Last week was a busy one for the staff at ABC.  Several members of our team were in Gulf Shores, Alabama to help lead our student ministry’s beach camp.  As you heard on Sunday, it was a phenomenal week of ministry, and we are so encouraged that 10 students made life-changing decisions for Jesus Christ!  I was also gone last week with a few of our ministers for the Southern Baptist Convention and Pastor’s Conference in Dallas, Texas.  I was overall very encouraged by what God is currently doing through the SBC. 

Overall, church attendance is up, seminary enrollment is up, and baptisms are up across our denomination.  In fact, the SBC has experienced an increase in total baptisms for four consecutive years.  The last time this happened was in the 1990’s!  Additionally, the International Mission Board commissioned 58 new missionaries at the annual meeting, and I was encouraged to hear the IMB has over 1,600 prospective missionaries currently in processing!  That number was only 300 about 7 years ago.

God is doing a great work through our SBC churches, including Austin Baptist Church.  We have experienced similar growth in recent years, and I believe the best is yet to come.  I hope you are encouraged by what God is doing through the SBC Cooperative Program.  This year marked the 100^th anniversary of the CP.  When we give with SBC churches to the CP, we are supporting thousands of missionaries, church planters, and future ministers across our six SBC seminaries.  I look forward to increasing our impact in this effort as we fully eliminate our debt in the days to come.

This week is all things VBS-prep at Austin Baptist Church!  If you walk through our doors this week, you will see decorations going up on the walls and volunteers serving faithfully to get us ready for the big week ahead.  We have over 400 children pre-registered and it is looking like this will be our largest VBS in church history!

Join me in praying for Rachel Tovar and her team of staff and volunteers.  They have a big week ahead of them!  But also join me in praying for the hundreds of children who will come through our doors.  VBS is not babysitting.  VBS is missions.  We are sharing the Gospel every day and praying for God to move in the hearts of these children.  I’ve met so many world-changing Christians in my life who came to know Christ through a Vacation Bible School.  I’m praying for God to raise up a new generation of world-changers through our VBS next week.

Thank you for your continued generosity to our general fund.  Your faithfulness makes ministry like this possible.  May we each continue to be faithful as God is always faithful to us.  I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

It was a great “I Love My Church Sunday!” Thank you to the many staff and volunteers who worked so hard to make it all possible.  And thank you to everyone who invited a friend to join us for our special day of celebration.  Worship was powerful, and I was encouraged to see our church fellowship together as a multi-generational family of faith. 

I look forward to having another “I Love My Church Sunday” when we fully eliminate our debt in the near future!  I hope you were as encouraged as I was by our Light the Way update.  I love seeing the debt disappear so quickly and seeing our missions and media ministries begin to take shape.  Let’s continue to be faithful in our generosity to the general fund and Light the Way, and together we can eliminate our debt, expand our mission, and extend the message of Jesus Christ (more info HERE).

This Sunday I’ll kick off a new sermon series titled, “Summer Stories.”  This summer we will look at some of Jesus’ most famous parables.  Each week we will examine a story told by Jesus and unpack the deep spiritual truth behind it.  But a parable is more than an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  A parable goes after the hearts of God’s people and compels us to respond to his truth.  I’m looking forward to seeing how God will transform us this summer as we gather for a story each week.

This Sunday we will send off two charter buses full of teenagers and leaders to Gulf Shores, Alabama for Beach Camp.  Thank you for your generosity in supporting this effort, and I encourage you to join me in prayer for an impactful week in our students’ lives.  I will also be leading us in the Lord’s Supper this weekend before the message, so may we all come to worship with expectant hearts as we approach the table together.

I look forwarding to worshipping with you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

I Love My Church Sunday is just around the corner!  I hope you’re planning to join us for a special day of celebration on June 1^st.  We will have an altered schedule that morning with 9am BFG’s, one combined worship service at 10:30am, and a church-wide luncheon at 11:30am.  We will offer free hamburgers, ice cream, and fun activities for the kids.

It will be a multi-generational celebration of all God has done, and continues to do, through the ABC family.  Note June 1^st is also “promotion Sunday,” and our ABC Kids and Students will be going up a grade level to their new classes.  It’s going to be an incredible summer kick-off party, so I hope you do not miss your opportunity to invite someone to church.  The invitation is simple: “I love my church, and I think you would too.”

This coming weekend is Memorial Day weekend.  For those not traveling on this three-day weekend, I encourage you to join us in worship this Sunday.  We will continue in our series on David, and we’ll have a special time of prayer for our nation and military families.  Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  We thank God for the brave men and women who have poured out their blood to protect our freedom.  And we thank the Lord Jesus Christ for pouring out his blood to liberate us from sin and death.

It will be a wonderful weekend of worship and remembrance.  I look forward to seeing you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

Our mission at ABC is to lead people into a life-changing relationship with the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.  I love how we are advancing this mission through our next generation ministries.  ABC invests our finest staff, volunteers, and resources into leading the next generation to Jesus Christ.  From the big events and camps to our weekly discipleship programs, our children’s and youth teams do an incredible job pouring into our kids.

This Sunday is the culmination of that discipleship effort for one class.  It is Senior Sunday, and we’ll be recognizing our graduating seniors at the conclusion of each of our worship services.  We will honor them from stage and pray over them as they launch into their next steps.  Additionally, we will have individualized prayer bookmarks at their individualized tables in the Great Hall for you to pick up.  I encourage you to pray for these seniors by name as they launch to college campuses and/or the workplace.

Thank you for being a generous church and prioritizing our children’s and youth ministries.  As we send these seniors off, may we hold fast to God’s promise over their lives: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).  Bring a friend, and I look forward to worshipping with you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

P.S. Save the date for “I Love My Church Sunday!”  We will alter our schedule on Sunday June 1^st with 9am Bible Study, a 10:30am Combined Worship Service, and an 11:30am Church-Wide cookout and carnival. I hope to see you there for this special day of celebration.

Onward and Upward,

Dr. Jonathan Spencer

Senior Pastor

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