Capital Fund Drive

The Otis and Earlene Bell Memorial Worship Center

Otis and Earlene Bell arrived at Hill View in 1986. They had served for over 20 years as missionaries in Okinawa and Japan, as well as pastoring several United Methodist congregations in Ohio. Otis suffered for many years from Parkinson's Disease, dying in 2003. Earlene died of cancer in 2006. Two finer servants of God have perhaps never been known in this area. Their greatest joy was in serving God; and some of their finest triumphs in life happened here on Hill View's campus where they inspired an entire community with their vibrant, overcoming spirit. No one else could more fully embody the spirit of this special place we know as Hill View. I would like to quote from words that Otis penned in an unpublished manuscript entitled "Burst of Glory."

I am one of the common ones, no great glory, no being a superstar, no thousands standing with applause. Just an ordinary person - well, that is not true! I am not ordinary because God has chosen me to be His servant. I may never carry the Commandments down from the mountain. I may never preach to thousands, and my name may never be a household word. In fact I am a lot like you. However, I have had my moments. I call them my burst of glory - those special times that God spoke my name and said, "I have a task for you!" Excitement, thrill, joy! To be sure, the tasks were always rather insignificant and seemingly unimportant; but they were assigned by the heavenly Father, and what could give the smallest of tasks more meaning. There is no doubt in my mind that you, too, have had your bursts of glory, times when our father in Heaven spoke your name and make you something special.

It is the conviction of the Board of Trustees and Administration that the Lord has given to us the task of building this new Worship Center, that it is very much needed to complement our present facility, and that the Center can and will embody the vibrant, overcoming spirit of Otis and Earlene Bell. Let this moment in the life of Hill View be our "Burst of Glory," the special time that God spoke our name and said, "I have a task for you!" In the overcoming spirit of Otis and Earlene we will move forward successfully to accomplish this important task.

- Rev. Dick North, Campaign Director -

Artist's Conception of Worship Center

Hill View Retirement Center Mission Statement