More Than a Building on Republic Road
Park Crest Baptist Church sits on Republic Road on the south side of Springfield, Missouri, and has been a steady presence there for more than fifty years. To the people who call it home, the church is less a building than a family. The phrase shows up everywhere on its materials - "we're more than just a building, we're a family" - and it captures the warm, multi-generational feel of the place. Greeters wait at the entrances and in the lobby, guest parking is reserved close to the doors, and newcomers are pointed toward a Next Steps Center in the foyer for a simple conversation about how to get involved.
The church's mission statement is short enough to remember and shapes everything that happens inside the building: Park Crest exists to SHOW the love of Christ, see others come to KNOW Christ, and GROW in our relationship with Christ. That three-fold rhythm - show, know, grow - runs through the worship services, the children's ministry, the student program, the small groups, and the missions enterprise that sends and supports more than eighty missionaries and ministry partners around the world.
Sunday Mornings: Grow Groups and Worship
Sunday is the heart of the week at Park Crest. At 9:00 AM, classrooms across the campus fill with Grow Groups - small communities organized by age and stage of life that meet for fellowship, prayer, and Bible study. At the same hour, Grow Groups at The Park offer a parallel experience for kids, with classes tailored to every grade from Pre-K through sixth grade.
At 10:15 AM the whole church gathers for the main worship service. Music is a mix of newer songs and older hymns, led by a worship team under the direction of the worship pastor. Park Crest teaches that "the Word of God changes hearts and lives," and each Sunday the senior pastor walks through a passage of Scripture in a clear, expository style designed to be both faithful to the text and applicable to daily life. The service is also livestreamed on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person.
Running alongside the main service is Worship at The Park, a separate children's worship experience for 3 year olds through 6th graders that includes music, games, and interactive Bible teaching. Parents who need a quieter option can use the cry rooms, where mothers with newborns can watch the service together in a private space. Family restrooms are available throughout the building.
Grow Groups for Every Stage of Life
Grow Groups are how Park Crest turns Sunday morning into more than a service. The groups meet in various rooms around the campus at 9:00 AM and are led by couples who open their homes and lives to a particular age or life-stage demographic:
- Middle School (7th-8th grade) - led by Brian and Kaysha Rains in the Student Ministry Building.
- High School (9th-12th grade) - led by Chase and Bregan Housley in the Student Ministry Building.
- Young Adults (18-30s) - led by Phil and Nicole James, meeting in the Student Ministry Building and also gathering Tuesday evenings.
- Foundations (young marrieds and engaged couples) - led by Scott and Rachel Lieb in Room 200, with breakfast and fellowship built into the morning.
- Life (30s-40s) - led by James and Emily Christopher in Room 100, designed for families navigating the busy middle years.
- Homebuilders (40s-50s) - led by Brian and Michelle Garrison in the Round Auditorium, focused on parenting and building a home grounded in faith.
- Faithbuilders (50s-60s) - led by Randy and Barbara Eggert in Room 500, for empty nesters and those approaching retirement.
- Faithkeepers (60s+) - led by Dr. Greg and Debbie Christopher in the Chapel, with a bi-monthly outreach to a local senior living facility.
The Park: A Children's Ministry of Its Own
Children are not a side program at Park Crest - they have an entire building called The Park, with its own check-in system, security procedures, and weekly programming for every age from newborn through sixth grade.
The nursery welcomes babies and not-yet-potty-trained 3 year olds during every service. Coordinated by Yasmin Neufeld, Alyssa Pleasant, Melissa Souza, and Jayme Wisdom, the nursery is staffed by trained volunteers who model gentleness, kindness, and patience, and who teach the youngest children that God loves them, made them, and cares for them. Parents are asked not to bring food into the classroom and to keep children home if they have had a fever of 99.8 or higher, vomiting, or started antibiotics within the last 24 hours.
Potty-trained 3 year olds through 6th graders move through three stages of Grow Groups at The Park. Pre-K and kindergarten children learn through interactive activities, Play-Doh, and active lessons. First through third graders begin to think in more concrete terms - "fair is fair, equal is equal" - and the leaders guide them through what Jesus says when life does not feel fair, always keeping the tone fun. Fourth through sixth graders take on more leadership, helping run technology for the worship service, greeting other kids, and going deeper into the Bible in small discussion groups.
Worship at The Park meets at 10:15 AM on Sundays, and Midweek at The Park meets at 6:45 PM on Wednesdays during the school year, offering games, Bible memorization, scripture lessons, and a missions emphasis for 2 year olds through 6th graders. The Park also incorporates the AWANA children's discipleship program.
Every volunteer at The Park passes a background check, security personnel are on campus during services, and the child check-in system uses a matching sticker code so that the right child goes home with the right adult. A special needs ministry is built into the program: specially trained volunteers meet children where they are so that, unless specific care is needed, every child experiences The Park alongside their peers.
Students and Young Adults
The student ministry, led by Student Pastor Chase Housley, is built around two weekly touchpoints. On Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM, middle school and high school students meet in separate Grow Groups in the Student Ministry Building. On Wednesday evenings at 6:45 PM, 7th through 12th graders gather for Midweek - an engaging night of live music, food, games, and a Bible-based message.
Young Adults (ages 18-30) meet under the leadership of Worship Pastor Phil James. They gather on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM in the Student Ministry Building and again on Tuesday evenings at 6:45 PM in the Round Auditorium, with a ministry focus on enjoying life together while pursuing a relationship with Christ and making Him known.
