Concordia Lutheran Church sits at 16801 Huebner Road on San Antonio's north side, where this fall it celebrates 75 years of ministry in the city. A congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Concordia has grown into a sizable ministry hub with three Sunday worship services, an onsite PreK-8 school, a child care center, and dozens of programs that reach both members and the wider San Antonio community.
75 Years on Huebner Road
Members are marking the 75th anniversary with an anniversary dinner on Friday, October 9, followed the next Sunday by ConcordiaFest, a community afternoon featuring pony rides, inflatables, midway games, Bingo, a Toddler Town, face painting, and food available for purchase. A time capsule contributed by the congregation will be sealed away to be opened at the church's 100th anniversary in 2051.
Three Sunday Services, Three Styles
Concordia offers three distinct Sunday morning services on its campus:
- 8:00 AM. A traditional service featuring hymns and Lutheran liturgy. Music is led by organ, piano, and other classical instrumentation. Communion is celebrated on the first and third Sundays of the month.
- 9:30 AM. A blended service that pairs new songs with traditional hymns, with instrumentation varying from week to week. Liturgy similar to the 8:00 AM service, with communion on the first and third Sundays.
- 11:00 AM. A relaxed, contemporary service led by a full band and featured vocalists, with new songs and hymns. Communion on the first and third Sundays.
Nursery care is provided during all three Sunday morning services for children ages 6 weeks through 3 years.
Worship Around the Clock Online
Each of the three Sunday morning services is also livestreamed. Concordia also offers three online-only services: Saturday at 6:00 PM and Sunday at 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Services can be watched through the church's livestream, the Subsplash mobile app, or the recorded archive.
Grace Alone, Scripture Alone, Faith Alone
Concordia belongs to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and teaches the following core doctrines:
- Grace Alone. God loves the people of the world, even though we are sinful, rebel against Him, and do not deserve His love.
- Scripture Alone. The Bible is God's inerrant Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ.
- Faith Alone. Jesus' suffering and death is the substitute for all people of all time. He purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for all. Those who hear this Good News and believe it will have the eternal life that it offers.
At the Table and at the Font
The LCMS teaches that in communion the true body and blood of Jesus Christ are received with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins. Concordia invites baptized Christians who have been instructed in the biblical teaching of communion and who agree with the congregation's confession to commune. Communion is celebrated on the first and third Sundays of each month.
Concordia teaches that in Baptism God gives new life and identity. The baptized become God's own child with the promise of forgiveness, life, and salvation. The invitation to baptism is extended to everyone, from newborn babies to full-grown adults.
Becoming Part of the Family
Concordia offers both Local and Global memberships. Newcomers attend the Discover Class, a single half-day session from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, that is required for anyone new to the Lutheran Church. Members transferring from another Lutheran congregation can attend a shorter Transfer Class on a Saturday morning from 9:00 to 10:30. Both paths are open to anyone considering making Concordia their church home.
Growing in Faith at Every Age
Concordia organizes its ministries by life stage.
Children. Children's ministry serves ages 6 weeks through 5th grade with age-appropriate worship, fellowship, and learning experiences. The youngest children are cared for in the nursery during Sunday morning worship, and Tiny Tots is a separate program for the very littlest learners.
Students. The youth ministry partners with parents of middle school students (grades 6 through 8) and high school students (grades 9 through 12) to encourage growth in discipleship through events and activities in a safe, engaging environment. Two youth directors, DCE Ben Swafford and Britney Hall, lead the work alongside a media and youth support staff member.
Adults. Outside of Sunday morning worship, Concordia offers small groups, Bible studies, and other opportunities for adults to grow in faith and serve. Groups meet in person or virtually, at set times or asynchronously, and are designed to study God's Word, support one another through prayer, and provide accountability. Confirmation classes are available for students ready to affirm their faith.
