Whoa.
It’s true. Chris Tomlin announced today, in a partners/members meeting after the 9:30am service, that he is planning to leave the Austin Stone Community Church to pursue God’s calling to start up a new church with long time friend and partner Louie Giglio in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
And this doesn’t upset me one bit.
In fact, it’s probably some of the most exciting news I’ve heard recently. Chris is one of the world’s most recognizable and famous Christian singer/songwriters. Louie is an amazing man of God who has listened to the His Voice before and is being used by God to transform college students into Christ-worshiping followers. Knowing this, it means that God is moving… in amazingly large ways. We just need to keep our eyes and ears peeled as to what specifically He’s planning.
I also believe it’s probably one of the healthiest things that could happen to our church right now. Matt Carter, our pastor, mentioned that we’re going to be greatly challenged, both from the inside and out. It’s no secret that the church has been criticized by others that one of its major reasons for success has been the presence of Chris and his band. I believe the Word of God is being spoken strongly here, that spiritual relationships are being formed, and Christ is being lifted up. Those things have attracted the people. That’s the reason why my family stays. Certainly there’s an attraction to him, but it’s not a sustainable one. I think with Chris pursuing God’s calling elsewhere will help us, as a church, remember to focus on the real reasons we come to worship.
Thus, I’m very excited. It’ll be sad to see him leave, that’s for sure. But what we may lose Christ will gain as He begins to use Louie and Chris in fantastic ways in Atlanta. … Georgia has no idea what they just got!
Do you know the details of when and where they will be starting a church in Atlanta?
Don’t know yet… hasn’t been announced, but he did mention that he’ll probably be back to lead worship at the stone after the world tour… so it won’t be for a bit I would suppose.
Very interesting, considering his bestfriend Andy Stanley has a large, Passion-style-worship church in Buckhead and Alpharetta (Passion’s HQ). I wonder how that will work out?
Who knows…! But, I know that God’s cooking up something mega-crazy… So, I’ll be keeping my ears and eyes open!
pray for the current band that God’s Anointing will fall on them
we shal make no man into an idol but JESUS
and prehaps chruch this will prove who comes for what reason
God does clean his house and this is the season where God is cleaning His house
so that HE can Judge the world
I firmly beleve there is a Major shaking taking place in the body
but let nor your heart be filld with fear that will snayer you
but Keep your eyes trained on JESUS
God is moving and scattering some of his people let this not distub you
for its GOOD amen to spred the word of GOD to all nations sending
labor and working the fields gethering up Fruit to Glorify JESUS in every way possable
@sam: Thanks for your comments! I’m confident that Tomlin and the team will do all that they can, by the Spirit, to Glorify God and lift high the name of Christ!
i heard about this last week from my friend in atlanta. it’s cool i guess. the problem is the flux of people who will go to a church because a few talented individuals are there.
i guess my struggle lately (having a long history of working with churches and church organizations) is just the spreading movement of consumer church. chris is a talented guy… sure. but does the congregation find that they know how to live lives of worship better when they are not at a building with a soundsystem and a program? and louie is a great speaker… no doubt. but does the body find it knows how to interpret scripture better and discern the spirit better by following him?
i’m just asking cause i’ve been to andy’s and louie’s church. no doubt they are gifted individuals. but do they perpetuate a body of royal priests who rely on the spirit, or do they perpetuate a movment from church to church because people feel like they are “fed better”?
would love to know your thoughts.
Scott,
Great thoughts. These are (and will constantly be) issues that will come up whenever you’ve got people who are doing big things for God and who are, as a result, attracting many people as well.
The “consumer” church, as you so put it, is an interesting topic of conversation. The question that you pose, whether or not the congregation is learning how to live lives of worship through louie, chris, etc, can be taken from a number of different angles. Let me point out one such angle (or pose a counter thought to you)!
Who is ultimately responsible for worship? Is it chris? Is it Louie? Is it the Holy Spirit? What part do we have to play, so to speak? I think the answer to that question is key to forming a baseline and foundation upon what worship is really about.
