After hours blessings

Guest blog by Vernon Liverett

On a recent Thursday l stopped by the Brunnemann building, home to Baptist Temple’s outreach ministries. It was just before one pm and we were in the process of closing, when a young woman in her twenties, looking very frazzled, came to the door looking for help.

She was dressed in only a light jacket and her underwear, looking as though she had just woken up. Someone had stolen all her clothes. She picked some that would fit her from the thrift store racks and dressed in the restroom to change. She left a few minutes later dressed and smiling.

Within a few minutes another woman came to the door asking about the food pantry. She was looking for a place where she could get food for her family as they were struggling financially. Daniel, Minister of Outreach, gave her a tour of the pantry and went over the system, and helped to set up an appointment.

A third woman rode up on a bicycle, needing some food because she had not eaten all day. She was given one of the lunch bags that we put together for homeless people. 

Before we left a fourth woman came to the door with a bag of clothes to donate. Daniel said that her donations would be very useful to people in need and offered to pick up household items that she said were no longer needed.

It was indeed a blessing for me to witness these interactions after closing time. None of these people were turned away and they all received what they needed at that time. Whether it was an immediate physical need, a future need, or a place to help and contribute to something greater than themselves, their needs were met. They were all treated with love and respect, and they all know that this is a place that cares and shares the love of Jesus Christ. This goes on every time the doors are open. I am thankful for the generosity of our members and so many others that allows our ministers and volunteers to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus.

Click here to donate now to support our fight against generational poverty.

“…with malice toward none and charity for all.”

On November 5th our nation will elect a new president. Half the people will be happy, and half the people will be angry. There is currently a fear of violence that is fueled by continuing accusations and personal attacks from both sides of the divide. People took to the streets in protest following the elections of 2016 and 2020, with increasing violence. Fear is what lies behind the anger and the subterfuge that is dominating the public discourse.

Things in our nation have been bad before. Our differences once erupted into a civil war that cost the lives of more Americans than all our other wars combined. Brother against brother, ideology against ideology with no room for compromise. But we survived that, and we came back strong. Our nation continued to grow and continued to prosper.

The war in Vietnam also tore at the fabric of our nation, and we survived that and the Watergate scandal that followed. Our nation was attacked on 9/11, an event that brought some political unity that turned out to be short-lived.

Our nation has experienced forty-six peaceful transfers of power. We will do so again. The prophet Isaiah’s vision reminds us that God in in control no matter who is president: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne…” (Isaiah 6:1).

This is an important opportunity for Christians; a time to stand as an example of Jesus’ love. Our Lord was born and served in a world where his nation was subject to a dictatorship, one which many of his countrymen found objectionable. Yet Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God's” (Matthew 22:21). He found a way to minister in His situation by focusing on what was important and teaching us to do the same.

The Apostle Paul taught us to pray for our leaders:

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior.” (I Timothy 2:1-3)

Some Christians voted Democrat, and some Christians voted Republican. No matter who wins, we must remember that Jesus is Lord. Let us not forget “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). Jesus said that we're to love our neighbor and our enemy.

Following the Civil War, forty-one days before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln spoke of the need for peace and healing in our nation: “with malice toward none and charity for all.”

For God so loved the world, that He gave…

Guest blog by Billy Palmer

I grew up in the Catholic church.  My parents were regular church-goers, and I especially remember the post-service cookies, juice and socializing after worship.  I also distinctly remember my parents reaching into their pockets and leaving a few dollars in the collection plate each week.  They would give me a dollar during collection time and I would add it to the plate with them.  I understood the total amount we were giving was not much.  In fact, I knew it was less than what we paid for breakfast at McDonald's right before church.  However, it was something, and it taught me an important lesson that I continue to this day.

Giving is a fundamental aspect of our Christian journey.  It is our chance to reflect a small amount of gratitude for the incalculable blessings He gives us on a daily basis.  The Bible offers us guidance on the spirit of giving.  "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).  This emphasizes that our giving should come from a place of joy and willingness, rather than obligation.

While the Old Testament established a system of tithing, the New Testament focuses more on the attitude behind giving.  Jesus praised the widow who gave all:  "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on" (Mark 12:43-44).  This story illustrates how the value of our giving is not measured by the amount, but by the willingness and love behind it.

