The Fellowship of San Antonio sits on Canyon Golf Road on San Antonio's north side, a conservative evangelical congregation shaped by Dallas Theological Seminary and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and committed to conservative evangelical beliefs held in the historic Christian faith. The church gathers three times each weekend, runs an extensive network of small groups and Bible fellowships for every age and stage of life, and points its people as often outward as inward: eighteen local Christian non-profits, an orphanage in Peru, missionaries in Indonesia, West Africa, and Brazil, a weekday preschool, a recovery ministry, a cancer care group, and a standing calendar of building wheelchair ramps, cooking for the homeless, and feeding the hungry in San Antonio.
Three Weekend Worship Gatherings
Worship at The Fellowship runs Saturday at 5:00 PM and twice on Sunday at 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM, all in the Worship Center. The Saturday evening and late Sunday morning services are contemporary in style; the Sunday morning service at 10:00 AM is blended, with choir, hymns, and newer songs side by side. Worship gatherings are also livestreamed on YouTube, and an archive of past services is available on the same channel. Choir practice happens Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 9:00 AM.
Lead Pastor Dr. Royce C. Smith, a San Antonio native and graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary who joined the church in 2020, preaches at each of the three services. Smith holds D.Min and Th.M degrees and previously planted two churches. Worship Leader Jennifer Acevedo, a vocalist who trained at Ball State University and sang professionally in Nashville before relocating to San Antonio, leads music across the three gatherings alongside Worship Band Leader Brian Duncan, who has spent thirty-seven years producing and playing Christian music for national and international artists.
Walking In the Door
First-time guests are greeted before they reach the building. Golf cart drivers roam the parking lot, offering rides from cars to one of the main entrances. Once inside, friendly faces direct newcomers to the Fellowship Hall, where the Welcome Desk is set up to help them find a place. An extensive coffee bar with pastries and treats sits in the same room, and there is no dress code beyond what feels comfortable.
Families arriving with a fifth grader or younger are asked to allow a few extra minutes for first-time registration. Check-in for the youngest children is right outside the Gym and again on the upper level at the Fellowship Kids sign; for babies through PreK in Rooms 105 and 108, and for K through 5th grade in Rooms 200 through 204. There is no Kids Ministry during the Saturday 5:00 PM service, but a Kids Cart just inside the Worship Center doors carries coloring pages, pencils, and a snack that follow the same lesson being taught on Sunday. The Fellowship Hall, the Fireside Chapel, the Gym, and Rooms 204, 301, 304, 306, 307, and 311 host the various adult and student ministries throughout the week.
Eighteen Articles of Faith
The Fellowship's statement of belief runs through eighteen numbered articles. The church holds the Bible to be divinely inspired, totally true and trustworthy, the supreme standard for Christian conduct and the center of Christian union. God is one living and true God who reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons without division of nature. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully man, crucified and raised again, now exalted at the right hand of God and returning personally and visibly in glory. The Holy Spirit inspired Scripture, convicts of sin, regenerates the believer, baptizes each one into the Body of Christ, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which believers serve the church.
Human beings are the special creation of God, made in His image as male and female, and brought into a fallen state through free choice. Salvation is by grace through personal faith in Christ alone and includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. Election is the gracious purpose of God, and true believers are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. A New Testament church is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the Lord's Supper is the memorial observance of the bread and the fruit of the vine.
The statement closes with affirmations of the Kingdom of God, the personal return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the duty of every believer to make disciples of all nations, Christian education, stewardship of time and possessions, voluntary cooperation among churches, the Christian's calling in society, peace and religious liberty, marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman, and the family as the foundational institution of human society. Scripture quotations follow each article, anchoring each doctrine in the biblical text.
