Our Church History
It was September 1964 when Northwest Baptist Church was born. The start and the trip have seen much travail; but through it all, the Lord has planted a church here that has resulted in many people coming to Christ. Many people both in Houston and worldwide have come to know Christ as a direct result of this church. Though her commitment to world-wide missionary work many others continue to be saved.
Northwest Baptist Church has its roots in Berean Baptist Church of Houston. During a great time of storm at Berean Johnny Morgan came to Houston from Dallas and Northwest was born. Bro. Morgan was pastor here until 1978 when the church called Bro. Leland Lanier as pastor. It was during Bro. Morgan’s pastorate that Memorial Baptist Church of Conroe was born. While Bro. Morgan was here two young men served on the staff: Larry Newcomer and Gary Paxton.
Bro. Lanier was pastor of Northwest from 1978 through May of 2009. Pancreas cancer cut short the ministry of this dearly beloved man of God. Men who served on the Northwest staff during Bro. Lanier’s pastorate included Ron Lee and Thomas McGarity. Bro. McGarity is now pastor of Midway Baptist Church in Kountze, Texas. In December of 2009 Bro. Tim Dulany became pastor at Northwest Baptist. He served as pastor here through June 2016 when he transitioned to missionary to Panama.
In April of 2012 the church asked Bro. Lester Hutson to come on board as Associate Pastor. He continued his ministry with the Christian Law Association, published a number of apologetics-oriented books and conducted numerous seminars and other speaking engagements until July 1, 2016 when he assumed the role of senior pastor. In his teen years Bro. Hutson served as pastor of three small churches in the Lufkin, Texas area. In 1964 he began a 12 year ministry as pastor of the Eleventh Street Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas. In 1976 he moved to Houston where he became the pastor of Berean Baptist Church for 33 years. He resigned from Berean in order to pursue a ministry of evangelism and the authorship of books and other Christian materials.
Bro. Darren Simpson came on in January of 2020 as Co-Pastor to transition under Bro. Hutson's leadership with the expectation of becoming the Senior Pastor. He brought with him experience in leadership at two previous churches. In 2021, he beame the Senior Pastor of Northwest Baptist Church.
God has given Northwest Baptist renewed life and strength. The church experienced a number of very trying years, but the Lord brought new people. The church has completed a remodeling program and campus upgrade. The lovely facilities just northeast of the Ella/34th Street intersection are in an excellent state of repair and the church is debt-free. Northwest Baptist Church currently averages just over 100 in regular Sunday morning attendance.
We are constantly working to improve our church building and facilities, however we are keenly aware that the church is not the property and buildings. Our primary business is to bring people to Christ and ground them in the great truths of the Bible. That’s our main focus. We have several programs and activities to engage you in learning about Jesus Christ!
Northwest Baptist Church is not as into the past as it is into the future. We want to be here doing the job until Jesus returns. Northwest is a sound Bible teaching and practicing church. It is our heart to be a true lighthouse in Houston, Texas and in the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest neighborhoods to the glory of our great God.
Today's Verse
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.