Faith in the Neighborhood: How One Property Manager
Transformed Her Apartment Community

How One Property Manager Transformed Her Apartment Community Through Faith and Service?
Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, is home to 1.7 million residents within the city limits and nearly another 2 million in the surrounding area. Nearly half of Houston’s population—about 47 percent—live in one of the city’s more than 3,000 apartment complexes. Yet, only 2 percent of these residents regularly attend church.

Amid these numbers, Barbara Oden—a seasoned apartment manager—found an extraordinary way to impact lives in her community.

A Calling She Didn’t Expect

Barbara never planned to get involved in apartment ministry. After eight years managing apartment complexes, she felt God calling her toward full-time Christian work. While exploring opportunities for youth ministry through the Mission Service Corps, she learned about a unique apartment ministry need.

Coincidentally, an apartment manager in Spring Branch reached out, looking for someone to live on her property to support her tenants. She offered a free apartment for residence and another for an activity center. Barbara’s involvement began almost as if it had been orchestrated beforehand—an answer to a calling she hadn’t anticipated.

Creating Programs That Served Real Needs

Springbrook Village, where Barbara began her ministry, was home to a diverse population. Recognizing the community’s needs, she and her team implemented programs that blended practical support with spiritual growth:

• English Classes: Offered four times a week to support non-native speakers.

• Kids’ Bible Club: A weekly program featuring crafts, activities, and Bible lessons, modeled after Vacation Bible School but year-round.

• Teen Nights: Activities like movies and game nights to engage teenagers positively.

• Ladies’ Programs: Aerobics classes, coffee gatherings, and Bible studies to foster connection and spiritual growth.
  

Through these programs, Barbara noticed an organic development of a congregation right within the apartment complex.

Engaging the Community Spiritually

To ensure spiritual programs resonated with residents, Barbara and her team conducted a survey to understand both interests and needs. They included home Bible studies, teen Bible studies, and kids’ Bible clubs alongside secular activities. By addressing practical life issues—parenting, marriage, peer pressure, or divorce—they found residents more receptive to exploring Bible-based guidance.

Word of mouth and personalized invitations became crucial, as residents were more likely to join when they felt a personal connection to the activities.

Spreading the Word

Promotion was simple but effective. Monthly calendars highlighted all upcoming activities and were shared via apartment newsletters, flyers, posters in laundry rooms, and door-to-door distribution. Launch events, such as carnivals or picnics, also drew attention—one inaugural carnival at Springbrook Village attracted 300 residents, five of whom became Christians as a result.

Building a Community of Faith

Barbara’s impact was swift. Within months, about 70 new believers were actively participating in ministry activities. Many were hesitant to attend traditional churches, feeling intimidated by social or financial barriers. The solution? Establish Sunday school and church services directly in the apartment complex. Residents could experience worship in a familiar, welcoming environment, effectively creating their own congregation.

Although fellowship sizes rarely exceeded 70 due to residents moving in and out, the ministry maintained ongoing activities to ensure continuity and spiritual growth.

The Bigger Picture

Barbara’s story illustrates that meaningful change doesn’t always require grand structures—it often begins with someone willing to serve in their immediate community. By addressing practical needs, offering spiritual guidance, and fostering genuine relationships, apartment ministry can transform lives from within the very places people call home.

Learn More:
For those inspired to explore apartment ministry, Barbara Oden authored The "How To" Book for Starting Ministry in Multifamily Housing Communities. Copies are available for $8 (including postage and handling) through the Union Baptist Association: 2060 N. Loop West, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77018. Phone: (713) 957-2000.

Questions That Shaped the Ministry

• Why not take new believers to a nearby church?
  Initially, it seemed logical to bus residents to local churches. But many didn’t feel comfortable attending—they worried about not having the right clothes or enough money for the offering.

• Do residents feel like they are attending church in the apartment setting?
  Yes. By holding Sunday school and worship services right on the property, residents develop their own congregation and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

• Can apartment complexes accommodate these gatherings?
  Typically, fellowship sizes stay under 50, with the largest around 70, since residents often move in and out. That’s why ongoing activities are vital—to keep the community engaged and maintain a thriving congregation despite turnover.