Behold Jesus, Cultivate Disciples
Northside Baptist Church sits on the corner of Keller Springs and Old Denton Road in Carrollton, Texas, just north of Dallas. From a single campus at 2000 Denton Drive, this Baptist congregation works to do two things at once: hold up Jesus and grow his followers. "Behold Jesus, Cultivate Disciples" is the motto that frames everything from Sunday preaching to Wednesday children's ministry. The church describes itself as a "Fundamental, Evangelical, Non-Charismatic, and Baptist faith community," and it roots that identity in a written Articles of Faith that runs from the inerrancy of Scripture to the practice of believer's baptism by immersion.
The mission statement ties the whole church together: "We exist to help ordinary people experience extraordinary living through the power and love of Jesus Christ." That mission rests on the Great Commandment to love God and love people, and on the Great Commission to make disciples of all peoples. Two shorter slogans capture the spirit: "Deficient people, sufficient God," and the central "Behold Jesus, Cultivate Disciples." The church's tagline for weekly life is simply to join as a community for a time of worship, with the prayer that God blesses the preaching of the word so that it "might penetrate our hearts and impact our lives in the week ahead."
Sunday at Northside
The Sunday rhythm at Northside begins at 9:15 am with Bible study for all ages. Children meet in graded classes, students gather for discussion, young adults study together, and the broader adult congregation works through the same passage in parallel groups. At 10:15 am the morning worship service begins. A second worship gathering follows at 6:00 pm, giving the church two Sunday opportunities for preaching, congregational singing, prayer, and the regular celebration of the Lord's Supper.
Worship at Northside is participatory and contemporary. On-screen lyrics guide the singing, and members are invited to join in rather than simply watch. A pastoral prayer acknowledges dependence on Christ for the church's work and personal needs. The sermon seeks to communicate "God's Truth in compelling, relevant ways." Giving is presented as an act of worship, "not under compulsion of any kind but out of a joyful heart." The service closes with fellowship: time to chat, meet newcomers, and build the kind of relationships that continue through the week.
Wednesday Evenings for the Whole Family
Midweek at Northside is built around the family. At 6:30 pm, "The Point Youth" fills the student space with live music, games, and Bible teaching for middle and high schoolers. At 7:00 pm two programs run in parallel: KidZone for children from kindergarten through sixth grade, and a Prayer Meeting Service for adults. The KidZone hour combines games, a Bible lesson, and time to play together. On select Wednesdays the program takes on a seasonal theme - "Water Night" with water games has become a popular back-to-school kickoff, with kids invited to wear old clothes and bring towels.
NBC Kids: Nursery Through Sixth Grade
Children's ministry at Northside, branded NBC Kids, covers nursery through sixth grade and meets across three Sunday slots. First through sixth graders have Sunday School from 9:15 to 10:00 am, broken into age-graded classes so that each child hears the Bible at their level. Children's Church at 10:15 am is designed for ages four and five, while Kid's Klub serves first through fourth graders at the same hour. Wednesday's KidZone at 7:00 pm extends the program through sixth grade. Liz Malone serves as the Children's Ministry Coordinator, and the curriculum brings the Bible to life through Bible study, music, missions, and special events.
Beyond Sunday and Wednesday, NBC Kids plans seasonal outings and overnight trips. Each summer the children travel to Camp Minnetonka in Clayton, Oklahoma, for a week of swimming, zip-lining, games, friends, and worship. Recent summers have included a pre-teen track for kids who have just finished second through fifth grade, fall water nights, "Movies, Mayhem, and Munchies" evenings with snacks and a family film, and field trips to the Historical Park in Farmers Branch to explore an old railroad depot, general store, one-room schoolhouse, and old church. Vacation Bible School is another annual highlight. Recent themes have included "Wonder Junction," an Old West adventure, and "Emerald Crossing," a journey through Ireland's landscapes built around the words of Psalm 23 and the life of David.
Students: Pointing Teenagers to Christ
Northside's student ministry gathers middle and high schoolers twice a week. Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 pm offer live music, fun games, and Bible teaching designed to "encourage and strengthen students to grow in faith." Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:00 am provide a more focused Bible study that addresses the topics students face day to day. Day'Quann Ervin serves as the Student Pastor and frames the ministry around four pillars: being with Jesus through prayer, living out and sharing the Gospel, making disciples, and giving a reason for the hope believers carry. The aim, he explains, is for each student to see their need for a Savior and then "the urgency to make Him known to their friends," with the long-term hope that students remain connected to the church after they graduate from high school.
Summer student ministry centers on Falls Creek Youth Camp in Davis, Oklahoma, a week of worship, Bible study, games, and friendship. Closer to home, the student ministry hosts a "Night of Fun" outreach each spring, inviting local high schoolers to join for a night of worship, food, and games, and partners with other youth groups for a local mission trip serving Carrollton organizations. Holiday parties - back to school, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a Super Bowl party in the youth room and gym - give students regular reasons to gather, and Parents Night Out gives moms and dads a few hours to themselves while the church cares for their children.
