From labor to reward
Obituary
Brian D. Hills Sr. was born on November 21st, 1957, and raised in the Bronx, NY. He enjoyed playing baseball and handball, fishing, swimming, and bike riding all over NY. Brian also enjoyed singing and playing his guitar. His favorite artist, Jimmy Hendrix, inspired him to learn to play the guitar.
Brian attended Morris High School. One of his first jobs was delivering sodas around the Bronx. He eventually began working for an asphalt company while continuing his work on the soda truck. For the greater portion of his life, he maintained an occupation in security.
In the late 1970s Brian started attending the Straightway Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of The Apostolic Faith, Inc. It was there that he received the gift of the Holy Spirit. He began to serve at Straightway as a deacon and was soon ordained an elder in COOLJC. At Straightway, he met Belinda Denise Rutherford, and they married in December 1979. When he married Belinda, he became the stepfather to her three children, Carry Eugene Rutherford, John Aurther Rutherford, and Keya Michelle Brown (Riggins), affectionately called “Baby Girl”. One year after their marriage in November 1980, Brian D. Hills Jr. was born, whom he affectionately called “Huncho”.
In the early 1990s, Elder Hills moved to Union, South Carolina, and started the True Gospel Mission Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and began a radio ministry in Gaffney, South Carolina.
Elder Hills returned to New York and founded The Soul Seekers for Christ Ministry. He also began his television ministry on the Bronx net and radio ministry with WTHE1520. In 1996, he became a member of Zion Pentecostal Temple, Inc. of PAW. He was an outreach minister at the Franklin Women’s Homeless Shelter. In 2009, he became a member of PAW and its New York State Council. Later, Elder Hills began serving as the assistant pastor of Zion Pentecostal Temple Inc., with District Elder Gail Dell-Slater. In addition to the other ministries, he also established the Warriors of Zion Prayer line for men and a separate prayer line so people across organizations and denominations could come together to seek God’s face as one.
On Friday, April 4, 2025, at age 67, in Passaic, NJ. Elder Brian D. Hills Sr. went from labor to reward. He was preceded in passing by his stepsisters, Little Anne and Viola. He is survived by his son, Brian D. Hills Jr., stepchildren, siblings Susan, Robert, Connie, and stepsister Jean. He also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, more family, and many friends. We will remember and miss him as he has entered into the joy of the Lord.
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