About MDPC

Even as a large church (4500 members), Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church is known for its warmth, generosity, and dedication in seeking to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ in the church, the community, and the world. MDPC is one of the ten largest congregations in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Presbyterians are distinctive in two major ways: they adhere to a pattern of religious thought known as Reformed Theology, and a form of government that stresses the active, representational leadership of both ministers and church members. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him. Some of the principles articulated by John Calvin remain at the core of Presbyterian beliefs. Among these beliefs are:

• The sovereignty of God
• The centrality of Jesus Christ
• The authority of scripture
• Justification by grace through faith
• The priesthood of all believers

Our knowledge of God and God’s purpose for humanity comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church was founded on the first two principles listed below, and we still hold them dear today. As a function of our continuing commitment to Christ and His teachings, the third pillar was introduced in 2005.

Partner in Prayer

First, our house shall be called a house of prayer. (Matthew 21:13) Prayer guides our major policy decisions as well as our everyday lives. Our Partners in Prayer commit to fulfilling our goal that every member be prayed for every day. This is accomplished through the efforts of over 600 volunteers who annually commit to pray for approximately 10 individuals each day.

Learn more about Partner in Prayer

Dollar-for-Dollar Giving

Second, in obedience to Christ’s teaching, we are committed to a Dollar-for-Dollar benevolence program. Since the church’s inception in 1954 and continuing to the present, we annually set a goal of matching the money spent in the operation of the church and its programs with giving to those in need in the community and the world. Annually, this works out to approximately $4 Million that goes directly to missionaries, mission agencies, and mission parters, both here in Houston and globally.

The allocation and administration of these funds is the responsibility of MDPC’s Outreach Ministries, who annually review funding requests, visit partners, and provide emotional and physical support to the 140+ beneficiaries of this congregation’s commitment to generosity.

Learn more about Outreach Ministries

The BLESS Challenge

Recently, a third principle has been enacted. Rooted in a simple philosophy of taking actions that in and of themselves seem small, we are engaging in a collective call to BLESS others. BLESS is an acronym for:

B)  Bless Everyone
L)  Listen to God
E)  Eat with Someone
S)  Study Jesus
S)  Serve Generously

Learn more about The BLESS Challenge

On Sunday, January 9, 1955, seventy persons gathered in the Memorial Drive Elementary School, beyond the then western city limits of Houston, Texas, to hold the first worship services of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. From that modest beginning, the church grew rapidly, as the surrounding area filled with new families. Membership rolls passed 500 in 1957; 1,000 in 1960; 2,000 in 1965; 3,000 in 1969. These numbers reflected the community response to the new congregation, led by Dr. Charles Shedd. The fourth anniversary of the church was celebrated by 1,044 worshipers in a new Sanctuary/Fellowship Hall built on six acres at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Blalock. The present Sanctuary was built in 1972. New classrooms, a chapel, parlor, kitchen, and fellowship hall were added in the early 1990s. A remodeling of the Sanctuary, a new Church Life Center, new office space, and renovation of many classrooms were dedicated in 2002. The church celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005 and continues the historic challenge of high expectations of members to continue their growth through study, prayer, stewardship, and outreach.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church’s vision is to embrace beliefs and practices that fully express who we strive to be as followers of Jesus Christ. These tenets are expressed through our vision verse: “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God” (Hebrews 12:15a). This imperative challenges us to be ambassadors of Christ, sharing God’s love and grace both in our own community and around the world.

Our Vision Application is the BLESS challenge. We desire to be a faithful missional community where people discover the transforming love of Jesus Christ, grow in their faith and dedication, and use their God-given talents and resources to help others experience God’s love. BLESS is not a program. Rather, it is a series of practices that we believe will help us live a complete and balanced life in Christ.

These practices are:

• Bless Everyone
• Listen to God
• Eat with Someone
• Study Jesus
• Serve Generously

These actions are focus areas for us to apply the vision in our individual lives, on our campus, and throughout the world.

Our identity is shaped by these beliefs:

• We continually seek the will of God, believing that God is always offering people creative ways to serve in the church and in the world. We believe we must take risks as we respond to God’s challenges.
• We believe worship is the central act of the people of God. Worship is highly participatory and is the hub from which prayer, study, service, stewardship, care for one another, fellowship, evangelism, and servant leadership emerge.
• Following the guidance of the Westminster Confession, we affirm that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, the only rule of faith and obedience. We acknowledge that the Bible is a record of God’s continuing loving relationship with humanity, as well as a rich source of guidance for our lives.
• We believe that prayer is a dialogue with God that provides nourishment and strength for living. As we respond to God’s activity in the world and in our lives, we bring to God our deepest concerns and submit them to God’s sovereign will.
• We feel we have an obligation to provide a Christian education program through which every child, youth, and adult can understand the basic doctrine of the Christian faith, apply the teachings of the Bible to the practical situations of our lives, and grow toward Christian maturity.
• We believe that every Christian is called to worship God regularly, to discover God’s love and God’s will, and to demonstrate God’s love to others.
• We believe that the biblical concept of percentage giving is a joyful response to God’s grace in Jesus Christ and an inestimable privilege. We challenge every member to be intentional, not only about pledging but also about moving systematically toward the tithe and beyond it to radical generosity.