A dad and his son were shopping at the grocery store.  The dad gave his little boy some money and told him he could go buy anything he wanted.  The kid’s eyes grew wild with excitement and he immediately ran to the candy isle and picked out 10 candy bars.  They went to checkout and the boy quickly and happily handed over the money.  While they were heading out the dad asked if he could have one of the candy bars.  With a devious grin his son said, “NO, they’re mine,” and he skipped off ahead.

Jokes and short stories offer us fun and easy ways to remember life’s lessons.  Allow just for a moment a bit of a more abrasive perspective:  the clothes you are wearing right now – whether bought or stolen – were provided to you from God-given abilities and skills.  The food you are going to eat today – whether from the garden or from McDonald's – is provided to you through gifts of God-given talent.  Remember that even your ability to give comes from Him.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”  Romans 8:32

“But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.  I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”  2 Corinthians 8:7-9

Every life is a gift from God

Nora and Xavier   

The casket was small and white, adorned with a floral display. This graveside service was my first and there were only a few in attendance: the grandmother, the uncle (a young boy), the eleven-year-old mother of the stillborn infant, and a couple of others.

The mom had been living in a maternity home, intending to give up her child for adoption. Her social worker told me she cried as she packed her belongings which included her coloring book and crayons. I did not know the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy. I only knew that a precious child was dead and there was a lot of pain and suffering.

Not all pregnancies turn out in ways that result in rejoicing, but all children have value. I did not know the family but was blessed to bring dignity and recognition of the child’s value to God at this moment of unfathomable grief.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart…” Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

Nora was eighteen, unmarried, and five and a half months pregnant when an ultrasound revealed that her child had limb deformities. Medical professionals encouraged her to get an abortion but, when she felt the baby move, that became out of the question.

The extent of disfigurement was unknown, and the doctors anticipated brain damage and internal deformities. But other than missing the lower part of his arms and legs, Xavier was born strong and healthy and grew up to graduate from college, have a job, drive an adaptive car and own his own home. When Nora saw first him, she said, “I just wanted to protect him.”

Must children be flawless to be wanted and loved? In 1982, a baby was born in Indiana with Down Syndrome and a disconnected esophagus. The parents refused to authorize the surgery and allowed the baby to starve to death. It took him six days to die.

Two young men in our congregation, Angel and Alex have Down Syndrome. They are well loved and give love as well, and they are most definitely wanted. One parent of a down syndrome child, who had four other typically abled children, told me that it was this little girl who taught him what it meant to love a child unconditionally.

I know some mothers who would die for their child and some who would not. Tim Tebow’s mother was experiencing a difficult pregnancy and was encouraged by the doctors to have an abortion because her health was at risk and the baby was expected to be stillborn or severely disabled. She carried that baby and well you know the rest.

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing”. Psalm 127:3 (GNT)

Click here to donate now to support our fight against generational poverty.

The unforgotten

“Can you do a graveside service for my mother?” asked a stranger over the phone.

His mother and father had been members of Baptist Temple during their empty nest years and into their senior adulthood. When his father died, his mom joined a Sunday School class of older widows, who looked after one another.

After a few years, her son moved Mom to an assisted living facility in Dallas, near where he now lived. For over ten years, her Sunday school class sent greeting cards on her birthday and other holidays. He was blessed that Baptist Temple had not forgotten his mother.

She was to be buried next to her husband in San Antonio. Her funeral had been in Dallas, but her family deemed it appropriate that her church, who had not forgotten her, say a few words at her graveside.

It is easy to forget our elderly church members who can no longer attend worship services. Maintaining contact requires conscious effort. Many churches appoint a team to minister to home-bound members and those in assisted living. In smaller churches one or more deacons take on that ministry. Phone calls, greeting cards and the church newsletter maintain the lines of communication.

Not all absentees are elderly. “I used to be very active in my church,” a sharply dressed businesswoman once told me.

She and husband were part of a very active church social group but, when her husband became ill, they were unable to participate in the group’s social activities. As his condition worsened, she stayed at home to care for him. Following his death, her focus became running the family business and church became part of the past.