In addition, does chris/louie perpetuate, as you have said, the growth of royal priesthood or continual church-hopping (you said “movement”, I interpret it as the so-called “hopper”)? I would argue both, just as people goto any other church for a number of reasons (both good and bad… but the point is that they are not, necessarily, the one’s to be held ultimately responsible… only to the message that they preach and their own motivations!).
So, if that’s the case, then the question is really about their motivation. If it’s the former (royal priesthood), then we’re all good. If it’s the latter (church hopping), then we’re in dangerous territory. Are they to blame because of other’s motivations and despite their own good intent?
The result of their ministry has been wide spread, and people’s opinions of it have also “spread” the gamut of criticism to adoration. But from the way I see it, knowing that Louie and Chris are spirit-filled, god-lead individuals who have time and time again passionately declared their motivation to be nothing more than spreading the good news of the Gospel and for Christ’s Name, Work, and Fame to be glorified among all men (and college-aged people) I have complete confidence in God to do amazing things (because they are but His vehicles). And if they do happen to step out of line, I know that they have mentors, fellow brothers, staff, and elders that will let them know what’s going on.
But nonetheless, it’s a contant struggle for all of us and you bring to light a great point and challenge. We, who are more mature in Christ, must seek to encourage and teach and disciple (and rebuke perhaps at times) those that are more young in the faith.
Thanks for the comments Scott!
John
I’ll be praying for you guys during this transition.
Thanks Pete for the prayers. We’ll be needing them!
I’m sure Tomlin and Giglio will draw a big crowd. Tomlin has been a great draw worth $$$ millions in free advertising for the Austin Stone.
@Daniel
Thanks for your comments Daniel. An interesting point, to be sure. We all hope and pray that the “big draw” has been because Christ and Christ alone.
Wow. That sounds like an exciting move from all sides. I’m excited to see /hear the results, and hope to visit sometime once they’re up and running. Let’s just pray for everyone involved during this time of transition.
@Shannon,
Thanks for your comments and more importantly your prayers! It seems that your heart is in the right place about it and I’m thankful for that!
I shouldn’t feel sad over this development, since its not my church. But I do. I have an unsettling feeling that this is not of God. I mean, when I think of Atlanta, the last thing I think is that it needs another megga church. Meanwhile, out here in Portland, spiritually speaking, we’re starving to death. So how come Tomlin- or anyone for that matter- isn’t looking to us for the next big church?
Just a question, not a criticism.
You said it. I have ssn people here in Australia plant churche just a couple of klms from an other church.Couldn’t go to the outback could you?? Just an observation.
@Deborah
Thanks for your comments.
In regards to God’s Will, I would submit that we should humbly give ourselves fully over to it… meaning, that we watch and we pray, and pray for Chris and Louie and the rest, knowing that we cannot fully know nor understand what God has planned. We’ll all see 20/20 in hindsight, right?
Matt Redman (UK based Christian Songwriter) is also going up to the States to join Giglio and Tomlin in the churchplant…
WOW! Many of you are missing the point – I hear this will be a church that is totally mission minded….reaching out to the people in the this area (Atlanta) that are looking for true meaning in life. There are so many people that just don’t know nor understand our Jesus. I am pumped up because there will be many who will come to know the Lord ~ and I hope those who come to this church will have the same vision, not to receive but to give. Peace ~
Totally bizarre!!! A celeb church indeed because now Watermark has also joined them. How many celebs can you have in one church and not expect it to be a “celeb church” lol.
Hey Chris when are you going to cut that umbilical cord w/Louie and find yourself a wife dude? lol.
I love you man!
Why has the Austin Stone Community Church taken Chris Tomlin off their church directory? I thought a previous poster said he would stay at the Stone until after the Passion world tour.
@Lynn
Not sure about that… I’ll see if I can get any more info.
