THE BRIDGE 1 VOL. 12 NO. 12 MARCH 27, 2019

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1 1 VOL. 12 NO. 12 MARCH 27, 2019 In just over two weeks, we will be hosting a block party and Easter Egg Hunt that we are calling Easter Eggstravaganza. It will be on Saturday, April 13. Elsewhere in this edition of the Bridge, you can find more details. Becky Sharp and Kati Dobbs have planned this to be a wonderful and engaging outreach event for the communities around our campus. One of the things that is essential for this great event to work is volunteer involvement. If you would be willing to serve that day, be sure to sign up at or let Kati or Becky know in-person. Your help is greatly appreciated! The subdivision where Teena and I live is relatively peaceful and quiet that is, until the middle of the night when the armadillos start foraging and the raccoons start exploring. They have found a second home right outside our master bedroom. It is the raccoons that really amaze me--though I admit, not always in a positive way! I have discovered firsthand the ingenuity and perseverance of raccoons. We place our trash container on the side of our house just inside the gate into the back yard. We began to discover that, somehow, a raccoon can open a garbage container lid, climb inside, have a midnight snack from inside our trash (Continued on page 2) WHAT S INSIDE Easter EGGstravaganza... 3 Adopt a Highway/Texas Trash Off... 3 E3 Parenting Seminar... 3 Music Notes by Dodie... 4 Easter Celebrations... 4 Social Media Campaign... 4 Streaming Services for ABC... 5 Mission to Calgary Report... 6 This Mountain is the Lord s... 7 Call to Prayer... 7 Adults on Mission... 8 Spring Food Drive List... 8 Women s Ministry Event... 9 Terrific Tuesdays for April & May... 9 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Hill Toppers Potluck Event Kati Shares Trip Experience Children s Ministry Events Electrify by Matt Game Night for Young Adults Student Ministry Events Calendar & Reports... 15

2 2 (Continued from page 1) STAFF Dr. Gary Dyer SENIOR PASTOR Cell Dr. David Procter EXECUTIVE PASTOR Cell Matt Gillum MINISTER TO STUDENTS & THEIR FAMILIES Cell Kati Dobbs MINISTER TO CHILDREN & THEIR FAMILIES Becky Sharp MINISTER TO PRESCHOOLERS & THEIR FAMILIES Dodie Morris MUSIC & WORSHIP ASSOCIATE Stephanie Rankin MINISTER TO WOMEN Christina Mendoza MINISTERIAL STAFF EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT / IT SPECIALIST christinam@austinbaptistchurch.com Jennifer Koret FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR jenniferk@austinbaptistchurch.com Rita Jones OFFICE MANAGER ritaj@austinbaptistchurch.com Derek Tackett FACILITIES MANAGER Cell derekt@austinbaptistchurch.com Kim Warner FOOD SERVICE MANAGER kimw@austinbaptistchurch.com Joe Pere DIRECTOR OF MEDIA MINISTRY joep@austinbaptistchurch.com Bill Dickson FINANCE CLERK billd@austinbaptistchurch.com Karen Fawcett ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT karenf@austinbaptistchurch.com bags, and work his way up and out of the containers. I decided to put a stop to this burglary problem, so I placed a five-pound stone block on the lid to deter our fine furry friend. That amazing animal was not deterred. The next day, I looked at the garbage container and felt relieved that the stone block was still on the lid. However, when the day came to take the trash out to the street, I opened the container to put in more trash and couldn t believe my eyes. The raccoon had somehow moved the five-pound block off the lid, climbed inside, had his fill of leftovers, climbed back out, lowered the lid, and placed the block back where I left it! I shook my head in disbelief, couldn t help but chuckle, and decided it was going to take a 30-pound block. Now, I have broken the lid by sitting so much weight on it. There is a reason I share this crazy true experience. Raccoons never give up, and we could learn a lesson from that. The world around us puts blocks in the way of our sharing the gospel and standing for truth. There are those who are intentional about trying to stop the church from having an impact on society for righteousness. Many churches and many Christians get discouraged and give up. The churches and the Christians that see breakthroughs are those that have the dogged determination of a raccoon, not letting any resistance stop their effort. As Easter nears, we have a special chance to advance the gospel to those around us who may not early on realize our message is for their good; but we will never see fruit unless we persist in sowing the seed. Let s be committed to have the dogged determination of a ring-tailed rogue and keep on keeping on until Jesus comes! Gary Dyer, Pastor John 3:30

