Everyone knows that churches exist to feed the spiritual growth of their congregations but they also exist to feed the needs of those in need in the local San Marcos area.
For ages church leaders have taken it upon themselves to help the needy in any way they could. In the past, congregations would take in widows and orphans, help feed and clothe the poor and give to the community in many other ways. This is still true today but often not well known to the public. Many people are well aware of humanitarian work lead by religious organizations that takes place on the national and global levels such as World Hope and Habitat for Humanity. Church congregations of all denominations financially sponsor many of these organizations or they financially help those individuals who are involved with such groups. Religious leaders started organizations such as the Salvation Army and Alcoholics Annonymous. These leaders wanted to help others in a very material and personal way. They were also able to do these deeds on a national platform. These organizations didn't start out that way though. They started off small. Many of them even started with a single person and a passion for helping others in need, whether those needs be material or spiritual.
The Salvation Army started with just one man, William Booth. Booth believed in helping people no matter their background or social standing. Many of the humanitarian efforts here in San Marcos have started in similar ways with either a singular person or singular church. Many in the San Marcos area are unaware of these local efforts and who is providing the help. Many are also unaware of what religion other than Christianity is doing in this local community of students, professors and natives. The Multicultural Student Affairs office here at Texas State University has offered many ways for students to get involved with the San Marcos community in positive and helpful ways. They even offer fun events for people of different faiths to get together, better understand each other and help out the local community and communities in other parts of the U.S. that are in need of assistance.
The Catholic Student Center is another on-campus organization that exists to serve the Catholic community in San Marcos and to contribute to the city whenever and however it can. "Our Catholic Student Organization is currently sponsoring an annual Thanksgiving food drive for needy local families. Once a month, we have a special Sunday collection for money to help support the St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. John's Catholic Church. This group assists the poor in the San Marcos area," said Melinda Habingreither, associate director at the H.L. Grant Catholic Student Center and St. Jude Chapel. Habingreither also noted that the Catholic Student Center is open to all residents of the San Marcos area, not just students of Texas State. The Catholic Student Center is a prime example of what many churches in San Marcos and in other parts of the country are doing in the community.
Many of the Christian organizations are better known than other religions and what they do in the community. San Marcos does not have a very large Jewish community but those in that small group are trying to change that by getting involved with the city and other Jewish people. "Because Texas State and the city of San Marcos is lacking a Jewish community, the current goal of Hillel at Texas State is to build Jewish community on campus, " said Danielle Linzer president of Hillel at Texas State. Linzer also said that her group is not currently a part of any community projects but they do plan to start "a mini-canned food drive for members. Big community projects will be discussed next semester. We are still trying to organize our organization." The Jewish community is just getting started here in San Marcos and it is exciting to see where they will be in the next few years or so. According to the Torah, "If there will be a poor man among you... you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand toward your poor brother; you shall open your hand to him and shall give him enough for his needs," Deuteronomy 15.7.
Despite the small Jewish community, San Marcos does have a good-sized Mormon populace. Nationally, the Mormon community has come under a lot of fire for some of their religious practices but many of these odd practices, such as polygamy, are not the norm for many Mormons. "We are not affiliated with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and we do not practice polygamy," said Kris Brown music education major at Texas State and Mormon Church member. In fact, Brown said that his church is involved with many humanitarian projects here in town. "Currently, my church is volunteering at the local San Marcos Food Bank every Wednesday. We also donate money every month to both members and non members who can not afford to buy groceries or pay bills," said Brown. Brown wants people to know that the Mormon Church is so much more than what many of us see on TV and read about in the headlines. "We are involved in Bobcat Build, Habitat for humanity, the Food Bank, and Crop Walk," said Brown. According to the Book of Mormon, "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing," 1 Corinthians 13.2. 
Another misunderstood religious group, in America, is that of Islam. This is another group that suffers from the few radicals that exist in different sects of Islam. According to their website, the Muslim Student Association is involved with community service projects around San Marcos and they are even willing to help out students, in between leases, who are in need of a place to stay. Their website offers information about Islam and how you can get involved with Islam and the community. According to the Quran, "You shall spend in the cause of GOD; do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction. You shall be charitable; GOD loves the charitable," Quran 2:195.
Religion has been misunderstood for centuries but what modern day followers want people to know is that their main purpose, in life, is to help those who cannot help themselves. "We welcome people from all faith backgrounds. Many of the students who come to the Catholic Student Center aren't Catholic, but they feel comfortable here," said Habingreither. "Hillel doesn't push beliefs onto anybody. We are merely a place for Jews to be among other Jews. We do Jewish events, but individual beliefs are entirely up to the individual themselves. The Jews are like a family, and it's important for us to stick together," said Linzer. There are no excuses for not being involved in San Marcos. Anyone can go by their local church and donate food, clothes, money and personal time to help those in the community who are in need of these items. These local religious organizations are willing to work with people of all different kinds of backgrounds and faiths for the greater good of San Marcos, the nation and the world. According to the Bible, "When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me," Luke 18.22.
