Thirty Years on the Parker County Prairie
Willow Park Baptist Church sits just a few minutes east of The Shops at Willow Park along Interstate 20, drawing worshipers from across Parker County, Texas. Members drive in from Aledo, Hudson Oaks, Weatherford, Brock, Azle, Springtown, Annetta, Millsap, Peaster, and the smaller communities that dot the rolling countryside west of Fort Worth. The church celebrated thirty years in Parker County in May 2024, marking three decades since a small group of believers and founding pastor Dr. Jerry Towles established a Baptist witness in this part of North Texas.
The church's motto, "We Stand by Broken Hearts," sets the tone for a congregation committed to welcoming people from every walk of life into the work of Jesus Christ. The message that the staff repeats across the campus is simple: doctrine matters, the Word of God is foundational, and there is a place for every age and every stage of life under this roof. Today the church is led by Pastor Clark Bosher, who often reminds the people that "our best days have yet to come" and that the Eternal Mission has not changed.
Pastor Clark Bosher
Clark Bosher came to Willow Park Baptist in 2006 after fifteen years on the road as a traveling evangelist. During that season he preached revivals, crusades, camps, youth rallies, and harvest days in more than forty-five states. His own faith was shaped in his early years by the powerful ministry of Dr. E.K. Oldham. He graduated from Arlington Baptist College and served under Dr. Jerry Thorpe at Temple Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas, before surrendering in 1991 to the life of an itinerant preacher. Together he and his wife Tonilyn traveled the country and raised two children, Braxton and Brooklyn, in churches, camps, and revival meetings across America.
When the call came to pastor WPBC, Bosher brought a vision for a church that would be true to the Word of God and unwavering in its sacrificial commitment to telling the world that Jesus saves. His pulpit ministry centers on 2 Timothy 4:2, "Preach the Word," and he has often said that Jesus, the church, and the anointed preaching of God's Word are three things that will never go out of style. Both of Pastor Clark and Tonilyn's children have gone on to Bible college, with their son Braxton now serving on the WPBC staff as the adult ministries pastor for the New Beginnings connection class.
A New Campus at Crown Pointe Boulevard
For many years WPBC met in older facilities, but soon after Pastor Clark arrived the church began praying about a permanent home of its own. That prayer was answered on the last Sunday of January 2023, when the congregation moved into a brand new campus at 777 Crown Pointe Boulevard in Willow Park.
The current building includes an auditorium, dedicated children's and adult education spaces, two playgrounds, a spacious foyer, and the church's own coffee shop, Crown Cafe. The campus is still being built out. Plans on the drawing board include a 120,000 square foot youth and gym facility with classrooms, a walking track, locker rooms, and a full commercial kitchen, a separate 250 seat chapel intended for weddings, funerals, and connection classes, a bus barn on the north side of the property, and a two acre tract fronting Interstate 20 that the church envisions as the home of a giant cross. The leadership has made it clear that all of this is in service of the same Eternal Mission: making disciples of all nations.
Three Weekly Gatherings
Willow Park Baptist gathers three times a week. Sunday morning worship is offered at 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM, with both services featuring blended worship and a sermon from Pastor Clark Bosher. Sunday evening worship begins at 5:00 PM, and midweek services start at 6:30 PM on Wednesdays. The 10:00 AM Sunday service is livestreamed on YouTube through the WPBC Live channel, and sermon recordings are kept in a searchable archive going back several years.
First time guests are invited to stop at one of two Guest Service counters when they arrive. Greeters have a visitor's gift ready and can answer questions about children's ministry, connection classes, or the service itself. Church office hours run Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and on Fridays from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The church office is closed on weekends.
WPBC Worship and a Band that Writes Its Own Songs
The worship ministry at WPBC is built around a team of vocalists and instrumentalists called the WPBC Band, and Music Director Justin Hill leads from the piano. The band writes and records original songs and also revives some of the great hymns of the church, with releases available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music under the name WPBC Worship. The ministry reaches beyond the walls of the church, and the team welcomes anyone with a heart for worship, including singers, players, and those who simply love the work of praise.
Justin Hill accepted the position of Music Director in July of 2022 after a lifetime of playing piano in church, beginning at the age of eleven. He and his wife Megan have seven children, and he is a self described coffee connoisseur and whitetail deer hunter in his spare time.
From the Nursery Through High School
WPBC takes seriously its commitment to the next generation, and the children's wing of the church is one of its busiest corners.
