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Who We Are

For more than sixty years, God has led Oak Hills Church on a remarkable journey. Founded in 1958 as a local church plant on Fredericksburg Road in San Antonio, Texas, we began gathering as a Body of Christ with disciple making in our DNA.

Pastored by Lead Minister Travis Eades and Teaching Minister Max Lucado, we have grown into a dynamic, non-denominational congregation. We are disciples who make disciples by guiding all people to follow Jesus moment by moment.

From the earliest days, God gave our church a vision of reaching the city of San Antonio for Christ, and God is still calling Oak Hills Church toward that vision. We envision a community of disciples courageously engaging culture with the hope of Jesus where we live, work, learn, and play.

At Oak Hills Church, the gospel compels us to live courageously and love authentically as we follow Jesus moment by moment. The invitation from Jesus to follow him is an invitation from our maker to discover the purpose for which we’ve been created. When following Jesus, we are prepared to share the hope of Jesus.
Will you step into this journey of faith with us as we set our sights on following Jesus together?

Our Mission
We are disciples who make disciples by guiding all people to follow Jesus moment by moment.

Our Vision
We envision a community of disciples courageously engaging culture with the hope of Jesus where we live, work, learn, and play.

Our Beliefs

God’s story is a story of love and redemption. The story or message that most clearly shows this redemptive love is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (John 3:16). Paul says this message is of “first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3). As God reveals his nature through the stories of the Bible, the following teachings emerge as central doctrines. These teachings form the core of our beliefs at Oak Hills Church.

At Oak Hills Church we sincerely try to follow the Bible and its teachings. However, our ability to logically figure everything out is not the basis for our acceptability before God. Our salvation is based on what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. What we must be right about is the fact that we cannot be right about everything and are therefore completely dependent on God’s graciousness and mercy.
There is one true God, eternally existing in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These are equal and are one God. God created the world out of nothing and by his power he sustains all he has created (Genesis 1:26, John 1:1, Ephesians 1:13-14)
Jesus was miraculously born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35) and became flesh and blood (John 1:1-16, John 1:29-34) without ceasing to be God. He lived a sinless life and performed many miracles to confirm his divinity. He died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice, paying the debt for our sins (Mark 10:45). On the third day after his death he arose from the dead showing his victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). He appeared to his disciples and then ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God serving as our mediator.
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. He makes people aware of their need for Christ (John 16:8-11). He indwells and empowers the believer (1 John 4:13, Galatians 5:16-26). His presence in our life is a seal and guarantee that we are God’s children (2 Corinthians 1: 21-22). The Holy Spirit gives believers spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Romans 12:4-8) to be used to help others.
Salvation is a free gift of God. The death of Christ on the cross is the only sufficient payment for our sins. All have sinned, but all can be saved. This salvation is available for any who put their trust in Christ as Savior (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:16). Those trusting Christ should repent of sin, confess their faith, and be baptized (Romans 10:9, Acts 2:38).
The church is the Body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the task of reaching the lost and discipling the saved, helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ (Ephesians 4:1-16).
The Bible is the inspired Word of God and is the final authority in life and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16).
Christ will one day return and judge all people. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) Believers will be welcomed into God’s presence in heaven. Unbelievers will be in hell, separated from God’s presence.

Our Values

As followers of Jesus, we embrace the beliefs and actions of Jesus as guiding values. These values inform how we live as we follow Jesus and engage people with the hope of Jesus.

God Dependence

We live fully surrendered to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

  • Romans 8:13-16
  • Galatians 5:22-25
  • John 16:13

Persistent Prayer

Prayer fuels our relationship with God and aligns us to his will.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:17
  • Philippians 4:6-7
  • 2 Chronicles 7:14
  • Matthew 6:5-15

Authentic Love

Jesus authentically loved all people and we will too.
 

  • John 13:34-35
  • 1 John 3:16
  • 1 John 4:12

Family Focus

We partner with families to raise the next generation of Jesus followers.
 
 

  • Deuteronomy 6:4-9
  • Proverbs 22:6
  • Joshua 24:15
  • Ephesians 5:22-33

Biblical Community

We encourage one another through intentional relationships where everyone is known and loved.

  • Acts 2:42-47
  • Hebrews 3:13
  • Romans 12:10
  • James 5:16

Radical Generosity

Everything we are and everything we have is devoted to serving God and serving others.
 

  • 2 Corinthains 9:6-8
  • Mark 10:45
  • John 3:16-18

Our Discipleship Commitments

As followers of Jesus, we are committed to nurturing our love for God and others.

Worship Together

We experience God weekly in worship together.

  • Hebrews 10:23-25
  • Colossians 3:16

Biblical Community

We encourage one another weekly in biblical community.

  • Acts 2:42-47
  • Hebrews 3:13
  • John 13:34-35

Spiritual Practices

We encounter God daily through spiritual practices.

  • Luke 6:12
  • 1 Timothy 4:7-8
  • John 15:5

Serve Others

We express love daily through serving others.

  • 1 Peter 4:10
  • Galatians 5:13

Our Distinctives

We hold the following theological positions which distinguish us from other local churches who affirm the same core beliefs.

Baptism

Baptism is an act of obedience and an outward demonstration of an inward commitment to Christ by one who declares their faith to others by water immersion.

  • Matthew 3:16-17
  • 1 Peter 3:21
  • Romans 6:17
Get Baptized

Communion

Communion is a time to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. During this memorial remembrance, the bread symbolizes the body of Christ and the wine symbolizes the blood of Christ. When believers gather in his name to take the elements in an act of worship, Christ’s presence is among them. At Oak Hills Church, we practice communion weekly.

  • Matthew 26:26-28
  • Luke 22:19

Men and Women

Men and women, created in the image of God, are absolutely equal in essence, dignity, value, and are distinct by divine design. As part of God’s good, created order, men and women are to have different yet complementary roles and responsibilities in the home and church. As it relates to Oak Hills Church, men and women are both expected to lead; however, the office of elder is reserved for qualified men.

  • Genesis 1:26
  • 1 Timothy 3
  • Titus 1

Marriage and Sexuality

We believe the Bible defines marriage as one man, one woman, for life. We further believe that intimate sexual activity is a sacred gift of God and intended to be celebrated only between a man and a woman who are married to each other.

  • Mark 10:6-9
  • 1 Corinthians 6:18
  • 1 Corinthians 7:2-5
  • Hebrews 13:4

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The gifts of the Holy Spirit that we see on display in the New Testament are still active within the life of the church today. These gifts did not end with the close of the New Testament or the death of the last apostle. We deny the suggestion that an experience of miraculous gifts is a sign of greater faith or requirement for salvation. All believers are given gifts to be used for the building up of the church.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
  • 1 Peter 4:10