Church History (Part 2)
This is the second part of the church history of The Austin Stone.
God continued bringing more people to join us in worshipping the
King.
Groups became more effective times of transformation through community, the study of Scripture, and prayer.
We have believed that prayer is a vital part of worship from the beginning.
God continues to bless our church with a spirit of worship.
Apparently, God likes to have a laugh at us when we gather to eat crawfish.
One of our passions at the Stone has always been the Scriptures.
September 2003
A year later, Matt and Brad's prayer that God would fill Fulmore's parking lot with the cars of those who were passionately seeking God had been abundantly answered. In fact, the parking lot and the gym where the worship services were held were more than full, they were overflowing.
On September 7, 2003, more than 500 worshippers filled the space. The parking lot intended to house the vehicles of Fulmore's teachers was no longer adequate. Matt and Brad contacted the principal of Fulmore with the request that he advise them on how to proceed. He quickly responded with a call on their behalf to Austin High School. Within two days, the principal of that school had contacted Matt with the offer of their facilities. We began meeting at our new location September 21, 2003.
Partnership - Fall 2003
One of the great joys of moving from Fulmore to Austin High was that we began to get to know the people of Hope in the City who meet in Austin High on Sunday mornings. It has been wonderful to share a building with them and learn from their experience and wisdom.
While we started by meeting in the cafeteria downstairs, it wasn't too long until we were maxing out our new space. After several months, we made the move upstairs to the gym. God continued bringing more people to join us in worshipping the King.
In October, we had our first women's-only gathering for an awesome time of worship, fellowship, and teaching. Janet Reeves boldly communicated some beautiful and freeing truths about the role of women. We desire that the Austin Stone be a place that fully affirms the gifts and talents of women and restores some things that have been lost because of our culture and, more sadly, some of our misguided church traditions.
Crawfish and more (Spring 2004)
Ahhh, springtime. We had our first annual Austin Stone crawfish boil at the Zilker Park Polo Tables. The food was deliciously spicy and Cajun approved. The company was wonderful. People enjoyed eating potatoes, corn, and as many mud bugs as they could hold. Unfortunately, the lights at the park were inexplicitly not turned on when night fell (despite calls to confirm that they would be days prior and a call to confirm that afternoon). We stayed and kept eating and talking by flashlight and car headlight for hours more anyway.
Our first women's retreat happened in April at Highland Lakes. It was truly a group effort as women from the Stone prayerfully planned the gathering, prepared goodie bags for those who came, led discussion groups, taught about the fatherhood of God and our identity in Christ, and led worship. In between teaching and worship, it was wonderful to see women who were married with children, who were single with careers, and who were college students sit down together to talk about what God had and was teaching them. They were focused on their common ground in Christ rather than their differences in stage of life and circumstance.
By this time, around fifteen community groups were meeting weekly around the city. Under the leadership of Levi Smith, equipping for the leaders of these groups became more purposeful which meant that groups became more effective times of transformation through community, the study of Scripture, and prayer.
In May, the singles of the Austin Stone coordinated an afternoon picnic complete with hot dogs, outdoor sports, and kiddie pools for a warm spring day. The singles and students of the Austin Stone turn the stereotypes of self-centeredness, laziness, and irresponsibility that are often pinned on them upside down and inside out. They are ministry leaders, teachers, deacons, and servants in our Body. This day of pouring out love and fun to the young families of the Stone is simply one tangible example of the way they live their lives.
Prayer and Students
The Austin Stone's first youth retreat was led by a team of two recent UT graduates and a college student who love the few brave teens who have become a part of the Body. The retreat was at the home of Torey McDaniel who was, for more than a year, the only teenaged partner of the Austin Stone. She and the other students were taught from the Word, led in worship, and visited by the fire department due to a misunderstanding about a (planned but large) backyard campfire. Feel free to ask Tyson Joe about this; he has video and still shots of these precious moments. The youth group has remained small but vital under the leadership of Tyson and a team of college students. A year later, it has continued to expand as Bible studies and times of fellowship occur weekly.
We have believed that prayer is a vital part of worship from the beginning. From our very first meetings in the Fulmore cafeteria, faithful prayer warriors have interceded behind the scenes, praying for God to be glorified and people to come to know Him. At first led by Kendra Brown and Lisa Hendee, they have gathering in homes during the week, at the school before worship, sometimes praying over each chair/bleacher seat for the person who would be sitting there later that evening. By the summer of 2004, a team led by Andrew Preda, Ronnie Smith, and Anne Smith (the latter both coincidentally named Smith although they are not related except in Christ) was lifting up the requests of the body and gathering to pray for God to move in an even bigger way among us and in this city. Their passion for seeking God's face through prayer grew and spread as a prayer area was created for the worship service so that worshippers could have a quiet, sacred place to seek the face of God or pray with a friend. The thirty minutes before every service began to be set apart for prayer as well. In a world that seems to be constantly on the move, that time was set apart for us to come quietly to prepare hearts and minds for worship.
