THE BRIDGE inside Ryan Bomberger... 2

Transcription

1 1

2 2 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 inside Ryan Bomberger... 2 Dyer Straights... 3 Welcome New Members... 4 Believer s Baptism... 4 This Mountain is the Lord s From the Desk of David Procter... 7 Music Notes by Dodie... 8 Call to Prayer... 8 From Stephanie Rankin... 9 Adults on Mission Baby Bottle Campaign Celebrating David Procter Adopt-a-Highway Easter EGGstravaganza Palm Sunday Memories Children s Ministry Student Ministry Calendar & Reports... 18

3 3 Clearly, the next few weeks are filled with important and exciting opportunities for us to be together. For instance, this Thursday evening at 7:00, we will gather for the Upper Room, a musical and dramatic focus on Passion Week events that includes the observance of the Lord s Supper. Then, of course, this coming Sunday, April 21, is Easter Sunday. Our schedule will remain the same that day, but we will see many, many people who have never worshiped with us before, and we are preparing for a glorious day. On Saturday, April 27, we will be having a wonderful church-wide dinner in our Great Hall to share about our This Mountain is the Lord s campaign, to rejoice in what we have seen happen, to learn the difference this effort can and will make for our church for years to come, and to talk about how we can all be involved. (Those, like Teena and myself, who have already made a commitment-- and/or given--are included in this dinner as our presence will be a key part of the celebration that makes the gathering special.) On Sunday, April 28, it will be our privilege to hear Ryan Bomberger, founding director of The Radiance Foundation. Ryan is courageous, convincing, and yes controversial controversial because he courageously stands for those who have no voice. [Not since Michael Franzese last spoke to us six years ago have we had the opportunity to hear someone who is having the impact on modern culture that Ryan is having.] Next, on May 5, we celebrate the ministry of the Procters on David s last day as our Executive Pastor. Please note elsewhere in the Bridge the schedule change for that one day only. May 12 is Mother s Day and, on May 19, we will honor our graduating seniors. So, yes, a number of special things are taking place during our worship services and Bible Fellowship time the next few weeks. With all of that, though, the constants in our ministry remain our strong suit. Every Sunday, we have gifted and devoted Bible teachers leading our Bible Fellowship Groups. Every Sunday, the Word of God is preached without apology or compromise. Every Wednesday evening, we study God s Word more in depth and pray together as a family of faith. (Right now, we are in the third chapter of Acts as we walk through that great history of the early church verse by verse.) Every Sunday and Wednesday, we seek to strike the right balance of truth and love. Every Sunday and Wednesday, we are enriched by the fellowship and ministry we share with one another. Every Sunday, the gospel of Jesus Christ is presented with a prayerful yearning that we see new converts for Christ. Every Tuesday night at The Porch Live: Austin the truths of the Bible are presented with application relevant for today s young adults. Every time we meet, we desire to glorify God, magnify His Word, and equip His people for service. It is because these things are the priority at ABC that we pray that none neglect to gather together as some are in the habit of doing. (Hebrews 10:25) In these twisted, turbulent, tumultuous, and sometimes terrifying times, all of us need each other and all of us need to get our marching orders from the Word of God. I will see you this Sunday, Bible in hand and you at heart, as we deal with the intriguing Easter-related question, What if? Gary Dyer, Pastor John 3:30

4 4

5 5 Becky Sharp ABC MINISTER TO PRESCHOOLER & THEIR FAMILIES NOTE FROM WES WALTERS, CHAIR THIS MOUNTAIN IS THE LORD S CAMPAIGN This week s Bridge article on the Mountain Campaign has two writers and two perspectives. Becky Sharp focuses on the next generation the piggy bank generation - and Tim McCoy speaks from the ABC founding generation. The Mountain Campaign s purpose is to reduce ABC s facility mortgage to give more flexibility to the coming generations, the piggy bankers. Thanks to both Tim and Becky for their faithfulness to the Lords work! Wes Walters On Palm Sunday in Bible Fellowship Groups, every preschooler and child received a piggy bank. All kids are welcome and encouraged to participate in our mortgage debt reduction campaign, This Mountain is The Lord s. The campaign s purpose is to reduce ABC s facility mortgage to give more flexibility to the coming generations. Preschoolers and children are the coming generation, and I m sure any youth parent will testify that the years fly by! That said, the next generation of our church is growing up now, watching and learning from the example set for them. When our children grow up, we want them to reflect on this time and remember fondly that they helped, (Continued on page 6) Tim McCoy ABC FOUNDING MEMBER A few years ago, a number of us including me made a commitment to one another not to get off the ABC bus until it arrived at its destination in other words to be certain that Austin Baptist Church is set for the future when we turn the church over to the next generation! We are not there yet, but This Mountain is the Lord s can get us closer by helping us reduce our mortgage! I ask each of you who have never made a financial commitment to help with the facilities we built to the glory of God, to join the sacrificial vision of the original group. We need to pay down our mortgage and joyfully continue our journey until we have arrived at our destination. It s Onward and Upward! and my prayer is that God will bless each one of you in ways you cannot imagine. Tim McCoy

