Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”  Freedom is the most valuable gift we can ever receive.  Jesus Christ has purchased our freedom from sin and death.  Our debt has been paid, God lives in us, and we are now empowered by His Spirit to find victory in this life.  I am so thankful for this God-given freedom, and I am also thankful for the freedom God has given this great nation. 

Praise be to God that we still live in a country where we can openly worship the Savior who has set us free.  This weekend will be a patriotic celebration that you won’t want to miss.  We will worship together, honor our veterans, and pray for our nation.  I encourage you to wear red, white, and blue and join us for a memorable Sunday. 

Make sure you also come back next week for our annual “Freedom Over Austin” event on Wednesday July 3^rd.  We will be hosting an all-American festival with inflatables, food trucks, live music and an amazing fireworks show.  Be sure to invite someone to join you for this special event.

May we each stand firm in the faith and walk in the freedom that God has given us.  I look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

It’s VBS week and the church is filled with kids!  I thank God for the 500+ children and leaders that came through our doors this week.  Most importantly, I thank God for the 51 children who made first-time decisions to follow Jesus as Lord!  Thank you for being a church that loves kids so well.  I truly believe a healthy church is a church that is filled with children, and I thank God for our growing children’s ministry at ABC.

It is essential for every Christian family to firmly plant roots in a church community.  Raising children is not for the faint of heart.  This is why we as a church want to come alongside parents to encourage them and assist them in the discipleship of their children.  I hope you will join me in continuing to invite new families to our church each week.  I’m so proud of our ABC Kids ministry, and I pray that God will continue to use our church to light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.

VBS is wrapping up, but Sunday is right around the corner.  Invite a family to join you this weekend, and I’ll see you in worship.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

VBS is just around the corner!  Decorations are going up, and ABC Kids staff and volunteers are working hard to get things ready for an amazing week of ministry.  Remember it is not too late to sign up your kids!  Go online today to register and come by the early check-in table this Sunday to avoid long lines on Monday morning. 

Who can you invite to be a part of this upcoming week?  VBS is the perfect opportunity to introduce a young family to ABC.  Never underestimate the power of a simple, personal invitation. I loved seeing two teenagers get baptized last Sunday as a direct result of a fellow student simply inviting her friends to church.  Sometimes our youngest members teach us the greatest lessons.  When is the last time you invited someone to church from your community?

It can be tempting to go to church just to see the same people every week, but we must remember the church is also for those who are not here yet.  God will give us ample opportunities this summer to engage our community by inviting them to ABC’s special events and regular Sunday mornings services.  Be intentional with this season, and prayerfully invite others to hear the hope of Jesus Christ and experience the warmth of our church family.

I’m currently writing this newsletter from Indianapolis.  I am here with Dr. Matt Gillum and Dr. Todd Stearns for the annual SBC Convention.  Pray for our churches across the country, and pray for the many missionaries, church planters, and seminarians that we support through the cooperative program.  May God continue to use our resources to help light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.

I look forward to seeing this Sunday as we continue in our study of the book of James.  Don’t forget Sunday is Father’s Day!  We will have a special donut wall and photo spot to commemorate the day.  I’ll see you at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

What an amazing Sunday!  I love my church, and I loved celebrating with you last weekend.  It was exciting to look back at all that God has done, and to look forward to the big things He has for us on the horizon.  I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who made it such a special day.  The music, the burning of the note, the burgers and ice cream, the festival, and all the logistics were simply top notch.  Kudos to Derek Tackett and his team for effectively feeding 1000 people in 5 minutes!  All I can say is wow!  We will return to our regular schedule this weekend, but I hope we carry that same inviting spirit with us.  I still love my church, and I believe there are others in my neighborhood who would too.

I am also looking forward to all that God has for us as we prepare for our generosity initiative this Fall.  I’m pleased to announce that our friend Zack Dawes has agreed to serve as the Director of Light the Way.  He is going to help build a wonderful team of servant leaders to guide us through this upcoming initiative.  I believe God is going to do amazing things in and through us as we unite together to Light the Way forward as a church.  I encourage you to begin praying about how God is calling you to partner with us in generosity this Fall.