A Staff that Looks Like San Antonio
The Fellowship describes its staff as a reflection of the community it lives in: born-and-raised Texans alongside transplants from across the country, athletes, military veterans, corporate executives, professional vocalists and musicians, business owners, teachers, and former missionaries. The pastoral team is led by Dr. Royce C. Smith, with O'Brien Satcher serving as Next Gen and Discipleship Pastor. Satcher is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary who has spent twenty-nine years in ministry with teenagers, children, college students, and young families at churches in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas. Jennifer Acevedo leads worship, with Brian Duncan leading the band. Brenna Danford, raised on a farm in Kentucky and has served in children's ministry for over thirteen years, directs Fellowship Kids. Rip Collins, a former corporate manager turned Hospice Chaplain with a Master's in Ministry Practice from Austin Theological Seminary, directs ministry to senior adults. Craig Moyer, a graduate of Trinity University's School of Business Administration, a former US Army Medical Service Corps officer, and a seventeen-year veteran of international and local missions, serves as the volunteer missions pastor.
Fellowship Kids: From Nursery Through Fifth Grade
Babies and toddlers share Rooms 105 and 108, separated by age so that the youngest can explore safely while older toddlers and twos begin hearing Bible stories from the Beginners Bible. Three and four year olds move into a Brite Curriculum, learning age-appropriate lessons, songs, activities, and crafts, and joining a short worship time together. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade meet in Rooms 200 through 204 and stay for either one or both Sunday services, with a different format for each.
The 10:00 AM hour is the small-group hour: kindergarteners and first graders, second and third graders, and fourth and fifth graders each break out with leaders who have prepared the same Brite lesson at their level. The 11:30 AM hour is the large-group hour, where all K through 5 gather for the same Bible story taught through a different style so that visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners all connect. Every service closes with snack. The Saturday 5:00 PM service does not have a Kids Ministry, but the Kids Cart by the door carries coloring pages and a snack. Wednesday evenings bring Fellowship Kids Club from 6:00 to 7:30 PM for K through fifth grade, with Bible lessons, games, worship, and small-group discussion.
Brenna Danford also oversees Child Dedication, held several times a year for parents who want to publicly commit to raising their child to know and follow Jesus, and Kids Baptism Class for children old enough to learn what baptism means. Vacation Bible School has averaged around 170 children each night with over one hundred volunteers. A weekly Kids Newsletter for parents walks through the Bible story, memory verse, family discussion, and a parent encouragement for each week.
Kids Day Out: Weekdays Too
Beyond Sunday mornings, the church runs Kids Day Out, a state-certified weekday program for children eighteen months through PreK, meeting Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The program weaves a Bible-based curriculum into stories, songs, play, and hands-on learning, with small classes and two dedicated teachers per room. Eighteen- to twenty-four-month-olds can attend two days or four days a week; two-, three-, and four-year-olds can attend three days or four days. The program is led by Co-Directors Susan Pittman, who has twenty-six years of experience in kids ministry and childcare administration, and Alex Saucedo, a world traveler and graduate of a Russian university.
Students: Middle and High School
Students meet in the Gym on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM for a strategic hour of Bible study aimed at the biggest questions of those years - anxiety, doubts, purpose, school, the future, and relationships - with the goal of building community, character, and leaders. Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM bring the Student Gathering in the Fireside Chapel and Gym: games, snacks, and an interactive Bible study, with occasional off-campus outings. A Remind text thread at 81010 with the code @FOSAYO keeps families current on student events.
Adult Bible Fellowships by Season of Life
The church's adult ministry is called Adult Bible Fellowship, and the church encourages newcomers to visit a group or two before settling in. Sunday morning classes run across nearly every hour.
- 8:30 AM - Truth Seekers, a class of mostly fifty-somethings who study Gems in Genesis together. The class meets at 410 Rua De Matta in Hollywood Park.
- 8:45 AM - The Gathering, an eclectic mix of workers, parents, grandparents, and travelers studying Unknown Heroes of the Bible.
- 10:00 AM - Life Together, an adult class age 35 and up studying Galatians in Room 306; Young Adults, a class for those in their twenties to early thirties in Room 301; Fellowship Friends, an adult special needs class in the Fireside Chapel; and GROW, a new believer's class in Room 304.
