Canvas SF — Attraction in San Francisco

I discovered Canvas Church when I was searching for a non-denominational church in San Francisco and found some on Yelp. I researched a few by watching sermons on their YouTube pages and Canvas was my first choice. When I went for the first time, I felt welcomed and had a great time, and I never needed to try another. Pastor Travis and Pastor Jena foster a great family.

What attracted me about the way Pastor Travis crafts his teachings is that they're what I call "Good News you can use." Never have I left Canvas wondering how the sermon applies to my life or how I can take action. (Which doesn't mean that I always follow through!)

Canvas welcomes all people of any age, background (in all senses), or socio-economic status, including the LGBTQ+ community. It is a "gay affirming" church, which means that there is no limitation on how LGBTQ+ people can serve or participate as a part of the church. This was a huge barrier to faith for me, so it was welcome news when I learned that Canvas truly embodied the principle that we are all one in Christ. (Galatians 3:28)

It was also important to me to find a church that is not "woke"--meaning that its teachings were based soundly in scripture and that there was no cherry-picking or completely ignoring certain parts because they were difficult to deal with or inconvenient. I felt this was important because in order for me to accept Christianity, I needed a place that respected and honored scripture without hypocrisy. So Canvas is unique and rare in that it can both welcome all while remaining faithful to scripture.

I first came to Canvas as a non-Christian who had felt a repeated tug over the years (which I now understand to be the Holy Spirit) and had been studying the Bible at home and realized that that was not cutting it. So I emailed them in advance asking "if you can just show up," and I received a warm invitation. So if you're reading this, know that all you have to do is walk through the doors. At one point last year, I felt moved to say the prayer offered by Pastor Travis and become a Christian.

There are certain small details that make a world of difference at Canvas, and it's not just the free coffee and donuts. (I don't drink coffee but from what I understand we are coffee aficionados [read: "snobs"]). One which was especially appreciated when I was new was variations on the phrase "If you are a follower of Jesus, then I invite you to..." prior to an invitation to say a prayer or take communion and things like that. Just that little phrase left so much space for people like me who were not Christian but were wanting to learn. I could belong from day one. Other refrains are "everyone can have a seat at the table, but your seat can't cost someone else theirs" and "in Greek, the word for 'all' means 'all.'" When Pastor Travis preaches that if anything he hopes that when people talk about Canvas they quip, "Oh, they let those people come?", you can be be assured that that wish is authentic and sincere. When you ask Pastor Travis a question about the Bible or Christianity, he'll preface his response with, "What I believe is...," giving you the freedom to come to your own conclusions or even disagree--a refreshing blessing to say the least.

If you're looking to make new friends (since that's so easy-breezy in San Francisco, right?), Canvas has plenty of small groups where you can get more deeply acquainted with folks by doing activities that are fun or edifying. There are purely social groups and there are growth-oriented groups that are casual and very easy to join as a newcomer, as well as volunteer opportunities to help the community.

If you're church-shopping, don't hesitate to stop by Canvas. If you blink you might suddenly find it your...

Canvas is everything I wished for in a church. It has been incredibly healing, and I'm so grateful for this community of heart-centered, honest, and authentic people.

I've always been drawn to Christianity and the teachings of Jesus, but I've struggled with past churches' stances on LGBTQ+ issues, racism, and other social matters. I don't believe true Christians would reject minorities, and that left me guarded.

Something was calling me back to church, so I decided to look for one on Yelp. I wasn't planning to stick around, just wanted to drop in for a Sunday service and see how it felt.

In June 2024, I found Canvas while searching for well-reviewed churches in San Francisco, and I was immediately impressed by their clear, modern website. It was easy to sign up, and by Sunday, I was there.

When I arrived, my first thought was how beautiful the space was--bright, open, and visionary. I was warmly greeted by genuine people, grabbed a coffee and a doughnut, and sat down. The co-lead pastors, Travis and Jena, were discussing Love Week, a week-long service project to partner with local nonprofits in San Francisco. Their passion reminded me of why I was drawn to the teachings of Jesus in the first place.

Over the next several months, I kept going back--even after taking a two-month break for work. I got involved pretty quickly; I was baptized, attended Belong Night, Family Night, joined a volunteer team, participated in Alpha (a growth group), and became part of a women's group. Each time I took a step deeper with Canvas, I felt God's support and confirmation.

Now, after five months, I can confidently say that Travis and Jena are the most authentic and consistent pastors I've met. They truly walk with God and Jesus, and they've created a safe space for people who've been hurt by the church or by issues like racism and prejudice. Their actions speak louder than words.

What stands out about Canvas is the sincerity, transparency, and honesty in everything they do. This isn't just a welcoming church--it's a place actively working to unlearn the harmful practices of the past. It's inclusive to POC, WOC, and queer folks and they're taking steps to address racism, division, and prejudice.

Every interaction I've had with Canvas' leadership and community has been deeply loving, generous, and genuine. They truly care about their members and the people of San Francisco.

One of the key messages Travis has been leading us through recently is to "Love Where You Live." He spoke about how, historically, San Francisco has been a place where people come to take what they can--dating back to the Gold Rush and continuing today with tech and AI. But he challenged us to imagine what it would look like if, instead of taking, we gave, served, and prayed for the city. Hearing this message and seeing it in action has been deeply inspirational and pivotal for me. It's hard to put into words, but it has transformed how I think about and feel toward living in my city.

Canvas is bridging divides and restoring faith in a way I haven't seen in my 30 years of living here as a native. If you're on the fence, I highly recommend trying a Sunday service. Come see for yourself. Like me, you might be surprised by...

We've been attending Canvas Church for a few years now, and it has truly become a meaningful part of our life in San Francisco. We first discovered Canvas when it was still a mobile church, and it's been an incredible journey to see it grow and find its permanent home at 385 Moraga in The Presidio.

Having been raised in the church, I was looking for something a little different—something that felt both grounded and fresh. I found that in Canvas. One of the things that resonated with me most is how Pastor Travis focuses less on life after death, and more on how to live fully, intentionally, and with purpose in the here and now. His messages are thoughtful, relevant, and often challenge me in the best ways.

The community here is genuinely diverse and welcoming—there are young professionals new to SF, families with kids of all ages (our morning kids' classes often have 25-30 children!), and folks who’ve called San Francisco home for decades. In a city that can sometimes feel isolating or hard to break into, Canvas offers a warm, supportive place to build connection.

Whether you're exploring faith for the first time or have been on the journey for a while, Canvas is a place where you're invited to show up just as you are. We're so grateful to...