Pastor Search
Pursue God · Love Well · Serve the World
A Letter from the Search Committee
Dear Pastor,
Thank you for taking time to get to know Heritage Park Baptist Church. For nearly 50 years, God has used this congregation to transform lives across the Clear Lake Area — and we believe the next chapter will be the most fruitful yet.
We are a healthy, debt-free church with a strong staff, a generous congregation, and a long history of loving our pastors well. In 49 years we have had only three senior pastors, and each was sent out to new ministry with our blessing.
We are praying for a pastor who will lead us in pursuing God, loving well, and serving the world. As you read these pages, we hope you will see a church family ready to follow faithful leadership — and a place where you and your family could thrive.
With gratitude,
The HPBC Pastor Search Committee
Pastor Profile
PASTOR PROFILE for Heritage Park Baptist Church
At Heritage Park Baptist Church, we are committed to following Jesus as He gives grace to us. We want to impact our community and reach new people, both believers and unbelievers, welcoming them into our Christ-following church family. We want to live like Jesus reigns over everything and are looking for a pastor who will build on that culture with us.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be a pastor to the whole congregation, a man who cares more about the health and growth of the flock than the size of the crowd. People skills matter more than charisma. This is a man who values serving alongside the people as much as preaching: a shepherd, not a CEO. He is approachable and invests in people, staff, and members alike.
He is a man clearly led by God, who communicates and listens well. He preaches Scripture in a way that feels personal and engaging rather than academic or removed. He is wise, honest, transparent, and trustworthy. He is prayerful, Spirit-led, and compassionate. His character speaks as loudly as his gifting.
Education
A Bachelor's degree is required; working toward or already holding a Master of Divinity or Master of Theology from an accredited seminary is preferred. A doctoral degree, completed or in progress, is a plus.
Experience
Five or more years of vocational ministry experience which includes preaching; prior senior pastor experience is preferred. Beyond years served, he should have strength in leadership, relationships, and discipleship. He is someone who has shown he can inspire generous stewardship in a congregation and navigate conflict well.
Qualifications
The Pastor candidate is a man of established and true Christian character, qualified to preach and teach the Word of God as described in:
1 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV:
Titus 1:5-9 ESV:
Skills and Spiritual Gifts
- A committed student of Scripture, saturated with the Holy Spirit. He treats the Word of God as the authority for truth, teaching, and counsel ()
- A confirmed calling to vocational ministry ()
- Practices pastoral leadership according to Christ's teachings ()
- Comfortable preaching expositionally as well as topically ()
- A genuine passion for helping people know God and become more Christlike ()
- A heart for evangelism, both in preaching and discipleship ()
- A shepherd's demeanor, knowing he and his congregation are imperfect people being made holy ()
- Able to offer marriage or personal counseling ()
- Comfortable leading a team of ministers, helping them grow as he grows ()
- Must love, honor, and be faithful to his wife and help train up his children in the way they should go (; ; ; )
Responsibilities
The Pastor will lead and carry out the following responsibilities in keeping with the purpose, vision, and values of Heritage Park Baptist Church.
- Give preaching the largest share of his time, followed closely by pastoral care and staff leadership
- Play an active role in the church's vision and long-range planning
- Take responsibility for how well the staff works together and performs
- Stay active in the community and keep working alongside other local churches and ministries
- Collaborate on worship planning
- Shepherd the whole congregation, across every generation
- Help lead our church toward stronger relationships within the congregation, reaching young people and families, and strengthening our existing ministries
- Lead collaboratively, seeking input from committees and the congregation rather than leading alone
Authority and Accountability
The Pastor's authority lies in the authority of the Word of God.
