Northwest Hills UMC, Austin, marks 40 years of ministry, serving community




Northwest Hills UMC, Austin, celebrated its 40th birthday Feb. 25 with a noon reception following a 10:30 a.m. worship service.
The church welcomed previous pastors by having them participate in the worship service.
The Rev. Jerry Jay Smith, the church’s charter pastor, delivered the morning message.
The banner committee presented a banner in honor of the celebration, and special music from all the choirs was provided.
Beginning Jan. 28, church leaders asked members to attach a ribbon to their nametag—a ribbon to recognize how many years they had been a member of Northwest Hills.
Members received a cross made by Harold York and his crew from the wood of the old sanctuary.
The reception was in the church’s Family Life Center, and a slide show of the church’s history was presented.
The church began Feb. 19, 1966, when the Austin District Mission Board bought 3.5 acres for the church site in the limestone quarry off Balcones Drive (before Mopac). Only Murchison Junior High School was being built there then. The rest was “like walking around on the moon.”
Smith was appointed as the founding pastor. The first meeting of the new congregation was Jan. 8, 1967, in Highland Park Elementary School cafeteria, with 111 present—including supporters from other Methodist churches.
Chartering Sunday was Feb. 26, 1967, with 72 people joining the new church. Another 32 people who joined before June 1 were considered charter members. The church was grateful to the Austin school district for providing a place for the church to start.
After four years “camping out” in the Highland Park school, Northwest Hills UMC had its first worship service in its newly constructed church buildings at 7017 Hart Lane May 9, 1971. Structures were what is now Wesley Hall and Education No. 2. The Northwest Hills subdivision was just developing.
In June 1976, the Rev. James L. Mayfield was appointed as second pastor. The new Education No. 1 was occupied June 24, 1979.
In 1980 an after-school care program was begun in Education Building No. 1. It evolved into the valuable My Friend’s House child development program.
The Rev. William M. Harris was appointed as third pastor in June 1983.
First services in the restructured and enhanced sanctuary (formerly the “Common Room”) were May 18, 1986. During construction, the congregation met in Murchison School cafeteria. A fellowship hall, with an office wing, was completed shortly thereafter.
In June 1988, the Rev. Raymond D. Kiser became the fourth pastor, when Harris retired.
With two services already—at 8:30 and 11 a.m.—a third was added at 9:30. A second Sunday school hour complemented that. Talk of a new Sanctuary began in 1989.
The hand bell choir made its debut during Easter worship in 1991.
Children’s Church began Sept. 8, 1991.
In February 1992, Northwest Hills observed its 25th birthday with special services involving present and former pastors.
Need for expanded facilities resulted in construction of the current sanctuary, which was dedicated Aug. 25, 1996. The lower level houses church offices, classrooms and a library. The “Common Room”/sanctuary is now Wesley Hall. The office wing of the fellowship hall has been converted for use by youths. And Education No. 2 now is an oasis for single adults.
In Spring 1997, Kiser was reassigned to First UMC, Corpus Christi. He was succeeded by the Rev. Richard Penna.
In June 2000, Penna retired and was succeeded by the Rev. William Henderson. The Rev. Dana Hamilton was appointed as associate pastor that year.