Church service lacked a key member just over two weeks ago after Terry Hill, a man who has empathetically put others above himself, passed away suddenly.
On his way back to put the finishing touches on Bethel Temple Church in Paris, Hill’s heart gave out near Gainesville.
Terry, having helped create Au’ Inca in 2002, a nonprofit ministry service dedicated to Native American Tribal communities across the U.S., had set his eyes on repairing and reopening Bethel Temple Church in Paris.
Kevin Kelley, who has known Terry for about 20 years and Ramona for almost 30, said Terry was on his way back with a trailer full of chairs, “the last thing needed to open the church.”
“He did what he said he was going to do,” Kelley said, “he finished the church.”
Kelley said Terry and Ramona Hill poured their savings into the church.
“The church was falling in, the foundation was ruined, it was outdated,” Kelley said. “A couple of weeks ago, while they were putting up tile, he looked at David and said, ‘if something happens to me, you have to finish this church.’”
Sandra Robinson, who has helped the Hill family with the ministries, said the family never sought out notoriety, “they never wanted fame.”
She said Terry and Ramona worked night and day since March to open the church as soon as possible. The Sunday after Terry died – three days later – the pews were filled and the church was packed.
“Mona knew he would’ve been upset had we canceled service that he had worked since March – countless hours – to get that church ready,” Robinson said. “He put his heart and soul into that church.”
When they heard Terry’s heart gave out, Kelley said Ramona was devastated, but “she said the Lord gave her strength and she opened the church, even though service lacked Terry.”
“It’s been touching to be a part of his life,” Kelley said. “He’s a quiet cowboy, seems stern but once you got to know him, he had a heart of gold.”
Kelley said his first mission trip was with Terry.
“And I found out, because of him, I could be superman on a mission trip,” he said. ”It set me on fire for the Lord to see how Terry and Mona operated together.”
When he thinks of a hero, Kelley said he thinks of Terry.
“It’s not typically what a hero looks like – old worn-out boots and a cowboy hat with holes in his T-shirt,” he said. “He’s the definition of a hero in my book. Lives have radically been flipped upside down because of what that man did. He’s the kind of guy who would never talk about the things he’s done. It’d take someone else to tell you what he’s done.”
About Au’ Inca
Kelley said about 20 years ago, Terry and Ramona drove through Native American reservations and noticed how poor the community was and wanted to give back.
“The natives at first weren’t very welcoming to them at all -it took years of being very unwelcome to earn their trust,” Kelley said. “They kept going back, and they eventually let them in. Then they allowed them to prayer over the council meeting. They even prayed over and attended meetings of the tribal leaders, elections and gatherings.”
Kelley said Au’ Inca and what Terry and Ramona were doing “got so big, Walmart donates 18-wheelers and drivers.” The trucks are filled with about $250,000-$500,000 worth of food, clothes and toys to give to the Native American Tribal communities.
“They honestly love the people they minister to and everything they have goes into that,” Robinson said. “Their whole life was donated to Au’ Inca. He’s worked countless hours in this warehouse, arranging it, ensuring everything we take on these trips are quality items.”
Kelley said if any toys were missing parts or broken, Terry would throw them away.
“He wanted to make sure no one got a broken toy,” Kelley said.
Had it not been for Terry and Ramona, Robinson said, many of the children they helped wouldn’t have had Christmas.
“Some of those they’ve helped have said, ‘I didn’t know where I’d get food from. We literally didn’t know where we’d get our next meal had it not been for y’all,’” she said.
Kelley said, while on a mission trip, Terry pulled him to the side and said, “’I need you to do one thing for me. Don’t you dare tell someone here you’re going to do something and not do it. Your word is your gold.’”
“He was a man of his word,” Kelley said.
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