NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PASTORS AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS
Zbinden Center
GROUNDBREAKING THEOLOGICAL STUDY
The Zbinden Center for Biblical Leadership is a hub for South Texas, nurturing the next generation of pastors and Christian leaders to maturity for life and leadership. We equip pastors, church planters, teachers, and emerging leaders for impactful ministry by focusing on holistic Biblical education, gospel-centered and experiential training, and mentoring. We foster a well-rounded approach to church ministry through comprehensive options spanning theology, Biblical studies, and leadership skills. From seasoned pastors to aspiring Christian leaders, The Zbinden Center offers resources and support for all levels of Christian leaders.
We’re breaking ground as a theological study center located in the heart of San Antonio. We go beyond standard teaching practices by integrating holistic education to mature our students’ and participants’ heads, hearts and hands. With a “learn today, use today,” framework, we intentionally integrate mentorships with seasoned church leaders into our curriculum, and use it as a foundation for our cohorts. Finally, we back our commitment to teaching practical ministry with a concrete theological education that is purposely affordable, accessible, and open to both current and emerging ministry leaders.
Who We Are
Our Mission
The mission of the Zbinden Center is to equip current and future Christian leaders through historic, reformed theology.
Our Vision
Our vision is to celebrate the authority of God’s word for life and leadership to cultivate God’s work in and through the Church.
Overview
The Zbinden Center is founded on the belief that every church deserves well-trained leaders, and church leaders should be equipped with the tools and support they need to make disciples and effectively lead the church. The Zbinden Center provides a flexible, nontraditional seminary education for men and women in San Antonio and the South Texas region who are interested in pursuing vocational careers in the church or in ministry programs. We aim to inspire a new generation of faithful servants who will boldly proclaim the gospel and transform lives for the glory of God.
The Zbinden Center for Biblical Leadership, founded with the visionary purpose of equipping and empowering church leaders in San Antonio and the broader South Texas region, requires a governance structure that not only provides oversight and accountability, but also injects startup energy into its initiatives.
Program Information
Community Collaboration
Theological training and education at the Zbinden Center for Biblical Leadership present a strategic opportunity to enhance collaboration with like-minded faith leaders throughout San Antonio. By offering a model of collaborative education that respects theological distinctive, the Zbinden Center can guide other churches and communities in harnessing this approach for gospel transformation within their locales. This initiative not only broadens the center's influence, but also underscores its role in fostering unity and theological training in a city.
The Cultivation of New Churches
We believe that discipleship is the heart of the Great Commission and that nurturing groups os disciples to become new churches is the way in which new churches like will be formed in the future. A major focus of the Zbinden Center will be to nurture and support church planters, more aptly described as missionaries to new groups and communities. Our focus is centered on working with organizational partners in growing the church plant ministry, including the San Antonio Church Plant Network and regional and national organizations nurturing church planters.
Strengthening and Equipping Existing Churches
The Zbinden Center strives to make a theological impact in the larger Christian community and the broader culture throughout San Antonio and South Texas, including establishing partnerships with Reformed seminaries that provide excellence in Biblical and theological education. We wish to recruit and nurture emerging leaders within churches and to establish a sound educational curriculum tailored to the specific needs of emerging leaders in a variety of areas of church leadership. Additionally, our mission is to connect students through cohorts to study scripture and theology, and to provide mentors who can guide these leaders in the immediate application of theological education to their current environments: applying theological and Biblical education to the real world right now.
Community Outreach
The Zbinden Center will develop publications, create podcasts, host speakers (including through the Zbinden Legacy Forum Series), host seminary courses, seminars, and lectures, and sponsor special events to promote theological and Biblical education for churches and the broader Christian community.
Cultural Extension and Connection
The Zbinden Center aims to develop partnerships with seminaries and missions in other cultures and countries to provide an expanded worldview of the Kingdom and opportunities for service and ministry abroad.

