Conference

Our Story

Our purpose

The Heart and Mission
Behind Hill Takers

 

It started as a basic sketch on a napkin in college.  A simple dream to create a place for men to hang out, have fun & engage in authentic community. There was always this stirring & burning conviction in our bones for men to live out & experience a life of heroic faith that God designed us for.

We all grow up in community with teammates, classmates, neighborhood friends to interact with.  Then most of us head off to college where we experience incredibly close community with other students.  Sadly, after graduation, men run hard after careers, cars, starting a family & before we know it we find ourselves in isolation with very few meaningful relationships with other men.  Men need a place & a purpose!

In 2018, a group of us decided to host an evening for men to come together around food, fire & fellowship. It was there on that small stage, in the middle of a grass field, looking out at 12 fire pits blazing in the night sky, 119 men diving into meaningful conversation together that God spoke very clearly…”The harvest is plentiful.  Men need a space.”  In that moment, it became clear God was reaffirming the conviction that we must win back the men!  A commitment that night was made before God that if He would ever provide the resources & the property, we’d faithfully & sacrificially give our lives to engage the men in our community through evangelism & discipleship.

This vision became a reality in the Summer of 2023.  Through a string of miraculous events, Hill Takers Foundation secured a truly unique property & space to buildout this epic space for men.  Since then, God has been showing up in unmistakable “only God-size” ways.  Strongholds are being broken, marriages are being restored, salvations are taking place, baptisms are happening & Jesus Christ is being magnified through all these stories.  Hills are being taken & men are rising up to be the husbands, fathers, sons, neighbors & coworkers that we were created for!  The Hill Country is calling, will you join us?

A Compliment NOT a Competition to the Local Church

We believe every man should be involved in the corporate worship & family community uniquely found in the local church.  We strive to be a compliment not a competition to the church body.  Our experiences & tribes are not intended to replace Sunday morning service but rather provide a powerful resource specific to men, that has a laser-focus on evangelism & discipleship.  Our desire is to see men become “Hill Takers” in their homes, neighborhoods, businesses & churches.  When this happens, Christ is glorified & EVERYONE wins!

Our team

We Are Hill Takers

Blake Steinbraker
President & Board Member

Blake is deeply passionate about guiding men from their current circumstances to the purposeful lives God created them to embrace. Through his own faith journey, he has witnessed firsthand the faithfulness of God, His transformative power, and His relentless pursuit of His children.

His ultimate passion is to see lives changed by following Jesus, with addictions shattered, chains broken, relationships restored, and the kingdom of God advanced.

With unwavering commitment, he empowers men to become stronger followers of Christ, exemplary husbands, nurturing fathers, and inspiring leaders in their communities and beyond.

Through his faith-driven approach, Blake encourages profound spiritual growth and personal excellence, all rooted in biblical principles.

Tim Ainsworth
Board Member

Driven by a passion for men’s ministry, Tim has come to believe that when a man truly follows Jesus, everything changes—his home, his relationships, his community, and the legacy he leaves behind.

Through his own walk, Tim wrestled with trying to fit an enormous God into the margins of a busy life. That changed when he began placing his small life into the hands of that enormous God—and started to witness the impact that kind of faith can have.

Tim’s heart is to see men rise up—not perfectly, but wholeheartedly—and to live out a faith that’s real, rugged, and rooted in Christ. Because faith isn’t a label to wear—it’s a way of life that transforms generations.

The Hill Tim’s Taking: Learning to find joy in his Savior Jesus and not the circumstances of this world—and helping call men into something deeper than the world says is possible.

Tom Lubas
Board Member

Tom joined the board after personally experiencing the life-changing impact of men’s ministry. As someone who is still early in his journey back into the church, he brings a unique perspective – one shaped by real struggles, honest questions, and a renewed desire to follow Jesus with authenticity.

For years, Tom wrestled with the weight of balancing work, family, and the quiet anger he carried over past wounds and disappointments. Like many men, he tried to manage it all on his own—until he began learning what it means to surrender that burden and trust God with the broken and busy parts of life. That shift has marked a turning point in his faith and continues to shape the way he walks with others.

Tom is passionate about creating space for men to be honest, to grow together, and to discover that faith isn’t about perfection….it’s about pursuit. As a board member, he’s committed to helping men experience the kind of transformation that happens when we realize we’re not alone, and that God’s got this.

The Hill Tom’s Taking: Letting go of anxiety and the pressure to control everything and encouraging other men to find peace in knowing that God is in control.

Tim Urbanowicz
Board Member

Tim is driven by a deep desire to see every man come to a saving knowledge of the truth. He is passionate about spiritual multiplication—equipping men to live Spirit-filled lives and to become spiritual reproducers: introducing others to Christ and walking alongside them in discipleship.

 

Tim is a devoted husband to Lynnea and the proud father of four. Together, they make their home in Wheaton, Illinois.

Hill I’m Taking: Surrendering daily—putting Jesus Christ on the throne of my life and dying to self each day.

Trevor Terrell
Board Member
Nate Molby
Director of HT Fitness
Faith and fitness have been pillars in Nate’s life since his early teenage years. Finding the challenge of consistent growth in both to be motivating, he has turned this passion into purpose in recent years. While partnering with his wife, Katie, they have led FAITH FIT Chicago for almost a decade with the purpose to unite faith + fitness within the CrossFit community.
Now through HT FITNESS, he is organizing and leading groups of men to grow together in their faith while leveling up their fitness life simultaneously. Nate believes every man has a responsibility and calling to lead in all aspects of their lives, and becoming more capable and competent will help them run that race daily!
Hill I’m taking: Consistently leading from the front and leading by example in all ways that I encourage men. Showing discipline and intentionality to achieve the goals I have and bring others along the ride!
David Porter
Director of Communication

David has a major heart for men. His life story was greatly impacted by not having an earthly father, but many men entered into his life pouring their wisdom & love into him. From great mentors, to faith leaders and business professionals, and mostly from his relationship with his Heavenly Father, David has learned the impact men can have on ones life.

Being apart of Hill Takers has allowed David to give back, love on other men, and help others seeking the Kingdom. David believes men have a strong influence on their family, relationships, work and community, but also has a responsibility to stand up for those less fortunate and be there in the midst of the storms of life.

David leads in his home, work and community with a loving spirit, and forgiving attitude. He remains committed to help those in need and will continue to share his life’s Faith testimony where ever he goes.

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