Sunday Mornings on Tesson Ferry Road
South County Baptist Church gathers each Sunday morning at 12995 Tesson Ferry Road in the South County area of St. Louis, Missouri. The Sunday rhythm is built around two coordinated gatherings. At 9:00 AM, small group Bible studies for co-ed, women's, and men's classes meet across the campus, giving adults a chance to study Scripture together in stages-of-life groups. Both co-ed and gender-specific classes are available, and newcomers are welcome at any point in the year. At 10:15 AM, the entire SCBC family comes together for worship in the Worship Center. Visitors are greeted by smiling hosts in the parking lot, escorted to classes, and walked through what to expect on a first visit.
Worship at SCBC is offered as a lifestyle rather than a single hour on Sunday. The church describes its services as blending traditional and modern approaches so that people who connect with God through either style can find a place to worship. A worship and A/V team serves each Sunday to support the service, and a Spotify playlist of songs used in worship is available for anyone who wants to continue the experience at home.
Wednesday Family Night
Wednesdays are for the whole family at SCBC. The evening begins at 5:15 PM with a fellowship meal served each week in a family-friendly setting. Dinner is $5 per adult and $3 per child age 10 and under, with a family maximum of $20, and reservations are made by contacting the church office in advance. At 6:00 PM, the evening splits into three tracks: Kids' Quest for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, Youth Midweek for students in grades 6 through 12, and an Adult Bible Study. The midweek gatherings are designed as a time of connection, encouragement, and growth for everyone in the household.
Kids, Students, and Preschool
Children are built into the life of SCBC from infancy through high school, and the preschool, kids, and student ministries are designed to partner with parents in laying a foundation for life and faith.
Preschool (3 months through Pre-K) has classes available during every regular weekend and midweek adult service. On Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM, preschoolers attend a Bible study hour with simple Bible stories, fun activities, and playtime. On Wednesday nights during the school year, AWANA Cubbies (ages 3 to 5) meets from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, where children learn basic Christian truths through games, handbooks, picture teaching cards, and activities in a joyful, age-appropriate environment.
SCBC Kids (kindergarten through fifth grade) gathers at 9:00 AM on Sundays for large group worship and teaching, along with small groups tailored to age and developmental stage. On Wednesdays at 6:00 PM, Kids' Quest invites children to explore big truths about God through music, engaging activities, and interactive lessons. Each week, children also learn how God's story is unfolding around the world through missions, and they work on Scripture memorization. Classrooms are colorful and engaging, with teaching that helps kids build on the foundation started during preschool.
SCBC Students (grades 6 through 12) meet Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM for Student Connect, a large group Bible study. Students are also encouraged to attend the 10:15 AM worship service with their families. Wednesday nights at 6:00 PM, Youth Midweek offers a worship service designed specifically for students, with biblical teaching, worship, and time with friends.
SCBC is also home base for two scouting programs. American Heritage Girls serves girls ages 5 to 18, and Trail Life serves boys from kindergarten through 12th grade. Both troops are Christ-centered programs focused on character, leadership, service, and meaningful friendships, and they meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
Small Groups and Bible Studies
Small groups are at the heart of how SCBC does life together. Groups meet on Sundays and throughout the week, in person, online, and by phone, and are organized around shared stages of life, special interests, and needs. Sunday morning small groups include co-ed, women's, and men's classes that meet at 9:00 AM. Additional Bible studies run for short terms (typically six to nine weeks) and follow a specific topic. The church also offers several recovery groups for those working through addiction and other struggles, led by trained facilitators in a structured, supportive environment.
For those new to the church or exploring a deeper commitment, the Discover SCBC class is offered periodically. The class shares the church's vision, answers questions, and walks through the next steps of baptism, membership, serving, and group life.
What SCBC Believes
South County Baptist Church holds to historic Baptist convictions centered on the Bible as God's Word. The church teaches that there is one true living God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Human beings are made in God's image but have inherited a sin-flawed nature.
The church affirms the deity of Jesus Christ, who took on human form, lived a sinless life, and gave His life on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for sin. The Holy Spirit draws people to Christ, takes up residence in the believer at salvation, and empowers ongoing Christian life. The Bible is held to be inspired by God, without error, and effective for transformation.
Salvation is described as a free gift from God, received by faith rather than earned by works, made possible by the blood of Christ shed on the cross. Once a person has been born again by the Spirit, the church teaches that they are held secure in that salvation for eternity.
Missions: Local and Global
Missions at SCBC flow both inward to South County and outward to the ends of the earth. The local missions effort includes partnerships with struggling churches in St. Louis City and ministry to international refugees who have made the city their home. SCBC also supports the Pregnancy Help Center of South County through its annual budget and the work of the SCBC Life Team, helping to educate, support, and empower women facing unplanned pregnancies.
On the global side, SCBC sends mission teams to places including Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, and Guatemala. The church is a long-time participant in Operation Christmas Child, packing shoebox gifts that share God's love with children in need around the world. SCBC partners with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Missouri Baptist Convention, the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association, the International Mission Board, and the North American Mission Board.
Friendship Club and Night to Shine
SCBC has built two notable ministries around people with special needs. Friendship Club is a gathering for adults with special needs that meets every other Sunday from 3:30 to 5:00 PM in The Commons, the church's fellowship hall. Pastor Sam Felten leads the group in crafts, a Bible story, refreshments, and a time of fellowship and encouragement. There is no charge and everyone is welcome.
Each year on the Friday before Valentine's Day, SCBC hosts Night to Shine, a prom experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Hundreds of churches around the world participate simultaneously. Guests at SCBC are welcomed on a red carpet with paparazzi, then enjoy hair and makeup stations, shoe shining, limousine rides, corsages and boutonnieres, a catered dinner, karaoke, prom favors, and a dance floor. Each guest is crowned king or queen of the prom. The church welcomes volunteers, buddies, financial partners, and honored guests to participate.
Library and Resources
The SCBC Library, located down the hall from the Worship Center across from the preschool area, offers print and audiovisual materials for all ages. The library is open all day Sunday and Wednesday evening, and operates as a self-service library at other times. An online catalog is available for searching the collection by title, subject, or author from home. Linda Draper serves as the library director.
SCBC also provides digital tools for members. The Church Center app, available for iOS and Android, supports giving, connecting, and participating in the life of the church. RightNow Media, a streaming library of more than 10,000 Bible studies, kids programs, and family-friendly films, is available free to SCBC members and can be watched on smart devices or smart TVs at home.
Getting Connected at SCBC
Visitors who want to take a next step can begin with the Discover SCBC class. From there, members are encouraged to plug into a small group, explore a serve team, and consider baptism or membership. The church has a Prayer Group initiative forming small groups of four to five people who pray for the church, each other, and the community, choosing their own rhythm for prayer (weekly, monthly, or daily) and their own method (in person, by text, or by phone).
Service opportunities include the Care Team (prayer, mentoring, leading recovery groups), the Greeter team, the Helps Team, the Worship and A/V Team, SCBC Students, and the Facilities Support team. The main campus is located at 12995 Tesson Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO 63128, and can be reached at 314-843-5558 or welcome@scbcweb.com.