MISSION AMONG THE POOR International, Inc.

A SAGA OF SAN ANTONIO

(A Project Sponsored by San Antonio Baptist Association/Inspired by Texas Great Commission Initiative)

Johnson Thomaskutty

In its current 'City Search and Reach' (CSR) Project, Mission Among the Poor International has taken up the concerns of the multi-religious, multi-cultural, and pluralistic Texan context with greater interest. In its study about 'various people groups' (Panta ta Ethne), it came up with an array of new information. Our previous issue about the city of Houston, entitled, Houstonian Chronicles of Asianism, is quoted in Journals, used by missionaries, pastors, churches, associations, and organizations innumerable occasions in USA and across the globe. In this issue, our attempt is primarily to unfold the reality of 'plurality' and 'multiplicity' in the larger San Antonian context.

The name 'Saga', according to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, has three basic meanings: (1) a long traditional story about adventures and brave acts, especially one from Norway or Iceland; (2) a long story about events over a period of many years (for example, a family saga); and (3) a long series of events or a report about them. Throughout this study, saga is used in the third sense, to delineate the series of current events pertinent to religion, culture, and spirituality. This study is a 'comprehensive report' to help with the Great Commission partners, churches, organizations, associations, and various other spiritually motivated individuals as well as groups both 'in' and 'out' of the larger city of San Antonio.

The Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Throughout this article, San Antonio or San Antonian is used mostly to refer the 'extended' or 'larger' San Antonio city area. This study is mostly empirical in nature. I have used the methods like interviews with religious and secular dignitaries, site visitation and observation, demographic analyses, web-research, library research (especially Trinity University, University of Texas at San Antonio, St. Mary's University, University of Incarnated Word, and Wayland Baptist University), and continuous interactions with various walks of people groups in the larger Texan context.

The ideas behind this work were crystallized due to the active participation in the Great Commission Initiative (GCI) held at Midlothian and at Trinity in Texas. Dr. Charles Price, the Director of Missions at San Antonio Baptist Association, deserves special mention for his constant prayers, spiritual encouragements, mental motivation, and financial support althrough this project. All the staff of SABA, committed Christians, evangelists, pastors, leaders, scholars, religious/secular friends, and many well-wishers in San Antonio, all Texas, and across USA, contributed their spiritual and moral strenth toward this project in an immeasurable extent. The main purpose behind this research is to make the Great Commission Churches informed about the genuine need of Christian witness, mission and evangelism in an ethno-linguistically diverse context.

The founding fathers of United States established the nation on Christian principles. The nation is internationally known as a 'Christian country'. It is an accepted fact that Christianity is the established culture or -ism of US. The country has a biblically oriented 'worldview', which is entirely different in substance from other worldviews. The immigrant communities from other parts of the world in US have diverse perceptions, worldviews, beliefs, practices, and comprehension about God, human and world. In the contemporary context, Christianity is at the crossroads, where it is challenged by various imported, non-biblical, and consciousness-oriented religious and philosophical movements. For the enhancement of a mission-theology targeting the Asian people groups, the church has to take active steps circumscribed around anthropocentricism and ethno-linguistic concerns of current scenario.

While anthropocentric concerns are meant to learn the 'heart language' of the people groups, ethno-linguistic concerns enable us to identify the cultural elements. A missional approach that does not take 'people and culture' orientation might not make much impact in today's Christian witness, mission and evangelism. San Antonio is the second-largest city in the state of Texas and the seventh largest city in the US. Located in the northern part of South Texas, the city is a cultural gateway into the American Southwest. San Antonio is the seat of Bexar County with a population just under 1.3 million as of the 2006 US Census estimate, as well as the 4th fastest growing large city in the nation from 2000-2006 in terms of percentage. Its metropolitan area has a population of over 1.9 million and is the 29th-largest metropolitan area in the US.

According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2000 the city had a total area of 412.07 square miles (1,067.3 km square)-407.56 square miles (1,055.6 km square) of it is land and 4.51 square miles (11.7 km square) of it is water. Because of its status as a historic urban center, the architecture and layout of San Antonio are more traditionally urban than other cities in Texas, such as Dallas and Austin, which have developed in the last half century. In 2000, the city of San Antonio had a population of 1,144,646, ranking it the ninth-most populated city in the country. Due to the city's low density rate and lack of significant population surrounding the city limits, the metropolitan area ranked just 30th in the US with a population of 1,592,383. Subsequent population estimates indicate continued growth in the area.

The July 1, 2006, population estimate for the city was 1,296,682, making it the second-most populous city and the third-most populous metro area in Texas, as well as the seventh-most populous city in the US. The 2006 US Census estimate for the eight-county (Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, and Wilson Counties) San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) placed its population at 1,942,217, making it the third-most populous metro area in Texas and the 30th-most populous metro area in the US. San Antonio's MSA is bordered to the Northeast by the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), and the two metros together combine to form a region of almost 3.6 million people.

A Scene from Sea World San Antonio

There are 405,474 households, and 280,993 families residing in San Antonio. The population density is 2,808.5 people square mile. There are 433,122 housing units at an average density of 1,062.7 per square mile. According to US Census data from 2006, the racial composition of San Antonio is 66.0% White, 6.7% African American, 2.1% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 22.5% Others, and 2.1% from two or more races. However, 61.3% of the population identify themselves as being of Hispanic origin. Whites of non-Hispanic background were 31.83% of the population. The age of the city's population is spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years.

