Senior Pastor Russ Cochran is a graduate of Vennard College. In 1992 he married Jennifer DeSpain and they have three girls and one boy. Pastor Russ has been a Pastor since June of 1992. In August of 1998, he was called to Pastor Hillside Church. Besides the pastorate duties here at Hillside, Pastor Russ also preaches revivals and youth camps, announces Bulldawg Football, Lady Dawg basketball, and coaches a variety of sports. He has a passion for evangelism, discipleship training and church planting. His wife is currently a math teacher a Copperas Cove High School in Copperas Cove and they are both very active in the community.
Assistant Pastor Angel Valencia married Eleanor (Elly) on December 7, 1976 and has two adult children, Dionna and Joseph. They have been members of Hillside Church since February 14, 1993. In 1994, Angel retired from the United States Army as a 1st Sgt. In 2001 Angel felt led to become the Director of our then small youth group. Over the next 6 years, Angel ministered to our youth and the group grew so large that we split them between the Killeen Campus and Cove Campus. In March of 2007 Angel received the title of Campus Pastor for Killeen, and in 2009 received the title of Assistant Pastor of Hillside Ministries.
Administrative Pastor Tim O'Neal graduated from Vennard College in 2004. He married Kristina Gass in 2004 and was called to Hillside Ministries as the Administrative Pastor in February of 2008. Pastor Tim operates the office for Hillside Ministries on a day to day basis. He preaches when needed, does visitation, oversees midweek activities, is a member of the Ministerial Alliance in Copperas Cove, and serves on the Board for Cove House.
Jodi Swanner graduated from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor with a Bachelor of Music in 1997. Jodi has been blessed with a Godly husband and two wonderful boys. She currently is employed with the Copperas Cove Independent School District teaching junior high choir and co-sponsors a student led Christian club. Jodi is the Director of Music at Hillside Ministries. She has been volunteering her time for God's service at Hillside since 1999. She enjoys leading worship in the various services in Copperas Cove and Killeen as well as sharing special music, composing praise songs and accompanying others in musical specials. Mrs. Swanner often leads music at youth camps, retreats and revivals.
Jerry Smith graduate of Excelsior College with a Bachelor's of Science. In 1997 he Married Heather Smith and has two sons. He is currently employed in the Killeen Independent School District teaching 4th grade at Oveta Culp Hobby Elementary School. Over the past seven years Jerry has served in many areas within the church. He currently serves as the Pastor of Christian Education at Hillside Ministries. Jerry's vision is that church should be a group of God's people that not only know God's word and do his will, but also do everything they can to share that desire to know and serve with all they encounter. He wants to serve God by being one of those people and wants to help others see themselves as our amazing Father sees them.
Kristina O'Neal is the Youth Director of Hillside Ministries. She was born in Southern California and went to college for two years at Azusa Pacific University and then transferred to Vennard College in Iowa where she earned he BA in Multidisciplinary Studies with double emphasis in youth ministry and math/science. The desire of Kristina's heart is to reach teens for Christ by showing them how much Christ loves them and equipping them to live lives that are transformed by that love. She came to livein Copperas Cove with her husband, Tim in January of 2008 where she loves her new church family and the warmer winters and is extremely excited about the direction God is taking the youth group here at Hillside Ministries.