The Houston Church Planting Network is a network of networks committed to strengthening church planters to multiply churches to reach every man, woman and child in the greater Houston region.
HCPN Beliefs & Values
We have adopted the Lausanne Covenant as a unifying statement of faith. The Lausanne Covenant is a movement that mobilizes evangelical leaders to collaborate for world evangelization.
Saturation
We value the saturation of gospel-centered churches because in order to impact the city we must intentionally plant the gospel in every neighborhood and with every people group.
Formation
We value the spiritual and strategic formation in the lives of church planters because healthy and equipped church planters lead to healthy and effective churches.
Collaboration
We value collaboration because a unified effort of churches working together will be needed to make the mission of the church more effective.
Multiplication
We value multiplication because in order to reach the growing and diverse population of Houston it will take the exponential expansion of disciples, church planters, churches, and networks.
Our Philosophy
HCPN Team
HCPN Board
Lawrence Scott, Chad Clarkson, Jeff Wells, Ken Werlein, Jeremiah Morris, Bruce Wesley, Jarrett Stephens, Blake Wilson
Chad Clarkson
Chad Clarkson is the co-founder and now serves as the Executive Director of the Houston Church Planting Network. After being involved in planting churches in Iowa and South Carolina he moved to Houston where he served for ten years as the Pastor of Church Planting and Missions at Clear Creek Community Church. He has been involved in global and local church planting work for almost 25 years and has a passion to see the church unify around the mission of God.
Jeremiah Morris
Jeremiah Morris is the founding and Lead Pastor at Seven Mile Road Houston. He is a husband, dad, disciple-maker and church planter. He loves preaching the gospel, the city of Houston, and anything wrapped in a tortilla. He is passionate about his wife, Ashley and his boys, Finn, Caleb and Judah. His connection with HCPN was forged years ago when he helped to develop and launch the original finishing residency. He then was a participant in the program and now is delighted to sit on the board of the organization. Jeremiah graduated from Texas Christian University (B.A. Philosophy) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv).
Lawrence Scott
Lawrence Scott is the planting and Lead Pastor of One Church at Harvest Point. He is married to the love of his life, the beautiful and gifted Shannon Scott. They have six children: Kaelyn, Leah, Eden, Lawrence III, Zachary, and Reagan. Lawrence earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Houston, a Master of Theology (ThM) degree, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) in Dallas, Texas.
Jarrett Stephens
Dr. Jarrett Stephens serves as Senior Pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church, in Northwest Houston. A native of Louisiana, Jarrett graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He received his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry from Liberty Theological Seminary.
Jarrett also serves on the boards of BridgeBuilders, Dallas Baptist University and Houston Church Planters Network which clearly points to his passions of serving the least of these in the inner cities, to raising up the next generation of Christian leaders, and to equipping churches to be on mission.
Jarrett is the author of two books, The Mountains Are Calling: Making the Climb for a Clearer View of God and Ourselves, and his most recent book, The Always God: He Hasn’t Changed, and You Are Not Forgotten.
Jarrett and his wife, Debbie, have four daughters: Riley, Kelsey, Cameron and Landry.
Jeff Wells
Jeff Wells is the Senior Pastor of WoodsEdge Community Church in Spring, Texas. He grew up in Madisonville, Texas. He became a believer in the summer of 1972 shortly before beginning studies at Rice University where he majored in History. He was a four-time All-America recipient in track and cross country. While at Rice, he received the Bob Quin Award as the Outstanding Student Athlete. Jeff is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned the Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees. Jeff and his wife Gayle met in Eugene, Oregon, where Jeff was serving in a church and running with Nike and Gayle was working as a nurse. Jeff and Gayle have three children Sarah, Callie, and John Paul. Sarah is married to Michael Grenz and they have three children – Ryanne Elizabeth, Barrett Michael and Evelyn May. Callie is married to Paul Thomas, they have one daughter, Wren Felicity. John Paul is married to Michelle. Jeff’s hobbies include reading, running and anything outdoors with his family.
Ken Werlein
Ken Werlein is the founding pastor of Faithbridge Church in Northwest Houston, TX, and a graduate of Vanderbilt University (B.S.) and Asbury Theological Seminary (M.Div; D.Min.). In 1998, the Lord called Ken to plant a church in Northwest Houston with the mission to make more and stronger disciples – who make more and stronger disciples of Jesus Christ. Faithbridge began with a core group of seven people, which has grown to thousands of adults, students, and children gathering to worship each weekend. In addition to preaching God’s Word, mentoring young leaders, and working to strengthen other Kingdom-minded ministries, Ken prioritizes family time with his wife, Suzanne, and their two sons, Wesley and William.
Bruce Wesley
Bruce Wesley is the founding and Senior Pastor of Clear Creek Community Church. He holds a B.A. in Practical Theology from Howard Payne University (1983), an M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a D.Min. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (1995). Bruce is the co-founder and President of the Houston Church Planting Network. He and Susan invest in three key areas for community transformation: planting churches, strengthening marriages and raising up leaders for the church of tomorrow. They have three married daughters and a growing number of incredible grandchildren. Bruce loves the mountains, fly-fishing and hiking trails.
Blake Wilson
Blake Wilson has served in Youth Ministry since 1994. He was formerly the co-director of The Center for Youth Ministry at the College of Biblical Studies where he taught for seven years. Currently he is the pastor of Crossover Bible Fellowship in Houston, Texas. Additionally, he has been heavily involved in curriculum development for youth and family life ministries, and Blake is well known for his class entitled The Biblical View of Sex – which he has taught to NBA players of the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. Blake shares his gifts and talents at student camps and retreats with Allan Houston and Charlie Ward, former NBA players.