Right now, we need a few women to meet this important childcare need.  Childcare is a real ministry, not only to the mothers, but to their children as well.  If you are able to commit to at least one semester, please contact Karen Evans or Sharon Hampton. You will need to have a background check and go through some training prior to our first meeting on Monday, Sept. 13.  This is a paid position, but the real treasure is in Heaven because this ministry reaches women and their families who have come from "the ends of the earth"!

We are looking for a handful of volunteers to serve international students every Wednesday afternoon for a couple of hours in an English conversation club. The class will start Sept. 1, every Wed. from 2:45 - 4:15 at the Baptist Student Ministry. The volunteers are asked to help set up the room, facilitate discussion on a variety of topics including Christian holidays, beliefs, marriage and dating, education, movies and entertainment, etc., and basically and most importantly show the love of Christ to these students.This is a really "low bar" opportunity to get engaged with the nations here in Austin! If you are interested, please let us know by emailing makedisciples@austinstone.org!  

Whether you are preparing to serve in a developing country or just thinking about walking with your underserved neighbors in the city, we've found this resource to be a valuable tool. When Helping Hurts, a book by Steve Corbett and Dr. Brian Fikkert, covers a spectrum of topics from a biblical theology of poverty to practical tips and tools for development.

This book is currently available at our resource table on Sundays. 

You can also learn more about the book and various accompanying study guides and classes by visiting their website: www.whenhelpinghurts.org

After just 2 days at Camp Olive Grove I found myself thinking, man, I really want to come back next year…but made myself wait to verbalize it until after I’d been there at least a week! When talking with one of my co-counselors, Jeremy, about my love for camp and how much I enjoyed every minute at Olive Grove he said something profound. “It’s because we’re living in community like the Bible talks about.” WOW. He hit the nail on the head. For 2.5 weeks I got to eat, work, play, sleep, pray, worship and study the Bible with other believers daily. Basically in our own small way, we were a living example of the Acts 2 church:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:42-47

Not only that, but we had all come to camp on “mission” for Christ. To serve the kids at camp with everything we had.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." – Matt 28:19-20

And God honored our/His mission!

One story I want to share is about a girl named Suzan. Suzan is 15 and has been going to Olive Grove for several years. Two years ago she wanted to accept Christ and profess her faith by Baptism, but was too afraid of what her father would say/do, so she suppressed these desires. One night at camp we were sitting at dinner talking about another camper who was to get baptized when Suzan told me that she had wanted to get baptized for a while. We started talking about the importance of public profession of faith and why she wanted to do it and I could tell she was certain. The one thing holding her back was her father who is Muslim.

Her mom is Christian and is supportive of Suzan, but she required Suzan to get her father’s blessing. It is a camp policy to call the parents to get their consent before baptizing, so we knew we’d need to call Suzan’s father. She was super nervous about this and we just started praying right at that moment for God to work in her father’s life to give him understanding towards her decision. We couldn’t reach the parent’s that night, so we prayed for 24 hours. The next evening we got word that by God’s favor he had said YES! And Suzan would finally be baptized along with 6 others from camp [pictured below]! Praise the Lord!!! This situation really opened my eyes to the freedoms we have in America to choose our faith. And how real oppression is in other parts of the world!

The verse God most used to change my life during this trip is Matt 10:39, Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For the first time in my life I was faced with the question, “What does it look like for me to ‘lose’ my life?” I’m still asking myself this question every day. It’s a really hard concept for me to grasp, but Lord willing, I understand it more and more each time I come before Him for guidance. This trip was truly life changing for the kids and for me. I had no idea I had so much to learn about God’s character, my sin, and His design for our lives and the church.

The second avenue The Austin Stone has taken with refugee ministry is the Village Community Center. The Village Apartments on Lamar have a relatively large population of refugees as it is one of several complexes where refugees are resettled by Refugee Service of Texas (RST) in Austin.

In contrast to refugee family adoption, the Community Center enables us to impact the lives of many refugee families as opposed to one.The Austin Stone, along with Westover Hills Church of Christ and Hope in the City, have rented out an apartment in the Villages, known as the Village Community Center.

The front room has been transformed into a multi-purpose room of sorts with whiteboards, sewing machines and computer access. From here, refugee children get help with their homework, ESL classes are taught, and Burmese women learn to use sewing machines.

The back room has become a children’s area, furnished with a blackboard and chalk, TV/VCR and videos, various toys and games, and lots of books. Here children can play after they are finished with homework or while their parents are learning in the front room. There are approximately 10 refugee children who regularly take advantage of this opportunity and receive help with their homework.

The Village Community Center, maybe most importantly, serves as a safe and loving place for refugees, a place where they are met with friendly faces and loving conversation.

Through partnerships with other churches, hundreds of refugees have experienced American Culture through two Christmas parties, one Halloween party, and an Independence Day party.

The Austin Stone has also assisted RST by hosting two orientations for new refugees.  These have been held in the church offices with approximately 110 total refugees being welcomed to Austin.

There's a lot of good stuff over at the 100 People Network blog. The blog exists to resource and encourage Goers, Senders, and Mobilizers for the Great Commission.

Be sure to add the blog (as well as this one) to your favorite RSS reader. We recommend using Google Reader!

Here are a few recent posts:

• Carl Medearis: Loving Your Muslim Neighbors
• Advocacy Team Resource: 10 Easy Ways to Bless Goers, View Series
• 5 Great Commission Myths, View Series
• Ministry Profile: Preemptive Love Coalition
• What God is Up to in Turkey Through Our Goer
• Ministry Profile: Medical Missions Response
• Educators/Business Professionals Infosession: WellSpring School
• #4 of the 100 People: From Danbury to Taipei!
• Where Are Our Men?
• John Piper: Let the Nations Be Glad
• An Unadjusted Gospel in an Unreached World
• College Students: Listen and Heed!
• How to Know God's Will: Series Overview

Carl's advice is well worth heeding for all of us who interact with Muslims in America and abroad.

Check out this month's 100 People Network update. It is full of ways you can get involved either as a Goer, Sender, or Mobilizer for Great Commission.