Author and evangelist Steve Hill died Sunday following a long battle with melanoma.

“Today, March 9 Steve crossed the finish line. Steve lived every day with eternity in view, today he finally saw it with his own eyes. The Church has lost a general in the faith, heaven has gained a saint,” reads a post on his Facebook ministry page. “Please remember Jeri, Ryan, Shelby, Kelsey and the family in your prayers.”

Well-known as the evangelist for the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Fla., Hill was the best-selling author of several books, including Spiritual Avalanche (Charisma House) and Operating in the Miraculous (Clarion Call Publishing).

“A great warrior has fallen,” said Billy Wilson, president of Oral Roberts University. “One of the great evangelists of our generation is standing in God's presence today. My heart grieves for us, yet my heart rejoices for Steve—he has made it. I have lost a friend, a cheerleader and a fellow laborer in Christ. We love you Steve.”

Fueled by his own dramatic deliverance from drugs, alcohol and crime in 1975, Hill dedicated his life to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. His passion to help those who are hurting and his pursuit of genuine, God-breathed revival continued to intensify after years of missionary work, church planting and evangelistic crusades.

From 1995 to 2000, Hill served as the evangelist of the Brownsville Revival. The meetings drew more than 4 million people from more than 150 nations through the doors of the Brownsville Assembly of God Church.

During the five-year revival, hundreds of thousands wept at the altars, repented of sinful lifestyles and gave their lives to Jesus. Lives were dramatically changed, marriages were restored and addictions were broken as the gospel of Jesus Christ was presented with clarity. After Brownsville, Hill and his evangelistic team continued to hold arena and stadium crusades around the world.

Hill also founded and served as senior pastor, along with his wife, Jeri, of Heartland World Ministries Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Hill founded Heartland School of Ministry, a soul-winning, presence-driven ministry school, as well as ProdigalsOnly.com, a website that encourages people to come back to God.

“A mighty warrior is fallen, earth is the better for his life and the poorer for his passing,” writes John Jeffs on Hill’s Facebook page. “May the Lord raise up a 100 like him, that many may know of the greatness of ‘Go.’ Our hearts go to his family at this time of sorrow. Heaven rejoices as the earthly battle ended the heavenly praise begins. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Editor's Note: Click here to read our cover story on Hill in the April 2013 issue of Christian Retailing.

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