Young Adults
College students and young career professionals find a dedicated gathering point at Northside. The young adult ministry meets for Bible study on Sundays at 9:15 am and again on Fridays at 7:10 pm, mixing Scripture study, worship, and fellowship. Jon Fox, the church's Worship and Family Pastor, oversees this ministry along with the broader family ministry focus.
Men's and Women's Bible Studies
Discipleship for adults at Northside takes shape in gender-specific groups. Men gather on Saturday mornings from 8:00 to 9:15 am in the church student center, working through God's word together, with a group breakfast on the third Saturday of each month. The men's ministry is built around the conviction that "men are ministers to their families," with the goal of growing men in their faith and equipping them to lead at home and at church. Pastor Mark Dallalio oversees this ministry.
Women meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 pm for an in-depth study of Scripture, walking through books of the Bible on a printed Tuesday study schedule. The women's ministry emphasizes both sound theology and authentic community, seeking to help women grow in their faith "no matter where they are at in their relationship with Jesus."
Community Groups and Discipleship
Beyond the regular men's, women's, and young adult Bible studies, Northside runs seasonal Community Group Sessions during the year. Recent seasons have included a six-week study of the Book of Jonah led by David Platt, with small groups meeting once a week in homes across the area, and a five-week study of James, paired with a Sunday fellowship night. Group leaders are paired - couples and ministry leaders who shepherd a handful of adults through study, prayer, and care for one another. The Community Group model intentionally builds cross-generational relationships and pauses the Sunday evening service so members can invest in their groups.
For those newer to the faith, the church offers a clear "Next Steps" pathway: become a member, join the mission, live in community through a small group, grow in faith through discipleship, become a Christian, get baptized, and give generously. The Connection Desk in the lobby after any service is the on-ramp for those conversations, and the church's "Our Savior" page walks visitors through the gospel with Bible verses and a sample prayer.
Missions, Food Distribution, and Good News Club
Outward focus at Northside flows in three directions. First, the church currently supports more than eighty missionaries and ministries both locally and around the world through financial giving, prayer, and encouragement. Each year a month is dedicated to missions, filled with events designed to inform and stir up an "endearment of the mission God gives all Christians." Among the supported missionaries is the Paton family, Matt and Flor, who serve in the Dominican Republic. Matt felt his call to missions on a 1997 trip to Mexico, met his wife Flor the following summer while serving with missionary Joey Starling, and has been ministering in the Dominican Republic ever since.
Second, Northside partners with Grace Bridge to run a monthly food distribution. Food boxes are handed out on the third Saturday of every month from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, with the intent to serve families in need both physically and spiritually. Registration is handled through Grace Bridge, and volunteers from the church help load boxes and pray with families.
Third, Good News Club is an after-school evangelism program sponsored by Northside and led by Beth Banning. Clubs currently meet at Good Elementary and Carrollton Elementary, providing a safe place for children to learn about Jesus and build friendships after the school day ends. Vetted and trained leaders run the program, and permission slips are required because the club is faith-based. The church also participates in the Operation Christmas Child collection each year.
What Northside Believes
The church's Articles of Faith begin with Scripture: "Every word in the original writings is inspired by God and is without error," accurate in spiritual, historical, and scientific matters. God exists eternally in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - of the same substance and one God. The eternal Son became incarnate as Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary, "true God and true man," who died physically on the cross, was bodily resurrected three days later, and then ascended to heaven. The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, baptizes, and seals believers at the moment of faith, empowering those yielded to God.
Northside teaches that man was created in God's image but fell into sin through Adam, leaving all humanity justly condemned and unable to merit salvation. Salvation is given to those drawn by the Holy Spirit, through belief in Christ's substitutionary death and resurrection. Receiving Christ involves acknowledging Jesus as God's Son, repenting from personal sin, and inviting Christ to be Lord of one's life. The church practices two ordinances: the Lord's Supper, celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ's death and in expectation of his return, and water baptism by immersion as an outward testimony of belief. Northside also identifies itself as a Baptist church in the historic sense - "a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel."
Planning a First Visit
Visitors can find Northside at 2000 Denton Drive in Carrollton, on the corner of Keller Springs and Old Denton Road. Sunday Bible study for all ages begins at 9:15 am, followed by the morning worship service at 10:15 am and an evening service at 6:00 pm. Parking is available on site, and worship is described as a participatory, contemporary experience with on-screen lyrics - members are invited to sing along rather than observe. The church livestreams worship through its YouTube channel, so those unable to attend in person can still join online. Giving is available online, by texting "nsbcc" to 73256, or through the Realm Connect mobile app. Right Now Media, a video library of more than 20,000 Biblically based titles covering marriage, parenting, youth, recovery, leadership, and finances, is free for everyone connected to Northside. A Connection Desk in the lobby after services offers a place to ask questions about baptism, membership, or next steps in faith.
Leadership
J. Mark Dallalio serves as the head pastor of Northside Baptist Church. Jon Fox is the Worship and Family Pastor, overseeing worship, young adults, and family ministry. Carlos Meneses leads as the Hispanic Pastor. Day'Quann Ervin is the Student Pastor. Liz Malone coordinates children's ministry. Beth Banning leads the Good News Club outreach. Together they staff a church committed to helping "ordinary people experience extraordinary living through the power and love of Jesus Christ."