Building Skills, Building Lives

Bryant Evans learned early that basketball is more than a game. Raised in Midland, Texas, by a single mother alongside three siblings, he found in the sport a safe haven that gave him structure, confidence, and direction. Years later, after playing in college and professionally in Europe, he returned to those same lessons, using them to encourage and discipline young people who needed both.

Evans played at Midland Christian School, where his team won back-to-back state championships, before continuing to Trinidad State College in Colorado. His performance there led to a professional career in Europe, including stops in Luxembourg and Germany. As a point guard, he learned to read the court, lead under pressure, and create opportunities for his teammates.

His work did not end when his playing career did. Afterward, Evans began coaching and training young athletes. For nine years, he has served as an Amateur Athletic Union coach and skills trainer and created Building Skills Academy, a program rooted in basketball but aimed at something larger.

Evans is not simply trying to produce elite players, though some of his teams compete at a high level. He also works with children who have never played before. Some older players came to him after failing to make their middle school teams. Under his guidance, they learned the game, built discipline, gained confidence, and began to succeed.

In many communities, youth sports have become expensive and exclusive. Tournament fees, uniforms, travel, and private training can shut out families with limited resources. Building Skills Academy responds by offering a more affordable path to high-level instruction.

For Evans, coaching is more than a side business or hobby; it is a calling and a way to serve. Through it, he passes on the lessons that shaped his life. Basketball is not the ultimate goal. He wants children to develop perseverance and believe they can improve. For him, the court is a classroom, and each drill builds habits that carry into school, family, work, and life.

Before practice, the team prays. Evans’s Christian faith shapes the values he hopes his players will carry with them. He tells them that life is difficult without God and encourages them to put Him first.

His own story gives him credibility. Evans knows what it means for basketball to provide refuge. He knows what it means to be shaped by coaches and mentors. Now he is a mentor himself. His players learn how to dribble, shoot, and defend, but they also learn to believe in themselves, value discipline, and see that life is bigger than the scoreboard. Bryant Evans’ true mission is helping build lives.

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 spiritual 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.

New Direction Church joins the BT Campus family of churches

When Oliver Moffett was 10, he and some cousins spent a week of spiritual reflection at his grandparent’s house. His grandfather was pastor of Free Mission Baptist Church in New Orleans. For a week, without television or distractions, they were to pray for spiritual breakthrough. Oliver committed his heart to Christ that week.

While serving under Pastor L.C. Griffen at St. Stevens Baptist Church in San Antonio, Oliver became more involved in the church’s ministry and dug deeply into God’s Word. He had a hunger to serve and to learn. One night, he felt a clear calling to ministry. Several people, including his pastor, confirmed Oliver’s call. He preached his first sermon at St. Stephen’s in April 1980 and was ordained at Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church, San Antonio, in 1984. He was mentored by Pastor Griffin and, also, Pastor Smith of Golden Gate, as he studied the Bible and spent much time in prayer and meditation.

In 1994, Oliver started New Direction Church in his home with seven people. As the congregation grew, the young church worshiped outdoors in a park and then, at the Davis-Scott YMCA. Continuing growth led them to rent a warehouse in the Eastside in 2000. There they grew to 200 in worship with room to expand. New Direction was not able to hang on to the warehouse and moved first to the Eastside Boys and Girls Club and then, back to the YMCA.

In 2020, New Direction moved onto the Baptist Temple Campus. COVID-19 had taken a toll on their attendance, but they soon outgrew their small space and plan to begin using the Baptist Temple Chapel.

New Direction’s mission is building and rebuilding families back to God. They are a welcome part of the multidimensional ministry of the Baptist Temple Campus.

Multi-site and multi-church can help keep kingdom properties in the kingdom.

Despite some mega meltdowns, the multi-site church movement is still growing. Much like a franchise, consistency is maintained through centralized leadership that, often, selects the worship song and a popular teacher via video.

There are different ways to do multi-site. A church might acquire nearby suburban churches that are experiencing decline, hold satellite services in a movie theater, a jail or apartment building.

Thom Rainer's recent podcast, “Why the Intersection of the Multi-site Movement and the Replanting Movement Is So Powerful,” makes a good case for megachurches moving into church properties that have disbanded or decide to be replanted. Kingdom properties remain in the kingdom. This is particularly vital in downtown areas, where property values are high and a gospel witness is needed.

