Canyon Creek Baptist Church sits on South 31st Street on the south side of Temple, Texas, where it has grown into a multi-generational congregation known for its family-friendly children's programs, lively student ministry, and a calendar full of small groups that meet throughout the week. The church's purpose statement, "Know Jesus & Make Jesus Known," frames everything from Sunday worship to the Wednesday night clubs, and the building's white-and-brick campus is recognizable for its dedicated Children's Building, where infants through fifth graders are checked in each Sunday.
Sunday Morning at Canyon Creek
Worship begins at 10:30am and runs about 75 minutes. The order is straightforward and relaxed: the worship team leads a set of songs, one of the pastors preaches a Biblical message, and the service closes with another song. The teaching style is expositional and Bible-focused, with current sermon series walking book-by-book through Scripture.
For those who want to dig deeper before the service, Small Groups meet at 9:15am for every age. Greeters are stationed to help newcomers find the right classroom, and the groups function as the church's Sunday School hour. Together, the two Sunday blocks give families a natural rhythm of Bible study followed by corporate worship.
Guests are told to come as they are. Services are described as "exciting, casual, and relaxed," and the only expectation is that visitors will be welcomed as guests. Dress is whatever is comfortable.
Creek Kids and Awana
Canyon Creek takes children's ministry seriously, and the result is two parallel programs designed for different parts of the week.
During the 10:30am Worship Service, Children's Church programming is offered for every child from infants through fifth grade. Parents check children in at the Children's Building using a special Check-In process that prioritizes safety, then children move into age-appropriate teaching and activities while parents attend the sanctuary service.
On Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30pm, the church runs Awana clubs for preschoolers through fifth graders (ages 2 through 5th grade). Awana is a disciple-making program used in more than 30,000 churches worldwide, and Canyon Creek's clubs use games, activities, and incentives to challenge kids to learn and apply God's Word. The Wednesday schedule runs through the school year, with registration nights held before each new season.
Vacation Bible School is another highlight of the children's calendar. Each summer brings a themed VBS, with evening sessions that fill the church with volunteers and visiting families from the surrounding neighborhood; recent years have used titles like "Rainforest Falls."
Creek Students
Creek Students is the church's middle and high school ministry, and its stated goal is to "equip disciples of Jesus Christ who own, live, and share their faith to change Central Texas and the world." The student ministry meets twice a week: Sunday mornings at 9:15am for Sunday School and Wednesday nights from 6:00 to 7:30pm for games, a Bible study, and fellowship. The student pastor, Sam Sealy, oversees the program along with a team of adult leaders.
The Wednesday night environment is built around relationships. Students are encouraged to bring friends, and the structure is intentionally informal: a mix of large-group teaching, small-group discussion, and recreation time.
Women's Ministry
Women's Ministry is one of the busiest corners of church life at Canyon Creek. The flagship program is the Secret Sister Project, a relationship-building effort that runs in fall and spring terms. Women are secretly paired with one another and exchange small gifts, cards, and tokens of encouragement through the term, with a reveal lunch held at the end to share a final gift and a meal.
Monthly Woman Nights meet on the third Sunday of every month at 6:30pm and rotate through a structured Bible study. The current study works through Jenn Wilkin's "Women of the Word," a book on studying Scripture with purpose, perspective, patience, process, and prayer. Participants do self-study and listen to the Women of the Word podcast during the week, then gather at Woman Night to discuss what they have been learning.
Craft & Chat meets on the second Friday and Saturday of the month in the Fellowship Hall. Crafters of every kind (scrapbookers, knitters, sketchers, quilters, Cricut users) bring their own projects and enjoy the company of others while they work. Friday runs from 12:00 to 9:00pm and Saturday from 9:00am to 4:00pm; the group does not meet in June or December.
Each fall, the women's ministry hosts a Holiday Market open to the public. Local artisans and crafters sell their work, a gift basket is raffled off throughout the day, and proceeds from vendor registrations and raffle sales support the Women's Ministry's ongoing outreach.
Men, Seniors, and Grief Support
Men's ministry centers on a monthly Man Night that meets on the first Sunday at 6:30pm. The group often gathers at a local restaurant (past meetings have been at Wings Pizza N Things) and is a simple, relational environment for men in the church to connect.
Seniors are served through the Pacemakers, a lively group that meets on the second Monday of the month at 11:30am for a potluck lunch. Each lunch features a guest speaker, and the group also schedules day trips together to nearby destinations like Granger for shopping, lunch, and scenic drives.
GriefShare runs as a 13-week support series for people grieving the loss of a loved one. The fall semester kicks off with an orientation session in mid-August, and the church also hosts the one-day "Loss of a Spouse" seminar for those who have lost a partner. The church also keeps a library of Christian books and study aids.
Worship Nights and Hymn Sings
In addition to the main Sunday worship service, Canyon Creek gathers occasionally for a Sunday evening Worship Night dedicated to extended singing. Monthly Hymn Sings in the Fellowship Hall keep the church's older musical heritage alive, with congregants joining together to sing traditional hymns.
Online and On Demand
The 10:30am service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, where past messages are also kept on demand for catch-up viewing. The Sunday morning service is also podcast in audio form for those who prefer to listen on the go.
Giving
Canyon Creek teaches tithing as a regular practice and frames giving in Biblical terms. Members can give online through PayPal or credit/debit card, by mail, at a giving kiosk in the main lobby, or during the service by placing an envelope in the offering plates. Giving is presented as an act of trust, captured by the question "Do I trust the blessings or do I trust the Blesser?" and anchored in passages like Malachi 3:10 and Proverbs 3:9-10.
Leadership and Getting Connected
The pastoral team is led by Lead Pastor Joshua Murray, who preaches on Sunday mornings. Austin Jones serves as Worship Pastor and leads the music ministry. Sam Sealy oversees Creek Students, and Ashley Evans directs Creek Kids and Awana. Mary Sanders serves as the church secretary and handles day-to-day administration.
For visitors who want to learn more, the church runs a Next Steps lunch after the service a few times a year, with childcare provided. Guests can also fill out a Connect card or text the word "GUEST" to (844) 307-0536, and someone from the church will follow up.
Whether someone comes for the 9:15am Small Groups, the 10:30am service, or one of the many weekday programs, Canyon Creek Baptist Church aims to be a place where the people of south Temple can know Him and make Him known.