Imprint: Love Where You Live
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been asking what the “way of heaven” looks like in our personal lives — in how we love, serve, give, and relate to one another. But this Sunday, we zoomed out to ask a bigger question:
What does it look like for our church to reflect heaven together?
What kind of imprint does God want to leave on our city because we are here?
We Become What We Behold
2 Corinthians 3:18 says,
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory.”
We become what we behold. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus, our lives — and our church — will begin to look more and more like Him. Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. There’s a way of the world, and there’s a way of heaven. And every part of us — how we think, give, lead, and love — should look like heaven.
Living in Exile, Loving Where You Are
To understand how God wants us to live out that calling as a church family, we looked to Jeremiah 29. God’s people were in exile — far from the promised land — yet God gave them surprising instructions:
“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce... Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
— Jeremiah 29:5–7
Even in exile, God tells His people to love where they live. Don’t just survive—thrive. Build. Plant. Multiply. Pray for your city. Don’t curse it; bless it.
And that’s exactly what we’re called to do here in Austin. God hasn’t placed us here by accident. Every one of us is here on purpose, for a purpose.
Austin’s Destiny — and Ours
Austin is a city people love to live in — a growing, creative, and entrepreneurial hub that’s influencing the world. But we believe there’s something even deeper happening:
God has a prophetic destiny on this city.
It’s not just about music, tech, or tacos. God wants to make Austin a place that sends revival to the nations. As the University of Texas motto says, “What starts here changes the world.” We believe that’s more than a slogan — it’s a whisper of what God wants to do through His church.
And He’s placed us here — right now — to be part of that.
Building for 100 Years
A few years ago, in the middle of the chaos of COVID, when everything felt unstable, God spoke something simple but life-changing:
“Build for 100 years, not 20.”
That word shifted everything. We stopped thinking about quick wins or temporary spaces and started dreaming about longevity, roots, and legacy. God showed us that buildings aren’t trophies — they’re tools. Spaces where heaven can meet earth for generations to come.
That’s why we’re stepping into this next chapter with our new property on 290 and Cameron Road.
It’s more than a building — it’s a hub for revival. A place where people will encounter Jesus, come alive in who He’s called them to be, and be sent on mission to transform our city and beyond.
And here’s what’s incredible:
Because of the generosity of our people — and the seeds sown through the legacy of Hope in the City — we were able to purchase this building completely debt-free and still have over $1 million in the bank to prepare for what’s next.
That’s the faithfulness of God.
Our Imprint on Austin
We believe God has called Antioch Austin to be a church that loves our city deeply — that builds roots, raises families, serves faithfully, and seeks the peace and prosperity of Austin. Because when the city prospers, we all prosper.
This is our moment to say,
“As for me and this neighborhood, we will serve the Lord.”
God’s placed us here not just to exist, but to leave a heavenly imprint — one that lasts for generations.
As we celebrate what God is doing, we also look ahead with faith to what’s next. Our future home is more than a building — it’s a space for stories of salvation, healing, and transformation to unfold for years to come. We believe Jesus is building this house, and we get to be part of it together.
If you haven’t yet joined in on the Build the House campaign, this is a great time to prayerfully ask how God might be inviting you to give. Every gift, every step of faith, is helping lay the foundation for what’s to come.