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Kingwood’s first church celebrates anniversary
  
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By JENNIFER SUMMER
When homes and businesses started to pop up in Kingwood, Holy Comforter Lutheran Church was the first church to join the up-and-coming community and welcome guests.
Forty years later, the church celebrated its anniversary with a special luncheon, visits from Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, and recognition of Oct. 26 as “Holy Comforter Lutheran Church Day.”
“We were very excited to celebrate 40 years and our milestones. We were very excited that everyone, including Mayor White and Judge Emmett, were able to join us in celebrating,” Pastor Barb Bartling said.
The church was first established in Humble by a mission pastor, Pastor George Brookover, in 1966.
The church was constituted in 1968 and became a congregation of the Texas-Louisiana Synod. This is why celebrating 40 years is important after getting a slow start.
The congregation continued to grow and expanded so much that when land became available in Kingwood in 1969, the church jumped at the chance to enlarge the facility.
The new campus was completely constructed and ready for use in 1972 and the first service at the new location was the Christmas Eve service.
“Moving to Kingwood was a very good decision for us as we continued to grow even more, spreading the good news around the community,” Bartling said. “Besides being the first church in Kingwood, we established the preschool program which was also a first in Kingwood.”
Several years later, a second building was constructed and was used mainly for education, and the preschool program added a few additions as well a mothers day out program and combined to create the Early Childhood Education program.
Emmett was on hand to congratulate the church but it was a homecoming trip for him, as his child once participated in the preschool program.
“We put a great emphasis on tradition and developing programs that meet the needs and desires of our church members. We now have over 40 ministries including Social Action Outreach Fellowship and Second Family Care just to name a few,” Bartling said.
Family development and community outreach are also very important to Bartling and Holy Comforter Lutheran Church as they reach out to those less fortunate or in need of help following a disaster.
The church served as a drop-off point for victims of Hurricane Katrina and provided them with assistance. Those wishing to help victims dropped off necessary items at the church and those affected by the storm would stop by the church to shop the items, free of charge.
“We try in any way to help our fellow community members, especially in times of need,” Bartling added.
In 40 years, the church has accomplished many of its goals and continues to grow, but it has several plans for the future, including welcoming more members and sharing their message of faith.
“We are ever-thankful for the church, congregation and the support we have received. Without everyone and the support, we could have never made it to 40 years,” Bartling said.
More info
281-358-6500 or www.hclckwd.org
Forty years later, the church celebrated its anniversary with a special luncheon, visits from Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, and recognition of Oct. 26 as “Holy Comforter Lutheran Church Day.”
“We were very excited to celebrate 40 years and our milestones. We were very excited that everyone, including Mayor White and Judge Emmett, were able to join us in celebrating,” Pastor Barb Bartling said.
The church was first established in Humble by a mission pastor, Pastor George Brookover, in 1966.
The church was constituted in 1968 and became a congregation of the Texas-Louisiana Synod. This is why celebrating 40 years is important after getting a slow start.
The congregation continued to grow and expanded so much that when land became available in Kingwood in 1969, the church jumped at the chance to enlarge the facility.
The new campus was completely constructed and ready for use in 1972 and the first service at the new location was the Christmas Eve service.
“Moving to Kingwood was a very good decision for us as we continued to grow even more, spreading the good news around the community,” Bartling said. “Besides being the first church in Kingwood, we established the preschool program which was also a first in Kingwood.”
Several years later, a second building was constructed and was used mainly for education, and the preschool program added a few additions as well a mothers day out program and combined to create the Early Childhood Education program.
Emmett was on hand to congratulate the church but it was a homecoming trip for him, as his child once participated in the preschool program.
“We put a great emphasis on tradition and developing programs that meet the needs and desires of our church members. We now have over 40 ministries including Social Action Outreach Fellowship and Second Family Care just to name a few,” Bartling said.
Family development and community outreach are also very important to Bartling and Holy Comforter Lutheran Church as they reach out to those less fortunate or in need of help following a disaster.
The church served as a drop-off point for victims of Hurricane Katrina and provided them with assistance. Those wishing to help victims dropped off necessary items at the church and those affected by the storm would stop by the church to shop the items, free of charge.
“We try in any way to help our fellow community members, especially in times of need,” Bartling added.
In 40 years, the church has accomplished many of its goals and continues to grow, but it has several plans for the future, including welcoming more members and sharing their message of faith.
“We are ever-thankful for the church, congregation and the support we have received. Without everyone and the support, we could have never made it to 40 years,” Bartling said.
More info
281-358-6500 or www.hclckwd.org
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