Northern Hills Baptist Church on NE 180th Street in Holt, Missouri, is known for a Gospel-driven, Christ-centered approach that places discipleship alongside worship. Its ministry reaches from two-year-olds through adults through education-focused Sunday School, Awana clubs, youth gatherings, women's and men's ministries, and music for praise.
Loving God, Loving People, and Making Disciples
Northern Hills defines its mission as fulfilling the Great Commandment and Great Commission: loving God, loving people, and making disciples of Jesus Christ. The Great Commandment, rooted in Matthew 22:36-40, calls people to love God with heart, soul, and mind and to love their neighbors as themselves. The Great Commission, drawn from Matthew 28:18-20, centers on going out to make disciples, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching people to observe the commands of Jesus.
The church says people are welcome regardless of their background or past experience, and its goal is for every person to know Jesus personally and experience new life in Him. That theme continues through the church's ministries: parents are primary disciplers, adults and students are equipped through Scripture, and worship is intended to glorify God within an atmosphere of grace-filled joy.
A Sunday Built Around Classes and Worship
A Sunday visit at Northern Hills begins at 9:00 a.m. with Equip Classes and Sunday School, followed by worship at 10:15 a.m. The classes run from 9:00 to 10:00 and focus on education-focused discipleship for every follower of Jesus Christ. They are designed to be multigenerational, welcoming both new believers and long-time Christians, and to build people up in knowledge of God and Scripture.
Childcare is provided during both the 9:00 classes and the 10:15 service. The church's priorities for a visit are prayer, worship that glorifies God, and a grace-filled joy centered on advancing the kingdom of Christ.
Classes for New Believers and Long-Time Christians
Sunday School is built around Ephesians 4:12-13, which speaks of being equipped for ministry and building up the body of Christ until believers attain unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God. Each class is intended to help people grow in knowledge of God and Scripture alongside their church family. The multigenerational approach means people can find a class suited to a particular stage of life, whether they are beginning to follow Jesus or have been doing so for many years.
Wednesday Evenings at 6:30
The church's Wednesday rhythm runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Awana, Youth Group, and Bible Study take place during that window, giving children, teenagers, and adults distinct opportunities to gather and grow. Awana serves younger children through age- and grade-based clubs, Youth Group centers on the next generation, and Bible Study continues the church's emphasis on education-focused discipleship.
Gather Kids: Awana's Age-and-Grade Clubs
Gather Kids exists to equip the next generation to love God, love people, and make disciples. Northern Hills places parents alongside the church as the primary disciplers of their children while providing safe gathering places, caring leaders, and Christ-exulting, Biblically saturated materials. The children's ministry includes nursery and children's church, a rigorous Awana program, and family-oriented discipleship seminars and events.
The Awana clubs divide by age and grade. Puggles are for ages two and three. Cubbies are for children who are three by July 31, and Sparks serve kindergarten through second grade. Boys Club and Girls Club continue from third through sixth grade, while Trek and Journey welcome students in seventh grade and older. This progression keeps the church's work with children connected to the same love God, love people, and make disciples mission that shapes youth and adult ministries.
Gather Youth: Worship, Small Groups, and Family Events
Gather Youth carries the same love God, love people, and make disciples aim into the next generation. The church emphasizes parents as primary disciplers, but provides safe places for young people to gather with caring leaders and receive Christ-exulting, Biblically saturated teaching. Youth worship, small groups, and family-oriented discipleship seminars and events are the primary ways the church engages teenagers and equips the next generation.
Gather Women and Gather Men
Northern Hills has distinct gatherings for women and men, each built around the church's shared mission.
Gather Women
Gather Women understands women as created in the image of God and uniquely gifted to glorify Him. Its emphasis is on adorning themselves with the Gospel of Christ and building one another up. The ministry brings women together for God-glorifying worship, authentic relationships, and discipleship intended to advance the kingdom.
Gather Men
Gather Men defines biblical manhood as walking humbly with Christ and sacrificially serving the church, wives, and children. It encourages men to lead faithfully at home and in the workplace by prioritizing prayer, serving their families and church, pursuing Christ-centered discipleship, and sharing the Gospel. Its aim is for men to seek Christ first, lead their homes with a servant's heart, and advance the kingdom.
Music for Worship and Praise
Northern Hills' music ministry opens with the invitation to make a joyful noise unto the Lord from Psalm 100. Opportunities to worship include a praise team and praise band, vocal and instrumental specials, and a children's choir for ages six through 12. These opportunities let people participate in praise through singing, instrumental music, and dedicated choir ministry.
Worship is also available through the church's YouTube worship channel, and prerecorded messages are preserved as sermon videos and audio.
Northern Hills Christian Academy
Northern Hills Christian Academy is connected with Northern Hills Baptist Church. A school administrator is included in the church's staff team, and the academy maintains a separate phone line at 816-320-3204. The church's own work with children and young people includes nursery and children's church, Awana, youth worship, small groups, and family-oriented discipleship seminars and events.
Worship in Holt
Northern Hills Baptist Church is located at 17211 NE 180th Street, Holt, Missouri 64048. The church phone is 816-320-3301, and the office email is office@nhbcweb.org. The church office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and closed Friday. Sunday gathers around 9:00 a.m. classes and 10:15 a.m. worship, while Wednesday activities run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. At Northern Hills, love for God, love for people, and the making of disciples shape both the teaching and the worship.