A Multi-Ethnic Family at the Corner of Oates and La Prada
Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church sits on the east side of Dallas at 9810 La Prada Drive, right where Oates Drive and La Prada Drive meet, a short jog from LBJ Freeway (I-635) and Big Town Boulevard. The motto reads: "We don't just preach the gospel, we prepare hearts for eternity." The church is a multi-ethnic, multi-generational family where plumbers, electricians, teachers, business people, students, athletes, and artists gather together as one body. Worship, teaching, and ministry happen in both English and Spanish, and the rhythms of the week extend from Sunday morning services into small groups, choir rehearsals, student gatherings, and a calendar of mission trips that has carried the congregation from Argentina to Cameroon.
Sundays: English and Spanish Side by Side
Sunday is the heartbeat of Shiloh Terrace. The schedule is built so that English-speaking and Spanish-speaking believers can attend Connection Groups and worship together, just one hour apart.
The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with English Connection Groups for every age, followed by the English worship service at 10:15 a.m. in the Worship Center. The service is offered both in person and online. The Spanish-speaking community gathers for Connection Groups at 10:45 a.m. on the third floor, and the Servicio en Español begins at 12:00 p.m., also in person and online. First-time guests find reserved parking spaces in front of the building, and a team of greeters and parking attendants is on hand to help families find their way to the Worship Center and to Bible study classrooms for their children.
The English service includes congregational singing led by a praise team and adult choir, Christ-centered teaching from the pulpit, and a closing invitation. During the closing song, prayer counselors stand at the front and rear of the Worship Center ready to pray with anyone who wants to talk about a decision to follow Christ, baptism, or church membership. Visitors are not expected to give an offering; guests are simply welcomed as guests. Bibles are available in the pews for those who do not bring one.
Connection Groups: Sunday School for Every Stage of Life
Shiloh Terrace calls its Sunday School ministry "Connection Groups." The idea is that discipleship happens best in smaller circles where people can be known by name. Groups meet in age-graded classrooms across the campus and provide a parallel track for adults, students, and children while the rest of the family is in class or worship.
For adults, the church maintains a deep bench of classes. The Crossroads Class (co-ed, singles) meets in Room D148, the Celebrations Class (co-ed, singles) in Room D254, the Biendit Class (ladies) in Room D237, and the Young At Heart Class (co-ed) in Room D250. Senior adults have their own lineup: the Love Circle and Agape Love and Friendship Classes (ladies), the Greene, Brown, and Massey Classes (men), the Faith Class (ladies), the First Class (co-ed), and the Butler's Class (co-ed). The Friendship Class also gathers on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in Room D148 for an additional weekly time of fellowship and study.
Young adults have two Sunday options at 9:00 a.m.: the Young Adults group in Room D148 and the College & 20s group in Room D242. Students in grades 6 through 12 meet on the third floor in the Youth Center, and preschool through 5th grade use the Kids wing.
Preschool and Kids: A Floor of Their Own
Children are a stated priority at Shiloh Terrace, and the church has built a full preschool wing on the first floor to reflect that. Babies through 4 years old are welcomed into Noah's Nursery, where trained teachers care for children during both the 9:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. services so that parents can attend Bible study and worship with peace of mind. Wee Worship extends the care for 2- to 4-year-olds during the 10:15 a.m. service with play, songs, and a short Bible story.
Children in Pre-K through 5th grade move through three Sunday morning experiences. Connection Groups for infants through 5th grade meet from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and lay down foundational Bible truths in age-graded rooms. Kids Worship for K through 2nd grade and Pre-K Worship for babies through Pre-K4 both run from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and bring the Bible story to life through songs, application videos, a Bible lesson, and hands-on activities. All children are checked in at the Kids Check-In Desk, and a greeter helps families find the right room.
On Wednesday evenings, SHINE Kids gathers children ages 3 through 5th grade from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for an activity-based discipleship time that includes a key Bible story, missions videos and activities, and a light snack. Nursery and a toddler class are also available on Wednesday nights for parents who stay on campus for ESL classes or Bible study, with the expectation that parents remain in the building.
Students: The Mix on Wednesday Nights
Middle school and high school students have a place of their own on the third floor of the Youth Center. The Mix, the student worship gathering for 6th through 12th graders, runs every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The atmosphere is described as fun and safe, with friends worshiping together and hearing teaching from God's word. On Sunday mornings, students meet at 9:00 a.m. for age- and gender-based Connection Groups led by adult volunteers who care about walking alongside them in their faith.
