First Protestant Church of New Braunfels sits on Coll Street in the heart of a town it helped found, and the building still rises on the spot where, in 1845, early German settlers gathered for a Good Friday communion under an elm tree. Today the church describes itself as a spiritual home at the heart of New Braunfels, and its members come from every corner of Comal County to worship, learn, serve, and fellowship together. Two Sunday services fill the sanctuary each week, one traditional and one contemporary, and the rest of the campus hums with choirs, classrooms, a preschool, an artisan market, and a theatre company.
Two Sunday Services in One Sanctuary
Sunday mornings at First Protestant center on two distinct services held in the same sanctuary. The First Service at 9:30 a.m. is liturgically oriented and built around a blend of older hymns and newer sacred music. The Sanctuary Choir, music scholars, and the church's historic pipe organ shape the worship, and the liturgy weaves the choir and congregation together in prayer, Scripture, and sacrament. It is a calm, ordered gathering that values the church's heritage and invites all who attend to an authentic encounter with God.
The Second Service at 11:00 a.m., known affectionately as "The River," takes a more relaxed shape. The praise band called River's Edge leads contemporary worship, and the congregation lifts its voice in prayer, song, fellowship, and Biblical preaching. The atmosphere is described as upbeat and welcoming: come as you are.
Between the two services, at 10:30 a.m., everyone gathers in Schumann Hall for coffee and a Brunch Fellowship. Visitors, new members, and longtime friends mingle, greet one another, and bridge the two hours of worship into a single Sunday morning rhythm.
Both services are livestreamed and archived, so members who travel, who are sick, or who cannot attend in person can still participate in the worship of the day.
A Founding Story on Coll Street
The story of First Protestant Church begins with the founding of New Braunfels itself. Over 180 years ago, the congregation began as a mission outpost for early German immigrants in what was then the barren wilderness of South-Central Texas. The first recorded worship was a Good Friday communion service held under the elm tree on Coll Street in 1845, and the church has gathered on that same location every week since.
That founding act made First Protestant the city's first congregation. Members see that legacy not as a museum piece but as a living identity. The church's stated vision is to be a spiritual home at the heart of New Braunfels, and its mission is to go into all the world and make disciples who are baptized into the life of the Triune God and trained to do all Jesus Christ commanded.
About 25 years ago, First Protestant Church collaborated with three other local congregations to found the Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches (EARCCC). Today the Evangelical Association links more than 120 churches around the nation in a voluntary network of shared mission. First Protestant is its founding church, and members hold the Evangelical Association's "Issues and Core Beliefs" as compatible with their own doctrinal statement.
Beliefs, Values, and Church Structure
Since its founding, First Protestant Church has cherished the teachings of God's Word as proclaimed by the Protestant Reformers. The Evangelical Catechism of 1929 provides a fuller explanation of the church's key teachings. The congregation celebrates unity in the essential doctrines of Scripture and allows a diverse range of perspectives among its members on secondary matters.
The church describes itself as a reformed congregational church. Members in good standing vote on key decisions and shape the church's direction through two branches of leadership: the Minister and staff lead the vision and ministry of the church, while the Church Council focuses on governance. Three Boards (Education, Finance, and Missions) assist members in facilitating specific areas of church life.
Six values shape daily life at First Protestant:
- Compassionately welcoming with the same love Christ showed us.
- Worshipping God together in Spirit and Truth each Lord's Day.
- Joyfully witnessing God's work in our midst and in the world.
- Nurturing the hurting in our community.
- Training Christians to obey all Christ taught.
- Sending with blessings all members to do God's work in this world.
The church practices infant and believer baptism. The Senior Minister guides individuals and families through the baptism process, and two or three times a year he holds a three-week membership course on Sundays for anyone interested in joining. Active members affirm faith (or re-affirm faith), receive baptism and confirmation as appropriate, demonstrate a godly life and concern for the spiritual wellbeing of the congregation, attend worship and celebrate the Lord's Supper, share financially in the church's work, and participate in FPC's organized ministries.
The Springs: Children's Ministry at "The Well"
Children's ministry at the church is called The Springs, and most of its programming happens in a children's area called "The Well," located right behind the Jesus Statue on Coll Street. The Springs exists to help children understand that serving God can be exciting and fun, and to see that they can know and claim God's promises for their lives.