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4 4 A few weeks ago, I had cataract surgery and had a new, snazzy lens implanted. It was not an easy decision, but a smart one. I can see a sharp, clean, beautiful world! I wake up grateful every day, amazed at the contrast between the new eye and the old one. The surgery for the second eye is this week. I don t want to get used to it and forget how wonderful clear vision is! In thinking about spiritual blindness, I want to remember the difference Jesus made in my life...not take it for granted. This takes regular, intentional appointments with Him...to remember who He is and who I am and what He has done for me. This activity is called worship. Let s do it together this Sunday! Joyful Noise, our student ensemble, will be helping to lead worship this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. We have a selection of songs and hymns that will start our worship with joyous celebration. We will move from joy to our realization of our need for grace. Then, Joyful Noise will lead us to answer the question, Is He worthy of all our praise? The answer: He is! See you Sunday! So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey Him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! Psalm 32:11 NLT Joyful Noise Social Media Campaign Soon to Launch Emily Ross, chair of the ABC Publicity Committee, is working with staff to develop a social media campaign in time for Easter promotion. Did you know that 90% of millennials use social media? That one in five couples meet online? That the most active group on social media is mothers with children under the age of 5? Given current demographics for our community, ABC needs to have a viable presence on social media in order to reach out to the unchurched and connect in ways that will lead them to the Lord. How can you help? If you haven t already, go and like the ABC Facebook page and be ready to share these posts with your friends. Also find us on Instagram More details to come!

5 5 Here at Austin Baptist Church, our Media Ministry is always looking for new and innovative ways to help our members and guests better experience worship and stay connected with their family of faith. In that spirit, beginning on March 31, 2019, ABC will move video streaming of both church services and Lamplighters BFG to our new video streaming service provider, BoxCast. BoxCast is a video streaming platform that was designed for the purpose of effectively and clearly broadcasting video in a simple and flexible way to those who cannot be here on campus to worship. Many of the options available for viewing the service will be the same as they were before, and in some cases, we ve taken some of the features once housed by our previous service provider in-house. For instance, you have options to view the live broadcast on the ABC BoxCast streaming page, Facebook Live, the BoxCast Roku app, or on our ABC homepage. Access to these resources can be found at the following: ABC homepage: Roku: search BoxCast to download app, search Austin Baptist Church in the app to locate the streaming channel Additionally, our archived worship service videos will now be housed on our church website for ease of access. Simply go to austinbaptistchurch.com, click on the Sermons tab, and it will take you to our page of archived videos. Our mission is to make sure that all of our members and guests have the ability to worship and be a part of the experience, be it in the Worship Center with us or tuning in from elsewhere. We strive to deliver the best for our members and guests and work hard every day to do so. As with any transition, please be patient as we work through any issues that may arise. Just like you, we re also learning new things, such as working with new software and equipment and with new account representatives and support personnel. Should you have any questions regarding this transition, please feel free to reach out at me at joep@austinbaptistchurch.com. Blessings to you all, Joe Pere Director of Media Ministries Matthew 6:33

6 6 ABC sent a team of six to Calgary last week. The adults, Christina Mendoza and Kati Dobbs, were selected to go because they are gifted in activities we were asked to do: make and present delicious chocolate treats for a women s event hosted by our friends at Connect Church and care lovingly for young children so their moms could attend. (I am not gifted in these areas, but I went because I m bossy!) The three young teens who went, Elli Mendoza, Jewell Morris, and Sallie Whatley, were recommended because they had worked well with children; however, we discovered that they also can cook, clean, and sing and play instruments. They had many chances to serve and to learn about Calgary. Because the people of Calgary are wealthy and surrounded by beauty, they do not necessarily feel a spiritual need or hunger. However, they are interested in taking care of the earth, and they value anything that helps their community. So, when we do something that blesses them, asking for nothing in return, we gain an opportunity to build friendships, which can yield a chance for conversations that can include a word about God. These young girls understood this immediately and practiced conversation as they worked their way through this to do list: Shopped for, helped cook, and served dinner to the University of Calgary girls basketball team and coaches. They also provided the entertainment, playing and singing three Christian songs. Visited and entertained at Evanston Grand, a retirement village near Connect Church. Prepared treats and helped decorate for Chocolate and Coffee. Cared for children who came with their moms to Chocolate and Coffee. Spent a day in the mountains at Lake Louise and Banff, experiencing God s creative work. As we wrapped up the week, I asked each of them two questions. Here are their reflections: What surprised you? Jewell The diversity of cultures in Calgary. Elli That 95% of Calgary is unchurched. Sallie The beauty of the mountains and the cold temperatures. What was your favorite part of the mission? Jewell Having conversations with the U of C girls basketball team and coaches. Elli Helping take care of the children. Sallie Making the chocolates and knowing that they might be a tool in the process of leading someone to Christ. The result? On Sunday, we attended the church service at Connect. There were several new faces as a result of the Chocolate and Coffee event. Three people made decisions to follow Christ! So, thank you, ABC Family, for providing opportunities for us to join God s work! Dodie Morris

