Nineteen years ago today Austin Christian Fellowship held its first Sunday Event at the Austin Community College Theater (the original Austin High School) on Rio Grande. And by God’s grace, 19 years later we’re still here!
A very young ACF staff, many years ago
As I sit here at Waterloo Ice House (what we jokingly call ACF East), I can easily recall the lessons God has taught me in Susie’s and my 19-year run at ACF. Here are a few things I’ve learned:
1. It’s impossible to over pray. We’ve built ACF on and through prayer, and we still haven’t prayed enough. God used my experiences at ACF to teach me the principles I talk about in the Pray Big series. But even with those lessons learned, we’ve made some bone-headed calls simply because we let business and/or the tyranny of the urgent preempt our prayer times. Conversely, when we’ve done the hard work of prayer, God has both protected and blessed us.
Whatever initiative you’re involved in right now, I can promise you that you can always pray more for it.
2. God’s vision is always better than my vision. When we started ACF, I had a very clear picture in my mind of what I wanted ACF to become. Most of that vision was driven by my own flesh and by my limited experiences at the time. But as is always the case, God had different and better plans in mind. Today, ACF gives away 40% of our revenues (we’re on our way to 50%) and we have a missions ministry that reaches around the world. We also have two other ACF communities in the city with more on the way. None of that was on the radar 19 years ago. Not even close. But as we followed the Spirit’s leading we discovered a mission and vision that was far bigger and better than anything we could have ever dreamed up.
I can promise you that whatever your dreams and visions are for your life, God’s are even better!
Aerial view of our building on the day of our first Sunday service there in September 2005.
3. Means Matter. In ministry, ends never justify means. How you get to your goals is everything to God. If I build a big church and yet burn my family, friends and teammates in the process, then my perceived “success” is muted by my failed methods. In ministry health, relationships and people are always more important that outcomes. Jesus had many opportunities to set himself up as a king, but he chose the cross as the route to his Kingdom. Had he just grabbed the perceived power of a Kingdom, the entire point of his life would have been missed.
Don’t cut corners relationally and personally on the way to your goals. Means matter.
Happy Birthday ACF!!!!! And to all of you who have been part of this ministry over the last two decades, thanks for all you’ve done. Yea God.
Happy birthday ACF! I am truly blessed to be a part of you! Will great job with ACF all these years
So proud
I have such great memories of that first year. May God continue to bless ACF!
Happy Birthday, ACF. You are changing lives daily…Yea God!
Happy tears! I started attending ACF when you all met at the school at Steiner Ranch. We were new to Austin and I guess it was just meant to be; you were located right around the block from our new home. And I was one of those people there in that aerial picture in 2005! I remember we all put our hands on a piece of that building as you, Will, led us in prayer for the church and for the city. Wow, Yeah God!!
What an amazing place. As I read this, my mind goes back to such wonderful memories of my “home church”. Wonderful teaching, amazing music, and wonderful lifetime friends. Thanks Susie and Will for stepping out in faith 19 years ago. You will always be 2 of my favorite people. I love you dearly.
Happy Birthday ACF. God met me at ACF and welcomed me back home; He grew me and blessed me with the opportunity to see Christ in the ACF staff and many regular attenders
over the years. He awakened and sharpened a passon for the seeker of purpose, meaning and truth. Thank you Will, Susie, Cameron, Margo, Joni, Pete, Carie, Tracy, Phillip, Julie, Cordel, and many more of the ACF leadership over the years for your obedience and faithfulness. I learned through you all. GO GOD. GO ACF. GO AUSTIN. Miss you guys very much.
I agree with these two wonderful ladies! Pat and I both crossed the line into Christianity during the months leading up to our ACC days. And the things we did…..remember my boss riding his horse through the halls for Camp Fun? Will, you told us to buckle our seat belts for a wild ride! And you were ever so correct! It’s so amazing to see where God has taken the peeps from those first days to now. How we’ve all grown and been used by God. You can’t make this stuff up. Only our amazing God! I shudder to think where I would be without Christ today! Love you, WDD and miss you, you dog!
And by the way, get a haircut.
Thanks for making a deposit in the trust bank.
Happy Birthday, ACF! So many blessings. So many memories. It was wonderful to see Carrie in the photo. ACF is where mine and Kirby’s relationship with Christ began 18 1/2 years ago at ACC on Rio Grande. Wow we’re getting old…I mean wiser! My heartfelt thank you, Will, and to so many sisters and brothers, for getting me through the valleys and celebrating life with me! I am forever grateful. Love and Hugs, Cheri