May Update: Introducing Hill Country Lutheran Church

From Vicar Josiah Junkin, Planting Team Chair

The planting team has taken input from interested parties, discussed it among ourselves, prayed, and have decided on a name for the Viroqua Church Plant: Hill Country Lutheran Church.

Here are some reasons why the planting team likes the name:

1.     Unique: There is not a single LCMS church that has the name Hill Country. There are some hill country churches in Texas near San Antonio and Austin, but there are no Christian churches in the Midwest with this name.

2.     Regional: The name reflects the hilly terrain of Vernon County. Viroqua is built on a hill.

3.     Biblical: The phrase “hill country” appears 98 times. This is more than the word “gospel” appears. The Hebrew word hill/mountain appears more than the word Christ. Topology was on the minds of the Old Testament people. When the Israelites returned from the Exodus, it was the Hill Country of the Amorites and the Hill Country of Ephraim which they conquered. Anyone who has visited Jerusalem knows it’s the Hill Country. When Mary found out she was pregnant, she visited Elizabeth in the Hill Country of Judea, a place we recognize today as a suburb of Jerusalem. Psalms 120–134 are known as the Psalms of Ascent, and likely, they sang them on their pilgrimages up to Jerusalem—the Hill Country. Of note is Psalm 121:1–2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

The Israelites conquered the Hill Country and made it their home. Mary sought refuge in the Hill Country during her time of pregnancy with our Lord. The Lord was crucified on Mount Calvary. We gather at Hill Country Lutheran Church to find a place to have our Lord conquer our sins, give us refuge in time of need, and that the fruit of Mount Calvary can be delivered to us.