Loving Houston Inc
About Loving Houston Inc
Loving Houston is built around a simple but sturdy idea, schools are stronger when churches know how to serve them well. Through church-school partnerships, it helps churches support students, encourage teachers, and stay present in the life of a school over time. In FY 2024-2025, that work reached 372,000 students and staff across 228 schools and 194 churches.
What sets Loving Houston apart is the way it gives churches a real path into school partnership instead of a one-off volunteer day. Workshops, learning communities, toolkits, district-specific guidance, and a shared resource network help churches build long-term relationships with schools and keep showing up.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Church-school partnerships
Long-term partnerships between churches and local schools that support students, teachers, and families.
101 workshops and CSP Coordinator Training
Introductory training for churches that want to start a church-school partnership.
Church School Partnership Leaders Gatherings and Learning Communities
Gatherings and peer support for leaders who are already serving in church-school partnerships.
Online resources, toolkits, and program recommendations
Curated guides, volunteer ideas, curriculum, and other materials for church-school partnerships.
Prayer support and prayer events
Prayer-focused support for children, teachers, administrators, pastors, volunteers, and local schools.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Advancing community transformation in Greater Houston by helping churches serve local schools.
Who they serve
Churches, school communities, students, teachers, parents, and volunteers in Greater Houston.
Their impact
- 47 new partnerships were launched during the 2024 to 2025 school year.
- 340 total church-school partnerships had been started since Loving Houston’s inception in FY 2024-2025.
- 372,000 students and staff were served in FY 2024-2025.
- 10,765 volunteers served in FY 2024-2025.
- 134,173 volunteer hours were contributed in FY 2024-2025.
- 228 schools and 194 churches were involved in FY 2024-2025.
How your donation helps
- Church-school partnership workshops and training
- Coaching and support for existing partnerships
- Prayer events and appreciation celebrations
- District-specific Lunch and Learns
- Toolkits, guides, and online resources for churches and schools
Our story
The roots of Loving Houston go back to the mid-1990s, when Jim Herrington and Mission Houston began planting early seeds for the work. In 2006, service projects started connecting churches with neighborhoods across Houston. Then in 2013, a Southern Baptist Convention service blitz sent 2,500 volunteers into six under-resourced communities and gave the effort its name, Loving Houston. Later that same year, the organization launched as a faith-based community revitalization initiative focused on church-school partnerships.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Loving Houston Inc’s services.
Church leaders can attend a CSP Coordinator Training, develop a plan with a nearby school, and start a church-school partnership. For other ISDs, contact Ryan Cantu at ryan@lovinghouston.net.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
Our Mission is to advance community transformation in Greater Houston by helping churches serve local schools.
A church school partnership is a committed relationship between a church and a school in which both parties work together for the well-being and academic success of the students.
Our goal is that EVERY school in Greater Houston would have a loving church partner working alongside them for the good of our kids and our communities.
We were founded on the idea that Christians should be out in the community beyond the four walls of the church, loving our neighbors as God first loved us.
Events
101 Workshop
as offeredIntroductory workshop for churches that want to start a church-school partnership.
Church School Partnership Leaders Gatherings
periodicGatherings for leaders already serving in church-school partnerships to network, share ideas, and brainstorm.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Loving Houston Inc has shared.
Volunteer opportunities
- Administrative Support
- Marketing & Communications
- Volunteer with a church-school partnership
- Join the prayer team
Recognition & press
In the media
- Great Day Houston, feature on Loving Houston's church-school partnership work, May 20, 2020
- Comcast Newsmakers Interview, Loving Houston, September 11, 2017
- Houston Chronicle, article on churches partnering with schools, March 1, 2019
- Houston Chronicle, Houston Gives article on Loving Houston pairing churches with schools, November 23, 2018
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
In the news
Articles featuring Loving Houston Inc from the Love What You Fund newsroom.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How does a church start a partnership with a school?
A church can start by attending a CSP Coordinator Training, then work with a nearby school to build a plan for a customized partnership.
What kinds of help can churches provide in a school partnership?
Churches can mentor students, tutor, help in the teacher workroom, support parents with life skills, fill backpacks with food, provide transportation or facilities for school events, and pray.
How does Loving Houston support church and school leaders?
Loving Houston supports leaders with workshops, learning communities, district-specific guidance, toolkits, online resources, and ongoing help for partnerships.
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