One Big Family on San Antonio's East Side
On the eastern side of San Antonio, just off the loop at 1331 S WW White Road, a congregation known simply as the Storehouse opens its doors twice a week to a congregation that spans races, generations and walks of life. Storehouse Ministries Fellowship International (SMFI) calls itself "One Big Family," and the description fits: under the leadership of Dr. Betty Vaughn Evans, the church has grown from a dozen people gathered in 1995 to a body of several hundred local members, with affiliated believers across the country and around the world. The fellowship is intentionally multicultural and interracial, drawing together Black, white and Hispanic worshippers, as well as those who are well off and those who are struggling, into one worship space.
A Church Born from a Prophecy
The roots of SMFI reach back to 1979, when a young Betty Vaughn received a prophecy that she would lead a great people and impact the world for the sake of Christ. For years she served alongside other pastors and chaplains at military installations in Texas before founding Storehouse Ministry Fellowship in Converse, Texas in 1995 with her husband, co-pastor Robert Evans, Sr. After personal tragedy struck the family in 1996 and the marriage later ended, Dr. Evans continued alone with her children, holding fast to the call on her life.
That steadfastness shaped the congregation. Not long before the events of September 11, 2001, Dr. Evans felt pressed to find a larger facility, and the new building opened its doors in the days just before the attacks. People who had no church home poured in, and the place filled before the first service was held. In 2005 the church was renamed Storehouse Ministries Fellowship International to reflect a global vision that included work freeing slaves in Sudan and helping displaced Jews return to their homeland.
Spirit-Filled Worship and Teaching
Sunday mornings at SMFI begin with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., followed by the main worship service at 11:00 a.m. The teaching style is rooted in what Dr. Evans calls "kingdom teaching," a study of the Word that draws on Hebraic, Aramaic and Greek sources to open up what she describes as anointed revelations. She is recognized across multiple states for her work in eschatological studies, New Age philosophies and demonology, and brings that depth to the pulpit along with the prophetic ministry she has practiced since long before it was common for women to do so. A verse from Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom" - anchors the church's generosity and giving.
Worship is supported by a robust music program. Michael Jefferson serves as Minister of Music, joined by James Walter Evans as Director of Music. The church also fields dance, cheer and step teams that perform during services and compete at the state level, weaving movement and music into the flow of Sunday morning.
Bible Study by Way of Facebook Live
Midweek formation happens on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m., when Bible Study is broadcast on Facebook Live. The online format extends the church's reach beyond San Antonio, allowing covenant partners and friends scattered across the United States and abroad to study alongside the home congregation. Sermon recordings and video selections are also available online for those who want to revisit a recent message or catch up on a week missed.
Reaching Beyond the Four Walls
Outreach is central to the SMFI identity. The church maintains ministries in four main areas, each designed to serve people who may never walk through the sanctuary doors.
The Prison Ministry has been active for nearly twenty years. SMFI sends Bibles to those incarcerated in Bexar County facilities and supports chaplains working inside the system. The Nursing Home Outreach Ministry brings fellowship, Bible study and encouragement to elderly believers in assisted living, treating the "hoary head" as a "crown of glory." The Homeless Outreach coordinates regular food, clothing and blanket drives, and the church partners with its members to meet practical needs on the streets of San Antonio. A growing Men's Mentorship program was created to provide positive father figures and male role models for the youth of the community.
In addition to these steady streams, the church has hosted life skills training, GED preparation, health fairs, job fairs and entrepreneurial workshops, all aimed at combating generational poverty.
Equipping the Next Generation
The Youth Ministry at SMFI, overseen by Youth Director Rochelle Jefferson (Dr. Evans's own daughter), grounds its work in Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it." Children and teenagers discover the teachings of Jesus alongside their peers and mentors, growing spiritually and socially together.
Education is taken seriously. The Robert Evans Jr. Scholarship Fund supports young people pursuing their studies, named in honor of Dr. Evans's eldest son, who teaches life skills to young men. The church also runs tutoring, back-to-school supply drives and a vacation Bible school each summer. The younger members learn alongside the adults in the Sunday School hour, building friendships across generations before the worship service begins.
Couples, Singles and the Wider Family
SMFI offers faith-based marriage and family counseling through its Couples Ministry, drawing on Proverbs 18:22: "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord." Singles, men and women each have their own fellowship groups, meeting under the guidance of leaders like Cami Sparks (Women's Advisor) and the Men's Fellowship team. The Missionary Board, led by Meghan Hargrove, mobilizes members who feel called to short-term mission work and coordinates the church's involvement in relief efforts, including chaplaincy support during the Hurricane Katrina evacuation.
Pastoral Leadership and Calling
Dr. Betty Vaughn Evans serves as Lead Pastor, supported by Associate Pastors Dr. Jo Dee Duncan and Rick Sparks. She is a Pastor, Prophet, conference and motivational speaker, televangelist, gospel artist, certified faith-based counselor, certified restorative therapist and author of Unlocking My Genetic Code. Her media reach includes a nationally broadcast TV program, the N.E.X.T. (New Experiences eXemplifies Today) Series, which aired on Time Warner Cable, Grande Communications, AT&T U-verse and YouTube. She has been featured in San Antonio Express-News, Saved Magazine and Marquis Who's Who in the World, and has served as a two-time keynote speaker at the San Antonio MLK March.
Other ministry leaders include Hope Busby (Sunday School Superintendent), Tasha "Will Preach" Wilson (Evangelistic Ministry), Jerry Hinojosa (Deacon Board President), Hector Espinoza (Facility Director), Dr. Amanda Roberts (Teacher Liaison) and Tessia Thomas (Media Administrator).
Joining the Work
For those who want to support SMFI's work financially, donations can be made in person during any service or mailed to P.O. Box 205, Converse, TX 78109. Online giving is available through PayPal, and gifts can also be sent via CashApp at $DrBettyJEvans. The Covenant Partners program invites monthly supporters to link arm in arm with the ministry; checks for that program are made payable to Storehouse Ministries International and mailed to 14145 Nacogdoches Rd Ste. 2, San Antonio, Texas 78247. All contributions are tax deductible.
Visitors are warmly welcomed. Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m. and Morning Worship at 11 a.m., with Wednesday Bible Study online at 7:00 p.m. The doors at 1331 S WW White Road stand open for anyone ready to see what God has in store.