History behind the abandoned church at 3342 Roland Road in San Antonio, Texas.

This news article will discuss, explore, and explain some of the behind the abandoned church at 3342 Roland Road in San Antonio, Texas.


The abandoned church at 3342 Roland Road was originally the Covington School which was constructed in 1926. Covington School was built and equipped at a cost of $348,000 dollars in 1926 on land which had belonged to Mrs. Deli Schramm on the East Side of San Antonio near where Stewart Elementary School is located today. 

 

Covington School was considered by county officials to be the best structure of its size for education. Covington School was one-room building which was then an elementary school and always had been. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth390143/m1/5/?q=%22Covington+School%22)

Mrs. Deli Schramm donated more land for Covington School in 1926 and 1927 near where S. J. Davis Middle School is located today. All of the land which had belonged to Mrs. Deli Schramm was given to W. W. White Common School District in 1929. This school was called the Covington School in honor of Frank Covington who had donated the land for large park adjoining the school property. (Ref: https://schools.saisd.net/page/043.about)

This property originally belonged to Adele Baller, Joe Baller, and Mrs. Deli Schramm. Although Mrs. Deli Schramm owned most of the property.

Another room was added to the building at a cost of $450 dollars in 1930. Both W. W. White School and Covington School increased their enrollments in 1938 to such an extent that a new school was necessary. So another addition was built on to Covington School to accommodate increasing enrollment. Covington School was shut down in 1944 when another school was opened near Sam Houston High School.

W. W. White Common School District sold the property of 3342 Roland Road to Adele Baller and Joe Baller in 1944. Adele Baller and Joe Baller sold the land to A. L. King and his wife, Mattie Mae King, in late August 1946. A Pentecostal church would use the building as a church. This Pentecostal church which was known as Pentecostal Church of God and Pentecostal Assembly Church. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/29613250/)

Adele Baller and Joe Baller sold the land to A. L. King and his wife, Mattie Mae King in late August 1946. A Pentecostal church called Pentecostal Church of God would use the building as a church. A. L. King and his wife, Mattie Mae King, gave 1.23 acres of land to Pentecostal Church of God on August 24, 1948. Samuel Peterson was trustee of Pentecostal Church of God. (Ref: Bexar County Deeds, Volume 2583, Page 426)

The church at 3342 Roland Road was organized, constructed, and erected in 1946. Timespan of construction for this church took less than a year since the building was a single story structure on a 479 square foot lot. There were only a handful of churches in the Sunny Slope area. So a church was highly needed. The church at 3342 Roland Road first opened in 1946. (Ref: https://www.redfin.com/TX/San-Antonio/3342-Roland-Rd-78210/home/48913000)

This church was actually a Pentecostal church which was known as Pentecostal Church of God and Pentecostal Assembly Church. Pentecostal Church of God was located at 3342 Roland Road, San Antonio, Texas, US 78210. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/29613250/)


This church was served as a Pentecostal church until 2001 as that was the year when Pentecostal Church of God shut down. The church became a Mexican church when Pentecostal Church of God sold the property to Rev. Juan Gomez/Pastor Juan Gomez and La Palabra de Vida Alliance, Inc/Palabra de Vida Alliance on a warranty deed on January 19, 2001. (Ref: Bexar County Deeds, Volume 9714, Page 1073)

Juan Gamez and Juan Gomez were directors of the domestic nonprofit corporation called La Palabra de Vida Alliance, Inc/Palabra de Vida Alliance aka IGLESIA LA PALABRA DE VIDA & ALLIANCE, INC. Charlie G. Wilburn served as secretary. Elizabeth Alaniz served as their treasurer. Patrick Vargas served as vice-president. (Ref: https://bizstanding.com/p/iglesia+la+palabra+de+vida++alliance+inc-166087912)

 

 

However this church did not operate without incident. Pentecostal pastor Juan Jesus Gamez, of La Palabra De Vida Church pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges he sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl and molested two others. He entered a plea agreement with prosecutors that caps his sentence at 20 years in prison. Interestingly enough and horrifying enough, he had a previous conviction but wasn't on sex offender list. The news of his molestation charge appeared in the San Antonio Express-News under the headlines of “Pastor pleads in assault of child”. (Ref: San Antonio Express-News, Pastor pleads in assault of child, August 20, 2003)

     “A pastor of an East Side church pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges he sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl and molested two others. The Pentecostal pastor, Juan Jesus Gamez, of La Palabra De Vida church at 3342 Roland Ave., entered a plea agreement with prosecutors that caps his sentence at 20 years in prison. Sentencing has been set for Sept. 29. The molestation conviction is the second for Gamez, 51. He was convicted in 1981 for molesting a 5-year-old.”

However he was later found guilty. Pentecostal pastor Juan Jesus Gamez of La Palabra De Vida Church was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl and molesting two others in 2003. District Court Judge Juanita Vasquez-Gardner issued the sentence. Prosecutors had urged a stiff penalty. This was because the molestation conviction was the second conviction for Juan Jesus Gamez, 51. He was convicted in 1981 for molesting a 5-year-old. (Ref: San Antonio Express-News, SAN ANTONIO MOLESTING PASTOR GETS 20-YEAR TERM)


Palabra de Vida Alliance kept operating as a nonprofit and church despite his conviction. Palabra de Vida Alliance would change the name of their church several times over the course of several years. Palabra de Vida Alliance operated the church under the name Just a Touch Ministries in 2007. However this was only for a brief period. Palabra de Vida Alliance operated the church under the name The Word of Life from 2011 to 2016.

Heaven and Earth Ministry services were held at this church during the early half of the 2010s decade. Mainly from 2010 to 2015. (Ref: https://www.mysanantonio.com/community/southside/news/article/Church-events-3853498.php)

The church was abandoned in 2016. The building was already in poor condition and a deteriorating state by then. The wooden casing embedded on the exterior walls of this church had been rotting away due to a lack of upkeep and neglect.

Several liens were places on the church and against Palabra de Vida Alliance of securing costs for securing an unoccupied building. 

The City of San Antonio placed 2 real estate liens against Palabra de Vida Alliance of securing costs for securing an unoccupied building twice in 2020. They declared the structure to be a danger to the public. Palabra de Vida Alliance had already been shut down for some time by then.

Palabra de Vida Alliance sold the church and property to City Church of El Paso Texas Inc on the date of 8/17/2020 on a quit claim deed and special warranty deed. City Church of El Paso Texas Inc currently owns the church and property. However they have no plans on renovating or using the church building. (Ref: https://bexar.trueautomation.com/clientdb/Property.aspx?cid=110&prop_id=454389)