For those that missed the presentation or would like to review the study for Thursday’s discussion, it is located online at the ABBA website. Please come ready to share your perspective in order to promote the gospel in our city and churches!

It will take place from 3:30 – 8:30pm at Grace Covenant Church (9431 Jollyville Road). The event is free and includes dinner from Rudy’s Bar-B-Q.

Online registration, along with more information, is available GreaterImpactAustin.org.

I’m excited I get the opportunity to share and invite you to participate with an organization who is doing incredible work to meet physical needs and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Living Water International has been working around the world for many years and we would like to invite you come hear Brandon Baca, one of LWI’s leaders, share about the work currently going and cast vision for what is around the corner.

Soma Austin will be hosting Brandon at the Hideout Theater, 6:00pm on April 18th to share more about LWI, their mission, vision and ways to participate. We would love for you to join us.

Living Water International (LWI) is an organization almost 20 years old which has been serving the poorest of the poor by providing clean water to villages and towns all over the world. According to LWI, 884 million people do not have access to safe drinking water. This is the crisis LWI is tackling and LWI has currently completed 9’000 water projects in 26 different countries.

LWI got started when a group visited Kenya and saw the desperate need for clean drinking water. They returned to the U.S., founded a non-profit and began training a team in Kenya to drill wells in the country. From these humble beginnings LWI was founded and continued to work to bring clean water and the gospel to many countries around the world.

The strategy LWI employs is both effective and sustainable. Their goal is to train community development volunteers how to implement water solutions in their countries, equip trained national teams with the resources necessary to succeed and to consult with these teams to provide the help and expertise needed.

LWI not only provides clean water but loves Jesus and desires to see the gospel spread. Living water says the following regarding their mission:

“Living Water International exists to demonstrate the love of God by helping communities acquire desperately needed clean water, and to experience ‘living water’-the gospel of Jesus Christ- which alone satisfies the deepest thirst.”

There are many ways to become involved in this mission from volunteering, to giving, to going abroad yourself and we would like to invite you to hear from some of the leaders of Living Water International to see the great work God is doing and find out how you may partner in this work around the world.

A Church Planting City

Austin is gaining a reputation as a church planting city. Other cities are learning from us and starting their own area-based church planting networks. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to consult Justin Hyde of Christ Church as he formed the Brazos Church Planting Network. This network already has about 30 pastors involved.

In our own city, we’ve seen PlantR grow from a loose collection of 30 men to a strengthening network of 50 church planters. Churches are being planted throughout Austin through cooperative generosity and partnership across denominational lines. Hill Country Bible, The Austin Stone, Austin New Church, and Acts 29 are among the churches working together to renew the city through planting initiatives. Scores of independent churches are being planted. Formal and informal coaching relationships are emerging through planter. Planters are being encouraged through prayer and friendship within our network. People are coming to Jesus. Pockets of renewal are forming all over Austin. These are exciting, unprecedented times!

PlantR Progress

During 2009 we heard from a host of outstanding speakers covering a wide range of topics. I wish we would have recorded them!

• John Burke, Pastor of Gateway Church, on Church and Culture
• Ryan Robinson, City Demographer on Changing Demographics of Austin
• Tony Dale, House 2 House Leader, on Church Planting Movements
• George Patterson, Professor of Church Planting, on CP Movements
• Daniel Geraci, Director of ADRN, on Disaster Relief in Austin
• Zach Allen, Lead Pastor of Austin Bible, on Leadership in Church Planting
• Michael Stewart, Pastor of Missional Community Austin Stone, on Gospel and Church Planting Idols
• David Smith, Director of Mission for the Austin Baptist Assn, on Family and Mission
• Hugh Halter, Director of Missio, on Incarnational Church Planting

This line-up of speakers reflects a healthy convergence of Christ-centered thinking and Austin-focused mission. I’m hopeful we can build on this in 2010.

What to Expect in 2010

In 2010 we will be focusing on several key areas:

• Continued excellence in Monthly Network meetings
• Strategic Conversation and Planning for Effective City-wide Church Planting
• More Grassroots Leadership from Austin Church Planters
• A National Church Planting Conference in October

Let’s continue to pray and partner for the advance of the gospel in Austin and beyond!

There is the possibility of the space being available Saturday evening, Sunday morning, or Sunday evening. Contact Don Vanderslice if you are interested or have questions.

The Maximum Impact Simulcast is a one-day leadership event, featuring a premiere collective of brilliant minds intent on communicating the art and science of whole leadership.

Our world-class speaker line-up offers you and your entire leadership team a rare opportunity to glean useful strategy and energizing hope from some of the most sought-after thought influencers of our day. Broadcast live from Atlanta to more than 60,000 business professionals via a private digital satellite network, the Maximum Impact Simulcast will connect you with like-minded leaders eager to translate their imagination into action.

The cost of the event is $85 until April 15, and $95 after that. Online registration and further details can be found CenTexLeaders.com.

What Austin culture(s) is your church engaging and what resources have you found most helpful in understanding your people’s hopes, fears, dreams, values, perceptions of Christianity, and so on?

Love Austin ‘09 is a three part process.

Part 1: from now until the conference we make a list of five neighbors and/or co-workers to get to know bettr, to love, to serve, to listen to.

Part 2: February 7, 2009 training conference with Walt Larimore, MD and Bill Peel at Lake Hills Church

Part 3: After the training conference, as the Holy Spirit leads, communicate the Gospel of Jesus with your list of five neighbors and co-workers.

Register HERE.