A Brief History of Colonial Hills Bible Chapel

By 1965, the Assembly at Melrose Bible Chapel had increased in families in fellowship and it became apparent that additional space was needed. The oversight began considering relocating to a new site. In 1966, Brother Sydney Green, chairman of the Security Foundation, a division of the Bible Tract and Missionary Society, called the believers at Melrose Bible Chapel to offer to donate to them a tract of land on Henry Road. Brothers Earl Richter and Frank Martin drove out and viewed the property located in North Houston off FM 525.

In 1968, Sydney Green repeated the offer a tract of land out of a five-acre tract owned by the Security Foundation. Again, Earl Richter and Frank Martin drove out to the property and saw many new homes being built near Henry Road. Having the potential of reaching families for the Lord Jesus Christ, the offer was discussed in the Assembly and the Elders decided to have to accept the offer.

The Trustees of Melrose Bible Chapel at that time were brothers Luby J. Walker, Walter S. Nelson, Frank P. Martin, Richard D. Selby, and Joe Dimarco. In July of 1968, the believers of Melrose Bible Chapel began meeting in Colonial Hills Elementary School next to the property on Henry Road.

Mr. O. W. Hammond of Pasadena, Texas, was contracted to draw up the plans, clear the land, and build the building. The new chapel was opened in March of 1969.

After the new chapel was completed, it was decided by the Elders to change the name of the Assembly to Colonial Hills Bible Chapel in order to identify with the area of the Colonial Hills Subdivision. The dedication of Colonial Hills was held In March of 1969.

The oversight currently consists of Frank Martin, Paul Moffit, Mathew Thomas, John Mathew, Robert Terrill, and John Varghese.

The believers at Colonial Hills have been involved in many activities to reach the lost: Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, serial weekly meetings during the week, nursing home meetings, Star of Hope Farm, Star of Hope Oldham Ranch, flea markets, camp work, missionary commendations, and they initiated the annual Houston Area Bible Conferences in 1991.

An early outreach for the believers at Colonial Hills began while still meeting at Melrose. The Star of Hope Mission in Houston began a rehabilitation farm located on Rankin Road in 1958.

Workers commended from our chapel include Maria Darling, Keith & Callie Munsterman, Raymond & Jennifer Johnson, Johnson & Valsa John.

In 1975, a group of believers from India began meeting at various homes and in 1976, the Colonial Hills oversight was gracious enough to provide them a room to meet and worship the Lord. Then in 1985, they purchased a portable school building and began their meeting in it. From that Assembly, other believers have now formed new Assemblies in the Houston area. By 1995, many of the believers from the India Assembly began meeting with the Assembly of Colonial Hills.

Colonial Hills Bible Chapel has been much like a school; students come, learn, and are promoted (Christians moving to new areas) and some graduate (saints who are called into the Lord's presence).