Come Just as You Are

In 2005 the church called Dr. Johnny Teague as Pastor with the course already set to move our ministry away from the Bellaire area. The events leading to this decision took hold as the church focused on God’s direction for the new millennium in light of both its ministry opportunities and the condition of its facilities on Bellaire Boulevard. A dramatic new vision for the ministry of the church had begun to unfold under the ministry of Rev. Duane Miller. This new vision for ministry turned the church’s view from the neighborhoods which had formed the immediate surroundings in Bellaire and instead towards the entire Houston metropolitan area. A key part of the church’s new vision of ministry comes from the increasing ethnic diversity of the church membership, and the active involvement of people from throughout the metropolitan region in the ministries of the church. 

With the discovery in 2002 of major structural damage by termites to the gymnasium building, the decision was made to place the operation of the school in a hiatus at the end of the 2002-03 school year. This decision left the church free to determine whether to remain at the same location and rebuild the aging facilities, or instead, to move to another location from which the new vision would take root. On August 20, 2003 the church congregation voted to place the property at 4601 Bellaire Boulevard on the market. Through a series of events that were marked by God’s hand, the property in Bellaire was sold and nearby property at 4669 Southwest Freeway was bought at a value substantially below market price upon a decision by the the church congregation on July 18, 2004. Following this move, the 4601 Bellaire Blvd. property was occupied by Crosspoint Church, an extended campus ministry of West University Baptist Church. This continued use of the Bellaire property for the glory of God was a specific answer to the church’s prayers. 

Between September 1, 2004 and September 27, 2007 the church owned and operated the mid-rise commercial office building located on the south (inbound) service road of U.S. 59 Southwest Freeway, near the intersection of U. S. 59 and I-610 West Loop freeway. During this time the name of the church was carefully and prayerfully evaluated, since the church had relocated outside of the City of Bellaire. On January 6, 2005 the church voted to adopt a registered DBA of “The Church at the Cross” and to use this name as the publicly identified name of the organization. However, the legal name of the church corporation remained “First Baptist Church of Bellaire” for several more years. In line with the church’s vision for reaching the world for Christ, the multi-floor facility on the Southwest Freeway provided space for several large meeting rooms, allowing the church to provide space for several ethnic and foreign language congregations to meet. Of note was the wonderful fellowship enjoyed during this time with the Ethiopian congregation called “The Ethiopian Evangelical Church.” And to the delight of the church, a small Korean congregation under the leadership of Pastor James Kim became affiliated with Church at the Cross. Upon the sudden death of “Brother Kim” in May of 2006, shortly after Church at the Cross had ordained him to the ministry, the Korean membership chose to remain a part of Church at the Cross. With these wonderful experiences of diversity, the church’s understanding of God’s calling to reach all ethnic people and races of the world took a major step forward. During this time, the ministry to people in prison became an important part of the church focus under the leadership of Rev. Bill Hays, including the active involvement of past offenders into our church community. Reverend Hays would later become the Associate Pastor. 

On September 11, 2005, the church called as our Pastor the Rev. Johnny Teague – a man diverse in his life experiences, with a variety of business degrees, work experience, and even a time as professional football quarterback on his resume. The refreshing and challenging admonishment of “Brother Johnny” to live each day in holiness and righteousness brought the church to a new level of spiritual vitality and excitement. His winning smile and loving heart for all people, and in particular his own life example of godliness initiated a Holy Spirit empowered transformation of the church that continues to unfold. And to complete his preparation to serve as our Pastor, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Ministries from Southwestern Theological Seminary in April of 2009 (this was the first graduating class requiring a full dissertation for completion of the Doctor of Ministries degree) 

With this new focus on eternal things above temporal things, the church began to realize the extent of resources and energy that were being invested in the “business” side of owning and operating a commercial office building. On July 9, 2006 the church congregation made the decision to sell the office building on Southwest Freeway and relocate the church to another part of Houston. Through a truly miraculous process, the building was sold in September of 2006 and the church moved forward in its vision to reach out to the entire Houston region with the message of Christ’s love and salvation.