Baptist Temple recognized as Compassionate San Antonians

Billy Palmer, Karen Newman, Robert Newman, Jonathan Clark, Melissa Baxter, Councilwoman Rebecca Villagran, Pastor Jorge Zayasbazan, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Clinton Blumberg, Cathy Blumberg, Louise Stutteville, Ann Helmke

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg presented Baptist Temple Church of San Antonio the Compassionate San Antonian Award on March 20. The award recognizes individuals who serve our community through acts of kindness and compassion, making a difference in the lives of others. Baptist Temple was nominated along with several District 3 churches by the City of San Antonio's Faith Based Initiative Liaison, Ann Helmke. 

Baptist Temple was recognized for the innovative ways it has used its large inner-city city campus to serve the spiritual and physical needs of the community. These services include a PK4 through 8^th grade charter school, an infant through 5 years early learning center, a thrift store and food pantry, a prison ministry, a performing arts ministry, crafts classes, support groups, counseling and more. On Sundays, six independent churches conduct worship from 9 AM to 3 PM. These include a congregation that worships in Spanish and one in American Sign Language. To complete our cradle to grave services, our campus offers funeral services that are dignified and affordable.

All of these services are made possible by collaborating with others who share our desire to make our community and world a better place. One such collaboration brought a solar array to the roofs of the Baptist Temple Campus. A venture capital firm sells the solar energy collected to CPS Energy. For the use of our roof space, Baptist Temple receives a credit on our utility bill. While the credit is good thing, we are most excited about being a part of the effort to become less dependent on imported fossil fuels; an effort that is both earth-friendly and may keep us out of future wars. 

Recently, Baptist Temple has launched two cutting-edge efforts designed to bring lasting change to our community. The first involves breaking the bonds of generational poverty. We believe our best chance of bring lasting change is to reach children between the ages of 9-14. This is when their world view is forming. 

Baptist Temple seeks to help these children to stay in school and move on to college, trade school or the military. A world of success awaits them. All of our high schools have the resources to make our students succeed if they take advantage of the opportunities provided.

A second endeavor is an inclusive playground that will enable special needs children and children with typical abilities play together. This will foster mutual understanding, friendships, and a real sense of community. Baptist Temple is always looking for ways to be a positive impact on the community.

Partners multiply our impact while dividing our overhead costs.

A More Livable City

San Antonio wants to be the kind of community that attracts residents and enables them to live healthy lives with a vibrant, sustainable downtown. This was the message of the Health and the Built Environment Conference of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District; a gathering of some of the nation's brightest minds and local movers and shakers. This year's theme was “Leveraging a More Livable SA.”

San Antonio was founded in 1718 under the The Laws of the Indies. Written in 1680, these plans detailed every facet of creating a Spanish colonial community including:

• a healthy location that can be defended from attack
• a source of food, fuel, fresh water
• industry and access to commercial transportation
• aesthetically pleasing architecture
• a commons for recreation and feeding flocks
• room to grow

As we approach San Antonio's 300^th birthday, the above list is still vital for a sustainable urban community. Mayor Ivy Taylor's opening remarks set an upbeat tone for presentations on safety, health, new urbanism, sustainable living and walkable cities.

San Antonio boasts a vibrant downtown that is among the most affordable in America. The Riverwalk, The Pearl, and Rackspace are among the new stars of urban development. The recent designation of the missions as a World Heritage Site puts San Antonio in the world spotlight.

We do have problems: homelessness, food insecurity, blighted neighborhoods, etc. We also have a city filled with opportunities and talented leaders. Let's work together to create opportunities for the people at the margins of our great city.