Southern OaksChurch · Kerrville
Welcome home
We're a church family in Kerrville: neighbors, teachers, ranchers, grandparents, students, and everyone in between. What holds us together is Jesus. On a Sunday you'll find real singing, honest preaching straight from the Bible, and coffee worth showing up early for. Come as a guest, and you won't stay one for long. Bring the kids too. Children's Ministry meets during the 10:45 service, with a bright, welcoming space of their own.
What to expect on Sunday →Hymns and a traditional order of worship, with an intimate, unhurried feel.
A relaxed, friendly service with a live band. Children's Church meets during this hour.
Your first Sunday
Three things people usually want to know before they walk through the door.
What to expect
Dress however you're comfortable. Boots and jeans fit in just as well as a Sunday best. Someone will meet you at the door and point you toward the coffee, and you're free to take any seat you like. The singing is genuine and the preaching is honest, straight from Scripture.
See service times →
For your kids
Our Nursery cares for little ones two and under. At the 10:45 service, kids ages three through fifth grade come forward for a children's sermon, then head to their own space for Bible lessons, crafts, and a whole lot of fun. Every volunteer has passed a background check.
Meet Children's Ministry →
Finding us
You'll find us at 122 N Valley View Dr, with plenty of free parking out front. Come in through the main doors. If you have questions before Sunday, call the church office at 830-257-4348.
Open in Maps →
Ministries
From the nursery to Life Groups, here's where you'll find your people.
Bible stories, big crafts, and a room that looks like an underwater adventure. Sundays at 10:45.
Learn more →
Wednesdays 6 to 8 pm in the Youth Building. Games, real talk, and friends who'll stick around.
Learn more →
A refreshing, faith-building Sunday class with Kellie Early, plus fellowship gatherings through the year.
Learn more →
A new ministry for the men of Southern Oaks is taking shape. Details soon.
Learn more →
Adult Sunday School in the Children's Building, led by Harry Parish. Bring a Bible and a cup of coffee.
Learn more →
Small groups that eat together, study together, and show up for each other. Tammy Soth will help you find one.
Learn more →News & events
Watch
Every service is on our YouTube channel, so you can catch up on your own schedule or share a message with someone who needs it.
Latest messageYouTube · Southern Oaks ChurchLive Sundays 10:45
Prayer
Every request goes straight to Pastor Joe and his assistant Michelle, and every one is prayed over. Nothing is too small.
Only Pastor Joe and Michelle will see it, unless you choose to share it on the prayer wall.
Join us for prayer at 9 am in the cry room inside the main sanctuary.
Generosity
Thank you. What you give stays close to home: families rebuilding after the floods, a prayer team that actually prays, and a church that's ready when a neighbor needs a hand.
Give onlineStay in the loop
A short email now and then with events, announcements, and the occasional good story. No spam, and you can leave any time.
I'm new
We'd love to meet you. Here's everything you need for your first Sunday, so the only surprise is how glad you'll be that you came.
Sundays
Pick whichever fits you. Same church, same message, same welcome. Both run about an hour.
122 N Valley View Dr, Kerrville · Open in Maps →Hymns and a traditional order of worship, with an intimate, unhurried feel. Nursery available.
Relaxed and friendly with a live band. Children's Church meets during this hour.
What to expect
Jeans and boots or your Sunday best. Nobody's checking, and you'll fit right in either way.
Free parking right out front, and a greeter will meet you at the doors.
Hot and free in the foyer. Come a few minutes early, or stay a few minutes late.
A few songs, a prayer, and a message from the Bible that speaks to real life. About an hour.
Childcare in the nursery at both services, and Children's Ministry during the 10:45.
Say hello to Pastor Joe, grab an info card, or slip out quietly. Any of those is fine with us.
For your family
Every volunteer who serves with children has passed a background check. Register your family ahead of time and Sunday check-in takes just a moment.
Pre-register your familyGood questions
Didn't find yours? Call the office at 830-257-4348 and a real person will answer.
About an hour. Classic starts at 8:30 and Contemporary at 10:45.
Whatever you're comfortable in. You'll see everything from boots and jeans to jackets and dresses.
Not at all. Giving grows out of gratitude, and people come to it in their own time. You're our guest, so relax and enjoy the morning with us.
Yes. Level entry from the parking lot, accessible seating in the sanctuary, and restrooms nearby. Tell a greeter if you need anything.
Of course. Every service is on our YouTube channel, live on Sundays and any time after.
I'm new
Two services every Sunday morning at 122 N Valley View Dr in Kerrville. Come to either one. We'll be glad you did.
