Interested in participating with us in a short term trip this Spring or Summer?  Check out the opportunities listed in our brochure! 

Click here to download a PDF document of trips we have planned to destinations including Memphis, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, North Africa, and Central Asia.

If you would like to sign up for more information or to start the application process for any of our Spring or Summer trips, click here.

If you have any other questions, email us.

You are invited to join with Christians across the greater Austin area for the Spring 2009 Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (Perspectives) course.  Beginning January 12 & 13, 2008, Perspectives will be offered Monday nights and Tuesday nights over fourteen weeks...at two different Austin area host locations (see below).  PerspectivesAustin 2009 represents an extraordinary collaboration of evangelical churches and Christian organizations across the greater Austin area.  Over the last two years, 800+ adults from 86 different churches representing 11 evangelical denominations came together for Perspectives!  This included Pastors, Pastoral staffs, Deacons, Elders, ministry leaders, business leaders, housewives, college and senior high school students. 

For those of you unfamiliar...Perspectives is a dynamic, life changing experience where students will have an opportunity to discover what God is doing around the world and consider their part in His purposes.  Perspectives is a unique opportunity to understand God's intentions and actions in the world, in a dynamic and internationally acclaimed 14 week study program.  Perspectives is way more than just a "course", it is an encounter, an experience, an adventure with God through the eyes and experiences of Biblical historians, church planters, seminary professors and leading missiologists from around the world!  It will truly live up to its name by significantly impacting your "perspective" on God and His purposes.  Perspectives is divided into 4 primary modules or "perspectives".....

Biblical (God's unchanging purpose for the nations and His revealed Glory)

Historical (the expansion and pioneers of Christianity and the church through history)

Cultural (challenges to spreading the Gospel, church-planting, and world evangelism)

Strategic (finishing the Biblical mandate of the Great Commission and the involvement of all the peoples of the world). 

Perspectives is offered throughout the year at locations around the world. Over 90,000 people have taken this course in North America alone, with over 12,000 alumni in New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, and other countries. Over 8,000 students at 150+ locations participate in Perspectives training each year! 

Visit us at www.PerspectivesAustin.org for complete details and to register online.  Online registration is now open for Spring 2009 and an early registration discount applies until 12/19/2008.  The first two Perspectives classes are FREE with no obligation!

If you have any questions, if you need further information, or if you would like promotional materials for your church, please let us know ASAP.

** North Location – New Hope Community Church (Round Rock near La Frontera)

** Central Location – Hill Country Bible Church – UT (adjacent to the U.T. campus)

** NEW! – New Braunfels / San Marcos

For  questions, see the PerspectivesAustin website or email the Coordinators.

Here's what we're asking of hosts:

1.  Open your home to a group of students (6-8) on November 27^th or 28^th.
2.  Provide a traditional Thanksgiving Meal for them
3.  Give a brief explanation of Thanksgiving and its Christian Roots / Meaning.
4.  Follow up with those with whom deeper relationship seems possible.
5.  Prayerfully consider additional gatherings in your home again for Christmas and or Easter where we will share the Christmas Story and the Resurrection miracle.

To sign up for this, email Joey Shaw as soon as possible.

After the rest of the team left, I was there – the only white-skinned, blue-eyed human within miles (and kilometers, for that matter). Over the course of the summer, God began to enlarge my heart for these people. I made some friendships that can never be replaced as well as some memories that will never fade.  When I returned, I met with a few friends that had been on the first team. We knew that God had called us to continue to serve the country…even if we weren’t actually there. 

The pieces slowly started to fall into place for us to start a nonprofit to raise money to build a children’s center there. Over the past few years, we have been able to raise more than $50,000. The entire first phase of the center is $80,000.  In June of this year, we went back to break ground on the children’s center. It was hands down one of the most amazing experiences of my life. We stood in an empty field surrounded with hundreds of ecstatic and hopeful Ugandans. It was the looks of “finally…someone has noticed us” that would bring tears to my eyes. It was a day that none of us could have ever dreamed of. It was bigger and so much better than our wildest and most extravagant dreams for that day. 

As I was sitting there before the ceremony started, God began speaking to me... “Amanda, not only is this day bigger than what you hoped…I AM. I am so much bigger than anything you could dream on even your best day.” Romans 11:33 reminds us of how much better God is than us. His ways are always better. His plans are always better. And mine will never compare. 

“Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

---- 

Interested in knowing more how God is moving in Uganda through Amanda? Come hear Godfrey Wanamitsa, Director of Arise Africa, share the latest on the spiritual health of Uganda and how you can be involved.

When: November 12, 2008, 7:00 PM
Where: Equipping Room at Austin Stone Offices

For more information, email Amanda Finnell.

Constance is doing much better. She is walking very haltingly and slow but much sooner than anyone anticipated.  She has been in the hospital 3 weeks and had 2 surgeries.  She will be here another week and will have another plastic surgery in a few months. To keep up with Constance's updates, see her blog. 

Thank you to all who have been praying for her.  Thanks especially to the elementary school class in Botswana, which is led by Austin Stone partner Andrea Murray, who is praying for Constance!

Title: On the Count of Zero (Sifir Dedigimde)

A young girl loses a precious book she has borrowed from her teacher. The girl, unable to remember where and how she lost the book, is driven into depression, and taken to a psychiatrist by her best friend. As the psychiatrist helps the girl find the bag through hypnosis, she unexpectedly comes across a strange man in the hypnosis world. The door to mysterious events is pushed ajar with the mysterious man encountered during hypnosis, and an thrilling chase starts in the real world.Forgotten mysterious people and events will surface as the story enters the realms of traditional Turkish fairy-tales and the world of hypnosis.

Can you spot them in this picture??

Constance Dykhuizen, has been a part of our church Body for several years. She left in August to move to Thailand to help end human trafficking in young girls. Last Tuesday, Constance was severely injured as she observed a protest rally in Bangkok. A tear gas canister exploded at her feet, causing extensive injuries and burns to her legs and feet. Please pray for her. Also, please read her praises of God's protection for her on her blog. She is unable to walk and we are praying for no infection, she will need more surgery, and will probably be in the hospital for 3 weeks.

Enjoy and learn about Mediterranean food and culture. See here for more details.  

John - student.doc

Fariz - student.doc