I am certain that many churches have similar stories. We must do better. Deacons, Bible study teachers, and small group leaders are on the front lines on ministry and, therefore, best positioned to keep watch over the sheep. Moses divided people into groups of ten, giving each group a capable spiritual leader, ensuring the highest quality care. Each person under a church’s ministry ought to have someone who will miss them when they are absent, who will notice when they have a problem, who will walk alongside them when they are hurting and be able to help.

Not all absentees are hurting. One couple, who had stopped attending church and Bible study, weren’t facing troubled times. They had lost interest and found it easier to stay home. Their Bible study class stayed in touch, however, sending them monthly invitations to social events (people are usually not offended by party invitations). After almost a year, the couple showed up at an ice cream social and subsequently returned to church.

Jesus taught us, in the parable of the lost sheep, the importance of even one person. Let no one be forgotten. Phone calls, texts, and emails are free. Not everyone appreciates contact but erring on the side of being annoying to a prickly person, is better than letting a lonely person be forgotten.

Ben finds a home

“We have a bum sleeping on our porch,” said a thrift store volunteer early one morning as the manager walked through the door.

“His name is Ben, and God sent him as a guardian angel to watch over our store at night,” said the thrift store manager.

Ben* had been sleeping under the awning by the front door, next to a shopping cart filled with everything he owned. He had come to the Baptist Temple Food Pantry seeking food. He sat down with a pantry minister who asked questions designed to help get to the roots of why he needed help and help him to develop a plan towards greater independence. It turns out Ben, a veteran, was living on the streets and has disabilities. He probably had benefits available.

Everyone who comes into the pantry sits with a minister to fill out the needed paperwork and match the needs of the client to available resources. More importantly, they offer a listening ear, words of comfort, and prayer in an unhurried atmosphere. Often people who find themselves in grim circumstances feel unwanted and unheard.

After a little research, the minister determined that Ben did have benefits available. But for Ben to receive his benefits, he needed a bank account in which to deposit funds. That required an ID card. Another hurdle.

Once the ID card was acquired, the next hurdle was a mailing address to receive his debit card. So, Baptist Temple became his mailing address, and we diligently awaited the arrival of the plastic card that would lead to housing for Ben. Meanwhile, he slept under the awning.

It took a lot of steps to find housing for Ben. This would have been an overwhelming task to tackle alone. People living on the streets lack the connection of friends and family to help them through tough times. Life can be challenging to navigate alone as problems and setbacks snowball into catastrophe.

Networking is a key element in business success, but it is essential for survival. Baptist Temple stepped in, becoming that network for Ben. Of course, the issue of homelessness is complex, especially when addiction and mental illness come into play, but there are some things we can do to help. Jesus taught us, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (MT 25:40)

God, grant me the serenity to

Accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
Reinhold Niebuhr

*Not his real name.

Click here to donate now to support 

our fight against generational poverty.

Stewardship of a legacy

An oasis of help in a desert of need

God’s hand was evident when, after seven moves in seven years, Baptist Temple found its permanent home. It was an idyllic location, former pastureland, in a prosperous suburb on the growing edge of a city on the move. In the right place at the right time for the Baby Boom, the church exploded in growth, with never ending building programs and property acquisitions.

In the life of most churches there comes a peak in growth followed by a slow decline. Attendance drops, donations decrease, and buildings age. As a result, many churches find themselves unable to afford building maintenance and are forced to close. Lifeway Research found that, in 2019, three thousand new churches opened and forty-five hundred closed.

These church closures often occur in areas of need where the people are too poor to support a building that was built by a more affluent congregation. Yet, the need is still there. These buildings, dedicated to God, built by the prayers, the dollars, the blood, sweat, and tears of past generations are being lost to the Kingdom. At the same time, new church starting efforts often focus on growing parts of the city. I understand that is where the people (and the money) are, but this trend increases the growing disparity between the haves and the have nots.

Inner city churches usually provide critical services to under-resourced neighborhoods. Eighty percent or more of the people who are served are not church members. Church closures also mean shutting down food pantries, youth programs, addiction treatment support, and other vital ministries. In the inner city, the property is as much a ministry as the programs it hosts.

