Macario Zapata

We are here to celebrate the life and legacy left by my Great Grandfather Pastor Macario Zapata, he was born on February 10th of 1931 in Fentress, TX. He lived a long life of 90 years. His mother was a single young woman named Luisa Zapata. He lived with his mother and his half sisters and worked very hard. He was born into a humble family. As he grew his favorite hobbies were fishing at the lake. My great grandfather met his wife Benita Hernandez in San Marcos TX. They met at a dance hall, eventually fell in love, got married and bought their first home off Montopolis in Austin, in the 1960’s is where they started their family. He worked as a mechanic and handyman at Krauzley Motors during his young adulthood.

My great grandmother Benita after having her first two children Joe and Edward, she started to seek God. At this time great Grandpa was not surviving the Lord. I’m sure the weight of everything was weighing on my great grandmother. She began seeking God and attending church. Grandpa was curious why his wife was going to church so often. So one day he decided to go to church to see what it was about. He sat in the back of course, that is when God touched him. That is when he started his journey of walking with the Lord. The first of many answered prayers for my great grandmother. Shortly after attending Templo Hermosa for some time he felt a burden to build a church himself to spread the gospel. They moved to Lott St. He built a room for his family and started building his church.

He was praying that God would send a pastor to lead the church. He would outreach to the neighbors, the stores, and his church grew quickly.

There was a time that his daughter Naomi became very anemic, both my great grandparents prayed for healing and god answered. Grandpa would pray for understanding of the word and to read. He only had an elementary level education. God answered his prayer once again and gave him the ability to read and understand his world. These are some of the many miracles he would talk about.

As their faith grew so did their ministry. Grandpa started to build the 2nd church at the corner of Lott Ave. Through this process there were many miracles as people would bless him to help pay for the materials and the church property. God never left him and always provided. At times it was just my great grandparents and their children building but God was always at their side. He also got a 1955 school bus to pick up brothers and sisters throughout Austin. They started to attend conventions in nearby cities. He would take the bus to Mexico for services and to evangelize. Grandpa encouraged his sons to learn instruments and take part in the services. As his family grew so did the talent in his 9 children. Joe, Edwardo, Maria, Elba, Amelia , Noemi, Marcario Zapata jr, Lydia, and Ester. God blessed each of his children with different gifts.

As the family grew, more were saved and baptized. Including his son in laws, daughter in laws and grandchildren. The legacy I can witness is that my great grandparents loved the Lord and encouraged their entire family to live for God just as they did. Their entire life was dedicated to working in the ministry and saving souls. My great grandfather Pastored at Templo Marantha Apostolic Church for over 40 years till the love of his life passed away then he retired from his ministry.

While he still had strength he would visit any church he could, praising the Lord and shouting HALLELUJAH!! He spent his final years in the home that he built till the Lord took him home. He is survived by his 8 living children, 30 grandchildren 66 great grandchildren, and 19 great great grandchildren. Thanks to my great grandparents who sowed the word, we are all standing here today reaping what he sowed so many years ago.

As the word of God says… Psalm 126:5 “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!!!”

I stand here today as a 3rd generation Apostolic, One God Believing, tongue talking, holy rollers, isle running, tambourine shaker, bible thumper THANKS to my great grandparents. They always leaned on God for strength regardless of what came their way and never gave up. As my great grandfather, Pastor Macario Zapata’s famous words were,”I know we have been here for 3 hours or more and I know it's hot in here but believe me, it’s hotter in Hell.”

So, let’s keep on praising the Lord!!