A different strategy is the multi-church strategy where multiple congregations meet in the same building, sharing expenses and maximizing the use of kingdom properties. Both these strategies work but instead of an either/or choice, it can be a both/and.

For a church that already shares space, adding a service from a multi-site church as another option is not a stretch. For a multi-site church, the host church can become a mission point. Along with a worship service for members of the multi-site church who live in the area, there is, also, an opportunity to provide benevolence ministry in under-resourced areas. The pastor of the host church can serve as the campus pastor.

Of course, egos are always a problem but not just on the part of pastors. Strong lay leaders are reluctant to relinquish control. Pride, however, is not one of the fruits of the spirit and is contrary to the kingdom attitude required to advance the gospel. Humility is needed if we are to maintain a presence in the inner-city and preserve valuable kingdom real estate.

Jesus heals body and soul

A sudden burst of sunlight interrupted the master's teaching. Everyone looked up to see a man being lowered through a hole in the roof. We learn in Luke's Gospel (5:17-26) that the man is paralyzed. His friends wanted to bring him to Jesus; his only hope.

They'd heard Jesus was in town and teaching in a nearby house. These men knew that if they could get their friend to Jesus, his life would be changed. Upon arrival, they were disappointed to find the house full. It was standing room only. People were peeking in and those who couldn't see were listening outside the walls.

The friends of the paralyzed man would not be deterred from their mission. They climbed up on the roof, carrying their friend, and dug a hole in it so they can place their friend in front of Jesus.

Imagine the shock of the crowd at the audacity of these invaders. All eyes turn back to Jesus when he says, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 5:20)

“Wait! What?”

It was so quiet you could almost hear the thoughts of the people. The Bible says that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Luke 5:21)

What about the healing? It seems odd that Jesus forgave the paralyzed man before healing him but Jesus used this moment to show that he had the authority to forgive sins by healing the man.

Jesus' healing reaches beyond our bodily ailments to the salvation of our eternal souls; even, beyond death. It is holistic healing. A woman, who had a blood flow for 12 years, touched the hem of Jesus' clothes and her bleeding stopped immediately. What Jesus then told her reaches beyond cure to the deeper need of the whole person: “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:48)

God is not just interested in saving our souls. Salvation is healing for the whole person: body, mind and spirit. God has promised the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of the body to life everlasting. The Gospels record 40 healings that were signs pointing ahead to our ultimate healing.

If God is interested in both our physical and spiritual health, then so should the church. As a global body the church has done well in this area. We have established public schools, universities, hospitals, orphanages, rescue missions and all manner of relief and development ministries; all in an effort to minister to body and soul. William Carey, the father of modern missions, established schools and clinics in an effort to reach the people of India with the gospel.

Local churches are the hands and feet of Jesus, ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of our neighbors. This is especially true in an under-resourced, inner-city area. Working with agencies that provide human services can bring new life into a congregation facing declining numbers and finances while saddled with a large building. Sharing the building will help cover utilities and deferred maintenance and bring new people into the building. This type of cooperation provides the type of relationship building that wins souls and heals bodies and emotions.

Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:4-5 (NIV)

The Baptist Temple Campus welcomes a new ministry

Baptist Temple is pleased to welcome FuneralCaring® USA to it's family of churches and agencies serving our community. FuneralCaring® USA is the leader in affordable funeral services in San Antonio, helping folks celebrate the life and the memory of loved ones with a dignified funeral at a reasonable cost. They provide support to grieving families with high-quality, value-driven merchandise, superior service, and uplifting facilities.

There will be no cremations nor embalming on the Baptist Temple Campus. Traditional funerals will be conducted as they have been for over 100 years.

Once upon a time funerals were handled by the church and folks were buried in the church graveyard. Things have changed. The church's role in society has diminished some. However, at Baptist Temple, we want to care for the spiritual and physical needs of folks from cradle to grave. The Baptist Temple Campus houses six independent churches: Mision Bautista Betel, Family Deaf Church, Sunny Slope Baptist Church, CBC Highland Park, Free By the Truth and Baptist Temple Church. Other agencies on our campus include Baptist Temple Early Learning Center, Jubilee Highland Park Academy (PK4-8^th grade, tuition free charter school), Immanuel Motorcycle Ministry, Highland Park CAN (thrift store, food pantry, community garden), and a Community Health Care Worker.

