Posted by Chris on Nov 20, 2009 in
Church I have now visited over a dozen different churches in Austin. Because I have focused my time on young church plants, I found them to be exciting, mission focused places. I promised not to be negative, and to take note of (1) their ability to reach young 20somethings, (2) their heart for the poor, and (3) their desire to reach lost people. Sadly, there was more than one time I sat down and found myself with nothing positive to say.
Here are a few thoughts that I hope all the churches in Austin can keep in mind:
1-Your Bigness is Overrated. There are churches doing some BIG things. They do music BIG. They have BIG television broadcasts. They have BIG buildings. They even have BIG crowds that show up on Sunday. Now don’t get me wrong, because I love big churches. But even if you can fill a room, while your preaching is so shallow it won’t even get your audience wet, or your music is so overproduced that the struggling indie artists will just find it alienating, then you might reconsider how you rate your success. Besides, Austin is the home of all things indie, where the most obscure niches can thrive. Big and fancy often reeks of corporate and inauthentic.
2-Don’t get excited about how many young people you are reaching. As a young committed Christian, who had recently moved to Austin and is looking for a church to plug into, I was amazed by how many people I found in the exact same situation as me. Which has led me to develop the following theory: churches with a lot of young adults are actually drawing almost completely from transfers from Houston and Dallas and other places. Numbers are growing, but Austin is still not being reached. People point to some places and say “look at all the young people!” Please don’t forget that Austin has over 1.5 million people, and is one of the fastest growing cities for young adults. Your big singles group seems exciting, but it’s really just a drop in the bucket.
3-No One Knows What You Are Talking About. Explaining what it means to communicate in a post-Christian world is a post in and of itself. Suffice it to say, most churches are mired in language that makes no sense to anyone who hasn’t gone to church their whole life. People don’t know who David or Paul is, what a Thessalonican is or why on earth anyone might want to raise an Ebenezer. More over, biblical and theological illiteracy is rampant within the church. This means that everything we say, every song we sing, how we pray, when we stand up and sit down, and the reason we take shots of grape juice has to be explained again and again to a world that does not know what we are talking about. Think this doesn’t apply to you? Reflect on this: If you don’t talk like there are people who aren’t Christians in your audience, there never will be.
4. What Do You Care About? One Church I visited made 4 or 5 mentions of prison ministry. Another Church made it abundantly clear they cared about Happy Hour. Both Christians and non-Christians are looking to be a part of a community that is making the world a better place. If I can’t visit your church, see what you care about, and learn how I can be a part of joining you in it, both of us have wasted our time.
I love Austin, and I want to see it reached. There are a some great churches doing some great things. There are also some I can’t write anything positive about. We need to all look in the mirror and ask God which one we are, and then look out the window and determine what we will do next.
Tags: Austin Church Search
Posted by Chris on Nov 9, 2009 in
Church Walking up to Hope Chapel, I was greeted by a jolly man with white hair, a bushy white beard, and a red shirt. Santa said to me, “Welcome to Hope Chapel. We’re having a special today: with the service you get free communion.” Inside I met Jay, who said, “Welcome to our quirky little Church.”
With their aging hippies, overhead projector and classic selection of Hosanna and Maranatha worship songs, I wondered if I had slipped through a wormhole and arrived in a circa 1970s Jesus People commune. Despite my confusion about the decades, I found myself totally caught up in the moment.
Hope meets in a strikingly traditional a-frame, pew-filled sanctuary. From the ceiling hung a few dozen paper butterflies. In the front of the room was a large ensemble, and a painter. Like most charismatic churches, the worship was full of constant exuberance. There never really is a moment of silence, as the congregation fills the breaks between songs with melodic choruses sung and hallelujahs sang at a whim. Their were occasional breaks for prayer as well as a touching testimony read by a recent convert through Hope’s college ministry. After the sermon, the preacher encouraged the congregation to “do some work with God,” by coming forward for prayer. Dozens responded.
More than anywhere else I’ve been in the city, Hope felt like an Austin Church. They are best known for their Arts program, which includes a noteworthy film festival, and regular times for artist to share and grow in their craft. I was also struck by the intergenerational nature of Hope. Their were old school hippies, hip 20somethings, and families. People seemed constantly engaged, greeting, hugging and laughing, throughout the entire gathering.
