Posts with the category “faith”

Meet Rose Rodriguez
November 21st, 2023
Serving students provides us with a front-row seat to watching young people grow in their relationship with Jesus. ...  Read More
by Communications HNW Church
Important Days by Steve Bezner
February 9th, 2023
Certain days change your life. And other days help you understand the change. February 9th, 1996 was a day that changed both me and Joy. ...  Read More
by Communications HNW Church
Ministry in a Post-Roe World by Steve Bezner
June 24th, 2022
Just hours ago, the Supreme Court officially handed down a ruling that effectively overturns the legal precedent set by Roe v. Wade, meaning that abortion laws must be determined by individual states,...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
On Christians and Abortion by Steve Bezner
June 24th, 2022
This morning the Supreme Court handed down a ruling effectively overturning the fifty year-old precedent of Roe v. Wade and thereby sending abortion laws back to the individual states. I wrote these t...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
When Evil Visits by Steve Bezner
June 22nd, 2022
Evil in the world is far worse than any fairy tale villain.Evil is real. And it will come calling.You might bristle at the thought. You may not have experienced evil firsthand. But millions of our nei...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
When You Feel Like A Failure by Steve Bezner
April 27th, 2022
Memory is a cruel mistress.When I was in seventh grade, I tried to be funny. It failed. I still physically wince when I remember what I said in front of my friends. It was not funny. It was awkward, a...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
Stop Being Productive by Steve Bezner
April 12th, 2022
I have chased a desire to be remembered, to be admired, to have my name on the spine of a book that someone might read a hundred years hence. I have yearned for permanence, to live beyond my body, for...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
When Holiness Seems Pointless by Steve Bezner
February 18th, 2022
“Do not quench the Spirit.”—1 Thessalonians 5:19Somewhere along the way, holiness lost its luster.The priests in the Bible wore a sign on their foreheads inscribed with the words, “Holy Unto the Lord....  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
When You Are Tired by Steve Bezner
January 29th, 2022
I do believe; help my unbelief!—Mark 9:24I wanted to quit in June of 2020. I was tired, for a number of reasons. Our church had just emerged from a 26 month-long rebuilding process in the wake of a hu...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
When You Feel Hard-Hearted by Steve Bezner
January 21st, 2022
But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.—Revelation 2:4The world feels harder these days.I don’t use the word “harder” in the sense of more difficult, although you co...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
The Failure of Liturgy by Steve Bezner
January 17th, 2022
In later years, evangelicals have discovered liturgy. We are reciting more creeds, confessions, and prayers than ever before. We are taking the Supper more often. When I was a child, most Baptist chur...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
God Doesn’t Need You by Steve Bezner
January 3rd, 2022
Elijah replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Tending the Garden by Steve Bezner
December 31st, 2021
Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains....  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Through Jesus I Am "Good Enough"
July 15th, 2021
I found myself one morning sitting on a park bench next to the pond near my house with my head in my hands and tears in my eyes trying to understand how life could have gotten this bad. ...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
A Convicted Felon Finds Jesus
April 13th, 2021
Recently an inmate requested to make a call from my office. He was incarcerated for the murder of his daughter's husband -- his singular, yet tragic, offense. After the arrest, and for the entire leng...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
The Application of Grace by Steve Bezner
April 11th, 2021
The Application of Grace by Steve Bezner. Click to read more!...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Meet Cassidy Odom, HNW's new Kids Minister
April 7th, 2021
Cassi has served in ministry for the past 15 years and has also partnered with schools to extend a positive message to kids outside of weekly church gatherings. Cassi desires for every child to have a...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
I Don't Know Who That Old Me Is Anymore
March 4th, 2021
I remember starting the pattern of lying as a teenager. Probably younger. Lying to make things more exciting. Lying to hide problems. Lying to keep relationships. It was exhausting! I was constantly h...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
A Jehovah's Witness Finds Jesus
February 9th, 2021
I was a child so full of fear, anxiety, and deep sadness. No matter how many hours I went door to door preaching, no matter how many magazines I gave out, no matter what I did, I felt it was never eno...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
Concerned With What Others Might Think
February 2nd, 2021
Throughout my teen years, I felt guilty every time baptism came up. I knew in my heart I was being disobedient. But the more years that passed, the more embarrassed I became. I was a leader in our you...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
ESL Classes
January 20th, 2021
