AM 630 The Word Church of the Week

On this week’s Church of the Week on AM 630 The Word, host Chad Schapiro highlights the Joshua Initiative’s Civic Leadership Academy, a program designed to equip Christians to engage their communities with faith-based values. Joined by Joe Caddell, Jim, and John, the conversation explores how biblical principles have shaped American history and why spiritual renewal, civic responsibility, and leadership training are essential today. Learn about the Academy’s four-phase program—covering worldview, history, personal calling, and practical engagement—and how it aims to inspire believers to become “salt and light” in their communities.

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On this week’s episode of Church of the Week on AM 630 The Word, host Chad Schapiro welcomes Father Joe Dewey of Christ Episcopal Church to share a powerful story of faith, restoration, and calling. From a prodigal season during his college lacrosse career at the University of Virginia to planting churches in Brooklyn and now serving in San Antonio, Father Joe reflects on how God pursued him through mentors, community, and grace.

Together, Chad and Father Joe discuss the beauty of worship in the Anglican tradition, the life-giving rhythms of the Book of Common Prayer, and the vibrant ministry happening at Christ Episcopal Church—including five weekly services and a long-standing Saturday outreach serving local families experiencing homelessness.

With a heart for renewal, small groups, and investing in the next generation, Father Joe shares his vision for strengthening community and helping people encounter Jesus in both word and action. Whether you’re feeling weary, searching for purpose, or looking for a church home, this conversation is an invitation to rediscover hope and belonging.

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On this episode of Church of the Week on AM 630 The Word, host Chad Schapiro sits down with Pastor Abraham Chase of Shepherd’s Gate Bible Church in San Antonio. Pastor Abraham shares his powerful testimony of coming to faith at a young age, drifting in his early adult years, and ultimately returning to a deep commitment to Christ and the sufficiency of Scripture.

They discuss the heart behind church planting, the importance of family worship beyond Sunday mornings, and equipping every believer to live out their faith daily. Pastor Abraham also shares the vision for Shepherd’s Gate Bible Church, and his passion for preaching God’s Word without compromise.

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On this week’s episode of Church of the Week on AM 630 The Word, host Chad Schapiro sits down with Pastor Santiago Vasquez of Valley High First Baptist Church in San Antonio. Pastor Santiago shares his powerful testimony—growing up in a church-planting family, drifting for a season, and ultimately being drawn back to Christ through the Word of God and a heart for the next generation.

Hear how Valley High is making a real impact through family-focused ministry, a fully bilingual daycare and after-school program, youth discipleship, community partnerships, and outreach efforts like Guitar for Vets. Pastor Santiago also speaks candidly about the importance of mentorship, staying rooted in Scripture, and why the decisions we make today shape the future God is preparing for us.

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On this week’s episode of Church of the Week on AM 630 The Word, host Chad Schapiro sits down with Pastor Nathan Clardy of Calvary Hills Baptist Church in San Antonio. Pastor Nathan shares his powerful journey from growing up in a faithful Christian home to serving for seven years on the mission field in Southeast Asia, where he and his family ministered among an unreached people group in a Muslim-majority country.

He reflects on the challenges of frontline evangelism, the importance of patience and wise counsel in ministry, and how God faithfully led his family back to Texas to pastor Calvary Hills. The conversation highlights the church’s commitment to being Word-centered and Christ-focused—praying the Word, singing the Word, and preaching the Word—while equipping believers to confidently share the gospel in their everyday lives.

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Church of the Week host Chad Shapiro sits down with Chad Mason of First Baptist Church Boerne to talk missions, discipleship, and what it really means to live on mission—locally and globally. From life-changing faith stories to practical ways every believer can get involved, this episode explores how churches of any size can embrace God’s heart for the nations and their neighbors.

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On this episode of Church of the Week on AM 630 The Word, host Chad Schapiro sits down with Pastor Tony Aguirre of X-Toll Church to celebrate a major milestone—14 years of ministry and the church’s move into a new downtown location. Pastor Tony shares his powerful personal journey of faith, the challenges and joys of church planting, and his heart for loving people and serving the community. Hear how X-Toll Church is stepping into a new season of growth, outreach, and discipleship as they plant roots in the heart of San Antonio.

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Host Chad Schapiro sits down with Will Ramsey, pastor of Hope City Church in Canyon Lake, Texas, to talk about church planting, grace, calling, and building authentic community. From a powerful redemption story to practical outreach and growth, this episode offers encouragement for anyone feeling called, curious, or simply looking for connection.

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This episode of Church of the Week on AM 630 The Word features Chad Schapiro in conversation with Pastor Paul Gonzales of Woodlawn Hills Baptist Church in San Antonio. Pastor Paul shares his powerful testimony—from the Jesus Revolution and a life transformed by Christ to decades of ministry focused on discipleship, marriage, and community outreach. Hear how Woodlawn Hills lives out a house-to-house, people-centered model of church, reaching families through homes, parks, and one-on-one ministry, and how this simple, relational approach continues to multiply lives and churches across South Texas.

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In this episode of Church of the Week on AM 630 The Word, host Chad Schapiro sits down with Pastor Roland Villareal of Southeast Baptist Church to share a powerful story of redemption, perseverance, and calling. Pastor Roland reflects on his journey to faith, the hardships that shaped his ministry, and how God sustained him through life’s deepest trials. The conversation also highlights Southeast Baptist Church’s heart for the community through outreach ministries like their clothing closet, food pantry, school partnerships, and prayer initiatives. This episode is an encouraging reminder that God doesn’t always remove the storms—but He faithfully carries us through them.

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