In San Antonio, 48% of the population are males, and 52% are females. For every 100 females there are 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.7 males. The median income for a household in the city is $36,214, and the median income for a family is $53,100. Males have a median income of $30,061 versus $24,444 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,487. 17.3% of the population and 14.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

The plurality of religious traditions and cultures has come to characterize every parts of the world today. Diana Eck points out four main thinking to begin with pluralism: (1) pluralism is not diversity alone, but the energetic engagement with diversity; (2) it is not just tolerance, but the active seeking of understanding across lines of difference; (3) it is not relativism, but the encounter of commitments; and (4) it is based on dialogue. The concepts like 'multiplicity' and 'plurality' are not strange terms as far as my life is concerned. The societal system which raised me up is multifarious (i.e., multi-religious, multi-cultural, and multi-linguistic, and pluralistic) in its very existence from times of yore. Even today, the Indian society remains on such a diversified and plutocratic foundation. Societies of that kind develop 'dos' and 'don'ts' at the disposal of the elites. Such kind of bifurcation is obvious in almost all areas of life including the matters of religion and spirituality. The rapid growth of Asian religions and philosophies in different parts of USA is marked by the elements of syncretism.

 San Antonio is a place where Spanish and English are spoken side by side, where the community gathers to celebrate Posadas and Cinco de Mayo, El Dia de Los Muertos and the annual Fiesta. Religion has also been, quite literally, at the heart of the city, with the San Fernando Cathedral, built in 1738, still making the official city center. Stephanie Saldana, of Harvard University's Pluralism Project, aims to find out what happens when a bi-cultural city becomes multi-cultural. She says, "By visiting Sikh, Bahai, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian Communities, I discovered that, while much of America is becoming increasingly diverse, the religious landscape of San Antonio is changing in a special way".

Hispanics are pioneers in the Buddhist community. Bahai worship combines Spanish, English, Persian, and Arabic. And every year the San Fernando Cathedral holds an Interfaith Thanksgiving service, where Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists and Bahais all gather to give thanks for their city's diversity. While much of Texas is conservative, new immigrants in San Antonio are finding that their presence is embraced, viewed as another level in an already diverse local fabric, and welcomed into the public sphere. Downtown is home to many districts including the Alamo District, Alamodome District, Central Business District, Convention Center District, Historic Civic District, Houston Street District, King William Historic District, La Villita District, Market Square District, North Downtown, North River District, River Bend District, SoSo (South of Southtown), Southtown, and the University District.

San Antonio hosts a vibrant mix of cultures, cuisine, architecture, moving history and patriotism-not to mention diverse languages and music. The city's heritage and traditions are rich, as are its modern pleasures. A cosmopolitan blend of top-notch golf courses, remarkable dining and nightlife options, art galleries, spas and shopping dot the pedestrian cityscape along the Rio. Downtown San Antonio's Tower of the Americas, an architectural landmark since HemisFair '68 is the second-tallest observation tower in the US at 750 feet in height. San Antonio, one of America's friendliest cities, truly captures the spirit of Texas. American Style magazine names San Antonio as one of the top 25 "art destinations" in the country-and arty Southtown.

Famous for its River Walk, the Alamo, Tejano culture, and home to the SeaWorld San Antonio, World Champion Spurs, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme parks, the city is visited by 20 million tourists per year. San Antonio is also home to the first museum of modern art in Texas-the Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum. San Antonio hosts over 100,000 students across its 31 higher-education facilities which include local branches of both the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, and the Alamo Community College District's five colleges. Other schools include St.Mary's University, Trinity University, and Wayland Baptist University. The San Antonio Public Library serves all of these institutions along with the 17 school districts within San Antonio. The city is also home to more than 30 private schools and charter schools. These schools include San Antonio Academy, Holy Cross High School, Incarnate Word High School, and St. Anthony Catholic High School.

UTSA's Institute of Texan Cultures

San Antonio was named for the Italian Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day it was (June 13) when a Spanish expedition stopped in the area in 1691. The city has a strong military presence-it is home to Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, and Brooks City Base, with Camp Bullis and Camp Stanley right outside the city. San Antonio is home to the South Texas Medical Center, the only medical research and care provider in the South Texas region.

Southeast Texas contains some of the oldest cities in Texas, especially San Antonio and Corpus Christi, which are the heart of Tejano culture. Tejanos are Texans of Mexican ancestry and can trace their roots in this region to the days when it was still a jewel of the Spanish Empire. Travelers from even other parts of the state are often shocked to find the prominence of the Spanish language in use in southeast Texas. Billboards and signs are often in Spanish, and the locals speak their own dialect of the language. Also, we will often hear even English-speaking locals saying "Bueno-bye" on their cell phones when they end a conversation. Tejano is also almost synonymous with the cowboy culture, and long before there was a genre called country music the Tejano locals could be heard singing their lonesome ballads around campfires on cold starry night.

The 2002 Official Catholic Directory lists the US Catholic population at 65,270,444. Catholics represent 22.9 percent of the total population of the US. According to the official 2000 Census, there are 35.3 million Hispanics in the US, or 12.5% of the total population. Since 1990, the nation's Hispanic population has increased 58%, up from a total of 22.4 million in 1990. According to a recent study, 72.6% of Hispanics living in the US-close to 26 million-are Catholics. Approximately 39 percent of US Catholics are Hispanic. According to study, the 10 Catholic dioceses with the largest Hispanic populations are Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Galveston-Houston, San Bernardino, Chicago, Brooklyn, Fresno, San Antonio, and Orange. 6.3 percent-or 2,900-of the nation's 46,000 Catholic priests are Hispanic.

Standing at the direct center of the city, the San Fernando Cathedral is the oldest continuously used cathedral in America, and has become symbolic of the place of religion in the spiritual, cultural, and historical heart of the city of San Antonio. Originally constructed by the first Spanish immigrants to San Antonio, San Fernando continues to welcome immigrants each year, holding masses in Spanish, celebrating traditional Latin American festivals, and providing a space where immigrants can hold onto other traditions. The small town of "La Villa de San Fernando" was founded on March 9, 1731 by a group of 15 families who travelled to this remote settlement from the Canary Islands at the invitation of King Philip V of Spain. Originally, these families were entrusted with settling the Spanish area of the Texan territories in order to prevent incursions from the French. In 1738, the Canary Islanders laid the cornerstone for San Fernando Church, creating the first Parish in Texas.