New Staff (August 2004)
As the body continued to grow numerically and spiritually, Matt, Brad, and the faithful and diligent Mandy Powell were simply no longer able do everything that needed to be done in the church offices. Meredith Lemmon was hired as Ministry Assistant and immediately came alongside Mandy to do facilitate better connection within our Body and empower the ministers of the church. She has been invaluable as she has worked behind the scenes to make sure people get connected and have everything they need to serve and worship effectively. At the same time, literally starting on the same day in fact, Kevin Peck, formerly of Brothers Under Christ, joined us as Director of Ministry Development. He and his wife Leslie moved from the Dallas area to join in with what God was and is doing at the Austin Stone. Kevin's passion for the glory and word of God drives everything he does to empower and guide the ministers of The Austin Stone.
Three new deacons were recognized by the Body during this season as well. Clint Harris, Mark Telschow, and Tyler O'Brien joined the other deacons in exemplifying what sacrifice and servanthood look like. You can find them working quietly and diligently in the background most Sunday evenings and many other moments during the week as well.
A Tour and Beyond (Fall 2004)
Beginning in the fall of 2004, Chris and the band had the amazing opportunity to join Stephen Curtis Chapman for a US tour. This was a bittersweet time at the Stone. On the one hand, we were sad for our lead worshippers to be away essentially non-stop for nine months. On the other hand, we celebrated as Andy Melvin and others led worship in their stead. God continues to bless our church with a spirit of worship.
By this time, there were just under 25 community groups meeting in homes around the city of Austin. As the number gathering for our corporate times of worship on Sunday evenings continued to grow, these smaller groups allowed deeper community to continue to be fostered. Around three-quarters of partners were involved in one of these groups as were about a third of attenders. Since faith cannot continue to mature except in the context of community, these groups were and are vital to the life of the Stone.
During this season, the Stone's focus on exhorting and encouraging women continued to expand led by a team under the guidance and fresh vision of Anna Melvin. After a few wonderful days of praying and planning together, the team put together a calendar with a year's worth of monthly intensives, retreats, and focused Bible studies. Our vision is to focus on growing community and connection among the women of the Austin Stone and to provide training tailored to women's unique needs and callings during these times together.
In December, we celebrated our second anniversary as a church with a delicious extra large birthday cake. It was wonderful to look around the room and see the new lives God had brought to be a part of our Body at the Stone. We also missed those who had been called away to other cities. Brian and Christi Hays had moved a few months before with their daughter and infant son. Brian served diligently on the leadership team since it formed even in the midst of a demanding travel schedule associated with his job. Christi, trained as a Kindergarten teacher and having love and giftedness with children, had led the coordination of our Kidstuff program excellently even during her pregnancy. We value their servanthood and pray God's grace on them in their new home. We were also missing Roger Flournoy, a man who was an encouragement and a leader to our Body. During his time at the Stone, he hosted community groups and was one of the most passionate worshippers among us. From the confines of the wheelchair within which his cerebral palsy kept him constrained, he worshipped with abandon. We are glad he was able to move closer to his brother and their family but miss him deeply.
As we ended 2004, there were about 500 people gathering with us weekly to worship our Savior. One hundred and eighty of them were partners of the church. Partners of the Stone are what are typically referred to as church members. We wanted to emphasize the high calling for them to use their gifts to serve the Body and glorify the King so we call them partners instead.
Silence can be Good
When 2005 had barely begun, two charter busloads of college students (along with a few older stowaways/prayer volunteers) left Austin for the Passion conference in Tennessee. God moved in amazing ways through this time, challenging individual walks, building community among those who traveled, and raising the standard of worship and holiness among all who were a part of this time. We praise God for the faithfulness of Louie Giglio and the Passion team.
As God continued to teach the Austin Stone about seeking Him in prayer, we began spending several moments during our worship services gathered in groups of two or three praying aloud together over one another, our church, this city, the world. We desire to be a praying church in deed rather than only word because we believe God hears and listens.