Nicole Muir, the Children and Families Minister, oversees the student ministry and is available to talk with parents about the spiritual formation of their students. The Parent Page, refreshed on the first of each month, holds the monthly Toolbox, a parent video, and family experiences to help parents continue the conversation at home.
Worship Arts: Choir, Praise Team, and Senior Singers
Music is central to the life of Shiloh Terrace, and the church provides several ways to get involved. The Adult Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. in the Choir Room. No audition is required. The choir sings in the Sunday service and presents seasonal programs throughout the year.
The Praise Team, made up of instrumentalists and vocalists, leads worship alongside the choir at the 10:15 a.m. Sunday service. Rehearsals are held Sundays from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in the Worship Center. Anyone interested in joining goes through an interview process with the worship pastor; the team looks for musicians and singers who have a heart for the Lord, a positive attitude, the ability to read music or learn by ear, and a commitment to rehearsals.
For older adults who love to sing, the People of Praise Singers is a senior choir for those age 55 and up. They meet Mondays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Choir Room, and the group is known for being a vibrant and active community of believers who love to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
Men's and Women's Bible Studies on Wednesday Nights
Wednesday evenings at Shiloh Terrace are a hub for adult discipleship. The Men's Bible Study meets at 6:45 p.m. in Room A103, gathering around Proverbs 27:17, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." The study focuses on helping men follow Christ in a deeper way through loving, growing, serving, and sharing.
The Woman to Woman ministry meets at 6:45 p.m. in Room D142 and is led by a council of lay women. The ministry's purpose is to minister to the needs of women in the church and the neighboring community. It offers Bible studies, an annual women's conference, support groups, luncheons, and mission opportunities designed to enhance fellowship with God and with one another, communicate biblical principles for everyday life, and give women room to use their spiritual gifts to serve.
Español: A Full Ministry in Spanish
The Spanish-speaking ministry of Shiloh Terrace is a complete community within the church, not a side program. The motto in Spanish captures the heart of the work: "Nuestro principal anhelo es adorar y servir a nuestro Señor Jesucristo" - their principal desire is to worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to lead all generations to live in the peace of Christ.
The Spanish community gathers on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. for Bible studies on the third floor and for worship at 12:00 p.m. in person and online. On Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m., Growth Groups (Grupos de Crecimiento) meet in Room D148, and ESL classes (Clases de Inglés) are held on the second floor at the same hour, providing a practical service to the surrounding community while also opening a door for new friendships.
Missions: Local, State, National, and International
The Missions Ministry of Shiloh Terrace is organized into four teams, each focused on a different radius of impact.
The Community Team coordinates local partnerships. The church runs a Clothes Closet and Food Pantry, a Mission House, and a regular Shiloh Serve Day, and joins the annual Addressing Mesquite Day, the Back to School Fair, and the Fall Fun Fair. Outside partners include Our Calling, White Rock Center of Hope, Sharing Life, the Dallas Christian Women's Job Corps, and Hope for Refugees.
The State Team leads work within Texas, including construction trips that have helped build facilities for brothers and sisters in Christ across the state. The church also partners with Texas Baptist Men and the Baptist General Convention of Texas River Ministry, which recently received roughly one thousand hygiene kits from Shiloh Terrace to help with a crisis on the border.
The North America Team has sent mission teams to Rochester, Minnesota, Detroit, Michigan, and Madison, Wisconsin, and partners with the New England Baptist Association.
The International Team has carried the gospel farther still. Shiloh Terrace teams have traveled to Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Nuevo Laredo, Piedras Negras, Namibia, and Cameroon.
Pastoral Care and the Caleb Ministry
A team of pastors and lay leaders provides ongoing pastoral care for members and their families. The Pastoral Care Ministry includes hospital visits, nursing home and assisted living visits, the Caleb Ministry to the homebound, and a ministry to widows called Widows Under God's Umbrella. GriefShare and DivorceCare groups are available for those walking through loss, and Single & Parenting provides support for parents raising children on their own. Spiritual counseling and counseling referrals round out the offering. Anyone who needs to inform the church of a hospitalization or add a name to the homebound list can email pastor@stbc.org or call the church office.
What the Church Believes
Shiloh Terrace holds to historic Baptist convictions. There is one God who reveals himself in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who subsist in unity and as three separate and distinct Persons. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary as both fully God and fully man; he lived a sinless life, died to atone for human sin, was buried, was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will return. The Holy Spirit is the divine Helper who reveals Christ, convicts of sin, leads to repentance, guides, comforts, strengthens, and sanctifies the believer.