6 6 (Continued from page 5) Piggy banks were given to all children on Palm Sunday to collect change for This Mountain is the Lord s campaign. too. This is their church home, after all, and children will take more pride in our beautiful facilities with the knowledge that they played an important role. We want to instill a generous spirit within children at an early age so that when they grow up, they will give with a cheerful heart. From now until the campaign ends in 2021, children are invited to bring their piggy bank to church to empty into the offering plate. Children s involvement in this campaign provides an opportunity for them to more fully participate in corporate worship alongside adults. In Parenting in the Pew, Robbie Castleman writes, Children help us to pay attention to is really saying. ChilEdenwhat McCall God was baptized by Pastor Gary Dyer Sunday, Aprilto 7, The 13-year-old is the dren have a deeponcapacity respond with eager daughter of Amanda and Trey McCall and sister joy to God, to worship in spirit and truth. of Jack. Parents, we challenge you to match your children s giving! Give above and beyond what your children can, without fear, and in the knowledge that much can be accomplished, and there is no time to waste. Children will learn to give by watching the faithful example set by their parents. Kids, these piggies are yours to keep! It s my prayer that you grow to know, love, and follow God. Let these banks serve as a reminder of your early understanding of God s love for you. God tells us to give back what He has generously given to us. This campaign was born out of a desire to better fulfill the Great Commission by reducing our debt. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age Matthew 28: Becky Sharp

7 7 With my retirement as Executive Pastor, changes in leadership will come to two of our adult Bible Fellowship groups beginning Sunday, May 12. Sherwood Moffett will become the new teacher of Crossroads Bible Fellowship and Lori DeVillez will become the new teacher for Mosaic Bible Fellowship following Selena Procter. We are very grateful for Sherwood and Lori and their willingness to teach God s Word for two of our groups. Here is some background on each of them: Sherwood Moffett Sherwood Moffett grew up in East Texas where he became a Christian as an elementary school student. He met and married his wife of 52 years, Margaret, while they were in college. After graduating from the University of Texas and teaching for several years, he and Margaret became missionaries with the International Mission Board, serving in Japan for 14 years before returning to the U.S. They have two children and two grandsons, all of whom live in the area. Sherwood retired from teaching at Hyde Park High School in 2014, but he and Margaret continue to lead mission groups to Japan, serving in Disaster Relief following the 2011 tsunami, and supporting church outreach in the greater Tokyo area. Sherwood and Margaret joined our church in 2008 and have been very faithful and involved. Sherwood has served on the Baptism Ministry Team, the Missions Committee, and on the Building on a Strong Foundation Launch Leadership Team. He has been serving as co-teacher of Pathfinders Bible Fellowship. Margaret has served on the Baptism Ministry Team, chaired the Children s Ministry Team, the Nomination Committee, the Prayer Ministry Team, Vacation Bible School, Kids Kare, Building on a Strong Foundation Launch Leadership Team, and she served on the church staff as Children s Assistant Minister with Janna Boyd. Sherwood will begin a study of Paul s letter to Philemon on Sunday, May 12. Lori DeVillez grew up in Evansville, Indiana and earned a degree in psychology and social work from the University of Southern Indiana in her hometown. With a background in social work, public administration, and missions, Lori began her career path of serving pregnancy centers in She quickly advanced from a volunteer position to director of the pregnancy center and a maternity home. From , Lori traveled the nation as president of The Heidi Group, an Austin organization Lori DeVillez helping centers develop strategic ministry and providing training for the staffs of the centers. Lori developed a heart for the 100,000-plus university students in Austin, where she moved in Her vision for a pregnancy center adjacent to The University of Texas campus was realized in January 2005 when the Austin Pregnancy Resource Center opened. As executive director, Lori has been instrumental in the opening of many pregnancy resource centers in Central Texas. She continues to lead what is now called Trotter House. Lori joined Austin Baptist Church in 2016 and has been involved in our missions ministry and in Mosaic Bible Fellowship. She is a gifted author, speaker, and equipper. She will begin a study called Prayer: Our Foundation for Everything on Sunday, May 12. David Procter

