Who I Am
Darnell Hill
Pastor Darnell Hill is the lead pastor of The Cure Church St. Louis, which he co‑founded with his wife, Sherell Hill, in August 2017. Pastor Hill is committed to transforming lives through faith, community engagement, and powerful preaching. Together with their two daughters, Simone and Naomi, the Hill family plays an active role in nurturing their church community.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Pastor Hill is the founder of the BRITE Program—Building Responsibility and Initiative Through Empowerment—a transformative mentoring initiative dedicated to supporting at‑risk youth. Through this program, Pastor Hill empowers young people by fostering responsibility, leadership, and personal growth, helping them navigate challenges and pursue a positive future.
Pastor Hill also serves as the Trauma Supervisor for the Peak Response Trauma Program in St. Louis. This impactful program focuses on reducing community violence related to trauma while fostering healing for youth exposed to traumatic experiences. His work in trauma care reflects his deep commitment to holistic community support and mental health advocacy.
He holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership, equipping him to lead both in ministry and community development effectively. As a Crisis Intervention Teams State Coordinator for Missouri, he assist in the training and equipping of law enforcement officers and first responders to handle mental health crises with sensitivity and professionalism. Additionally, Pastor Hill is a Resiliency Coping Interventionist Facilitator, teaching individuals how to build resilience in the face of adversity and trauma.
Beyond his church and mental health roles, Pastor Hill serves as a Police Commissioner for the City of Saint Ann and as an advisory member of the “Save Lives Now Project,” a collaborative initiative led by the St. Louis City Mayor office and County Executive to reduce gun violence and violent offenses in the Greater St. Louis Area.
Pastor Hill has also gained national attention for his thought‑provoking public commentary on race relations and systemic issues in America. In June 2020, he was featured in Time magazine’s article, “The Unwritten Rules Black Americans Learn To Navigate Racism,” where he shared his experiences as both a pastor and mental health professional. In this powerful piece, he discussed the emotional and physical coping strategies he teaches Black teenagers to help them navigate societal challenges safely. He poignantly noted, “Every time a minority person is killed, I have to go over these things again,” highlighting the enduring impact of racial tensions on the youth he mentors.
He also appeared on PBS in the segment, “The Talk: Black Americans Have With Their Family,” providing insight into the difficult but necessary conversations Black families have to prepare their children for interactions with racism and unprofessional law enforcement. His compassionate and practical guidance aims to empower Black youth with the tools they need to navigate a society where they may face racial bias.
Celebrated for his engaging and relatable preaching style that resonates with people from all walks of life, Pastor Hill’s dedication to spiritual growth, community leadership, youth empowerment, and social justice advocacy continues to inspire and impact lives both within and beyond his church community.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Pastor Hill is the founder of the BRITE Program—Building Responsibility and Initiative Through Empowerment—a transformative mentoring initiative dedicated to supporting at‑risk youth. Through this program, Pastor Hill empowers young people by fostering responsibility, leadership, and personal growth, helping them navigate challenges and pursue a positive future.
Pastor Hill also serves as the Trauma Supervisor for the Peak Response Trauma Program in St. Louis. This impactful program focuses on reducing community violence related to trauma while fostering healing for youth exposed to traumatic experiences. His work in trauma care reflects his deep commitment to holistic community support and mental health advocacy.
He holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership, equipping him to lead both in ministry and community development effectively. As a Crisis Intervention Teams State Coordinator for Missouri, he assist in the training and equipping of law enforcement officers and first responders to handle mental health crises with sensitivity and professionalism. Additionally, Pastor Hill is a Resiliency Coping Interventionist Facilitator, teaching individuals how to build resilience in the face of adversity and trauma.
Beyond his church and mental health roles, Pastor Hill serves as a Police Commissioner for the City of Saint Ann and as an advisory member of the “Save Lives Now Project,” a collaborative initiative led by the St. Louis City Mayor office and County Executive to reduce gun violence and violent offenses in the Greater St. Louis Area.
Pastor Hill has also gained national attention for his thought‑provoking public commentary on race relations and systemic issues in America. In June 2020, he was featured in Time magazine’s article, “The Unwritten Rules Black Americans Learn To Navigate Racism,” where he shared his experiences as both a pastor and mental health professional. In this powerful piece, he discussed the emotional and physical coping strategies he teaches Black teenagers to help them navigate societal challenges safely. He poignantly noted, “Every time a minority person is killed, I have to go over these things again,” highlighting the enduring impact of racial tensions on the youth he mentors.
He also appeared on PBS in the segment, “The Talk: Black Americans Have With Their Family,” providing insight into the difficult but necessary conversations Black families have to prepare their children for interactions with racism and unprofessional law enforcement. His compassionate and practical guidance aims to empower Black youth with the tools they need to navigate a society where they may face racial bias.
Celebrated for his engaging and relatable preaching style that resonates with people from all walks of life, Pastor Hill’s dedication to spiritual growth, community leadership, youth empowerment, and social justice advocacy continues to inspire and impact lives both within and beyond his church community.