Spring 2026 Semester
This Spring, the Zbinden Center for Biblical Leadership invites you to deepen your understanding and practice of Christian discipleship through this Spring’s course, Theology of Discipleship.
This Seminary-level course explores the integrative character of discipleship by uniting Scripture (Christian story), sound doctrine (Christian belief), and spiritual habits (Christian formation). Participants will examine how these components work together to form spiritually mature followers of Christ—those conformed to His image.
Emerging Leaders Cohort
REGISTER NOWThe Emerging Leaders Cohort is designed to equip Christians who want to read the Bible with greater clarity, confidence, and faithfulness. Over eight weeks, participants will learn how to interpret Scripture responsibly, understand the big story of the Bible, and apply God’s Word to everyday life and leadership. This cohort is ideal for those sensing a call to deeper formation, leadership development, or future ministry.
Dates: Wednesdays, February 25 – April 15 (8 weeks)
Time: 6:30 – 7:45 PM
Location: First Presbyterian Church
Audience: Emerging leaders, lay leaders, and those exploring ministry or theological formation
Pastors & Ministry Leaders Learning Lab
REGISTER NOWReading the Bible for All Its Worth: Faithful Interpretation for Faithful Ministry.
This Learning Lab is designed for pastors and ministry leaders who want to deepen their confidence in reading, interpreting, and teaching Scripture. Together, we will focus on how to read the Bible for all it’s worth—paying attention to genre, context, theology, and application—so that Scripture shapes both our preaching and our pastoral practice. The cohort provides a collegial learning environment that integrates theological depth with practical ministry wisdom.
Dates: Tuesdays, February 24 – April 14 (8 weeks)
Time: 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM
Location: First Presbyterian Church
Audience: Pastors and Ministry Leaders
Next Level
Course Overview
Next-Level Sunday School:
“He Gave Us Prophets”
An eight-week Next Level study led by Dr. Jonathan King, examining the role of biblical prophecy and how to responsibly interpret and apply prophetic texts today.
Sundays: February 15–April 12 • 9:30 AM
Location: Room 226
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Jonathan King
Zbinden Fellows Program
Theology of Discipleship
The Zbinden Center for Biblical Leadership invites you to deepen your understanding and practice of Christian discipleship through this Spring’s course, Theology of Discipleship.
This Seminary-level course explores the integrative character of discipleship by uniting Scripture (Christian story), sound doctrine (Christian belief), and spiritual habits (Christian formation). Participants will examine how these components work together to form spiritually mature followers of Christ—those conformed to His image.
The course meets Tuesdays, February 10–May 12, from 6:30–8:30 PM. It may be taken for seminary credit or for personal spiritual growth. Tuition is fully covered by the Zbinden Center.
Those interested must apply to become a Fellow by January 25.
Contact: Dr. Jonathan King 737-333-9444.
Want to know more?
STAFF

Dr. Jonathan King
Fellows Program Director, Zbinden Center
After a long career as an engineering manager at Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, Dr. King earned his PhD in Systematic Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Passionate about Biblical formation, he is now the Director of the Fellows Program at the Zbinden Center for Biblical Leadership, which connects individuals in San Antonio and South Texas for seminary-level studies. The Fellows Program offers a nine-month intensive course. Additionally, Dr. King serves as Executive Director of Family Discipleship Ministries Institute, managing its online training and international outreach. He previously taught theology in Indonesia. Dr. King is married to Sharm and has two children, Liam and Eleanor.

Izzy Mendez
Cohort Director, Zbinden Center
Israel (Izzy) Mendez serves with the Zbinden Center for Biblical Leadership, equipping individuals with and without formal ministry backgrounds to serve effectively in the local church. Graduate of Midwestern Baptism Seminary, he currently serves as the Pastor and Church Planter at Commission Church, where he leads with a heart for discipleship and community transformation. His ministry journey began with roles as an Associate Pastor and Director of the Baptist Student Ministry at UTSA, where he mentored and developed young leaders. He is married to his wonderful wife, Sarah, and is a proud new father to Murphy Mesa Mendez, embracing both family and ministry with passion.