Vision Clarity - The Work Continues

     We began the process of working to clarify the vision for Anderson Mill Baptist soon after the beginning of the year, with the hope of finishing the task by the end of September. Now it's mid-September, and we're still working! But even though we had hoped to be wrapping up the work at this point, the news is good news. We're not stumped or at odds as our vision team has worked together. On the contrary, we are discovering some exciting truths regarding AMBC, our community, and the vision we believe God has given for us to pursue with the unique gifts and heart God has developed in our church family.
     I recently read a short article written by Chuck Lawless, Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Baptist Seminary. He described ten "diseases" he encounters as he consults with "unhealthy" churches around the country. I want to refer to three of those diseases that our vision clarity work will help us prevent at AMBC.
     First is "Community Disconnect Disease." Churches with this disease meet in a given community, but they really don't know that community. The members drive to the church building, meet, and then drive home without ever taking note of a changing community around them. AMBC has always been a multi-cultural church. That's something we're very thankful for. Most churches would say that they are open to all nationalities, races and cultures, but few have the visible evidence of that like we have. It's something that God has clearly done here. And you are to be commended for your genuine love for all who come through our doors. There are nine different nations represented in our church family, which does not include our ESL Ministry with even more. But our vision work will help us to look closely at our community. It has changed through the years. The demographics are much different than they were ten years ago. The economic, cultural and social aspects of the community surrounding us have changed. That's not a negative reality. It's instead, a challenge to us to get into our community with open hearts and to open our doors with ministry that embraces people of all cultures and generations and helps them to take their next step with Christ. We want to make disciples - reproducing believers ... multi-cultural and multi-generational disciples.
     Another disease is "Methodological Arthritis." The name of this condition says it all. A church with this illness is stuck in doing things the way they've always done them. Movement is painful, and the church that suffers from this condition finds it easier not to take a step forward. But what they often don't recognize is that standing still is also risky. Eventually, they will not move at all. AMBC doesn't show evidence of the grip of this disease, but clarifying our vision will better enable us to examine what we do to ensure that we focus on the things that will line up with our values and our mission. It will help us to say "no" to the things that will take us away from a focused pursuit, and "yes" to the opportunities and ministries that will accomplish what God has uniquely called us to do.
     And then there is "Professional Wrestling Sickness." Ever watched professional wrestling? It's hero vs. villain, right vs. wrong, good vs. evil - but it's all fake! The church with this disease talks a good game in standing for righteousness, but hypocrisy can be found in many of the lives. And, as in professional wrestling, most spectators watching the show know it's fake. We know that our desire is to live in such a way that genuineness is evident in our ministry, our church family, and in the lives we live. We want to allow God to use us to produce disciples of Jesus Christ who experience worship, growth in godliness, serving in ministry, and going to our community and world with the gospel message, reproducing the discipleship process in others.
     Wouldn't you like to know with clarity what God has called us to do at AMBC? Wouldn't you like to be able to have a ministry map which helps you determine where you are in your spiritual life and what your next step is as you move toward the goal of maturity and of becoming a reproducing disciple? Wouldn't you like to be able to understand the simple path we want to encourage people to follow? Wouldn't you like, instead of just telling new believers or new members about the ministry schedule or a long list of Bible studies they could attend, to be able instead, to point to a clear "next step" in the process that they should take as they move forward with Christ? The church that cannot do that is a church that suffers from another disease called "Baby Believer Malady", living by the unwritten and wrong assumption that says, "As long as you show up for our small groups and worship service, you'll grow." That church often selects leaders on the basis of attendance rather than spiritual maturity and is not involved in making genuine disciples.
     I'm thankful for your commitment to the process we have undertaken to wrestle through more than 30 years of ministry and history in order to identify the wonderful foundation God has laid in this church, the uniqueness of our church family and community, and to follow God's leading toward a clear vision and plan for making disciples where God has placed us.
     Years ago, as our family was about to embark on a new path of ministry, one of our children, very young at the time, assessed our plans with this remark: "It's gonna be a fun future!" And I believe that's true right now for AMBC. Looking at what is to come, I believe it's gonna be a fun future!

Pastor Rod

Explore God Campaign Begins

     With 345 churches across the greater Austin area, Explore God begins this week. The potential for this cooperative undertaking is incredible. By the most conservative estimates, we could see close to a half million conversations taking place across the city regarding spiritual matters and the encouragement for people to "explore God" and what He says about life and what it means to have a relationship with Him. If we commit to looking for and making opportunities each day to engage others in conversation regarding their spiritual lives, that topic would become the most talked about subject across our city for the next 7 weeks. Some of you are already having those conversations with friends, neighbors, co-workers or people you meet in the course of your daily path. With billboards visible all across the city with simple messages such as...

We All Have Questions: ExploreGod.com

                                                (or) #Explore God

directing people to the ExploreGod.com website where they can find honest answers to honest questions, the stage is set for us to engage in conversations with others. Just in the past 2 days I have had 5 conversations with people I have met in the course of my day regarding their spiritual lives. Knowing that others in our church family and across the city have committed to looking for opportunities every day to have those conversations, makes me so much more conscious of the need and opportunities I have each day.
     How can you begin a spiritual conversation with others? You will find all kinds of ways as you look for the opportunities, but here are a few suggestions.

Questions to ask:

• Do you ever think about...
• spiritual things?
• God?
• what your purpose is?
• Did you go to church growing up?
• What's the most important thing in your life?

Comments to share:

• I'll be praying for your situation
• Let me know how I can help
• Why don't you come to church with us this weekend?
• Have you visited ExploreGod.com? I'll send you the link.

This Sunday we begin a sermon series where. for 7 weeks. we will examine 7 questions for which many people seek answers. Sunday we begin with the question, "Does Life Have a Purpose?"  In the weeks to come, we will examine topics such as, "Is There a God?"; "Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?"; "Is Christianity Too Narrow?"; and "Is Jesus Really God?"

We are about to see something incredible happen in our city. I hope you are praying, talking, sharing, expecting and bringing others to share in Explore God groups throughout the week in our homes and work places and on Sunday as we open God's Word to find answers for life's greatest questions.

Pastor Rod