Perry Koon isn’t new to Austin, but Hope Mission Church has a big spring ahead, so it’s a great time to tell you more about them:
Name: Perry Koon
Name of your church: Hope Mission Church
Church Affiliation (denomination, network, etc.): The Anglican Mission which was started by the Church in Rwanda in 2000.
Tell us about your family.
An unbelievable wife of 31 years, two daughters and two grandchildren, what an awesome God we serve. In addition, we have two crazy dogs that keep us from enjoy the empty nest life to its fullest.
What geographical area are you focusing on?
Southwest Austin
What have you been up to prior to church planting in Austin?
Associate pastor and account executive for over 15 years! Real answer, having a blast with my wife and being engaged with two wonderful daughters as they journey through life.
What has drawn you to the Austin area?
outdoors, fun, open, spiritual, casual, people, culture.
How do you hope to see the next 12 months unfold for your church?
As a new faith community in Southwest Austin, we are here for the sake of others. We pray for God to raise up folks who want to live in a small faith community, serve their neighbor and gather for worship to become more effective apprentices of Jesus of Nazareth. HMC will hold its IPO (Initial Praise Offering) on March 7, 2010 at Gorzycki Middle School starting at 9:30am. Thanks for your prayers
How can others be praying for your work?
That each person at HMC (include me) allow God’s Spirit to make them humble followers of Jesus of Nazareth for the sake of others.
Where can we find you online?
HopeMissionChurch.org
This is part of an ongoing series of introductions to the churches that are part of the PlantR network. In this post, Jeremy Self shares the story of Free Chapel.
Free Chapel is growing as a missional community of Christ followers who are leading people into a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ, with a vision to impact Austin, TX and the world.
We dream of a church that will be a breath of life to those who feel lifeless, hope for those who feel hopeless, bridge of love into the community, light for those in darkness, people of irresistible influence, spiritually transformed people, uncomplicated organization, high-touch environment, low rules environment, place of acceptance, come as you are place, generous with the love of Christ, relevant to every generation with timeless truth, generous people, place where people discover God’s vision for their life personally and live it out through taking risks based on an objective source of truth
Free Chapel had it’s first public worship service in September 2008 at the Cinemark Theatre in the Hill Country Galleria. After the first year, we relocated Sunday services to Lakeway Elementary School, 1701 Lohmans Crossing, Lakeway, TX 78734. Our Sunday service is at 10:30 AM.
One thing we have learned since we launched is we are in a community (world) where people live very disconnected lives. We rush to work early. We rush home late. We are so busy we rarely take time to get to know those who live around us. Through learning more about culture around us, our vision has been clarified: Connect the disconnected. We are learning more and more what it means to be a church on mission together, how to love God, and love our neighbors well.
Essentially, there are three processes in place in our church right now. First, we have weekly celebration/worship services where we teach verse by verse (typically) through the Bible, sing together, and receive communion. Secondly, we provide ongoing, monthly leadership training for all of our dream team (volunteers) and small group leaders. Third, we have a growth track in place to assist people in reaching their potential. It begins by introducing them to the church vision, mission, and values, and ends with encouraging them to get involved in a small group. Each semester, we have at least 80% of our weekend service attendees involved in some type of small group.
Currently, Free Chapel is a church averaging 85 people made up of all different kinds of people who are trying to be a part of the unstoppable force God calls “the church.”
The pastor of Free Chapel is Jeremy Self. Jeremy credits his “papaw” for many of the life lessons he has learned along the way. In addition to some great mentors and formal training at Dallas Seminary, it was this up-close view of “papaw” that influences Jeremy most in his love for people, love for God, work ethic, and visionary leadership. From leading family and student ministries at Maranatha Church in Palm Beach Gardens, FL to preaching and teaching to assisting with two church plants, Jeremy has learned to lead through serving the desires and dreams of those on his team. Jeremy met his wife, Ashley, while in college at Lee University. They have four beautifully handsome boys.
