A Baptist Church on West Bellfort in Southwest Houston
Willow Meadows Baptist Church sits on West Bellfort Avenue in the 77035 zip code of Southwest Houston, in a neighborhood of single-story homes, schools, and churches that has long defined this corner of the city. The building faces West Bellfort, with the parking lot tucked behind the structure on the north side of the campus, and a second side lot on the east side that leads into the fellowship hall and the offices of Braes Interfaith Ministries, the church's long-standing ecumenical partner.
The congregation identifies with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and works locally through the Union Baptist Association, sharing a percentage of every offering with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Global Missions of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and its own Braes Interfaith Ministries. A percentage also supports the Baptist World Alliance and urban ministry in Houston. The stated mission is straightforward and ambitious at the same time: "to make such a difference in our community that our absence would be noticed."
Worship That Ranges from Taize to Hank Williams
Sunday morning worship begins at 10:45 AM in the sanctuary, with a livestream that runs simultaneously for those joining from home. The service is led musically by a group the church simply calls the Overflow Band, and the description of their repertoire gives a clear sense of the room's range. The same Sunday has, at different points, included second-century Taizé chants, a Hank Williams hymn, a Lennon and McCartney song, and a choir special. Some weeks the feel is "more liturgical and reflective," the church explains, and other weeks "it feels more like a country church down the road." The Sunday bulletin has been known to mix all of those in a single morning.
Every service includes a scripture-based sermon meant to challenge, comfort, and encourage, and the congregation celebrates communion together on the third Sunday of each month. Advent, Lenten, and Holy Week services are part of the yearly rhythm, and childcare is provided for ages three and under. Visitors are told they can dress however they like, sing loudly, pray hard, and stay afterward to meet new friends.
Sunday Mornings Start at 9:30
An hour before worship, at 9:30 AM, the church opens its Sunday Bible Study hour for every age group. Classes for nursery through senior adults meet on campus, with parallel options available through Zoom and conference call so that anyone who cannot be present in person can still join the conversation. The hour ends in time for everyone to move into the sanctuary for the 10:45 service.
The church is candid about what it hopes first-time visitors will find. "Your uniqueness is welcome. Your questions are welcome. Your sorrows are welcome. Your joys are welcome," reads the welcome message on the homepage. "You are welcome. Just the way you are. Really." Returning visitors can fill out a welcome card from the pew and leave it in the offering plate on the way out, and the staff encourages anyone interested in attending to plan a visit through the church office.
Children and Youth: Building Kingdom Connections
Sunday morning programming for young people is structured around the church's concern that, statistically, between 40 and 50 percent of high school students drift from God and the faith community after graduation. The aim is to make key connections early, equip parents to be spiritual leaders at home, and provide a safe, loving environment where kids learn to trust adults.
During the 9:30 hour, the nursery welcomes children ages three and under. Pre-K and Kindergarteners engage in independent and group play, hear Bible stories, and use their creative and imaginative minds. First through fifth graders begin class with various forms of movement to channel their energy, then dive deeper into familiar Bible stories and the lessons that can be drawn from them; virtual lessons are also available. Youth meet together for Bible study and for "in-depth conversations about faith and life applications." By graduation, the hope is that each young person has developed an intimate relationship with God, love for others, and a heart for service in their community and the wider world.
Meadows Preschool
Housed on the same campus is Meadows Preschool, a weekday program serving young children in a safe Christian environment. The school advertises small teacher-to-child ratios, professional and nurturing teachers, play-based learning activities, playgrounds, and a gym, along with creative lesson plans, music, chapel, and library time, and individual attention to each child's needs. The mission statement reads: "to provide a safe Christian environment that nurtures the whole child and supports the child's family so that the child can grow and develop their gifts and abilities."
Meadows Preschool admits children of all race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities of the school, and does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies. Families interested in scheduling a tour or requesting more information can contact Ms. Lupe at 713-255-7025 or by email. Enrollment materials for the '26 - '27 school year, including the tuition schedule, operational policies, and the certificate of health form, are available on the church's preschool page.
Wednesday Around the Table
Wednesday is the day the church gathers around tables. From 2:00 to 5:30 PM, the church library is open to members and preschool families for browsing books, puzzles, and movies, with story times offered by Mrs. Lisa at 2:05 PM, 2:20 PM for school-agers, and 4:05 PM.
At 5:30 PM, dinner is served in the fellowship hall, a three-course meal prepared and served by WMBC staff and volunteers. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children, and reservations are taken through the church office no later than the Sunday before. After dinner, at 6:15 PM, the Glory EmBELLished choir rehearses in the choir room, working on sight-reading and a manageable learning pace in a setting the church describes as a way to "give glory to God through music."
Tuesdays at Two: Baseball Darts
For a lighter midweek gathering, the fellowship hall hosts Baseball Darts every Tuesday at 2:00 PM. Participants catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and play the dart-style baseball game over treats. Those who come for the game are asked to park in the side lot on the east side of the building and enter through the Braes Interfaith Ministries entrance.
