Houston's First Baptist Church
7401 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77024
tel: (713) 681-8000
fax: (713) 957-5828
company website
7401 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77024
tel: (713) 681-8000
fax: (713) 957-5828
company website
Houston’s First Baptist Church (HFBC) is blessed by tremendous unity and openness among its staff, deacons and members. In the spirit of that relationship, HFBC provides a forum to address questions that many may have about current developments at the church, how things operate and more.
OUR STORY: THE BEGINNING
Houston’s First Baptist Church was organized in 1841 by 16 men and women. The church has survived through wars, yellow fever epidemics that took an early pastor and the 1900 Galveston hurricane, which destroyed one of the early church buildings.
In the 20th century, as the city continued to grow, so did HFBC with the help of great pastoral leadership. In the latter part of the 1960s, as with many churches in Downtown Houston, church membership began to decline. Even so, the core of committed members remained faithful.
GROWTH
In 1970, Houston’s First Baptist Church called Dr. John R. Bisagno as pastor. Dr. Bisagno was a man of vision whose enthusiasm was equal to that of Houston. A renewed emphasis on Evangelism, strong religious education and a vision for missions sparked a phenomenal growth in the old downtown church. Within a few years, it was obvious that to continue its growth, the church would have to relocate. In April 1977, HFBC moved to its current location at the corner of I-10 and the 610 West Loop.
At the new location, HFBC continued to grow through sound doctrinal teachings with an emphasis on Evangelism and missions. Church members traveled throughout the world sharing the gospel, digging water wells and meeting needs. In the 1980s, the church emphasized starting new missions and helping churches in decline. Many members answered the call to be a part of this outreach for the cause of Christ.
After 30 years as pastor, Dr. Bisagno retired, believing it was time for a new pastor to take the church into the new millennium. For nearly four and a half years following Dr. Bisagno’s retirement, Associate Pastor Dr. David Self provided leadership for the staff and church. During this time, the church continued to add new members and prosper financially—a tribute to Dr. Bisagno’s legacy, Dr. Self’s leadership and the faithfulness of the members of HFBC.
A NEW CHAPTER IN THE STORY
While the church continued to grow, an 11-member Pastor Search Committee carefully reviewed 265 candidates from 33 states and four foreign countries. Consistently seeking divine wisdom and guidance, the committee was focused intensely on finding God’s choice and not merely fulfilling criteria.
On March 28, 2004, they unanimously proclaimed that they “have sought God’s direction and we faithfully believe the Lord has given us His choice in the person of Gregg Matte.” On Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004, this conviction again was confirmed by the congregation as they approved and embraced Rev. Gregg J. Matte as pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church.
The calling of a new pastor by HFBC was a pivotal passing of leadership from one generation to the next in the history of a world-renowned church that began in 1841. In response to the church’s call and his acceptance to be the new pastor at HFBC, Pastor Matte stated, “I’m humbled by and grateful to the Lord.”
Pastor Matte sharpened his leadership gifts at Texas A&M University and earned a masters degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. As a college sophomore, Matte founded Breakaway Ministries and expanded it from a home-based Bible study to a weekly gathering of more than 4,000 students.
The author of Finding God’s Will and I AM changes who I am, Matte was elected by his peers to serve as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Pastors’ Conference to be held on June 9–10, 2013, in Houston.
Pastor Matte is married to Kelly, and they have a son, Greyson (2002), and a daughter, Valerie (2008). He summarizes his ministry as an overflow of his walk with God, and colleagues and friends often state that he is a man after the heart of God, possessing strong integrity, true leadership, the gift of preaching and a humble spirit.
OUR STORY: THE BEGINNING
Houston’s First Baptist Church was organized in 1841 by 16 men and women. The church has survived through wars, yellow fever epidemics that took an early pastor and the 1900 Galveston hurricane, which destroyed one of the early church buildings.
In the 20th century, as the city continued to grow, so did HFBC with the help of great pastoral leadership. In the latter part of the 1960s, as with many churches in Downtown Houston, church membership began to decline. Even so, the core of committed members remained faithful.
GROWTH
In 1970, Houston’s First Baptist Church called Dr. John R. Bisagno as pastor. Dr. Bisagno was a man of vision whose enthusiasm was equal to that of Houston. A renewed emphasis on Evangelism, strong religious education and a vision for missions sparked a phenomenal growth in the old downtown church. Within a few years, it was obvious that to continue its growth, the church would have to relocate. In April 1977, HFBC moved to its current location at the corner of I-10 and the 610 West Loop.
At the new location, HFBC continued to grow through sound doctrinal teachings with an emphasis on Evangelism and missions. Church members traveled throughout the world sharing the gospel, digging water wells and meeting needs. In the 1980s, the church emphasized starting new missions and helping churches in decline. Many members answered the call to be a part of this outreach for the cause of Christ.
After 30 years as pastor, Dr. Bisagno retired, believing it was time for a new pastor to take the church into the new millennium. For nearly four and a half years following Dr. Bisagno’s retirement, Associate Pastor Dr. David Self provided leadership for the staff and church. During this time, the church continued to add new members and prosper financially—a tribute to Dr. Bisagno’s legacy, Dr. Self’s leadership and the faithfulness of the members of HFBC.
A NEW CHAPTER IN THE STORY
While the church continued to grow, an 11-member Pastor Search Committee carefully reviewed 265 candidates from 33 states and four foreign countries. Consistently seeking divine wisdom and guidance, the committee was focused intensely on finding God’s choice and not merely fulfilling criteria.
On March 28, 2004, they unanimously proclaimed that they “have sought God’s direction and we faithfully believe the Lord has given us His choice in the person of Gregg Matte.” On Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004, this conviction again was confirmed by the congregation as they approved and embraced Rev. Gregg J. Matte as pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church.
The calling of a new pastor by HFBC was a pivotal passing of leadership from one generation to the next in the history of a world-renowned church that began in 1841. In response to the church’s call and his acceptance to be the new pastor at HFBC, Pastor Matte stated, “I’m humbled by and grateful to the Lord.”
Pastor Matte sharpened his leadership gifts at Texas A&M University and earned a masters degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. As a college sophomore, Matte founded Breakaway Ministries and expanded it from a home-based Bible study to a weekly gathering of more than 4,000 students.
The author of Finding God’s Will and I AM changes who I am, Matte was elected by his peers to serve as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Pastors’ Conference to be held on June 9–10, 2013, in Houston.
Pastor Matte is married to Kelly, and they have a son, Greyson (2002), and a daughter, Valerie (2008). He summarizes his ministry as an overflow of his walk with God, and colleagues and friends often state that he is a man after the heart of God, possessing strong integrity, true leadership, the gift of preaching and a humble spirit.
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Galleria
Baptist
24,000
First Baptist Academy