To learn more about Free Chapel:
Free Chapel Website
Email: info@freechapelaustin.com
Phone: 512-553-6407
Free Chapel on Twitter
Jeremy Self on Twitter
This is part of an ongoing series of introductions to the churches that are part of the PlantR network. In this post, Kester Smith shares the story of Immanuel Austin.
We in the Immanuel Austin community believe that God created us to be truly human. Being truly human means that we live in trust and obedience to God. Being truly human means living in community since our God, by nature, is in community. We become truly human, learn to trust and obey, and are brought into community through the person of Jesus Christ.
The name Immanuel (“God with us”) is one of the titles given to Jesus. We call ourselves Immanuel as an affirmation that we are called to be the Body of Christ and a reminder that God is always with us, calling us and empowering us to take part in His work in the world.
Immanuel is a community spread throughout the city as house churches. Our hope is that, as we grow, we become increasingly geographically specific as our house churches impact the neighborhoods they are in. These house churches gather on Sunday evenings at 5pm and then come together for worship on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. We also have smaller formation groups that gather together to share life more intensely and to serve the city together. We have regular prayer gatherings and can be found every Tuesday evening at The Tavern from 8:30-10:30pm discussing some of the bigger questions of life, the universe, and everything.
The pastors of Immanuel Austin are Kester and Rachel Smith. Kester and Rachel have been married for 11 years and have a five-year-old son, Harry. Kester works as a bookseller at BookPeople on 6th and Lamar and Rachel manages the Starbright clinic for HealthSouth.
Immanuel’s hope is to always be seekers as we develop into disciples. Our vision is to become more like Jesus through our relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbors, our city, and our world. Our mission is to be Jesus to people and to bring people to Jesus.
We invite everyone to seek God with us. No promises of an easy road…just people who will walk it with you. For more information about Immanuel contact Kester via email or visit ImmanuelAustin.com.
Name: Seth Kniep
Name of your church: Church in Reverse (doesn’t exist)
Church Affiliation (denomination, network, etc.): Being trained by Hill Country Bible Church.
Tell us a little about your family.
one amazing wife, four crazy kids.
What geographical area are you focusing on?
south Austin, but training people to build faith communities all over Austin.
What have you been up to prior to church planting in Austin?
College pastor, evangelism, pastor, rapper/beatboxer, magician, and tap dancer.
What has drawn you to the Austin area?
Big city, growing, urban, liberal, postmodern, artistic, music-loving, and spiritual but not very religious.
How do you hope to see the next 12 months unfold for your church?
Start 4 faith communities (one has started so far) where people who don’t follow Jesus join up to see what it’s like to talk about and experience the kingdom of God. Train 20 others to start their own faith communities, sprouting up all over Austin. Launch with a service for Sunday morning worship in September 2010.
How can others be praying for your work?
That I and my wife and our four kids cling to Jesus like it’s hell without Him. That God mulitplies our labors ten fold since life is way too short.
Where can we find you online? (blog, twitter, church site, etc.)
www.dividetheword.org
Name: Scooter Buck
Name of your church: Salt and Light Community Church
Church Affiliation (denomination, network, etc.): Nondenominational
Tell us a little about your family:
I have been married to my first wife Bonnie for 18 years. We have three kids Shane who is 15, Suzanne who is 11, and Sarah who is 8.
What geographical area are you focusing on?
We are focusing on the southwest part of Austin.
What have you been up to prior to church planting in Austin?
I have been involved in Youth ministry through Young Life and the church before being called to plant a new church.
What has drawn you to the Austin area?
We lived and served in a local church in Austin 12 years ago. We have always had a heart for the city and the people of Austin.
How do you hope to see the next 12 months unfold for your church?
I hope to see God do some amazing things in the lives of people; we just get to be along for the ride.
How can others be praying for your work?
We are gathering our launch team, building our staff, raising funds, scouting out meeting space, and meeting people every chance we get.
Where can we find you online? (blog, twitter, church site, etc.)
snlcc.org
We also have a facebook page and group page.