Hyde Park Church is a historic Baptist congregation in the heart of Austin, located at 3901 Speedway and serving the city for more than 130 years. It is known for family-centered worship, Bible study for every age, and ministries that reach across generations and languages, including Spanish and Chinese congregations, two preschools, counseling, and a food pantry. The church summarizes its mission as helping people know Jesus, grow together, and share his love in Austin and beyond.
Sunday worship is held at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. At 9:30, adult Bible studies and children's classes run alongside a band-led college service. At 11, families gather in the Worship Center with a choir, orchestra, and praise team while Kids Church and Spanish-language worship take place elsewhere on the campus. The 11:00 service is also livestreamed.
More Than 130 Years at 3901 Speedway
Hyde Park Church calls itself a historic church with a modern spirit. Its roots run deep, and as Austin has grown, the congregation has continued to grow in faith, humility, and hope. It honors the legacy behind it while cultivating new spiritual growth, remaining anchored in God's Word and committed to loving and serving its neighbors. Its mission is to help people know Jesus, grow together, and share his love in Austin and beyond.
- Reaching Beyond Ourselves: The church prays proactively for others, extends invitations and makes room for God to affect those around them.
- Teaching Timeless Truth: Scripture remains the foundation, and church members challenge one another to walk as Jesus called them to walk.
- Valuing Generations: Hyde Park seeks connection with people both younger and older, creating a legacy of faith across life stages.
- Equipping Families: Parents receive tools and support for family discipleship so they can lead with purpose and help children flourish.
- Living Generously: Members give their time, talents and treasures freely so that others may experience abundant grace.
A First Visit on Speedway
Hyde Park has made the first Sunday deliberately welcoming and easy to navigate. Services run about 70 minutes and begin with worship, followed by a practical, Bible-based message from Lead Pastor Dr. John Turner. The church's main number is 512-459-6587, and its Plan a Visit process is designed to answer practical questions before arrival.
Some worshipers wear Sunday Best while others dress casually. The church invites visitors to wear whatever is comfortable for them.
- Arriving with children: Use Lot A for prime family parking, cross W 39th Street and enter through the Family Entrance at 3819 Speedway.
- Arriving without children: Lot D provides access to covered and uncovered parking, with entrances through the Worship Center and North Entrance.
- Finding the right room: Clear signs guide visitors through the campus, and designated areas provide quick access to first-time children's registration.
Families with children should arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to register nursery-aged children through fifth grade at the secure first-time check-in. Volunteers greet families, help them check in, escort them to the correct classroom and introduce them to the child's teacher. After the service, Dr. Turner meets families in the Welcome Center.
Sunday at 9:30 and 11:00
The 9:30 hour is designed to let the whole church study and worship at once. Adults meet in small Bible-focused classes, elementary children have age-level lessons, middle and high school students gather by grade, and college students worship in the Chapel. This parallel rhythm allows families to begin the day learning together and later worship together at 11.
- 9:30 a.m.: Adult Bible study, nursery through elementary Bible study, and middle and high school Bible study take place concurrently.
- 9:30 a.m., Chapel: College students join band-led worship and are encouraged to attend one service and serve in another.
- 9:30 a.m.: Hispanic Ministry Bible study meets in Spanish.
- 11:00 a.m., Worship Center: The main service features a choir, orchestra and praise team.
- 11:00 a.m.: Kids Church serves nursery, preschool and elementary children in age-appropriate classes.
- 11:00 a.m., Chapel: Hispanic Ministry worship gathers in Spanish.
The practical emphasis continues throughout the morning. Students are not treated as an audience at a separate event; they participate in the church's life through Scripture, worship, trusted leaders and small groups. At the same time, the separate 9:30 college service gives young adults a smaller worship setting from which they can move into service across the church.
Children Grow From Nursery Through Fifth Grade
Hyde Park Kids works with parents to establish a spiritual foundation that can remain with children as they grow. The ministry uses age-specific narratives, interactive Bible lessons and age-level worship, but its larger aim is to help children understand that they are loved by God and increasingly live like Jesus.
Nursery Through Pre-K
Early childhood classes begin with a simple message: God made each child, loves each child and wants to be each child's friend. Teachers meet physical needs with nurturing care and use play to foster curiosity about God. The early childhood pathway includes opportunities for child dedication.
Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade
Elementary classes engage children's interests while helping them find Jesus and explore biblical values. Lessons, activities and worship are designed for the age group, with opportunities for child dedication and baptism. The aim is not simply to entertain children but to help them form friendships, ask meaningful questions and carry faith into ordinary situations.
Family check-in opens 15 minutes before each service. The Family Entrance at 3819 Speedway leads directly to the children's check-in area, where a volunteer helps each family get settled and meet the teacher. The children's choir also rehearses Sundays at 12:30 p.m. in the Choir Rehearsal Hall, giving children another way to participate in the church's music.