FuneralCaring® USA is veteran owned and operated, fully licensed and insured, and offer pre-planning services.

Along with funeral services, Baptist Temple offers Christian counseling and a grief support group.

To contact FuneralCaring® USA call: (210) 822 4445

For grief support information call: 210-533-7114

A week in the life of the Baptist Temple Campus

The #BTCampus is a busy place all week. The week begins on Sunday morning at 9 AM with prayer but by this time the custodian has already unlocked doors, turned on lights and prepared the church for for worship. A hostess has made coffee and set up the hospitality table.

There is Bible study for all ages from 9:30 – 10:30, followed by four worship services, at 11, in American Sign Language (Family Deaf Church), Spanish (Iglesia Bautista Betel) and two in English (Baptist Temple Church and Sunny Slope BaptistChurch). At 1 PM CBC, Highland Park meets for worship and Free by theTruth at 2 PM.

Mondays start early as parents begin to drop their little ones at the BT Early Learning Center at 6 AM. By the time our resident charter school starts (Jubilee Highland Park), we have 400 kids on campus. There is ceramics in Fritz Hall, Zumba in the chapel, and basketball (every night) in the gym. Girl Scouts meet in the evening. Our doors close at 9 PM.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays our thrift-store and client-choice food food pantry are open from 9 am to 1 pm. Tuesday evening we host Bible Study Fellowship for women (English, Spanish and ASL). A free community meal is served on Wednesday evenings followed by Bible study and worship for all ages. Zumba repeats on Thursday evenings. San Antonio Against Slavery, also meets on Thursday.

Saturday is our quiet day. Only the gym is active in the morning but there are periodic events such as the Fall festival, food distribution, back to school bash and work days. 

An urban church can be the center of community life, ministering to both the physical and spiritual needs of its members and neighbors. Studies by Partners for Sacred Places discovered that more than 80% of the people served by a thriving church are not church members.

If your church closed its doors, would the community miss it?

Six Churches, One VBS

For the second year, the churches that meet on the Baptist Temple campus joined forces to put together a high quality VBS. The level of energy and the spirit of unity displayed were beyond measure. The Sunday morning attendance of the BT campus churches ranges from 20 to 150 and includes Baptist Temple Church, Community Bible Church Highland Park, Mision Bautista Betel, Family Deaf Church and Sunny Slope Baptist Church.

These churches have a diverse membership that crosses ethnic, racial, language and economic barriers. We were joined this year by a church that ministers to African refugees, Iglesia del Dios Altisimo. Their African children plus a student mission team from Baptist University of the Americas brought a total of 14 different nations to our campus that week.

Our efforts resulted in over 90 workers, 173 students enrolled, 667 dinners served, $730 raised for missions and six decisions for salvation. Although the six decisions seems a low number, we had a lot of children return who had made decisions last year.

The most significant impact of that week was the Kingdom impact of six churches, different from each other in many ways, working together for the sake of the gospel!

Click here for a slide show recap of VBS 2017 on YouTube.

Baptist churches are more starfish than spider

Baptists are a leaderless movement. Churches gather into voluntary associations where the leader is elected or hired by a group of churches. State and national Baptist organizations operate that way as well. The churches themselves are congregationally led. The absence of a pastor does not destroy the churches ability to perform its mission.

In the their popular book, “The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations", authors Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom compare spiders and starfish.

A spider has a body, eight legs and a head. If you cut off a leg or two the spider will survive but if you cut off the head, the spider dies. On the other hand, a starfish has five legs but no head. If you cut off a starfish's leg it will grow a new one AND the leg will grow a new starfish.

The spider represents hierarchical organizations with centralized command and control. The starfish represents decentralized organizations that are led by ideals rather than rules. Leaders emerge as influencers rather than dictators. The struggle is illustrated by the AMC series “Halt and Catch Fire” in which major corporations are losing a war with undisciplined but motivated computer geniuses.