On Sunday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to noon, a staffed nursery cares for infants through age three in a dedicated room staffed by trained workers who engage each child and show God's love. PreK4 through 5th graders attend age-graded Sunday School classes from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., using Lifeway Bible curriculum and led by a skilled teacher assisted by another adult. More than 20 volunteers rotate through these rooms.
At 11:00 a.m., children in PreK through 5th grade choose a focus: singing (Children's Choir, September-May), instruments (Handbells, September-May), musical theatre (summer), or technical skills (STEM, Theatre Tech, year-round). They develop those gifts through weekly classes. In the fall the children collaborate on a Nativity Pageant presented during the 11 a.m. service in December.
On Wednesday evenings, the children's ministry runs JumpStart, a four-week sports coaching and game session for elementary-aged children. Qualified coaches integrate values of faith, fun, skill development, and Christian sportsmanship.
Throughout the year the Springs hosts family gatherings including a Palm Walk, Easter butterfly release, Spooktacular downtown event, and Summer Family Camp and Vacation Bible School. The Springs also guides parents and children through the baptism process for both infants and older believers.
Merge: Youth Ministry for 6th Through 12th Grade
The youth ministry at First Protestant is called Merge, and its goal is to transform and empower 6th through 12th grade students to love God and love people. Merge meets twice weekly.
On Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., youth gather in the Bormann Room for fellowship and Bible study. The Sunday morning hour is led by the youth team and combines teaching, discussion, and community.
Wednesday evenings follow a steady rhythm. At 5:00 p.m. the group eats dinner together. At 5:30 p.m. students split into traditional or contemporary music options. At 6:00 p.m. the Youth Choir rehearses. At 6:30 p.m. the group dives into Bible study and fellowship, with worship, inspirational teaching, and small group time woven together.
Throughout the year Merge students participate in the FPC Youth Annual Mission Trip and a full calendar of activities announced through the church calendar.
A Sanctuary Choir, a Handbell Choir, and Music Scholars
Music has always been central to First Protestant's identity, and the church supports a layered music program that reaches from kindergarten through college and beyond.
The Sanctuary Choir sings at the 9:30 a.m. service, connecting the congregation with God through anthems, hymn settings, and choral offerings. Rehearsals are Wednesday nights, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., in the choir room in the Music Wing (the upstairs northwest corner), from mid-August through the end of May. Participation is open to all.
The Handbell Choir provides musical offerings one Sunday each month at the 9:30 a.m. service. Rehearsals are Wednesday nights from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Handbell Rehearsal Room in the Music Wing, mid-August through end of May.
Two annual musical celebrations bookend the church year. Lessons and Carols is presented at the 9:30 a.m. service during Advent, with a professional string and wind ensemble accompanying the choir in stirring and reverent arrangements of traditional carols that tell of the prophecy and birth of Jesus. The Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service, held the Thursday before Easter, is a candlelit service that reflects on the Passion of Christ: the betrayal, abandonment, and agony. It ends in darkness, the story left unfinished until Easter Sunday. A string quartet accompanies the choir and special soloists.
The Music Scholars program offers scholarships to pre-professional college and university music students. Scholars perform solos at the 9:30 a.m. service from August through May, and the congregation benefits from the music of up-and-coming professional musicians.
For music lovers who want to study instruments, the First Protestant Music School (FPMS) offers personalized lessons in piano, voice, guitar, wind, and string instruments. Lessons are tailored to each student, with a curriculum that supports both personal musical development and spiritual enrichment.
Coll Street Players: Live Theatre in the Historic Seele Building
The Coll Street Players are a professional, thought-provoking live-theatre company housed in the historic Seele Building on the FPC campus. Their mission is to provide live performing arts experiences by and for the community that engage and inspire, and their vision is to bring the community together by empowering people of all ages and backgrounds to create, learn, and connect.
The Players are an entity of First Protestant Church, sharing the campus with the Sanctuary Choir, the children's programs, and the Music School. The Coll Street Players offer educational opportunities and produce several shows each season.
Adults Growing Together: Sunday School, Small Groups, and Bible Study
First Protestant offers a wide range of adult education opportunities, with the goal of meeting people wherever they are in their spiritual journey.