The cathedral is a pioneer in interfaith work in San Antonio, working closely with the leaders of almost all the religious communities. On Thanksgiving Day each year, the cathedral holds an interfaith worship service, where Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Bahais, Hindus, and Christians all gather to give thanks for the diversity of their city.  In addition, every four years the cathedral holds an interfaith blessing on the new members of the city council, where religious leaders remind their civic leaders of their duty to protect and serve San Antonio's citizens. The cathedral also participates in ecumenical works, trying to bring leaders of San Antonio's many Christian denominations. In its official literature, it describes itself "not exclusively as a Catholic Cathedral, but as a center of unity and harmony for all the God-loving people of San Antonio and beyond".

Since the late 1800, thousands of Asians have immigrated to San Antonio. Marilyn Dell Brady, author of The Asian Texans, surmises "some Asians became successful in Texas only by discarding their traditions. Others found identity and comfort in preserving their culture while affirming their loyalty to the US. Although Asian Texans were often treated well and respected by their neighbors, discrimination, prejudice, and even murder also occured".

Chinese laborers arrived with the railroad in the 1870s. Chinese merchants came from Mexico in 1917 after Pancho Villa threatened to hang them for trading with both side in the US war with Mexico. Japanese immigrants worked coal mines in Mexico, and farmed rice and other crop in Texas. War brides arrived beginning in the later 1940s. The Vietnamese, not by choice, but to escape their war-torn homeland, began to arrive in the 1970s. Other Asians, including Philipinos, Thais, Laotians, Combodians, Malaysians, Asian Indians, and Pakistanis, also have chosen San Antonio as a place to live, pursue careers, and raise families in this former Spanish colonial city.

"Our population is not very big, but a difference can be made by a smaller number of people", says Elisa Chan, who hails from Taipei, Taiwan. The Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce is comprised of Asians who have recently came to San Antonio, or who are first-generation San Antonians. They are professionals who see a need for an organization such as the chamber to act as a bridge to connect cultural differences among the different Asian subgroups and "to provide an open forum for the Asian community to have a voice". In The Colombia Guide to Asian Americans, Gary Y. Okihiro writes, "Asians comprise a widely disparate groups of racial and cultural entities with divergent and often conflicting histories, languages, religions, class and caste relations, and national interests".

While San Antonio's Asian population hasn't been politically visible, they have impacted the local economy beyond restaurants and specifically groceries. Enterpreneurial first-generation families who started those enterprises have raised college-educated children who, in turn, have left the family business in favor of professional careers as doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Many have moved out of San Antonio. Other Asians who relocated to San Antonio because of the Toyota plant, have moved in. In the 1970s and 1980, 100 to 200 families comprised the Indian community. Today, there are more than 1,000 Indian families that stay in touch through the India Association of San Antonio.

Only New York state has a larger African American population than Texas, with 2.5 million living in the state. Most of these live in the area around Houston, San Antonio, and the rural areas near the Lousiana border. Like the Tejanos, most of these African Americans in southeast Texas can trace their ancestry far back into the history of Texas to the pre-Civil War days, in this case of plantations and cotton fields. Texas actually has its own holiday, called Juneteenth (June 19th), commemorating the day the slaves learned of their emancipation, which was months after the end of the Civil War. They are well noted for their cultural contributions to Texas music and cuisine.

San Antonio Museum of Art 

Cajuns have long since spilled over the Lousiana border into the region, and they have brought their culture to the mainstream, particularly in the East and in Houston (also in San Antonio). Music and culinary traditions have greatly influenced Texan culture. Their famous food is widely available throughout the region. The Texas Hill Country is home to strong German and Central European communities, which are over 150 years old. The best examples of these are towns like New Braunfels and Fredericksburg, and they still preserve the old traditions of European beer and food. Less than an hour's drive from San Antonio or Austin, these communities are an exciting gateway. Since these Europeans came over a century ago, the dialect of German spoken here is peculiar, as it has not adopted new words for technology and instead uses English words, having been cut off from mainstream German speakers. A German newspaper still has wide circulation in the area, and many travelers marvel at hearing native speakers of German with an odd Texan accent.

If religion is at the heart of the city of San Antonio, where were the stories of Sikhs, of Buddhists, of Muslims, of Hindus, of Bahais? The profiles of Religious Centers in San Antonio give us a picture of vibrant religious communities from Iran, Thailand, India, and the Middle East whose members saw themselves nonetheless as fully "Texan". At the same time, the Hispanic community is transforming as well, and we encounter Hispanic leaders in the Buddhist and Bahai communities.

Who know that in the heart of the South Side, beside the Pig Stand, America's oldest drive-in restaurant, a Shambhala Buddhist Center now stands, which was founded in 1984 by Hispanic San Antonians, and which still caters to both Spanish and English-speaking residents? That outside the city, a beautiful Thai Temple welcomes hundreds of Thai speaking residents to pray in their spacious halls or meditate on paths running beside lotus leaves? Or that beyond the historic Monte Vista District, where some of the city's oldest and grandest houses hold court, Persians gather with worshippers of all ages at San Antonio Bahai Center to hear prayers in Persian, Arabic, Spanish, and English?

Moreover, who know that in the midst of San Antonio Medical District, tucked beyond the city's major hospitals, the San Antonio Islamic Center caters to the needs of more than 1,000 Urdu, Arabic, and English speaking Muslims? Throughout the city, new religious communities are transforming this historically bi-cultural city to one of vibrant multiculturalism, where Buddhist and Christian communities stand side by side, where Muslim leaders are invited to speak in Parishes, and where Bahai's hold an annual festival celebrating the city's diversity.