Attempts by church groups at centralized command and control often lead to the emergence of new churches, denominations and parachurch groups. The Protestant Reformation is an example of how decentralizing control of Christianity brings renewal.

The Kingdom today represents many denominations who disagree on a number of issues but agree on the gospel's call. They operate independently toward similar goals. To that number we can add a multitude of independent churches and parachurch groups.

The Baptist Temple Campus hosts four churches and ten non profits that are independently governed but work together to meet the spiritual, physical, educational and emotional needs of our community.

We share a common desire to build up the community in a way that pleases God. Each church and organization has a different mission but all share a desire to make the world better place.

Connecting Faith, Heritage and Community

Last night the Baptist Temple staff and a few lay leaders were introduced to a program by the Partners for Sacred Places. This a national network of expert professionals who understand the value of a congregation’s architectural assets, its worth as a faith community, and the significance of its service to the community at large.

We learned, last night, that 93% of urban churches serve as community centers, hosting and/or providing a variety social service programs. Moreover, 81% of the people served by urban congregations are non-members.

The local Presbytery (Baptists would say association) is funding a training program for San Antonio to assist historic houses of worship to remain sustainable through preservation and community development. We were invited to one of eight churches in this cohort.

This intensive training program, called New Dollars/New Partners. gives congregations with older buildings the skills and resources to broaden their base of support. Over a period of one year congregations will learn to speak...

The language of abundance: Asset Based Community Development

The traditional approach to community assistance has been to provide resources from outside the community while ignoring the talent and resources within the community itself. However, real change comes from the inside out. Understanding the relationships, talent base and business and institutional assets that already exist will create a sustainable environment in which a church can thrive.

The language of economy: public value and the economic halo effect

Urban churches provide a quantifiable value to the community. They provide services that would otherwise need to be provided by the government or someone else. Seventy five percent of urban congregations host outside groups, rent free. Urban churches log an average 5300 volunteer hours per year. Remember, 81% of the beneficiaries are people from the community who are not members of the church.

The language of heritage: the case statement

Every congregation has stories to tell of significant ministry during the depression, the civil rights movement, Viet Nam and other important eras. The congregation has a “brand” that has been developed through these ministries. The case statement answers the questions of “Why should I care,” and “Why should I give?”

The language of investment: sources of funding

Most funding for thriving urban churches comes from individual gifts. The congregation will account for 39%, while other individuals account for 24%. These other individuals include former members and people interested in either helping that particular community or preserving that particular building.

Grants, including government, private and corporate, account for 22% of funding. Significant but not as big as individual gifts.

Fund raisers account for a comparatively unimportant 6%, but when viewed as friend raisers, they connect you with potential individual donors.

One source of funding that is not mentioned but can be significant is earned income that goes beyond the fund raiser. Such sources of earned income include space rental (including parking), day care and other services, and sales of books and CDs. For some churches this can produce as much as 40% of their income.

I look forward to the coming year and learning how to better steward the Kingdom resources with which we have been intrusted and using them to help people find spiritual and physical healing in our Lord Jesus.

The church that came back to life

Church leaders initially decided not to reopen the 169 year old Episcopal Church of the Annunciation after it flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In fact, the entire Broadmoor neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans was to be cleared and turned into green space. Instead, the residents decided to stay and rebuild their community. The Church of the Annunciation reopened and became a partner in the effort.

I had the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of one of the ministries hosted by the church (AnnunciationMission) during my stay in New Orleans last week. The Annunciation Mission houses 84 people dormitory style. Hot breakfast and authentic New Orleans dinners are included for $25 per night. So are sack lunches, showers and WiFi.

Katrina survivors, Jean and James, provide tender loving care to all their guests, ensuring all are well-fed and comfortable. Everyone connected to the mission were kind and generous and committed to New Orleans' comeback.

My dorm included a diverse group of 7 guys from all over America in New Orleans for the CCDA conference. We traded stories and ideas which made the trip so much more valuable for me.

The mission and a daycare have brought purpose to a church that was declared dead. And, on Sunday, they worship the Lord who died and rose again.