- 11:15 AM - Sojourners, a class studying the Gospel of John in Room 301; Believers Journey, a class studying the Parables of Jesus in Room 306; In The Word, a lecture-style class studying Ezekiel in the Fireside Chapel; and Timeless Treasures, a class for those sixty and older studying Romans in Room 304.
Saturdays add an Adult Co-Ed Bible Study for those thirty and older on Zoom at 6:15 PM, working through John Stott's studies of the Letters of John. Wednesday evenings host the Parent Bible Study in Room 307 at 6:00 PM, working through Derwin Gray's The Book of Hebrews, and a college and college-bound group at Kneaders Bakery on Stone Oak and Hardy Oak at 8:00 PM studying Deep Discipleship. Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM, Young Professionals - singles, dating, and married adults in their twenties to early thirties - meet in the Fireside Chapel.
Women's Ministry: Purpose, Love, Service
Women's ministry at The Fellowship lives under three words: Purpose, Love, Service. Weekly Bible studies meet throughout the week. Tuesdays at 11:00 AM, Betty Poe leads a study through Max Lucado's Experiencing the Heart of Jesus. Wednesdays at 10:00 AM, Cathy-Jo Thompson leads a study of Psalm 23 by Jennifer Rothschild. Thursdays at 10:00 AM, Mary Jarvis leads a study called God of Creation, and Thursdays at 6:30 PM, Thompson leads a study of Priscilla Shirer's Discerning the Voice of God in Room 204. The second Tuesday of each month at 2:00 PM, a reading group gathers in the Fireside Chapel to discuss a Christian book, with selections ranging from classics to current titles.
Service threads through the women's calendar. Mondays bring Threads of Love for Heaven's Sake, a sewing group that makes clothing, quilts, and other handmade items for premature and sick infants. Wednesdays bring the We Love Ewe knitting and crochet group, which meets in the Fireside Chapel from 1:00 to 3:30 PM and creates scarves and hats for cancer patients, items for the homeless, NICU baby items, and pieces for the Pregnancy Care Center. Both groups welcome beginners.
Men's Ministry: Personal, Professional, Biblical
The men's ministry gathers around three words: Personal, Professional, Biblical. Thursday mornings at 9:30 AM, Mel Allick leads a study at Sarita's Mexican Restaurant on Lockhill Selma Road with devotional teaching, coffee, and fellowship. Tuesday nights at 5:45 PM, a men's group meets in the Worship Center for a thirty-minute teaching video followed by small-group discussion. Monday nights at 6:30 PM, two groups run in parallel: a younger men's Bible study in Room 204 led by Brian Lesniewski, and Band of Brothers, a group for men aged twenty and up, in Room 311.
The fellowship extends beyond the Bible. Monthly golf outings on the fourth Thursday visit various San Antonio courses, and a twice-monthly shooting group gathers at Nardis Gun Club at Rolling Oaks and at the Bexar Community Shooting Range, with men-only and co-ed options and lunch afterward.
Music and Choir
The Music Ministry at The Fellowship is built around weekly worship teams and choirs that rehearse and serve across all three weekend services. Saturday Choir rehearses at 4:00 PM and sings at the 5:00 PM service; Sunday Choir rehearses at 9:00 AM and sings at the 10:00 AM blended service. Vocalists, instrumentalists, audio technicians, and online hosts serve together, with open sign-ups for those who want to join the team.
Christian Life Ministries: Counseling, Recovery, Marriage, Cancer Care
Christian Life Ministries gathers several caring ministries under one roof. A Biblical Lay Counseling Team of trained volunteers offers a confidential ear and practical, scriptural wisdom, with referrals to professional counselors when needed. The church's counseling team also provides pre-marital counseling using the SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) assessment.
On Thursday evenings, Castimonia meets - a Christ-centered twelve-step support and recovery group for men struggling with sexual impurity, open to any man who wants to pursue biblical sexual purity in an atmosphere of confidentiality.
