Historical Timeline of Baptist University of the Americas
1947 – Present
1947 – 1948
Missionary Paul J. Siebenmann begins offering classes for thirty-two Hispanic students at The Goodwill Center under the auspices of the San Antonio Baptist Association. The school is called the Mexican Baptist Training School. The Goodwill Center was a ministry of First Baptist Church of San Antonio and later became Iglesia Bautista Buena Voluntad.
The school holds its formal opening on Jan. 2, 1948 at Palm Heights Baptist Church. This same year, the San Antonio Baptist Association Executive Board voted to establish the Mexican Baptist Training School as a formal school with 2 representatives from the Mexican Baptist Convention of Texas.
1949 - 1960
Dr. Calvin Guy “C.G.” Carter is elected president and serves until 1960. Under his administration, the name changes to the Mexican Baptist Bible Institute in 1950. Soon after, the school purchased its first building located at corner of West Martin and North Leona streets in downtown San Antonio. The institute’s first graduation was held on May 1952.
1960 - 1976
Dr. H.B. Ramsour is elected as the institute’s second president and serves until 1976. Dr. Ramsour uses his skills to secure additional denominational support and find a permanent home for the school. The search ends in 1963 when the 12-acre property on South Pan Am Expressway is purchased for $60,000 with funds from the Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas. Seven buildings are constructed during Dr. Ramsour’s tenure. Classes on the new campus begin in 1964.
1976 – 1988
Dr. Daniel J. Rivera is named the third president and the first Hispanic president of the institution, where he serves until 1988. His focus was on the school’s academic recognition and in 1982 he leads the name change from Mexican Baptist Bible Institute to Hispanic Baptist Theological Seminary. It is then that the school affiliates with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and offered accredited associate degrees. The eighth building on campus is built during this time.
1989 – 1993
In January of 1989, the Hispanic Baptist Theological Seminary officially ends its relationship with Southwestern and comes under the supervision of the State Missions Committee of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. In November of that same year, Dr. Josue Grijalva is elected president of HBTS and serves until he retires in 1993. During his tenure, HBTS affiliated with Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and Wayland Baptist University to offer two and four year certificates outside of San Antonio.
1993 – 1999
Dr. Omar Pachecano becomes the school’s fifth president and begins the process of accreditation with the Association of Biblical Higher Education. He also creates an independent governing board for HBTS apart from the State Missions Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
1999 – 2006
Dr. Albert L. Reyes becomes president and in compliance with state legislation, the school’s name becomes the Hispanic Baptist Theological School (HBTS). In 2000, the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education grants candidate membership to HBTS. Three years later, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board issues the certificate of authorization to grant BA degrees and the Association of Biblical Higher Education grants the school initial accreditation. Following accreditation, the BGCT approves name change to Baptist University of the Americas and begins offering a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies. In 2006, after receiving a multi-million-dollar gift, the university purchases a 78-acre tract of land and breaks ground on a new campus across I-35, the current location of the university. The construction of the Piper Student Village began right after.
2007 – 2016
Rene Maciel is installed as the seventh president of Baptist University of the Americas. Several months later, in January 2008, Piper Village opens as the new student housing community. Apartment buildings are dedicated as: the Paul and Katy Piper House, the John & Eula Mae Baugh House, the Josue Grijalva House and the Jose Rivas House. Later that year, the university begins offering additional bachelor degrees.
2016
BUA purchases a foreclosed medical office building a block away from the previous campus. The building was renovated and repurposed for educational purposes. On August 2nd, BUA held a grand opening of its new facility located at 7838 Barlite Blvd. Classes began in the fall 2016 semester.
2017 – Present
On July 20, 2017, Dr. Abraham Jaquez was elected as president and chief executive officer of Baptist University of the Americas. He became the eighth president in the 75-year history of the school. During his time as president, Dr. Jaquez had led the university through a significant reorganization, the establishment of an accredited Spanish theology degree, tremendous growth in online offerings and the complete transition to the current campus located at 2418 W. Ansley Blvd. The transition was completed after the sale of the building on Barlite Blvd., which resulted in the school becoming debt free, ready and flexible to grow for years to come. As of December 15, 2021, Baptist University of the Americas is once again in one location looking forward to what God will do in the future.