7 7 After moving here from Dallas, finding a church home was very important. Austin Baptist Church is such a blessing to many seeking to find a place to worship and serve our Lord, including me. When I served on the Facilities Committee, our space limitation was evident. Now, as Earcie and I walk the hallways from the church service to the Crossroads class, the wisdom of adding to our existing church facilities is evident in the life, laughter, and Christian love found on Sunday mornings. ABC is a beacon for those seeking the Lord. Now let us be proactive in reducing our debt so that we can reach others as Christ directed in the Great Commission, guaranteeing others eternal life. The fields are ripe unto harvest! Mary Chappell Trustee Committee Member Wednesday Nights During Fellowship At 5:00 pm Stationery Provided! Church Mails for You!

8 8 Raised to Date: $4,870.00

9 9 Tuesday, April 9 11:30 am to 1:00 pm Skylight Room Ham Provided; Bring Side Dishes & Desserts! Leave ABC at 8:30 am State Park includes Sauer-Beckmann Farmstead, a living history of a farmstead from the 1900s National Historical Park Tour includes the ranch and the Texas White House. Lunch in Johnson City (not included in trip price) Stop at Texas Hill Country Olive Company in Dripping Springs (if time permits) Return to ABC around 4:30 pm Cost per Person: $40 (based on 30 reservations) To register or get more details, contact Teena Dyer

10 10 National Goal $70 Million ABC Goal $14,000 Raised to Date: $4,870.00

11 11 I m back from Canada! I was blessed to get to go with Dodie and a small group for a mission trip to Calgary for Spring Break. It was an amazing experience! The trip back to Austin, however, was not so amazing. After standing in line for a good 45 minutes to make it through security, we finally boarded our plane and left Calgary. The plane that took us to Dallas was pretty small and it reminded me more of a charter bus than it did an airplane. But it did the job and after four hours, we flew in to Dallas. Before we landed I noticed that we circled around a few times. I realized later that it was probably because of the huge storm that was blowing through Dallas. We landed safely and made our way to the connecting flight. We landed in Dallas at 7:45 p.m. and our next flight wasn t until 9:45 p.m. so we got some food and waited at the gate. However, our flight kept getting delayed because of the storm, so we did not board the plane until 10:15 p.m. This whole time I was texting my family trying to figure out who was going to pick me up from the airport and how late it was going to be. (Surprise, surprise, no one wanted to pick me up but my mom, because she loves me.) So, after boarding the plane, we sat there for a while until the pilot came on and said that we had to wait to leave until we could be inspected for hail damage. This plane was a lot bigger than the previous one. It was completely booked so there were quite a few unhappy people, especially when they came back on at 11:00 p.m. and said we had to get back off the plane to wait for inspection. So we went back to the lobby and settled in. They had TV screens in the seating areas by the gate to show the boarding times for the flight, and I watched it as the FLIGHT CANCELLED boarding time went from 11:15 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., to 12:30 a.m., to 1:30 a.m., then 2:30 a.m., and finally to 3:45 a.m. During this time we tried to sleep and figure out if there was anything else we could do, which there wasn t really. Finally, at 3:45 a.m., they came out and said the flight was cancelled. We also found out that most of the flights had been cancelled so everyone was trying to get rental cars, which caused us to take an hour to get one. Now, I wouldn t say I m not a morning person, but I like my sleep and I need my sleep, so this was just a rough day for me. So by this point I don t think I was talking anymore and, to be honest, I don t really remember much of the trip home. Dodie and Christina Mendoza were troopers and fought sleep to drive us home. They dropped me off at my apartment at 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning. Honestly, this was not an airport experience that I would wish on anyone, but it was a blessing to see how well the girls handled it. We had a couple of middle school girls on the trip with us and they were amazing. It was so special to see them serving at such a young age. We helped with childcare at an event for Connect Church in Calgary and they did an amazing job with the kids. We cooked for the event as well and they did everything that was asked of them and more. As for the trip back, they handled it better than I did! They made the best of the situation and got excited about the car trip back, even though we just slept the whole way. It was a blessing to go on the trip with them and I wouldn t have had it any other way. (Well, I might have changed the ending a bit.)

