Thursday, March 31, 2022

History behind the Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church in the East Terrace Homes of San Antonio, Texas explored.

Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church is one of San Antonio’s many forgotten churches. This news article will explain what happened to Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church.

Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church had a heavy affiliation with Second Baptist Church and many baptist churches during the 1990s. This included many other Baptist churches in the East Terrace area.

This was the same Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church which protested against cigarette and alcohol billboards around schools and churches. They wanted all billboards advertising tobacco and alcohol out the predominantly black East Side neighborhoods such as East Terrace, Jefferson Heights, and Coliseum Oaks. Reverend Richard Dukes, Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church, and other neighborhood activists had been protesting the signs for the past 4 years back in 1996. (Ref: San Antonio Express-News, Deal to keep cigarette, alcohol ads out of school areas, March 21, 1996)


Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church was originally located at the YMCA at North New Braunfels Street and Iowa Street where Rev. Richard was pastor. Missionary Baptist Church celebrated their first anniversary at the YMCA at North New Braunfels Street and Iowa Street at 1213 Iowa Street in 1991. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth399683/m1/8/zoom/)



The San Antonio Register reported Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church joined hands with the Alamo Branch of the YMCA in 1992. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth399348/m1/11/)


The San Antonio Register reported about the grand opening of the new location for Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church at 2902 East Commerce Street in East Terrace Homes/East Terrace Apartments on the date of March 18,1993 under the heading of “Grand Opening Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church” in the church news section. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth841642/m1/8/)

Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church moved into a building on property which had belonged to The Estate of Velma Sydney Butler and her daughter, Shirley Butler Green, on 2902 East Commerce Street in East Terrace Homes/East Terrace Apartments of San Antonio, Texas. Shirley Butler Green had put her mother’s property into an estate called The Estate of Velma Sydney Butler in the year of 1988 for the sum of $10 dollars by a warranty deed. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Volume 5836, Page 397)

However Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church would not stay at this location for very long. Shirley Butler Green had filed judgment against Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church for $15,000.00 on a claim of trespass on April 1, 1995. Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church sued Shirley Butler Green over a specific performance of an agreement to sell real estate to them in the summer of 1995 and summer of 1996. Both parties would be involved in a lawsuit called Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church vs. Shirley Butler Green. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Volume 6787, Page 154)

On the date of February 18, 1997, Shirley Butler Green appeared in person and by attorney to the 285th Judicial District Court for her lawsuit to be heard. Plaintiff and Cross-Defendant Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church did not appear despite due notice of the trial setting. Shirley Butler Green announced ready for trial and proceeded on the record to present evidence before the undersigned judge. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Volume 7202, Pages 590-593)


The judge ordered that Shirley Butler Green was to receive money from Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church. The judge ordered that Shirley Butler Green was to recover $18,000 dollars in rent from the last 2 years from 1995-1997 including prejudgement interest of $2,160. Plus prejudgment interest of $1,693.93 from April 1, 1995. The judge also issued a restraining order banning them from being within a 100 feet of the property. This meant Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church had to move out before 1997 ended. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Volume 7202, Pages 590 & 591)

The lis pendens filed against Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church was ruled null and void as the judge ruled she did not owe them any money. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Volume 7202, Page 591)

In 1998, San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) sent letters to Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church and Shirley Butler Green notifying both of them of their property was in the boundaries of the $48.8 million Hope VI project funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD’s plan was to revitalize the Springview Apartments/East Terrace Homes and demolish residences around the area as part of their urban renewal project. SAHA stated they were notified the authority "may acquire" their property by right of eminent domain. So Shirley Butler Green and her husband, Morgan Green, sold the building and property on a warranty deed to San Antonio Housing Authority on August 6, 1998. (Ref: Bexar County Land Records, Volume 7589, Page 1611)


Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church moved to a different location as ordered by the judge and had dissolved shortly afterwards.

Landowners and homeowners in the area lost a battle with the San Antonio Housing Authority to keep their buildings from being demolished. This included Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church. (Ref: San Antonio Express-News, January 12, 1997)

San Antonio Housing Authority currently owns the former Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church property. The City of San Antonio sends maintenance crew to mow the law at least on a monthly basis. (Ref: https://bexar.trueautomation.com/clientdb/Property.aspx?cid=110&prop_id=115588)

Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church was located at 2902 East Commerce Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78203.

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