[1][2] Hill was born in Los Angeles and majored in banking and finance at the University of Southern California.
[1] He planned to go law school but was offered a position at the Lake Avenue Baptist Church in Rochester, New York.
[6] This effort brought IAF and the churches into extensive conflict with Eastman Kodak, the leading company in the town.
[3][6] Calvary was also located in a poorer neighborhood, which led to the church opening a homeless shelter in its basement.
[6] In 1978, Hill led efforts to raise money for the bail of convicted spy Donald Humphrey.