Four adult Sunday School classes meet on Sunday mornings:
- River Rats meets at 9:30 a.m. on the first floor of the Heritage House. Led by Rodney Fischer, the class is known for warm fellowship, and many attendees stay for the 11:00 a.m. service.
- Legacy Builders meets at 11:00 a.m. on the first floor of the Heritage House. Led by Celeste Salge, the class discusses world events from a Christian perspective.
- Faithful Servants meets at 11:00 a.m. on the second floor of the Heritage House. Led by Lynn Herr, the group reads, discusses, and interprets biblical texts for personal spiritual growth.
- Kingdom Seekers / C.A.L.M. meets at 11:00 a.m. on the second floor of the Heritage House. Led by Wayne Wise and Chris Beabout, the class follows a specific curriculum or focuses on a particular book or theme of the Bible.
FPC Small Groups meet on Sundays and other times through the week. The church office helps connect newcomers with the group that is the best fit.
The Pastor leads an in-depth Bible study on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage House. Men's Ministries and Women's Ministries round out the adult discipleship picture, gathering in various ways to deepen their love for God and people and to advance God's kingdom in their daily lives.
Wednesdays at FPC
Wednesday evenings are among the busiest times on the FPC campus. The rhythm includes:
- 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. - Handbell Choir rehearsal.
- 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. - Merge Youth Fellowship (dinner, music options, youth choir, Bible study).
- 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. - JumpStart children's sports program (in four-week sessions).
- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Pastor-led adult Bible study in the Heritage House.
- 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. - Sanctuary Choir rehearsal.
Wednesday mornings belong to Flying Fingers, a sewing and quilting ministry that meets from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. No special skills are required; experienced sewers teach newcomers. The group sews, stitches, and fellowships together in a relaxed setting.
Mondays and Saturdays at FPC
On Mondays at 4:00 p.m., the gym-like floor of Schumann Hall fills with paddles and pickleballs as the church hosts weekly pickleball open to the community. Information is available from Celeste Salge.
On Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the church hosts the Castell St. Market, a weekly gathering of local artisans and community members. The market is dedicated to supporting local makers with a passionate heart for their craft, and it spills across the FPC campus each weekend.
Global Focus Missions: From New Braunfels to the Ends of the Earth
The Missions Outreach Board coordinates First Protestant's mission work, with a stated purpose to enable the spread of the gospel and to minister to others locally, nationally, and globally in the name of Jesus Christ, and to encourage the growth of FPC as a global, missions-minded church.
The church supports a wide network of mission partners, organized under the Acts 1:8 framework:
Jerusalem (Greater New Braunfels):
- Family Promise of Greater New Braunfels
- Options for Life
- S.O.S. Food Bank
- SJRC (St. Jude's Ranch for Children) Texas
- Salvation Army of New Braunfels
Judea (Texas) and Samaria (North America):
- Jon and Carol Shaneyfelt with Wycliffe Bible Translators
- Ervin and Colleen Starwalt with Wycliffe Bible Translators
- Kelly Graham and Kenny Johnson with Mision de Candelella
The Ends of the Earth:
- D.O.N.E. Discipling Our Nations Effectively, church planting in Senegal, India, and the Philippines
- Wink and Glyn Kelso with Servants of Servants, ministering to missionaries in the field
- Mayce (Fischer) and Mathias Simonsen with Vineyard Church Plant in Denmark
- Jonathan and Tatiana Ammon with ASENTLIFE/Pioneers in South Asia
Additional Partners and Projects include Jim Barnes with the Evangelical Association National Minister program, the FPC Youth Annual Mission Trip, Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child, Loren Thomas with the Zena Launchpad in Uganda, and Brian and Melody Whitaker ministering to Muslims in Michigan.
The board encourages members to participate in three ways: Commit to Pray, Commit to Participate, and Commit to Fund. Practical ways to participate locally include donating canned goods to SOS Foodbank, making casseroles for the Salvation Army, donating diapers to Options for Life, donating laundry supplies to Family Promise, mentoring at Carl Schurtz, and joining Big Serve Saturday. State and national opportunities include spring trips to Reynosa with Strategic Alliance, summer trips to Michigan with the Whitakers, and spring trips to Mexico with Mision de Candelella. Global opportunities include filling a Samaritan's Purse shoebox or sending a Christmas card to a missionary.