Our Journey of Hope, a cancer care group for men, women, and families impacted by cancer, meets the first and third Saturdays of each month at 3:00 PM in Room 204. The fellowship also runs book studies such as John Ortberg's If You Want to Walk on Water You've Got to Get Out of the Boat and John Mark Comer's Practicing the Way in the Fireside Chapel.
Local Missions and Service
The Fellowship serves eighteen local Christian non-profits, and the calendar of monthly service opportunities is part of how the congregation lives out its faith. The Faith Kitchen, formerly St. Vinny's Bistro, feeds San Antonio's homeless with three hot, nutritious meals a day, 365 days a year, treating the guests with dignity and respect. The church sends a team on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, with volunteers gathering at the church at 10:50 AM and serving until 1:00 PM.
Texas Ramps builds wheelchair ramps for the homebound on bi-weekly Saturday mornings, starting at 8:00 AM. Communities Under the Bridge prepares warm meals for the homeless in a commercial kitchen from 3:00 to 8:00 PM on Sunday afternoons. The Holy Smoke Grilling Team, on the third Tuesday of each month, serves a warm meal and words of encouragement to local first responders. Christian Assistance Ministries, a downtown ministry, sorts and distributes clothing, household items, and food to meet the immediate physical needs of the community. Hope 4 Hounds, a San Antonio nonprofit, provides veterinary care to dogs whose owners are experiencing homelessness. H.I.S. BridgeBuilders, based at 710 Arthur St., provides homework and reading assistance for children, Bible studies, medical and dental screenings, and community gatherings for all. Daily Bread Ministries is a regular food drive partner, including an annual Mother's Day Fill A Truck food drive. Children's Hunger Fund delivers food to the homes of hungry children in San Antonio and beyond.
Beyond these regular commitments, the church serves compassionately closer to home. Helping Hands makes minor home repairs for members. Hospital Visitation supports members during hospital stays. Caring Cooks provides frozen, ready-to-heat meals for families in need, mothers with newborns, and individuals returning from hospital stays or rehabilitation. Christian Auto Repair Support (C.A.R.S.) helps widows and single mothers with basic vehicle maintenance and minor repairs.
International Missions: Peru, Indonesia, West Africa, Brazil, Northern India, Ghana
The church supports a network of international missionaries and projects. Casa Del Aguila, a Peruvian orphanage that has won recognition as the outstanding orphanage in the country, specializes in restoring hope and joy to children who have been victims of abandonment or sexual trafficking through loving house parents, Christian schooling, chapel services, daily agricultural work, and social outings. The church supports the orphanage through monthly financial donations and an annual summer trip.
Brock and Lisa Larson serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship in Indonesia; John Vandy serves in West Africa; Gabriel and Joyce Lamoso serve in Brazil; Alie M. Jalloh serves in West Africa; and additional missionaries whose names and pictures must be kept confidential for security reasons serve in Northern India. Through WorldVision, the church also supports one hundred children in Ghana's Wa West and Wa East districts through the Chosen program.
Ways to Give
Giving is described as an act of worship and an expression of the heart. The church's philosophy of giving is simple: give to God first, save second, and live on the rest. Beyond regular tithes and offerings, the church encourages members to consider Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs, Donor-Advised Funds, gifts of appreciated stock, life insurance giving, employer matching programs, and bequests through wills and estate plans. Giving is available online through the church's Planning Center portal.
RightNow Media, a streaming library of Bible studies, children's videos, and faith-based content, is available to the congregation. The church also maintains a presence on Facebook and Instagram under @fellowshipsa.
Office, Location, and Contact
The church sits at 23755 Canyon Golf Road in San Antonio, TX 78258, with the office open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The phone number is (210) 402-3672. The campus includes a Columbarium Prayer Garden tended by a volunteer Landscape team. Wedding and funeral services are coordinated through dedicated request forms, and a Memorial Service Care team supports families using the church building or the Prayer Garden. Three worship gatherings each weekend, a weekday preschool, an extensive network of Bible fellowships for every age, and a calendar of service to neighbors in San Antonio and partners across the world are the steady rhythm of The Fellowship of San Antonio.