Church Hunting (San Antonio, West, Van: home, school, university)

[Aquajox]

We have visited many great churches in San Antonio trying to find where we belong. Could you give a positive description of the church you attend(ed)? Here are some that we've visited:

BRCC (Bandera Road Community Church)
Location: Bandera and Braun, NW side
Worship: Rock, Contemporary
Size: (guessing) 700 per service?
Description: Great worship, it's like a rock concert. Many small groups to get connected. Great church for young Christians.

Westover Hills Assembly of God
Location: Westover Hills near Seaworld
Worship: I'd say Caribbean Contemporary?
Size: (guessing) 900 per service?
Description: Great Pastor and teaching. Many small groups.

Oak Hills Church
Location: I-10, near 6 Flags
Worship: Soft Rock, Contemporary
Size: I've heard 6000 and growing
Description: Great Pastor and teaching. Many, many ways to get connected and reach out to your community.

[neddy]

University United Methodist
De Zavala and Vance Jackson
Worship: Praise/Contemporary also traditional
Size: about 6000 and also growing
Description: Something for everyone, 30 different Sunday school classes,9 special needs classes,12 nursery classes (0-24months)
70 kids classes (2yrs to 5th grade)
14 youth classes (6th on up)

[wCat]

AquaJ.....churches are such a personal choice.....this is difficult question to answer publically. Do you have a denominational preference? And what area of town might also be helpful.

There are a lot of great churches all over town....big, small, Catholic, protestant, non denom.....

The only one on your list that I know about personally is Oak Hills Church. If you are not familiar with the pastor, stop in Barnes and Noble or the library and check out ANY book by Max Lucado. He is the author and pastor of Oak Hills Church. His books are breathtaking and inspiring to say the least. He is truly a gifted preacher and writer.....always standing with the congregation or talking "with" the reader....never preaching down to anyone. He uses great laymen's terminologies and analogies.

I'm not a member and have only visited this church a few times. The Church has it's roots in the Church of Christ denomination....which like almost any organized church, has issues with legalism and church doctrine. Max Lucado is passionately against "legalism" and anything that gets between a person and their spiritual relationship with God. In other words...."man made rules".
Years ago, his church was facing a split between the established members (very traditional and conservative) and a newer group who wanted to introduce a more contemporary element and appeal to younger members. The problem could have divided the church, but instead they found a nice compromise by having the traditional services at 9am and the contemporary service at 11am (the services times may have changed). Max Lucado has set a very strong foundation at that church by staying fairly low key and directing the focus on the purpose of the church. He also participates in exchanging pulpits with other church denominations which encourages Christian unity. That means pastors from other churches often visit Oak Hills as well. In my opinion, that exchange keeps the focus off the leadership and clergy and on the message.

Wish I had more info on other churches for you.

Good luck in your search for a new church home.

[Aquajox]

Thanks for the feedback WCAt, we're just interested in hearing first hand from anyone and any denomination what their chuch is like. We live near Seaworld and would prefer something within 10 miles of Seaworld. A church with history would be great but with a contemporary worship. But I'd like to hear about churches all over the city because I know there are others like us searching for a church home.

[sapphire]

Harvest Fellowship Community Church
1604 and 281 (on the access road between Stone Oak Parkway and 281)
Considered a "mega-church" but doesn't really seem like one.
Awesome worship. Wonderful youth groups and kid's activities, as well as youth worship services and a learning atmosphere. There is something there for all ages. Lots of opportunities to get involved with missions, here and abroad. We attend on Saturday evenings and it's a very intimate service, the music is extremely good, and it's more casual than the Sunday services, which tend to be a little more formal, but nowhere near the stuffiness of a Catholic Mass. (which is what I grew up with--and Harvest is full of former Catholics) Anyway, they are very friendly and will make you feel welcome. Our Senior Pastor, John Cannon, is a people person, and his messages are realistic and easy to listen to. Wednesday night's pastor is Pastor Mike and he is outstanding!

Hope you find a church home soon--we love our church and even when we moved over to the northwest side, we decided that we would still make the drive. Good luck!

[AirForceDoc]

If you have an open mind and are looking for a life-changing experience, try visiting this link and finding the closest Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near you. All you have to do is enter your zip code and press search. You can also peruse the website for info on the lessons of Christ you'll hear if you go. It's worth a gander:

http://www.mormon.org/question/worsh...STATES,00.html

[missmypfc]

We're in the same boat... looking for a church. I was asking another family in our squadron and they have been visiting Grace Point. We are planning to try it soon ourselves. Their website is awesome so you can check that out. It is on Huebner, so a bit of a drive, but I am more than willing to drive if I get something out of it.

[sdcowgirl]

I have been reading this thread hoping someone who comment on the Texas Fellowship of Cowboy Churches. I am interested in attending the one near Bandera called Western Heritage Cowboy Church but understand there are numerous ones accross the state. Can anyone give me info. on these churches? thanks

[Aquajox]

Originally Posted by missmypfc

We're in the same boat... looking for a church. I was asking another family in our squadron and they have been visiting Grace Point. We are planning to try it soon ourselves. Their website is awesome so you can check that out. It is on Huebner, so a bit of a drive, but I am more than willing to drive if I get something out of it.

I did visit Grace Point once, but it just wasn't for my family.

[missmypfc]

Aquajox,
I totally respect your opinion of GP... this is such a personal decision. It may not be for us, either, as we are looking for pretty much the same things you are. I just wanted to throw it out there thinking maybe others might like it. My husband and I were raised in very doctrinal denominations, so we try to stay "down the middle" and avoid anything too denominational. Keep this thread posted on any good prospects!