Who We Are
Sharpstown Baptist Church is a multicultural congregation of Christians who share a passion for loving and serving God. Empowered by God and led by the Holy Spirit, we unify to worship publicly, to grow spiritually, and to reach our community for Christ, demonstrating love through ministry.
Mission Statement
As believers in Christ, we unite under God's authority to encourage one another in love and fellowship, to worship and pray together in faith, to disciple and be discipled through the Word and Spirit, and to serve as Christ’s loving hands and feet to make a difference in our community as we share the good news of salvation – All to the glory of God!
- UNITED - We are a diverse, multicultural group, united by our faith in Christ and His love. Together we share in His love which flows to us, then overflows to our community. Under Christ’s guidance and through the study of His Word, we build close, loving relationships with one another so that we can help, encourage, and pray for each other. This fulfills the prayer of Jesus in John 17:23a: “I in them and You in Me - so that they may be brought to complete unity.”
- WORD - The Word is God’s Holy Bible, given by Him through His Spirit as a revelation of Himself, and includes His plan for eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is truth for all people as it is complete, trustworthy, inerrant, contains no contradictions, and instructs us as we seek to know and serve God and others. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 says God’s Word is “…able to make you wise in salvation through faith in Christ Jesus… and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good ”
- MAKE A DIFFERENCE - We seek to make a difference in our community and in God’s Kingdom by praying and serving together - building relationships as God opens the door to meet needs through meaningful ministry. Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
- THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION - From Jeremiah 29:11, we know God created each of us with a perfect plan for our lives. The most important part of that plan is to believe in Jesus, His Son, for salvation. 2 Peter 3:9b says, “...He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” We are called to carry out Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel near and far, baptizing those who believe, and discipling them toward Christlike spiritual maturity.
- ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD - Our end purpose is not to bring any glory to ourselves, but instead to bring glory to Almighty God, for only He is worthy. 1 Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen!”
What We Believe
We believe the Bible is the Word of God
The Bible consists solely of Holy Scriptures, which are God’s revelation to humanity of Himself and His Will. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. It also reveals the principles by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.
We believe in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit)
The one living and true God has revealed Himself to us as Heavenly Father, Son of God, and Holy Spirit of God. These three possess distinct personal attributes, but are without any division of nature, essence, or being.
- Father God reigns over His universe as Provider and Sustainer. He is all holy, all righteous, all powerful, all loving, all knowing, and all wise. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all of humanity.
- Son of God came from Heaven, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. His sinless life on earth as Jesus Christ perfectly accomplished the will of God. He was crucified on the Cross, resurrected from the dead, rose to Heaven, and is now at the right hand of God.
- Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit. He inspired the writing of the Bible, and now illuminates the Bible to enable our understanding. He also serves and equips believers as He counsels, convicts, guides, comforts, gives spiritual gifts, seals us for salvation, enlightens, and empowers.
We believe salvation through Jesus is the greatest human need
Every person is born into sin, and has the spiritual need of establishing a righteous relationship with God. Salvation is God’s plan for our path to being forgiven of our sins, and therefore no longer facing the eternal consequences of sin. This salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, as it was only made possible by the sinless, blood sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. It is available only by God’s grace, and is only through our faith-belief in Jesus Christ. It is a gift from God that cannot be earned through our own efforts.
We believe baptism is an act of obedience that proclaims our faith in Christ
Christian baptism is the immersion into water of a believer in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, following salvation, as a means to publicly proclaim and affirm a believer’s saving faith in Christ. The process visually symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ – as well as the believer’s death to sin, burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. We believe this ordinance is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to participation in the Lord’s Supper.
We believe the Lord’s Supper is an act of obedience in remembrance of Christ
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience to Christ’s instruction. It consists of the eating of the bread (representative of the Body of Christ which was broken on the Cross), and the drinking of the fruit of the vine (representative of the new covenant in Christ’s blood). Through observing the Lord’s Supper, believers intentionally memorialize and proclaim the death of our Savior Jesus Christ, while also looking forward with anticipation to His promised second coming. The manner in which this ordinance is observed must not be done unworthily, and as such believers should spiritually examine themselves prior to partaking in it.
