On Blackhawk Boulevard in southeast Houston, New Covenant Christian Church has spent three decades building a congregation around the idea that church is a covenant rather than an event. Pastored by Bishop Bill Hines, Jr. and Pastor Cheryl Hines, the fellowship is best known in its neighborhood for three steady rhythms: a 9 a.m. Sunday gathering that livestreams to viewers across the country, a Wednesday-night Bible study held online, and a food pantry that opens its doors twice a week to families in the surrounding community.
Sunday on Blackhawk Boulevard
The week at New Covenant centers on Sunday morning. Sunday School opens at 8 a.m., followed by the main worship service at 9 a.m. and running through about 11 a.m. The service is livestreamed on YouTube through the church's Watch page, so members who travel or are homebound can stay connected. Recordings of recent messages sit on the channel, including long-running series such as Bishop Hines' Overcoming Generational Trauma and standalone teachings on discernment, warning, and trusting God's timing.
For first-time visitors, the church keeps the welcome simple: greeters meet people at the door, ushers help everyone find a seat, and a connection card on the I'm New page makes it easy to share a name and how to follow up. The congregation describes itself with the phrase "Where the Family Matters," and the music, and the children's, and the youth work are organized around that idea.
A Church Built on the Word
Teaching and Bible study sit at the heart of the church's expectations for its members. The Wednesday Bible Study meets online from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., allowing people who work evenings or live outside the area to participate. Bishop Hines and the ministerial staff walk through Scripture verse by verse, and the recordings stay available afterward for catch-up.
New Covenant's doctrine is laid out in detail on the church's Doctrine of the Church page. The church holds to the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Old and New Testaments, the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the virgin birth and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the present ministry of the Holy Spirit indwelling every believer, salvation by grace through faith alone, and the eternal security of those united to Christ. Baptism and the Lord's Communion are observed as the two ordinances Christ left the church. Communion is observed regularly as a renewal of the believer's commitment, and baptism marks a public pledge to live under Christ's authority within the local church.
The Vision: Outreach in Every Sphere
What distinguishes New Covenant from many neighborhood churches is the breadth of its ministry vision. The church describes its calling as developing a comprehensive program of outreach that extends beyond the walls into education, economics, politics, and the wider community, so that the sovereignty and supremacy of Christ is demonstrated through the lives of its members.
That vision shows up in the church's structure. The pastoral team expects every member to grow through the Word, serve in one area of ministry, and give at least ten percent of their earnings to the church. The church calls these three habits Grow, Service, and Give, and they form the simple discipleship framework members are taught.
A Family of Twenty-Something Ministries
The church operates more than twenty ministry departments, each with its own mission statement. The Music and Worship Arts Ministry leads singing, instruments, dance, and drama, cultivating an atmosphere of expressive worship. The Youth Ministry, led by Alicia Howard, works to be a light for young people, help them navigate peer pressure through the Word, and show them they can be used by God to bring others to Christ. The Sunday School Ministry, under Superintendent Danny Andrus, focuses on biblical literacy and discipling new believers.
Children are cared for through the Nursery Ministry, which aims to train each child to show love, respect, and compassion for one another, and through the Education Ministry, which provides tutorial services to enhance academic development. The Day Care Ministry, directed by Nedra Jackson, exists to help children develop Christian values in a safe learning environment while growing socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. The Greeters and Ushers Ministries handle the first impressions, doorkeepers with a loving spirit, organized to help visitors feel welcome and ready to worship. The Prayer Ministry builds a healthy corporate and private prayer life among the body, drawing from Luke 18:1. The Evangelism Ministry reaches out to the lost and un-churched in the community. The Deacon Ministry serves the church and surrounding community in love, and the Ministers Ministry supports the pastors in prayer and followership.
Behind the scenes, the Graphic Design Ministry handles church printing and promotional design, the Grant Writing Ministry pursues funding from foundations and government programs, the Computer Media Ministry runs slides and media during services, the Audio Ministry distributes CDs of sermons and music, the Video Ministry works to put services and events on television, and the Legal Ministry keeps the congregation aware of legal responsibilities. The Financial Ministry oversees the funds members give, and the Inventory Ministry keeps equipment accounted for and in working order.
Feeding the Neighborhood: The Food Pantry
The Food Pantry Ministry is one of the church's most visible commitments to its southeast Houston neighbors. The pantry distributes food on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and on the second and fourth Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Janice Gentry directs the ministry, which exists to alleviate hunger for families experiencing food shortages in the surrounding community. A registration form is available through the church, and the food pantry operates as an equal-opportunity provider, with notices posted in both English and Spanish.
Annual Rhythms
A few traditions give the year its shape. The Ushers' Ministry hosts an annual Walk-Jog-A-Thon fundraiser that supports the Willie V. Hahn and Mary Coleman Scholarship Fund, a tradition now in its third decade. The church gathers annually for a church anniversary celebration with guest speakers and gospel artists, and a New Year fast stretches over ten days each January, meeting over Zoom in the evenings and gathering at the church on the first and last days. These are recurring rhythms rather than one-time events, and they knit the year together for members.
Senior Adults and Life-Long Learning
The Triple 'S' Senior Ministry, Life Long Learners 55+, serves adults in the second half of life, hosting presentations and gatherings that bring practical topics such as brain health and other wellness issues to a senior audience. It is among the regular touchpoints for older members.
The Pastoral Team
Bishop Bill Hines, Jr. is the founding pastor of New Covenant Christian Church. He is joined in leadership by Pastor Cheryl Hines, who oversees the church's intercessory prayer ministry. Departmental leaders include Danny Andrus (Sunday School Superintendent), D'Andre Gosey (Minister of Music), Alicia Howard (Youth Minister), Carol Douglas (Education Department), Nedra Jackson (Day Care Director), Janice Gentry (Food Pantry Ministry), Deadra Askew (Computer Media Ministry), Crystal Johnson (Ushers Ministry), Annie Sargent (Head Greeters), and Sherman Francis (Sound Technician). Together they form the staff team that shepherds the church's many departments.
Getting Connected
People interested in visiting will find the church at 10603 Blackhawk Blvd # A, Houston, TX 77089, with the office reachable at (281) 484-4230 and ncccp@sbcglobal.com. Sunday morning is the main gathering, with Sunday School at 8 a.m. and worship at 9 a.m., and the Wednesday Bible Study is held online at 7 p.m. The food pantry opens its doors four times a month, and online giving is available through the church's Givelify page. The congregation also stays in touch through Facebook, Instagram, and the YouTube channel, where sermons and live services are posted.