This weekend I will kick off our summer sermon series titled, “Faith in Action.”   For the next couple months, we will examine the book of James.  James provides practical insights for us to understand how to put our faith into practical action every day.  I encourage you to read along this summer and ask for God to help you take your next step of faith.  I also want to remind you that our student ministry is currently in Colorado for their summer camp.  Join me in prayer for them, and we can look forward to hearing a report this coming Sunday in worship. 

Invite someone to join you this weekend, and I will see you this Sunday at 8:45am or 11:15am.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1).  I hope you are glad to be in the house of the Lord each Sunday.  There is something special that happens when God’s people come together to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  I am thankful to pastor a church that loves Jesus and loves people well.  This Sunday will be a special day in the life of our church as we come together for “I Love My Church Sunday.”

This Sunday features a special schedule: 9am BFGs, 10:30am Worship Service, and 11:30am Cookout and Carnival.  Since we will have an outdoor celebration after church, we are encouraging everyone to come casual wearing their favorite ABC t-shirt.  This Sunday is also Promotion Sunday, so our children and youth will be “going up” a grade level to their new classes.  It will be a big weekend as we look back and celebrate some amazing things that God has done, but we will also look forward to some big things on the horizon.

Take the time to invite a friend to church this week.  This Sunday is the perfect opportunity to introduce someone new to the exciting things that are happening in our church family.  Make a phone call or send a text with the simple invitation: “I love my church, and I think you would too.”  Come early and I look forward to seeing you at I Love My Church Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  On this Memorial Day Weekend, we give honor to the many men and women who have laid down their lives to protect our freedom.  We must never forget that freedom always comes at a high cost. 

Jesus Christ laid down his own life to set us free from sin and death.  Many American heroes have likewise laid down their lives to provide freedom for our nation.  Take time this weekend to give thanks to God for our liberty.  Pray for the families that are missing a loved one this Memorial Day because he or she paid the highest price for us.  May God bring great comfort and peace to those families, and may God continue to bless our nation.

Next weekend, June 2^nd, is “I Love My Church Sunday.”  Be sure to note our schedule change for that special day.  BFG’s will meet at 9:00am, we will have one large worship service at 10:30am, and we will have a church-wide carnival and luncheon at 11:30am.  This will be a special day to celebrate all that God has done through ABC these past 17 years.  Children and Youth will also promote that day to their new grade level classes, and we will have an exciting community event after church for all ages.

Plan to wear your favorite ABC t-shirt on I Love My Church Sunday, and be sure to invite your neighbors and friends.  That morning will be the perfect opportunity to introduce someone new to the ABC family.  The invitation is simple: “I love my church, and I think you would too!”  Have a wonderful week, and we will see you this Memorial Day weekend.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).  This Sunday is ABC Student Weekend, and I am looking forward to watching our teenagers set the example for us as a church family.  We will have students lead us in worship through music, prayer, and the sharing of their testimonies.

We will also have students share their testimonies in some of our adult BFG’s, and more teenagers will be helping greet, usher, and serve behind the scenes.  Plan to stick around for lunch after church to support these students.  Our “Super Summer Student Spectacular” is our annual luncheon designed to subsidize the cost of summer camp.  Our student ministry is looking forward to going to Colorado in a few weeks, and your support at this luncheon will help us ensure no student gets left behind.  Come with an empty stomach and a generous heart as we have an opportunity to support our students.

I’m thankful to pastor a church that prioritizes the next generation.  It was wonderful seeing a dozen young families participate in our Parent Child Dedication last weekend, and it will be encouraging to watch these students take the reigns of leadership this weekend.  If you see a student this Sunday, be sure to let them know how proud you are of them and their commitment to Christ.  It is a blessing to be a multi-generational church!  I’m looking forward to seeing God work through these students in the years to come to help reach the next generation for Jesus Christ.

