gospel is our greatest concern.
We want to be a community where you are welcome and find it safe to explore the person of Jesus and his church. We know that many people today had bad church experiences growing up, so did some of us. But we think that exploring Jesus, finding community, engaging with God does not have to be a bad experience but rather should be one that is enlightening and fulfilling. We invite you to come on a Sunday morning. If Sunday morning is not your thing, we are always up for an informal chat over coffee or beer--whatever is the place you'd like to start. We are happy to interact with a wide variety of cultural, political, social perspectives because God has put us in this place and time. But we insist that our core calibration comes from Christ and his Gospel, and that we are called to live a life worthy of our relationship with Him and his Gospel. Drop us a note; we'll be happy to get together whether you live in Orange, Durham or Alamance counties, please come join us!
We are affiliated with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church. Being Presbyterian gives us the advantage of a church structure that supports responsibility and accountability at multiple levels. God's Spirit speaks through a multitude of elders and leaders. In addition to our pastor, we have three elders, elected by the congregation. Our theological perspective is reformed, drawing on the ideas of Calvin and Luther, but Christ and his Gospel is our greatest concern.
We want to be a community where you are welcome and find it safe to explore the person of Jesus and his church. We know that many people today had bad church experiences growing up, so did some of us. But we think that exploring Jesus, finding community, engaging with God does not have to be a bad experience but rather should be one that is enlightening and fulfilling. We invite you to come on a Sunday morning. If Sunday morning is not your thing, we are always up for an informal chat over coffee or beer--whatever is the place you'd like to start. We are happy to interact with a wide variety of cultural, political, social perspectives because God has put us in this place and time. But we insist that our core calibration comes from Christ and his Gospel, and that we are called to live a life worthy of our relationship with Him and his Gospel. Drop us a note; we'll be happy to get together whether you live in Orange, Durham or Alamance counties, please come join us!
GRACE HILL LEADERSHIP
Ross Durham - Pastor
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Ross Durham is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area but has called Chapel Hill and the Triangle home since the summer of 2000. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1986 with a B.A. in Business/Economics. After working in Business and System Engineering, he earned an M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and a Th.M. at Princeton Theological Seminary. He is currently working on a D.Min. at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. Ross met his wife, Cathy, at Gordon Conwell and they were married in 1995. They have two children: a married daughter, Anabelle, who was born in South Korea while Ross and Cathy were teaching there, and a Middle School son, David. Ross enjoys good food, books, movies, travel, and fitness (running, road and mountain cycling--when he can find some time). He did his Presbyterian (PCA) internship at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC with Tim Keller, and was an Associate Pastor at The Church of the Good Shepherd (PCA) for ten years. His ordination is now with Associate Reformed Presbyterian church (ARP). You can contact Ross by email at Ross@gracehillnc.org.
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Elders
Keith Blackmon
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Keith and his wife of 33 years, Cathy, moved to Hillsborough, NC in 2010 after several corporate relocations in the wireless and telecom industry. They are enjoying the life of “empty nesters”, full of 4-legged animal blessings and surrounded by God’s creation. In addition to the family pets, Keith’s hobbies include studying leadership, playing on the farm and bicycling.
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Tony Fernandez
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Tony and his wife, Kaylyn, have lived in Hillsborough since 2000. They both grew up in Atlanta and moved up to the Triangle in 1999 to open a Chick-fil-A in Durham. When he’s not at an event with one of his 3 daughters he enjoys reading, baseball, auto racing and bicycling.
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Deacons
Loren Erickson
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My wife (Mary) and I are retired, empty-nesters with six grown children and seven grandchildren. I accepted Jesus as my Savior as a young child and was baptized in 3rd grade. I gladly give testimony to God’s amazing grace and guiding/protecting hand on my life, especially through my 32-year active-duty Army career (as a physician) which included service in combat zones. I’m happy to serve The Lord and the Body of Christ at Grace Hill Church as a small group leader and deacon.
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Sam Elniff
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Sarah and I have lived in Hillsborough since we got married in 2012. We have been worshipping at Grace Hill for 5 years, during which we have welcomed our son, Micah, and daughter, Polly. I work at HonorBridge (formerly Carolina Donor Services) as Tissue Donation Coordinator. I am honored to serve as deacon at GH and to help people see God in tangible ways in Hillsborough.
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Aaron Hummel
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I grew up in the Midwest and moved to the triangle area in 2018 with my wife, Abby, and our two children. We have been part of the Presbyterian church since 2015. With a background in molecular biology, I work in R&D at an agricultural food company seeking to make fresh produce tastier and more convenient. I am honored to serve as a Deacon at Grace Hill and eager to see that God is at work in Hillsborough.
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Allyson Van Wyk
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I grew up in South Florida, and was active in the Presbyterian Church. I surrendered my life to Christ during college, and after graduating from Wake Forest University, married, and lived in various parts of North Carolina. I am now a retired single woman, and I’m giving my full attention and devotion to growing closer to the Lord Jesus, and furthering God‘s kingdom. Being at Grace Hill for the past seven years has furthered my growth and knowledge of the Lord more than all of my earlier years. I am honored to serve as a Deacon at Grace Hill and eager to see God’s work here and as we reach out to our community.
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