Deacon Spotlight: Linda Moos

Growing up in church set the foundation for Linda Moos’ lifelong ministry. She started her spiritual journey at Ashley Road Baptist Church where she went with her parents as a baby. As a young adult she taught in their children’s Sunday school department. 

Linda first came to Baptist Temple in 1998, where her parents were now attending. The church had an average worship attendance of 450 at the time and Linda had trouble fitting in. She said, “Coming in new felt hard because there were cliques.”

She eventually found her place teaching children’s Sunday school and singing in the choir, but after several years, she moved away. 

Upon returning to San Antonio, Linda found her way back to Baptist Temple where she was enthusiastically welcomed. She described the current atmosphere as more of a community than her earlier experience and greater than in the other churches she had visited. She felt especially embraced by Melissa Baxter and Karen Newman. She said, "I was welcomed back with open arms."

Wanting to serve God through her church, she once again sang in worship and started teaching Sunday school --this time to adult women. Karen was one of her mentors and led Linda through the “Multiply Movement” discipleship course. Another mentor is Melissa, with whom she co-teaches Sunday School. 

Baptist Temple recently ordained Linda as a deacon, an office she has always held in high regard. She recalls the times the church has been without a pastor and the deacons provided stability. She named Robert Newman and Steve Grinnell as role models for their dedication and involvement in church activities.

She’s faced some tough times in her life but recognizes that her personal difficulties strengthened her ability to bless others. She feels that her experiences enable her to offer compassion and kindness to people in pain. Linda emphasizes that the essence of being a deacon is caring for people. Her commitment is to be present for others. “I've had people call me at three o'clock in the morning who couldn't go to sleep and they needed prayer. And it's like, fine, let's go, let's pray. It's being there when someone needs you,” she said.

Near death experience leads to spiritual awakening

Guest blog by Ralph Garcia

I was eight years old when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. In the 1960s, the chances of survival were slim. My mother’s parents were devout Christians of the catholic faith and placed it all in God’s hands. They prayed for a miracle and made a pilgrimage to the Basilica in San Juan, Texas. My Grandfather prayed and crawled to the altar on his knees, begging our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for miraculous healing. A few weeks later, my mother was miraculously cancer free. The doctors had no explanation as to how it could have possibly happened.

Growing up, my family often spoke about my mother’s illness and the miraculous healing. It strengthened my understanding about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the role he played in our life. As I got older, I lost sight of my mother’s miracle. I went on living the best life I could. I was never in trouble but did suffer from marital strife and lost my way in the world.

In 2007, all of that changed when I met my wife and was re-introduced to God and to the Baptist Church. My wife opened my eyes to Christianity and taught me that prayer worked. I was raised Catholic and had never been to another church but, after a few weeks, I realized that the congregation at Baptist Temple Church was loving and accepting. It was easy for me to transition. 

After open-heart surgery in 2010, I again lost my way, concentrating on my job and providing for my family. My profession is in law enforcement, and, after a couple of promotions, I began to focus on getting the job done and making as much money as I could. My wife would often ask me when I was going to retire, and my answer was always “I have some good years left in me".  

I was getting older and, in 2019, my best friend and former partner was killed in the line of duty. I became obsessed with physical strength, vowing that what happened to my friend would not happen to me.

I always knew that God was with me, especially when I was at work. I prayed every morning, often Psalm 91, thanking Jesus Christ for all the blessings he has given me and my family and to keep everyone safe and healthy. Looking back, I feel that I took him for granted and continued living my best life.

On August 21st, 2025, I drove home after work. My wife was staying in town that week to take care of our grandson. I got home, took care of some chores, and began to feel a little funny. I went inside the house to cool off. Without warning, I blacked out. After a few minutes, I came to, sitting on the floor. I had urinated on myself and was drooling. I called my wife, told her what happened, and she drove forty minutes to pick me up and take me to the nearest hospital. After a brief examination and blood work, they admitted me for observation. My heart enzymes were a little off. 

A nurse came in the morning to greet me. The next thing I remember is waking up with doctors and nurses working on me, telling me that I was going to a hospital in San Antonio for further treatment.

In the San Antonio ICU, I was told that I went into cardiac arrest in the Jourdanton and had been worked on for seven minutes. My ribs were broken, and my sternum was cracked. I was busted and bruised from my hip to my upper chest and in a lot of pain, but I was alive and that was all that mattered.  

I told the cardiologist that it was a miracle that I was in a cardiac unit when I coded. They told me, “Yes, but the real miracle is that you coded at home and came out of it on your own, and we are still trying to figure that out.”

They knew I coded at home because of the initial blood work. I then realized that what happened to me was nothing short of a lifesaving miracle. It had to be God. I am still being treated and awaiting another procedure but very grateful to be here.

Since this incident, I have had a spiritual awakening. On Sunday, November 2nd, 2025, I was baptized by Pastor Jorge Zayasbazan at Baptist Temple Church in San Antonio, Texas. I realized that I was searching for strength in all the wrong places. It wasn’t a strong body that was going to save me, it was God and only God. I needed spiritual strength, and nothing else. I think back on all the sins I committed and all the material things that I put in my life before God, and he still loved me. He loved me enough to give me another chance at life. So, my message is this: Every day is a blessing, so live it like it’s your last day. God loves us unconditionally and if we believe in him, he will believe in us.

Homecoming at Baptist Temple

Homecoming is an American tradition celebrated by high schools, colleges, and churches. It gives an opportunity for people to reconnect and reflect on shared memories. Given Baptist Temple's rich history, we decided to have one of our own. It seemed long overdue.

While the 114th anniversary is not particularly significant, it did mark five years since the COVID shutdown. God sustained us during those challenging times but many of our campus partners did not survive. Over the last year, we have experienced a renewed spirit, a fresh wind as God is moving us in new ways. God sent new non-profits and churches to the BT campus to replace those that did not survive, and baptisms have been increasing. New workers and leaders are emerging. It was time for a celebration.

The homecoming event drew attendees from near and far. Former staff members Philip and Mary Ann Stevens, Gary Bradley, and KQ Scott returned to take part. More than two hundred people attended the picnic, and 170 gathered for worship. The worship service featured heartfelt testimonies from Mary Ann Stevens, Gary Bradley, and Steve Grinnell. Musical contributions came from Karen and her sister Susan on a piano duet, and Philip Stevens performed a beautiful solo. Campus partners were part of the celebration, as well. Many others had expressed their desire to attend but were unable due to prior commitments, as the event was planned on short notice.

The celebration was made possible by the hard work of the Baptist Temple community. Our team worked diligently to prepare and serve food, organize the worship service, and ensure everything was ready. During the worship service, one team was in the kitchen preparing the meal while another was at the park decorating and setting up.

A big THANK YOU to all who gave of themselves and for the generous financial contributions from our members and friends that enable us to continue to serve this community in which God has placed us.
 

The success of the event has sparked conversations about making homecoming an annual tradition to celebrate God’s ongoing work through Baptist Temple.