Wilcrest Baptist Church - Houston, Texas

Weekly Pastor Schedule

June 13

Kurt Freeman
Minister to Students at Wilcrest Baptist Church, where he joined in January 2009. He is a graduate of East Texas Baptist University (Business Administration and Religion) and is currently a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Houston.

June 20

Dane Fowlkes
Served as a career missionary in both Africa and India and although now living in North America, Dane continues to be a student of culture and language and approaches life and ministry from a definite missiological perspective. He holds the Doctor of Philosophy degree in missiology from the University of the Free State in South Africa. He currently serves as Director of Major Gifts for the Institutional Advancement division of East Texas Baptist University.

June 27

James Darby
James was a vital part of the transitioning of Wilcrest into a multicultural church. He served as our student minister for several years. In 2005, the Lord put a burden on his heart to start a church plant. Later that year, he founded and began pastoring the Body of Faith with the support of his family and several interested families. Today, BOF has outgrown its current location and is seeking the Lord's direction in finding another location. The congregation consists of people from many different backgrounds with a large influence of young families.

Staff

Monty Jones - Associate Pastor/Worship

Monty has a deep love of music and leading worship is an overflow of that love. He has a passion to show others how to experience a more intimate relationship with Christ through praise and worship. Monty is originally from Sulphur, Louisiana, but has called Texas his home since 1993 when he came to Wilcrest. He is a graduate of McNeese State University (Bachelor of Music Educ.) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Masters of Music). Monty and his wife, Karen, have two children, Mindy and Michael.

If you are a Houston Astros fan, you may have heard Monty, who is also a huge Astros fan, sing the National Anthem several times at their games.

Brian Pitre - Associate Pastor and Young Adults

Brian enjoys teaching to the diverse group of young adults at Wilcrest. He is a Houston native, graduate of Houston Baptist University (Business Management and Theology) and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity) in Mill Valley, California. After residing six years in California, he knew it was time to come home. Besides teaching, Brian loves real estate, NBA basketball, and fishing, but most of all playing with his daughters, Mikayla and Isabel. Brian is married to Ellen, who co-teaches the young adults with Brian and serves as Family Counselor at Wilcrest.

Kurt Freeman - Minister to Students

Kurt came to Wilcrest in January of 2009. He is a graduate of East Texas Baptist University (Business Administration and Religion) and is currently a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Houston. Kurt is originally from Van Vleck, Texas and moved to Houston in the Fall of 2006 as he felt God leading him to be involved in a multi-cultural congregation. Kurt is an outdoors enthusiast and also loves reading, teaching and building relationships. He was married on May 15, 2004 to his best friend, Jennifer, who is a school teacher and serves right along side Kurt in the youth ministry.

Jeff Adams - Minister of Spiritual Growth

Jeff Adams was led to Wilcrest in 1998. God has given him a strong desire to see people study the Bible in depth and be changed by His word. In his role, he serves by teaching Adult 1 and assists other teachers. He helps coordinate the church's discipleship program and often teaches discipleship classes. Jeff also serves in the choir and drama ministry. He was ordained into the ministry in 2008 and will soon complete a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to our Preschool Director, Susan and they have 3 daughters, Jessica, Sarah, and Carissa.

Mary Ayala - Interim Children's Director

Mary Ayala came to Wilcrest in 2004 in response to a call on her life to serve and worship in a culturally diverse church. During a Project 180 service day in 2007, the Lord led a conversation between Gihee Yoon (our former Children's Minister) and Mary regarding Gihee's call to study in Mexico. Mary joined the WBC staff as the Interim Children's Minister the summer of 2007; she has a passion for community outreach and the spiritual growth of children. Mary is also a student at the University of Houston Downtown. Mary and her husband, Javier, have a teenage daughter

Susan Adams - Preschool Director

Susan Adams became the Preschool Director in June of 2003. Susan longs to please the Lord by caring for His children. She has been married to Jeff Adams, our Minister of Spiritual Growth, for 15 years. They have been blessed with three beautiful daughters, Jessica, Sarah, and Carissa.

Ellen Pitre - Counselor & Young Adults

Ellen came to Houston and Wilcrest Baptist in June 2005 after living in San Francisco for seven years. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (the "other" UT, Go VOLS!") and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), where she met her husband, Brian. She co-leads the young adults with her husband and also assists with individual and family counseling. Ellen comes with experience as a youth counselor and hospital chaplain. Besides cultivating relationships of her own or helping others do the same, she enjoys cooking, being outside in nature, and spending time with her daughters, Mikayla and Isabel.

SUPPORT STAFF
Financial/Pastor's Assistant - Susan Vernon