In the spirit of continuing to live this out, the women of the Stone gathered in late January for a silent retreat in Spicewood, TX. After an evening of worship and fellowship, seventy-five women spend a Saturday in private prayer before gathering to finish the day with a time of corporate prayer.
The second annual Austin stone crawfish boil was wonderful. The food was delicious. The company was wonderful as new members met those who have been a part of the body from the beginning. Happily, the lights were turned on this year (see Spring 2004). Unfortunately, a hailstorm occurred not long after dark. Apparently, God likes to have a laugh at us when we gather to eat crawfish. We look forward to next year's adventure.
During this season, the Stone also became more involved in reaching out to the homeless of Austin by partnering with Church under the Bridge. On the first Sunday of every month, members of the Stone and others travel to 7th and Red River to meet, pray for, and invite the homeless to the church service the following morning. Some begin to prepare the food that will be served to the following morning. Early Sunday, they gather to put the finishing touches on breakfast and serve the meal. After a time of worship, preaching, and fellowship, they serve lunch before cleaning up and heading home. We consider it joy to be able to serve CUTB. It is one way we get a chance to show the love of Christ to those the world
Growth and Shadows (Summer)
The Stone's outdoor ministry kicked off with the great race, a day of scavengering, obstacle courses, looking silly, and having fun. This team looks forward to future rock climbing expeditions and camping trips as they celebrate the majesty of God's creation and the fellowship of worshipping Him in the midst of it.
Our missions team had been gathering momentum in recent months and was overwhelmed-positively-by the number desiring to be part of taking the gospel to the world. There were group trips to the Dominican Republic and Zambia during which the needy were clothed and orphans loved. In addition, many partners of the Stone joined existing overseas teams in places like Southeast Asia, Romania, Missouri, Thailand. various countries in North Africa, Louisiana, and others during their summer. What joy it is for those of us who must stay behind to watch as students, families, even single parents use their vacations to make disciples instead of work on their suntans. When this gospel is preached to the whole world for a witness, the end will come. Lord, come quickly and use your servants at the Austin Stone in the meantime!
One sunny Wednesday morning in June, Jennifer Carter received a call informing her that Matt's appendix, removed about a week prior, contained a malignant tumor. Before noon, the elders, staff and a few others were gathered to pray over Matt's life. As we prayed for his wife, his three children (including his infant son), and the church, the shock and confusion began to ebb. We begged for Matt's encouragement, his strength, his life, and, most of all, that he would bring glory to the King no matter what happened. As the prayer ended, Matt chimed in with a proclamation to his Lord that he would worship and adore Him no matter what. He told the Father, and us, that he wanted God to be glorified more than he wanted to grow old with Jennifer, more than he wanted to raise his children, more than he wanted to continue shepherding this church. The tests that followed in the subsequent weeks were encouraging but not conclusive. Matt took the opportunity God provided to grow even deeper in his passion for the holiness of God. He chose transparency with the body, telling us his fears, his struggles, and the closer view of his sin he had gained. As he faced his mortality, he recognized in a deeper way the extent to which he did not deserve life, grace, anything good about his existence. He and Jennifer traveled to MD Anderson in the first week of August for more conclusive results. We were overjoyed to discover near the end of August that Matt is completely cancer-free. To God be the glory! He was not obligated to spare Matt's life but we praise Him that He did.
A June 2005 survey by George Barna (http://www.barna.org) confirmed previous findings that most believers acknowledge that their grasp of Scriptures is the weakest part of their faith. While many feel confident in their worship, sharing Christ, maintaining healthy relationships, and service, about one in five considered themselves very mature in their knowledge of the Word. One of our passions at the Stone has always been the Scriptures. This passion has only grown as we have continued as a church and particularly as we have faced the uncertainty of Matt's health. Without a foundation in the Word of God that allows us to be confident in the character of our God, our faith could only remain weak and shifting. We desire that to follow Matt's example of being so confident in who our God is that we are able to live fully for Him. Halim Suh and his wonderful wife Angela joined the team at the Stone with this heart for truth. Halim will direct equipping and outreach ministries. Within days of his arrival in Austin, he was already deep into plans for fall training including such things as bible study methods, leadership, finances, and the like.
In late August, the men of The Austin Stone gathered for the first time for a retreat of their own. As with the youth and women's gatherings, the men's retreat was led by a team of men who used their unique gifts to lead worship, organize, and teach. Several men powerfully conveyed the ways that God had worked and been faithful in their lives. They discussed purity, holiness, and the grace of God as they meditated on the testimonies they heard. They had been sharpened, encouraged, and challenged when they returned.