First United Pentecostal Church sits on Utopia Lane on San Antonio's south side, where a multicultural congregation gathers around an Apostolic message centered on the Oneness of God, water baptism in Jesus' Name, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues. Under the leadership of Bishop James Jackson, FUPC has grown into a regional hub that parents daughter and autonomous works, hosts the bilingual Voice of the Apostle International Conference, and serves English and Spanish speakers side by side under one roof.
An Apostolic Identity in the Heart of San Antonio
FUPC describes itself plainly as an Apostolic Pentecostal church, anchored in the conviction that there is one God who has revealed Himself in different ways and who now dwells in believers through His Spirit. The congregation teaches that salvation comes through repentance, water baptism by full immersion in the Name of Jesus (not as a recitation of Matthew 28:19 but as an obedience to it), and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which the church teaches is evidenced by speaking in other tongues. Living in the will of God, as the church reads it in scripture, completes the picture.
The church also holds to the operation of the gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of the body, the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, preachers, teachers, and evangelists from 1 Corinthians 12, and the ministry of both men and women, grounded in Acts 2:17. The congregation takes the position that the truth is at times controversial but clear when rightly divided, and welcomes anyone seeking understanding to study the scriptures alongside them.
Sunday and Wednesday Services
The weekly rhythm at FUPC begins at 9:30 AM on Sunday with Corporate Prayer, followed by the First Sunday Service at 10:00 AM and the Second Sunday Service at 12:15 PM. Wednesday nights gather at 7:30 PM for midweek worship and teaching.
Because the Bishop carries a burden for Spanish-speaking brethren, the church prioritizes live English-to-Spanish translation during services. Listeners can borrow translation devices to follow along, and visitors who would like this accommodation are invited to contact the office in advance so the team can have one ready. The services are livestreamed on two dedicated YouTube channels, one in English and one labeled Español, and audio recordings of recent messages are available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Visiting Utopia Lane
The church is located at 350 Utopia Lane, San Antonio, Texas 78223. Office hours run Tuesday through Friday, with Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Wednesday from 8 AM to 1 PM. The office is closed on Mondays. Visitors who want to plug in can email info@firstupcsa.org or call 210-337-6108 to become a new church member, request baptism in Jesus' Name, schedule a Bible study on salvation, request translation, or meet with the pastoral staff. The church asks visitors who do not hear back within two business days to follow up by phone.
Bishop James Jackson and the Pastoral Team
Bishop James Jackson was born in Dallas, Texas, joined the Air Force soon after high school, and was stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, where he received the Holy Ghost and his call to ministry in 1983. It was there that he married Rosie Jackson, the church's beloved First Lady, and the couple raised two daughters before returning to Texas. Jackson's ministry grew under Pastor Lawrence King, and after serving in every capacity of the church under Pastor Timothy Wallace, from cleaning toilets to youth pastoring, the Lord positioned him as pastor of FUPC in February 2006. In June 2014 he was appointed Bishop, and since that time the church has expanded to parent and assist multiple daughter and autonomous works. The congregation looks forward to continued growth under his leadership.
The pastoral staff around him reflects the bilingual and multigenerational reach of the church. Stephen Massey serves as Armourbearer and Prophet; Mary Morales is the Executive Secretary; Kelly Massey serves as Pastoral Assistant and Prophetess; Eliud Guerrero is the Assistant Spanish Pastor; Ruth Jackson serves as Associate Pastora; Justin and Andrea Medlin serve as Departmental Pastor and Assistant; Ernest Sandoval is the In-Reach Pastor; and Glenn Sechler, a licensed minister with the United Pentecostal Church International and a graduate of Christian Life College in Stockton, California, serves as Outreach Pastor.
Pastor Eliud Guerrero was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, gave his life to Christ at 18, and was called to preach early in his walk. He and his family arrived at FUPC in 2014, when Bishop Jackson confirmed his calling to pastor a Spanish-speaking church, which he did until the end of 2020. That year the two congregations merged under Bishop Jackson's leadership into one multicultural body, and members on both sides have continued to grow, with many learning a second language alongside the volunteers who translate each service into Spanish.
