Drew Essen serves as Executive Pastor at The Woodlands Methodist Church, where he is deeply committed to the church’s mission and responsible for operationalizing its vision while overseeing administrative functions, staff leadership, ministry execution and governance.

Drew works closely with clergy, staff and lay leadership to ensure the church is healthy, aligned and positioned to faithfully serve both the congregation and the broader community.

Before joining TWMC, Drew served for nine years at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston, beginning as a worship leader and later serving as Executive Pastor. His call to ministry began at age 14 at Christ United Methodist Church in Sugar Land, where he developed a deep appreciation for the Methodist understanding of grace and its impact on personal faith and communal life.

Drew studied organizational leadership and supervision at the University of Houston and earned his Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in May 2022.

Deeply invested in the future of the church and the communities it serves, Drew is actively involved beyond TWMC. He serves in leadership within the Trinity Conference of the Global Methodist Church, serves with the Texas Methodist Foundation, and is a proud member of Leadership Montgomery County, Class of 2026. He has a deep love for Montgomery County and is committed to helping the church faithfully serve its people, neighborhoods, and future generations.

Drew and his wife, Kristen, live in The Woodlands with their four children, Wesley, Rhett, Ella, and Hayes.