bio


	Click here to see the 30 second spots which have been shown around the world.

Once referred to in Newsweek as ``up-to-date, warmhearted and direct", Dr. Buckner Fanning is known throughout the community and the world for his devoted work in evangelism and Christian service.

In 1947, after having served three and a half years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Buckner Fanning was called into the ministry. His first evangelistic meeting was held in a stadium filled with 15,000 people and his life since then has continued with that same excitement. In evangelistic work for the next 10 years, Buckner gained nationwide recognition. Billy Graham referred to him as ``the ideal pastor...a pastor evangelist whom God has greatly used."

Buckner and his wife Martha came to Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas in 1959. Under his pastoral leadership, Trinity's membership has flourished with a church membership of over 10,000. During this time the church has fostered many ministries which reach out to the community to help those in need. The Alpha Home, which Dr. Fanning helped create over 30 years ago, has helped women alcoholics from all over the nation. A full counseling ministry with a professional counseling staff helps people from all walks of life through grief-support, divorce recovery, and numerous 12-step programs. The Ruble Center offers continuing education classes to the community as well as many other activities.

Dr. Fanning's innovative style of communication has led him to a successful television ministry consisting of 30-second ``vignettes" aired locally and nationwide as well as several television specials. Buckner has had the privilege of speaking in over 30 foreign countries with many of those visits being to Eastern Europe.

Well-respected for his community involvement with numerous religious, civic, and philanthropic organizations, Buckner has received many distinguishing awards for his service and for his sincere commitment given to those areas of concern.

The Fanning family consists of Buckner Fanning, his wife Martha (formerly Martha Howell) a graduate of SMU and a soprano soloist and recording artist, son Michael who has a Ph.D. in Old Testament and Archaeology from Baylor University and his wife Harriet and their two children, son Stephen who is a Baylor graduate and is the television producer of the T.V. Ministry and his wife Debbie and their two children, and daughter Lisa who is a graduate of Incarnate Word College and a counselor at Boysville of San Antonio and her husband George; all reside in San Antonio.

EDUCATION:

1943Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas, Texas

1949Baylor University, B.A. Degree

1954Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Th.M. Degree

HONORARY DOCTOR'S DEGREES:

Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas

Howard Payne University, Brownwood, Texas

DENOMINATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:

On 10 member Board representing San Antonio at the ``President's Summit for America's Future." Serves on Santa Rosa Health Care Board, San Antonio Area Foundation Violence Prevention, San Antoino Sports Foundation, Martin Luther King Commission, Honorary Chairperson for the Food Bank of San Antonio and Mental Health Association. Advisory Board of George W. Truett Seminary, Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and other state and south-wide agencies.

HONORS:

Spirit of Youth Award from Boys' Town of America, Clergyman of the Year (1995) selected by the Religious Heritage of America. Churchman of the Year, San Antonio Community of Churches, ``Tree of Life" Award from the National Jewish Fund, Honorary Sergeant Major in U.S. Marine Corps., Chaplain for the Former Texas Rangers Association, Distinguished Alumnus Awards from Woodrow Wilson High School, Distinguished Alumnus Award from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the Department of the Army, selected by Business Weekly as one of the ten most influential persons in San Antonio.