As 2025 is nearing its end, I want to remind you of our opportunity to make a Kingdom impact through year-end giving.  Thank you for your continued generosity to our general fund at ABC which we call, “The Great Commission Fund.”  The Great Commission Fund provides the resources for our church to advance the Great Commission through our ministries and missions partnerships.  Your tithes and offerings to this fund make ministry possible, including great outreach events such as the recent Sights and Sounds of Christmas.

I also want to make a plug for you to consider giving above your tithes and offerings to our Light the Way generosity initiative.  God has done remarkable things through this church-wide effort.  I look forward to celebrating the retirement of our debt with you in January as we embark on our first ever debt-free year!  However, I also look forward to celebrating the completion of our remaining objections in 2026.  100% of your continued LTW gifts will go toward us fulfilling our remaining missions’ projects, media improvements, and campus security upgrades.  Here are the details of our unfinished LTW business:

• Baptist Community Center – We will provide resources to fund food ministry and campus improvements at this downtown mission center.
• North American Mission Board – Fund Send LA’s church planting residency program and support Pastor Derek Berry’s church plant in northern Pasadena.
• Love For Myanmar – Help build the Healing Trauma Center on the land we have already leased in Yangon.
• Media Improvements – New cameras, screens, and online broadcast systems will be installed in the new year.  We will upgrade our lighting systems next.
• Security Upgrades – We will professionally upgrade our security, adding more cameras and technology systems both inside our facilities and outside in the parking lots.

We need around $600k to complete all remaining Light the Way objectives.  I am confident that God will continue to work through us to Light the Way forward for ABC in 2026.  If God is leading you to partner with us, you can do so HERE. Thank you for your faithfulness, and I look forward to pressing on to week three of our Christmas prophecy series, “The Promise of Christmas.”  I will see you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11).  The wise men journeyed far from the east to find the King of the Jews.  As they made their way into the home of Joseph and Mary, they set their eyes on Jesus.  What did their gaze lead them to do?  Worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

This Christmas, I pray you set your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).  This weekend we will look to Jesus and worship Him at “The Sights and Sounds of Christmas.”  We will have performances on Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 3pm and 6pm.  All three concerts will have a family-friendly reception immediately following featuring hot chocolate, cookie and ornament decorating, and photo opportunities.

Who can you bring into God’s house to set their eyes on Jesus?  I look forward to seeing you at The Sights and Sounds of Christmas, and at our Sunday morning worship services.  We will unwrap our second Christmas prophecy this weekend, Micah 5:2.  I’ll see you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

The Christmas season is upon us at ABC!  I cannot wait to see what God is going to do as we set our eyes on the Light of the World this month.  I hope you’re planning to join us for our “Light Up Austin” service day this Saturday December 6^th.  We will take Christmas on the road to local community centers such as the Texas Baptist Children’s Home, the Baptist Community Center, and the Cardinal Point Apartments.  Staff and volunteers will serve local parents and children and provide a meaningful Christmas celebration.  Sign up HERE.

The following weekend, we will host our annual Christmas production, “The Sights and Sounds of Christmas.”  This year we are expanding to three identical performances: Saturday December 13^th at 4pm and Sunday December 14^th at 3pm and 6pm.  We will have a family-friendly Christmas reception following each of the concerts featuring hot chocolate, cookie and ornament decorating, photo spots and more.

I encourage you to invest in our Christmas experiences.  All our service projects, special events, and Sunday services are prayerfully designed to stir our hearts for Jesus Christ during this special season.  However, these events and services are not just for you.  I also encourage you to invite others to join you.  There is no better time to invite someone to church than the Christmas season.  Who can you invite to be with you this Sunday?  Who can you bring with you to one of our Sights and Sounds performances?  Don’t miss the opportunity God has given you to share the joy of Christmas.  

The angel in the shepherd’s field reminds us Christmas is a message of “good news of great joy for ALL people” (Luke 2:10). Invite a friend and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.  I’ll be kicking off our Christmas sermon series, “The Promises of Christmas,” as we look to the OT promises fulfilled through the birth of Jesus.  I’ll see you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

James 1:16-17 says, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”  Thanksgiving is upon us at ABC.  This Wednesday we will give thanks as a church family at our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner (sign up HERE).  And this Sunday I’ll preach a special Thanksgiving message to prepare our hearts for this upcoming Thanksgiving week.