The WPBC Nursery opens every Sunday and Wednesday, forty five minutes before each service, and serves children from birth through age three. The nursery is divided into several rooms by age group, including 0 to 6 months, 7 to 12 months, 13 to 18 months, 19 to 24 months, and 2 to 3 years, so children interact with peers their own age. Parents check children in at the nursery desk, receive a security tag, and present the tag (or a photo of it) when picking up. If a parent is needed during the service, the tag number is posted on the auditorium screen and a text is sent. Nursery Coordinator Melonie Horton leads a team of workers and volunteers dedicated to introducing the youngest members of the congregation to Christ centered nursery songs, simple Bible stories, and the love of God.
Children ages three and four meet in the Pre School wing during the same Sunday and Wednesday service times. On Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM there is a high energy Kids' Worship service built around fun worship songs, biblical teaching, and activities designed to point children to Jesus. On Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM, preschoolers gather for Cubbies, a curriculum where they learn that Jesus loves them through Bible lessons, memory verses, worship, and activities.
WPBC Kids serves children from kindergarten through fifth grade during the 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, and 6:30 PM services. The Sunday morning Kids' Worship programs at both morning services give children their own time of worship, teaching, and small group interaction. Wednesday nights are for Kids' Fuel, a ministry designed to help families grow together in a Christian worldview. Parents are given resources to follow up at home, and digital devotions for the whole family are posted throughout the school year. Vacation Bible School, Kids' Camp for completed second through fifth graders, and the Kids Bible Club outreach at McCall Elementary, where the church meets kids on Thursdays right after school dismissal for snacks, games, worship, and Bible teaching, round out the year round ministry to children. The children's ministry is led by Caleb Lapointe, who has been on staff since August of 2014 and is supported by Kids' Ministry Assistants Brett Tutter and Matthew Gonzalez.
WPBC Youth meets on Sunday mornings during the 8:30 and 10:00 services and on Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM for MDWK, a high energy gathering that includes biblical preaching, live music from the WPBC Band, competitions, and small group time. The student ministry is led by T.R. Adair, who has served WPBC since August of 2019, and Ethan Stark, who joined the staff in 2022 to focus on middle schoolers. The youth ministry places a strong emphasis on service, and every Sunday at 9:30 AM students are invited to serve in roles such as greeting, nursery, or Kids' Ministry. Each summer the student ministry runs a Youth Camp that brings in guest speakers and live worship for a week away from the busyness of the school year, and the staff's prayer for Youth Camp is that students leave on fire and ready to make a difference in their schools, churches, and neighborhoods.
Wednesday Night Connection Classes
At the heart of the church's midweek rhythm is the Connection Classes program, which meets at 6:30 PM every Wednesday. Each class is designed for a particular stage of life, with the goal of helping members study the Bible together, build friendships, and find places to serve.
- Ladies Connection Class serves women of all ages and walks of life and provides an opportunity to study God's Word, fellowship with other women, and find ministry opportunities.
- New Beginnings is for single young adults, young married couples, and young married couples with young kids. It is led by Braxton Bosher.
- Anchored is for married couples whose children are in elementary, junior high, or high school. It is led by Jon Sisson.
- One Accord is for couples whose children have left home and who want to stay grounded in their marriage and in their church family.
- JOY Fellowship is a fellowship for older adults.
- Discipled Veteran is a class for seniors who want to make the twilight years the best years of their walk with God.
Women's Ministry and the Annual Conference
The WPBC Women's Ministry exists to lead women into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, connect women with one another, challenge them to love and know God through prayer and diligent study of His Word, teach them to use their gifts in serving others, and help them be a vibrant example of Christ in their homes, churches, and communities. The ministry operates a Ladies Bible Study during the week and hosts a Ladies Fellowship twice a year, with food, fellowship, and Bible study.
Once a year the ministry hosts the WPBC Women's Conference, a multi session gathering with biblical teaching, breakout sessions, a moderated question and answer panel, and a marketplace of vendors. Past keynote speakers have included Danielle Mordh of Lancaster Baptist Church and West Coast Baptist College, Amy Edwards of Beyond Women's Ministries, Sara Anderson of Pinecrest Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia, Lisa Reavis of North Jacksonville Baptist Church, and Susan McNeil of Pleasantview Baptist Church in Arlington, with worship led by Laura Cooksey and the conference band.
Iron Men and the Men's Conferences
Each year the church hosts Iron Men, a men's conference built around the verse Proverbs 27:17: "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Past featured speakers have included CT Townsend, David Barton of WallBuilders, and Dr. Ralph Sexton of Trinity Baptist Church in North Carolina, with worship led by CT and Becky Townsend, The Erwins, and the Iron Men Band.
The conference extends beyond the auditorium with a Friday morning golf tournament, a sporting clays course on the church grounds that is a five stage, fifty target course described by the church as "golf with a shotgun," and an arm wrestling tournament and corn hole tournament held in the foyer after the Friday night service. The men's ministry also takes an annual Israel trip and hosts an outdoor expo on the church campus.
