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About The Gathering Austin |
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 Mark Rae - Austin Director |
After much prayer and counsel, The Gathering Austin launched on March 15, 2010, adding this influential city to a growing national network of “gatherings” around the country. The Gathering Austin is a men’s ministry devoted to developing maturing, reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ. Here’s why… |
Why is there a need for a men’s ministry?
Today businessmen are struggling…
- Marriages are breaking up – 1 out of 2 will end in divorce.
- 50% of all divorces are caused by financial pressures.
- One third of all children are separated from their fathers.
- 81% are in high stress jobs and 67% are concerned about the future of their careers
- Men are seeking answers in career, social status and pursuit of pleasure.
Why is there a need for men’s discipleship?
According to George Barna…
- Only 1 in 6 men who attend Christian worship services is involved in a group or relational process designed to help them grow spiritually.
- Fewer than 20% of believers have any sort of defined spiritual goals.
- Most believers cited busyness, lack of interest, career, and personal limitations (emotional, financial, or health) as reasons for not pursuing a deeper walk with Christ.
- Throughout the Christian world there is a general lack of passion to be godly.
Why is there a need for a men’s discipleship ministry in Austin?
- 23% of the population claims to be Protestant Christian (as compared to 55% in Houston and 68% in Dallas).
- Austin is the seat of power in Texas and therefore highly influential in the state and the nation
- The University of Texas (now 50,000+ students) has a population of believers that comprises only 7% of the student body.
- Austin is a highly diverse mission field claiming at minimum over 5000 different people groups.
One final sobering point from a Barna study:
“If a child is the first of the family to attend church, there is a 3% chance that the rest of the family will follow. If the wife is the first, there is a 17% chance that the rest will follow. When the father is the first to lead his family to church attendance, there is a 93% chance that his family will follow him.”
At The Gathering Austin, we believe that the real solution for men today is found only in Christ Jesus. So, what is The Gathering? The mission of The Gathering is “developing maturing, reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ.” The approach of The Gathering is simple. Jesus’ last words before returning to Heaven were that we should go to all nations making disciples. At The Gathering take that command to heart — actively putting into practice strategic means for reaching men in the Austin area. We seek to disciple men to maturity in Christ. We operate as a non-denominational ministry to men in all walks of life.
To put it into the words of The Gathering mission statement…
Developing is the key word and here The Gathering excels. Since 1986, this ministry has been meeting men and developing relationships with them where they are. At outreach breakfasts, weekly lunches, regular meetings, golf, hunting, sports, or in the business community, The Gathering is meeting men and introducing Christ to them in an environment where they are comfortable to examine the claims of Christianity. This is where the outreach of The Gathering is active, visible and effective.
Maturing is the product of discipleship and this is what is being produced through The Gathering. Through small group studies, one-on-one time, and a focused discipleship program called “The Four Priorities” men can experience growth in their Christian walk no matter their stage in that walk. We stress a personal, progressive commitment to Christ, to growth, to relationships and to the work of Christ in the world. This is where The Gathering focuses on growth in Christ.
Reproducing is the final statement and it is reflected in 2 Timothy 2:2 – “and these things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” It is here that faith is put into action through service events, mission opportunities and the chance to lead others. The principles of multiplication are put into action as discipled men get the chance to impact men in their sphere of influence for Christ. This is where service to both Austin and the world is taking place.
Men are missing the love of Christ because they have few men-to-men relationships in which to relate this love. It is the passion of The Gathering Austin to go find these men and not wait until they show up to hear a sermon or a lesson. Jesus spent most of His ministry developing relationships, and as his disciples, we must follow that example.
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Men Coming Into The Gathering
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OUTREACH
OUTREACH
AND GROWTH
GROWTH
AND
SERVICE
SERVICE
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DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING
AND MATURING
MATURING
AND
REPRODUCING
REPRODUCING
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Discipled Men going out into Austin
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Who is The Gathering? Dr. John Tolson, who currently serves as the Team Chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys who has also served in the same role for the Orlando Magic, the Houston Oilers and Astros, began the Gathering in 1978 as an Assistant Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Houston. John was alarmed by the lack of spiritual direction men were providing for their families and the extremely low number of men attending church. Dr. Tolson developed an appealing and effective way to reach men for Christ by mobilizing Christian men to invite their friends to a non-threatening outreach event in a secular setting.
Accepting a call to a church in Florida, Dr. Tolson subsequently took The Gathering nationwide and hired Larry Krieder as President. The work began to spread and now is anchored in 13 cities with an expansion plan to reach additional cities in the coming years. The corporate office is located in Orlando Florida and is run by Larry and his administrative team. This non-profit is structured much the same way as Young Life (an international ministry to high school students).
Mark Rae answered the call to establish The Gathering Austin after spending 17 years in sales and marketing, 9 years in the pastorate, and almost 6 years in parachurch ministry. Mark also spent 20+ years in volunteer ministry with Young Life and was familiar with relational ministry that is so central to The Gathering. After receiving his seminary degree in 2004, Mark has used that training to teach in numerous settings. His passion to see the Word reside deeply into men and transform them into disciples is what moved him to launch The Gathering in Austin.
Transformation is what it is all about. Transformation is essential to the Christian life – from people of the world to people of God … from inevitable death to everlasting life … from unrighteous to righteous … from self-centered to Christ-centered … from selfish to selfless … from hearers of the Word to doers of the Word. The definition of transformation is "to change completely for the better; a major change in form, nature, function, character or condition; to CONVERT: a change fitting a man for a new or different use or function. At The Gathering Austin it is our desire to see men transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ because another man cared enough to introduce him to Christ and disciple him in Christ.
The Gathering Austin has a Board of Advisors who assist in the direction and implementation of the mission of the ministry. The members of the Board are: David Bixby, Peter Catalano, Larry Cotton, Matthew DiTeresa, Matthew Flippen. John Hand, Bob Kuhlman, Caleb Magee, Mark Rae, and Todd Robison
Austin is a city that is primed and ready for this ministry. Through partnerships with churches and other ministries as well as the commitment of men to see transformed lives, The Gathering is poised to make a significant impact for Christ in a city that desperately needs it. Matthew 28 lays out for us the command of Christ to go and make disciples… that is exactly what The Gathering will be doing in Austin.
Year One Budget Needs
The first year budget need of The Gathering Austin is $145,000. This includes Pastoral and Leadership Expenses. Ministry Planning and Coordination, Ministry Resources and Events, Evangelism and Discipleship Expenses, Staff Support and Benefits, and National Network Support.
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
- We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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