Deep In the Heart of Texas: Singer Plants Seed of Faith in Austin
by Allie Martin
September 3, 2004
(AgapePress) - One of the most successful contemporary Christian songwriters is helping to plant and nurture a church in the capital city of Texas. Chris Tomlin was born and raised in East Texas, and that is also where, nearly two years ago, he founded the Austin Stone Community Church. The church meets at a local junior high school, and its primary outreach is to students at the University of Texas at Austin, the largest college in the nation, with more than 49,000 students.
Tomlin says there is great need for biblical worship and preaching Texas's capital, which he says is the most liberal city in the Lone Star State. "We could have gone to Houston or Dallas or any of a number of other places and helped start a church," he says, "and it would have been immediately easy and people would have been coming because people are used to coming to church. In Austin it's not the same."
According to Austin Stone Community Church's founder, being a church-going believer is "not the thing to do" in Austin, and most people are not in the habit of attending worship services. "It's definitely an unchurched city," he says, "and that's why I wanted to plant it here, and hopefully make an impact in this town."
The Christian singer-songwriter says this Texas metropolis is a huge mission field, and although he spends a lot of time traveling and ministering through his music, he and his band continue to have a special burden and love for Austin. "We wanted to come to this town and really bring our music -- hopefully, just worship music and have an influence in the town," he says.
"I feel like God's using us already with the church and just our small time of being here," Tomlin says. "It's a great place to call home, not only for the people, but just the heart for the city that God has given us as well."
Later this month, Tomlin will release a new CD titled "Arriving." Right after the new album hits the shelves, the singer will be hitting the road for a 70-city tour, traveling with Christian music recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman through the end of the year.