For a more thorough understanding of our beliefs please see “Baptist Faith and Message” 1963 revision, which is the doctrinal statement to which we adhere.
Our Leaders
Russell Atherton, Interim Pastor
Russell began serving as Intentional Interim Pastor of Sharpstown Baptist Church in January 2022. He has a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas at Arlington. The Lord has used him in ministry as pastor, chaplain, church-planter, Bible instructor, youth and collegiate pastor, and in denominational work. He is married to Cynthia, daughter of IMB missionaries, and who received a bachelor’s degree from Hardin-Simmons University. Russell and Cynthia have served God together in Texas, Connecticut, and in Nigeria. Russell enjoys collecting and studying ancient biblical coins and artifacts, and playing the piano. His life verse is 1 Corinthians 15:10a.
Ricky Concepcion, Minister to Youth
Ricky has served as the youth pastor of SBC since 2017. He desires to draw others to the feet of Christ and build Godly character into teenagers while teaching them to trust and obey the Word of God. Ricky joined SBC as a youth in 1992. After high school, Ricky served in the United States Marine Corp. He received a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston – Downtown. He became a teacher at SBISD’s Alternative Education Program in 2006. Ricky completed his master’s in Educational Leadership through Concordia University – Portland and is currently pursuing a master’s in Christian Leadership at Houston Baptist University. Ricky and his wife Ember have three children. His hobbies include health fitness and chess, and his favorite verse is James 1:22.
Christopher Lee, Minister of Worship
Christopher has served in music ministry since 1998. He has a passion for leading God’s people to worship and for providing ways for the musically gifted to use their talents in service of the Lord. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Wesleyan University and a Master of Music degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Christopher is married and has two adult sons.
Eliot Salinas, Pastor – Hispanic Congregation
Pastor Salinas began the Hispanic ministry at Sharpstown Baptist Church in February 2016. He is a bi-vocational pastor, also working in the electrical engineering field. He and his wife Elena come from a long line of pastors serving the Lord in the Baptist church in Mexico and Texas. We hope that the Hispanic ministry continues to grow for the glory of our God we serve.
Our History
God brought four families together for the purpose of seeking His will in providing a Baptist church in the Sharpstown area of Southwest Houston.
As the membership of Sharpstown Baptist Chapel, as it was initially called, grew to approximately ten families, it became necessary to move from the private home where the group had been meeting to a larger location. A large two-story home in Bellaire, TX was secured in 1955. While meeting at this location, the group officially became a mission of River Oaks Baptist Church.
The Lord continued to increase the number of worshippers and, having reached more than a hundred, they relocated to Jane Long Junior High in September 1957. The following year the body of believers became Sharpstown Baptist Church. The church purchased seven and a half acres of land and construction of a new church building and parking lot were completed. The first services were held in the building on October 25, 1959. By that time, Sunday attendance was four hundred and seventy-four. As membership continued to grow the church built a second building dedicated to classroom space. The construction was completed in 1963.
An important milestone in the life of the church occurred in 1966 when the Wilcrest Baptist Mission was formed. That mission became Wilcrest Baptist Church in 1968.
As Sharpstown Baptist Church grew and followed where God was working in the community, it became evident that there was a need to build again. New space was needed for additional classrooms, a larger worship facility, for fellowship, and for athletic/youth activities. Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit plans were drawn for a new multi-purpose activity center. On Easter Sunday, April 24, 1974, the building became the new center of worship.
In the late 1980s the congregation began to reflect the changing demographics of the surrounding community, becoming increasingly multicultural.
We continue to ask for God’s blessings and vision as we seek to serve Him in the Sharpstown community.
