It’s great to be back in Austin, Texas!  Thank you for the encouragement and prayers as I was attending my graduation ceremony at Gateway Seminary.  It was a wonderful weekend marked by celebration and time with family and friends.  I’m grateful for the faculty, students, and culture of Gateway.  God has used these past three years to help shape me and my ministry here at ABC. 

I do want to thank Samantha Brown, Hudson Ratcliff, Corbin Smith, and the entire student ministry for a wonderful Youth Weekend!  I was so proud of our students and enjoyed watching the service online from California.  I was impressed by their passion, vulnerability, and poise as they led us on Sunday.  Youth Weekend may be over, but I pray we continue to encourage our students and champion our ministries that reach the next generation for Jesus Christ.

This Sunday is Mother Day at ABC.  We will have a wonderful time celebrating our moms and honoring what they mean to our families and our church family.  We will have special photo spots located in the Great Hall, and it will be an incredible day of worship.  Be sure to bring your entire family and extend an invitation to a mother in your community.

Proverbs 31:28-29 says, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”  Let’s make it a great weekend giving glory to God and thanks to our moms for what they do.  I’ll see you in worship at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

Christ is risen!  Easter 2025 was one for the books!  We had an incredible weekend of celebration across four worship gatherings.  It was also a record setting weekend at ABC as we welcomed over 700 in attendance on Good Friday and 2,000+ on Easter Sunday.  We celebrated 8 baptisms and greeted hundreds of new visitors.  I want to thank our staff, choir, orchestra, musicians, and media teams for making these services possible.  I also want to thank Derek Tackett and his facilities team for stewarding our campus so well and making ministry possible.

I especially want to thank those of you who invested in people and invited them to church!  I was personally encouraged to see two individuals I invited attend our church for the first time.  I’ve said it many times, but I believe most Christians would be surprised how many of their peers would actually come to church if they were simply invited.  Easter may be over, but I encourage you keep your eyes open for opportunities to introduce people into the life of our church.  The reality is every Sunday is a resurrection Sunday, and every Sunday is an opportunity for someone to meet Jesus.

This Sunday I’ll be picking back up in our series, “After God’s Heart.”  We began this journey back in January, and I’ll be wrapping up our series on David later this Spring.  I hope you have been encouraged and challenged by this study as we’ve looked to the ups and downs of David’s life.  I pray that we will continue to become a church after God’s own heart.  I pray that we walk in humility with God and passionately pursue his mission for our lives, and for the life of our church.  I look forward to seeing you Sunday, and may God continue to use ABC to light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Christ is risen!  Holy Week is here, and I’m looking forward to celebrating the greatest day in history alongside you.  The significance of the resurrection cannot be overstated as Paul explained it best: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV).  If Jesus did not receive new life, we cannot receive new life either.  But praise be to God that the tomb is empty, our debt is paid, and together we can boldly proclaim, “He is risen indeed!”

I want to invite you to join us for a meaningful weekend of worship.  Our 6pm Good Friday service will set our focus on the cross.  Dr. Stearns and the worship ministry will do a wonderful job leading us in beautiful music, scripture readings, and we will conclude our service with a brief message and the Lord’s Supper.  Childcare is available for 5 and under, but all other kids are encouraged to attend with their parents.

Sunday morning will be a great celebration of Jesus’ triumphant resurrection.  We will offer three identical services at 8am, 9:30am, and 11am.  Our annual egg hunt will commence immediately following the 11am service.  This egg hunt is for all kids 5^th grade and under.  Keep in mind BFGs will not meet on Easter Sunday, but the nursery and Uplift (preschool worship) will be open during worship services for children ages 5 and under.  All older children are encouraged to attend a worship service with their parents on this special day.

Take some time this week to pray.  Thank God for what He has done for man through Jesus Christ.  Ask for God to bless our gatherings this weekend.  Pray for the Lord to bring many new people through our doors to hear of the hope of salvation.  Also, take time this week to invite.  We all know someone who needs to be at church this weekend.  Most people would consider going to church on Easter if they simply received a personal invitation.  You never know how one simple invite can change a person’s life forever so be bold this week.

One final note: part two of my dissertation class will be this Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Great Hall.  Thanks to all who came out, and I’m looking forward to wrapping up the 2-part series this week.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Mark 11:9, “And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”  Holy Week is quickly approaching, and the world will soon be reminded that salvation has come to the world through Jesus Christ.  I’m looking forward to worshipping with you this Palm Sunday as we celebrate the triumphant entry of King Jesus into Jerusalem. 

The Christian life is one of triumph, not defeat.  The old is gone, the new has come (2 Cor 5:17).  Our sin has been defeated by Jesus Christ and He is our living hope (1 Peter 1:3).  I encourage you to enter this upcoming Holy Week with a triumphant joy!  Share your joy with others by inviting them to join us in worship.  We will offer one Good Friday service at 6pm and three identical Easter Sunday services at 8am, 9:30am, and 11am.