Texan Modern Art

The small Indian community of San Antonio in Texas is close-knit and have few biases on the basis of the region in India they originate. The community has grown from about 250 families in 1981 to over 1,000 families. India Association of San Antonio (IASA) was formed in 1978 and acquired its non-profit status in 1980. At the inception, the primary purpose of the organization was to support cultural, educational, religious and charitable activities, for the benefit of its members and the general public. During the last 30 years, many sister organizations were created, catering to the specific needs of the various subsets of the Indian community. This evolution had led to changes in the objectives of the IASA to meet the new challenges. The long term goal of IASA includes the role of an 'umbrella organization', to better serve and represent the Indian community as a whole.

The India Association is the umbrella organization that hosts the Festival of India each year. The smallest organizations, like the Tamil Sangam, the Gujarat Samacharan, the Malayali Association, the Punjabi Association, and the Telugu Association celebrate various festivals of their native regions. The organizations from Indian origin in San Antonio are: Arathi School of Indian Dance, Natyanjali, Gujarati Samaj, Indian Dance Circle, Bhakta Samaj, Gayatri Pariwar, Swadhyay, San Antonio Tamil Sangham (SATS), Telugu Community of San Antonio, Kuvempu Kannada Koota, Malayali Community of San Antonio, Sai Center of San Antonio, Integral Yoga Teaching Center, Sur Sangam, and Sahaya Yoga. 

The Hindu Temple of San Antonio is a miniature version of the Venkateswara temple at Tirupati. Perched on a hill in the scenic area of Helotes, the temple is accessible from any part of the town within 20 minutes. An enthusiastic team of volunteers has worked on raising funds for the structure and an auditorium hall. The Mahalakshmi Hall can accommodate 400 people at a time. The traditional Sunday puja, which begins at 10.30 am, attracts many devotees. Sunday school, held twice a month, is popular amongst the youth in the community.

The Hindu Temple of San Antonio is involved in a lot of community development activities. The Temple does a lot of activities for people of different age groups and from different communities. The Temple conducts Ganesh Puja, Abhishekam to Balaji, Shanmukha, Shiva Puja, Tulasi Puja, Duttathreya Puja, Hanuman Puja, Navagraha Puja, and Ardhanaareeshwara Puja on a regular basis. Its Balavikas classes (for children of 3-13 years) are conducted on Sundays, twice a month. The Temple Services are: Abhisheka, Anna Prasana, Archana, Hiranya Sradha, Homa/Havan, Kalyana Utsava, Kesa Khandana, Namakarana, Satyanarayana Puja, Upanayana, Vahana Puja, Vivaha, and Vidyaarambha. These services are rendered for a donation. The temple completed 17 years of service on March 2007.

The Alamo Monument

The extremist groups like Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP) and the ISKCON movement have their representation throughout San Antonio. International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is one of the most influential Hindu movement among the White American and Hispanic communities in the country. Other popular Neo-Hindu movements like Chinmaya Mission, and Ramakrishna Mission, and itinerant gurus like Mahesh Yogi, Nirmala Devi, Osho Rajneesh, Mata Amritanantamayi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Shirdi Sai Baba, and Satya Sai Baba have their devotees and meetups althrough Texas, espacially in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin areas. Hindu movements like Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), an international form of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, a Hindu militant group in India), organizes strategic networks althrough Texas and US to spread out the message of Hinduism. Vishva Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), another prominent movement, is a dynamic, vibrant Hindu society inspired by the values of Dharma. All these movements make greater impact in the US context.

The San Antonio Sikh Community contains some 80 to 100 Sikh families, most of them in the country for no more than fifteen years. For some time, local Sikhs simply circulated from private home to worship. That changed in 2001, when San Antonio Sikhs pooled their resources to purchase the San Antonio Sikh Center, a spacious Gurudwara on Hollyhock Road. Today, 60 to 70 families worship here each Sunday, with several men gathering every morning for the early Parkash that takes place in the main prayer hall. The once simple household prayer services have now been transformed into a colorful, crowded affair, stretching through Sunday morning and into the afternoon, with traditional Punjabi music, readings from the scripture, and communal meal and afternoon Sundayschool classes on Sikh rituals and traditions. Members of the Sikh Center of San Antonio pride themselves on hospitality, and on welcoming everyone to prayer, regardless of race, caste, gender, religion, or ethnicity.

A Mural of Cultural Change

Downtown San Antonio

Visitors to the Sikh Center will be surprised to hear, in this quiet Gurudwara in the San Antonio suburbs, the music of professional tabla and harmonium players accompanied by children singing traditional Sikh hymns in Punjabi. Here, over a hundred local Sikhs from about 70 families gather each Sunday, many of them newly in America, to maintain the traditions of their Punjabi roots. The Gurudwara appears much like a house from the outside, but upon entering, the visitor encounters another atmosphere altogether. In the service, all the participants face the Guru Granth Sahib, the traditional book, which is kept under a canopy. Following the service, a procession from the main prayer hall takes place, and the Guru Granth Sahib is carried out and placed on a pillow.

Beside the prayer hall, a large kitchen provides room for Sikhs to gather and cook the communal meal, called the 'langar', a traditional Sikh ritual initiated by Guru Nanak, who recognized the need for his visitors to be provided with food. The communal meal came to be known as 'Guru-ka-langar'. At the San Antonio Sikh Center, this meal is eaten by all on the floor of a large banquet hall, with young Sikhs serving everyone from huge basins. Almost all of the families who attend the Sikh Center come from the Punjab region, and the languages spoken are Punjabi and English. 

Every morning, the Parkash is held early, from 6.30 to 8.00 am. Each evening, the Kheertan is held from 7.00 to 8.00. The Sunday program begins early and continues all day. The Gurmukhi Class Punjabi reading is held from 10.00 am to 11.00 am following by the kheertan of Katha Bhaj Ranji Singh, and Ardas Sangat at noon. Young Sikhs join in to celebrate at 12.30. The service is followed by a communal meal, served in the hall adjacent to the main prayer hall. Visitors are strongly encouraged to attend this meal, where over a hundred Sikhs sit side by side on the floor, representing humility and total equality. On Sunday evening, there are Kheertan classes for the local Sikh community. Sikh children attend Sunday school classes following the communal meal.

