LIVE Magazine February 2009

Page 18

The Hilliard Family (Daughters, Sons-in-law, Grandchildren)

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he magnitude of this ministry is phenomenal when you understand that in 1984, their church membership plummeted from 300 members to only 23 in just one day. Two hundred seventy-seven members walked off as the Hilliards decided to cast off denominational constraints and teach the Word of God uncompromisingly, with power and conviction. Bishop Hilliard’s real, unapologetic, in your face teaching style has earned him the self-proclaimed title of “Ghetto Prophet”; which is funny because his parents worked so hard to provide for him and his family that as a kid he never even realized he lived in a ghetto.

of people. Some ask what would happen when leaders like them are no longer on the scene! Who will continue to carry on the legacy of their lives, vision and ministry? In many cases, it is their family that is charged with carrying the torch. In our culture, the sons that are born into a family are responsible for carrying on the family name and continuing the legacy began by their fathers. When you look at the Hilliards, there is no question that there is something special and unique about their First Family. Although no sons have been born into this family, their mega-ministry still thrives and expands. The Hilliards don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon; however there is a question that still begs to be answered? Where do we go from here? When “The Bishop” and Lady Bridget are no longer around, what becomes of the legacy began with the igniting of one man's faith...one woman's faith...one couple's desire to live for God and change the world?

Even still, Bishop Hilliard handles his ministry assignment with ease. Never looking stressed, his “cool” is always in tact. Always careful to give God credit for the man that he has become, he says that it is not the product of his own ability that has caused him to be so prosperous in life and ministry, but living life by faith. He acknowledges that his life has been touched by many mentors including Dr. N. T. Burks, Dr. C.L. Jackson, Dr. O.C. Johnson, and Dr. A. Louis Patterson, with the finishing touches being made by his present mentor and spiritual father, Dr. Frederick K. C. Price.

Enter Tina, Irishea, and Preashea...the daughters of destiny. Gifted in their own right, each of them has a unique place in the ministry birthed by their extraordinary parents. Tina HilliardEgans, the eldest of the clan works in full-time ministry with her husband Terry Egans. The Hilliards’ second daughter, Pastor Irishea Hilliard-Lewis, ministers the Gospel with a stunning mixture of her father's clear-cut teaching style and her mother's powerful intensity. Like her older sibling, Pastor Lewis also works in full-time ministry, as New Light’s C.O.O., as does her husband Jeffrey Lewis. Last but certainly not least is the baby of the bunch, Pastor Preashea Hilliard. As you can probably

All of this is not to say that the Hilliards don’t have challenges and have not had them over the years. From church fights to marital troubles years ago, they have used their faith to overcome it all.

In every generation God raises up leaders like the Hilliards to make an impact so significant it drastically changes an entire generation 18


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