Middle School and High School Students Take Ownership
Hyde Park Students serves sixth through twelfth grades through grade-based Sunday morning Bible studies. The environment is designed for students to feel safe, known and loved by God while discussing Scripture, building relationships and being challenged to live with purpose. Student Bible study meets in South Building on the fifth floor in S512 at 9:30 a.m.
Middle School
Sixth through eighth graders are encouraged to affirm their identity in Christ, build friendships with students who love Jesus and participate in worship and discussion. Their pathway emphasizes growing together through biblical truth, small groups and honest community during a season of significant change.
High School
Ninth through twelfth graders are challenged to lead by example, discover their purpose in God and share his love wherever they go. Their discipleship includes small groups, heartfelt worship, opportunities for baptism, student ministry events and service projects.
Student Night takes place at the Quarries Campus on the first Sunday of each month. Trusted adult and student leaders lead worship and teaching centered on God's Word, honest conversation and the practical challenge of living out faith in real life.
College Ministry: Worship, Study and Service
Hyde Park's NextGen ministry treats college as a season of formation rather than simply a time of independence. Whether students are new to Austin or grew up at Hyde Park, the ministry offers worship, friendships and teaching that help them explore what following Jesus looks like in adulthood.
College students may attend either Sunday worship service and then serve the wider church. At 9:30, band-led worship takes place in the Chapel. At 11, they join the choir, orchestra and praise team in the Worship Center. This pattern makes room both for corporate worship and for personal participation in the life of the congregation.
College Connect is the main midweek Bible-study gathering. It meets in the South Basement from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday nights except the first Tuesday of each month during the school year. Dinner and worship are followed by an expository lesson from NextGen Pastor Dr. Carlos Cameron. On the first Tuesday of each month, The Gathering @HP brings college-aged adults to Friendship Hall for a night of worship and a topical lesson from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Starting Point and Life Groups
Starting Point is the clearest path into the life of Hyde Park Church. The three-week class runs every other month and is structured around the church's mission:
- Know Jesus: Learn the church's mission, values and vision, whether someone is just beginning to ask questions or has followed Jesus for years.
- Grow together: Explore biblical community, life groups, practical family devotions and other tools for Christian growth.
- Share his love: Consider how God has gifted each person to serve, complete a spiritual-gifts assessment and explore volunteer and outreach opportunities.
Adult Bible studies are small, Bible-focused groups that meet on campus Sunday mornings. Women's groups of all ages meet weekly in various locations across Austin to build friendships and grow in faith, while men's groups meet weekly for encouragement and fellowship. Mom's Together gathers Wednesdays at 9:15 a.m., and a women's Bible study meets through Zoom on Wednesdays.
Serving is treated as part of spiritual growth rather than a separate task. People can greet at the door, mentor children, lead worship or help behind the scenes. RISE UP! anchors the church's prayer and testimony emphasis in Nehemiah 2:17-18, encouraging believers to strengthen their hands for good work. For personal study, church members also have access to RightNow Media's large library of Bible teaching videos from Christian publishers.
Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese and English-Speaking Communities
Hyde Park's International Ministries provide language-specific worship, Bible study, discipleship and care. Each ministry has its own pastor and Sunday School leaders, creating distinct communities within the larger church rather than asking international neighbors to fit a single cultural pattern.
Hispanic Ministry
The Hispanic Ministry gathers weekly for worship, fellowship and Bible study in Spanish. Pastor Tony Gonzales leads a multicultural group with people from many countries united by the Spanish language. The ministry emphasizes unity across cultural backgrounds, proclamation of salvation and service to Austin's Hispanic population. Its Sunday rhythm includes Bible study at 9:30 and worship at 11 in the Chapel.
Chinese Ministry
The Chinese Ministry offers weekly worship, fellowship and exercise gatherings for Mandarin speakers, Cantonese speakers, English-speaking individuals and families. Pastor Jim Zhao leads an emphasis on discipleship and mutual encouragement, welcoming people at every stage of faith to grow in Christ together.
Two Preschool Programs for Early Childhood
Hyde Park operates two distinct preschool programs with different schedules but a shared commitment to play-based learning, emotional readiness, global citizenship and a developing relationship with God. Children are treated as spiritual learners whose families, teachers and church communities serve together.
Part-Time Preschool
The Part-Time Preschool serves children ages 1 to 4 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., generally from early September through mid-May. Optional Stay 'n Play supervision extends through 3:00 p.m. The Wee Learn curriculum uses learning centers, problem-solving, dramatic play, blocks, puppets, music, books, puzzles, nature, games and art to develop social skills and biblical foundations.
Weekly enrichment includes music, art and chapel. Chapel uses the Jesus Storybook Bible, a monthly memory verse and activities that reinforce biblical teaching through stories, art, games and songs. Each classroom has two teachers supported by floating staff, and teachers complete CPR and first-aid training, background checks, fingerprinting and at least 24 hours of annual training.
Weekday Preschool
The Weekday Preschool serves children from 8 weeks through Pre-K with full-year, full-time care Monday through Friday. Its play-based and faith-based curriculum supports spiritual, social, emotional, physical and academic development, with developmentally appropriate lessons, low child-to-teacher ratios, CPR- and first-aid-certified staff and ongoing communication with parents. Placement follows a wait list, with priority for current families, preschool staff families, and families of Hyde Park Schools and Hyde Park Church.
