A holiday lament

"…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

Two members of our extended family were found dead, along with their two dogs, due to carbon monoxide poisoning, earlier this month. Paul and Rinessa were living in a tent across the interstate from the Baptist Temple campus. They had been homeless for four days and had been among the folks who join us for our community meals on Tuesdays. They were well known among our folks who work in our Highland Park CAN ministry. The tragic deaths hit hard. Although we were unable to rehouse them, nor fix the issues that led to their eviction, we were able to give them a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name (in this case a hot meal).

Baptist Temple has a long history of working with the homeless in our city dating back to the Great Depression. During that era, we had a homeless encampment a mile to the east of our campus. Our folks would bring blankets, clothes, and food to the residents of “tent city.” A mile to our north, we operated a soup kitchen on Walters and Vine.

Today, homelessness and poverty have moved closer to the church, and we provide food and clothing through our Highland Park CAN (community assistance network) ministry located on our campus. Both physical and spiritual needs are met by our team of caring ministers. On Tuesday nights we provide a free hot meal to everyone.

The 2024 San Antonio homeless count revealed 3372 homeless people, 75% were sheltered, leaving 882 on the streets. In 2023, 332 homeless people died, including a former member who was found dead in the apartment that had been provided for him. The issue is complex and there are many smart people working on it from different angles. For our part, we will feed the hungry, clothe the naked, invite the stranger, and, of course, offer a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.

“For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” Deuteronomy 15: 11

Click here to donate now to support our ministry to the poor in our community.

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.”