P.S. Save the date for “I Love My Church Sunday!”  June 2^nd will be a special day in the life of our church.  We will have BFGs at 9am, one large worship service at 10:30am, and a church wide cookout and carnival at 11:30am.  It is the perfect opportunity to invite someone new to experience the life of our church.  The invitation is simple: “I love my church, and I think you would too.”  Grab some invite cards this Sunday and get out to your neighborhood next week.  I look forward to seeing you at 8:45am or 11:15am this Sunday.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

Mother’s Day weekend is here!  I want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms who make ABC such a special place.  You are a blessing to your family, and you are a blessing to this church family.  We are looking forward to celebrating you this Sunday in both of our worship services.

As part of the celebration, we will recognize twelve young families that are participating in our Parent Child Dedication.  We are proud of these moms and dads who are publicly committing to raise their children in Christ-centered homes.  I am thankful to pastor a multi-generational church that lovingly encourages and supports these young families as they embark on this exciting journey of parenthood.

Our worship services will also feature a special video tribute from our children, a Mother’s Day message, and we will have flowers and a photo spot available for moms after the services.  Be sure to bring your entire family for this special day of worship.  Mother’s Day also offers the perfect opportunity to invite moms from your neighborhood to come and worship with their families on this special day of recognition.

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’.”  I hope every mom feels encouraged this week, and I’m looking forward to celebrating you all this Sunday. 

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

“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).  This weekend you will have an opportunity to hear an update from our ministry partners in Egypt.  As many of you know, our church sponsors a campus in the city of Fayoum (two hours SW of Cairo) through a dynamic evangelical ministry called TC Egypt.

This Sunday we are excited to have the founders of TC Egypt, Tony and Vanda George, back with us at ABC.  You will get to watch a video report from Fayoum and hear directly from Tony and Vanda in both services.  In recent weeks, God has opened an additional door for Tony to serve as the Pastor of a local Baptist church in Fayoum.  He needs our additional prayers as he not only leads TC Egypt going forward, but he also leads a local family of faith in this season.

We are excited to send a group back to Egypt this October, as Matt Gillum is planning to lead a team from our church (please contact him for more information).  I am thankful that our church continues to expand its mission’s footprint year by year.  In these coming months we will send a group of students to the U.K., a group of all ages to Harlingen, Texas, and we will send this group to Egypt in the Fall.  I am also thrilled to announce that our Missions Committee is sending a much-needed gift to Samaritan’s Purse this week to address the current food crisis that is happening in Sudan.  This $10,000 donation will provide food in Jesus’ name for 1,000 people for an entire month.

I pray that God will continue to open more doors for ABC to make an impact and shine our light even farther across the world.  Invite a friend to join you this Sunday for worship as we wrap up our study in the book of Revelation.  We will look to the last words of Jesus in chapter 22, and we will pray with the Apostle John, “Amen. Come Lord Jesus come!”

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:4-5).  The Christian life is one of service.  Just as the Son of Man came to serve and not be served (Mark 10:45), we are now called to serve in His likeness.  I’m so excited that over 200 ABC volunteers have answered that calling and will be serving our community this weekend at ABC Serves.

ABC Serves is our annual church-wide service day.  While this certainly is not the only day we serve, it is a special day where we mobilize our BFG classes together to make an impact on Austin.  These 200+ volunteers will be serving 10+ local ministry partners, and we will have some teams deployed to the homes of our widows and senior adults to assist them with projects.  I’m so thankful to pastor a church that is willing to roll up their sleeves and make an impact on others.

I’m also thankful for the hundreds of volunteers who serve our church every single Sunday.  It is a fact that we cannot do church without our amazing servant leaders!  Faithful volunteers lead the way in our children’s and youth ministries, our BFGs, the music ministry, media ministry, greeters, ushers, food services, first impressions, and more.  If you have not found a place to serve at ABC, I encourage you to reach out to a staff member this week.  I believe God has given you spiritual gifts for the specific purpose of building up a local church family.  When you begin to walk in obedience to that call, God begins to bless you with a joy that can only come through serving Him.

This Sunday is a Lord’s Supper Sunday so get here early, bring a friend, and come ready to worship together at 8:45 or 11:15am.  Read ahead in Revelation 21, and I look forward to talking about Heaven with you this weekend at ABC.

Onward and upward,

Jonathan Spencer