I hope these upcoming days are filled with laughter, good food, and great company.  But I also pray these upcoming days are filled with a spirit of thanksgiving in your home. Take time to reflect on the goodness of God.  Identify the good and perfect gifts the Father has given you.  I hope you know that you are one of those gifts to me.  I’m grateful to serve as your pastor, and I am thankful for the fellowship of our church family.  God is doing a great work at ABC, and you are a part of that Kingdom story.  Thank you for giving me and our staff the honor of serving you every week.

I look forward to celebrating with you this Sunday.  Invite a friend and I’ll see you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  We have much to be thankful for here at ABC.  God continues to pour out His blessings on our church family.  He is growing our church both in width and depth, and He blesses us beyond measure.  We are especially grateful that God retired our debt this year, and we look forward to the big plans He has for our future.

I hope you are planning to join us for our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday November 19^th (buy tickets HERE).  Our food services team will serve a delicious Thanksgiving feast, and we will have a meaningful time of worship and reflection as a church family.  I look forward to hearing testimonies of God’s faithfulness, and I hope you can join us for this special celebration.

This Sunday I’ll wrap up our series, The Generous Life.  I’ll be speaking about the topic of “Generous Impact.”  We will give thanks to God for what He is doing through the generosity of Light the Way, and we’ll look ahead to what He has for us in the future.  Invite a friend and I look forward to seeing you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” This Sunday is Veteran’s Day Weekend at ABC.  This is a special day where we take time in our church gatherings to give honor where honor is due. 

Come early to view the “Wall of Honor” display in our lobby.  This tribute has become one of my favorite traditions at ABC, as it displays the many men and women in our church who have served to protect our freedom.  Additionally, we will have a special moment in both worship services where we will recognize our veterans and pray for our nation. It is important for us to remember our religious freedom comes at a great cost.  Our freedom is protected by selfless men and women who serve in our armed services. 

Did you know 1 out of 7 Christians are persecuted around the world?  May we never take for granted the blessing that God has given the church here in America.  I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday and giving thanks to God for our liberty.  We will press on to week two of our “Generous Life” sermon series, and we will also vote for our debt-free, 2026 Great Commission Fund Budget at the conclusion of both services.  Have a wonderful week, and I look forward to seeing you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

It is hard to believe, but the holidays are just around the corner.  I am so excited to see how God is going to move through ABC during this special season.  But I am also aware that the holiday season can be quite painful for some.  This year, ABC has grieved the loss of 25 believers in our church family.  The holidays can be extremely difficult for these surviving family members and closest friends, as each celebration is a reminder of their recent loss.

That is why we are hosting our first ever “Christmas Memorial Service” on Sunday November 30^th at 5pm.  The purpose of this worship service is to bring glory to God by remembering the ones we have lost in our church family this year.  The service will feature encouraging music, a comforting message, and a time where we will read the names of our church members who have gone home to be with the Lord this year.  We will light candles in their absence as a symbol of our remembrance of them. 

I would like to invite you to join us for this special service.  Your presence will serve as a ministry to these families.  I pray God will use this service to encourage our souls and strengthen these families as we prepare for the Christmas season.  I also hope this service will become a new tradition in our church, as we continue to prioritize our love and care for one another at ABC.

I hope to see you this weekend in worship for a Lord’s Supper Sunday.  I will kick off a new 3-week series titled, “The Generous Life.”  We will look to the Scriptures to examine what it means to live a joyful and generous life for Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.  I hope to see you at 8:45am or 11:15am

P.S. This is the last call for Egypt!  We still have a few spots available.  Sign up to secure your spot today: https://www.signaturetours.com/JSPencer26

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

This Sunday, we will distribute our updated Annual Report in preparation for the 2026 budget year.  Church vote for this proposed budget will take place on Sunday November 9^th.  Inside this year’s Annual Report you will find highlights of what God has done through the ministry and mission of ABC this past year.  You will also be able to review the proposed 2026 budget and understand how your tithes and offerings will be stewarded in the upcoming year.

