Welcoming Rev. Dr. Griff Martin It is with great joy that the Pastoral Search Committee of the First Baptist Church of Austin nominates The Rev. Dr. Griff Martin to be our 24 th senior pastor.
Griff was born and grew up here in Austin amid four generations of a family with a deep legacy of being Austinites. His great-grandfather, Bill Youngquist, was a longtime barber at the Sulphur Springs Barber Shop in downtown Austin on East 5th Street. Griff met his wife, Abby Lundgren Martin, in Austin and they have two children, Blake and Jude. Griff has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Baylor University, a Master of Divinity degree from Truett Seminary, a Master of Educational Psychology degree from Baylor University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Truett Seminary. He is currently enrolled in the 2016-2017 Foundations of Christian Leadership program at Duke Divinity. Griff has served several churches here in Texas. Throughout seminary he served as Minister to Students at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco. After seminary he served as the Pastor to Young Adults and Families at Sugar Land Baptist Church. Griff is currently serving as the Senior Co-Pastor at University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. My heartfelt prayer for more than a year has been that First Austin will be led by an energetic, spiritually mature and socially engaging Christ follower who is both a servant leader and a pastor seeking incarnational mission. I have prayed that this person would be poised to give themselves wholeheartedly to the mission, ministry and future of this congregation. God has answered my prayers through the work of the search committee to call Griff Martin. Suzii Paynter Executive Coordinator Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Family Griff and Abby have been married for 12 years. Abby has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Baylor University. She has worked for many years as a teacher and currently teaches at a local preschool. Griff and Abby have two children, Blake and Jude. Blake just finished first grade and she is a creative spirit with deep compassion and an inquisitive soul. Jude recently turned four and he is all energy with eagerness for life and a real love for getting to know people. Visit fbcaustin.org for more information about Griff including a video greeting and sermons.
Letter from PSC June 12, 2016 Dear First Baptist Church of Austin family: You have waited with grace. You have waited in hope. And now, just as the Apostle Paul assured another congregation centuries ago, we proclaim: Hope does not disappoint us! What a delightful family! Griff, Abby, Blake and Jude are congenial, unpretentious, fun, warm and welcoming. I look forward to seeing them become four more threads woven into the First Austin tapestry. Griff describes himself as a follower of Jesus and strives to do His will wherever he is planted. I have no doubt that his skills as a people-person will see him bloom in the rich, nurturing soil of First Austin. Thanks be to God for the whole Martin family. Arleigh DeLeon, Co-Chair Your Pastoral Search Committee is excited to present Rev. Dr. Griff Martin as our unanimous recommendation to serve as your next Senior Pastor. We offer this recommendation with hearts full of joy, with enthusiasm, and with gratitude; but primarily we are filled with an abiding hope in our future together. You commissioned our committee on October 5, 2014. During our first seven months together you revealed our church s shared vision of a new Senior Pastor. In total, 343 members and staff participated in our online survey. We held seven town hall and group meetings. We met with every age group from children to senior adults. From your generous input we compiled a Pastor Profile distilling the desired attributes of our next Senior Pastor and we created a detailed Church Profile that allowed potential candidates to gain a deeper understanding of who we are. Griff is poised to make a considerable contribution to storied history of First Austin and the Christ-centered lives of its members. He has the ability to walk alongside a congregation to collaboratively cast a vision, but also the patience and persistence to execute that vision to a successful completion. Greg Milligan, Co-Chair After our very productive period of listening, we reached out to trusted advisors around the country A beautiful family is joining us on our journey. Griff, Abby, Blake and Jude walking the aisle as new members is an awesome moment fully worthy of celebration in and of itself. Add that Griff is a gifted preacher, a caring pastor and a passionate Jesus lover who just happens to be coming home to Austin...well our cup truly runneth over. Phillip Adkins and asked for recommendations. These advisors included pastors, professors and seminary presidents who are not only immersed in ministry and Christian education, but are deeply aware of the unique qualities of our church. We received and carefully reviewed recommendations from many of you. Also, we independently received expressions of interest from 223 applicants. The broad interest in our vacancy provided confirmation: The historic pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Austin is revered and respected. I m so excited. Besides being a superb preacher, Griff has a true love of the Church in general, and great hope for the future. He brings energy, experience, a deep love of Christ, hospitality, a sense of calling, a caring approach to interpersonal relationships, a passion for justice and a loving family. The future is bright. Thomas Arthur Guided by our Pastor Profile and, we trust, the Holy Spirit, we engaged in a process of discernment. Collectively, we spent more than 4,000 hours considering the candidates and travelled more than 32,000 miles to hear candidates preach. And, of course, given the opportunities afforded by this digital age, we listened and watched many, many sermons online. We discussed and we winnowed and we prayed and we worked and we laughed and we cried. The process slowly, but very distinctly, revealed Griff Martin. While Griff is presented to you to be our 24 th Senior Pastor, he would be the first native Austinite. Griff was born in Austin and lived here until leaving for Baylor where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Public Relations and a Master of Educational Psychology degree. He also received a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry
It s been a pleasure getting to know Griff and his family through their beautiful hospitality and spiritual integrity. As Griff moves into the ministry context of FBCA and Austin, I join him in his enthusiasm and fresh energy for this church family now and the days and years ahead of us. Ginny Barrett degree from Truett Seminary. He is currently enrolled in the 2016-17 Foundations of Christian Leadership program at Duke Divinity. Griff s wife, Abby, is also a native of Austin and both of their parents still live in town. Consequently, Griff comes to us with a love of Austin as well as a keen sense of the city, its spiritual life and its particular opportunities and challenges. Griff and Abby look forward to raising their daughter Blake (7) and son Jude (4) in their hometown. Through our time with Griff, both in his home in Baton Rouge, where he has served the past six years as Co- Pastor at University Baptist Church, and on his trips here to Austin, we began to discern a minister deeply in love with the local church and passionate about how local churches will flourish in a changing culture. You will see soon that Griff is a gifted preacher. He Griff is a gifted preacher. He is well read and brings the breadth of his reading to the text. He is an enthusiastic and engaging personality. His passion for the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ undergirds his pastoral presence. A special gift he brings that fits with our congregational life is that he is a team player. From the first time we met to the very present he has been able to join us in companion discipleship. Barry Click preaches with wit, with well-read wisdom and with loving humility. But just as important as his preaching ability, is Griff s ability to nurture Christian community. The committee felt this as we shared several meals together. We felt it as we watched Griff and Abby interact with Blake and Jude. We have come to realize that Griff began the process of pastoring us well before he became our pastor. We will always recall fondly that his first hospital visit to a member of First Austin occurred when he, completely of his own initiative, visited one of our committee members in the hospital as she recovered from surgery. He just can t seem to help it: he is called to pastor. And after much work and prayer, your committee is convinced that he is called to be OUR pastor. Please be in prayer for Griff as he prepares to deliver a sermon in View of a Call on June 26. Pray for Abby, Blake and Jude as they commit to an adventurous obedience that asks a lot of them. Pray for the congregation of the University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge as they prepare for change. And let s pray for each other as we continue to live into the awesome calling of being the body of Christ in Austin and beyond. The balance of gifts I see in Griff seems a great fit with what we treasure in our former pastors and wish for the future. Engaging, creative, forward-looking, spiritually aware, youthful yet ageless, discerning, energetic, respectful, challenging, mature, fun-loving, hospitable, well-read, personable, present in the moment, and theologically sound are some of the descriptors that come to mind as I try to verbalize what I have felt in our times together. I look forward to his leadership in guiding and empowering us to continue to become all that God desires for us. Anita Gordon Your Pastoral Search Committee, Arleigh DeLeon, Co-Chair Phillip Adkins Ginny Barrett Anita Gordon David Hammond Sylvia Newsom Greg Milligan, Co-Chair Thomas Arthur Barry Click Denise Hammett Leigh Jackson Jo Betsy Szebehely I m so excited to call Griff Martin as our next senior pastor. During the search process, his spiritual journey resonated with me and I believe his background will help him relate to so many people at FBC and to our unchurched neighbors. I am especially struck by his amazing gift for pastoral care, his creative spirit and his love for the church. Denise Hammett While I am impressed with Griff s exceptional preaching, I am even more impressed with his leadership skills, character, ability to connect with others, and hopeful vision for the future of the Church and God s gathering of people at Ninth and Trinity. The entire Martin family is winsome, friendly, and approachable; I can t wait to welcome them to First Austin. David Hammond
Rev. Dr. Griff Martin EDUCATION 2010 Truett Seminary Waco, TX Doctor of Ministry Graduation: Summer 2013 Project: Literary Images: An Invitation to Congregational Involvement in the Preaching Event Using Literature and Small Groups 2003-2007 Truett Seminary Waco, TX Master of Divinity Graduation: December 2007 Awarded Dr. Chip Conyers Outstanding Male Student, 2007 2003-2007 Baylor University Waco, TX Master of Educational Psychology Graduation: May 2007 1999-2003 Baylor University Waco, TX Bachelor in Journalism Major in Public Relations with Minor in Religion Graduation: May 2003 I m delighted to welcome Griff, Abby, Blake, and Jude to First Austin. Griff brings to us a deep passion and love for the Church and our city. It is my hope that his thoughtfulness, leadership, energy, and creativity will help guide us as we continue to learn what it means to live as a faith community in downtown Austin. Leigh Jackson PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2010- present Senior Co-Pastor University Baptist Church (Baton Rouge, LA) Includes preaching ministry, planning weekly liturgy, overseeing educational staff, and general business of church. 2007-2010 Associate Pastor of Young Families Sugar Land Baptist Church (Sugar Land, TX) Included maintaining a ministry for young families, starting a discipleship program and events for marriage and parenting enrichment, regular pulpit ministry, Kenya mission venture (leading trips and running on-going ministry) and various other church tasks. 2003-2007 Youth Pastor Columbus Avenue Baptist Church (Waco, TX) Included maintaining a youth ministry for student grades 7-12, camps, international and national mission trips, local mission outreach, a tremendous growth in youth ministry, and pulpit supplying. 2003 Ordained by Hyde Park Baptist Church, Austin TX
