Global Mission
Our Vision for Mission
Austin City Life exists to renew cities socially, spiritually, and culturally with the Gospel of Jesus. Today cities are more powerful than many countries. Global cities make policy decisions that affect the global economy, country values, and city cultures. Some have gone as far as to say that the city is the new "10-40" window. The prospect of security, stability, and progress in cities make them compelling places for all people groups. Previously unreached peoples are now moving into cities. Reach the city and you can, quite literally, reach the world. However, mission efforts in suburban and rural areas will still be necessary, though these missionaries will very often come from cities.
The original strategy for Austin City Life was to be Creative Class in focus and Transclass in scope. The social and income inequalities, ethos of spiritual tolerance, and disproportionate cultural influence of creative class cities make them highly strategic places to plant churches that will renew cities and reach all peoples. Therefore, Austin City Life is committed to a deliberate, though not exclusive, focus on creative class cities, nationally and globally. The Gospel is for the rich and the poor, the people of high and low social status.
Our Approach to Mission
In light of our city-focused vision, Austin City Life is pursuing strategic partnerships with qualified missional leaders in cities around the world. Our heart is to equip, strengthen, and multiply indigenous leadership for movement in cities. In order to accomplish this, we are committed to a three prong missions strategy:
- Theological Education - theological training of indigenous leaders to foster movement.
- Whole Gospel Ministry - supporting social action with gospel intentionality for city renewal.
- Church Planting Training - training local leaders in missiology for the planting of gospel-centered churches that renew cities.
Opportunities for strategic Theological Education, Whole Gospel Ministry, and Church Planting are a guide to Austin City Life's missions strategies and mobilization. By trusting in the Spirit's leading and using these guiding commitments help us to discern how and where we will invest our time and effort in cities across the globe we hope to push forward in the vision God has given us.