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13 13 As we return from Spring Break, we are jumping back into another exciting night of Axis this Wednesday. Our last session of Playlist: Psalms was led by Avery Cline as she took us through Psalm 23. It was an excellent time of worship and Bible study together! This week, we will be led by Izzy Mendoza as she teaches Psalm 46. You may be most familiar with one of its last lines: Cease striving [some translations be still ] and know that I am God. It is a Psalm that inspires our generation as we face crisis and chaos to slow down and understand who God is. The Psalm is set by the first lines, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The people that would sing this song were taking their solace in the strength of God amidst a world of struggle. When looking for a safe place to stand, the psalmist instructs the people to look to God, even if the very world gives way. But how can a person do that? Are we just supposed to chill out whenever we face calamity and almost certain destruction? The lines immediately after the cease striving line guide us: Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. The answer is that when we face the wars and storms of this world, we can turn and look for strength in our God. Did you know that when the Bible uses the term hosts it is referring to the armies of heaven? When we read this Psalm, we are guided to see that God is the God who makes peace amongst His enemies and Who commands tremendous power. Our stillness isn t designed for us to be meditative (though that is not a bad thing!). The call of this Psalm is for us to lean not on our own strength but on the strength of God and His power and love to bring us through the trials we face. In Psalm 46, we see the powerful Grace of God. Today as you read this, you may be facing a tremendous challenge in your life. You may wonder how God intends for you to survive in the midst of the chaos in our world. The challenge of Psalm 46 is first to lean on God s strength for whatever you face, and then second to exalt Him. Our trials of life lead us to better understand the strength of the God who loves us. May we be a church that ceases striving and knows God; may we exalt Him in the earth as we depend on His armies to deliver us! By Christ s Love, Matt Avery Cline

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15 15 NEXT WEEK AT ABC Sun, Mar 31 9:00 am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 10:10 am Bible Fellowship Groups 11:11 am Contemporary Worship, Sanctuary Wed, Apr 3 5:00 pm Fellowship Supper, Great Hall Missions Committee Meeting, Rm :00 pm Bible Study for Adults, Great Hall AXIS Student Ministry, Student Suite E3 #squadgoals - Establishing True Friendships Fri, Apr 5 6:00 pm Parents Night Out, Rm. 137 Sat, Apr 6 9:00 am Texas Trash Off/Adopt-a-Highway DEACONS ON CALL Week of April 1, 2019 Max Arrell... (512) Richard Bennett... (713) ON THE HORIZON APRIL 7 Acteens 8 Adults on Mission 9 Terrific Tuesday 10 Outreach & Evangelism Committee 11 Hill Toppers Potluck Event 13 Easter EGGstravaganza 14 Palm Sunday Starting Point 17 Finance Committee 18 Upper Room Service & Lord s Supper 19 Office Closed 21 Easter Sunday 22 Deacons Meeting 24 Business Meeting 26 Awana s TNT Lock-In MONDAY ESL Classes, Rm 227 7:00-9:00 pm TUESDAY Tiny Tots & Tunes Rms 131 & 134, 10:00 am The Porch Live Austin 7:30 pm Student Worship Suite WEDNESDAY Tiny Tots & Tunes Rm 134, 10:00 am KidzMuzik Children s Area, 6:00 pm AWANAS Rm 137, 6:45 pm RECURRING EVENTS Our Attendance WEDNESDAY (cont.) Women s Bible Study Rm 243, 6:00 pm Handbells 6:00 pm, Rm 171 Sanctuary Choir 7:15 pm, Choir Suite Orchestra 7:30 pm, Worship Center THURSDAY Mom2Mom Bible Study Rm 248, 9:45 am American Heritage Girls & Trail Life Children s Area, 6:00 pm March 28, Ap 11,25 SUNDAY, MARCH 24, :00 Service :11 Service Bible Fellowship Groups To-Date $704, OUR RESPONSE TO GOD S FAITHFULNESS SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2019 Annual 2019 General Fund Budget $3,966, Annual 2019 General Fund Budget $3,966, Account 03/17/2019 update YTD General Fund $50, $678, Designated $2, $15, This Mountain is the Lord s $18, $130, Total Giving $71, $824, Account 03/24/2019 YTD General Fund $54, $733, Designated $2, $17, This Mountain is the Lord s $305, $435, Total Giving $362, $1,186, FOR PUBLICATION CONSIDERATION Articles and items for The Bridge are due to Rita Jones by the Friday (5:00 p.m.) before the Wednesday publication date. Your cooperation is very appreciated!