PHBC History

In early 1989, Pastor Sam Dennis met with the director of Missions from Denton Baptist Association and the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hebron and was asked to start a new mission in the “soon to grow” area where Denton, Collin, and Dallas Counties converged. From those early meetings the need was determined, others were approached, and ParkwayHills Mission was begun with nine core families all from Northway Baptist Church of Dallas.

.In the early weeks these families, along with others who were praying about being a part of the new work, held “Core Group Meetings” in one another’s homes to pray and organize themselves. Strategies were discussed for outreach, the first worship was planned, and a committee was formed to write the church’s by-laws. The core families were excited as their meetings took on the “feel” of a real-life mission.

A Tent in the Rain

On Easter Sunday, in a drizzling rain, the core families, along with their friends and well-wishers, met under a tent provided by the Baptist Men of Texas at the corner of Frankford and Midway Road for their first public worship. Amidst smiles and tears, the core families “walked the aisle” to officially join and ParkwayHills Mission was begun.

Car Church

Due to the protests of the largest tenant in the shopping area at the southeast quadrant of Frankford and Midway, a private club, who argued the new church might “hurt or intimidate their trade”, the new mission’s application for lease space in the same center was denied. A city ordinance that no alcohol be served or sold within 1,000 feet of a church worked in reverse as the private club, rather than the church, protested. However providentially this early adversity brought to the members a “can do” spirit which has become synonymous with the spirit of ParkwayHills. Immediately, one of the members stepped forward to offer his business site free of charge. For the next 6 months ParkwayHills Mission met in the member’s auto sales facility on his showroom floor. Each Sunday exotic cars were driven out so chairs and a pulpit could be put in. His business, named CarSearch, became affectionately known by the members as “CarChurch.”

2700 Dallas Parkway

Over the next few months ParkwayHills members pledged and gave $248,000, appointed a Building Committee, hired an architect, and began construction on the first permanent facility. Finally, the day came for the church’s first worship service in their own building. It was the first Sunday in February, 1994. On that day people openly wept as partitions and equipment were brought in for set up for the last time. As anticipated and prayed for, the church was out of room. In the fall of that same year all the adult classes but one moved off campus for Bible Study at the Presbyterian Hospital of Plano less than a mile away and the church began offering two morning worship services.

The next few months continued to bring tremendous growth. From average attendance in the last months of Brinker of 138 in Sunday Bible Study and 160 in worship, to an average attendance over the same period one year later of 262 in Sunday Bible Study and 327 in worship, ParkwayHills was literally bursting at the seams. The congregation was teased that it was the church with a building tied onto itself. Weekly, new classes were begun on campus and off, anywhere space could be found.

Multiple Challenges / Multiple Opportunities

As ParkwayHills continued, it was apparent the church could either wait for additional buildings before growing or become even more flexible in meeting the need. In perhaps the churches finest hour, the last 2 years has found the same missionary “can-do” spirit still alive here. Staff was added without offices, classes without rooms as ParkwayHills moved to offer 3 Sunday Morning Worship Services and 2 Sunday Morning Bible Study opportunities. And, during the last two months January and February 1997, the church, while waiting on its building, averaged over 560 in Morning Bible Study attendance and 650 in Morning Worship.

The spirit of ParkwayHills, the spirit of “The Church Without Walls,” is one still prevalent today. As we enter our new building we are dedicated to remaining a church where loves lives and where gentle words are spoken. We begin with two Morning Worship Services and with 3 Sunday Bible Study times because we really are a church waiting for you. And, as one member put it, “we’re glad that you are here, we’ve been looking for you, here,....take my seat.”