Read the story about missional soup.

This Saturday October 24th AUSTIN CITY LIFE will be serving Austin-based non-profit SAFE PLACE, an organization that is working to end sexual and domestic violence right here in Central Texas. We will be doing a one day Extreme Makeover of one of their teen therapy rooms.

We are still in need of money to complete this project. If you would like to contribute, you can give online here.

If you would like to come help us on Saturday (moving furniture, painting, etc.) email nate@austincitylife.org.

Follow us in Twitter on Saturday we will be posting pictures!

Check out Justin HOlcomb’s series on the missionary nature of the Holy Spirit in Missional Pneumatology

This short post on Driscoll’s experience with the ABC Nightline crew is a great snapshot into the life of a leader who understands idols, embraces Jesus intelligently, and loves his city.

Some of the folks in Austin City Life have a special place in their heart for Asia. My City Group has adopted a missionary to the unreached Shan-Dai peoples. We have former missionaries to Asian in our community. Maybe some of you are interested in going to Thailand, Burma, China or Laos?

This week James Rider, a representative from OMF International, is in town this week and early next week. He’s an acquaintance from my mission work in Asia with OMF. If you’d like to set up an appointment to ask him questions, call him at 720-291-6996. Also, consider taking David or Faye Cummings out for coffee. They can tell you stories and help you think through mission to Asia.

Our suffering, in many respects, is incomparable to our African brothers and sisters. Yet, they begin with a theology proper that confesses the goodness of God. We begin with a theology proper that questions the goodness of God!

Read the rest here.

Austin City Life recently funded the Clean Water Project developed by Restoring the Way ministries. Together with our friend Aaron Gross, we were able to see 12 Bio-Sand Water filters distributed to the poor across our Texas border. Aaron pioneered this project and will be making another trip to El Plomo, Mexico to deliver more filters. Check out the cool video he made of the trip.

This blog is written by Tara Jamieson, ACL team member and Austin nurse.

Lord’s  Resistance Army

This morning we were blessed enough to visit an orphanage composed entirely of children, ranging in ages from 7 to 18, rescued from the intense conflict in Northern Uganda. This area is terrorized by the Lord’s Resistance Army, who kidnaps children from their families and forces them into slavery. Girls become part of the sex trade, and boys are made child soldiers. Often the Army kills the family in front of the children. The violence leaves indelible marks on the children, both physically and emotionally, and the children fortunate enough to escape battle the repercussions their entire lives.

Stories of Redemption

At the orphanage, we heard the testimonies of some of the children. Luna, an 18-year-old girl, shared her desparation in becoming responsible for her two younger sisters after her parents were killed. She ran to her uncle for help, but was told, “I am not a bank.” Chris shared with Justin how his parents and younger sister were killed in front of him. Luna said that at first, many of the children did not want to hear about Jesus, but after repeated exposure to the word of God, He opened their hearts to His gospel.

After the testimonies, the choir sang songs for us accompanied with dances. We bought CDs to bring back! The first couple songs proclaimed their newfound joy in Christ. Their smiles were the most sincere and joyous things I have ever seen. Their last song told their story, describing the loss of their parents and the war-torn country they came from, but ended with praise to God for saving them. It was so beautiful to see tangible results of God’s promise to reconcile all things to Himself!

Murmuring and Redemption

I have been reading Deuteronomy these last couple months and was reminded of a passage while watching the children today. After the Israelites were brought out of captivity, Deuteronomy tells of how they rebelled against God, “murmuring” in their hearts towards God, saying that is was because God hated them that they were brought out. I thought of how often I murmur against God, thinking that my sufferings have much more to do with God’s lack of love for me than His immense love for me. I am much like the Israelites in all areas of my heart. I saw today, though, that the children singing and dancing never thought to blame God for what has happened to them. Instead of anger, they felt gratitude. Instead of feeling like they were owed something by the God of the universe, they were humbled that He would look upon their sufferings and call them out of the pit.

This blog post is by Amy Scott, an ACL mission team member and Austin school teacher.

I am a city girl through and through this is what intially struck me as we were headed back into the capitol city of Kampala. My team was like you are so giddy and I was. Its not just the indoor bathroom and shower that thrilled me but all the sights and sounds of the city.

Kampala is a city of dichotomy. We went to a really nice, almost Americanized coffee shop for lunch where we surrounded by business people and other Westerners in suits.  Then that  evening we were headed into the slums to preach at a church. You go from poverty of spirit to true poverty in a matter of minutes, and the thing is every single person needs the transforming truth of the gospel.

I am continously struck by own desperate need for the truth of the gospel to penetrate my heart and compel me to share that truth with others. Why do I deny people an opportunity to hear of a Jesus who loves and redeems us from the pit?

Austin City Life is sending a team of five to Uganda tomorrow. We will be training church planters and working with orphans and street kids. Although some of us have traveled quite a bit, none of us have been to Africa, much less Uganda. We expect to learn a lot from the kids and the adults, Christians and pastors. We also hope to forge a long-term partnership with an orphanage and church there. We also have partners here in the U.S.:

We are partnering with Acts 29 on the field by connecting with J.D. Senkbile, Africa          Director for Acts 29. The international mission of Acts 29 is expanding significantly. We are glad we get to be a part of this very important part of God’s Mission.

We are partnering with DGM to take theological resources to under-trained pastors in rural areas. DGM generously donated about 600 books.

I serve on the board of H.E.L.P. and we hope to partner with them to promote long-term orphan care.