Dr. Malcolm W. (Chip) Hill, Jr. is the founder of Appalachian Christian Outreach Ministries, International (ACOMI), a multi-faceted ministry whose goal is to help birth spiritual revival and awakening throughout the Appalachian Mountains and beyond. He also pastors Word of Faith Church and Revival Center, a thriving family of believers in the small mountain town of Monterey, Virginia. The church began as a Bible study in his home in January 1978.

In January 1974, Chip was a restless young man, trying to find his identity in many of the activities the world offers to young men. But on the night of January 21st, he learned of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. This revelation had a profound effect on Chip, and it altered the course of his life. That night, he embraced Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior, and a radical revolution immediately began. His time filled up with the things of God, and the old past times of partying, drinking, and womanizing were replaced with means of grace that strengthened Chip for the life God had planned for him. The written Word of God  and prayer soon became the joy and rejoicing of Chip’s heart, and his desire to teach what he was learning pervaded his entire being.

At age 18, a few years before coming to Christ, Chip had begun to suffer from severe rheumatoid arthritis; a disease that Satan said would put him in a wheelchair by the time he was thirty. After coming to Christ at age 22, this was to be Chip’s first major fight of faith. As he fought this battle, he learned many crucial things about himself and the redemption Jesus offers to those who will follow Him. Like the “long war” the house of David fought with the house of Saul (2 Samuel 3:1), Chip had to stand and fight for his healing for many years. The contest filled him with a deep love and appreciation for the word of faith, and strengthened his conviction that the enemy was defeated at the cross. Many secrets for victory were revealed to Chip as he stood in faith for his own healing, and the passionate outcome of this revelation flows out to the people with whom he comes in contact on the street, in churches and at conferences. A strong anointing to pray for people suffering with autoimmune diseases like arthritis is on Chip’s ministry.

In 1977, Chip married Darlene, a wonderful Christian who had known the Lord since she was 15 years old. Together they started Word of Faith Church, as well as helped to establish several sister churches in their region of the Appalachians. They also raised three children, Bruce, Jachin (pronounced Jaykin) and Ashton. Bruce and Ashton attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Jachin graduated from Fire School of Ministry, then in Pensacola, Florida.

In the process of childrearing and helping her husband to establish the church in Monterey, Darlene developed into a fountain of wisdom and gained a profound understanding of biblical principles, which she shares in parables and practical illustrations with great humor and hard-hitting honesty. She has become quite a feature at women’s retreats and conferences.

In the process of being a pastor, helping to plant churches, and researching and writing numerous theses and manuscripts, Pastor Chip earned a Master of Divinity degree as well as doctorates in theology and pastoral psychology. 

Appalachian Christian Outreach Ministries International
The apostolic thrust of the Hill’s ministry is found in Appalachian Christian Outreach Ministries International (ACOMI), a network of likeminded churches and ministries that share a common vision for revival in the mountains. A verse in Isaiah 65 says, “the new wine is in the cluster,” and that “a blessing is in it.” Chip and Darlene believe that in this hour the Lord is uniting churches and ministries in loving relationships so that together they can make a maximum impact in their respective regions and nations, and that together they can partake of the spoils of spiritual battle, which are the rescued souls of men and women.