Communication and planning are vital to the success of churches working together

This weekend leaders from the four congregations that share God's house on Drexel Avenue gathered to discover areas of mutual interest. Each congregation has an individual style that appeals to the people who gather at their particular time and space. There is agreement that the potential for reaching a greater diversity (and number) of people is higher by maintaining our separate congregational identities. There is also agreement that there are things we can do together that would magnify our strengths and lead to a greater Kingdom impact.

In order for diverse congregations to work together new habits need to be created. This is easier said than done and must be intentional. It takes time, joint planning and multiple channels of communication.

Joint planning needs to occur at both the event level and the strategic (long range) level. Big events have to be calendared well in advance. Each church should take turns in leading the coordination of joint ventures to create greater harmony.

Effective communication is a key element in effective joint ventures. It was discovered that some leaders were unaware of a major upcoming event despite its mention in five different media. We cannot assume that a message transmitted is one that was received. Multiple means of communication are needed along with feedback to measure the impact of our messages.

The impact of working together for the sake of the gospel is greater than just the numbers.

• First, it pleases God when His people are in unity (Psalm 133:1).
• Second, each congregation brings a different point of view that informs the whole.
• Third, it multiplies our results, while reducing our efforts.

Ministry to the Deaf

There are over 750,000 deaf people in America. They are among the most unevangelized people groups. Fewer than 8 out of every 100 deaf people in the US ever attend church. Fewer than 4 out of 100 claim a personal relationship with Christ.

Ministry to the deaf is complex. One reason is that deaf people who use American Sign Language (ASL) form a distinct culture. The Deaf have unique legends, social customs and experiences. 

Like other people with disabilities, the Deaf have been discriminated against in their jobs and are often left out, ignored or mistreated. Past experience may make them wary of your motives. They also tend to be straight forward and blunt in their communications.

Another complexity is that deaf ministry is a family affair. Ninety percent of deaf children have parents with normal hearing, but only about one out of 10 of those parents can carry on a conversation in ASL. Most of these parents begin with little knowledge about the deaf world and are unaware of available resources. They feel overwhelmed by the challenges of raising a deaf child and feel alone in their struggles.

Children who have a Deaf parent are bicultural and often find themselves torn between two worlds. Like all bicultural children they have challenges and issues that are difficult to understand.

Children who have a Deaf sibling often feel they have to compete with the deaf child for parental attention and can become resentful. They usually learn sign language better than the parents and find themselves serving as interpreters between the parents and their deaf siblings.

Mixed marriages between hearing and deaf people face challenges as they try to blend deaf and hearing cultures and lifestyles and families together.

Baptist Temple has been blessed with the privilege to host the San Antonio Baptist Deaf Mission; a work started 20 years ago by the San Antonio Baptist Association (SABA). Baptist Temple did not not invite them. They were sent to us by God.

Several weeks ago the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) called to ask if we were interested in hosting this mission. We were recommended as a church with a heart for ministry by Patty Villareal, a professor at the Baptist University of the Americas.

The Missions Committee enthusiastically recommended that we do this. The church responded with a similar spirit and the vote to host the Deaf Mission passed without opposition.

The San Antonio Baptist Deaf Mission is an independent church sharing our facilities. They will be part of our Sunday School and other ministries but will hold their own worship service in FLC101 at 11 AM on Sundays.

The mission is led by John and Mary Ann Richey (both hearing) and currently numbers around 40 with an average attendance of around 25. We expect the move to Baptist Temple to generate excitement and allow us to minster to more deaf people and their families. They had their first worship service at BT this past Sunday and had four first time visitors.

Deaf churches are rare. Most deaf ministries involve having a deaf interpreter translate a service that is primarily intended for the hearing. This is certainly polite but not empowering. A true deaf church holds its own worship service, has its own officers and determines its own destiny as led by the Holy Spirit.

We are blessed to be able to partner with people who expand our ability to spread the gospel.

Meeting physical and spiritual needs

A pastor recently told me that the role of the church is to provide spiritual nurture exclusively. He did not believe that the church ought to have day cares or food pantries nor allow such groups to share space. Some believe that ministry to the physical needs of a person interferes with ministry to spiritual needs.

On the other hand, Jesus found a way to do both. He fed the multitudes and called Himself the Bread of Life. He healed the sick and cast out demons. The Old Testament is filled with commands related to that care of the less fortunate.

