July of 1973…with no building, property or offices, five families that believed God was able and willing to do His work through them decided to start a church in northwest Houston that would be dedicated to reaching people in their community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It would be called Northwest Memorial Baptist Church. On their first Sunday they met in two homes and 19 people were present.
Those founding families then made plans to contact every person in northwest Houston and at their first service on July 1, 1973 in a local school, 236 people attended! The church’s early outreach strategy hinged on a bus ministry where children from all over the area were brought in, and ministry began on the bus ride through songs, stories and interactive teaching! By May 17, 1975 Northwest Memorial Baptist had a record high attendance of 969 people! In 1984 the associate pastor, along with other church members, opened an adoption agency called New Life Children’s Services. Other outreach efforts include: In 1990 the church helped plant a mission church in Fairfield and an amendment was made to change our name from Northwest Memorial Baptist to Houston Northwest Baptist. In 1991 we began an outreach to our community called ‘Christmas on the Parkway’ and in 1993 Zion Baptist Chinese Church began meeting on our campus. Since the mid-90s we have sent out and supported several missionaries and a couple of church plants (one near Seattle, WA and one just down the road inside of Beltway 8)! HNW has been led by five different senior pastors since 1973 and the campus has continued to transform with changing ministry needs. It’s amazing to consider where this church started so many years ago and where God has brought us since. We’re excited to think about what He will do in the years ahead as He continues to change lives for His glory!
