Northwest Baptist Church

Established in the fall of 1964, Northwest Baptist Church has weathered quite a few storms. Yet, here it stands, a testament to its enduring faith. Northwest Baptist Church’s story begins with Berean Baptist Church of Houston. During a tumultuous period at Berean, Johnny Morgan arrived from Dallas. This marked the birth of Northwest Baptist Church. Morgan shepherded the congregation until 1978. Then, Leland Lanier took the helm. During Morgan’s tenure, the church witnessed not only its own growth but also the birth of Memorial Baptist Church of Conroe. Two young men, Larry Newcomer and Gary Paxton, served on staff during this era. Lanier led Northwest Baptist Church from 1978 until May 2009, when his ministry was tragically cut short by pancreatic cancer. Ron Lee and Thomas McGarity also served on staff under Lanier’s leadership. McGarity later became pastor of Midway Baptist Church in Kountze, Texas. In December 2009, Tim Dulany became pastor of Northwest Baptist Church. His leadership continued until June 2016 when he transitioned to missionary work in Panama. In April 2012, Lester Hutson joined the team as Associate Pastor. He continued his work with the Christian Law Association, published numerous apologetics books, and conducted seminars and speaking engagements. In July 2016, he became senior pastor. Hutson’s experience included pastoring three small churches in the Lufkin area during his teenage years. He also served as pastor of Eleventh Street Baptist Church in Beaumont for 12 years, starting in 1964. In 1976, he moved to Houston and became pastor of Berean Baptist Church for 33 years. He resigned from Berean to focus on evangelism and writing Christian materials. Darren Simpson joined Northwest Baptist Church in January 2020 as Co-Pastor. He transitioned under Hutson’s leadership with the intent of becoming Senior Pastor. Simpson brought leadership experience from two previous churches. He officially assumed the role of Senior Pastor in 2021. Northwest Baptist Church has experienced a revitalization. After some challenging years, new members joined the congregation. The church completed renovations and upgrades to its campus. Located northeast of the Ella/34th Street intersection, the facilities are in excellent condition and the church is debt-free. Northwest Baptist Church currently averages over 100 attendees for Sunday morning services. While committed to maintaining its building, Northwest Baptist Church’s primary focus is on spreading the Gospel. They aim to bring people to Christ and teach them biblical truths. They offer various programs and activities centered on learning about Jesus Christ. Northwest Baptist Church is forward-looking. Their mission is to continue God’s work until Jesus returns. They are a Bible-believing and practicing church. They strive to be a beacon of faith in Houston, particularly in the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest neighborhoods.