Sundays
Both services share the same message and the same welcome. Each runs about an hour.
Hymns and a traditional order of worship, with an intimate, unhurried feel. Nursery available.
Relaxed and friendly with a live band. Children's Church meets during this hour.
Find us
Next door to Nimitz Elementary School, with free parking right out front. Come in through the main doors and a greeter will take it from there.
Who we are
Southern Oaks was planted in 1984 with one mission: to reach our community. Forty years later, that's still the whole idea.
Our purpose
We want to introduce everyone to God in such a way that each person can recognize His activity and presence in their lives, and come to a deep understanding of His unwavering love for them.
We're a community of imperfect people who have found the One who is perfect, and as a result, we will never be the same. We believe the church is a place to connect and worship with other believers, and also a place for people from every background who are seeking to know, or be introduced to, their Creator.
Since 1984
Southern Oaks began as a small group of families who wanted a church that felt like home. Four decades later we've baptized in the Guadalupe, sent kids to camp, and fed neighbors after floods. We're still that same church family, just a lot bigger.
We're led by Pastor Joe Taylor and served by a team of ministers and volunteers who'd love to meet you.
Every story here starts the same way: God loved us first.
Next step
What we believe
One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus lived, died, and rose again for us, and is coming back. The Spirit lives in every believer, and the Bible is God's true word to us.
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation, providing the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts.
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
Next step
Meet our team
Southern Oaks is served by far more volunteers than we could list here. These are some of the ministers and coordinators leading things day to day, so you know who to reach out to.
Staff
Church office
Michelle Jacks, Pastor Joe's assistant, keeps the office running Monday through Thursday. Reach out and she'll help.
Contact the office
The church office is open Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm. Outside those hours, leave a message or send a note below and Michelle Jacks, Pastor Joe's assistant, will get back to you.
Reach us
Connect
Small groups that meet in homes around Kerrville to open the Bible, share a meal, and show up for each other. This is where Sunday becomes family.
Why a Life Group
Have you ever thought about getting together in a small group, growing in God's Word, and having real fellowship with others? That's what Life Groups are. A handful of people, a living room, a Bible study, and usually something good to eat. Your group walks with you through the hard seasons, prays with you and for you, and celebrates the good ones too.
Groups are for every age and stage: young families, empty nesters, couples, singles, and folks who've never been in a Bible study before. You don't need to know anything going in. You just need to come.
We'll match you with a group that fits your schedule and season of life.
Have a living room and a coffee pot? That's most of what a host needs.
Open the guide, ask the questions, and steer the conversation. We provide the material, that's really all it takes.
Get connected
Fill out the information card on the table in the foyer labeled LIFE GROUPS, or send Tammy a note here. She coordinates every group and will personally follow up.
Tammy Soth, Life Groups Coordinator · tammy@max-air.com · 830-739-3033
Connect
Every request is read and prayed over by Pastor Joe. Nothing is too small, and nothing you share leaves the pastors' hands unless you want it to.
Two ways to share
You'll receive an information pamphlet during the service. Write your request on the perforated section at the bottom and place it in the small wooden box in the foyer.
Use the form here. It goes straight to Pastor Joe and his assistant Michelle.
Connect · Prayer wall
Real people carrying real things, shared here so they don't carry them alone. Read one, pray for them, then tap the hands so they know someone just did.
Add yours
Same form as the prayer page. One extra checkbox puts it on the wall. Leave it unchecked and only Pastor Joe and his assistant Michelle see it, exactly as now.
Someone on staff will check it today, and it'll show up on the wall once they do. Pastor Joe is praying for you either way.
Keep this. It's how you see how many people prayed and post an update later, from any phone or computer.
Connect
Every smile at the door, every cup of coffee, and every song on Sunday is someone who said yes. There's a place for what you're good at.
Teams
Most teams serve one Sunday a month. A few serve weekly. All of them will train you and be glad you came.
The first faces people see. Open doors, say good morning, point the way to coffee.
Help with Nursery or Children's Church at 10:45. Background check required. We'll walk you through it.
Vocals, instruments, slides, sound, and the Sunday livestream.
Feed the church family at fellowship dinners, funerals, and special events.
Cook a meal for a family after surgery, a new baby, or a loss.
Visit the homebound, or join Wednesday morning prayer.
Raise your hand
You don't need to pick a team yet. Tell us a little about yourself and we'll find the right fit together.
Ministries
A place for kids to learn about Jesus, grow in their faith, make real friends, and have a ton of fun doing it.
Mark 10:15-16
"Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them."
