On December 1, the first ‘official’ church service was held at Fulmore Middle School. One hundred fifteen people were there to worship and hear the preaching of the Word. On December 15, 2002, the Christmas service was attended by 125 people.

On September 7, 2003, more than 500 worshippers filled Fulmore Middle School, which was beyond capacity. Within two days after talking with the Fulmore administration, the principal of Austin High School had contacted Matt with the offer of their facilities. We began meeting at our new location September 21, 2003.

During this first Vision Series, we explored what it meant for every single person to Worship Christ, to Live in Community, to Get Trained for Ministry, and to Make Disciples.  God began to reveal to us as a body what his mission and strategy was for impacting the city of Austin well into the future.

We are the church… together: this was the revelation of God during this Vision Series.  We began to understand that God had called us not only to Worship Christ, Live in Community, Get Trained for Ministry and Make Disciples, but He wanted us to do it together over the course of time in small missional community.  God was further refining our body, and preparing us for great things to come as small groups of believers began to pursue mission together.

As The Austin Stone has grown over the last few years, God has steadily refined for us what he wants to accomplish through us. During this year’s Vision Series we’ll consider our role and context as a church in central Austin, and what it means to take ownership of the renewal and redemption of this city as well as in the nations.

The facility God is leading us to build is to be a tool to help us and others in the renewal and redemption of Austin and beyond. With these facilities we can better strengthen and mobilize our church to transform our city and beyond. We can provide space and new opportunities for partnership and collaboration with other organizations whose purpose is aligned with city transformation.