For members of the Woodlands Church who live in the Katy area, there’s nothing sweeter than celebrating Valentine’s Day at their congregation’s newest satellite campus closer to home.
"We used to live in The Woodlands and had to move to Katy but we just weren’t willing to give up our church," said Chris Bailey, who lives in Seven Meadows with his family. "We’re very excited it’s coming here to our backyard."
The Woodlands Church is kicking off services Feb. 14 at 9:30 and 11 a.m. at Cinco Ranch High School, 23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd. About 75 members usually commute a little more than an hour every Sunday from Katy to The Woodlands for service at the 16,000-member Woodlands Church, formerly known as Fellowship of the Woodlands.
"For the last 2½ years we’ve been driving to The Woodlands every Sunday," said Bailey, who works as the director of a medical spa. "Now church will only be 2 miles away from home."
Serving Katy members in their community is one of the reasons Woodlands Church is starting its fourth campus, Woodlands Church West, at Cinco Ranch High School, said the church’s Pastor Kerry Shook.
"We have quite a few people that come to our church from the west Houston/Katy area and we’ve been praying and thinking about it for a year now, and made the decision to come on out," said Shook, adding that the southwest part of the Katy area is rapidly growing with new young families.
Church members kicked off a West Campus preview service in January at Cinco Ranch High School and more than 600 people attended, Shook said.
Katy-area church Parkway Fellowship had been meeting at Cinco Ranch High School but will start services Feb. 14 in the congregation’s new building at the corner of FM 1463 and FM 1093.
Shook said, "It was great and we were surprised by the response from the community. His sermons are also available on local television Sundays at 9 a.m. on FOX 26 and 10 a.m. on Houston’s 55. "We don’t know what to expect on opening weekend but we’re excited to be in Katy and looking forward to it."
Church members have been prepared for the set-up in Katy and know the process well. Every Sunday, teams of church members help transform schools in other parts of the Houston area into church sanctuaries as their satellite campuses.
When Woodlands Church at One Woodlands Drive began growing with members from throughout the Houston area, Shook said leaders considered their congregation a regional church and began evaluating options to expand.
"Now that our church is getting larger, people are driving a long way," said Shook, adding that he and his wife, Chris, started Woodlands Church 16 years ago with only 15 people and never envisioned it would grow so large. "Instead of everyone coming from a long way, we can go to where they are."
Woodlands Church started its first satellite campus in Humble where more than 2,000 members meet at Atascocita High School. Its second satellite campus opened in Tomball at Concordia Lutheran High School where about 950 people meet weekly, Shook said.
The church’s goal in all of the communities, including Katy, is to work alongside other local churches and create an inviting place for people who have never been to church or out of church for a while, Shook said.
"We want to come out with other churches out there and make an impact and make a difference in the community," Shook said. "We want to come out and be a part of the community and make it a better place."
Katy-area residents who plan to attend the Woodlands Campus West can expect most of the same ministries and services found in the main campus, Shook said, including the same contemporary worship music and sermon.
Shook’s message from the Saturday night service at the Woodlands campus is recorded with high definition equipment and then replayed on Sunday at the satellite campuses. A children’s pastor will lead the children’s ministry while a student pastor will lead the student ministries for middle and senior high students in Katy.
Mark Stayton, executive pastor of expansion for Woodlands Church, said he will serve as the interim campus pastor and provide oversight and leadership. The church is in the process of seeking a permanent West Campus pastor, Stayton said, and is hoping to fill the role within the next few months.
"For us, it’s about finding the right person and we’ll either move or hire the perfect candidate," Stayton said. "I will be helping Katy from the launch and for quite some time, and will provide the campus pastor with an extended season of training."
A team of church staff and members now living in Katy will be coordinating the services at the new campus, including the set-up and tear down of equipment, Stayton said. The process begins Saturday night, continues Sunday at 6:30 a.m. and is wrapped up after the last service.
"We bring in a large staff and team and volunteers and several 24-foot trucks and trailers with equipment," said Stayton, adding that Katy Independent School District is allowing the church to keep some equipment at the school permanently. "It’s a big undertaking but pretty amazing to see it happen."
The cost of the satellite endeavors ranges anywhere from $300,000 - $500,000 to start up, Shook said. Current church members pledge funds for the project knowing that others in the community will benefit from the church as they have, Shook said.
"We feel that this is an investment in the community and our goal is to be there for the long haul," he said, adding that eventually the Katy campus will be financially self-sufficient through its own membership. "A lot of the people here at the Woodlands campus are thankful for what the church has done for them and want to give back."