Chambers Creek Baptist Church History

On Sunday August 30, 1998 a group of believers held their first meeting in the living room of Jay and Karen Smith. What began as a Sunday School class grew and evolved into a church body.

The beginning lay leaders of the church were Lew Herrington, preaching; and Karen Smith leading worship. Because of the number of people attending, Worship was moved to the Smith’s garage the next Sunday September 6, 1998.

With continued growth, by the sixth week on October 11^th 1998, the meetings were forced to move to the Smith’s concrete floor, metal barn.

On November 15, 1998 these families officially became a Mission Church of Parker Baptist Church in neighboring Parker, Texas. The church entered into a signed covenant of charter members, to work under Parker’s guidance to further God’s Kingdom work. This also enabled the church to gain recognition with the Johnson County Baptist Association.

The church continued to grow with lay people leading all the ministries, including preaching, praise and worship, youth leadership, prayer meetings, teaching, Bible study, missions, and outreach. Seven months later, the Church voted on March 7, 1999 to adopt the name of Chambers Creek Baptist Church. The documentation was submitted on June 23^rd, and the official incorporation was dated June 30^th, 1999 by the official stamp of the Office of Secretary of the State of Texas – Corporations Section.

Also, in March of 1999 five Deacon candidates were selected and ordained to serve in the body.

In May of 1999 guest preachers began to preach and a search for a youth minister began. The first Youth Minister who also preached each week was Jerry Jeter, a student in Seminary who came on May 23^rd, 1999, then was officially called by the church on June 27^th, 1999. Jerry served until he returned to Tennessee in May of 2000.

In June of 1999, the Lord graciously provided ten acres of land to purchase along the main branch of Chambers Creek located on Farm Road 916 East.

The following month, in July of 1999, the church officially became constituted by adopting their written and approved Constitution and By-laws.

On January 23^rd, 2000 the church aligned itself in unique affiliation, with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

In May of 2000 the Church Council met with Randy Weeaks, Sr. Pastor of Walnut Ridge Baptist Church, in Mansfield, Texas. Walnut Ridge agreed to provide Chambers Creek with several areas of leadership: preaching, committee leadership and program leadership. Preaching was provided by Chris Burgan with his first sermon on May 28^th, with financial leadership provided by Joe Ward, and the overall church guidance provided by Pastor Weeaks.

The church purchased an approximate 1800 square foot building in downtown Grandview in July of 2000. The desire was to provide climate-controlled Worship and Sunday School, until a building could be completed on the property purchased on FM-916. The first service in the downtown building was held August 13^th, with several youth and adult Sunday School classes held in various homes due to the lack space.

In November of 2000, at the recommendation of Randy Weeaks, the church began the pursuit of calling a bi-vocational Pastor. On June 10^th of 2001, the church voted to call Bro. Randy Brown as bi-vocational Pastor. Randy, his wife Stacy and children Elise, Marissa and Forrest moved from Tioga, Texas, to work and serve on the field in Grandview.

The church worked and prayed, developing plans to build a new building on the 10 acres purchased east of town, on FM-916 2.2 miles east of I35W. On January 28^th 2002 the church submitted a loan application to the North American Mission Board (NAMB), to provide the majority of the construction costs for the new building.

During the building and planning process on February 24^th 2002, the Lord led the church to call Ronnie Witt to serve as Youth Minister, who served through July 6^th 2003.

Three months after the new building loan application had been in review, the NAMB approved our loan on May 8^th 2002.

On Sunday afternoon, June 2, the Honorable Mayor Mike Schmidt spoke, during our church family ceremony, officially breaking ground to begin construction. Following the ground breaking 70 of our church family gathered, making three circles; the children in the inner safety circle; they were encircled by the youth; with all of the them surrounded by the adults in the outer ring of protection, as we shared together in prayer and commitment. We held to the truth of Psa. 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.

On February 16, 2003 in a special called business meeting after praying for several weeks the church voted unanimously to sell the LIFT building downtown and work toward completion of the new building, concentrating our total ministry at the new campus.

With great excitement, on Sunday May 25, we held our first service in the new building, so blessed to have every Sunday School class, and Worship, in the same building. There were 125 very excited church members, family and friends celebrating that special day.

Finally, the day came we had ultimately been awaiting for. On Sunday August 24^th we held our first Worship service in our new Sanctuary. The celebration included the dedication of the building and the people, along with the 5^th anniversary of the church. There were 189 members, visitors, friends and family there to enjoy this Spirit led service. We began the service celebrating three baptisms, with Kodi Soto being the first believer to be baptized in the new church and new Sanctuary. Afterwards we enjoyed a great time of fellowship with a potluck meal.

On May 16^th 2004 the church voted to call Rodney Morphew as our bi-vocational Youth Minister. Rodney, his wife Vonnie and sons Nic and Tristen had recently moved to Grandview from Maypearl.

On April 17^th 2005 with the growth and administrative needs the church approved a budget revision to add a part time Church Office Administrator for 20 hours a week. Brenda Davis had already agreed to fill that position upon church approval.

On December 13^th 2005, our upstairs expansion loan for $100K was approved by the North American Mission Board. Then on January 15^th, 2006 at the recommendation of the Pastor and Church Council, the church voted to accept the gracious offer of church member Charles Ross to again serve as General Contractor, completing the construction of the 3400 SF upstairs area, which would include a designated area for our Youth, additional Sunday School classes, bathrooms, balcony seating, and some storage.

On Jan 1^st 2006 the church modified the building cleaning and yard mowing needs and agreed to hire a second part-time employee to serve as Facilities Manager. This allowed all the church cleaning and maintenance of the building and grounds to be cared for with a small increase in cost. The first week of January Travis Gregg was hired to fill this part-time position.

On June 25^th, Bro. Randy led the celebration of our upstairs area opening. We dedicated it for the expansion of God’s Word in the hearts and lives of His people, and the building of strong relationships in the lives of teenagers. After the words of dedication we joined in prayer, immediately followed by Bro. Rodney cutting one ribbon and Charles and Gayle Ross and Amie Blue joining hands to cut the other ribbon. The doors were opened for an exciting tour, with donuts, juice and coffee served. The new classes began upstairs that day as well.

On August 30^th, Bro. Rodney resigned after serving for two years and three months as our Youth Minister.

On April 18^th 2007 the church voted to call Chris Nash as our Youth Minister. Chris was a seminary student at SWBTS along with his wife Kim.

Near the end of the summer of 2007, Jackie Spain stepped down as our lay Worship Leader after having done an outstanding volunteer job in that position for nearly six years.

On September 9^th 2007 in a special called business meeting the church agreed to add the budget and position for a bi-vocational Worship Leader to our church staff.

December 16^th 2007 in a special called business meeting the church voted to call Russ Hortman as our churches first called, and paid staff Worship Leader.

March 16^th 2008 was Chris Nash’s last day at CCBC having accepted a full time Youth Ministry position near Memphis Tennessee.

April 13^th in a special called business meeting the church voted to call Chris Perricone as our new Youth Minister.

April 18^th Travis Gregg complete his last day as our Facilities Manager after he and his family worked together for over 2 years doing a wonderful job cleaning and maintaining our building and campus.

On May 2^nd Frank Myrick filled the position as our new Facilities Manager to clean and maintain our building and campus.

Sunday August 3^rd was Russ Hortman’s last day leading our Worship. God answered many needs in the life of the wonderful Hortman family, leading them back to the Houston area to lead Worship and complete seminary.