From our first meeting, I felt a strong connection to Griff, not only for me, but for FBC. His warmth and desire to seek ways to lead our congregation was evident. I felt that the love and joy he has for his family would also be shared with us. His ability to work with all age groups and staff will be a great asset for FBC. He is bright and smart beyond his years and will bring a new spirit to FBC. I m looking forward to his coming, his leadership and his sharing where God wants FBC to go in the future. Sylvia Newsom CURRENT ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP Duke Divinity Foundation of Christian Leadership 2016-2017 Cohort Board Member of Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank Transitional Leadership Chair of Together for Hope Louisiana Chair Elect of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship s Ministry Board Board Member of Baton Rouge s One Book, One Community Involved with Interfaith Federation and Together Baton Rouge (interfaith and ecumenical groups in Baton Rouge) While I took a turn through Seton Hospital last March, Griff unexpectedly appeared there and exhibited his pastoral skills in a very faith-filled moment. Jo Betsy Szebehely
GRIFF MARTIN S SPIRITUAL BIOGRAPHY Anne Lamott writes this of her faith journey: My coming to faith did not start with a leap but rather a series of staggers from what seemed like one safe place to another. Like lily pads, round and green, these places summoned and then held me up while I grew. Each prepared me for the next leaf on which I would land, and in this way I moved across the swamp of doubt and fear. This is an excellent summary of my own faith journey and as I look back I can title a great many of the lily pads on which I have landed and have held me up in the ocean of faith until it was time for the next leap. No Questions I was raised in a most conservative church where faith was not to be questioned, nor was tradition. I accepted Christ as a young child, baptized at the age of 8, thus fulfilling much of what the church required of me. I was taught to not question things, that Jesus is a white- upper class- Americanmale who votes Republican, there are rules to be followed, women have a subordinate role in church and family, and wine is the great sin. Church was more social than spiritual at this point in my life. Holier Than Thou I made the leap to this lily pad during adolescence. My identity was founded on being the youth group kid. I was a good kid who followed all the right rules and was at church every time the doors were open. I joke that I did not letter in Varsity Football, but I lettered in Piety. Missions became a very important part of my life through trips to New Orleans and South America. This was a really important place for me. I received my call to ministry during this time. Though that call played out differently than I would have foreseen, it was an authentic calling and I am eternally grateful for all who shaped me in this season. Unsure and Unstable After high school, I followed the path to Baylor University. It s hard to characterize my faith here; I might cite this stage as my most intense period of doubt, thus an intense time of authentic spiritual growth. Here for the first time, I was given permission to question everything I had ever believed. This was an important gift given to me by the religion department. Unfortunately, I was more focused on growing socially. All of a sudden I did not have to be the holier than thou kid and was able to form my own identity. At Last Grace After Baylor, I attended Southwestern Seminary and this relationship failed from day one. They disagreed with everything about me: my theology, my belief in equality, the fact I enjoyed a glass of wine, just to name a few. I left after a semester knowing that if I returned, I would either lose my faith or lose myself; I was not willing to lose either. I ended up transferring to Truett Seminary. Griff is a thoughtful, fun, engaging, and intelligent person. In a faithful and loving way he knows how to create safe space for people and ideas. I am so very grateful to have him as a colleague and a friend. He and his delightful family will remain dear to me always. Patti Snyder Senior Pastor University Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge Truett was divine grace for me. I had two professors who mentored and meant the world to me, Ruth Ann Foster and Terry York. They allowed me to question every aspect of my faith, they allowed me to discover a religion that I did not know existed and they introduced me to a new aspect of Christ that would forever impact me. They truly saved me. I discovered grace here for the first time and realized that it might be the password to the kingdom. It looked different than any faith I had seen before, it was authentic and life giving. I began a more intellectual faith journey. Seminary challenged me in a way that I loved, and I discovered that grace was just as much intellect as heart. I discovered authors who challenged me, subjects that were intriguing to me, and faith became this mystery to slowly be discovered, an endless dance to learn. Here Christianity became a both, and journey for me and not the more common and dualistic either, or.
