By the time you read this, there’s a good chance that I’ll be driving a 26FT Penske Truck (the yellow beast) somewhere on I-10. Starting another jounery, but for now, we pause a moment to say thanks to the last three years in Austin.
We came here with literally nothing, no jobs, no friends, no money, and a lot of questions…three years later we have everything we could have asked for. A new house, thriving business, non-profit that is moving forward. Austin has been good to us…We love this city, we love our family, we love our friends and we love what God is doing in Austin.
Some thoughts:
To my friends at Vista: What a journey, If you think about what we accomplished is such a short time. We help plant another church that runs close to a 1000 people, that church helped plant another church in downtown Austin, we launched a non-profit that will forever fight on behalf of the poor, widow and orphan. We served E. Austin, served Houston as they suffered through a natural disaster, sent teams to Africa and China. Even through change, the fruit of our labor continue to grow, six months after we became quasi-merged with Austin Stone, multiple COM groups still meet as we speak, many of you are in community at the Austin Stone, doing your part to change the world. I could go on…Through our mistakes and brokenness, God did something amazing! Thanks for the journey, it was grand!
To my ministry friends who serve Austin, you know who you are. Together we will still take the gospel to the ends-of-the-earth. You’ve all been such great example of what it looks like to start missional churches that are passionate about the gospel, the city and the world. I implore you yo keep moving forward, God is doing something great here in this city, a city that for decades was know as the “church planters graveyard.” But God is on the move in the ATX…I’ll be with you in spirit as you continue to lead the local church here in Austin!
My friends: Stop crying…what the heck! I’ll be back to visit…OK, kidding! I’m totally going to miss you…Thank you for standing by the Marlow family, we are forever grateful. You always have a home in Raleigh…Please come visit, and bring some Shiner, Tex-mex, BBQ Sauce while your at it.
You’ve all been great, we are deeply going to miss seeing you on a regular basis, miss the smiles, laughter, arguments and tears. But, we will still journey together, serve our world, fight against injustice and their will be moments where heaven and earth meet, and we will be together, remembering old-times, creating new memories.
But, more importantly, we have a task to accomplish, a life to live and a calling to follow. As we pursue Jesus, serve the local church and fight on behalf of the poor, one day it will all come to an end, and we will celebrate our lives together in heaven, for eternity.
Austin! What can I say? Such a great city, filled with amazing people! I Love the culture, the food, and the progress that is being made. Austin is a one-of-a-kind city, filled with energy, passion and activism. Sure, I’ve whined about the weather and we’ve cried about being stuck deep-in-the-heart-of-Texas, along with your brown-watered oceans. But, Austin…you are a great city! . I can’t wait to come back and visit. I always feel at home when I return.
Till the next time, with love from the Marlow’s-Cheers!
good luck to you and the family bro!