Tory Mayo
Emerging Leader 09-10
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The Emerging Leader program at Hill Country Bible Church is a great program to be a part of! Some of the things I personally experienced was the opportunities to help run certain ministries within the church, experience a ton of ministry and leadership skills, have the opportunity to do an 18 day mission trip overseas, get a lot of equipping that prepared me in my future ministry, and so much more! One of the best things for me personally was that it exposed me to many things and people I would have otherwise never gotten the chance to experience. I got to know many of the people in the church and allow them to build into me, to make me more passionate about Jesus and more equipped in ministry. As a result of the emerging leader program I went on to help lead and pastor the young married group at Hill Country, and currently I am in the church planting residency at the church, looking to plant a church in Austin by September 2012. |
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Kimberly Ginnings
Emerging Leader 10-11
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When I entered the Emerging Leader residency in August of 2010, I had a lot of knowledge regarding who I was and what God wanted to use my life for. The residency enabled me to begin practicing all the things I knew, in a supportive community, but also amongst the openness and freedom of beliefs that a city like Austin, TX has to offer. For the first few months I sought to build relationships with people through activities I loved, such as fitness, cycling, music, volunteering, until it all hit a dead end. God used a number of circumstances to open the door for me to volunteer at Gandalf’s Prayer Café, a coffee shop through an organization called Mission Possible, which seeks to build relationships on a corner in East Austin known for drugs, violence and prostitution. Through Gandalf’s, I was able to take other Christians from HCBC as well as other churches to volunteer with me. This meant that I was able to be in the community as well as take others with me to experience the fullness of serving Christ with our lives. Through getting connected with Mission Possible, I realized my next step and am now on staff with them as their Child & Community Outreach Coordinator. What I learned in the residency, I am now doing on a daily basis: empowering the Church to serve the city of Austin and share the life transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. |
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Stephen Parker
Emerging Leader 10-11
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For me, Emerging Leaders was nothing like I expected. I thought it was going to be more programmatic; defined schedules, hours, and tasks. It taught me what it meant to be in “full time ministry” and to take ownership of the work that the Lord has given me. No days off when you didn’t “feel” like doing ministry, no sitting back and waiting for someone to take care of things, or someone to explain everything before I did anything; the program caused me to act and do when I usually would shy away or slow down. Being surrounded by a Godly community and having people that would speak truth to me and encourage me was a key factor through the whole process. Emerging Leaders gave me the right perspective, not on work, but on life and how to live a life of ministry. Now, I work at one of HCBC’s church plants called The Grove. I am developing and leading their homeless ministry in the downtown area. |
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Andrew English
Emerging Leader 10-11
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After returning from two years of serving overseas on the mission field, I didn’t know what to expect as an incoming Emerging Leader. Initially, I thought it would be a great transition back to the states, but little did I know it would become much more. As an Emerging Leader, I had the opportunity to live in authentic community, develop and learn a great deal about how I am wired as a person, as well as grow tremendously as a disciple of Christ. These three things, together, allowed me to not only understand, but also live out, my role as a Biblical man and a true follower of Jesus! Being a part of the residency, I was able to take much of what I learned overseas, about living missional, and put it into a more local context, serving and building relationships primarily with internationals in Austin.As Emerging Leaders, we cultivated a community, which gave each of us the opportunity to challenge, learn from, encourage, seek, be vulnerable, sharpen, pray and ultimately, love, as like minded people, for the sake of the gospel and the individuals placed in our paths. During my year of ‘emerging,’ God did a huge number on my heart and deepened my love for the lost- globally, family, Hollywood, friends, and neighbors. I have since moved to Los Angeles and currently working in the entertainment industry. Daily, I try to walk in the spirit and reflect Christ in my life, so that His light and love would illuminate this dark city. I find it an absolute joy to serve Him, alongside other believers, in a place so opposed to the true savior! |
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Former Emerging Leader 09-10 now serving in East Asia
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For me, God used the Emerging Leader Residency as a time for growth and preparation. I saw growth in the way that He worked through so many men at Hill Country Bible Church to pour into me and help me to become a better person, a better husband, and most importantly, a better servant for Christ. They were not so focused on helping me to be successful in ministry; they rather focused on where my heart was in relation to Christ and how I was allowing Him to lead me in everything I did. I saw the residency as preparation because I can look back to this as the time when God was the most clear to my wife and me that we were to take a step of faith to serve Him in East Asia. The lessons I learned (and am still learning) were key in my understanding of His heart for not only Austin, but the entire world. God used the residency as a catalyst for us to trust Him to work in and through us as we take the Gospel to those who have never heard. |
