Our Mission Spotlight feature for December is Hill House Christian Study Center, a ministry located at 2104 Nueces St., on the campus of the University of Texas. Founded by Greg and Mary Jane Grooms in the 1990s, the ministry is now led by Bill Walker. Before coming to Hill House, Bill served as the Director of Vocation at Christ Church of Austin, where he oversaw ministries in the areas of spiritual formation, faith and work, and vocational discernment. Bill leads the organization with a deep appreciation and passion for the importance of growing in faith, seeking truth, and exploring one’s sense of calling as a young adult.
Hill House supports students and faculty who are asking questions about God, discerning their sense of calling, and discovering how faith informs every area of life. Nurtured by a tradition of Christian living and scholarship that takes both the Bible and contemporary culture seriously, Hill House seeks to provide a hospitable environment that equips students to confidently go into the world and integrate their faith in academia, the workplace, and the community.
Each semester, students gather on Tuesday evenings for a meal, a presentation, and lively discussion. In addition to the instruction led by the director, various guests are invited to teach and speak. Other events (movie nights, coffee/study sessions, weekend excursions) and opportunities for connection and community are offered as well (see graphic at right for the 2024 plan). To learn more, visit their website and follow them on Facebook.
Report from the Director
Bill Walker says, “We’re excited to report that we’ve seen significant growth in student participation across all of our programming this fall semester. We hosted hundreds of students and held engaging discussions and dinners covering topics ranging from faith and art and technology and spirituality to persecution in the past and today, and the three offices of Christ. We also held regular film forums and wrestled with the meaning of cultural questions like the nature of womanhood and the Barbie movie! The budget is still healthy, though we are in need of a strong giving month in December to end the year well.”
He adds, “It is very clear that the Holy Spirit is building a community and creating a culture at Hill House of thoughtful, hospitable engagement with the Bible, culture, and how to faithfully live as a Christian today. This has been especially noticeable among the number of freshman students who have leaned in this year.”
How You Can Pray
Please pray that the school term hiatus would be a time of renewal and rest for the staff as they plan for the upcoming semester. Pray for opportunities to disciple the students who attend events and lectures through conversations about God, faith, and truth. Pray for Bill Walker, his wife, Whitney, and their three young children as they balance ministry and family life. Pray for wisdom for the Hill House board of directors, two of whom are Redeemer members (Carolyn Ahrens and Barry McBee). Bill also asks that we pray for more relational development between Hill House and UT faculty, local churches, UT alumni outside of Austin, and additional campus ministry partners.