8 8 Have you ever gotten lost in a worship service? No, I don t mean wandering around during the welcome time and forgetting what row you were sitting on. I mean getting so focused on the Lord that you forget what time it is, who is sitting beside you, and maybe forget a kid or two. That kind of lost. Like perhaps some of you, I experience this often during quiet times alone with God not so much in corporate worship. As a true introvert, I find it challenging to keep my mind from wandering when there are so many people in the room. But communion with God in a crowd does happen occasionally, and when it does, it s usually connected with music, and it s unforgettable like a marker in my life. I ll bet you have a list of unforgettable times with Him, too. Here are a few from my list: A service in 1952 at Drycreek Encampment. I was really young; I gave my heart to Jesus. A Sunday in the early 60s, visiting at FBC Dallas. We were singing Faith of Our Fathers. A service in 2000 at Highland Lakes. I sat on a golf cart in the back of the old open-air tabernacle. Someone was signing to I Can Only Imagine. I had just lost my best friend. A Sunday in January Benny Knight prayed for Darrell Sargent during the choir s preservice warmup. A message came during the service that Darrell would indeed get a new heart that day! Last Sunday, April 14, at ABC. God nudged me several times: the children, the trio, the sermon it was a good day. I want my list to be longer. Like Charles Wesley, the 18 th century preacher/hymn-writer, I want to be lost in wonder, love, and praise. Changed from glory into glory Till in heaven we take our place Till we cast our crowns before Thee Lost in wonder, love, and praise

9 9

10 10

11 11 RESCHEDULED to APRIL 27, 2019

12 12

13 13

14 14

15 15

16 16

17 17

18 18 NEXT WEEK AT ABC RECURRING EVENTS Sun, Apr 21 Easter Sunday 9:00 am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 10:10 am Bible Fellowship Groups 11:11 am Contemporary Worship, Sanctuary Mon, Apr 22 6:30 pm Deacons Meeting, Great Hall Wed, Apr 24 5:00 pm Fellowship Supper, Great Hall 6:00 pm Church Business Meeting & Adult Bible Study, Great Hall Student Ministry AXIS, Student Suite 6:30 pm Financial Peace University, Rm 242 Fri, Apr 26 6:00 pm Awanas TNT Lock-In Sati, Apr 27 9:00 am Adopt-a-Highway Texas Trash-Off 5:30 pm This Mountain is the Lord s Dinner, Great Hall ON THE HORIZON APRIL 28 Ryan Bomberger at Both Worship Services Super Summer Spaghetti Spectacular Baby Bottle Campaign for Trotter House Begins Preschool & Children s Committee Meeting MAY 1 Missions Committee Meeting 2 National Day of Prayer 3 Parents Night Out 5 Celebrating David Procter s 50 Years in Ministry Women s Ministry Team Meeting Lamplighters Fish Fry 8 AXIS End of Year Party Outreach & Evangelism Team Meeting 12 Mother s Day Starting Point MONDAY ESL Classes, Rm 227 7:00-9:00 pm TUESDAY Tiny Tots & Tunes Cancelled for next week The Porch Live Austin 7:30 pm Student Worship Suite WEDNESDAY Tiny Tots & Tunes Cancelled for next week KidzMuzik Children s Area, 6:00 pm AWANAS Rm 137, 6:45 pm Easter Party DEACONS ON CALL Week of April 22, 2019 WEDNESDAY (cont.) Men s Bible Study Rm 247, 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 Apr 25 & May 9 Harlan McMorris... (512) Troy Wappler... (512) CLICK HERE TO REGISTER OUR RESPONSE TO GOD S FAITHFULNESS SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2019 Annual 2019 General Fund Budget $3,966, Account 04/14/2019 YTD General Fund $91, $927, Designated $8, $29, This Mountain is the Lord s $53, $521, Total Giving $153, $1,478, FOR PUBLICATION CONSIDERATION Our Attendance 9:00 Service :11 Service Bible Fellowship Groups Given-to-Date $790, 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!