The Pastor is accountable to the congregation as currently stated in our church bylaws.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Church Profile
Heritage Park Baptist Church — Pastor Search Profile
At a Glance
HPBC is a stable, debt-free congregation of about 340 weekly in-person worshipers with a $1.34 million budget and a history of long pastoral tenures.
| Founded | 1977, planted by First Baptist Church Friendswood |
|---|---|
| Senior pastors | 3 in 49 years |
| Location | 2732 FM 528, Webster, TX — 25 miles south of Houston, on 5 acres where Webster, League City, and Friendswood meet |
| Sunday worship | 8:30am and 11:00am (identical services, blended contemporary and traditional) |
| Average in-person worship attendance | 350 (2025 – Sept. 2026) |
| Average Sunday School attendance | 125 |
| Annual budget | $1.34 million (2026–27) |
| Debt | None |
| Cooperative Program giving | 10% of offerings |
| Affiliations | Union Baptist Association, Baptist General Convention of Texas, Southern Baptist Convention |
| Governance | Congregational |
| Church plants | 3rd Coast Church (2020) |
| Ministerial staff | 6 ministers plus support staff |
| Website | heritagepark.org |
| facebook.com/heritageparkbc |
A Church with a Gospel Legacy
Heritage Park Baptist Church (HPBC) began in 1977 as a church plant of First Baptist Church Friendswood. Located approximately 25 miles south of Houston on five acres near the meeting point of Webster, League City, and Friendswood, the church was established as the region grew alongside NASA’s Space Shuttle program and the petrochemical industry. From the beginning, Heritage Park has sought to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to its neighbors.
Judson Edwards served as founding pastor for 20 years, until 1997. Steve Buckland followed from 1998 to 2005. After a season of staff transition, Trent Henderson became the church’s third pastor in 2007. During more than 19 years of ministry, he helped shape a sustained emphasis on discipleship, gospel transformation, and mission. In mid-2026, Trent Henderson accepted a position as Dean of Chapel and Spiritual Life at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. Josh Ellis, Executive Director of the Union Baptist Association, currently serves as interim pastor. HPBC enters this new chapter grateful for its history and eager to discern what God has ahead.
Our Vision: Pursue God. Love Well. Serve the World.
Heritage Park describes itself as a family of missionaries committed to making apprentices to Jesus Christ who pursue God, love well, and serve the world. Rooted in the Great Commission (), this vision understands discipleship as more than the accumulation of biblical knowledge. The gospel changes people from the inside out, reshaping their allegiance, affections, character, and relationships.
Five values give practical expression to this vision: Gospel Transformation; Saturated with Scripture; Church Is Family; Neighbor Is a Verb; and Ready to Launch. Together they describe a congregation that wants to be formed by God’s Word, live in authentic community, love neighbors through tangible action, and send people into the world as witnesses to Christ. These are not simply ministry slogans; they express the kind of church Heritage Park seeks to be.
Biblical Convictions
HPBC’s statement of beliefs affirms the one true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ; his atoning death, bodily resurrection, and promised return; and the Holy Spirit’s work in regeneration, sanctification, and the empowering of believers. The Bible is held to be inspired, without error in its original manuscripts, and the supreme authority for faith and conduct.
Salvation is received through repentance and trust in Jesus Christ, not human achievement. The church understands the local congregation as a fellowship of believers baptized upon a credible profession of faith and joined together for worship, witness, work, and fellowship. Its teaching calls believers to holiness, stewardship, and transformation for the good of others. Heritage Park’s membership materials also articulate a biblical understanding of marriage as the covenantal union of one man and one woman. These convictions shape its teaching, discipleship, and shared life.
Worship & Sundays
About 340 people worship in person at HPBC each Sunday across two identical services, with 125 in Sunday School between them.
| Sunday | Time | Average in-person attendance (2025 – Sept. 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Worship service | 8:30am | 130 |
| Sunday School, all ages | 9:45am | 125 |
| Worship service | 11:00am | 210 |
Worship blends contemporary and traditional music. The 11:00am service is broadcast through the church's Live Stream Portal and on multiple platforms, so members who are traveling, homebound, or exploring the church can take part.
Ministries & Weekly Life
HPBC offers ministry for every age, from infants to senior adults, on Sundays, Wednesday nights, and throughout the week.
