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.
Here's what we're asking of hosts:
1. Open your home to a group of students (6-8) on
November 27th or 28th.
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.
[Written by Austin Stone partner Amanda Finnell] In 2005, I
went for the first time with a group of my college friends. The trip was planned for about two
weeks. But, for me, having dreamed of
going to Africa for my whole life, I couldn’t
bear to travel clear across the world and only stay for two weeks. I changed my travel arrangements so that I
could stay for the entire summer.
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.
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.
Enjoy and learn about Mediterranean food and culture. See here for more details.
There are currently 2 exchange students that need host homes in Austin. Please see the documents below for more information if you would like to serve them by hosting them. One is from Central Asia!!
The same hurricane that hit Haiti is about to hit the borders of the US. Austin is a major evacuation location for many cities. Here's some info one what's going on and how we can help.
Urgent Need for Volunteers: The American Red Cross needs volunteers RIGHT NOW! If you can help, please go to this website and fill out an application and background check. Once you fill them out you will be contacted. Please act now if you are able.
Food Drive for Hurricane Ike: Help the Capital Area Food Bank provide emergency food assistance to those affected by Hurricane Ike. Visit the Food Bank this week and drop off donations at our "Drive-Thru Food Drive." There's no need to leave your car - just drive through and a volunteer will accept your donations. It's that easy!
Five requested items :
- bottled water
- granola bars
- canned meats (pop-top lids)
- peanut butter
- diapers
Hours
Wednesday, September 10 - Friday, September 12, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday, September 13, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Also during the HAM-up Tweet-up)
Sunday, September 14, noon - 5 p.m.
Location
Capital Area Food Bank, 8201 South Congress Avenue (between William Cannon & Slaughter Lane)
Online Donations
If you can't donate items in person, you can also donate online and choose the box for "My donation is for Hurricane Ike Disaster Relief only" to restrict your donation to disaster relief efforts. Every $5 donated = $20 worth of nutritious food.
If you haven't already heard, Hurricane Gustav has made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana just before 10am this morning. You can get the latest here.
It was a category 2 hurricane at the time of landfall, but that still means winds up to 110 mph. Because of this and because of the impact of Hurricane Katrina, there were thousands of evacuees from Louisiana.
We would like to come together as a body to support the American Red Cross as they help evacuees that have made their way to Austin.
Here is how you can provide your time or money to the American Red Cross in Central Texas:
- Give time: If you are already a registered volunteer with the American Red Cross, you can volunteer by stopping by their local offices at 2218 Pershing Drive or checking out their website here.
- Give money: You can donate to the local efforts by clicking here.
To learn more about the American Red Cross of Central Texas click here. Thank you for your support in helping our city provide secondary homes for the displaced.
Interested in serving as a missionary in another country or culture? Then you might be interested in attending The Journey Deepens.
These weekends help prospective missionaries explore what it is like to
be a missionary, discover whether a missionary or sender role is God's
fit, and connect with mission agencies.
This is for high school seniors, college students, young adults, mid-lifers,
baby boomers – anyone willing to explore becoming a missionary.
Each retreat of 50 participants and 10
missionaries from multiple agencies is highly relational with extended worship,
small group discussions, personal reflection and much prayer. Discussions
include guidance, finances, singles/families, etc.
In fall 2008 the dates and locations
are:
- Oct 17-19 in Pasadena, California at the U.S. Center for World
Mission
- Nov 14-16 near Atlanta, Georgia at the Operation
Mobilization conference center
The Journey Deepens is
presented by Finishers/MissionNext and co-sponsored by ACMC, Caleb Resources,
Perspectives and the U.S. Center for World Mission. Here are comments from those
who came to one of the nine previous retreats:
"The retreat helped me
focus my passion into reachable goals. Maybe I can't leave for the field
tomorrow but I can pursue what will prepare me now for what God has in the
future."
"You should be aware of some items that were lost. We lost our
fear of being missionaries. We lost our pride and entitlement to be comfortable.
We lost our rights of security and safety. Most important, we lost our
preconceptions of what we thought God had for our future and discovered a new
direction."
"This weekend gave me a clearer view and vision for what I
would like to do and how I can get there. It brought people into my life to help
me along the journey in many ways."
See the online promo
video and FAQ &
cost. Come with an open heart -- willing to connect with God, with one
another, and with a missions agency. Meet others and compare maps on the
journey. Discuss your compass with missionaries and missions coaches who have
traveled this way already.
At this retreat you will not be overwhelmed
with overchoice! Here's some of the subjects that will be covered:
- I feel a pull from God to the nations. What should I do next?
- Which of my gifts and interests could I use in another culture?
- How can I deal with school loans?
- What's involved in raising prayer and financial support?
- How do I discuss missions with my family and my church?
- If God leads me to stay and send others what would that involve?
Registration is now open.
Because space is limited please register soon or ask for more
information via
www.thejourneydeepens.com/ret_contactus.asp.
If you are looking for a way to live missionally, consider opening your home to host an International exchange student. These are high school students that come for a semester or a full school year to learn about the our culture and improve their English skills. What if they went home with the gospel as well?
For more information please contact deanna valdes at teamv3austin@gmail.com. Read Deanna's journey toward this great opportunity below!
There is an amazing opportunity we've been given in the ownership of our homes. It's easy to take for granted that everyone I know has a home and confess that sometimes I feel entitled to have one. But several years ago, I learned an important lesson about letting go and giving up ownership. My husband left me to parent two young children. All of a sudden, all the "man jobs" were mine and this house was just too much to handle on my own. During that season of life, a friend gave me the challenge of living out this verse: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Cor 10:31) I struggled with how I could glorify God in the mundane tasks of housekeeping and motherhood. How in the world could God be glorified as I cleaned the toilets of two toddler boys with bad aim?
I never did figured it out, until I loosened my grip on what I thought was mine and let go of the home I was so afraid to lose. This is not my home. It is a tremendous blessing that God has given it to us to live in, but it is not mine any more than these precious boys are mine.
I've served in Africa and the DR. I've been to places like Belize and Mexico. I knew in my mind that I was blessed. But I didn't actually experience blessing until I gave up ownership. Once my tight little fists and heart were open, God showed me how He was glorified by using this house for so many things. I can't tell you how many people have sat in the living room, that I vacuumed for the glory of God, so that we could study the Word, pray for each other, live in community and sit under amazing teaching. God moved in my cheerio-free living room and lives were changed!
As long as this is HIS house, then He will be glorified.
We all have the same opportunity. To honor God and glorify Him with all He's give us. We can use our homes as places to retreat from the world or we can use our homes as places to welcome the world.
Right now God is bringing and unprecedented amount of people from the nations right to our doorsteps! What an incredible opportunity to send the gospel to every tongue, tribe and nation.
In Acts, Paul shows us that God is Sovereign over even our address.
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every [KEEP READING]
A small, private school in a coastal town in South Korea is looking for a teacher to primarily teach English. The position starts in August 2008 and the school will help with airfare, housing & living expenses.
For more information, please contact Mary Kim at marykim7@gmail.com
Our team of 13 are excited to meet the Didinga people, hear the vision for the boarding school, and seek the Lord’s will for long-term partnerships between the Church in America and Sudan. If you're interested in hearing more and helping send them out in prayer, we're having a time to do that at 9:30AM on July 13th in the Austin High Cafeteria. The team departs on August 1.