Staff & Elders

Our Team

Lead Pastor
Durwin Gray
Durwin and his wife Angel have been regulars at Hillside since Hillside began in 1995. Durwin came on staff in 1998 and became the lead pastor in 2000. They have two children, Caleb & Noah, who along with Angel, suffer from being the brunt of too many Sunday message illustrations.
Associate Pastor
Bill Ballard
Bill joined Hillside staff in February 2018 as Associate Pastor and brings with him significant history with Hillside in Worship and Youth Ministry Leadership. He and his wife Dorothy have three grown sons, Paul, Kevin and Jason, and six grandchildren.
Pastor of Youth and Young Adults
Kevin Hegeman
Kevin joined Hillside in the summer of 2019. He grew up in Chilliwack as the oldest of his parents’ four kids and moved to the Tri-Cities in 2016 to complete his studies in biology. He has a heart for real and honest relationships and is passionate about seeing people grow as followers of Jesus in genuine community.
Kids Pastor
Daniel Mulder
Daniel joined the Hillside team in the summer of 2023. Daniel grew up in the Fraser Valley and moved to Surrey in 2023 to work at Hillside alongside teaching part-time in the Langley School District. He is passionate about teaching the Bible, caring for families, and drinking too much coffee.
Administrator
Nikki Ballard
Children's Ministry Assistant
Jenna Beselt

Our 2024 Elders Board

  • Dan Schmidt (Chair)
  • Warren Fleet (Vice Chair)
  • Sonja Kennedy (Secretary)
  • Durwin Gray (ex officio)
  • Sandra Hustler
  • Kathrine-Jane Dunks
  • Troy Lasko
  • Angel Gray

What Is the Role of Elders?

The New Testament tells us that the role of elders is that of “under-shepherds” and overseers. They are to be pastors/elders/teachers for the body, along with the paid pastoral staff. The basic qualifications for the role are set out in I Timothy 3:1-7.  Ephesians 4:7-13 gives further insight into where elders fit into God’s plan for “equipping the body.”

How Are Hillside Elders Selected?

Additions to the elders group are the result of thought, prayer and discussion among the current elders and input from the congregation. Their convictions about who should be added are brought to the whole congregation for prayer and discussion. The members of the body are then asked to give their feedback to the elders and encouraged to ask questions about the candidates.

After two or three weeks of this process the candidates are publicly confirmed by the chairman or another member of the eldership. At the next appropriate opportunity the new elders are inducted into their role in the body during a public confirmation time in the Sunday morning services. The elders and others from the body pray over them and lay hands on them to commissions them to their ministry.

We believe this process follows the pattern of the New Testament, where elders are appointed by those in authority. We also trust that those who are chosen are the ones that God has indicated for the role through their previous pastoral service and the wisdom and care they have demonstrated among his people.

See Acts 14:23, 20:17, Titus 1:5, James 5:14, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 5:17

Eldership Terms: Our elders serve four year terms with the potential of serving an additional year, before going through a mandatory year off. Former elders, ‘elders at large’ continue to serve in significant ways and may be asked for special input or to participate in special prayer ministry.

If you would like to contact the elders, you can do so at elders@myhillside.ca.