Made Through Fire Ministries ignited its presence 16 years ago on the corner of 27th and Delgado streets on San Antonio’s West Side. Through a powerful testimony of Pastor Jose Esparza, MTF Ministries was born to reach, restore and expand the surrounding community through the love of Jesus Christ. Today, MTF Ministries is a dynamic 100-member church family, and all are welcome to join us in praising our God through worship and teaching each Sunday morning and Wednesday night.
Our Pastors
Jose G. Esparza was born in central Mexico, raised on the East Side of Los Angeles, California and moved to San Antonio in the 1980s. In 1984, while working in construction, he experienced a tragedy where the ministry was born. On a construction site in San Antonio, an explosion of five gallons of gasoline erupted, burning his entire body. In the process, he was declared dead. Through a simple prayer of a doctor and the great power of God, Jose Esparza was given life again. This is where Made Through Fire Ministries got its name.
Today, Pastor Jose Esparza serves as the senior pastor with his wife Olivia Esparza. He is energetic, spontaneous and loves God profoundly. He also has a passion for evangelism and oftentimes ministers in small and big venues around the country. His daughter Melodie Esparza-Lopez and her husband Carlos Lopez are the praise and worship leaders. They just welcomed their first baby girl, Zoe Grace Glory, into the world September 2019.
Our Vision and Beliefs
Made Through Fire Ministries believes that there is one true God that makes up the Trinity — God the Father, Jesus Christ the son and the Holy Spirit. The story or message that most clearly shows God’s redemptive love is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (I John 3:16). As God reveals Himself through the stories of the Bible, the following teachings emerge as the central core doctrines to MTF Ministries.
MTF Ministries is a part of the Assemblies of God, which adheres to four core beliefs: salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, divine healing and the second coming of Christ.
There is one true God, eternally existing in three Persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These are equal and are one God. God created the world out of nothing and by His power He sustains all He has created. (Romans 8:22-25; Ephesians 1:13-14).
Jesus was miraculously born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:35) and became flesh and blood (John 1:1-16; 29-34) without ceasing to be God. He lived a sinless life and performed many miracles to confirm His divinity. He died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice, paying the debt for our sins (Mark 10:45). On the third day after His death He arose from the dead showing His victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). He appeared to His disciples and then ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God serving as our mediator.
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. He makes people aware of their need for Christ (John 16:8-11, 2 Corinthians 6:11). He indwells and empowers the believer (I John 4:13; Galatians. 5:16-26). His presence in our life is a seal and guarantee that we are God's children (2 Corinthians 1: 21-22). The Holy Spirit gives believers spiritual gifts (talents or abilities) (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Romans 12:4-8) to be used to help others.
Jesus established the Lord's Supper shortly before His death. On the evening before the crucifixion while sharing Passover with his disciples, Jesus “took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and gave thanks, and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it all of you. This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26:26-28). “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).
The Lord’s Supper is a time to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. During this memorial remembrance the bread symbolizes the body of Christ and the wine symbolizes the blood of Christ. When believers take the elements in an act of worship, gathering in His name, Christ‘s presence is among them and felt (Matthew 18). Made through fire invites all who believe in Jesus and have accepted His gift of salvation to participate in receiving Communion.
The Bible is the inspired word of God and is the final authority in life and doctrine (2 Timothy 3: 16).
Salvation is a free gift of God. The death of Christ on the cross is the only sufficient payment for our sins. All have sinned, but all can be saved. This salvation is available for any who put their trust in Christ as Savior (Romans 3:23, 6:23; John 3:16). Those trusting Christ should repent of sin confess their faith, and be baptized (Romans 10:9; Acts 2:38).
The church is the Body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the task of reaching the lost and discipling the saved, helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ (Ephesians 4: 1-16).
Christ will one day return and judge all people (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Unbelievers will be separated from God's presence in Hell and believers will be welcomed in God's presence in Heaven.
What to Expect
At Made Through Fire Ministries, you can expect to walk into a small building and experience great things. From the beginning, God’s presence will greet you at the door through our energetic ushers and capture you in worship through songs by MTF Worship. A greeting from our pastors will lead us into a challenging message from God’s Word by one of our pastors, ministers of the house or visiting speakers. The morning will conclude with a blessing and declaration for the church from Pastor Jose Esparza and a gift to new guests. We invite you and your entire family to come as you are and join us with an open heart ready to receive God.
We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions (F.A.Q.s) that are meant to help you feel comfortable and aware of what to expect when joining us. Please feel free to contact us at mtfministriesoffice@gmail.com with additional questions.
We encourage you to bring your Bible in whatever format is most comfortable for you. Many join us for weekend gatherings and read scriptures from their smartphone mobile device. We also display important points and scriptures on the overhead screens, and occasionally supply an outline.
We want you to be at ease and encourage you to wear whatever is most comfortable for you.
Our worship ministry seeks to honor God by providing the church an avenue to meet God in praise and worship in each service. MTF Worship begins with fast-paced praise songs to start off each service exalting our great God, and leads into slower worship songs that allow the church to enter into an intimate time with the Lord. The great majority of the songs are bilingual and projected on the screen so members and guests can easily follow along.
Friends of God, MTF’s children’s ministry, breaks off for its own service following praise and worship at 11:15 a.m. Children up to 14 years old are dismissed to the back where they gather for songs and separate by age groups for classes. Your children can expect to have fun laughing at a humorous puppet show, learning new songs and hearing God’s Word.
Childcare is available for infants to 3 years old in the nursery. The nursery is located to the left of the entrance into the lobby.
Our church receives communion together once per month to remember Christ’s sacrificial death for our sins. We invite all believers to take the sacraments. A leader will direct members to the altar to take a bread and cup. Once all have received the bread and cup, a leader will guide the church to take the sacraments.
As our guest, we want you to feel free to let the offering basket pass by. If you desire to give, please know MTF Ministries is devoted to being stewards of the resources within our care. Members and regular attendees are encouraged to be faithful in tithing.
To become a member, contact MTF Ministries’ office to request an application and schedule a discipleship class. Members should have at least three months of attendance.