Kids matter here. Every Sunday at 10:45 the children come forward for a children's sermon right after announcements, and then head to their own space for Children's Church.
Along the way they learn Bible stories, sing, make things, and are loved by volunteers who know their names. Every adult who serves with children has passed a background check.
Summer
Ministries · 6th to 12th grade
Wednesday nights in the Youth Building: worship, real conversations about Jesus, plenty of fun, and a group of friends growing in faith together.
Identity in Christ · Biblical fellowship
Our youth ministry exists to help students reach the next level in their spiritual walk, both in their relationships with one another and in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Middle schoolers and high schoolers, 6th through 12th grade, all get connected with Christians their own age while learning Biblical truth that holds up in real life. Camp, retreats, service projects, and a lot of laughing along the way.
"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34
Ministries
"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30
Every week
The Ladies Sunday School class gathers every Sunday at 9:15 in the Church Office Meeting Room for coffee and conversation, with the study beginning at 9:45, led by Kellie Early. It's a warm, honest hour in the Word with women of every age. Come once and you'll want to come back.
Through the year we also gather for fellowship events, studies, and the occasional very good brunch. Watch the Happenings page for the next one.
Current study
Habakkuk: Learning to Live by Faith
A 10-week study by Lydia Brownback. Grab a copy to follow along with the class.
Buy the study guide
Ministries
A new ministry for the men of Southern Oaks is taking shape. We'll post the details here as soon as they're set.
Sundays
Men need other men who will tell them the truth and pray for them by name. That's the idea behind what we're putting together.
Whether you've led studies for years or you've never opened a Bible with other men, you're welcome at the table.
Ministries
Adult Sunday School meets every Sunday at 9:45 am in the Children's Building, led by Harry Parish. Everyone is welcome, whether you've been studying Scripture for decades or you're opening a Bible for the first time.
Sundays at 9:45
Sunday School is where the passage slows down enough to ask questions about it. Bring a Bible if you have one, and a cup of coffee if you'd like one.
You don't need to sign up, and you don't need to have been before. Walk in and find a seat.
Ministries · Kerr County floods
Were you affected by the Kerr County floods? Do you need assistance? We are here for you.
How it works
Reserve your spot using the assistance sign-up. It takes about two minutes.
We'll begin the process and set up an appointment for your intake.
Our team reviews your needs and matches them with available help.
You'll be contacted by a shepherd from the church for further financial, emotional, and spiritual assistance.
Give
Many families in Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, Center Point, and the surrounding areas have been deeply affected by the flooding. Right now the most helpful way to give is through our link below. Any amount helps.
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
Ministries
When a family is walking through surgery, a new baby, or a loss, a meal on the table says what words can't. This is how we take one thing off their plate.
How it works
When a family needs meals, Ginny sets up a Meal Train and the church signs up for nights. You pick a date, bring a meal you'd be glad to serve your own family, homemade or picked up, and drop it by. That's it.
Know a family who could use one? Or want to be on the list of cooks we call? Ginny would love to hear from you.
News & events
What's going on at Southern Oaks this week and beyond. Register for anything with a sign-up through Church Center.
Coming up
News & events · Easter
Once a year we gather outdoors before the sun comes up. Bring a lawn chair and a jacket, we'll have the coffee, and watch the sky over the Hill Country turn gold as the worship team leads us and Pastor Joe brings a message. We're celebrating the risen Christ.
The tradition
Every Easter morning, before the sun is even up, our church family gathers by the Guadalupe River to celebrate Jesus's resurrection. We worship together, hear a short message, and then, when someone has decided to follow Jesus, we baptize them right there in the river as the sky turns gold. It's cold, it's beautiful, and nobody forgets it.
Afterward, regular services continue at 122 N Valley View Dr. Bring family, bring neighbors, bring anyone who needs to hear that the tomb is empty.
"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." Matthew 28:6
News & events · Summer
The one week every summer kids beg to come back to, and won't stop talking about for the next twelve months. Big songs, big crafts, big Bible stories, a brand-new theme every year, and a building full of volunteers who love on every kid who walks through the door.
Every summer
VBS is free and open to kids from the church and the whole community. Each day has worship, a Bible lesson, games, crafts, snacks, and a theme the kids won't stop singing about. This year's theme was Illumination Station; two summers ago it was Magnified. Whatever it is next year, it'll be worth showing up for.
Registration opens in spring 2027, details coming soon, and we can always use more volunteers. Watch the Happenings page and the newsletter for dates.
Prayer
Tell us as much or as little as you want.
Pastor Joe and Michelle will be praying for you this week.
