Westlake Pastor Leads Message to the Marginalized

Westlake Pastor Leads Message to the Marginalized

This article was originally published on September 30, 2021 in The Villager Newspaper.

One of the highlights of the dedication of the Community West Foundation sculpture at Bridge CLE, 3389 Fulton Road, in Cleveland the evening of Sept. 16 was the message delivered by evangelist David Nico Hill, Patriarch of God’s Soldier Ministries and Outreach Pastor for Ascent Church in Westlake.

Hill keynoted the evening with a stirring call to action at the facility formerly known as Family Ministry Center.

“My mission is to perpetuate the movement of the ministry to the marginalized,” said Hill.

A former MMA fighter and movie actor who hails from California, Hill shared his personal story of childhood abuse, drug and alcohol use and intimate spiritual challenges in calling those in attendance to a higher consciousness of Christian spirituality.

“I believe it was a maximum opportunity for the Holy Spirit to walk in ordered footsteps and reach the unreachable, the unloved, the unwanted, the unneeded and the undervalued,” said Hill. Indeed, his address was peppered with shouts of “Amen” and “Preach it” from an audience that shared many of his personal obstacles.

33 churches in all participated, 13 onsite and 20 in intercessory prayer. For the incarcerated, the Northeast Women’s Reintegration Center, Grafton Correctional Center, Lorain Correctional Center, Alpha House in Oberlin and Cedar Hills in Painesville were represented through intercession.

Bridge CLE is a ministry that facilitates “relationship building and cooperative action between people who are separated by social obstacles so that peace, fairness, and wholeness may flourish in the city of Cleveland.” In that spirit, many social support agencies were there, including City Mission, Stella Maris, 2100 Lakeside Men’s Shelter, Norma Herr Women’s Center, Salvation Army, Veterans Administration, True Freedom Ministry, Community Service Alliance, Women’s Recovery Resources, Edna House and Cleveland UMADAOP ETC.

Community Service Alliance, a very proud participant in the event entitled, “Through the Storm to be Reborn,” said, “The dedication ceremony was a success, and the turnout for the Through the Storm event was exceptional, with more than 300 people in attendance.”

Special thanks go to CSA board member Barbara Jacobus and CSA staff member Tom Cullinan for their extraordinary efforts to make the event such an overwhelming success!

“I believe this was the first event of its kind,” said Hill. “I wanted to reach the drug and alcohol addicted, the recovery community, the reentry community, the unchurched, the unsaved and the unwanted.

“I wanted to address everything from unforgiveness to addiction, which is killing our children.”

In the end, dozens of guests answered his altar call to accept Jesus.

“What I understand from those who came to me afterward, the spirit of oppression was lifted, the atmosphere was changed and people ran to the feet of Jesus crying out for forgiveness,” said Hill.

Pastor Hill said the Timothy Schmaltz artwork “When I Was in Prison” was emblematic of the evening.

“The sculpture is representative of the compassion that Jesus has for his children. It reminded me that his very last hours on this earth were in prison. One of the things I always say is, ‘You can be in prison and be free, and also be free and be in prison. But, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).”

Pastor Hill’s personal message of salvation relates closely to the marginalized. “It was very cathartic for me to rip off my bandages and deliver a message of transparency as someone who went from having a death wish to an evangelist, from smoking rock to standing on the rock,” said Hill. “The Lord has told me before that the message would set them free and they will run to the feet of Jesus. They would anticipate the opportunity to accept Jesus. “

Celebrate Recovery

As Outreach Pastor at Ascent Church, 3550 Crocker Road in Westlake, Pastor Hill’s Celebrate Recovery ministry meets Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. “All are welcome,” said Hill. “We address unforgiveness, self-hatred, addictions. They told me (when he started the ministry seven months ago) that there were no sinners struggling with addictions in Westlake. God reveals that no matter where we are socially, economically or ethnically, we can all be going through a storm. Through the risen blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, this is the only way we can be reborn.” The ministry offers child care.

Pastor Hill related the story of a westshore family whose son was battling cancer. “I had the opportunity to meet the amazing Tony George family and their son, Mike, a young man, 16, who was fighting cancer. Shortly thereafter, God called their son home. He was a light to the community and is now a light in heaven. And here we are, playing Russian roulette with fentanyl and drugs while this young man was fighting for his life,”

“People can be purged through the Holy Spirit as they address their hurts, their hangups, their habits. They can absolutely find the presence of Jesus and become a witness to the community through their sobriety.”

Please visit G-S-M.org (God’s Soldier Ministry) to learn more about David Hill’s mission.

“If I can do this, anybody can,” concludes Pastor Hill. “I am just a nameless, faceless voiceless vessel drawing any and all to Jesus.”

Hill reports that plans are in the works for another Outreach Ministry event. Details to be announced.

(Ed. Note: Pastor David Hill’s current ministry responsibilities include: Patriarch of Gods Soldier Ministries, Outreach Pastor for Ascent Church, Director of Outreach and Evangelism for Collaborative Ministries for Bishop Omar, National Platform Speaker for Prison Fellowship State of Ohio under Richard Swiger, National Platform Speaker for Bill Glass Ministries under Jeff Aten, Official Chaplain True Freedom Ministries State of Ohio under Mike Swiger.)