BT has beautiful, well-built facilities. We have nearly eight thousand square feet on three acres that are strategically located near an interstate exit that connects with three other highways and has access to public transportation. Once again, God’s hand is evident in the longevity and continuing Kingdom value of this mission station that has repeatedly adapted its ministry to the changing needs of its community, maximizing the resources provided by God through faithful people. It is a significant legacy of the faithfulness of past church members, who had a vision of establishing a lighthouse, shining God’s love on Highland Park.

While we have done a commendable job of sharing our space in a way that divides our expenses and significantly multiplies our ministries, there is not a lot of money available from the small churches and nonprofit organizations with whom we share our facility. Because of this, we have had to subsidize these groups, offering space at below fair market value. We have placed ministry over money, relying on God to fill on the gaps. And He has.

Donations from mission minded individuals beyond our church membership have helped sustain our efforts at demonstrating God’s love in practical ways to our neighbors. Now, perhaps more than ever, Baptist Temple is THE church for our community. The need has never been greater.

Click here to donate now to support our fight against generational poverty.

In praise of the smaller church

Small churches are the future and are needed today than ever. They are essential in a world that has grown too big, too impatient, too complex, and too impersonal. By contrast, the small church tends to be unhurried, intimate, modest, and rooted in the faith of our fathers. In a world of superstores and on-line shopping, the small church is the mom-and-pop shop that offers personal service in a low stress environment.

Churches with fewer than one hundred in worship attendance represent fifty-nine percent of all churches in America and forty-one percent of total attendance. At the other end of the range, churches with one thousand or more in worship attendance represent two percent of all churches in America and twelve percent of total attendance. Nevertheless, they garner the lion’s share of media attention. This may be why some small churches have an inferiority complex.

However, that does not need to be the case. God champions the small. He chose the timid Gideon and a small portion of his army to rout the much larger Midianite forces. The city of Sodom would have been spared destruction if ten righteous people were found. It was the young David who defeated the giant Goliath. God chooses the things that the world considers foolish, weak, and insignificant that all glory may go to Him.

Although small churches lack the glitz and glamour of the megachurch, they do have some advantages. They are the right size for forming and maintaining strong communal ties. One another ministry is a vital function of the church. In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus teaches us to minister to the level of one percent. That means everyone. This is easier to do in a small church.

Worship is more participatory in a small church. Performance skills are not as important and, since the worship leader comes from the congregation, people are more forgiving of the occasional error. It is likely that they will be enthusiastically supportive.

Organizations of one hundred or less are easier to manage than larger ones and require fewer resources. They maximize the use of church members’ skills and often have a significant presence in the community. People from diverse generations work together in all aspects of church life, creating natural opportunities for mentoring.

The key to success for the small church is to embrace who you are and whose you are. In the New Testament letters of Paul, we find great support for the small church. The focus is on faithfulness to God and the church community rather than to growth. Growth for the sake of is self-serving and the strategy of cancer cells.

Faithfulness will attract people seeking Jesus. You will attract the hurting. You will attract people seeking community. You will be able to receive the ones God sends.

Click here to donate now to support our fight against generational poverty.

Baptist Temple’s Early Learning Center receives top rating

Often praised as among the best childcare centers in San Antonio, Baptist Temple Early Learning Center’s (ELC) has raised their level of care. They recently received a Four-Star Texas Rising Star program rating (the highest) from the Texas Workforce Commission. This means that they have been recognized as being above and beyond the strict minimal standards for licensed childcare facilities. “We are aiming for best practices,” said Baptist Temple Executive Pastor Jonathan Clark. “These include additional training for teachers and staff, optimizing the environment for children, and a focus on teacher/child interactions.”
 

Director Corchelle Mabry and her staff performed well as they prepared for the evaluation. “It’s a step in the right direction,” Mabry said. “It's only the beginning. Now we have to maintain it. I know we can do it. I have the right staff. They're willing to get the training that they need, and we'll keep it going.”

Pat Mejia, who has been working at the ELC since 1999, expressed excitement over receiving the highest grade. “We all worked very hard,” she said.

Mabry has only been director for a little over a year, but she brought a clear vision of building on past successes to improve the ELC image as more learning center than daycare. Her thirty-six years of experience in the childhood education field have prepared her well for this task.

“This is a learning center”, said Mejia. “Lessons begin at four months.”

It begins with classroom decoration. “The wall decorations need to reflect the curriculum and change with the lessons,” Mabry said.

