Less than 50 years ago, a teenage girl sat on her front porch to look west across only a gravel road and fields.  She lived on Clearview Farm, so named because of its elevation affording a ‘clear view’ of Dallas 20 miles away. To the immediate south snaked FM 544.  This blacktop, farm to market road, traced west to the nearby community of Hebron where the family received their mail; and east, to the town of Plano, where cotton was ginned, baled and delivered by rail to larger cities south and north.  She was a proud Plano Wildcat - one of forty-one graduating in the spring of 1961.  Like most young people living in rural Southwest Collin County, she loved shopping trips to Dallas, and dreamed of traveling to exciting cities like Los Angeles and New York one day.  But mostly, her dreams, less exotic, were of her Senior Prom - and the promise of an evening’s drive home over bridges and creeks, down a lane called 544. 

By 1989, the area of her childhood had dramatically changed.  In 28 short years, the gravel road and blacktop lanes were gone.  Just to the south of where her family farm once stood were stables and a club, housing polo ponies and a field.  Here, elegant polo matches were held each Sunday.  Dallasites, searching for new land on which to develop and live, had built a golf course, club, and expensive new homes.  As well, corporate executives from places once only of dreams were here - with more following each week - so that the girl, now grown, had with others begun to sense a stirring in her heart to reach these newcomers with something other than place.  Indeed, with the gospel of Christ.

So begins the story of ParkwayHills.  A story deeply rooted in the community now called, ‘West Plano.’   It is a story as old as God’s call and as recent as the last 20 years.  But more, it is the story of God’s providential blessing through people willing to walk by faith. For what once were fields of cotton, wheat, and maize, are now the ‘by-way’ of a fast paced world, offering a strategic ‘view’ of what God always knew would come - thousands who daily pass by.

A Tent, ‘Car Church’ and Brinker – ParkwayHills was organized by Pastor Sam Dennis as a mission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in February of 1989.  Her 9 core families, including the pastor and his wife, Belinda, came from Northway Baptist Church in Dallas, and her sponsoring church was one of the oldest Baptist churches in Denton County, Texas, The Historic First Baptist Church of Hebron. 

Early on, members met in the homes of 9 core families, situated in and near the Bent Tree Community to the south. Then, on a cold, rainy Easter Sunday of 1989, the mission held its first public service under a tent at the corner of Frankford and Midway Roads. After stalling in attempts to lease retail space near there, the mission met for a time in a member’s business called Carsearch, referring to itself, affectionately, as ‘Car Church.’  However, with an eye on the North Dallas Tollway expansion, the members began looking for ways to connect with the development to the north, and in the fall of 1989 moved Sunday services to Brinker Elementary School near Parker Road and John Clark Parkway. 

Brinker Days, though challenging, were wonderful times for the young mission.  Annually, Pastor Sam and other church leaders would go before the Plano Independent School District to report on plans for permanent purchase of land and construction of buildings – a key to PISD allowing them to continue in the school.  Summertime featured Vacation Bible School held in the school and park, for the purpose of attracting new families from the nearby community.  Pastor Sam was in charge of recreation, and many area young adults today still recall playing kick ball with Pastor Sam as he cheered them on.  Festivals and picnics were often held, one such called Plano BBQ, which featured softball, square dancing, children’s games and rides in a hot-air balloon – a favorite among all.

 
By 1992, the mission, now with 150 in weekly attendance, petitioned the Collin Baptist Association for ‘church status’ as a cooperating ‘church.’  With $250,000 in pledges toward the purchase of land, the 40 families were able to secure a loan from the Baptist Church Loan Corporation for 6 acres, not more than a mile from Brinker School, and on what soon would become the North Dallas Tollway.  Pastor Sam ‘doubled’ for a time that summer as an interim preacher at 1st Baptist Church of Lewisville – resulting in ParkwayHills securing this church as its ‘God-sent’ guarantor of its first land loan. 

