Mission & History

Mission Statement  

God’s people
called by the Holy Spirit 
to proclaim with joy 
the presence and love of Jesus Christ.

Our History

Holy Trinity was conceived in the Maxwell family’s back yard during the summer of 1977. At that time, there was stirring interest in planting a new Presbyterian Church among the expanding suburbs of northeast San Antonio – so Mission Presbytery* hired Justin Jones to catalyze momentum as Mobilizing Evangelist for the new worshiping community. Young Jones, a fresh seminary graduate, posted an informational sign on our empty 4-acre tract of "church development" land, contacted inquirers, and anticipated organizing meetings at a nearby school. During those initial pollinating talks, he discovered that Jim and Carol Maxwell lived in the Fox Run neighborhood behind the future church site. The young Air Force couple was honored to offer their backyard and home as the site of the congregation's first official Fellowship event, a barbeque dinner held on June 8th 1977. 21 people attended the modest get-together; but the Spirit was palpable, and the group agreed to reconvene the very next Sunday Morning for Worship services just 4 days later! 

  • Our 1st Worship event was held on June 12th 1977 in the Maxwell Family's backyard in the Fox Run neighborhood
  • 31 people attended, including: 17 adults, 12 children, and 2 babysitters
  • We broke bread together, and there was even a Day One Baptism †
  • “Holy, Holy, Holy” was the 1st hymn sung as a collective outpouring of praise ♫
  • and Holy Trinity was selected as the most appropriate name for our new church family on Oct-19th 1977 (after narrowing down a list of 75 potential names to these three finalists: Holy Trinity, Christ Union, and King’s Mountain)
  • Thank God for Holy Trinity!

Our Infant Years

During our first two years, we met for Worship and intergenerational Sunday School classes in the Choir Room at James Madison High School, shared Sunday-night dinners at John Calvin Presbyterian Church, prayed, sang from hymnals donated by Grace Presbyterian Church, and sought to become more self-sufficient by initiating: a leadership training program, Mission and Outreach groups, and a Choir.

  • We celebrated our 1st Christmas at John Calvin in 1977
  • held our 1st Easter Sunrise Service on “our land” in 1978
  • and we were granted charter in June of 1978!

As we grew, we elected a building committee, commissioned architectural designs, called our 1st permanent pastor, rented office space from the Overhead Door Co. (across the street), donated to the Wichita Tornado and Hurricane David Relief Funds, received our 1st piano as a gift from Alamo Heights Presbyterian Church, purchased Communion ware, planned for a softball team and VBS, and dedicated our 1stmember-owned House of Worship on May-3rd, 1981!

 

Family Heritage and Legacy

From these Spirited beginnings, the Holy Trinity story exemplifies a sustained family heritage of connectional evangelism, welcoming fellowship, moving worship, Spiritual growth, pioneering neighborhood mission, and joyful noise! Since our inception in 1977, Holy Trinity has been blessed by 1000’s of members, families, and 100’s of newly baptized believers who have: passed through our doors, worshiped with us, and shared in the adventure of our collective life of ministry. For all these people and gifts we are truly grateful, Lord – Hallelujah!

 

Our Building

Our facility features 23,000 SF of multi-ministry space on 4.8 acres of land, evoked by these faithful stages of growth:

  • On May-3rd 1981, our 1st building was dedicated, featuring: our Sanctuary, the Church office, a full-service kitchen, nursery, and an outdoor courtyard for Fellowship. Our Sanctuary was designed to “lift the attention of those entering toward the heavens, with two glass walls inviting the beauty of the outside in, and the attention of passers-by into the center of worship. In the corners are four corner classrooms, making the footprint of the Sanctuary into the shape of a cross, with non-load-bearing walls that can be removed during future expansion”, (church history, 2-6)
  • In 1989, our 2nd building campaign was completed, adding: 10 classrooms, the Choir room, significant kitchen upgrades, a roof over the Fellowship Hall, 2 resource rooms, additional office space, and the Bethel and Children’s Libraries
  • In 1998, our 3rd building improvements were dedicated, adding: the Narthex and front Portico, reconfigured office space for our Parish Associates, and a significant Sanctuary remodel and expansion

Our Pastors

By example, these shepherds have offered great portions of their lives of faithful service to our Spiritual growth, and cultivated in us a devotion to better serve God and His people.

1977

Rev. Justin Jones, Mobilizing Evangelist

1977 - 1978

Rev. Alan Guthrie, Organizing Pastor

1979 – 1993

Rev. Dr. Alfred “Fred” Morgan, Senior Pastor

1985 – 1990

Rev. Stephen Smith Cobbs, Associate Pastor

1990 – 1995

Rev. Marcia Miscall, Associate Pastor

1994 - 1994

Rev. Deborah Parsons, Interim Pastor

1997 - 2000

Rev. Garnet M. “Peggy” Krong, Associate Pastor

2007 – 2012

Rev. Caryn Thurman, Associate Pastor

2015 – 2017

Rev. Reuben E. Lashley, Associate Pastor

2017

Rev. Karen H. Stocks, Parish Associate Pastor

1994 – 2017

Rev. Dr. Richard “Dick” Kreutzer, Senior Pastor

2018 –

Rev. Seth Saathoff, Senior Pastor



 

* Alamo Presbytery (UPCUSA) and Del Salvador Presbytery (PCUS)