The Church @ 242 is a thirty-one-year-old church family formerly known as Needham Road Baptist Church. It began in the summer of 1994 as a small group of believers committed together to plant a church in the community along what was then Needham Road. The Tryon-Evergreen Association, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and the First Baptist Church of Willis joined in supporting and helping to start a new mission – Needham Road Baptist Mission.
The church secured space in the local clubhouse of a homeowner’s association and met there for almost 4 years. In 1997, the church purchased property with frontage on Needham Road, which by then had been expanded and was now State Highway 242. The church converted the existing house and began having services. In 1998, a mobile chapel unit seating 75 was leased and placed on the property.
As the congregation grew, the decision to build a new building was made. In December of 2001, the church moved into the facility. The second floor was finished out in 2005. The church is a model and an example of having a kingdom vision. Since 2001, the church has planted or partnered with 11 different churches or ministry plants, including Jewish Evangelism, The Houston Nepali Church, a multi-cultural church co-pastored by an Indian and a Kenyan pastor, multiple Spanish language churches, a cowboy church, and Transport For Christ to minister to those involved in the trucking industry.
The church is in the beginning phases of a long-range planning to seek the “what” and “how” of growing as the Lord opens doors. The answer is never, ‘We Can’t, it is always Why Can’t We?’ We are excited for what God has in store for the Church at 242!