The Bible says about Jesus, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:19-20

It is possible to tend to physical needs and ignore the spiritual but the Bible commands us to do both.

“If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” James 2:16

There are many churches in urban centers that are weak and dying. Some have soup kitchens and clothing distribution but fail to produce changed lives because they don't address the need for supernatural change. Others will focus on the supernatural but fail to reach a skeptical audience by ignoring the poverty, addiction and crime around them. The result in both cases is darkness and despair.

The light of the gospel will result in prisoners set free from their addictions, families reconciled, cycles of poverty broken by the power of Christ's work on the cross. That requires real help from the church and the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...Romans 1:16

Declining downtown church expands witness and keeps doors open

First Baptist Church of Bennington, VT had been experiencing decline but found a creative way to continue its historic (more than 100 year) missional impact in the community.

"We’ve pretty much taken on as a missional church the goal of providing the missing components for basic human needs in the area here. We’re too small by ourselves to tackle any one of these things," said Wayne Kachmar, a member of the church board of trustees. "But this collaborative model of missional church has given us the opportunity to partner with many different groups and to use what we bring to the table: open space, visibility on Main Street -- accessibility, we’re flat, we’re level -- accessibility to transportation."

Four community organizations are using space in their Education building. These include the Bennington Free Clinic, Project Against Violent Encounters’ Family Time program, the Vermont Center for Independent Living and Easter Seals.

The church no longer needed the excess space and their use by the non-profit groups has the added benefit of freeing downtown commercial space for economic use that brings in tax revenue.

Close proximity allows for greater cooperation between the groups. First Baptist offers healthy cooking and basic sewing classes with more to come in the future.

The Vermont Community Foundation provided a $6,000 grant for such infrastructure upgrades as internet access and improved energy-efficiency that benefitted all parties involved.

Sharing space with other churches

A Dallas church did not let their declining numbers stop them from having a major missional impact. Like many urban churches in transitional communities, Gaston Oaks Baptist Church’s congregation was aging, shrinking and did not reflect the demographics of their neighbors. Their answer was to share their facility with three congregations (Burmese, African, and Hispanic) comprised of people groups from their community. The result has been a revitalized ministry and a full sanctuary (when all four churches worship together).

Urban church buildings are treasures provided by the grace of God through the sacrifice of Christians in the past. Those who have been entrusted with these facilities honor past sacrifices by finding creative ways to continue to shine the light of the gospel that transcends language and culture.

Here is the article: Church finds renewal in opening doors to ethnic congregations

Losing valuable real estate

Perhaps the biggest investment a church will make is building facilities. A strategic location is selected, plans are drawn up and a building fund campaign is launched. Through sacrificial giving and with hope for the future, a new building is erected.
Years later many of these congregations decline in membership and the beloved structure is now underutilized and needing repair. Eventually the church decides it can no longer endure under the current circumstances and close the doors.

I ran across this situation in New Orleans when I was starting a Spanish-language church in the basement of an Anglo church. Another Anglo church, six blocks away, was disbanding and wanted to sell their building. The money would go to missions.

Acting quickly, I petitioned that the property be turned over to my new church start. Why pay real estate commissions to sell the property and again, later, when we would buy another property. Moreover, my mission field was this very neighborhood.

My argument prevailed and my small Spanish-language church took possession of the building. I was able to recruit an intrepid team of seminary students who developed a thriving ministry in that building including an English-language service, a mid-week youth service, free music lessons, a free summer day camp, food pantry and other services to the community.

This church became a training lab for seminary students, many of whom went on to work in missions around the globe, and a blessing to the community. It even provided an apartment for me that supplemented my modest salary.

There are many inner-city church properties that are being underutilized and, worse, sold off. These properties are in the midst of deep spiritual and economic poverty. It is possible that these properties could be used to house non-religious or faith-based community-based ministries. These ministries could pay for the utilities and upkeep. On Sundays the pulpit can be filled by ministry students and lay preachers who are looking for an opportunity to preach.

This would meet the spiritual and physical needs of the community and take advantage of a building built through sacrificial giving and with hope for the future. We cannot continue to retreat from the areas in our cities where the gospel is most needed.