About us

Howdy!

Thank you for wanting to learn a little more about our church! While there's no substitute for getting to know the members of a congregation, we hope the statements below help you gain a better understanding of what we're about and our long history in the North Shore community. We're always happy to answer any questions you may have.
 

Our Mission Statement

Church On The Hill is a Bible-based family of Christian believers inspired to commit ourselves to the will and way of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Vision Statement

To be a church that fully fulfills the Great Commission. As spoken by Jesus to his followers ... 

“... Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20) 

God means for this verse for us today. It doesn't mean just bringing people into the church's building and involving them in uplifting worship, but helping them come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. We also help people of all kinds grow into mature followers of Jesus.

Our Core Values

  • Scripture-centered/Bible-based

  • Respectful - to one another and to each other

  • Prayerful

  • Outreaching
     
  • Serving in fellowship by which all ...
    • Have an opportunity to serve in various church ministries and fellowship events
    • Will experience service and fellowship

See our Beliefs page for more detail.

 

History of Church on the Hill

On a chilly January morning in a vacant school building with no heat or electricity, a group of believers agreed it was time to plant a a church in an area predicted to experience rapid growth in the decades ahead.

Starting as a simple meeting with no name, the first service was held on Jan. 30, 1962, in the former Travis Peak School No. 1. There was no water, light, or heat in the building.

The church soon moved to the Lago Vista "Red School" and soon became known as Northwest Baptist Chapel, sponsored by Austin's Northwest Baptist Church.

One of Jonestown’s founders, Emmett A. Jones, felt led by the Lord to donate 2.5 acres of hillside land for the new congregation. The members built a church building on that property under the name South Jonestown Baptist Church. The first service on the hill was held on Oct. 6, 1963, with Bro. Raymond Morell as the first full-time pastor.

The church grew tremendously during the 1970s earning Church of the Year awards from the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 1973, 1974, and 1975. During these days of growth, the church was involved in the planting of Travis Oaks Baptist (now Grace Community Church in Lago Vista), Sandy Creek Baptist (now Round Mountain Baptist Church), and Shenandoah Baptist Church in Cedar Park. An active youth ministry was the hallmark of the church, busing many children from around the Northshore area to and from activities.

On Nov. 14, 1984, the church voted to change the name to First Baptist Church of Jonestown. The church continued to grow throughout the 1980s. In 1985-1986 the congregation added 94 members, 43 of whom were new believers who were baptized.

In the 1990s the church acquired five more acres of land, bringing its property all the way to FM 1431.

In January 2012 the church celebrated its 50th anniversary. At this time the church hosted an active AWANA club and a Christian preschool, in addition to numerous other ministries. 

On April 23, 2017 the church voted to change the name to Church On The Hill Jonestown after a "replanting" process guided by the Williamson County Baptist Association's Strategic Church Services. Ministries included a youth and children's department as well as a food pantry and clothing closet outreach.

In 2021, the church met electronically over the Internet twice and hosted several parking lot "drive-in" services during a coronavirus outbreak. They did not miss a Sunday -- even after a severe ice storm destroyed much of the fellowship hall requiring a complete rennovation!

Today, though small, the church is in a process of rebuilding with the essentials of a healthy church and growing as the Lord leads. If you would like to be a part of building something new in our Northshore community please contact us and let's find out how we can work together.

 

From Our Heart

We, the Church On The Hill, to the best of our ability, desire to fulfill the Kingdom work of God.

With God's love as our motivation and inspiration we desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, working from our immediate areas to as far out as we can reach through missions both near and far.

We have available to us, the Holy Spirit as our guide and instructor, the Holy Scriptures, and God's inspired and infallible Word, as our guide and instruction.

Our guidelines are written in the Holy Scriptures.....

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope".  (Romans 15:4, KJV)

Whatever we do must match up with God's written Word and must be about living for Jesus Christ and spreading the Gospel of Jesus with love and compassion.