Departments: The Engine of Ministry
FUPC uses the words ministries and departments interchangeably, treating every area of service from ushering to security, from sound to men's ministry as a ministry in its own right. Members who wish to join a department go through a clear three-step process: active church membership, salvation through repentance, baptism in Jesus' Name, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and then the New Life Class, an annual course for new members that teaches the basics of Apostolic doctrine and builds fellowship. The Outreach Pastor leads the New Life Class, and the Departmental Pastor oversees the ongoing work of the departments.
Youth and Children
Students have their own weekly gathering. IMPACT is the ministry for students ages 14 to 18, led by Youth Student Pastors Mario Jr. and Kay Leigh Herrera, meeting on the first and third Friday of each month on the Fellowship Hall side of the building. ELEVATE is the parallel ministry for ages 11 to 13, led by Taylor and Rose Norris, meeting the same nights on the Main Offices side. Children's Church serves children ages 2 to 11 on the last Wednesday of each month during the 7:30 PM service; children are dismissed from the main service after praise and worship and gather in the Fellowship Hall. Children's Church is currently open to active FUPC family members. College and Career gatherings for both ladies and men round out the discipleship pathway for young adults.
The Voice of the Apostle International Conference
VAIC, the Voice of the Apostle International Conference, is FUPC's flagship gathering, a bilingual international conference built around Bishop Jackson's ministry. The conference takes place at the Embassy Suites Hotel by Hilton San Marcos Conference Center, 1001 E. McCarty Lane, San Marcos, Texas 78666, and runs Wednesday evening through Friday evening, with travel time built in for the following Saturday. Multiple hotels sit within five to nine minutes of the venue. Recordings from recent conferences, including English and Spanish audio, are available online, and conference merchandise such as t-shirts, throw blankets, and tote bags in both languages can be ordered through the church's online store.
Salvation Made Simple
One of FUPC's most far-reaching tools is the Salvation Made Simple home Bible study, developed by Bishop James Jackson in the 1980s and credited with winning thousands to Christ over the decades. The course has four lessons: Parable of the Sower, The Spirit, The Blood, and Who Is Jesus Christ, covering the steps of salvation, the Holy Ghost, water baptism in Jesus' Name, and the Oneness of God. A digital PDF bundle with audio is available through the church store, the Spanish edition is sold separately, and physical manuals can be picked up at the office by arrangement. A companion study, A Chosen Vessel: Women in Ministry, written by Minister Josh Taylor from his own Bible study and available in English and Spanish, teaches on the role of women in preaching and teaching.
Worship and the Music Department
Music has been central to FUPC since Ruth Jackson, who grew up in the church, first joined the Music Department as a child through piano lessons under the then music director. She went on to serve as Music Director and now serves as Associate Pastora. Mary Morales, who grew up in Chalmette, Louisiana, answered a call to music ministry at an early age, earned her bachelor's degree in music, and came to San Antonio as Minister of Music, where she met her husband Mark and raised their two sons. She continues to serve the church in multiple capacities, including her current role as Executive Secretary to Bishop Jackson.
Corporate Prayer and the Monthly Rhythm
Beyond the weekly services, FUPC sets aside the first Monday of every month from 7:00 to 9:00 PM for Corporate Prayer, led by Bishop Jackson and Handmaiden Hildebrand. The prayer gathering is intentionally casual: come as you are, come as you are able, and expect the supernatural. The church teaches that unless otherwise mentioned, this rhythm continues every month of the year.
Giving and Staying Connected
Giving is available online through a virtual kiosk powered by SecureGive and through PayPal. The church also shares regular updates and devotional-style content on Facebook and Instagram, where visitors can follow along with announcements such as upcoming Bible studies, conferences, and special services. A bilingual worship environment, an active children's and youth ministry, an international conference that draws believers from across the region, and a long-standing home Bible study that has traveled well beyond San Antonio all flow from the same conviction at the heart of FUPC: that the gospel of Jesus Christ is worth proclaiming in every language, in every season, and from a single house on Utopia Lane where the church family loves its Bishop and First Lady and looks forward to unprecedented growth.