Who We Are
The Journey of Park Cities Baptist Church
Our History
From Humble Beginnings to Lasting Impact
In 1939, the small group of believers who began Park Cities Baptist Church could never have dreamed what their church would become, nor the thousands of people their dream would impact for eternity. Yet they pressed forward, trusting God’s call, and launched a church without a pastor, without a building – simply dedicating it all to the glory of God and collecting their first offering for missions.
A large white house that stood at 4201 Lovers Lane became the first home of PCBC in 1940. As the congregation grew, portable buildings were added to the rear of the house to make room for the growing church family.
The early life of the church flourished with activities and energy
Sunday school and worship services, choir practices, meetings, prayer services, sports leagues, and family night dinners. At Park Cities, members found true community and fulfillment and became a family.
From its founding days, Park Cities created spaces for people to feel welcomed and valued; specialized groups like Brotherhood, WMU, and the Business and Professional Women’s Circle met weekly or monthly, giving men and women places to belong and have fellowship with one another.
On May 9, 1954, construction began on what would become the beautiful Park Cities Sanctuary building. Throughout this project, the church continued to flourish and expand its outreach by helping found new churches, offering consistent care and visitations to members, and beginning an innovative early childhood education program for teachers and parents.
While the Park Cities community grew in number, missions remained a top priority for the congregation. The church initiated new relationships with ministry and service organizations in other neighborhoods to expand its network of local ministry partners in every direction from the church.
Today we stand on their shoulders, declaring that there still ought to be a church right here, right now – uniquely gifted to serve our city, our community, and our world for generations to come. You’re invited to come on the journey with us to lead all generations to love Jesus.
Our Values
Our values guide everything we do.
At PCBC, our mission is to lead all generations to love Jesus. We know that every Baptist church is different, so here’s what makes PCBC unique.
Christ centers us.
We’re all about Jesus and making him known. We are a Gospel-centered church, understanding that the Gospel changes everything.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:21
Scripture guides us.
God’s Word drives everything we do and teaches us how to radically love others. We believe in the authority and holy inspiration of Scripture, and because of this, we believe that everybody is somebody. We are a loving church family, united around God’s Word, extending grace to and with one another.
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. – John 17:20
Cultural engagement propels us.
Living in the kingdom of God requires a loving and listening engagement of others. We are compelled to share God’s love since we know our time on earth is limited. Our method is to love, listen, and persuade others to consider the truth of the Gospel – through our words and the way we live. As salt and light in the world, we participate in the well-being and flourishing of others around us.
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. – John 9:4-5
Serving defines us.
We share all that we have. We practice overflowing generosity, understanding that we are servants first. Since everything is a gift from God, we live open-handedly with what we’ve been given – our time, access, influence, and resources – striving to do good to the most people who have the most need. Both men and women serve equally alongside each other, using their God-given gifts to model the kingdom of God here on earth.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of life that is truly life. – Timothy 6:18-19
God’s glory drives us.
Each of us exists to the glory of God and PCBC exists only to his glory. We seek to be innovative and creative in order to point people to Jesus. We strive to use our gifts, talents, and creativity for the glory of God and to spread the Gospel. Our purpose as a church is to pass the Gospel on to the next generation, by equipping them to love Jesus and follow him every day.
I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. – I Corinthians 9:20
Our Denominational Affiliations
We are committed to fostering a spirit of cooperation and wise counsel among ourselves, other Baptist churches, and select organizations we partner with to carry out our vision.
Texas Baptists
As a Great Commission church, Park Cities Baptist Church operates in a spirit of denominational cooperation, financial support, and mission partnership with Texas Baptists, whose mission is to “encourage, facilitate, and connect churches in their work to fulfill God’s mission of reconciling the world to Himself.”
Dallas Baptist Association
Locally, we partner with the Dallas Baptist Association and its network of churches to further local missions, plant and strengthen new churches, for the purpose of making disciples across the DFW Metroplex.
Local and Global Mission Partners
In addition to denominational affiliations, PCBC directly supports over a dozen local and global ministry partners where members of our church family regularly volunteer in person, travel on mission trips to serve tangibly, pray with and for their leadership and those they serve, and support through financial gifts. Learn more about each of our partners here.
Our Church Governance
Park Cities Baptist Church operates under a system of staff and lay leadership, where men and women serve together in carrying out the necessary ministerial, operational, and fiduciary responsibilities to fulfill our mission.
What We Believe About The Local Church
“A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth.
This church is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a congregation members are equally responsible. Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.”
From the Baptist Faith and Message (1963)
