Servant Spotlight: Mateo Beltran

BUA grad, Logsdon Seminary student and 

Student.Go missionary receives the 

Mary Ellen Long Scholarship.

Mateo was born in Cali, Columbia and came to the US to enroll at the Baptist University of the Americas (BUA). He graduated from BUA in 2018 with a dual major in music and theology. The practical side of his ministry training occurred, in part, at Baptist Temple, where he has served in with children, youth, community ministries and more. During summer breaks, Mateo would serve at different churches across Texas to gain a broader understanding of how churches understand and carry out their missions.

He keeps returning to Baptist Temple because of the creative ways we fund and carry out our ministry to the community. He sees a genuine love for both our neighbor and the members of the church. “I was made to feel welcome,” he says.

This atmosphere of welcome is reflected in the diversity of Baptist Temple's campus community. A diversity reflected not only in terms of race and ethnicity but, also, in economic, social and age as well.

The student body of BUA is around 50% international with students from Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe. This multicultural mix has served Mateo well in his work at Baptist Temple.

This year, Mateo has returned as a Student.Go missionary; a missions program of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) that provides opportunities for students to serve with our field personnel and ministry partners as they live out CBF Global Missions commitments—cultivating beloved community, bearing witness to Jesus Christ and seeking transformational development.

Mateo is currently enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at Logsdon Seminary in San Antonio, where he leads music during chapel and is this year's recipient of the Mary Ellen Long Scholarship. Mateo seeks to apply his training by ministering to communities of need. At BUA he learned about Business as Mission (BAM) and began to develop a concept for supporting himself through bivocational ministry. In this way he will not be limited to serving only those churches that can afford to pay him. 

 

UPDATE 2/25/21 - Mateo will be licensed this Sunday and will join the BT staff as Minister of Outreach

Highland Park Community Assistance Network

Pastor Dan Trevino got us off to a good start 

with a hearty breakfast;  assisted by

 his son Eli and Leroy and Vivian Reed.

Baptist Temple is preparing to take ministry to the next level. We offer many opportunities for people to improve their spiritual, emotional, financial and physical health. This is the abundant life that Jesus came to bring us. Along with our traditional church ministries we offer nutrition and fitness classes, quality education for babies through 8^th grade, food and clothing ministries and so much more. We are assisted in these endeavors by a family of churches, non-profits and government agencies.

God has opened some doors that will allow us to help people on a deeper level. We will be able to address the underlying issues that cause people to be in poverty. Most importantly, we will work with people on a personal level. This will naturally create opportunities to share the gospel.

When I first came to BT I saw the potential of the Brunnemann Building as a center for community ministry but the task seemed daunting. Instead, we began a modest clothing ministry and mobile food pantry at the Fritz building. The success of the ministry became a catalyst for the restoration and naming of the Brunnemann Building.

The full potential of the Brunnemann Building will soon be realized as we create a permanent food pantry in the back half of the building. Also included will be a space for talking one-on-one with clients in a private setting.

The heart of our system will be a mentoring-based, client choice food pantry. Client choice means that people will select the items that they want from our store. It will be a shopping experience that preserves the dignity of our clients and reduces both waste and abuse.

The mentoring portion is the key factor of the program. It allows us to partner with our clients in developing a proactive plan to become self-sufficient. Mentoring is mandatory for continued access to our food pantry. Clients earn points for every thing they do to improve their lives. This includes attending classes, worship and volunteering.

Another important piece of this program is the Christian Women's Job Corps. This program equips women for life and employment. We will be able to leverage our daycare, kitchen and office to provide on the job training that will give our clients the skills they need to get a job. This program will launch in January 2015.

Our bottom line will be people completely transformed by the power of the gospel. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

A Christian's health, finances and relationships ought to reflect the power of the Holy Spirit. The church needs to teach people how to make that happen.

Join us in this task. You can volunteer short-term or long-term. You can contribute finances or material goods. Be a part of transforming lives.

Click here for ways that you can serve.

At J&B Ceramics faith and business blend well

Boyd and JoAnn White (sitting);
son Robert White (standing)

JoAnn and Boyd White's customers get more than pottery when they come to J&B Ceramics, they get prayer, encouragement and love. “Sometimes, people will just drop in for prayer. They say that they feel good when they come here.” said JoAnn White co-owner (with husband Boyd) of the San Antonio store.

Everyday, at lunchtime, they serve sandwiches and chips for their customers. They invite everyone to gather in a circle, join hands and pray. Some decline, but all are welcome to eat whether they pray or not.

One man, who claimed disbelief, usually said no, but he was always invited. One day he brought a friend who decided to join the prayer circle. The “unbeliever” decided to join his friend in prayer that day. He' been part of the prayer circle ever since.

“Another woman did not want to pray and snapped, 'Don't ask me again and don't ask [my son] either. He can decide for himself, when he is old enough.” said JoAnn.

One day the little boy asked if he could pray with them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Not only do the White's bring ministry into their business, they, also bring their business in to ministry. For many years they have offered ceramics classes at Baptist Temple. The classes are attended by members from the church and the community. A local adult daycare is also part of the ceramics ministry family. Like at J&B Ceramics, people receive a lot of Jesus love and encouragement.

Ceramics classes are offered at Baptist Temple on Monday mornings and Tuesday evenings. Classes are free except the cost of materials.