Braes Interfaith Ministries and Shearn Elementary
Much of Willow Meadows' local work runs through Braes Interfaith Ministries, a coalition of Judeo-Christian congregations that has provided physical, spiritual, and emotional assistance to families in selected Southwest Houston zip codes (77025, 77035, 77045, 77051, 77053, 77054, 77071, 77085, 77096) since the mid-1980s. In October 2024, BIM marked 40 years of service. Today, BIM distributes food to an average of 530 families each month, totaling more than 1,815 family members, with a little over half of those served being children and seniors. A little over 50% of those helped are children and seniors. The number of families served has increased almost 30% from the previous year, and BIM also offers financial assistance for disconnected utility bills and a free clothing program that serves 671 people a month. Willow Meadows holds an annual donation drive for BIM each fall, and the church also funnels its Souper Bowl of Caring offering to the ministry.
Closer to home, WMBC partners with Shearn Elementary, an HISD K-5 school in the Willow Meadows neighborhood. The church describes its relationship as one of loving the teachers and serving them, whether through goodie bags, classroom support, or encouraging prayers.
Missions in Houston and Around the World
Mission work is built into the rhythm of the year. On every fifth Sunday, the congregation turns its attention outward with a Service Day of multigenerational projects, some completed on the WMBC campus and others carried out in the wider community. The church regularly partners with Houston Welcomes Refugees, COR Houston, Dress for Success Houston, and Angela House, which ministers to women transitioning from incarceration, collecting specific items requested by each organization.
For years, WMBC has also taken teams to the Rio Grande Valley on Martin Luther King weekend, Labor Day weekend, and Memorial Day weekend to serve children and families in local communities, flood survivors, and people facing food and clothing insecurities, homelessness, and extreme poverty. Trips involve both manual and skilled labor and are organized by Toni Hill Kennedy and Lisa Sandoz Robinson.
Each November, the church collects donations and assembles shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, filled with toys and essentials and delivered to children in need around the world. The Missions Emphasis offering in November supports Braes Interfaith Ministries, the Union Baptist Association of greater Houston, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Global Missions of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, urban ministry in the city, special missions projects, the Baptist World Alliance, and WMBC's own local and international mission work.
Hospitality Apartments is another ongoing partner: the ministry provides free temporary housing for families receiving medical treatment in the Texas Medical Center, and WMBC's ministry team has provided meals for those families, a service that has been temporarily paused until it is safe to resume.
Values That Shape the Work
The church describes its ministry around eight core values. Presence is being the presence of Christ alongside other churches in Southwest Houston. Care is growing and living as a family in Christ by loving, serving, listening to, and caring for one another. Inclusion is offering the radical inclusivity of Jesus to everyone, "reflecting the diversity of heaven." Equip and Empower is helping people see their lives and world changed through the love of Jesus. Love is loving all people without barriers and practicing tolerance of different backgrounds and practices so as to express God's love and grace to all by accepting people as they are. Community Action names the goal of making such a difference in the community that the church's absence would be noticed. Worship is thoughtful worship that "transcends styles and labels and unifies people in love for God." Partners is being a church of partnerships, working with existing agencies, organizations, and churches in serving the city and the world.
A Season of Transition
The church is currently in a pastoral transition. After recently celebrating the retirement of former Senior Pastor Craig Taylor, WMBC has begun the process of searching for a new senior pastor. Throughout the fall of 2026, weekly messages will come from various ministry leaders and pastors from the Houston area. Sarah Hemberger serves as Associate Pastor of Worship and Families, a role she has held since 2015 after joining the church in 2012 and later being ordained in 2021. A graduate of Radford University with a Bachelor of Science in Music (Vocal Performance), Sarah began studies at Truett Seminary in Houston in the fall of 2018, working toward a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry. Greg Boyd, who became Facilities Administrator in June 2018 after joining the church the week after Hurricane Harvey, brings a B.S. in Music and Music Education from Houston Baptist University and a Master of Music from Southwestern Theological Seminary, along with twenty years of experience as a Minister of Music.
Special Events Throughout the Year
Beyond the weekly rhythm, Willow Meadows hosts a rotating calendar of special events for children and families, often free and open to the public. Past offerings have included Freedom Quilt Stories, a virtual exhibit honoring Black history and culture through handmade quilts and the secret codes that guided people along the Underground Railroad, crafted by a cherished family friend who worked from "old patterns stuck in her head" until she was 103 years old.
Planning a Visit
Sunday morning Bible Study begins at 9:30 AM for all ages, followed by worship at 10:45 AM in the sanctuary and online. The building faces West Bellfort, with the main parking lot behind the building on the north side of the campus. Visitors can dress as they like, and a welcome card is available in the pew to drop in the offering plate on the way out. Audio of past sermons is available through the WMBC Podcast on Spreaker, and full video of services can be found on the church's YouTube channel, where livestreams of each Sunday's worship are posted. Those who want to plan a visit can reach the church office at 713-723-2870, and online giving is available through a secure giving page.