I hope you all enjoyed our Mother’s Day celebration. I thought last Sunday was an amazing weekend of worship from start to finish. From the pre-service photo loop, to the children’s ministry video tribute, to the delicious chocolate truffles provided after our services, I believe Mother’s Day 2021 was a day that we’ll all remember for a long time. I am proud of our team and how hard they worked to honor the Lord and our mothers on this big day. I’m especially thankful for Lori DeVillez and Tabitha Jackson for encouraging our mothers and challenging our congregation through their powerful stories. I firmly believe that if you are pro-life, you also have to be pro-mom. As we heard, there are many mothers in our city who are in a pregnancy crisis, so I’m thankful for ministries like the Trotter House that lead the way in ministering to them. I look forward to continuing, and expanding, our partnership with Trotter House, so we can help share the hope and help that comes through Jesus Christ and His people.
Even aside from the Mother’s Day excitement, last Sunday was worth celebrating for another reason. It was the first time since August of 2019 that we saw 800+ people attend our regularly scheduled worship services (excluding Easter). Momentum is continuing to build as every week we welcome new faces, and welcome back many familiar ones. Last Sunday was a good reminder of why we are hosting our Homecoming Dinner on Friday May 21st. That evening will provide a great opportunity for our new and newly returning folks to be properly “welcomed home,” but it will also give me an opportunity to share my vision with you and answer any questions that you may have about ABC. If you have not already RSVP’d for this important dinner, please do so now using this link: www.austinbaptistchurch.com/homecoming. It will be a be a wonderful night of fellowship, unity, and excitement as we look to all that God has in store for us together in the coming days.
This steady growth indeed brings excitement to our church, but it is important to note that it also brings needs. As more and more people walk through our doors, more ministry needs likewise start to arise. Last weekend we had over 100 in our ABC Kids worship services for the first time since the pandemic. Our student ministry also reached 80 for the first time since the pandemic, and many BFG classes are starting to add chairs. Food services are continuing to be stretched, as are our greeters, ushers, and AV team members. We also are looking to expand our music ministry with more choir members and instrumentalists. I’d encourage you to ask yourself how you can join in on the excitement. Peter reminds us “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). Every believer in this church has been given at least one spiritual gift, and we’ve been given those gifts for a purpose: to serve one another.
That is the beauty of the church. As the church grows with needs, God already gives the church everything it needs to meet them. This is because church members are not designed to be spectators, but instead, participants in ministry. Peter actually tells us that we are “living stones” that God uses to build up His church (1 Peter 2:5). So my question for you to consider this week is, “How is God using you to build up ABC?” I have no doubt that God has given you gifts that would be a blessing to this church, and I also have no doubt that we need your help on the team. So I encourage you to not settle for the bleachers. It’s so much more fun to get in the game. If God is tugging on your heart to serve in any of these areas, I encourage you to reach out to one of our ministers and they will gladly help you find the right place to plug in.
I believe Jesus is building up this local church. May we all be available to Him to use us however He wants in this kingdom construction project. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we press on in our study of the seven “I am” statements of Christ.
www.jonathanspencer.org 