Midweek: Wednesdays and Tuesdays for Every Age
Park Crest takes seriously the idea that growth does not stop on Sunday. From September through May, the church offers a full midweek calendar:
- Tuesdays at 7:00 PM - The Porch: A community gathering for young adults that complements the Sunday morning Grow Group.
- Wednesdays at 6:45 PM - Adult Bible Study: Meets in the Round Auditorium and follows a study titled "Experiencing God in Everyday Life: A Journey Toward Spiritual Maturity."
- Wednesdays at 6:45 PM - Ladies Bible Study: Meets in the Chapel, currently working through Joshua: Every Good Promise Fulfilled by Jen Wilkin.
- Wednesdays at 6:45 PM - Midweek at The Park: Games, Bible memorization, and lessons for kids age 2 through 6th grade.
- Wednesdays at 6:45 PM - Midweek (Students): Live music, food, games, and a message for 7th-12th graders.
Men meet periodically for a Saturday morning Bible study over breakfast, and Depth Training is offered as an additional equipping opportunity during the midweek program.
Missions Around the World
Missions has been part of Park Crest since its earliest days. The church partners with more than eighty missionary families and missions organizations worldwide and contributed over $300,000 to missions in 2025. One hundred percent of designated missions giving goes directly to missionaries and projects.
Park Crest has sent out and continues to support missionaries serving in:
- The Philippines - Tyler and Brynn Carleton (sent 2020), focused on influencing pastors and churches to disciple children more effectively.
- England - Russ and Faye Ivison (approved 1986), serving through the Baptist Bible Fellowship.
- Australia - Roger and Sandra Monasmith (approved 1977).
- North Africa - a creative-access team that has served overseas for forty years, working among refugees and in a region where the Gospel is restricted.
- Japan - Ruth King (approved 1987), a second-generation BBFI missionary.
- Portugal - Jacob and Sydney Mulford (sent 2023), planting a church in the suburbs of Lisbon alongside veteran BBFI missionaries Beau and Valerie Moore.
- Nashville, Tennessee - Blake Housley, church planting (sent 2022).
- Orlando, Florida - Brandt and Staci Leich, who planted Life Church in Winter Garden in 2017 (sent 2016).
- Mexico - Don and Delores Swearingin (approved 1983).
The church also runs a Barnabas Teams program - small groups of members who provide ongoing physical, emotional, and spiritual encouragement to a particular missionary. Members can apply to serve on short-term mission trips or, if they sense a calling, explore a longer-term "surrender" pathway. The Nations in Need page lists over twenty countries where no BBFI missionary is currently present, including Albania, Bulgaria, Cuba, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, and Uzbekistan, and the church prays for individuals and families to step forward for these fields.
Leadership
Phillip A. Housley has served as Senior Pastor since 2009, after a previous tenure as Associate Pastor from 1994 to 2004. He was ordained at Park Crest in 2009 and is the primary teacher on Sunday mornings. His wife Stephanie directs the Women's Ministries. Their sons Blake and Chase both serve in ministry at Park Crest and through church planting.
Phil Wieneke joined the staff as Executive Pastor in 2015 after more than 25 years as a member. He leads the staff team and oversees pastoral care, strategic planning, finance, administration, human resources, operations, and the missions program.
Chase Housley became Student Pastor in June 2024, after growing up at Park Crest. He oversees student discipleship, outreach to local schools, and parent equipping. Jacob Stephens came on as Children's Director in May 2024, providing direction for children's Grow Groups, Worship at The Park, AWANA, and the special needs ministry. Phil James joined as Worship Pastor in November 2024 and also leads the Young Adults ministry.
Kayla Loar manages the front office and serves as the administrative assistant to the staff, as well as handling graphic design, photography, and online communications. Angela Walker handles all of the church's finances and serves as Pastor Phil's administrative assistant. Celia Huntsman oversees First Impressions - greeters, Next Steps, and hospitality - and communicates with Grow Group leaders. Tatum Etherton serves as the ministry intern, working especially with the student ministry.
What Park Crest Believes
Park Crest holds to the Baptist Bible Fellowship International's Articles of Faith, which set out the church's doctrinal commitments. At the center of those beliefs is the conviction that salvation is a gift received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone - not earned by works - and that baptism by immersion is the biblical expression of that faith and a prerequisite for church membership. The church teaches that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God and that a local church is a community of baptized believers gathered for worship, teaching, fellowship, and ministry.
Membership at Park Crest has two requirements: personal salvation through faith in Christ, and baptism by immersion. Those interested in joining are invited to take a New Members Class, sign up through the Next Steps Center, or meet with a member of the pastoral staff.
Visiting Park Crest
There is no dress code at Park Crest - some people wear their Sunday best, others come in jeans and a t-shirt. The goal is that every guest feels comfortable and welcome. Reserved guest parking is available near the entrances, and greeters are stationed throughout the campus to help with directions and questions.
For families, children can be pre-registered online at least 24 hours before a service so that name tags are ready at check-in. The children's check-in system uses a matching parent-and-child sticker, and a text is sent to the parent if the team needs to reach them during the service. Children with special needs are welcomed and supported by trained volunteers. Newborns through not-yet-potty-trained 3 year olds can be dropped off in the nursery, and cry rooms and family restrooms are available for parents who want to stay with their children.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the phone number is 417-883-1676. Giving can be done online through the church's secure giving platform, and the Sunday morning service is livestreamed on YouTube for those who prefer to join from home.