I noticed Austin Stone has taken Chris Tomlin off their staff directory. Does that mean he is no longer leading worship at the church?
i heard bono was gonna be the music minister
Lot’s of speculating going on here! Can we just Let Go and Let God? To me, looking from quite a distance, I see two men with passion filled hearts who have touched millions striving for a new way to fulfill the mission. What an exciting prospect! Though they are just men, I am trusting they are responding to a higher call and will be Spirit led as they enter into this new adventure. Our BIG God’s ways are higher than our ways and attempts to fully understand or outguess Him are doomed. ‘To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we hope or imagine!’ Can’t wait to be once again amazed by what happens when God acts in the lives of his children. May we all open ourselves more fully to the one who made, sustains, and redeems us.
Obedience is always fashionable! Congratulations to Louie & Chris for stepping out on faith.
Let me know where this is going to be. I live in Atlanta.
Hey my name is Anthony Metrocavage, and i am from Newark Nj….. currently i live in Brisbin PA working with ministry up here called Narrow Roads…. i just really wanted to say Hi and hopefully talk to you guys about a couple of things that God has called me to do….please email me back at the following email….
sweet! i'm at NP… we'll be watching…!
love to chat! send me an email at johnsaddington@gmail.com
All sorts of speculation and comments! As worship pastor of a new church plant in metro Atlanta, I welcome Chris, Louie, and whoever else wants to come start a new church in the area. There are THOUSANDS in this area who never went to church, tried church and disliked it, or who have just slipped away. And starting a new life-giving church in the area is an excellent way to reach these people. We're all on the same team, here, so the more people we can win to Christ the better. And a new church provides another place where people can not only receive Christ but also discover their God-given purpose in life. So, come on Chris and Louie! There's enough work to go around for all of us!
Mark,
Thanks for stopping by and giving your 2 cents! love it.
I think its great that these guys are doing what they feel God is asking them to do. With all the other talent that is in Metro ATL they have a lot to work out and it has to be a little intimidating. I see it as a way of reaching more people with the message that we wrongly hold on to, a little to much sometimes.
i know. i'm super excited. thanks for being an encouragement.
Congrats for stepping out in faith to both Louis and Chris and anyone else who joins them. It is amazing how God leads. Although I don't live in Atlanta (I live in Toronto, Canada) I am under the assumption that Atlanta seems to have a number of Mega churches and my first thought is that Atlanta doesn't need another church. Just a comment. However, in my experience so far as a Christian, I believe with ALL my heart that God knows EXACTLY what He is doing!
Any update on this?
Chris is starting a new church here in atlanta with louie giglio. google “passion city church”.
I have not only purchased his CDs, but I attend Austin Stone. It’s 4:15 in the morning, and I can’t sleep…and I have him playing. I was actually going to ask him that (since I’ve been a singer before) if we could sing together before I move out of Austin. But I don’t know when he is leaving…? He and I could definitely do an amazing song together, but I want it to be one of the older ones that my parents know from their contemporary service. I’m heartbroken by the news, but I am happy to know he’s going to be touching that many more lives!! He’s amazing, absolutely. I would love to speak to him personally…I’ve lost a ton of friends lately, and I’m about to lose my last grandfather. That’s not where it ends…
I truly hope he can get in touch with me and let me know if we can sing just 1 song together. I’m a music major, and I play flute, piccolo, some piano, and I have been singing since I was old enough to use my memory. I’m going through a really tough time right now, and if we could sing a song together, I could get my family out here to be proud (I need this). It would be my honor to get to sing a song with him and to get to listen to his advice. We all know every service moves every member and every member to come. I have been praying about this and practicing, so I really hope it works out. I absolutely LOVE Chris and his voice…he brings me closer to Christ through his CDs, so you can imagine what a church service does. I’m going to miss him so much, but I’m so very proud of him…if I could just do this, that would be amazing. My parents don’t think I’m capable of doing much more than nothing, so for me to get to sing with such an amazing person as Chris, I would see myself as blessed. After all, it would be a one-in-a-lifetime experience. Please let me know if I stand a chance or if I’m just kidding myself. I do live in Austin, and I attend Austin Stone each Sunday.