I am so excited that this 2026 proposed budget is the first debt-free budget in church history!  Jesus is going to advance the Great Commission through ABC at a new level, as resources are now reallocated to maximize ministry impact.  Accordingly, we are renaming our General Fund, the “Great Commission Fund” this year.  This name change gives clarity to the underlying purpose behind our general fund giving and spending.

Why do we spend money in our budget on facilities?  So we can have a beautiful place to gather and make disciples. Why do we budget significant funds for children and youth?  So we can make disciples in the next generation.  Why do we spend money on personnel?  So our staff can equip the saints to go and make disciples.  Why do we spend money on outreach events?  So we can reach our community to make new disciples.  Why do we give away 10% of our contributions to missions?  So we can obey Jesus by making disciples of all nations.

I am excited to see how God will advance the Great Commission forward through us as we partner together in our general fund giving.  Thank you for your faithfulness and join me in praying for God’s blessing over ABC as we enter this debt-free, fiscal year.  I also encourage you to join me in praying for our guest speaker, Pastor Bryant Wright.  As mentioned Sunday, I am looking forward to hosting one of my mentors this Sunday at ABC.

Bryant is the founding pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Georgia, where he led that church to grow to over 7,000 members during his 38-year pastorate.  During that time, he also served as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2010-2012.  He most recently served as the inaugural President of Send Relief, the compassion ministries arm of the SBC.  In his retirement years, Bryant stays active by mentoring young pastors and continuing his broadcasted preaching ministry, Right From The Heart Ministries.  I know we will be blessed by his message this Sunday, so please join me at the 8:45am or 11:15am service to give Bryant a warm Austin, Texas welcome.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

The apostle Paul said, “pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3).  Paul was always looking for open doors in ministry.  He longed to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and help believers mature in their discipleship.  So he kept his heart and eyes open to the people who were crossing his path.  If we want to be a multiplying congregation, we must also adopt this mindset and pray for God to give us ministry opportunities each day.

I’d encourage you to ask two simple questions in your daily prayers.  First, “Lord, who around me needs to know Jesus Christ?”  We’ve established through our series that every Christian is a missionary with a mission field.  So it is wise to pray for God to give us opportunities to witness.  Second, I’d encourage you to pray, “Lord, who around me needs to grow in Jesus Christ?”  We’ve learned God wants to mature all Christians and grow them in ministry leadership.  There are likely believers around you that need discipleship.  You can be like Paul if you simply look for your Timothy.

Simple, faithful prayers and intentional actions lead to Kingdom multiplication.  God wants you to live on mission for him, so where are those open doors in your life?  I hope to see you in church this weekend as we conclude our “Multiply” sermon series.  This Sunday is also our Egypt Bible Tour interest meeting.  If you are considering joining us for this trip of a lifetime, come join me in the Chapel at 12:30pm (more info: www.austinbaptistchurch.com/Egypt).  Invite a friend, and I look forward to worshipping with you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

On October 6, 2024, we launched Light The Way, a two-year generosity initiative designed to eliminate our debt, expand our mission, and extend the message of Jesus Christ.  On that kick-off Sunday, ABC carried around $4.5 million in debt.  Exactly one year later, on October 6, 2025, Austin Baptist Church became DEBT FREE! 

This is an incredible testimony of God’s grace and your faithfulness to Him.  Thank you for being a generous church and worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ through your giving.  I’m humbled to serve as your pastor, and I am grateful for what this debt retirement means.  The Great Commission will be advanced even farther, and lives will be forever changed because of your generosity. 

I’m most excited that we will begin “tithing as a church” within our general fund budget.  Ten percent of what comes in, will go out to advance the Gospel through missions locally, nationally, and across the globe.  When you give to the church, you will also be giving through the church.  A debt-free budget is a game-changer for the Kingdom of God.

Thank you for your partnership in this effort.  Today, let’s give glory to God for what He has done.  I also encourage you to continue in your giving to Light The Way, as we still have unfinished business in our missions projects, media improvements, and security enhancements.  I am confident, by God’s grace, these remaining objectives can be fully completed in 2026.  God bless you and thank you for your partnership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Let’s worship this weekend and give thanks to our generous God.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer