Unrestrained Grace in Waxahachie
Park Meadows Church, just off Highway 77 North in Waxahachie, hangs its identity on a single phrase: "Unrestrained Grace is spoken here." Since 1986 the congregation has shaped its life around the idea that church should be welcoming, casual, and free of guilt. A second line, "Find grace for everyday life!", is the thread that ties its programs together.
From the Waxahachie YMCA to a Four-Hundred-Seat Auditorium
Park Meadows was founded in 1986 and first met at the Waxahachie YMCA. Three years later, in 1989, the church moved to its present location on Highway 77 North. A larger auditorium was added in 2001, opening enough space to seat more than four hundred people and to host special events including the twice-yearly dessert theaters staged each fall and spring.
The church is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The congregation ended its relationship with the Southern Baptist Convention in 1993, having concluded that it no longer represented the loving, grace-filled approach members wanted to follow. Through the early 2000s the name still carried the word "Baptist," but leadership is quick to point out that they are not a typical Baptist church. There are no pews, no hymnals, and no expectation that visitors stand up and introduce themselves. Fresh-brewed coffee is served free each Sunday morning in the auditorium, and coats and ties can stay at home.
Sunday Morning in the Auditorium
The Sunday rhythm centers on a 10:00 AM Worship Celebration. Around it the church runs two LIFE Group hours: adult LIFE Groups meet at 9:00 AM, and LIFE Groups for all ages meet again at 11:00 AM, with children and students in classes of their own. A 50-and-up class meets at 9:00 AM in Room 122 led by Joe Langley, and an all-ages class meets at 11:00 AM in the B/C rooms led by Robin Nelson.
Music is one of the things first-time visitors tend to remember. The song service draws from a deliberately broad mix of hymns, contemporary praise songs, and pieces visitors might not expect to hear in church. Instruments include guitars, keyboards, and drums, and often a violin, flutes, and a French horn. The direction comes from music minister Robin Nelson, who has served at Park Meadows since 1992 and is also the writer and director of the church's dessert theater productions.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
Wednesday evenings are the second pillar of the weekly schedule. From 6:30 to 7:30 PM the Student Ministry gathers middle and high schoolers for games, Bible lessons, and prayer (with a break during spring and a summer pause beginning in mid-May). At the same time, Faith Weavers and a Discipleship Class run for children, an adult Bible study meets, and a Bikers Bible Study is open every Wednesday evening.
Beginning in October, the church adds a special study called The Chosen Bible Study on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Held at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall, each gathering opens with an episode of the television series The Chosen, followed by a relaxed group discussion about the episode, the Scripture behind it, and what it means for everyday faith.
On the second Wednesday of each month the whole church pulls up a chair for a family supper presented by the Women's Ministry. Recent menus have included a baked potato bar with salad, served at a modest price with reservations due by noon on the Tuesday before. After the meal there is a brief church business meeting.
Children, Students, and the Next Generation
Karen Summers has been Park Meadows' Children's Pastor since 1998. Her team works with children from birth through fifth grade, teaching biblical truths through skits, music, crafts, and games, and partnering with parents in helping their children grow into a relationship with Jesus Christ. The children's program includes Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and camps organized throughout the year.
Student Ministry is led through Wednesday nights and a summer camp window. The full-time Youth Pastor position is expected to be filled soon, with adult volunteers keeping the program running in the meantime.
Men, Women, Grief Support, and the Wider Community
The Men's and Women's ministries operate independently, gathering when brothers or sisters in Christ want to encourage each other, take on a service project, or simply enjoy each other's company. A Ladies Bible Study meets Tuesdays at 10:00 AM in Room 122 and has been working through "Forty Days of Renewal" by Jeremy White.
A Grief Support Group meets on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 PM in Room 122 off the Fellowship Hall. The group is open to anyone age 19 and up and is currently led by Brad Hays.
Park Meadows also hosts a Free Groceries giveaway roughly once a month in the church auditorium, with volunteers arriving in the early afternoon before distribution begins. The church describes itself as a place for people who were not already attending church, had dropped out of church, or were looking for something casual and non-judgmental.
Leadership and an Open Door
The church is currently between pastors: the previous pastor resigned in early 2026, and Brad Hays is serving as Interim. Brad and his wife Luanne bring decades of church leadership experience, and Brad himself is a long-time member of Park Meadows who once served as its Youth Pastor. Sunday messages are available in the sermon archive, and giving is supported online through the Give+ app under the name "Park Meadows Baptist Church." The office can be reached at 972-937-0073 or at info.parkmeadows@gmail.com.