WPBC WeCare: Divorce, Grief, and Recovery
The WeCare ministry is the umbrella for several support groups that meet during the week.
DivorceCare is a thirteen week program that combines video seminars featuring top experts on divorce and recovery with small group discussion. DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) is designed for children ages five to twelve, and DivorceCare for Teens (TeenCare) is for teenagers dealing with their parents' separation. Both child-focused programs include games, crafts, role playing, journaling, and Bible verses that help children process the divorce and move forward in their lives.
GriefShare follows a similar format for those who have lost a spouse, child, family member, or friend, providing a safe and understanding environment to work through questions about things they have never faced before.
Bridge to Recovery is a faith based program that uses the Word of God to help people overcome addictions and personal life struggles. The ministry traces its roots to Celebrate Recovery, which Tasha Patterson helped launch at WPBC before she took over Crown Cafe, and it operates under the conviction that God's Word shows amazing truths that lead to incredible victories.
What Willow Park Baptist Believes
The church's statement of faith is rooted in historic Baptist doctrines. The Bible is held to be the inerrant, infallible Word of God, with the King James Version accepted as the preserved Word for English speaking people and the only translation to be used in the church's services and ministries. WPBC confesses one God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaches that the Holy Spirit is a divine person equal with the Father and the Son.
The church holds to a literal six day creation, a historical fall into sin, the virgin birth and substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, the new birth as a work of the Holy Spirit, the freeness of salvation by grace through faith, the perseverance of the saints, the visible bodily return of Christ, and the resurrection of the dead. Christian baptism is practiced as the immersion of a believer, and the Lord's Supper is observed as a memorial by the members of the local church.
The church is congregational in its polity, holding that the local church has the absolute right of self government under Christ as the sole superintendent. WPBC affirms the Great Commission as the church's mission and rejects cooperation with denominations or hierarchies that would compromise its biblical distinctives. Civil government is recognized as of divine appointment for the good order of human society, with magistrates to be prayed for and conscientiously honored and obeyed except in things opposed to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Pastoral Staff
Willow Park Baptist is led by a pastoral team and supported by ministry directors and administrative staff.
- Pastor Clark Bosher - Senior Pastor
- Kenneth Terrell - Administrative and Adult Ministries. Kenneth has been in ministry for over twenty years and previously served as WPBC's Kids Minister from 2009 to 2017. He is a graduate of Arlington Baptist College and has completed masters level courses at Liberty University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
- Braxton Bosher - Adult Ministries (New Beginnings). The son of Pastor Clark, Braxton grew up at WPBC, surrendered to ministry in 2021, and earned his bachelor's degree in Church Ministries from West Coast Baptist College in May of 2025.
- Jon Sisson - Adult Ministries (Anchored). Jon joined the staff in 2025 after eighteen years in ministry and brings a particular passion for helping couples grow in their walk with the Lord.
- Caleb Lapointe - Kids Minister. Caleb was saved at eight years old, joined the WPBC staff in August of 2014, and graduated from Arlington Baptist College in 2016.
- T.R. Adair - Student Minister. T.R. was saved and called to ministry at thirteen, came to WPBC in August of 2019 after serving at Calvary Baptist Church in Live Oak, Florida, and at Macedonia Baptist College.
- Ethan Stark - Middle School Minister. A Parker County native and Aledo High School graduate, Ethan served eleven years with the Parker County Sheriff's Office before joining the WPBC staff in 2022.
- Justin Hill - Music Director, leading worship from the piano.
- David Stelter - Tech Director, supporting the church's audio, video, and broadcast ministry.
- Melonie Horton - Nursery Coordinator.
A Church for Parker County
Willow Park Baptist is a church with a regional footprint. The campus sits just a few minutes east of Interstate 20, and members drive in from across Parker County. Online, sermons are broadcast on YouTube and recorded for an archive that reaches a wider audience with verse by verse exposition through books like 1 Kings, Joshua, Psalms, and the Gospels, along with topical series such as Heroes of the Faith and the annual Christmas and Easter services.
The Mother's Day service each spring is one of the church's most beloved traditions, with an empty rocking chair that fills with flowers in honor of mothers and mentors who have shaped the lives of those in the room. In the fall the Thanksgiving Banquet brings the whole church family together for a meal, and in the summer Vacation Bible School, Kids' Camp, and Youth Camp fill the campus with energy. Through it all the church keeps pointing back to the same calling that Pastor Clark has preached for nearly two decades, the words of Jesus at the close of Matthew's Gospel: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."