Both programs follow applicable immunization requirements and health policies, practice emergency drills and maintain procedures for communicating with families and releasing children safely. The two programs give families different schedules for the same goal: helping young children discover who they are and who God made them to be.
Food Pantry and Becoming Whole
Community Outreach translates Hyde Park's commitment to sharing his love into food distribution, support for people working toward stability and hands-on service. The church describes this work as an expression of reaching beyond itself and living generously.
Hyde Park Food Pantry
The food pantry is a partner agency of the Central Texas Food Bank and provides groceries year-round, including on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It serves people in ZIP codes 78705, 78751, 78752, 78756 and 78757, who may visit up to 10 times per year, as well as Hyde Park members in need. The pantry is at 3810 Speedway and opens Wednesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Food Pantry Director Lester Vanzura oversees its operations.
Becoming Whole
Becoming Whole walks alongside people who are working to overcome destructive cycles and build healthier lives. Participants develop relationships and supportive systems through Getting Ahead, Faith and Finance, and Financial Peace University courses. The emphasis is not only on meeting an immediate need but on building habits, connections and the freedom to live generously.
Hyde Park also participates in Mobile Loaves and Fishes through recurring truck-run and preparation work, connecting its members with neighborhood meal service and volunteer opportunities. Additional serving avenues range from direct outreach to practical support behind the scenes.
Hyde Park Counseling: Hope, Healing and Equipping
Founded in 1986 as an affiliate of Hyde Park Church, Hyde Park Counseling Center provides Christ-centered counseling and education for adults and children. Its professionals offer biblically based solutions in a caring, confidential setting for concerns including depression, anxiety, guilt, difficult relationships, parenting struggles and coping with loss. Specialized counseling, psychological assessments and consulting are also available, with both in-person and telehealth appointments.
The center also prepares lay people to minister to others through conferences, workshops and advanced training. By pairing professional care with biblical teaching and community involvement, Hyde Park Counseling seeks to offer hope, healing and encouragement. The counseling number is 512-451-2186.
What Hyde Park Church Believes
Hyde Park Church's statement of faith is explicitly centered on Scripture, God, humanity, salvation and the church.
- The Scriptures: The Bible is divinely inspired, is God's revelation, is truth without error, centers on Christ and remains the standard for Christian belief and conduct.
- God: There is one living and true God, eternal Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The church affirms Jesus' conception by the Holy Spirit, virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, resurrection, ascension, return and mediation. The Spirit inspired Scripture, convicts concerning sin, regenerates, comforts and empowers.
- Humanity: Men and women are made in God's image, and every person possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
- Salvation: Salvation is received through God's grace and personal faith in Jesus Christ. Regeneration, justification, sanctification and glorification describe the work of grace in the life of a believer.
- The Church: A church is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith, observing the two ordinances of Christ and operating under Christ's lordship through democratic processes. Men and women are gifted for service, while the office of pastor is limited to qualified men. The church is the body of Christ, including the redeemed from every tribe, tongue, people and nation.
Pastors and Ministry Leaders
Hyde Park's ministry is led by Dr. John Turner as lead pastor, with Dr. Leo Day as worship pastor, Dr. Tyler Manning as discipleship pastor and Dan N. Gardner serving in pastoral care and senior adult ministry. Tony Gonzales leads the Hispanic Ministry and Jim Zhao leads the Chinese Ministry.
Dr. Carlos Cameron directs NextGen ministry for college students, and Nathan Dollins serves as student pastor. Mark Wigginton leads children's ministry, while Rachel Wigginton serves as preschool ministry director. J Goff directs media and communications, and Diana Rivera directs church events. Kathy Schmidt leads the Part-Time Preschool, Gina Griffith serves as interim director of the Weekday Preschool, and Dr. Nicole Fitzpatrick directs counseling. The church also has a Quarries Campus ministry and the legacy of Dr. J. Kie Bowman, pastor emeritus.
Giving as a Way to Share His Love
Hyde Park grounds its approach to giving in 2 Corinthians 9, where the Macedonian church gives generously from a posture of trust despite difficult circumstances. The church presents generosity as a joyful response to what has been received and as a way to participate in Jesus' mission in Austin and beyond.
Gifts can be made online, mailed to Hyde Park Church, placed in one of the giving boxes around the campus during worship or managed through the Hyde Park Church app. The app also helps families register for events and stay connected. Giving, service and outreach are therefore not separate additions to church life but expressions of the same mission.
Across more than 130 years, Hyde Park Church has remained a community that connects Scripture and worship with practical care for families, students, children, international neighbors and people experiencing hardship. Its Sunday services at 3901 Speedway, its two preschools, language-specific ministries, counseling center, food pantry and many opportunities to serve all form one continuing witness in Austin: a historic Baptist congregation helping people know Jesus, grow together and share his love.