Encouragement from “AND” for Austin New Church

Last week in Orlando at the Exponential Church Planters Conference a new book was released in the Exponential Series by Zondervan called “AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church“. In it, authors Hugh Halter and Matt Smay (Tangible Kingdom) wrote some incredibly encouraging words about Austin New Church that I feel really captures our heart and [...]

Missional Church: Year in Review

Many of you have requested an additional look at the ANC Mission Report for August 2008-September 2009. Below is from the document we handed out at our gathering this past Sunday. Please be in prayer as we consider both personally and corporately how we can “Love our Neighbor and Serve our City (and world)” even [...]

Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully

Click HERE to listen or to download the Podcast for “Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully” As we begin taking back the Story of Christmas, We have to first ask the question: What are the distractions that keep us from Worshipping Fully? When we look at the story of Christmas, in its purest moment (at birth of [...]

Announcement: We’re Moving Locations!

What a week! After some great meetings, prayer, and conversation with the ANC staff, Board of Directors, and ANC Restore Communities we have decided to make the move from Akins High School to Jackie’s Performing Arts Academy on South Manchaca, effective immediately (this Sunday)! This is a great and unexpected opportunity for ANC and I [...]

Tangible Kingdom (Week 8 Day 5) “Fork in the Road”

As with many community groups going through the Tangible Kingdom Primer, ours from ANC were pre-existing groups (with an already missional and service oriented DNA). In addition to helping us grow in an understanding for who we should be, each of us have seen how the study could be really useful for establishing new groups [...]

Tangible Kingdom (Week 7 Day 5) “Party”

Today’s reading forces us to reflect on community itself. I love the simplicity of our challenge to just throw a party. So much goes into that simple act. Where should it be held so that it’s most conducive to meet the needs of whoever is coming (and their kids)? What should we do? What should [...]

Missional Church: Overseas Missions in Our Own Backyard!

Have you ever dreamed of being a foreign missionary? I think it would be pretty cool.   However, life responsibilities hinder most of us from boarding a plane to head overseas; yet on the other side of the world there are people from various countries being sent off to the US as refugees.  In other words, [...]

Missional Church: African Refugee Churches

As many of you already know, Tray and I had the opportunity to go to Houston last week and help finalize an agreement on a facility that three African refugee churches will utilize for ministry. In this one location, we are going to be able to help plant three churches in three languages: English, Swahili, [...]

Missional Church: Drinking on Mission!

Based off of the title of this, I realize that this blog could go several directions, and maybe it should, however, I’m just going to tell you one way to drink on mission.  For those who are leaders in the ANC Restore Community, those who take on the responsibility of bringing coffee to your weekly [...]

Missional Church: Austin Disaster Relief Network

ANC’ers, As I walked out of my meeting with the director of the Austin Disaster Relief Network, I couldn’t help but think back to last year’s hurricane Ike.  For those who were here, do you remember what it was like?  We exemplified a church, who like Acts 2 says, were in common and gave of [...]