In 1993, a Building Committee was formed and another tent was raised, this time on the church’s own property.  There, a historic groundbreaking was held, not more than 200 yards from the very land once owned by the ‘teenage girl’, now a member of the church.
             

In February of 1994, this church ‘without walls’ left Brinker Elementary to enter walls, hallways, and rooms of her own.  Tears were shed as the dream of these families was finally realized.  In the next few months, membership grew from 150 to over 500.  Growth was so rapid and space so limited that all adults were moved ‘off campus’ to the nearby Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, leaving room ‘on campus’ for worship and childcare only.  During this time, an additional 2 acres were purchased at more than triple the price per acre of the first 6, yet the church was grateful to have the opportunity to do so.  Also, 4 modular buildings were purchased and moved onsite, to help in the need for space.    

Throughout late 1995 and all of 1996, the church held 3 Sunday morning services to handle the crowds, while waiting on the completion of ‘Phase 2’.  A fond memory is of Christmas Eve, 1996, when the church was granted permission to hold a candlelight service on the bare concrete floor of its yet completed sanctuary.  This was a meaningful night, as members and guests came with candles and without electricity to worship in the cold.  With their coats on, they held one another’s hands, giving praise to God. 

 
In February of 1997, ParkwayHills entered its new facility and a new era was begun. The Worship Center - a large, multi-use space - was easily convertible for varied applications, such as recreation, banquets, Sunday Worship, and rallies for children and youth.  However, because education space remained inadequate, multiple Bible Study hours were soon offered, necessitating, once again, the 2 worship services still in place today.

The years between 1997 and 2001 saw a slowing of growth in Plano.  Many of the younger families were now coming from nearby Frisco and The Colony.  During these pivotal years, the church turned its focus to improved Sunday programming and the expansion of church staff to minister to people of all ages. 
    

In early 2001, the largest expansion of the ParkwayHills facilities to date was accomplished.  Over 25,000 square feet of 2–story, education space was added to the north, west, and south of Phase 2 - making for total permanent space of 61,000 square feet.  This expansion saw the architecture of the facility more clearly defined, including a signature dome, establishing a presence in the community still recognizable today.
  

The year 2009 finds the church very much alive in a community now both suburban and urban.  As a ‘community church’, membership still includes many from the nearby neighborhoods, as well as others who drive from more than 15 miles away.  Just as Plano has become established as a city of worldwide convergence of persons from around the world, ParkwayHills has a membership and ministry representative of the same.  Today, church membership is 1500, and LIFEgroup enrollment is 1800.  Additionally, more than 2500 people regularly attend ParkwayHills, and would call this their church home.  In 20 years, the church has baptized over 700 persons and witnessed 1300 professions of faith in Christ.  This church, which considers mission support among its major core values, has also given well over $3 million to missions.  Each Sunday, 3 LIFEgroup hours are offered to provide adequate space, two of which serve all ages. Also, 2 sanctuary worship hours are offered at 9:30 and 10:55, as well as 2 services of worship designed specifically for students and children.

Throughout the years, ParkwayHills has remained distinctive in love, service, ministry, and the active use of its facilities. During the weekdays, over 2000 people enter our doors to enjoy our Weekday Preschool, Mother’s Day Out, and both day and evening Bible Study classes.  Additionally, the church regularly opens her doors to other organizations serving the community - such as Boy Scouts of America, National Charity League, and Young Men’s Service League.

The past 20 years has certainly been a time of great change, as this ‘farmland’ has become the center of life and activity for hundreds of thousands who live and work here, and daily pass by.  ParkwayHills is pleased to be a part of a greater plan – a plan begun in God’s call – to a pastor, to a handful of starting families, to a girl now grown, and to you.  Our roots are deep, not only in this place, but in Christ himself.  Our prayer and commitment are that the next 20 years, as well as the years beyond until Jesus comes, will be nothing less than more of the same!

 See the video presentation of ParkwayHills history (click on the buttons below).

ParkwayHills as a mission church.

 

ParkwayHills changing lives through Christ.