God’s Amazing Transforming Work: The Auburn-Tuskegee Church Planting

What if we said this church, with zero paid ministry staff for the past 2 years, is growing by over 50 percent this year, not to mention growing in spiritual maturity, wisdom and love for one another and for God’s word? What if we said the biggest reason for all this is dependence on prayer, trust in God and not in our wisdom and ability? Wouldn’t you love to be a part of a church like this? You could move to Auburn or Tuskegee Alabama, or you could simply decide to imitate these convictions in your own life where you are, stand back and watch the amazing power of God! I recently told the Auburn-Tuskegee Christian Church (ATCC), and the North River Church of Christ in Atlanta, which planted the ATCC, the excitement is like witnessing the birth of a solar system and reminiscent of the creation wonders God delineates in Job 38-40. I’m certain you’ve heard of the Auburn Tigers, Cam Newton, Tuskegee Airmen and Rosa Parks; but have you heard of the amazing Auburn-Tuskegee Christian Church? God has, and so have the campuses of Auburn University and Tuskegee University where God’s word is multiplying and bearing fruit…the fruit of baptisms born from the fruits of the spirit…fruit with the seed in it, the seed of the word of God. In a region that was once the focal point of segregation and the civil rights movement, many people of all races are excited to learn that the good news of Jesus brings salvation, and to know it brings refreshing changes from the empty way of life handed down from our forefathers (1 Peter 1:18). Teens from Ft. Benning in nearby Georgia to Auburn to Tuskegee and Montgomery are responding to the good news. Doctors, lawyers, students and grocery store clerks are studying the bible, learning what it means to truly follow Jesus, and college students are striving for excellence in academics and dating relationships.

 

Editor's note: You can find out more about opportunities to serve in Auburn, and throughout the world, on Disciple Adventures.

Fruits of the Spirit and Bible Studies; Young Disciples

Baptisms began in the spring and the fire grew as three summer interns joined us from Atlanta; Jordan, Liz and Michelle. God did amazing things. Anthony was baptized in the spring. Ashley was baptized during Campus Intern Training at North River in May; she is now studying with Melissa who lives in Montgomery, the biological sister of a disciple she met at ICMC East. Jordan met Tre who became a disciple; Tre is now leading others to Christ. Travis Hawkins, whose family attends North River, gave up a football scholarship in Virginia to be a walk-on player at Tuskegee University this fall. Travis began our first Bible Talk at Tuskegee University, one of the nation’s most renowned Historically Black Colleges. In his senior year of high school in Atlanta he baptized five fellow athletes. He was chosen by classmates in his public high school as “Most Likely to Change the World”; Travis is fulfilling this destiny at Tuskegee University! In the summer we visited the Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Museum for a personal tour with Sol Seay, a lawyer who defended Rosa Parks, MLK Jr and Freedom Riders in the 1950s & 60s; Sol is studying the bible with me. In the fall Chris Lucy was baptized on Wednesday and Veronique, a freshman from Oklahoma City on Thursday. I led the midweek last month when Keara was baptized… that night I met three college students who were out for the first time to an ATCC event; I talked with each of them about studying the bible and following Jesus. Two months earlier Keara’s sister Ketera had been baptized, and their cousin is now studying the bible. Royal was baptized in Houston as a teen but fell away four years ago; she was restored this fall as a student at Tuskegee. Eduardo was baptized September 14^th; on the 25^th he was inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Kim, Chris and Zac were baptized just before Thanksgiving; Zac’s cousin Dylan, also an Auburn student, is studying to become a disciple. Congratulations to the many baptized this year, and pray for those studying now; lives being changed…keep praying!

 

Teens are making an impact

Adrienne (high school senior) grew up in Auburn and became a disciple two years ago; this summer she helped Becky become a disciple. Becky, a teen in Montgomery (Alabama) is the sister of Julio, a leader in the Auburn campus ministry. Now the teens and campus are studying the bible with Chris, a teen whose dad serves in the US Army at Ft Benning (Georgia). Other teens are coming, as well, and the North River teens visit often to encourage the Auburn-Tuskegee teens and the entire church.