ESL at Houston Northwest Church launches on February 9! This practical ministry will allow HNW to serve our neighbors from all over the world. Currently 34 students representing 9 countries will join ...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Ministry Partner Spotlight: New Life Adoptions
January 14th, 2021
Ministry Partner Spotlight: New Life AdoptionsIn the United States alone, 50% of unplanned pregnancies end in abortion. For 48%, the decision is made for parenting or allowing a family member to raise...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Big Give Offering Exceeds Goal
January 7th, 2021
In a year of unknowns, one thing remained the same: your desire to share the love and joy of Christ through your generosity. A shining example is the 2020 Big Give. This past Christmas Eve you gave $1...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Priscilla Fletcher #mysalvationstory
November 17th, 2020
My name is Priscilla Fletcher and this is #mysalvationstory. When I was 8 years old, I started going to church with my best friend and her family. I would go with them every Sunday, and when I was 11 ...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Robin Scott #mysalvationstory
November 16th, 2020
My name is Robin Scott and this is #mysalvationstory.My family is Louisiana Creole which means I grew up going to a Catholic church. I always felt there was more to God than what I experienced each Su...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Karen Stamps #mysalvationstory
November 3rd, 2020
My name is Karen Stamps and this is #mysalvationstory. ...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
What Love Looks Like
September 30th, 2020
What Love Looks LikeLast weekend, a group of our city’s homeless enjoyed a hot meal and a shower, had their clothes laundered, selected new clothes, and received a Bible and prayer as HNW volunteers p...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
"Whew What a Ride!" by Lorie Detter
September 23rd, 2020
by Lorie Detter I was a World War II baby. I grew up in a home with hard-working parents, but we lived at the poverty level. My church upbringing was very legalistic, and I worked hard to be “perfect....  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
It's Been Rewarding to Serve
September 16th, 2020
We've been having "church" on Thursdays at HNW! No chairs, no air conditioning, and no preaching -- but church has happened all the same as volunteers have gathered to distribute 1,000 boxes of food e...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
I Will Never Again Doubt
September 9th, 2020
Your new normal. This phrase was first spoken to me by my oncologist after my first surgery to remove breast cancer. I did not understand what she meant at that time and was not ready to accept that m...  Read More
by Karen Stamps
A New Smile for Faith
September 3rd, 2020
HNW member Victoria Azubuike served as a Global Reach medical team member this past March on a mission trip to Kajiado, Kenya. On the final day of the trip while touring a medical clinic, she was intr...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Scattered Church
August 27th, 2020
At least one HNW Life Group created a "scattered church" experience in their cul-de-sac this past weekend. Kacie Ticer explains: "A few weeks ago, Ben and I began kicking around the idea of pulling ou...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
HNW Makes Top 100 List for Reproducing Churches
August 26th, 2020
We are excited to announce that Houston Northwest Church has made the top 100 Reproducing Churches according to Outreach Magazine!You can read more about HNW and other top reproducing churches here......  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Making an Impact in Kenya
August 13th, 2020
Schools are closed in Kenya until 2021. This reality of COVID-19 has taken a toll on students in Kajiado, who have been out of school since mid-March. As many students are left without direction or gu...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Celebrating God's Faithfulness
July 28th, 2020
Diagnosis day. D-day as some of my fellow spina bifida moms call it. On July 17, 2019, Matt and I were at a routine OB appointment (that he initially wasn't going to be able to attend) to have a quick...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Adjusted Perspective
July 24th, 2020
My Perspective Has Been Adjustedby Robert Ford When I first joined the HNW call-in prayer group in early April, I was concerned about the time commitment. In the beginning, it was a self-disciplined a...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
What HNW Ironmen Has Meant to Me by Chad Beck
July 14th, 2020
Hi, my name is Chad.Not the Chad you may know of, heard of, met once, sat behind, beside, in front of or across from in church. Not the Chad you thought was standoffish, maybe arrogant, but certainly ...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Roadmap to Reopen
May 28th, 2020
Dear Church Family,We look forward to our first in-person worship service – Beta Test Sunday – on June 7 at 9 a.m. The registration link for Beta Test Sunday will open at 6 a.m. on Friday, May 29, and...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
Our Pandemic Life!
May 27th, 2020
We’ve been enjoying time together during “pandemic life” — walking, running and biking outdoors. Our sunny Houston weather has been amazing! Rylan and I routinely go on Costco dates each week. But we’...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald
My Pandemic Life
May 21st, 2020
I have the honor of being the Director of Counseling at Houston Northwest Church. As I write this we are on day 68 of being at home as a family. During those 68 days, there have been ups and downs, le...  Read More
by Jackie McDonald