The Alamo

In 2002, Sikh leaders in San Antonio recognized the growing need for Americans to be educated on Sikhism. While independent Sikh organizations were sprouting throughout the country to address issues of civil liberties, Sikh education, and human rights, no organization existed to facilitate networking between Sikh organizations and to help them work together. With this in mind, the Sikh Research Institute of San Antonio was born in December, 2002. Since then, the small organization had made big contributions to Sikh education in America, working on college campuses, reaching out to business leaders, and reviving America's Sikh Community. The Sikh Research Institute fuses on three main goals: Leadership enhancement, Community Revival, and Facilitating Sikh Connection.

While the Islamic Center of San Antonio appears hidden in its peaceful location on Fairfield Avenue, it is anything but removed from the larger San Antonio Community. On the contrary, the Islamic Center prides itself on its relationships with its Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors, developing strong connections with local churches, the mayor, city officials, and the police department. The young Imam of the Center places the task of hospitality at the forefront of the mosque's mission. In the early nineties, members of San Antonio's Muslim community began meeting in stores and apartments throughout the city to pray. In 1992, the community pooled resources to parchase the large, open expanse of land on Fairfield Avenue that now houses the Islamic Center of San Antonio, the city's largest mosque.

Mission San Jose

The Islamic Center opened in 1997. Today, the Center is rapidly expanding to meet the needs of its above 700 regular members. Al-Madinah Academy, which currently functions as an Islamic Sunday School, will be transformed into a full-time day school in the coming years, offering a regular curriculum as well as Arabic and classes on the Quran.The Center itself is also set to expand, adding banquet halls to hold the hundreds of Muslims who break fast here daily during Ramadan, and building playing fields on the land behind the school. Above 700 people belong to the mosque, though more than 2,000 will come to prayer on Eidh-Ul-Fitr during Ramadan. Members are from allover the Middle East and Asia, with newer immigrants from Bosnia, Somalia, and Israel/Palestinian. About half speak Arabic, with a significant Urdu speaking population as well.

The Islamic Center of San Antonio is strongly involved in local interfaith activities. They hold an annual open house where they invite non-Muslims to visit the center, and hold a question and answer session. Members also visit area churches to explain what the teachings of Islam to the wider community. After September 11, members of the community formed strong relationships with the local police force and the FBI, who in turned offered increased protection of the area's Arab-Americans and regular patrols of the mosque. The community has also participated in blood drives as a means of showing their solidarity with victims of violence. In addition to interfaith activities, the Center works closely with the San Antonio branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) towards the common goal of increasing education on Islam and protecting Muslim-Americans from acts of violence.

A Scene from San Antonio Botanical Garden

On February 21, 2006 the Express-News reported, "the continuing controversy over cartoon depictions of the prophet Muhammad in Danish newspaper is not a clash of civilizations but 'a clash of the uncivilized'", a group of religious leaders declared in the city of San Antonio announcing a new Islamic education campaign. They also said, San Antonio, with its long history of interfaith cooperation, could become a model for the rest of the world of how civilized society can respond positively to ignorance and violence by conducting interfaith dialogues that promote mutual understanding. Representatives of the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Quaker communities and the Inter-Religious Council of San Antonio spoke of the need for education during a News Conference at the Council on American-Islamic Relation's Office.

The Bahai Center of San Antonio prides itself on the diversity of its congregation. Here, in a new worship hall standing just beyond the historic Monte Vista District, Hispanics, Persians, African-American, Texans sporting thick accents, young couples and elderly women all gather to celebrate the unity of god, listening to scripture from the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Bahai, Buddhist, and Muslim faiths. It's no wonder that the Bahai Assembly annually hosts Race Unity Day, a public celebration in honor of San Antonio's diversity. The San Antonio Bahai community was founded in 1948, one of the first five assemblies in all of Texas (today, there are more than 400 assemblies in Texas).

Originally meeting in private homes throughout the city, the congregation moved into their first Center on West Avenue in 1993, the first year after the 100th anniversary of the ascension of Bahaullah. In 2000, the congregation moved to their new Center on West Magnolia, a great open house with a worship hall, a bookstore, library, and kitchen. The Center actually appears more like a spacious white house. Like all Bahai Communities, the San Antonio Bahais follow the teachings of Bahaullah, the 19th century Persian believed to be the long-awaited bringer of peace whose revelation, foretold in past scriptures, would bring about a worldwide divine civilization. The leadership at the local consists of a nine member assembly that is re-elected annually. All adult members of the community are placed on a ballot, making the leadership as diverse as the community itself.

On Sundays, the Bahai Community gathers to celebrate interfaith prayer. Interfaith devotion begins at 11.00 am., when Bahais listen to scriptures from several religious traditions. On Wednesday night, the Bahai Center is open to guests for an information session, potluck dinner, and prayer lasting from 6.30-10.00. The Bahai Community is most well-known in San Antonio for hosting Race Unity Day, and they also participate in almost all the celebrations, including Martin Luther King Day Celebration. There are about 400 Bahais in San Antonio from all economic backgrounds. The San Antonio Bahai Center attracts young couples drawn to the message of unity and equality, and the community consists of a diverse group of African Americans, Hispanics, Anglos, and Persians. Prayers often incorporate Spanish, Persian, English, and Arabic.