The appeal of our facility is immediately noticeable. “It looks and smells clean,” said Cindy Mendez, who has been employed at the ELC since 2008. “It is a pleasant place to work.”

Parent Eric Estrada (not the actor) is particularly pleased by the almost daily pictures he receives of his child while at the ELC. He was initially impressed by the quality of facilities, the longevity of the staff, and the noticeable way the teachers cared about the children.

“Our original plan was to keep the baby at home with a family member. When that didn't work out, we found the ELC. Here, it feels like she's with adults who care about her as much as we do. We should have done this from the start!” said Estrada.

Loving children goes beyond just liking to be with children. “I'd rather have people here that love to do the job because anybody can come in the door and say I love children,” said Mabry. “If you love kids, you're paying attention to them.”

That’s the reason why generations have been served by the Early Learning Center. It is not unusual for someone who received care from us to return with their own children and find their teachers still here.

Faith lessons are also part of our teaching, with age-appropriate lessons that focus on God as Father, creator, and Lord of all. There is a chapel service every Wednesday in each classroom.

The ELC was established in 1970 to meet the growing need for childcare in our community as moms were entering the workforce in increasing numbers. Over the years improvements continued to be made. The building that houses the ELC was gutted and remodeled in 1989, updating the 1930s era classrooms to contemporary standards.

In 2012, the ELC began accepting vouchers from Child Care Services (CCS). These scholarships are available to help working parents who make less than a living wage and those who are searching for work or attending school. This allowed the ELC to increase the level of service to our community. Furthermore, they started accepting infants and offering after-school care, in response to community needs.

The ELC continually expands its scope to fill unmet needs. Grants from the Charity Ball Association, the Baptist Mission Foundation, Baptist Health Foundation, HEB Tournament of Champions, fundraisers, local businesses and individual donors helped them build an accessible playground where children with disabilities and typical abilities can play together. It was the first of its kind in the Southside.

Perhaps the biggest challenge came during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ELC retooled and retrained and remained open to serve the needs of parents who were essential workers. In the aftermath of COVID, many childcare centers failed to reopen, and it became difficult to find childcare workers. Grants from the Small Business Administration, the United Way, and others helped them to stay open and fill the gap that was creating a crisis across the nation.

Mabry says our next growth step is NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) certification. The goal of NAEYC is for the early childhood profession to exemplify excellence and be recognized as performing a vital role in society.

A good and faithful servant

David Sexson at the
SABA Hunger Walk

.

I first met David Sexson in the loading area of the San Antonio Food Bank. He was there with a crew from Mayfield Park Baptist Church. I was picking up for Baptist Temple’s Food Pantry. We would talk as we waited for our food, comparing notes about serving the hungry families of our respective communities.

David was an unchurched teenager who had come to know the Lord at age 14 when a church planting missionary invited him to a new church start. David's life was headed in the wrong direction, but he found a new life in Jesus that set him on the right path.

Serving 26 years as a Dental Technician, David retired from the US Air Force and then worked for another 21 and a half years at the UT Health Science Center Dental School. He greatest joy, however, comes from serving God. “I consider it a privilege that He works through me,” David said. 

David has served churches in a variety of administrative and teaching capacities, always ready to pitch in when needed. He’s been on numerous mission trips both near and far, but the most memorable one was to a leper colony in Thailand. There he witnessed a level of human suffering that he had never seen before or since.

Baptist Temple made a strong first impression on David. He said, after his first time worshiping with us, that he truly felt God's presence and that the people were very welcoming. He was also impressed by the level of activity and the many opportunities for him to serve. “I'm not going to a church where I can't do things,” he said.

He loved to work in our food pantry. We would meet at the Food Bank and load up our vehicles. I was amazed as to how much he could fit into his small car. David would pick up food, stock the shelves, and speak with each client as they came in. He would take time inquiring about their physical and spiritual needs, praying with them, if they requested. Afterwards, he would restock, clean up, and update records.

David had to step back when his health began to fail. The cancer that slowed him down soon took his life. His fellow workers stepped up to help, but the Food Pantry clients missed David. They missed his gentle spirit, warm smile, and genuine concern. And so do I.

Then the King will say to those on his right,
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…”
Matthew 25:34-35