The history of the Willow Park Baptist Church doesn’t begin at the corner of Ranch House and Bankhead. The vision of the Willow Park Baptist Church began in the heart of Pastor J.D. Towles in Artesia, New Mexico. At that time “Preacher” had spent 18 years at his current church and was well on his way to retirement, but God had other plans. felt God calling him to North Texas to start a new church,
so he uprooted his family, loaded their possessions, and moved to Weatherford, Texas to further seek God’s will. On a Wednesday night in May of 1994, Pastor J.D. met together with 12 other people to pray, worship, and ask for God’s direction. That evening, they sat on the floor of a small storefront building, sang from taped together hymnals, and prayed that God would bless their faith. In only a few months, Willow Park was chartered and land was purchased for our permanent location. In August of 1995, only a year after their first meeting, Willow Park opened the doors to the first phase of their building plan (which today is the Reach Out Center). Over the next several years, God blessed Willow Park and the church grew. In 2000, we moved into our new 600-seat Worship Center. Additional education space and a dedicated youth room were added in 2003. In 2006, after more than 30 years of service, Pastor J.D. Towles retired from full–time ministry. In May of 2006, Clark Bosher was called to be Pastor of the Willow Park Baptist Church. Pastor Clark had been an evangelist for 14 years, Having preached in hundreds of revivals, crusades, camps and youth rallies, Pastor Clark brought with him a passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ. His vision is that Willow Park Baptist would be true to the Word of God and that it would be unwavering in its sacrificial commitment to tell the world that Jesus saves. Pastor Clark says, “Three things I know are never going to go out of style, Jesus, The Church and the anointed preaching of God’s Word.”
God gave Clark a vision for the church to purchase 82 acres, relocate and build a new campus. Willow Park Baptist Church set out on a venture of faith that only God could answer. Seeing our church grow, people saved and lives changed is the “Eternal Mission” that God has called us too. Yet, with this growth, we were led of God to purchase the 82 acres south of I20, between Ranch House and Mikus Rd. The cost of the property was 4.7 million; we also owed 1.6 million on our present property. Our campaign called, “For Such a Time as This,” taken from Esther 4:14, has been beyond miraculous. We have watched as God has put on the hearts of His people a vision to reach Parker County and beyond. Our debt on the 82 acres and our present property has been paid off, Praise God!! As God leads, we hope to build and relocate to our new property reaching our local area for the Lord Jesus Christ. We know Parker County is projected to grow. As a church, we are determined to do all we can to reach people for Jesus Christ. Our Pastor, Clark Bosher is always preaching that “Our Best Days Have Yet to Come.” It is obvious that God is still writing our Story. It is a journey of Faith! We Praise God that we get to be a part of it. Under the leadership of Pastor Clark, we are continuing to focus on our “Eternal Mission” to reach the lost and help disciples of Jesus Christ grow and flourish.
