January 29, 2010 by Web Admin.

Pastor Gil and Melba recently attended a three day conference that emphasized the importance of building strong organizations to help improve lives and strengthen communities.

The workshops were led by excellent presenters who shared information on the following topics:

* Organizational Policies & Procedures
* Empowering Leaders
* Boards that Make a Difference
* Practical Insights to Social Media & Non-Profit World
* Non-Profit Financial Fundamentals
* Essentials for a Healthy Non-Profit
* Strategies for Navigating the Economic Environment
* Mobilizing Volunteers and Evident Based Outcomes

We express our gratitude to Family Service Association in San Antonio, Texas, Urban Strategies in Washington, DC, and ONESTAR Foundation in Austin, Texas for extending the invitation to be a part of such a significant meeting.

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January 26, 2010 by Worship Director.

Serving on a team in the Church is important to Kingdom work.  We are all uniquely gifted by God and placed where we can both give and grow.  We can accomplish more together than individually.  For 2010, these are the formal boards and committees of Austin First Church of God.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES                                BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION                  MISSIONS COMMITTEE
Shirley Blomquist                                             Elizabeth Baker-McLain                                          Rudy Phillips
Barry McFarlane                                               Melba Davila                                                              Linda Brooks
Count Fuller                                                        Barbara McFarlane                                                  Mike Young
Fae Jones
Charlie Schnabel

SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE                 BENEVOLENCE COMMITTEE                                  WORSHIP COMMITTEE
Shirley Blomquist                                           Louise Green                                                                   Sue Breland
Rudy Phillips                                                    Fae Jones                                                                         Fae Jones
LouAnn Russell                                                Christine Stromme                                                      Theresa Slocum
Ann Reilley
Karen Saathoff

The chairs of each of these boards and committees, along with other leaders, make up the Church Council who partner with the Pastor to focus on the ministries of the church.  We look forward to an exciting year of service.

In addition to these teams, we’re grateful for our Sunday School teachers, lawn care workers, singers, prayer warriors, and the many others that are using their gifts in His Majesty’s service!

Posted in Pastor's Chat | 2 Comments »

January 20, 2010 by Web Admin.

“Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to Him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” ” Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” Luke 18:40-43

  What do you want God to do for you today?  He waits to hear from you. His word tells us that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we will see great things happen in our life and the life of others.

Have a blessed week! Tune in next week for a reading of God’s inspiring word.                                           

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January 18, 2010 by Web Admin.

Sam Shoquist with Gideon s International visits with First Church and shares on the mission of their organization which is to carry out the Great Commission in places where churches, denominations and other ministries often cannot go. They have been successful in providing bibles through out the world and many people have experienced God’s love, peace, and hope.  Our congregation is blessed to provide funds for this ministry.

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January 17, 2010 by Worship Director.

Walk into any hotel room in the United States, pull open the drawer of the bedside table, and you will very likely find a Bible.  Those of us who have many Bibles just laying around the house, may overlook that significance.  It is the Word of God - powerful, immutable, transformational - and freely available to every person that opens that drawer. The Gideons did that.

Getting those Bibles and New Testaments in those drawers, not to mention into drawers and hands in 190 other countries since 1908, however, is not free.  The members of Gideons International are still giving their time, money and influence to raise funds and reach out to hotels, businesses and other organizations in order for them to insert God’s Word into the traffic lanes of life.  As business people, they have a unique ministry opportunity. They are able to carry out the Great Commission in places where churches, denominations and other ministries often cannot go as they live and work in communities throughout the world. Perhaps more than many organizations, the Gideons embody the 21st century Church as it was meant to be - sharing the Gospel in tangible ways - living Christianity through their business life in the real world of needy people.

We can be a part of the Gideons International mission.  We can GIVE - to support the purchase of Bibles and Testaments for billions of hands around the world. We can READ the Bible - so that we are ready to respond in support of God’s Word when we meet with an opportunity.  We can PRAY - for more opportunities to reach people with the Gospel and that hearts will be touched and lives changed.

Here’s an investment with a 100% return assured:

 ”It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. 

It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.“

- Isaiah 55:11

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January 16, 2010 by Worship Director.

The church will honor the life of Melissa Blount on Monday, January 18 , 2010 at 2pm.  On many occasions, we prayed for Melissa’s health concerns and Gil and Melba served as her Pastors in recent days.  We praise God for the opportunity to know her in this way and that she has now received God’s ultimate healing.  Melissa, or Lisa as she was better known to us,  was a close neighbor to Charles and Fae Jones in Pflugerville for many years and there began a long personal friendship. Fae continued to help and minister to Lisa even after moving to Boerne and surrounded her with God’s love, particularly throughout these past difficult months.

Our sincere condolences to Lisa’s daughter Peggy and her family and we offer our love and support in this time.

Obituary:
Melissa Ann Blount Melissa Ann Blount, 71, longtime resident of Pflugerville, lost her courageous fight with cancer on January 15, 2010 in Round Rock, Texas. She was born to Clifford and Gwendolyn Yates Creech on January 2, 1939 in Donaldson, Arkansas. Melissa was a dedicated employee as manager of the Recycling Center, Dessau Road, Austin, TX. Melissa is survived by her daughter, Peggy Vultaggio and son-in-law, Joe of Centennial, Colorado; grandsons: Tony, Jeff, Joe, Dan and their families as well as countless beloved friends in the Austin Area. A Memorial Service in Melissa’s honor will be held on Monday, January 18, 2010, 2:00 p.m. at the First Church of God, 5209 Duval Rd., Austin, TX 78727.

Posted in What's Up With Worship | No Comments »

January 13, 2010 by Worship Director.

CNN News reports that “The faithful prayed — for relief, for mercy, for safety — as aftershocks rumbled across Haiti” and we are called to join in their prayers. Witnesses indicate that as the night went on, the singing and praying intensified and then waned.  As they wane, we must intensify our support - standing with them in these devastating hours.  Many missionaries are in Haiti and while we cannot go, we can pray, knowing that corporate and focused prayer carries inexplicable power. 2 Kin 19:20 says  “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you.”

The aftermath of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Haiti, has caused widespread destruction, fatalities and chaos. The quake, which happened shortly before 5 p.m., was followed by at least 18 aftershocks, averaging a magnitude of 5.0, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  Much more will be seen as as this day unfolds, please continue in praying earnestly for the needs of these people and their families.  If you are moved to give financially, the American Red Cross and the Central Texas Red Cross are already working in this area.

Posted in Mission Minded | 1 Comment »

January 12, 2010 by Web Admin.

“When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father. The Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide,how long, how high, and how deep His love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it it so great you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May He be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen!  Ephesians 3:14-21

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January 12, 2010 by Web Admin.

Pastor Gil attended a two day conference where Hugh Halter taught some church growth principles from his book The  Tangible Kingdom.

The challenge for the 21st. century church is to be missional and incarnational by crossing the fence, street, and social, political or ethnic barriers.  The foundation of a missional life is to give God our plans in exchange for His plans.  Halter reminds us that whenever a group of people work together to create a rhythm or balance among communion, community, and mission, you will always find the Kingdom of God.

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January 5, 2010 by Worship Director.

Austin First Church of God is now on Facebook.  You’ll find the Facebook link on the “About Us” page of the website, beside the church events calendar.  Click there and anyone can be taken to our page.  If you are logged into your own Facebook page, you can search for us by our name and you’ll be whisked away to our page.

How ever you get there -  we hope you’ll become a fan!  Send “Fan” invitations to your FB friends to broaden our reach.  Let’s see how many “fans” we can touch in 2010!

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