Griff is an extraordinary preacher, as widely read as anyone I know, loves the church, is an outstanding pastor and is a native of Austin. He is dynamic and committed and ready for a church like First Baptist. Roger A. Paynter Former Senior Pastor First Baptist Church of Austin My calling to ministry was finalized here because I was able to let my calling go. I understood that with a double degree in theology and psychology there were ample roads that God could choose to lead me down. The most important part of my calling was to follow now even though I did not know the entire road map. Jesus Alone. My entire faith right now is based on Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. I have found and discovered a faith that allows me to be holy, human, and progressive, that gives me freedom to enjoy life, that gives me perspective on who I am, that mentally challenges me to never slow down or grow stale, and contemplative spiritual practices that feed my soul. In a recent meeting with my spiritual director I halfconfessed to her that when I talk about Jesus I often worry that I lose my university educated and mystical leaning vocabulary, which I have worked so hard to develop, and instead find myself in a voice that is more of childlike joy and glee simply because Jesus is the very foundation of everything I am and all that I do. For me today Jesus is the greatest hope in my life. Jesus is the ultimate example of humanity and Jesus is the clearest picture we have of divinity. Jesus is my lens, the lens through which I view Scripture, but also the lens through which I view all of life. Jesus is the height of creativity and imagination lived to its fullest. Jesus is my deepest comfort. Jesus lived the truest story this world has ever encountered. Jesus is our deepest calling, to follow the Way he so clearly lived out. Jesus is our Savior, his way of living and his way of dying and resurrection offer salvation to our world. And ultimately for me it comes down to this: Jesus is the deepest love of my life. Calling Dr. Griff Martin as your pastor will forever be seen as a high and holy moment in the history of FBC Austin. He is one of the very best in every way. Terry W. York, D.M.A. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Professor of Christian Ministry and Church Music George W. Truett Theological Seminary Baylor University
I ve gotten to know Griff as a colleague and friend through his service on CBF s Ministries Council and could not be more thrilled that he has been called to FBC Austin. He is clearly a thoughtful, innovative and hard-working leader, and his understanding of Austin and our unique culture will be a huge asset to the people s cathedral in the heart of the weird city. Stephen K. Reeves Associate Coordinator of Partnerships and Advocacy Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Meet & Greet Griff and Abby Martin Schedule of Events Wednesday, June 15, 6:00 p.m. Midweek Moorings Presentation of Call and Discussion with the Pastoral Search Committee Saturday, June 25, 6:00 p.m. All Church Dinner with the Martin Family. Hamburgers and potluck supper in Fellowship Hall meet and greet format. RSVP to Church Office. Child care available. Sunday, June 26, 11:00 a.m. Worship with the Rev. Dr. Griff Martin preaching in view of a call, immediately followed by the special business meeting to vote to call Griff as our 24 th senior pastor. Sunday, June 26, 6:00 p.m. Dinner in Fellowship Hall for church leadership and staff. General discussion with Griff and Abby. By Invitation. Child care available. First Baptist Church of Austin 901 Trinity St Austin, TX 78701 www.fbcaustin.org