I’ve never really been to a place like Hope Chapel, and I don’t know if it could happen anywhere outside of Austin. But I’m glad it’s here: I know Austin is a better place for it, and I was blessed by visiting.
Tags: Austin Church Search, Hope Chapel
Posted by Chris on Oct 13, 2009 in
Church Though the name is Latin, the church is located on the primarily hispanic East Side. SDG is led by veteran Church Planter David Avila, who grew up in the same lower income neighborhood. Being at SDG was a great reminder of the important things in life, and what really makes up a church.
The small sanctuary had about 50 people of every ethnic stripe. The music was simple and heartfelt hymns and praise choruses. The sermon came from another church planter, that SDG is sending across town. (NOTE: For all you church leaders out there afraid you’re just not big enough to send out people and resources to plant, SDG would disagree with you.) After an hour of going verse by verse through the last chapter of James, the official service ended and transformed into an hour of mingling among old friends.
I was able to spend the afternoon with David and his extended familia, which makes up a good chunk of the growing church. They greeted me with open arms and pizza, and I soaked up many lessons about life on the East Side. Visiting SDG was a reminder of the power of the Kingdom of God, in its simplicity and diversity. I don’t know if I could ever reach the east side, and I don’t think I’m called to do so. But I’m so glad for people like David who are, and I’m excited to see what comes to pass.
Tags: Austin Church Search, Soli Deo Gloria
Posted by Chris on Oct 1, 2009 in
Church Having had lunch with Gideon Tsang, a pastor at Vox Veniae, I knew that visiting their community in the East side of Austin would be a special experience. I was blown away by Gideon’s intellect and willingness to sacrifice to be a blessing to the community, and it didn’t take me long to realize the church is doing the same.
Vox meets in a small warehouse called Space12, which is used throughout the week as an art gallery, public computer lab and music venue. Indoors was a cozy “couch Church” with dim lighting, random seating, and a bar with coffee and bagels. We were immediately greeted and made to feel right at home. When the worship started, it was clear that the Austin style folk-rock band was doing more original, local music than “cover songs” you’ll hear at most churches on a Sunday.
The lesson was a beginning of the school year visioncast. They talked about how they do church in groups around the city and on Sunday’s at Space12. What stands out from every other church’s Acts 2:42-47 lesson was their commitment that every group exists to be a blessing to their community. This same theme had been a part of their liturgical prayers and their original music.
When the church began, a number of leaders moved into the working poor neighborhoods of the East side. They own a few houses, where they are committed to living in community, both with each other, and their new, culturally different neighbors.
Afterward, we stood around talking for a long time, and then were invited to lunch by new friends. From the moment we walked in the door, until we finished lunch hours later, I felt welcomed and at home at Vox.
The church stands in contrast to so many who have left the cities or commute in, and I am excited to see how it will develop.
Tags: Austin Church Search, Vox Veniae
Posted by Chris on Sep 23, 2009 in
Church While Westover Hills may be the most traditional of the churches I have visited so far, it is also one of the most vibrant. They met in a bustling suburban neighborhood about a 20 minute drive from downtown Austin. You’ll see most people dressed in their Sunday’s best, I didn’t feel out of place in my jeans and t-shirt. It seemed to me that Westover leaned towards families, young marrieds with children and parents with teenagers.
The church has been known for years for its thriving youth ministry. However, in recent years that focus seems to be shifting. Westover has made it their goal to bless on their immediate community, by serving their neighbors in practical ways. They also have adopted a church and housing complex in Northeast side of Austin, known for violence, desperate poverty, and a gathering place for international refugees.
Worship music at Westover is beautiful Church of Chris-style a cappella. An on stage is a multigenerational worship team leads classic hymns and modern worship in four part harmony.
The message on that Sunday was taken from the story of Matthew and Jesus. The preacher exhorted Westover to get out of their Christian bubble, and find non-Christians to eat with. Westover is a healthy traditional Church, with a caring leadership, striving to grow more missional.
Westover’s goal is to reach Austin in bold, creative and caring ways. With their open heart to the poor, and willingness to to try new things, I believe God could use them to do just that.
Tags: Austin Church Search, Westover Hills Church of Christ