The Bible is God's inspired and holy word, without error, and the sole authority for the Christian's life and doctrine. Human beings are the special creation of God, made in his image, and fell through the sin of Adam; all are sinners in need of salvation. Salvation is the gracious gift of God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, and includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. Every person who is saved is eternally secure in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Baptism is by immersion after salvation, in obedience to Christ's command. Each believer has direct access to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The church also affirms that biblical marriage is a covenantal union of one biologically born man and one biologically born woman, monogamous and heterosexual, and is committed to being a safe place for those struggling with sexual sins and temptations, walking alongside them in obedience to Christ with love, care, and biblical direction.
Baptism: Going Public with Faith
Baptism is one of the most visible rhythms at Shiloh Terrace. The church teaches that baptism is an outward confession of an inward decision, a command for every believer, an act of immersion, a burial of the old way of life, and a public announcement that the person is headed to heaven. Baptism is not a prerequisite to salvation. Baptisms are performed during the regular Sunday services, and those interested can come forward during the invitation or contact the church office. A Baptism Handbook is available to walk new believers through the meaning and practice.
The First Five Days: A Plan for New Believers
To help new Christians find their footing, Shiloh Terrace offers a five-day discipleship plan called the First 5 Days. Day 1 focuses on a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and explains the gospel from 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Day 2 turns to prayer as a conversation of praise, petition, and listening, guided by 1 Peter 5:7 and John 10:27-28, and offers a practical five-minute daily prayer outline drawn from Luke 11:2-4. Day 3 is about worship: who is worshiped (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), how (with instruments, voices, and lives lived for him), and how often (always). Day 4 introduces the Bible as the living and active word of God and teaches the SOAP method of Scripture engagement: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. Day 5 turns to church and community, walking through Acts 2:42-47 and challenging the new believer to commit to attending worship for the next three months.
Foundations Classes and Starting Point
For those wanting to go deeper, Foundations Classes are offered throughout the year at 4:00 p.m. in Room A107. The rotation covers How to Engage Scripture, Discover Spiritual Gifts (with a downloadable assessment), Basics of Evangelism, and Be a Disciple, Make a Disciple.
Starting Point is the church's on-ramp for newcomers. It is a casual lunch where guests hear from the pastor and staff about the vision of the church and how to be part of what God is doing at Shiloh Terrace. Lunch is provided at no cost, and registration is done online through the church's events page.
Serving: Teams That Make Sundays Happen
The church emphasizes that it takes a village of volunteers to make Sundays and Wednesdays run, and the Serve ministry offers a long menu of opportunities. The Welcome Desk team helps new families with check-in and connects children to the right area. The Impressions team includes the Parking Lot Team, which offers valet parking assistance, the Greeters who welcome members and visitors at the door, and the Coffee Bar team. Adult Connection Group Leaders guide adults through Sunday Bible study. The Worship team needs vocalists, musicians, choir members, audio-visual volunteers, and other creative arts helpers.
Giving, the App, and Staying Connected
Tithes and offerings can be given online, and giving is a regular part of the church's life and teaching. The Shiloh Terrace app is available in the App Store and Google Play Store, and a sermon archive, searchable by series, speaker, topic, and book of the Bible, is hosted on the church's media page. The series catalog includes long-running studies such as Knowing Jesus | Gospel of John, Kingdom | As It Is in Heaven, The Church, I AM, and Eyes on Jesus 2022, along with guest messages from pastors and ministry leaders.
What to Know Before You Visit
First-time guests have reserved parking in front of the building. Greeters are stationed along the way to direct families to the Worship Center and to Bible study classrooms for their children. There is no dress code; some people dress up, but most come casual, in jeans or slacks with casual shirts. The worship pastor leads the congregation in standing during the singing, when Scripture is read, and sometimes during prayer, but anyone who is unable to stand is welcome to sit. Hot coffee and tea are part of the Sunday morning experience, and the atmosphere is meant to be warm and conversational. Prayer requests can be sent to pray@stbc.org and are kept confidential within the Prayer Team. The church office is reachable at (972) 857-9707 and at info@stbc.org, and Norberto Palmitano serves as Senior Pastor with Nicole Muir leading the work among children and families, and Joe Butler serving as Celebration Choir Associate.
Rooted in East Dallas, Sent Beyond
From its campus at the corner of Oates and La Prada, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church keeps its gaze in two directions at once. Inside the building, Connection Groups, choirs, ESL classes, youth nights, and a full Spanish-speaking ministry give every age and stage a place to belong. Outside the building, mission teams, clothes closets, food pantries, and short-term trips carry the same gospel that is preached on Sunday to neighbors in Dallas and to brothers and sisters around the world. It is a church that sees itself not only as a place to gather, but as a family equipped to serve the next block and the next continent, one generation at a time.