David Hill: public relations director

by AMY DAVIS
TENNESSEE BIBLE COLLEGE

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — David Hill remembers well those early days of Tennessee Bible College.

David, the eldest child of TBC founder and president Malcolm Hill, was in high school at the time, a player for the Cookeville High School football team. The year was 1975, and the Hill family had just two years earlier returned to his parents' home state of Tennessee after years of ministry service in Georgia and Alabama.

"A lot of folks don't realize it, but I was born in Atlanta and lived seven years in Georgia and five years in Florence, Ala.," David said. "We moved to Cookeville when I was 13 years old."

David Hill
Public Relations Director

That's when his father, Malcolm, began preaching at Sycamore Church of Christ — and making plans for a new Bible school there.

It was a unique time, his son recalls.

"I was around from TBC's inception," David said. "It started as a night school at Sycamore. My family lived across the street from the church building, so I remember very well those early days when folks assembled in the old auditorium for night classes."

He remembers the school catching on quickly, with many area preachers looking to refresh themselves by enrolling in the various Bible course offerings.

"There was a lot of interest in the early days," he said. "A lot of guys would drive in and take those courses, and several of them did a lot of work. It was interesting to see it progress."

Then in 1978, the school began the shift from night school to full-time college, as well as a move to the new Northeast Church of Christ building, where his dad had begun preaching. The change brought on "a flurry of activity," David recalls.

"It was an interesting time because we started moving professors in and realized that TBC was going to be a full-time degree-granting institution," he said. 

Little did the young man know, though, that he'd one day be a part of it.

"I never really envisioned myself ever being qualified to be on the TBC staff," he said. 

Instead, he focussed on a career in business. 

After high school, he studied two years at David Lipscomb University before returning to Cookeville and earning a bachelor of science degree in business management in 1986. Along the way, he opened a clothing store in Cookeville, the Village Squire Men's Store.

He also began pursuing coursework at TBC and even put in a few part-time work hours with the college. As it turns out, his background in business was just what TBC needed. In 1990, he came on board as the college's public relations director.

"It was a surprise and an honor when I was offered a position," David said. "A lot of folks may say, 'Of course your dad would offer,' but it didn't work that way. Other people were involved in the process who recommended me to him."

The consensus was that TBC could use someone like David to manage the college's business affairs, as well as take to the field as a representative of the school.

"They felt TBC really needed to market itself more, and from that I was offered the job," David said.

Then in 2008, he was offered an additional position, that of TBC's director of missions.

"This work is not so much different from what I did 15 years ago, when I was involved in overseas missions in Russia. It was all under my title as public relations director at TBC," said David, whose overseas mission experience has included work in Trinidad and Africa. 

"I've also participated in some stateside efforts, including special programs and lectureships. In fact, that's always been our direction here at TBC — to work at home as well as abroad as we have the opportunity. So my job is to coordinate those opportunities, keep communications open between mission points and help connect people."

What's the best part of being associated with TBC?

"I don't think there's a place on Earth that could have a better environment," David said. "We have good folks who genuinely seek to do the Lord's will and live a Christian life. That in itself motivates me to be better. If you're in a group of people really seeking to do the very best they can, it lifts everything. It lifts you up when you're down, and I think that's a real factor here."

Another plus is the opportunity to work with his father, Malcolm.

"That's a unique thing and not often the case in a college situation," he said. "It's been really enjoyable and really rewarding because Dad and I have been able to travel and do work for the school together, go around the world and do mission work together, do the business of the school together and visit supporters and potential supporters of the work here at TBC. We've worked on short- and long-range giving to the school and so many things like that. It's a great benefit to be able to work with your father and be good friends, get along and laugh. Very rewarding."

David has also worn the hat of instructor at TBC, teaching various Bible courses as opportunities arise. And it's quite a bit different — and much more demanding — than your average Sunday school class, he said.

"For years I've taught Bible classes in the local congregation and elsewhere, but when you're at the college level, it's a more in-depth study," he said. "You've got to step up a little bit."

In addition to his various work obligations, David has been pursuing a master's degree in theology at TBC. At this time, he lacks only his thesis. It's been a long time coming, he said.

"I was even taking classes before I came to work at TBC," he said. "After graduating from Tech, I tried to take at least one class every quarter and just gradually worked through it." 

What's impressed David most about TBC?

"I think it's the wide-ranging influence and work of Tennessee Bible College," he said. "Not only has TBC had an effect on the church locally, but we have worked with churches and preachers all over the world. Also, our alumni have gone throughout the United States and around the world, and those contacts are so far-reaching. In fact, I believe they're eternal. I wouldn't be doing the work and be a Christian if I didn't believe in eternal life. So, really, our work has eternal effects that sometimes even we at the college forget because we live in the world, and we're shortsighted that way."

David and his family — wife Lisa and children Mallory and Pate — are members of Northeast Church of Christ, where he serves as an elder, high school-age Bible class teacher and song leader. He also preaches by appointment, participates in gospel meetings, speaks in lectureships, preaches and teaches in mission campaigns in the U.S. and abroad, serves on the board of trustees for Tennessee Bible College and Tennessee Christian School, and is a longtime Cookeville Breakfast Rotary Club member and past president.

He enjoys spending time with his family and attending local sporting events, especially Cookeville High School football and Tennessee Tech University football and basketball. He is also a licensed pilot.