Michelle Ritchie

Michelle and her black lab Maycie

Quick Info:

Education:
Master's of Divinity with a Biblical Languages concentration from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Besides her Savior and God's people, Michelle loves
"Anything outdoors: Hiking, watching sports and playing with Maycie, the coolest dog in the world!"

Who are your heroes?
The countless single women who have gone before us to take the gospel to places that reject Christ. I have high regard for their unconditional commitment to making God’s name famous at the cost of their comfort, their families and sometimes even their lives.

If Michelle could spend an evening with anyone who lived within the last 1000 years, she would spend it with Jonathan Edwards. "His intellectual grasp of the Scriptures have caused me to desire to worship Christ not just with my heart, but with my mind as well."

Favorite Bible verse:
"Paul just finishes 11 chapters of powerful, heart-changing doctrine on the beauty of the sovereignty of God and his response is to bust out into a cry of worship! It really is true that powerful doctrine leads to beautiful worship! Romans 11:33-36 , Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."

Life Story

I was fortunate enough to be raised in a Christian home and when I was 8, I distinctly remember realizing that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. I acknowledged that Christ was the perfect son of God who lived and died in order to restore people to God. However, it wasn’t until college that I realized that we are not just saved by the grace of God, but we are transformed into the image of Christ by the grace of God as well. I learned that my good behavior does not make me right before God, my good behavior is an act of worshipful gratitude of his pursuit of me. And to that end, I long to meet the Lover of my soul one day!

Vision for The Austin Stone

I long to see people who find the beauty of Christ more satisfying than any other earthly desire. I long to see partners at The Austin Stone Community Church eager to strive towards making God’s name famous to this city and to the nations by worshiping Christ, living in community with one another, getting trained in the Scripture and in turn, making disciples to be the next generation of Christian saints.