Urban ministry

Last night at The Austin Stone, Chris Tomlin taught us a song by a band from Belfast, Northern Ireland called Bluetree. It recognizes Who is in charge and at work in this city, and in cities around the world. My favorite thought is that there are still greater things He will do amongst us! You can find the song on iTunes by searching “God of this City” or Bluetree. Check out these lyrics:

You’re God of this city, you’re the King of these people, you’re the Lord of this nation, you are…

You’re the Light in this darkness, you’re the Hope to the hopeless, you’re the Peace to the restless, you are…

For there is no one like our God, there is no one like You, God!

Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city!

Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done here.

You’re the Lord of creation, The creator of all things you’re the King above all kings, you are…

You’re the Strength in the weakness, You are Love to the broken, You’re the Joy in the sadness, you are…

For there is no one like our God, there is no one like you, God!

Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city!

Where glory shines from hearts alive with praise for You and love for You in this city.

Thank you very much for your prayers for our Urban Submersion Weekend. We had around 40 friends come and did some wonderful work around the community! Our prayer is that God will use this time to cultivate servant hearts in His people, and give them a vision for how they can serve Him in our city.

The pics below show some dedicated volunteers punching holes in the parking lot to make fence post spots for His-Story, and our CrossTrainers program AWANA game time.

Today is the beginning of our 3 day mission trip, serving in East Austin. We call it “Urban Submersion Weekend” (USW). Details of Urban Submersion

Believers from around the city will gather beginning at noon today to grow spiritually by: humbly stepping out of their comfort zone, serving in the nearby community, showing God’s love to others, and experiencing what it means to reach out and serve God.

They will eat, sleep, and serve out of the facilities God has given Mission: Possible! Austin, and glorify Him through each of our 3 areas of ministry: Homeless (Street Ministry), Neighborhood (Community), and Children (Project Intercept).

In conjunction with USW, we will have our first work day in preparation for our His-Story presentation! Please pray for those attending the weekend. Praise God for the beautiful weather, and pray that those who are serving would be given a vision for how God can use them here in East Austin – and those who are served would see the face of Jesus Christ and be drawn to Him.

Although some of the printed phrasing used was slightly inaccurate, it’s fun to see the media sharing what is going on under the bridge at 7th street! This was on Fox 7 News at 10pm November 11th….
Check it out:

Veterans at Church Under the Bridge Clip

Above is “The Arch” in St. Louis, Missouri, and our hotel behind it. Tim Sr. and I actually traveled the 640 ft. to the top of this slightly swaying marvel of steel and concrete to survey the city and the Mississippi River.

Thank you so much for your prayers for safe travel and continued programming in my absence. The Faithful One granted safety and a realization of whose work it was to be done. : )

Attending the CCDA conference was so encouraging to me! This Association exists to inspire and train followers of Christ who seek to bear witness to the Kingdom of God by reclaiming and restoring under-resourced communities.

By far, my most cherished experience was worship with The Body of Christ who attended. I sang, clapped, cried, laughed, and danced with brothers and sisters from inner city Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Philly, New Mexico, Dallas, Mississippi, and many places where people are dying without The Truth. Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Non-denominational, Lutheran, Church of Christ – all fell away. The unity of the fellowship of The Spirit, and the joy of redemption and relationship with such an amazing Father trumped all else. What a beautiful glimpse of The Bride…

We attended different “break out” style sessions – designed to educate and equip in the areas most needed and relevant to each participant. God spoke to me through the testimony of a brother named Franklin from Chicago. He is now in his 30’s, married with 2 little girls, and serving God full time in inner-city Chicago through a children’s ministry called “By the Hand.” www.bythehand.org

Franklin grew up in the projects of Chicago, raised by a single mom. His only salvation from gang membership was to be on the basketball team. When Franklin was 16, a white business man in a a suit and tie reached out to him in a restaurant one evening. Franklin decided to receive Christ as Lord of his life that night. For the next 2 years, Don (the business owner) poured into Franklin’s life. He would drive an hour every morning to pick Franklin up at 6am go through discipleship material and pray for him. Franklin told us that Don was “his Paul,” and he was “Don’s Timothy.” Don became his spiritual father.

Because Don included Franklin in his routine family life, Franklin learned what committed parents and children seeking the Lord looked like. With Don’s encouragement, Franklin attended Moody Bible Institute and followed God’s calling him back to the familiar, dysfunctional neighborhood in order to rescue and train children who are lost – as he was in his youth.

The God of Restoration has placed us strategically in East Austin to raise up the next generation for His Name. Thank you for being obedient to His call.