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Bio
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Buckner
Fanning
is known throughout
San Antonio
for his unique, positive, and inclusive ministry.
In 1959, he came to
San Antonio
to begin the first of forty two years as Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.
In that time, the church grew to over 10,000 members and was
established as a prime example of how a church gets involved in the
community. Through Buckner’s
leadership, Trinity created numerous local mission programs to improve the
quality of life for countless groups in
San Antonio
and reached the world with numerous world-wide mission endeavors,
including 30 trips behind the Iron Curtain.
Buckner may be best known for his extensive television ministry in
which his unique 30 second “spots” were seen, on average, over one
million times a week for over 25 years in
San Antonio
,
South Texas
, and throughout the world. During
his tenure as pastor, Buckner directed the raising of over 23 million
dollars in capital funds. His
focus on interdenominational cooperation can be represented by the fact
that Trinity was the only
Protestant
Church
in
America
to have a prayer service for the Pope’s visit to
America
in 1985. In addition, he
received another honorary Doctorate from the University of the Incarnate
Word. Buckner and Rabbi Stahl
have led several “inter-faith” trips to the
Holy Land
as well.
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| In addition
to his ministry through Trinity, Buckner continued his ministry through
the
Buckner Fanning Evangelistic Foundation which he established in 1951 as a
501(c)3 public, non-profit foundation.
For over fifty years, this Foundation has fulfilled the mission of
proclaiming the Gospel and ministering to the spiritual and physical needs
of people in the community and throughout the world. In 1975, the
Foundation raised the funds necessary to produce a nation wide television
documentary featuring Buckner revisiting
Nagasaki
,
Japan
on the 30th
ann
iversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb.
As a Marine in the 2nd Marine Division, Buckner occupied
Nagasaki
for the first year after the dropping of the bomb.
This documentary aired nationally on NBC and received the Gold
Medal at the New York Film Festival as the finest religious documentary of
the year.
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Additional
one hour television specials have been produced through the Foundation
including one highlighting the 50th
ann
iversary of Pearl Harbor in 1991 featuring Buckner, as a former Marine in
World War II, speaking and interviewing
Pearl Harbor
survivors. Today,
Buckner F
ann
ing
’s ministry is even more exciting and effective as ever.
He now operates his ministry solely through The
Buckner F
ann
ing
Evangelistic Foundation, focusing on three main areas of ministry. |
| The
Buckner F
ann
ing
Christian School at Mission Springs is an
interdenominational school for children for Pre-K through the 8th grade.
Opening in September 1998, the school has grown from 25 students to
over 180 students today. This
unique school combines a highly academic education, utilizing Core
Knowledge along with other effective curriculums, with a grace-filled,
spiritual, and Christian environment that nurtures and guides each child
to become all that God has intended for them and to prepare them for their
future. With
an incredibly qualified faculty, the school is a place where
children “learn to love and love to learn.” |
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Preaching, speaking, and serving throughout the
community has always been at the core of Buckner’s
God-given calling. He has
preached in churches representing over 10 different denominations
including a monthly “Gospel Brunch” at Gruene Hall.
He continues to speak, raising awareness and support for countless
non-profit and community organizations.
Some of these organizations include: Baptist Children’s Home -
Any Baby Can - South Texas Children’s Home - City Year - Fellowship of
Christian Athletes – Boysville - University of The Incarnate Word -
United Way - Oklahoma Children’s Home - Hawaii Baptist Academy - YMCA -
Respite Care of San Antonio - Wesley Community Center - San Antonio
Chamber of Commerce - Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner - Leadership Seminar for
Texas A & M - Chaplain’s Seminar - Elderly Care Givers - Interfaith
prayer service after the remodeling of San Fernando Cathedral – Mental
Health Association – Texas Bar
Association – Spurs
annual post-game inner-faith service. |
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Buckner has
Chaired events for several organizations such as, The San Antonio Food
Bank and the Billy Graham Crusades in 1968 and 1998.
He has
produced video presentations for the Council on Independent Living,
Unicorn Centers
,
Hawaii
Baptist Academy,
Downtown
Youth
Center
, Orphans for Christ, Ruschlikon Seminary, Flood relief for
Wheatly
Heights
, and Respite Care of San Antonio.
Buckner has
been a board member for: Christus Santa Rosa - Baptist Health System -
City Year - Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Southern Baptist Mission
Board -
Baylor
University
– Sonterra Board of Development.
Several
awards Buckner has received are: The
Tree of Life Award from The Jewish National Fund – One of the Ten Most
Influential People in
Bexar
County
– Clergyman of the Year – Family of the Year – The Presidents’
Summit
for
America
’s Future in
Philadelphia
. |
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Reaching the world through television is one of
Buckner Fanning
’s unique gifts that God has used to bless people in all areas of life.
His inspirational 30 second TV spots have been seen for over 27
years by countless thousands of viewers in
San Antonio
,
South Texas
, and throughout the world. In
that time these spots have been seen over one
billion times. These short
"words of encouragement" give viewers a positive word of hope
and direction through our relationship with God. Because of
the incredible impact these spots have made on so many and diverse people
in all areas of life, it is Buckner’s prayer to continue and increase
the scope and impact of this ministry for the spiritual health and
well-being of the community. |
| 100% of
Buckner’s ministries, through the
Buckner Fanning Evangelistic Foundation, are supported financially by
generous and caring people in the community.
The Foundation is not supported by any church, organization, or
religious denomination. These
ministries continue and flourish through one person and a time, feeling
led by their God and their heart, to give so others may receive.
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You may
contact
Buckner Fanning
at:
The
Buckner Fanning
Evangelistic Foundation
<
Buckner Fanning
Ministries>
975 Mission
Springs
San Antonio
,
TX
78258 210-402-6905 buckner@bucknerfanning.org
The
Buckner Fanning
Evangelistic Foundation Board presently consists of: Dr.
Buckner Fanning
, Martha Fanning
,
Gordon Hartman
, Mertie Wood, Edwina Youngblood,
Michael Miller
, Robert Tips, Claire Averyt, and Stephen Fanning
.
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