Be here early this Sunday and invite a friend.  ABC Kids Choir will help lead us in worship at both of our Palm Sunday services.  “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:10).  I’ll see you Sunday at 8:45 or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of a true servant’s heart.  The Son of God stepped off a throne, put on flesh, and served us through His life, death, and resurrection.  The Easter season reminds us of what God has done for man through Jesus Christ, but it also inspires us to follow in His footsteps.

This Saturday our church will be deployed for our annual “ABC Serves” event.  Our church family certainly serves in many ways all year long, but every Spring we promote a focused church-wide day of service.  BFGs will be deployed to sites across Austin to be the hands and feet of Christ.  We will be partnering with numerous ministry organizations to meet practical needs and share the love of Jesus.  I hope you are making plans to serve your neighbor this weekend.

Another way you can serve your neighbors is by being intentional with them during this Easter season.  Easter provides the best opportunity all year to invite someone to church.  Lifeway research has found 82% of people would come to church if a friend simply invited them.  This is especially true during the Easter season.  Unfortunately, the same researchers also found only 2% of Christians regularly invite their friends to church.

Let’s be intentional this Easter season!  Make a list of people by name to invite to one of our three identical services (8am, 9:30am, 11am).  Pray for them daily and begin inviting them today.  I am so excited to see what God is going to do this Easter through our church as we invite and invest in the lives of those who are around us.

As a word of reminder, I’ll be offering my doctoral dissertation class on April 9^th and 16^th at 6:30pm in the Great Hall, immediately following midweek dinner.  This will be a two-part class focused on my topic of research: “Meeting the soul-care needs of a growing church staff.”  If you are unable to join, we will record the class via zoom and would be happy to pass on the link afterwards.  Thank you again for your support in my seminary journey, and I’m looking forward to graduation on May 2^nd.

Let’s apply last Sunday’s sermon this week: Be prayerful and Biblical in your daily decision-making.  I hope you do decide to join me in worship this Sunday as we look to the covenant God established with David in 2 Samuel 7.  Invite a friend and I’ll see you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Last October we launched a two-year generosity initiative called, Light the Way.  As you may remember, our goal was to raise $5 million above our regular tithes and offerings to help us eliminate our debt, expand our mission, and extend the message of Jesus Christ (learn more HERE). God is doing an amazing work at ABC, and I believe even greater things are to come as we reach these three critical objectives together.  I’d like to give you a brief update on how we are doing in these three areas.

First, we are inching closer to fully eliminating our debt.  I am thrilled to report the debt has been reduced to $1.7 million! This is a remarkable number considering the debt was at $10 million just a little over four years ago.  It is incredible to think we could be debt free as a church in the next 12-18 months through Light the Way.  I encourage you to begin praying with me now about the future missions and ministries that will be launched because of this amazing feat.

Second, we are expanding our mission locally, nationally, and globally through LTW.  Here in Austin, we are now feeding over 250 children every weekend through the Baptist Community Center.  We have also updated their outdoor recreation areas in preparation for children and youth outreaches this summer.  In Los Angeles, we are funding a residency program for six aspiring church planters.  In the coming months, we will choose one planter to come alongside in the launch of his church.  In Myanmar, we are in process of purchasing land that will be used to build a Healing and Trauma Center that will minister in the name of Jesus to hundreds of people in crisis.

Third, we have now finalized the design work with Paragon 360, our media ministry partner.  They are going to help us extend the message of Jesus by overhauling our video, lighting, and broadcast technologies over these two years.  We are still waiting for a few more LTW funds to come in before we can launch phase one of this project, which focuses on replacing all cameras and updating our video/audio online broadcast systems.  After that project is completed, we will move on to phase two which will focus on lighting systems and updating our video screens.

Thank you for your continued generosity, and I want you to know your partnership is making a difference for the Kingdom of God.  I encourage you to stay faithful in your pledge commitments for Light the Way.  We are off to a great start, but we still have a way to go.  Thank you for being a generous church, and I believe God will Light the Way forward through us as we advance our mission and expand our ministries in these coming days.  I look forward to seeing you this weekend in worship.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Matthew 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus loves the nations, so we should too.  The Great Commission commands us to not only make disciples in Austin, but also to make disciples across our nation and world.  That is why our vision statement is “to see God light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.”

I’m thankful to be on mission this week in Egypt with our friends at TC Egypt.  We are training over 700 Egyptian ministry leaders, conducting outreaches to youth and business leaders, and leading ministry events at our campus in Fayoum.  Thank you for being a Great Commission church that is committed to reaching the world.  Your participation through praying, going, and giving is making all the difference in extending the Gospel.

Not everyone may get to go to Egypt, but I remind you we all have an opportunity to be on mission next month.  Easter is Sunday April 20^th, and we will offer three identical services: 8am, 9:30am, and 11am.  You have a unique opportunity to live out the Great Commission by simply inviting someone to come and worship our risen King on that special Sunday. 

Did you know Lifeway research has found that 82% of people would come to church if a personal friend invited them?  The problem is the same research found only 2% of Christians regularly invite their friends.  Let’s be on mission this month!  Pray for your neighbors and friends, and extend an invitation to them for Easter Sunday.  One simple invitation could change someone’s life forever.