Wednesday nights
Wednesday evenings bring the whole church together, with activities for every age group:
- Preschool ministry — childcare for children under 3 whose parents serve in Kid Connect or attend a Bible Study.
- Kid Connect — ages 3 through 5th grade, with Bible lessons, worship, and fun games.
- Encounter — students in 6th through 12th grades, with singing, prayer, and Bible Study.
- Adult Bible Studies — multiple study options for everyone, featuring men's, women's, co-ed groups.
Kids (birth – 5th grade)
Preschool childcare is provided during both services and Sunday School, and elementary kids meet for Sunday School in the upstairs Kids hall. Every child is checked in and out securely through the Church Center app.
Students (6th – 12th grade)
The student ministry aims to develop students who own their own faith. Students meet in adult-led Discipleship Groups on Sunday mornings and at Encounter on Wednesdays. They attend summer camp, and each summer they spend a week serving with Galveston Urban Ministries.
Adults
We believe deep life transformation means "sitting in a circle as well as a row." Adults gather in 11 Sunday morning classes, organized by life stage, from early 20s and young marrieds to empty nesters and senior adults. Women's Bible Studies meet on weekday mornings throughout the year, and Small Groups for youth and adults meet on weekday evenings, mostly in homes.
Crossroads
Crossroads is a weekly after-school ministry on the campus of Wedgewood Elementary, carrying HPBC's love for kids beyond our own walls.
Annual Events
A full calendar of events draws the church family together across generations and opens our doors to the community.
| Event | When | For | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collide | January | Students | A weekend student ministry gathering of 20+ likeminded churches who desire to worship, learn, and grow together |
| Women's Retreat | February | Women | A weekend of worship, fellowship, Bible Study, and connection |
| Nicaragua Mission Trip | March | Students and adults | A short-term mission trip to Nicaragua |
| Belize Mission Trip | June | Students and adults | A short-term mission trip to Belize |
| Vacation Bible School | Summer | Kids | A week of Bible stories, worship, and fun |
| Student Summer Camp | Summer | Middle and high school | A week of camp for students |
| Pre-Teen Camp | Summer | Pre-teens | A camp built for preteens |
| Back to School Bash | August | Kids, students, and families | A send-off celebration for the new school year |
| Fall Festival | October | Community and families | A campus-wide festival open to our neighbors |
| Women's Traditions Dinner | December | Women | A Christmas celebration hosted by women's ministry |
| Church Picnic | Yearly | Whole church | A church-family picnic at a local park |
| Family & Marriage Seminar | Yearly | Couples and families | Teaching and encouragement for marriages and homes |
| Midweek Together | Quarterly, midweek | All ages | A whole-church meal, worship, and prayer time |
Multiplying & Mission
HPBC gives itself away: it plants churches, partners with ministries next door, and sends teams around the world.
Planting churches
One of HPBC's recurring goals since 2007 has been to keep growing and then plant a new church, sending a portion of our membership to form its core. In 2020 HPBC planted its first church, 3rd Coast Church, 10 miles south in Dickinson, TX. Its pastor, Kyle Jackson, is HPBC's former Student Pastor.
Around the world
HPBC members serve on short-term mission trips as close as Galveston and as far away as England, Haiti, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Morocco, and Belize.
Cooperative giving
HPBC gives 10% of its offerings through the Cooperative Program, supporting missionaries, seminaries, and ministries across Texas and around the world.
Local partners
- Union Baptist Association (UBA) of Houston — a collaborative network of churches across Greater Houston working together to advance the gospel through evangelism, church planting, leadership development, missions, and discipleship. UBA Executive Director Josh Ellis serves as HPBC's interim pastor.
- Galveston Urban Ministries — led by Josh and Danielle Dorrell, it engages the community, equips the church, and empowers people on the island. HPBC students spend a week serving with them each summer.
- Sanctuary Foster Care — serves foster children and families with respite care, babysitting certification, and events hosted on HPBC's campus, reflecting the church's heart for foster care and adoption.
Our Campus
HPBC's 5-acre campus is in use all week, serving the church and two schools that extend our reach into the community.
Facilities
HPBC has 4 main buildings: Worship Center; Administration/Student wing; Adult Education wing; and Preschool/Kids wing.
Worship Center
The Worship Center was built in 1987 and can seat 350 people. It is also used as a multipurpose room for large gatherings, indoor activities for children and youth, etc. A kitchen is adjacent to the Worship Center.
Administration/Student wing
The one-story Administration/Student wing was built in 1977 and contains most of the staff offices as well as a Chapel and Fellowship Hall. The Chapel and Fellowship Hall are used by the youth on Sunday mornings and are also used for smaller gatherings.
Adult Education wing
The two-story Adult Education wing was built in 1980 and contains 10 classrooms, storage rooms, and a staff office with adjoining workroom.
Preschool/Kids wing
The two-story Preschool/Kids wing was built in 1994 and contains 9 Preschool classrooms on the first floor along with the Preschool minister/His Kids office. The second floor contains 7 Kids classrooms and storage rooms.
Playgrounds
There are three playgrounds on the HPBC campus for toddlers, preschoolers, and kids.
His Kids Preschool
His Kids is HPBC's premier, on-site preschool program, extending our preschool ministry throughout Webster, League City, and Friendswood. It operates Monday through Thursday during the school year for children 18 months through 5 years and is state-certified. Learn more.
The Momentum Academy
The Momentum Academy, a private non-profit academic and therapeutic learning center for students with learning differences in grades 5 through 12, operates as a ministry partner at HPBC Monday through Friday during the school year.
Our Staff
Our next pastor will join an experienced ministerial team, supported by ministry assistants, a bookkeeper, and a facilities manager.
Meet the full team on our staff page.
Community Profile
Where are we?
Heritage Park has a Webster, TX mailing address, but we're not in Webster proper. We sit in unincorporated Friendswood, which simply means we're outside any city limits, and in Harris County, even though much of the surrounding area, including most of League City, is in Galveston County.
Our property borders both Friendswood and League City, and that's where most of our congregation lives. We're about a mile off I-45, roughly halfway between downtown Houston and Galveston. In short, we're a Webster address with a Friendswood and League City heart.
Demographic Overview
The following demographic data was pulled together by Market Data Retrieval (MDR) using the location around the church where the bulk of the congregation lives. The full report can be made available upon request. A link to an interactive map with this data is here.
Shading shows the number of congregation addresses in each Census tract. Individual addresses are not shown.
Population
The MDR report covers 20 Census tracts around the church. About 61% of adults are married, roughly 22,700 residents are children, and the largest group of those children is between ages 10 and 14.
It is also a diverse, welcoming community. About 63% of residents are White, 22% are Hispanic of any origin, 15% identify with two or more races, 9% are Asian, and 7% are Black. English is spoken at home by about 82% of adults, with Spanish the next most common language (about 9%), followed by Asian and Pacific Island languages (about 5%). The diverse community opens the door to multicultural ministry.
The median household income of $130,523 is on track to reach about $149,700 by 2031, more than a quarter of households earn $200,000 or more, and 51% of adults hold a bachelor's or graduate degree.
It is also a place of real ministry opportunity. In neighboring Galveston County, the U.S. Religion Census counts 317 congregations serving about 157,000 adherents, yet 55% of residents have no religious affiliation, which leaves many neighbors still to be reached with the Gospel.
Housing
Behind the numbers is a stable, family-oriented housing market. Esri's (Environmental Systems Research Institute) lifestyle segments show that nearly half of area households (49%) are married couples in single-family neighborhoods with the largest group being families in newer, owner-occupied homes with multiple children in K-12 schools.
Households here run larger than the norm, averaging 2.8 people compared with 2.66 in greater Harris County, 2.51 in Galveston County, and 2.49 nationally.
The area's total crime index is 50, about half the national average of 100, and every individual crime category falls below the national average.
School Districts
Families can choose between large or small public school districts as well as faith-based options. Most families around the church are served by Clear Creek ISD, which is headquartered in League City and enrolls nearly 39,000 students with a 98.7% graduation rate, while parts of Friendswood are served by Friendswood ISD, a district of roughly 6,100 students with a 99% graduation rate.
The 2025 Texas school ratings tell only part of the story. Clear Creek ISD improved again in 2026, with a Student Achievement score above the state average, 26 campuses earning state distinction designations, and all seven high schools earning A ratings with scores from 91 to 97. Friendswood ISD held its A rating as well.
Families who want a faith-based education also have strong options close to the church. Both Bay Area Christian School in League City, a ministry of Bay Area First Baptist Church, and Lutheran South Academy offer grades preK-12. For homeschooling families, there are several options for co-ops and other partnership programs.
Shopping
For everyday shopping with a local feel, the Bay Area Farmers Market meets on Sundays at Baybrook Mall with producer-only vendors, offering fresh, locally grown, and locally made products without leaving the Baybrook area. Our area boasts a Buc-ee's location, making it a must-visit stop for anyone heading down to Galveston.
Attractions
Much of the fun is concentrated close to the church. Topgolf, The Main Event, and Great Wolf Lodge are within about a mile of one another in Webster, and Space Center Houston and Kemah Boardwalk are a short drive away. Because the church sits about halfway between downtown Houston and Galveston, day trips are an easy drive in either direction.
Outdoor space is a real strength. League City and Friendswood together maintain nearly 870 acres of city parks and open space. The parks, trails, and waterways provide varied outdoor experiences such as nature walks, paddling, and bird watching. Armand Bayou Nature Center is a 2,500-acre urban nature preserve. The Challenger 7 Memorial Park uniquely blends the community's space heritage with a lasting tribute to the seven STS-51-L crew members.
Future Growth
Heritage Park sits in the path of some of the Clear Lake Area's most exciting growth. New neighborhoods, new entertainment, and new roads are all taking shape within a few miles of the church, which means more families, more opportunities to serve, and a community that is investing in its future. League City alone expects to grow from about 118,000 residents to nearly 200,000 at build-out.
Three large master-planned communities are leading the way. Midline, a 1,066-acre community in Webster just off I-45 near Baybrook Mall, will bring 2,800 single-family homes, with model homes open since spring 2026, prices expected from the high $300,000s to more than $800,000, and 15 planned trails. Legacy by Hillwood, a 700-plus-acre community on the border of Friendswood and League City between I-45 and FM 528. On League City's west side, near the south end of Bay Area Blvd, Westland Ranch is planned as an 838-acre community of 1,700 to 1,800 homes, with prices starting in the mid-$300,000s.
Together, those three communities alone represent more than 6,100 planned homes. Apartments are growing too: Friendswood City Center will include 500 multifamily units, The Bristol is building 232 apartments for residents 55 and older along FM 518, and another mixed-use project with 391 residential units has been proposed in Friendswood. Counting that proposal, more than 1,100 apartment units are on the way.
Entertainment is growing just as fast. In Webster, the 80-acre Flyway district beside Great Wolf Lodge is planning 1.6 million square feet of restaurants, shops, and an event lawn with a boardwalk on Clear Creek, and it will add the Sunset Amphitheater Houston, a 12,500-seat venue.
In Friendswood, the new B&B Theatres complex at Friendswood City Center will bring a 14-screen theater with the world's largest ScreenX auditorium, bowling, an arcade, and restaurants.
Contact & Next Steps
If you sense God may be leading you to Heritage Park, we would love to hear from you.
Pastor Search Committee
Email:
Heritage Park Baptist Church
2732 FM 528, Webster, TX 77598
heritagepark.org
To get a feel for our church, watch a recent service on our Live Stream or browse past sermons.