A Legacy of Faithful Ministry

For more than one hundred years Baptist Temple has witnessed the examples of people living according to the teachings of Jesus Christ; wonderful examples of lives that bring honor and glory to Him. Two of those faithful servants were recently added to the honored roll of Deacons Emeriti: JoAnn White and Muriel Persky.

White, a deacon’s wife for many years was ordained a deacon in her own right in 2017. Her emeritus status is granted in honor of many years of service prior to her ordination. Today, she is best known through our ceramics ministry, where with her husband Boyd and her son Robbie, she provides a weekly recreational outlet with a healthy dose of Jesus. But her service record is deep and wide. 

Since coming to Baptist Temple in 1970, her positions include WMU president, Sunday school teacher and department director, Cub Scout den mother and scoutmaster in our Troop 22’s Cub Scout program, and kindergarten teacher in our early learning center. She used her CNA nursing skills in BT’s TOUCH methadone program, working alongside Rose Flynn and Dr. E. J. Gregory. “I took them into the room, settled them down, took their blood pressure and temperature and all that. Dr. Gregory told Rose what to do and she did the medication,” she said.

She served the community as well, serving as PTA president at Kate Schenck Elementary, Rogers Middle School, and Highlands High School, following her children as they grew up.

Like White, Persky had been a deacon’s wife for many years prior to her ordination in 2017. She has taught Sunday school, Mission Friends, and Vacation Bible School. She has cooked at youth camps for as many as one hundred hungry teenagers — and few people are hungrier than teenagers. She worked behind the scenes on our legendary dinner theaters and children’s musicals. She worked with adults, too, teaching Bible study for the Christian Women’s Job Corps—helping women gain a fresh start in life. She even developed and wrote Bible study curriculum for the program.

One of Muriel’s fondest memories was serving with the planning team for the Billy Graham Crusade during the four months of preparation leading up to the San Antonio crusade.

While serving so faithfully in church ministry, she worked many years at Buckner Baptist Benevolences. She began as a cook, advanced to receptionist, then bookkeeper, and eventually administrative assistant before retiring.

Following retirement, she would accompany her husband, Robert, on short-term missions to the border and on Young in Heart excursions. Locally, Robert and Muriel worked on two Habitat for Humanity houses.

In 2020, Persky completed fifty hours of training to become certified as Stephen Minister, enhancing her skills to walk alongside people in need of extra grace.

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

My turn in the nursery

Serving God in a nursery is so much more than baby-sitting. Many churches feel that they don't need to staff a nursery because they don't have babies. Could it be that families stay away for that very reason. Would someone in your church invite a young family knowing there is no nursery?

Ministering to young children serves both the children and the parents, who may be new to the faith. Putting a young family on the right path could help prevent many wrong turns in the future.

A church that wants to make families with young children welcome needs to plan ahead with a clean nursery staffed with friendly care-givers. Jesus said "let the little ones come unto me."

I ran across the poem many years ago. I believe it says it best.

MY TURN IN THE NURSERY

Last Sunday was my turn in the nursery to work.

My heart wasn't in it; my feelings were hurt.

A child from its mother did not want to part

And it cried a lot with its broken heart.

I prayed that soon the hour would end

That I could relax - no more children to tend.

Soon the hour was over; it felt good to be free.

I said, "Once a month was too much for me!"

That very next Sunday I sat in a pew

A very good sermon, but visitors were few.

But down came a woman and her soul was saved.

She was the mother of that crying babe!

Then it dawned on me that I had been a part

Of one being saved - giving God her heart.

From that day on I would never dread

Working in the nursery while souls are fed.

Author Unknown

Baptist Temple Demonstrates a Serving Attitude

In the same way, let your light shine before men,

that they may see your good deeds

and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Bill Hybels identified six evangelism styles; confrontational, intellectual, testimonial, interpersonal, invitational, and serving. A quick survey during a session of Becoming a Contagious Christian revealed that a majority of Baptist Temple Church members preferred the serving style of evangelism.

While the discovery was a pleasant surprise, it was already evident in the variety of community services we provide. We have developed a servant culture at Baptist Temple that attracts others with a servant heart.

People with a servant heart show love through action more than words. They take to heart Jesus teaching about serving him by serving others. They will attach value to even menial tasks. Jesus said, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

Steve Sjogren wrote, in Conspiracy of Kindness, “A can of coke and the power of the Holy Spirit can open a person's heart.”

Kindness evangelism is simply giving someone a token gift or doing a service in the name of Jesus. Steve Sjogren says, “Kindness Evangelism is demonstrating the kindness of God by offering to do some act of humble service with no strings attached.”

Jesus said, “…Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

More on Kindness Evangelism

Tweet