A simple beginning.
A faithful God.
From a kids program in the Alazan-Apache Courts to a mission center serving San Antonio’s entire west side — this is the AGORA story.
It started with showing up — and coming back.
No campaign. No building fund. Just a group of students, a kids program, and a word from the Lord to keep coming back.
A kids program in the Courts
Edgar and Claudine Ackerman took a group of students to the Alazan-Apache Courts to do a kids program. The Lord spoke to their heart — and they kept coming back.
Two apartments for $1 a year
The Alazan council noticed their faithfulness and rented Edgar two apartments for $1 per year — a home base for the ministry right inside the community it served.
The apartments come down
After 10 years of serving there, SAHA tore down that part of the apartments. The doors closed — but the mission didn’t.
A building of our own
In God’s faithfulness, AGORA Ministries was donated a building at the corner of San Fernando and Nueces, behind the Lanier football field — and the work kept growing.
Still on the Westside. Still on mission.
From its inception AGORA Ministries has been — and still is — an outreach organization. AGORA is not a church but a mission center, partnering with local and nationwide churches and organizations to see life change in the inner-city of San Antonio.
Who we are
Through weekly programs like AGORA Kids, Revolution Youth, Hope Pantry, Women’s Ministry, mentoring, tutoring, and youth programs we share the love of Christ and reach families in the Westside. We also partner and extend our mission through seasonal events and missions trips — painting over graffiti, clearing local parks and lots, painting homes of widows and single moms in our community, and working with the homeless.
Where we work
AGORA is located in the lowest income, lowest fed, lowest education, and highest violent crime area of San Antonio. Though the statistics can cause worry, we see and serve incredible families, children, and youth of the Westside. We believe that He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world! We exist to see Christ lifted up in the inner-city so that all men will be drawn unto Him!
On a mission
Our mission is to share the love and hope of Christ in high need areas. We do this by encouraging, empowering, educating and mentoring “at risk” students and families. We have seen even greater life change in our community as we partner with other organizations and volunteers.
Missions teams
One of the ways we have seen life change is through our missions trips. Students come from all over the country to the Westside and serve a week in the inner-city. This volunteer army goes out and shares the love of God through SERVING, SHARING, and GROWING — hosting kids programs in the Alazan-Apache Courts, Cassiano Homes, Villa Veramendi, and at our location, reaching new youth, and sharing Christ’s love with the homeless.
Where we are going
AGORA is an outreach and relational ministry that teaches SERVING, SHARING, and personal GROWTH. This mission will continue — working with the kids in our area, students, and families!
“He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.“
The conviction that has carried this ministry from a $1-a-year apartment to a mission center for the Westside.
The next chapter is still being written.
Decades in, the mission hasn’t changed — and there’s a place in this story for you.