Northside Christian Center began in the CarTex Theater in Carthage, TX at a Friday night service on February 17, 1961. After several services of visiting ministers, Bro Billy Shoffner preached his first message at a Sunday evening service on April 9, 1961. He preached his first Sunday morning service on April 16 th , and in May was asked to return to preach revival services. Following the revival the church voted to call Bro. Billy to serve as Pastor, and on Mother’s Day, May 14th he accepted the church’s call. There were 25 people in attendance. Brother Billy served as pastor from 1961 to the end of 2000. During his 39 years of faithful service he oversaw many expansions of the church in ministry and facilities. The first new church facility was completed in 1965, and the first service was held on December 26th , with Bro. E.J. Adams preaching the first message. The façade of this white brick church remains to this day as the front entrance of our Sunday school and student ministry area. In September 1979 ground was broken on new church facilities and on Easter Sunday, 1980, the new building was dedicated. The church continued to grow and become a significant ministry presence in Panola County. Bro. Billy lead the church in the vision to evangelize, enlarge the Kingdom of God and educate people in the life and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1984 the vision of Christian education began to form in Bro. Billy’s heart. After much prayer and planning, the church body and board unanimously passed a resolution to construct a new building and open a Christian school. In the Fall of 1985 Northside Christian Academy was opened. The school ministry continues to be an effective and influential ministry to students and their families in Panola County to this day.
During this time, God was laying out a plan for the future leadership of Northside Christian Center and Academy. Aaron and Melissa Bequette began attending Northside in late 1990. They were married in the church by Bro. Billy and began to work with the youth in the church on a volunteer basis in 1992. In the summer of 1993 Aaron was asked to come on staff as Youth Director and Principal of Northside Christian Academy. The school ministry continued to grow under this new leadership and new facilities were constructed to enlarge the school program. During the season of Northside’s history from 1993-2000, God began putting all the pieces together for the future leadership of the church and school. There were many twists and turns along the journey, and God showed Himself both sovereign and faithful throughout. In the fall of 2000, Aaron Bequette was ordained as an Associate Pastor, and on December 31, 2000 Bro. Billy Shoffner resigned as Senior Pastor of Northside Christian Center. Aaron began serving as Senior Pastor on January 1, 2001. Bro. Aaron served as Pastor from January of 2001 until February of 2023 when he followed the call of the Lord into other avenues of ministry. He remains a committed member and elder of our church today.
Brandon Pierce began attending Northside in 2001 and served in youth and college ministry. He met his wife, Jessica (who has attended Northside since she was 6-weeks old) and they served together for several years after being married by Bro. Billy and Bro. Aaron in 2003. Brandon was set in as Youth Pastor in August of 2010 and was made an Associate Pastor and elder in 2016. In February of 2022 Brandon was set in as Co-Pastor alongside Bro. Aaron. In February of 2023, Bro. Brandon was set in as the Lead Pastor. We have been blessed with many other able ministers in our church and school throughout the years. Scott Dragoo, another long-time member, serves as an Administrative Pastor and shepherds our school ministry alongside his wife (and Assistant Principle), Shelly. Together as a family of faith, we are pursuing God’s vision and mission for this body of believers.
During this time, God was laying out a plan for the future leadership of Northside Christian Center and Academy. Aaron and Melissa Bequette began attending Northside in late 1990. They were married in the church by Bro. Billy and began to work with the youth in the church on a volunteer basis in 1992. In the summer of 1993 Aaron was asked to come on staff as Youth Director and Principal of Northside Christian Academy. The school ministry continued to grow under this new leadership and new facilities were constructed to enlarge the school program. During the season of Northside’s history from 1993-2000, God began putting all the pieces together for the future leadership of the church and school. There were many twists and turns along the journey, and God showed Himself both sovereign and faithful throughout. In the fall of 2000, Aaron Bequette was ordained as an Associate Pastor, and on December 31, 2000 Bro. Billy Shoffner resigned as Senior Pastor of Northside Christian Center. Aaron began serving as Senior Pastor on January 1, 2001. Bro. Aaron served as Pastor from January of 2001 until February of 2023 when he followed the call of the Lord into other avenues of ministry. He remains a committed member and elder of our church today.
Brandon Pierce began attending Northside in 2001 and served in youth and college ministry. He met his wife, Jessica (who has attended Northside since she was 6-weeks old) and they served together for several years after being married by Bro. Billy and Bro. Aaron in 2003. Brandon was set in as Youth Pastor in August of 2010 and was made an Associate Pastor and elder in 2016. In February of 2022 Brandon was set in as Co-Pastor alongside Bro. Aaron. In February of 2023, Bro. Brandon was set in as the Lead Pastor. We have been blessed with many other able ministers in our church and school throughout the years. Scott Dragoo, another long-time member, serves as an Administrative Pastor and shepherds our school ministry alongside his wife (and Assistant Principle), Shelly. Together as a family of faith, we are pursuing God’s vision and mission for this body of believers.