Learning from the Start: Concordia School and Child Care
Concordia runs a PreK-8 school on its campus, with the older elementary and middle school grades (3rd through 8th) meeting in one building and PreK through 2nd grade in another. The Concordia Child Care Center operates alongside the school, providing care for the littlest learners. Both programs are open to the broader community, and full- and part-time child care teacher openings are posted regularly.
Care for Every Chapter of Life
The pastoral staff offers individual and family counseling and Christian referrals in the community. Members who are no longer able to attend worship can request a visit or communion brought to them at home.
For those grieving the death of a loved one, Concordia hosts GriefShare, a 13-week Christ-centered, video-based program with small group discussions. A Stephen Ministry program provides one-to-one ongoing care from a trained caregiver. Concordia also partners with Threads of Love, which provides clothing, blankets, and other handmade articles for tiny premature and sick infants.
Funeral arrangements and pre-planning are coordinated through the church office.
Walking with the Hurting
The Not Alone ministry gathers mental health resources for parishioners and their families. The list includes local San Antonio facilities for acute care, child and adolescent treatment, outpatient therapy, substance abuse recovery, and faith-based counseling, along with national hotlines such as 988, the Crisis Text Line, and the National Parent Helpline. Recommended reading includes works on biblical care for mental health, plus apps such as Abide, BetterHelp, Talkspace, and Calm. Pastors are available to listen, counsel, pray, and offer comfort through God's Word and promises.
Serving San Antonio Through LoveSA
LoveSA is Concordia's ongoing local engagement initiative, a steady stream of service opportunities that pair members with community partners doing meaningful work across San Antonio. Current partners include the San Antonio Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio, Any Baby Can, Garuna, the South Texas Pregnancy Care Center, Ransomed Life Texas, Threads of Love, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, among others. Regular LoveSA events let volunteers serve directly with these organizations, and members can also reach out to the organizations themselves.
The STARS Retreat
Concordia hosts seasonal STARS retreats, an acronym for the goals of celebrating God's love in Jesus Christ, growing as one who knows Him, and shining the light of new life that Jesus gives. Men's, Women's, and Youth editions are offered at a retreat center in Kerrville, Texas, with chartered transportation departing from the church after a brief opening service. The investment covers transportation, accommodations, meals, and materials, with scholarships sometimes available.
Revelation, Scripture, and the Shema Journey
Concordia has produced a teaching series on the Book of Revelation, framing it not as a frightening code but as a letter of comfort to first-century Christians showing Christ's ultimate victory. Booklets, a symbols chart, an apocalyptic literature toolkit, and bonus videos from Pastor Jeff Tucker are available to walk through the book. The series complements a study guide by Michael W. Newman, "Revelation: What the Last Book of the Bible Really Means." Members are also encouraged to follow the Word For Today weekday Bible reading plan, which moves through the New Testament, Old Testament history, and Psalms and Proverbs each day.
The Shema Journey, a series of conversations rooted in the Shema of Deuteronomy 6, walks participants through important questions of following Jesus and is led by Pastor Steve Wagner, the church's learning designer.
The Concordia Campus and Staff
Senior Pastor Bill Tucker leads the pastoral team alongside Associate Pastors Jeff Tucker and Corey Christians. Kyle Cahill serves as Senior Director of Worship, with Doris Bendele as Worship Coordinator. Nicole Carmines leads children's ministry; Ben Swafford and Britney Hall co-direct youth; Leslie Bedgood oversees ministry engagement; Julie Tucker coordinates missions and retreats; Alex Kainer directs the nursery and Camp Concordia; David Dretke provides pastoral care; and Robert Rickman leads new membership.
The Concordia campus includes the Sanctuary, the Family Life Center, the school buildings, the Child Care Center, the Business Office and Print Shop, and the Gym and Cafeteria. The address is 16801 Huebner Road, San Antonio, Texas 78258; the main phone is (210) 479-1477. Online giving, livestream, the mobile app, prayer requests, and newsletter signup are all available through the church's digital tools.