FPC Sabbatical Preachers 2024

Our 2024 Sabbatical Preachers: Revs. Austin and Sara Hill

The Hills are a clergy couple who were ordained in 2009 and served 15 years in a church slightly larger than ours in worship attendance (600 members) in Fort Dodge, Iowa.  He is from California, she from Philadelphia.  They met and married at Princeton Theological Seminary.  They have two children, Lyla and Everett.  They moved to Franklin, TN in 2023 to be closer to family and are at-large members of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee.  Austin currently flies commercially as a pilot.  They share a deep faith and love of the church and have extensive preaching experience.  You can hear either (and both) of them preach by going to First Presbyterian Church, Fort Dodge (http://fpcfd.org/), clicking on “Sermons” and choosing Austin or Sara from the pull down menu of preachers.

Originally from Southern California, Austin received a B.A. in Psychology from Seattle Pacific University, in Seattle, Washington. Because Seattle didn’t have cold enough winters, Austin moved to Princeton, New Jersey, where he received his M.Div from Princeton Theological Seminary, and met his wife, Sara.  They moved to Fort Dodge in 2009, where Austin started his ordained ministry as the Associate Pastor for youth and young adults. In 2011, he became the Associate Pastor, picking up some responsibilities in addition to youth ministry. In 2013, he became the Senior Pastor for FPC, Fort Dodge, IA.  In June of 2017, Austin finished his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theology Seminary, studying Missional Leadership.  In Austin’s “free time,” he’s never bored. He’s been working on a science fiction novel. In 2013 he earned his Private Pilot’s License, his instrument rating in the fall of 2016.  He also loves to read and play video games. In the midst of all this, Austin loves to live each day with his beautiful wife, Sara, and his ever-growing children, Lylah and Everett.

A Philadelphia native, for 4 years, she served as the pastor at the United Presbyterian Church in Goldfield, IA. In September 2014 she joined the staff at FPC, Fort Dodge, IA, as the Associate Pastor. Sara has a B.A. in Communication Studies from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. In addition to pastoring, Sara is mommy to Lylah and Everett, and an enthusiastic CrossFitter. She enjoys cooking, laughing, and traveling, and laments the lack of delicious cheesesteaks in the Middle Tennessee.

Their family currently worships at FPC, Nashville.