“I Felt the Lord Calling Me”

It wasn’t until Adron Robinson was in his mid-to-late 20s when he seriously thought about full-time ministry, accepted God’s call and since April 2009, has been senior pastor for Hillcrest Baptist Church, 17300 S. Pulaski Road, Country Club Hills.

How did he get into his job?

Robinson was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side and attended Kenwood Academy in the city’s Hyde Park community. “When I was 25, I thought I’d like to (serve) in ministry” in some capacity, Robinson said. “But I wasn’t sure in what capacity. I had no intention of being a minister or someone’s pastor. I was happy working at AT&T and working in the youth ministry” at his South Side church.

“But as I continued in ministry, I felt the Lord calling me to (full-time) ministry, so I accepted the call in August 1997,” he said. “Then that November, on Thanksgiving weekend, I was licensed to preach the gospel.”

Robinson went on to enroll at DePaul University in Chicago, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 2004. Two years later, he was ordained at Shiloah Baptist Church in Chicago’s Gresham neighborhood.

“My mom and dad were active in the church and excited about me being licensed and ordained, but they were anxious (for me) as to what was next,” Robinson said.

What turned out to be next after his ordination was Robinson’s assignment as assistant pastor at Shiloah Baptist, where he served for four years.

After earning his master of divinity in 2008 from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Robinson was called to serve as the first African-American pastor at Hillcrest Baptist in April 2009.

What’s the best part of the job?

“The best part of the job is seeing people grow in their relationship with God, to see the light bulb go on and the transformation begin, the surrendering of themselves for God, living for God instead of living for themselves,” Robinson said.

“As pastor, I see my role as a servant leader to follow Christ and to lead people to understand God’s love for them and their relationship to Him in response to His love. Our mission is to make (people) disciples of Jesus Christ.”

What’s the worst part of the job?

“Some people will tell you the worst part of the job is funerals. But funerals don’t scare me. We’re all going to die at some point. It’s the time constraints, that’s what’s difficult. It’s that so many people need help, and there’s not enough time, there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything you’d like to do.”

What does he do for fun?

“Spending time with my wife is fun. We like to try out different restaurants, travel, work out and enjoy the city.”