For ages church leaders have taken it upon themselves to help the needy in any way they could. In the past, congregations would take in widows and orphans, help feed and clothe the poor and give to the community in many other ways. This is still true today but often not well known to the public. Many people are well aware of humanitarian work lead by religious organizations that takes place on the national and global levels such as World Hope and Habitat for Humanity. Church congregations of all denominations financially sponsor many of these organizations or they financially help those individuals who are involved with such groups. Religious leaders started organizations such as the Salvation Army and Alcoholics Annonymous. These leaders wanted to help others in a very material and personal way. They were also able to do these deeds on a national platform. These organizations didn't start out that way though. They started off small. Many of them even started with a single person and a passion for helping others in need, whether those needs be material or spiritual.
The Salvation Army started with just one man, William Booth. Booth believed in helping people no matter their background or social standing. Many of the humanitarian efforts here in San Marcos have started in similar ways with either a singular person or singular church. Many in the San Marcos area are unaware of these local efforts and who is providing the help. Many are also unaware of what religion other than Christianity is doing in this local community of students, professors and natives. The Multicultural Student Affairs office here at Texas State University has offered many ways for students to get involved with the San Marcos community in positive and helpful ways. They even offer fun events for people of different faiths to get together, better understand each other and help out the local community and communities in other parts of the U.S. that are in need of assistance.
The Catholic Student Center is another on-campus organization that exists to serve the Catholic community in San Marcos and to contribute to the city whenever and however it can. "Our Catholic Student Organization is currently sponsoring an annual Thanksgiving food drive for needy local families. Once a month, we have a special Sunday collection for money to help support the St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. John's Catholic Church. This group assists the poor in the San Marcos area," said Melinda Habingreither, associate director at the H.L. Grant Catholic Student Center and St. Jude Chapel. Habingreither also noted that the Catholic Student Center is open to all residents of the San Marcos area, not just students of Texas State. The Catholic Student Center is a prime example of what many churches in San Marcos and in other parts of the country are doing in the community.Many of the Christian organizations are better known than other religions and what they do in the community. San Marcos does not have a very large Jewish community but those in that small group are trying to change that by getting involved with the city and other Jewish people. "Because Texas State and the city of San Marcos is lacking a Jewish community, the current goal of Hillel at Texas State is to build Jewish community on campus, " said Danielle Linzer president of Hillel at Texas State. Linzer also said that her group is not currently a part of any community projects but they do plan to start "a mini-canned food drive for members. Big community projects will be discussed next semester. We are still trying to organize our organization." The Jewish community is just getting started here in San Marcos and it is exciting to see where they will be in the next few years or so. According to the Torah, "If there will be a poor man among you... you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand toward your poor brother; you shall open your hand to him and shall give him enough for his needs," Deuteronomy 15.7.
Despite the small Jewish community, San Marcos does have a good-sized Mormon populace. Nationally, the Mormon community has come under a lot of fire for some of their religious practices but many of these odd practices, such as polygamy, are not the norm for many Mormons. "We are not affiliated with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and we do not practice polygamy," said Kris Brown music education major at Texas State and Mormon Church member. In fact, Brown said that his church is involved with many humanitarian projects here in town. "Currently, my church is volunteering at the local San Marcos Food Bank every Wednesday. We also donate money every month to both members and non members who can not afford to buy groceries or pay bills," said Brown. Brown wants people to know that the Mormon Church is so much more than what many of us see on TV and read about in the headlines. "We are involved in Bobcat Build, Habitat for humanity, the Food Bank, and Crop Walk," said Brown. According to the Book of Mormon, "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing," 1 Corinthians 13.2. 
Another misunderstood religious group, in America, is that of Islam. This is another group that suffers from the few radicals that exist in different sects of Islam. According to their website, the Muslim Student Association is involved with community service projects around San Marcos and they are even willing to help out students, in between leases, who are in need of a place to stay. Their website offers information about Islam and how you can get involved with Islam and the community. According to the Quran, "You shall spend in the cause of GOD; do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction. You shall be charitable; GOD loves the charitable," Quran 2:195.Religion has been misunderstood for centuries but what modern day followers want people to know is that their main purpose, in life, is to help those who cannot help themselves. "We welcome people from all faith backgrounds. Many of the students who come to the Catholic Student Center aren't Catholic, but they feel comfortable here," said Habingreither. "Hillel doesn't push beliefs onto anybody. We are merely a place for Jews to be among other Jews. We do Jewish events, but individual beliefs are entirely up to the individual themselves. The Jews are like a family, and it's important for us to stick together," said Linzer. There are no excuses for not being involved in San Marcos. Anyone can go by their local church and donate food, clothes, money and personal time to help those in the community who are in need of these items. These local religious organizations are willing to work with people of all different kinds of backgrounds and faiths for the greater good of San Marcos, the nation and the world. According to the Bible, "When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me," Luke 18.22.
Photos by Donna Nall