African Elephant at San Antonio Zoo

Despite the Texas and American flags hanging over the entrance gate, the beautiful Wat Dharmmabucha Buddhist Temple is an unexpected scene in San Antonio. A stunning Thai Buddhist monastery located on 12 acres of lush hill country land, the temple welcomes San Antonio's immigrants from Thailand and Laos. From the ornate Buddhist statues to the meditation paths passing by lotus leaves, and especially to the kind and welcoming monks who live make their home their, the Wat Dharmmabucha Buddhist Temple is a haven hidden in one of America's largest cities. It was built in 1983 on only 3.8 acres of land, the Dhammayutti sect of the Theravada tradition, originating in Thailand. It has 5 monks, and more than 100 regular visitors. The other Thai Texas temples are in Killeen, Keller, and Marble Falls.

The San Antonio Shambhala Center, another Buddhist Center, holds a unique place in both Buddhist tradition and San Antonio culture, as its directors, since its founding in a private San Antonio home in 1984, have always been women. The center has always strived to bridge the vast cultural and economic divides of San Antonio and make Buddhism accessible to Spanish speakers, wealthy and poor citizens. Its founder Elisa Gonzalez was drawn to Buddhism in her youth when she continually asked herself the question: why is there so much suffering in the world? While Buddhism appealed to her, she struggled with what she viewed as the secondary role of women in Buddhist tradition.

In 1984, Elisa deeply involved in Shambhala Buddhism and eager to open a local center. The first small group of locals, including a four-year old and a dog, met for meditation in her house, later moving to a massage parlor, then a cottage they named "Baby Dharma Dhatun". In 1992, the San Antonio Shambhala Center became the first center in the world to receive recognition from the newly installed Sakyong. In her term as director, Elisa taught meditation in both English and Spanish, making Buddhism accessible to the city's Hispanic community. After moving to a large location on Evers Road, the San Antonio Shambhala Center moved to their current location on S. St.Mary's in 2000. Today, they are located next to the Pig Stand, America's oldest drive-in restaurant, in the heart of the city's South Side.

The San Antonio Shambhala Center holds meditation practices on Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8 pm., and Sundays from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm. On Thursday evenings, they hold Dharma discussion group at 7 pm. They also offer a calling service for practitioners who seek advice on improving meditation at home. Most of the practitioners are local college students. The San Antonio Shambhala Center plays a different role than many of the other Buddhist Centers in San Antonio, which are distinguished by their ethnic ties. While San Antonio has Thai, Korean, and Japanese Buddhist Centers, the San Antonio Shambhala Center caters to Buddhists and non-Buddhists who do not want to learn other languages in order to practice.

Brave Men who Fought & Died in Alamo

Rissho Kosei-Kai of San Antonio is a lay Buddhist organization in Babcock Road. 'Rissho' in Japanese language , means 'establishing the teachings of the true Dharma in the world', 'Ko' means 'mutual exchange of thought among people seeking spiritual growth', 'Sei' stands for 'perfection of the personality and the attainment of Buddhahood', and 'Kai' means 'Association or Society'. It is founded by Japanese Mahayana Buddhists. Rissho Kosei-Kai is based on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, which is one of the most outstanding sutras of Shakyamuni Buddha.

The Lotus Sutra teaches us that there is a better way of life for humankind than our present state. Our mission is to promote peace and harmony in the world. Eventhough Rissho Kosei-Kai is based on the Lotus Sutra, it is also mixed with the teachings (or laws) of "Fundamental Buddhism". In the US context, they call their religious centers as 'Buddhist Churches'. The main churches in US are: (1) Rissho Kosei-Kai, Pearl City, Hawaii; (2) Rissho Kosei-Kai Buddhist Church of Los Angeles, California; (3) Rissho Kosei-Kai of San Francisco, California; and (4) Rissho Kosei-Kai New York Center for Engaged Buddhism in New York. The Center in San Antonio is one of their very young initiatives.

The world founder of this movement, Nikkyo Niwano believed that all spiritual paths have the same root. With the goal of world peace, Rissho Kosei-Kai put effort into the establishment of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP). This is a forum for all religious leaders in the world. The first meeting was held in 1970, in Kyoto, Japan. WCRP has grown into one of the largest organizations of its kind. Their focus is to promote inter-religious cooperation. In San Antonio, worship services are conducted in Japanese language on every 1st, 5th, 10th, 14th, 15th and 28th of each month. In my personal discussions with Nakamura, the Buddhist minister, he told that for the English services on Sundays about 120-150 people come together; out of these, almost 60-90 are Americans, African-Americans, Hispanics, English, German, Korean, Nepali, and Indians.

There are a considerable number of Jewish Synagogues, congregations, organizations, food centers, and gift shops/Judaica in the city of San Antonio. The notable Jewish Synagogues and congregations are: (1) Congregation Agudas Achim at 16550 Heubner Road: it is a Conservative synagogue serving San Antonio and South Texas. It provides a warm friendly atmosphere to a flourishing community of over 550 families. Its mission is to ensure the culture vitality, growth and practice of Conservative Judaism from generation to generation; (2) Chabad Lubavitch of South Texas at 14535 Blanco Road; (3) Congregation Beth Am at 7150 IH-10 West is a Reconstructionist group. It is a spiritual home and egalitarian Jewish community that welcomes individuals of all ages and backgrounds to grow, learn, and participate in the richness of Jewish life. They celebrate holy days and life-cycle events with a responsive blend of traditions, innovation, and mutual support. They value intellectual life and provide education for children and adults as a means to growth and to ensure Jewish continuity. They also reach out to work for peace, understanding, and social justice.

The Front View of San Fernando Cathedral

Some other Jewish centers of worship are:(4) New Jewish Congregation (also called Chavurah) is a fellowship of Jews, usually without a rabbi, who meet for prayer and study; (5) Congregation Rodfei Sholom at 3003 Sholom Blvd. is an Orthodox Synagogue in the city. It is a vibrant synagogue, located on 9 acres in suburban San Antonio; (6) Temple Beth-El, located just north of downtown San Antonio at the corner of San Pedro and West Ashby, is a Reform Jewish congregation serving approximately 1,200 families, was organized in 1874, and is a founding member of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Synagogue body of Reform Judaism; and (7) Temple Chai (Reform), holding Shabbath services at the Campus of the San Antonio Jewish Community, is located at 12500 NW. Military Highway.

