Born in Lancaster, South Carolina in 1956, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Music in 1977. He married Sheilah (Ipock) on July 24, 1977. From 1979-1985 he served as the Youth and Music Pastor at First Baptist Church of Sterling Heights, Michigan. In 1985 he came to Hillsdale Baptist Church as the Youth Pastor and served in that ministry until 1995 after the sudden death of Dr. Alan J. Bradshaw (former Pastor). Dr. Smith was voted Senior Pastor of Hillsdale in 1995 and continues to serve as Senior Pastor. He received his Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies in 1997, graduating Magna Cum Laude. In May of 2000, Dr. Smith received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Bob Jones University. The Smiths have three adult children and two granddaughters.
Pastoral Staff
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Dr. Travis Smith, Senior Pastor
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Rev. Brian Barber, Discipleship Pastor
Brian Barber, Discipleship Pastor, grew up in a Pastor's home in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Bible College with a Bachelor's degree in Bible in 1975. He went on to seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1978. After pastoring in Cambridge Minnesota for two years, he moved to California to minister for 26 years at the same church. He served first as Youth Pastor, then Assistant Pastor, and finally Senior Pastor. In 2006 he moved to Hillsdale Baptist Church to become the Discipleship Pastor.
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Rev. Eric Peterman, Youth Pastor/School Administrator
Eric Peterman grew up in Tampa, and has been on staff at Hillsdale for over twenty years serving as Youth Pastor and Assistant Pastor. He holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Bob Jones University. He married his teenage sweetheart, Rebecca, and they have two children.
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Pastor Steve Armstrong, Music Pastor
Steve Armstrong became Music Pastor of Hillsdale Baptist Church in May 2018. Steve was born and reared in Bradenton, Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Music from Bob Jones University in Voice Performance. He then attended the University of South Florida where he earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting. Steve went on to the University of Miami on a full scholarship for his doctoral work in Choral Conducting. Returning to the Tampa Bay area, he taught Voice and Church Music Administration at Clearwater Christian College. He has always been active in local church ministry and has served as both Music Director and Youth Pastor. Steve, his wife Sharon and three kids joined Hillsdale Baptist Church in May of 2018 where he is the Music Pastor and directs the music ministries of the church. He has also earned a Master's Degree in Music from the College of Music and Visual Arts at the University of South Florida.
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Matt Mills, Children's ministry Director
Matt and his wife, Andrea, joined our staff in July of 2021. He is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College. Matt received his Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministries, and he is serving as our Children’s Ministry Director as well as teaching PE, Bible, and Chapel here at HCA.