 

The married families of the ATCC are a vital part of the body---across the breadth of the church; leading, teaching, evangelizing, shepherding, overseeing and loving the disciples. It’s great to have the Hames, Watsons and Sofges in Auburn and all the families at Ft Benning (Garcia, Savory, Lane & Halverson). We are indebted to John & Sara, Laura, Chidiya, Mitchell, Alan, Yesenia and Candi who relocated to the area and brought their proven experience and strength to make the family mature and stronger. Laura Mullee who graduated the University of Florida this year is sacrificing a year to take the One Year Challenge w Disciples Adventures to serve in Auburn. Alan & Yesenia, grad students from Houston, are getting married in the spring! Travis, Julio, Jessica, Marcus, Jacob, Michael, Derek are veteran campus leaders. Ken & Kat Watson relocated from Atlanta to Auburn two years ago to strengthen the church, the Sofges came as part of the original team. Bill Hames is a professor of Geology at Auburn University; Alicia was art teacher of the year in the state of Alabama last year. The Hames drove from Auburn to Atlanta for ten years, bringing their kids to midweek and keeping their own faith strong before planting the church in Auburn-Tuskegee.

 

The Auburn-Tuskegee church planting has benefitted from prayer and a close, strong bond between church planting and the sending churches. North River leaders drew on biblical examples and teaching from the book of Acts, the pattern of the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to other cities as disciples moved to Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, etc. Young churches drew teaching, encouragement and leadership from mature disciples in Jerusalem and later gave back, becoming the planting churches themselves (Acts 11-13). North River supports, encourages, visits and strengthens Auburn-Tuskegee; in turn Auburn-Tuskegee disciples give back riches of enthusiasm, inspiration, joy, love and young disciples. We faced the usual challenges such as funding; staffing was available only the first two years. God has provided strong leaders within the Auburn-Tuskegee group plus lots of help from North River and sister churches. Disciples from North River visit each week to help bringing their individual gifts and talents. I oversee the church planting on behalf of the North River elders; I live in Atlanta and work a secular job, but I visit frequently to get with disciples and to lead bible studies. I work as an engineer and volunteer with Auburn & Tuskegee Universities in the field of STEM Education; in 2008 I took a sabbatical from my career to teach high school in Tuskegee, forging lasting relationships with community and educational leaders and supporting the Auburn-Tuskegee planting. When we relocated to Atlanta last year the North River leaders asked me to oversee the Auburn-Tuskegee planting.

North River gave the best, devoting experienced leaders to care for the young church planting and the results have been phenomenal. North River and sister churches of the southeast have vision to plant additional churches. The brothers and sisters of the Auburn-Tuskegee ministry now a wealth of successful experience in church planting and these disciples can now help and staff new plantings bringing lessons learned to effectively grow these new churches. Committed leadership and support from North River met faith in the young planting to anchor the Auburn-Tuskegee church.

We couldn’t have done it without the sacrifices of North River to send Jake & Bethany Ostrowski who led the original planting as a newly married couple and continue to provide leadership and insight to the campus ministry in Auburn-Tuskegee and North River; Tom & Kelly Brown provide world class campus leadership for both as well. Jon Sherwood moved to lead when the Ostrowskis were pulled back to lead the North River campus, and Douglas Jacoby and the Bobbitts are dedicated friends of the ATCC ministry. Many others do their part as well to build up the body (Eph 4:11-16).

 

We have seen many amazing and even surprising ways that God has worked. We are all encouraged by the numerical and spiritual growth of the Auburn-Tuskegee church; beginning the year with 22 disciples we’ve witnessed 12 baptisms and a restoration with many more studying God’s word! With the addition of baptisms and move-ins the church is now 40 strong. Pray God will do even more amazing things as he works through his people---to accomplish his work. To God be the glory!

 

 

Deacon of the North River Church of Christ - Marietta, Georgia

Overseer to the Auburn-Tuskegee Christian Church

Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