The notable Jewish organizations in the city are: Anti-Defamation League, Barshop Jewish Community Center, B'nai B'rith, Brandeis University National Women's Committee, Eleanor Kolitz Academy, Golden Manor Jewish Home for the Aged, Golden Manor Women's Auxiliary, Hadassah, Hewbrew Free Loan Association, Hillel at University of Texas at San Antonio, Jewish Community Campus of San Antonio, Jewish Family and Children's Services, Jewish Federation of San Antonio, National Conference of Community and Justice, National Council of Jewish Women, Theodore Herzl Rebels, and Women's American Organization thru Rehabilitation and Training. The Jewish Food shops in San Antonio are: DELIcious Food at 7460 Callaghan Road, and Jewish Community Center at 12500 NW. Military Hwy. Jewish Gift Shops/Judaica in the city are: Fogiel Gift Shop at the Barshop Jewish Community Center, Congregation Agudas Achim Judaica/Gift Shop at 16550 Heubner Road, and Temple Beth-El Sisterhood Gift Shop at 211 Belknap Place.

The Mormonism is one of the fastest growing religion in San Antonio. The San Antonio Texas Temple at 20080 Stone Oak Parkway is the 120th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. On June 24, 2001 the Mormon Church announced it would build a temple in San Antonio, Texas, making it the state's fourth. Within ten years, the number of Mormon members in the area grew from 10,000 to 15,000. Until the San Antonio Texas Temple was completed, Mormons in the area had to travel over 200 miles to reach the nearest temple, near Houston. After the building's completion, an open house was held April 16 through May 7, 2005 to allow people to see the inside of a Mormon temple. During these three weeks, more than 50,000 people took a tour through the newly finished temple.

The inside of the temple is beautifully furnished with African Cherrywood, stained glass windows, painting of Jesus' life and a mural by San Antonio artist Keith Bonds. The use of color in the stained glass windows, in a slightly muted southwest style, and the indigo and star motif inside the central spire sets this edifice apart from most all other LDS temples. The San Antonio Texas Temple serves about 50,000 members living in an area spanning from Waco to Brownsville. It has a total of 16,800 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms. Jeff Harris, Senior Pastor of Grace Point Church remarks that, "The immigration of Eastern religions has scarcely affected San Antonio and the greatest threat to Evangelical Christianity is Mormonism. He further says,"I don't believe Americans have taken seriously the challenge and the response has been meek because we are diluted by the secular materialistic society".

The Alamo Garden

Not only the religious movements have their footing on the American soil, but also the atheists have their strongholds in an established way. The group called 'American Atheists' is a rapidly growing organization allover USA. Atheism is a doctrine that states that nothing exists but natural phenomena (matter), that thought is a property or function of matter, and that death irreversibly and totally terminates individual organic units. This definition means that there are no forces, phenomena, or entities which exist outside of or apart from physical nature, or which transcend nature, or are "super" natural, nor can there be. Humankind is on its own. San Antonio has a rapidly growing number of atheists (also called secularist).

Chinese community in America change their perspectives according to the context. They are being influenced by the American culture. Traditionally, San Antonio is a Catholic community because of the Mexican-American people groups; but with more Asians, we see many Eastern religious groups meeting in the city. Evangelical Christians are mostly White Americans, but a few of them are radical secularists. According to Timothy Yin, the pastor of First Chinese Baptist Church, there are about 10,000 Chinese live in the city of San Antonio. There are two established Chinese churches and one house-church, he says.

According to Randall Nadeau, Professor of East Asian Religions at Trinity University, "San Antonio is a pluralistic community, with many religions represented here, despite its Hispanic Catholic majority. And various forms of Protestant Evangelical Christianity are also well represented here, including a number of evangelical churches with congregations numbering in the thousands". In relation to immigrant communities, while Eastern Religions have affected the overall spirituality of America, in San Antonio Catholicism is still the greatest strength. Pluralism is a fact in San Antonio because of the syncretism of Catholicism and the pessimism of the majority toward religion.

Glenn Ambrose, Professor at University of Incarnated Word comments, "Deeper knowledge of other religions has made the distinctions between Christian traditions (denominations) appear less significant. In other words, Catholics and Protestants discover that they indeed have much in common when they consider the alterity of non-Christian religions". Fred Ater (of Baptist General Convention of Texas) comments, "The majority of immigrants to San Antonio are from Mexico, then Central and South America. The Asian immigrant communities are arriving from various Asian countries due to educational ( i.e., at UTSA, Incarnate Word, St. Mary's, Trinity, etc.) and occupation (i.e., healthcare, communication, oil and gas, auto, etc.) related opportunities". Hyoung Min Kim (of Southren Baptists of Texas Convention) says, "All the number of Asian ethnicities might be doubled by now from the US Census 2000".

The group called "Unchurched" is a fastest growing community in Texas, especially in the city of San Antonio. Out of the more than hundred people whom I had personal conversation, majority are not interested to relate themselves with the day-to-day affairs of the church. The calculation goes as follows: (1) out of the hundred, only below twenty are interested to participate as active members of the church; (2) forty are "agnostics" in the real sense; (3) twenty are "atheists" (out of these, fifteen were once active members of the church); and (4) the rest of the twenty are "secular", but would like to recognize the church ceremonies as part of life (i.e., the ceremonies of marriage and after death). A considerable number of San Antonians visit non-Christian religious centers and holy places in different parts of the world, including India, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal. It is conspicuous that the Evangelical Churches are mostly affected due to the above mentioned attitudinal changes of people groups in the city.