Lay Ministries, Pastoral Care, and Prayer
The Lay Ministry program at First Protestant ministers to people who cannot participate in the ordinary life of the church for whatever reason, many of them shut-ins whose contact with the church comes through online or radio broadcasts. The Director of Visitation, Janice Borgfeld, coordinates lay visitors who provide spiritual friendship and the opportunity to participate in the sacraments.
Several supportive ministries operate as needs arise: GriefShare, Premarital Counseling, Marriage Enrichment Groups, and other pastoral care services are available. The church office can refer individuals to outside professionals when appropriate.
The church maintains an active prayer ministry. Anyone can submit a prayer request online. Members are invited to join the prayer team, praying for the requests submitted by the congregation.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Volunteer Ministry offers many ways for members and non-members to serve the church and the community. Within the church, opportunities include:
- Ambassadors and Greeters
- Archives
- Music (choirs, handbells, worship band)
- Church Boards
- Church Tours
- Sympathy Receptions
- Moms in Prayer
- Prayer Leadership
- Phone and mail outreach for upcoming events
- Ushers
Volunteers also serve in the community through partner organizations such as Communities in Schools, Hope Hospice, and reading programs with children and adults. The church also provides volunteer information packets for Family Promise of NB, Salvation Army of NB, SOS Food Bank of NB, and SJRC Texas.
FPC School: Preschool on the Church Campus
First Protestant Church School is a ministry of the church that fills weekdays with learning, playing, singing, and worship. The school is led by its own Director and operates on the FPC campus. It shares space with the church's children's ministry, including "The Well" children's area, and offers families the convenience of education and worship under one roof.
Weddings at First Protestant
First Protestant Church regularly hosts weddings in its historic sanctuary. The church describes its weddings as joyous, meaningful, and worshipful occasions. Though weddings are social and legal events, the focus is on their spiritual significance, celebrating the gift of human love in the context of God's gift of love.
The entire church campus is dedicated to God, and all activities held in any building or outdoor space are kept in keeping with that purpose. Weddings are offered to both members and non-members, following an interview with the Senior Minister. The Sanctuary is the primary wedding venue; reception space in Schumann Hall is available to members. Detailed wedding photos and a virtual tour of the Sanctuary are available.
The People Who Lead
The Senior Minister leads the staff and oversees the church's ministry and vision. The Director of Visitation coordinates lay ministry to homebound members. The Director of Music & Arts leads the Sanctuary Choir, Handbell Choir, Music Scholars program, Children's Music & Arts, the First Protestant Music School, and the Coll Street Players. The Director of First Protestant School leads the preschool. The Coordinator for the Missions Board oversees the church's local, national, and global mission partnerships. A Church Secretary, Business Manager, and Church Council round out the leadership team.
The Church Council for the current term includes Herb Schneider, Judy Borger, Lynn Herr, John Green, Linda Brodtmann, Dirk Boogaard, Danny Mills, and Tim Thomas. Members of the congregation serve on three Boards, Education, Finance, and Missions, and through many volunteer capacities.
Visiting First Protestant Church
First Protestant Church sits at 172 West Coll Street in New Braunfels, Texas. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. each day. The office can be reached at 830-609-7729 or office@firstprotestant.com.
Sunday morning visitors are warmly welcomed. The 9:30 a.m. service is a good fit for those who appreciate a more traditional, liturgical worship with hymns, choir, and organ. The 11:00 a.m. service, "The River," offers a more contemporary experience with a praise band. Between the two, at 10:30 a.m., everyone gathers in Schumann Hall for coffee, brunch, and conversation. Sunday School classes for all ages meet during both services, so families can attend a worship hour and a learning hour in the same morning. Children's ministry is available from 9:30 a.m. to noon for infants through 5th grade.
Those who cannot attend in person can watch both services live online, and an archive of past sermons is available for later viewing. Online giving is available through the church's secure giving portal, and donations can also be made by texting an amount to 830-505-1229.
On the church's calendar you will find weekly rhythms (Sunday worship, Sunday School, Wednesday Bible study and youth ministry, Monday pickleball, Wednesday morning Flying Fingers sewing, and Saturday Castell St. Market) alongside the seasonal rhythms of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Tenebrae, and Lessons and Carols. The church also offers historical building tours on designated days throughout the year for those interested in the historic campus, and weddings may be scheduled through the church office.