Sundays on the Northwest Side of Houston
Graceway Church sits just off Beltway 8, a short drive before Jersey Village on the northwest side of Houston. The church's motto, "Inviting people into a transforming life with Christ," sums up the work that has shaped this stretch of West Sam Houston Parkway for decades. Office Manager Mary McGinnis has been on staff since October of 1985, and many of the people who walk through the doors on a Sunday morning have been part of the congregation for years.
First-time guests are encouraged to arrive about fifteen minutes early. Coffee and donuts are waiting in the lobby, and a volunteer at the family check-in will help get children settled before the service starts.
Two Morning Services and a Spanish Service at Three
Sundays at Graceway follow a simple rhythm. Two identical morning services meet at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM, so families can pick the time that fits their week. A Spanish-language service, Servicio en Español, meets at 3:00 PM and is led by Haroldo Moraes, the church's lead pastor for Spanish ministry. Haroldo, originally from Rio de Janeiro, has been in ministry at Graceway since October of 2003 and holds a degree in theology from Charisma Theological University.
Sermons are livestreamed on YouTube for those who prefer to worship from home.
Worship Led by David Cook
Worship Director David Cook joined the Graceway staff in July of 2018. A graduate of Southern Nazarene University, David believes that worship prepares God's people to be agents of transformation in the world. He and his wife Beverly have three children and lead a worship team that anchors both morning services.
Graceway Kids: Infants Through Fifth Grade
Children's Director Sarah Jones oversees a children's ministry organized by age so that every child has a place that fits them. Sarah, raised in the Cy-Fair area and a graduate of Southern Nazarene University with a degree in elementary education, has been on the Graceway team since August of 2021.
Three Early Childhood classrooms, covering Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool, care for the littlest guests with age-appropriate toys, crafts, songs, Bible stories, and activities. Three Elementary classrooms, K-1st, 2nd-3rd, and 4th-5th, build on that foundation with games, crafts, and Bible lessons designed to help kids see that God is part of their everyday life. Each class sings and moves together during Kids Worship, prays, and celebrates one another. Children are checked in at the Family Ministry Lobby before being released to their classrooms.
Reignite Youth on Wednesday Nights
Reignite Youth is Graceway's weekly gathering for sixth through twelfth graders. The ministry challenges students to "be real with God, be real with themselves, and be real with others." Youth Director Nate Williams, who joined the Graceway family in 2018, leads a night of games, music, and a message meant to inspire students in their faith.
Reignite meets on Wednesdays at 6:45 PM during the school year in the youth room upstairs. Youth can also join small groups, which the ministry describes as the launching point for being real and transformed in Christ.
Wednesdays Around the Church
Wednesday evenings at Graceway are built around community. Before groups begin, an optional donation-based dinner is served in the gym. From 6:45 to 8:00 PM, several groups meet in different parts of the building:
- Graceway Kids for infants through fifth grade, with check-in at the Family Ministry Lobby.
- Graceway Youth for students in grades 6 through 12, meeting upstairs from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
- Women's Bible Study, where women gather in Rooms 110-112 to dig into God's Word.
- Young Adults meet in Room 113 around the theme of Christlike community.
- Estudio Bíblico para Adultos, the Spanish Bible study for adults in Rooms 105-106.
- Pickleball Ministry, which meets on the church's pickleball court.
- Graceway Gardens, a hands-on community garden that meets from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
Wednesday activities take a break over the summer and resume in mid-August.
Celebrate Recovery on Tuesday Nights
Celebrate Recovery meets at Graceway on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, with doors opening at 6:30. Prepackaged snacks are available from 6:30 to 7:00 PM. The program is a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that control lives. No pre-registration is needed, and newcomers can simply show up. Celebrate Recovery is part of a broader nationwide ministry of the same name.
Pickleball, Gardens, and the Neighborhood
Two of Graceway's most visible offerings to the surrounding community don't happen inside the worship center at all. The church operates one of the few free, public pickleball courts in the area, open daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM with lights at night. No reservations are required; if players are already on the court, paddles can be placed in the holder on the fence to get in line for a turn.
Graceway Gardens is a community garden designed to bless the neighborhood through connection and learning. The Garden for Life class runs fourteen weeks, with one hour of classroom learning and one hour of garden work each week. A new season begins in September, with classes on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The cost is $25 to cover materials, and participants can join at any point in the season.
What the Church Believes
Graceway is part of the Church of the Nazarene, a Protestant denomination in the holiness tradition. The church links to the denominational site for those who want to read more about its shared beliefs.
Getting Involved and Giving
Beyond Sunday worship, Graceway offers several ways to serve. A welcome team greets guests each week, while the Kids Crew, Teens, Worship Team, and Audio and Visual teams support the church's ministries. Volunteers sign up through the church's connect forms. Giving is available online through Pushpay, and gifts can also be mailed to the church address.
Lead Pastor Matt Hawkins, who holds a degree in Pastoral Ministry from Trevecca Nazarene University and a master's in Pastoral Leadership from Olivet, has been on staff at Graceway since January of 2009. He and his wife Melanie have three children.