From San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures

San Antonio has full of mission's opportunities: (1) The homeless population is projected at 25,000. One in five adults live in poverty; (2) Bexar County teen pregnancy rate of girls between 15-17 is nearly twice the US average; (3) San Antonio has the second highest illiteracy rate among major Texas cities. Over 4,000 elementary age old children are at risk to be illiterate; and (4) Crime, teenage pregnancy and drug usage levels are elevated in the inner city.

In the postmodern San Antonian context, religious, cultural, and philosophical ideologies, and diverse lifestyles from allover the world have their representation to name the city a bed of "Unity in the Midst of Diversities". Asian religions like Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Taoism, Bahai, Animism, Wicca, Hare Krishna, and Christianity in its Americanized form have coalesced in an amazingly pluralistic way. Moreover, the philosophies and movements like Gandhism, Ahmediyyanism, Shri Shri Hari Shankaranism, Amritaism, Shirdi & Sai Babaism, various South and Central American religious, cultural, and philosophical trends, and the like have strong roots in the San Antonian soil.

In San Antonio, various international communities abound day-by-day. The Asian Indian communities are mostly professionals in the medical, software, and business fields. Many of the massive software companies like USAA have considerable number of Indian employees, and hospitals are having Asian Indian doctors, nurses, and various other health practitioners. Restaurants and Grocery Shops like India Palace at Fredericksburg Road, Little India and India Store at Evers Road bring together people from different quarters of the city. There are a good number of stores and gas stations owned by Asian Indian and Pakistani immigrants in the city. Not only Asian Indians and Pakistanis, but also Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Combodian, Philippino, Iranian, Korean, Guatemalan, Taiwanese, and Japanese communities have larger representation in the city. Chinese restaurants like "China Sea" and others attracts a collossal number of Chinese and non-Chinese people groups.

Although there is a large number of Asian Indian community, only few indigenous churches have emerged from them. The Syrian Orthodox Church (Indian) with 16 families is the first registered and organized church in the city. The Syrian Mar Thoma church also convene worship services on an occasional basis for their minority representation in the city. There is a large Indian Catholic community spread allthrough the city; but they worship in the American churches. The ethnic Indian groups like Telugus and Tamils have strong prayer groups in the city. In 2005, there was a strong Malayalam prayer group with 15-20 families coming together for prayer, worship, sharing the Word of God, and enjoying the fellowship meal. Unfortunately, because of the lack of proper leadership, disunity, immaturity and improper vision, and clashes on the basis of denomination, family, creed, faith, and practices, later the once "would-be church" was divided into 5 groups (i.e., 2-4 families in each group) and scattered allover the city without proper identity.

San Antonio Baptist Association, comprised of more than 260 churches is the largest Evangelical community in the city. The spiritual aspects like stronger vision, able leadership, people-oriented mission strategies, biblically-rooted commitment, and ultimate divine-focus, compliment the works of Dr. Charles Price, his team, pastors, evangelists, deacons, and lay people, to work out mission plans and church-growth effectively. According to Charles Price, "Despite a rich religious history, 82 percent of San Antonio's residents do not attend churches regularly, and two-thirds of the population has no church affiliation". Other denominations like Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Assemblies of God, and various other Non-denominational and Pentecostal churches have considerable foundation in the city. The massive Southren Baptist Churches spread allthrough the larger San Antonio, Pastor John Hagee's Cornerstone Church at Stone Oak, and Community Bible Church (at 2477 North Loop 1604 East) are spiritual attractions in the city for both San Antonians and non-San Antonians. Still, San Antonio remains one of the largest mission fields in the state of Texas.

Milan Park

Daniel Duce, my friend who works among the poor and abandoned classes in the city, points out the need for a people-oriented mission-strategy, which is uprooted in 'the Love of God'. In my assumption, the more the church is organized and institutionalized, it tends to go away from the aspirations of the people groups. Many of the churches in USA (so also in the city of San Antonio), turn their focus toward "projects"; but neglect the spiritual and fundamental necessities of the people groups. A spirituality that does not balance between 'vertical' and 'horizontal' love-relationship, ultimately remains as a 'hollow-spirituality'. The evangelical churches in the city have a long way to go for executing the Great Commission aspects in an effective manner among the massive unchurched, atheist, agnostic, secularist, cultic, and various other non-Christian people groups in the city.

To make a missional impact in the multi-cultural, multi-linguistic, multi-religious, and pluralistic society, the church has to go 'above' and 'beyond' the current patterns of Christian witness, mission, and evangelism. That further means, the church must take active steps for a crossover, a change of position from one area of activity to another or change of style of doing the mission activities to another. Herewith, I put an abrupt end to the present study, looking forward for more details and clarifications about the city and the facts, and humbly request all of the readers to sow the seed so that we may reap a greater harvest in the near future!

Links:

www.rksanantonio.org

www.sanantoniobahai.org

www.sanantonioshambhala.org

www.sanantoniobaptist.org

www.nccbuscc.org/hispanicaffairs

www.txgci.org

www.iskcon.com

www.bahai.com

www.councilofhindutemples.org

Resource Persons:

• Charles Price, DOM, San Antonio Baptist Association
• Roland Lopez, San Antonio Baptist Association
• Harrell Teague, San Antonio Baptist Association
• Daniel Duce, A Spiritual Activist in the city
• Jeff Harris, Senior Pastor, Grace Point Church
• Hyoung Min Kim, Southren Baptists of Texas Convention
• Fred Ater, Baptist General Convention of Texas
• Nakamura, A Japanese Buddhist Minister
• Timothy Yin, Senior Pastor, First Chinese Baptist Church
• Randall Nadeau, Professor, Trinity University
• Glenn Ambrose, Professor, University of the Incarnated Word

Forthcoming Projects:

• "Plurality of Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex"
• "Easternization of the United States of America"
• "A Study About the City of Pune, India"
• "A Study About the City of Mumbai, India"