Guest blog by Melissa Baxter
Born, raised and educated in Louisiana, Cathy Peeler moved to San Antonio and joined Baptist Temple 43 years ago. Her three children, Greg, Robert and Linzi, grew up coming to church here and her grandchildren, Robert (Jr.), Meosha, Jacob, Nora, Julian and Serenity, fill the ranks of our children and youth.
Cathy has taught Sunday School in the pre-school, 2nd and 5th grades for over 42 years at Baptist Temple and always helps with children's ministry outings, events and fundraisers. Today we are honoring Cathy for her many years of service in children's ministry.
Some of her service includes
- Nursery Coordinator
- VBS Director
- Children’s Committee Chair
- Youth Committee Chair
- Coached high school boys’ basketball
- WMU Director
- Coordinated the men’s basketball league
- Coordinated the volleyball league often coaching a team
- Served on many committees over the years
Generations of families at Baptist Temple have been blessed by Cathy's love of Jesus and willingness to serve. She has been a consistent presence through decades of change, helping to smooth transitions as Baptist Temple continually found new ways to reach our community.
Miguel Garcia is Baptist Temple's
Student.Church summer missionary for 2018. This program of the
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, provides college students to serve
CBF related churches around America.
Born in Wichita, Kansas and raised in
Houston, Miguel began to study world religions at an early age. He
went from ancient mythology to the major religions with a some side
trips into folk religions and atheism. His conclusion was that there
is no God and the church was a lie. The idea of God was only useful,
perhaps, to comfort the dying.
During a theological debate with a
Christian about the virtues of Polytheism vs. Monotheism, he began to
wonder about the possible credibility of Christianity. The Holy
Spirit had previously used a Christian novel to warm his heart and
expand his mind so, Miguel sought out a religious professional (a
pastor) to answer his questions.
He went to church dressed in his Sunday
best and was pleasantly surprised at the relaxed dress of the other
worshipers. It seemed inviting, The pastor answered his questions and
invited Miguel to return that evening.
At the youth gathering that evening, he
saw students he recognized from school. The lesson that evening was
about a God-shaped hole inside us that only God could fill. It
touched Miguel deeply and his heart was changed by Jesus that night.
After his high school graduation,
Miguel started attending the Baptist University of the Americas. He
had received an ad in the mail and was impressed by it's
affordability, national recognition and the ability to pursue his
life passion, music.
Miguel began his music journey at age
10, learning to play brass instruments, later adding piano,
percussion and guitar. He has written 24 pieces of music and finished
a symphony by age 17. He has applied his talents to church worship,
including playing in worship bands and audio-visual support.
This is Miguel's third Student.Church
experience. He will begin his senior year at BUA in the fall and
desires to become a music educator. Miguel credits BUA with helping
him to understand his strengths and limitations and mature as a
follower of Jesus.