I will miss you again this Sunday as we will be traveling back to Austin.  However, Pastor Matt Gillum will be back to preach this weekend’s sermon in our series, “After God’s Heart.”  Continue to pray for our team, and I look forward to seeing you next week and sharing all that God has done in the middle east.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

The apostle Paul reminds us, “for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).  The day will come where we see Jesus face-to-face.  But as for this moment in time, we do not walk by sight but rather by faith.  Our walk of faith is not a lonesome journey because the Holy Spirit lives in us and serves as our personal comforter and guide.  However, this walk can become exhausting at times.  Trials, temptations, and distractions slow down our progress in our faith journeys.  Paul saw this was the case in the church of Galatia: “You were running well.  Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7).

God is on the move, and He wants us to be as well.  So, what is your next step of faith?  Perhaps it is to join the church or find community through a Bible Fellowship Group.  Maybe it is to be vulnerable and seek help in a struggle with sin.  It might be to leave your comfort zone and begin serving others at ABC.  It could be instituting new spiritual disciplines such as prayer, scripture reading, and rest.  We are all in different places of our faith journeys, but we all have a next step to take.  God does not want you to get stuck, but instead to make progress in your faith.  Let our staff know how we can help you take that next step this week.

As a reminder, I will be leading a team to Egypt this Saturday.  I will miss seeing you on Sunday, but you will be left in good hands.  Pastor Nathan Wood will deliver a great message as we continue in our sermon series, “After God’s Heart.”  Garrett Ullrich will also be leading worship in both services, and I’m excited to see God work through him as we worship the King.  Please be in prayer for our team and for the many ministries of TC Egypt.  Pray for safe travels and for God to shine His light through us in the middle east.

Invite a friend this Sunday and press on in your journey of faith.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Our mission at ABC is to lead people into a life-changing relationship with the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.  We advance this mission locally but also globally through strategic partnerships.  For the past three years, one of these partners has been TC Egypt.  Because of your generosity, we are able to help fund a life-changing ministry in the middle east.  TC Egypt offers evangelism and discipleship programs, pastoral training, recovery ministries, and impactful outreaches for youth and young adults. Our church sponsors their newest campus located in Fayoum.

This Sunday we will pray over our fourth short-term mission group that will be sent to Egypt.  I will help lead this group, and we are scheduled to leave for Egypt on Saturday March 1^st.  Our team will focus on pastoral equipping, work and faith seminars, and youth outreach.  We are also assisting TC Egypt in their first ministry leadership conference.  They are expecting over 700 ministry leaders to gather in Cairo for two days of Biblical equipping, worship, and prayer.  I’m looking forward to speaking at this conference and encouraging these Egyptian ministers to press on in their ministry calling for Christ.

I encourage you to do two things in these coming days.  First, please pray for our group and for the continued ministry of TC Egypt.  We are excited to see God is at work in the middle east and fulfilling his prophetic promise to Isaiah, “And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them” (Isaiah 19:21).

Secondly, I encourage you to remain steadfast in your generosity.  Gospel impact like this is only possible because of your continued partnership with ABC’s general fund.  When you give to ABC, you do not just give to the church, but also through the church.  I am thankful for our ministry partnerships, and I am excited about the new partnerships that will be formed as we eliminate our debt in the coming months.  I have no doubt God will shine His light even farther through ABC as we grow in our generosity together.

Thank you for your prayers and support in our mission.  I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday as we continue our sermon series, “After God’s Heart.”  Invite a friend and I’ll see you in worship on this special Lord’s Supper Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”  The apostle Paul explains the church can be rightly understood as one body.  We have one head, Jesus Christ, and as members of His body, we are connected to Him and to each other.  And just as God designed a purpose behind every part of our physical bodies, God has also designed a purpose for each of us in His body, the church.

This Sunday you will have an opportunity to find your part to play in this local body, Austin Baptist Church.  We are hosting Ministry Fair in the Great Hall immediately before and after our two worship services.  Tables will be on display to showcase the many service opportunities that can be found at ABC.  Staff members and volunteers will be available to answer questions and help you find a ministry area that fits with your unique passions and giftedness.

Participating in a church will only grow you so much in your faith.  Listening to sermons, attending classes, and fellowshipping with believers will of course be of some benefit.  However, I have found partnering with a church is where the real spiritual growth begins.  There is a difference between sitting in the bleachers and getting in the game of ministry.  God wants every believer to partner on mission and live out their callings through His church.  Have you found your pasture to serve in at ABC?  You will have an opportunity this Sunday at church.

On a sidenote, I’ve had several ask questions about our Citizen ATX podcast channel.  As you may know, we host a podcast show to extend relevant Biblical conversations outside our church walls.  This winter, we are pairing the podcast show with our current sermon series, “After God’s Heart.”  Each week, we are releasing an episode focused on further discussion of the previous Sunday’s sermon.  If you’d like to check it out, you can click this LINK and access the show.  It’s available on all podcast channels and is free of charge.

Invite a friend this Sunday, and I look forward to seeing you in worship this weekend.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer