Austin Baptist Church gathers at 7016 Ribelin Ranch Drive in Austin, Texas. It is known for two Sunday worship gatherings with different musical formats, a 10:00 a.m. Bible Fellowship Group hour for every age, and ministries that range from infants and preschoolers to senior adults. ABC describes itself as a multi-generational, Bible-believing church that gathers for dynamic worship, biblical teaching and fellowship, then carries its mission into homes, neighborhoods and the world.
Two Sunday Services and a 10 A.M. Bible Hour
Sunday worship begins at 8:45 a.m. with a choir-led service and at 11:15 a.m. with a band-led service. Each in-person gathering lasts about 60 minutes and includes live music and teaching. At 10:00 a.m., between the two services, Bible Fellowship Groups fill classrooms across the campus for preschoolers, children, students and adults.
- 8:45 a.m. - Choir-led worship: Live choir-led music and teaching begin the Sunday gathering.
- 10:00 a.m. - Bible Fellowship Groups: Age-specific classes and adult groups study the Bible together, with no registration required.
- 11:15 a.m. - Band-led worship: Live band-led music and teaching are followed by the second Sunday gathering.
The live broadcasts begin at 8:40 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. The 11:15 service includes Spanish translation, and a Spanish Bible study also meets at 10:00 a.m. in Room 201. The two worship formats give Sunday guests a choice without changing the common 10:00 study hour.
A First Visit on Ribelin Ranch Drive
ABC meets at 7016 Ribelin Ranch Drive in Austin, Texas 78750. A Guest Services desk sits in the lobby, where the team can direct visitors or answer questions. The in-person services last about an hour, and children have age-specific programs during both worship times.
- Parking: Visitors may use any parking space on campus. Handicapped spaces are located at the front, closest to the entrance.
- Dress: ABC encourages guests to come as they are, whether casual clothes or Sunday best feel most comfortable.
- Children: Programs for infants through fourth grade run during worship, with separate learning for age groups.
- Language: Spanish translation is available at the 11:15 service, and a Spanish Bible study meets at 10:00 in Room 201.
For a first visit, an online connect card is available for guests who want ABC to know them.
Children Begin at ABC
ABC's children's work is built around Scripture, worship, service and partnership with families. The ministry's goal is to walk alongside children as they build a personal relationship with Jesus and to support parents as they lead their homes.
- Kids Care: For children age 2 and under at 8:45 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
- Uplift: For pre-K through kindergarten at the 8:45 and 11:15 services, using singing, play and Bible stories to help children understand who God is.
- Elevate: For grades 1 through 4 at both worship services, with songs, Bible lessons, giving, skits and games. During the 10:00 hour, children receive age-appropriate lessons in grade groups.
- Kids Encounter: On Wednesday nights, kindergarten through fifth graders spend an hour with Bible stories, drills, games and fellowship.
Preschool Encounter gives preschoolers a loving Wednesday setting for Bible stories, crafts and play. SOAR, the preschool special-needs ministry, meets at 10:00 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. in Room 131. Its activities are tailored to help each child learn about Jesus in a supportive, inclusive space.
ABC's Upward Sports partnership serves children in kindergarten through third grade. Beyond competition, the program focuses on teamwork, confidence, character, encouragement and learning to honor God.
Midweek at Heritage Hall
The regular Wednesday gathering begins with a fellowship dinner in Heritage Hall at 5:30 p.m. Discipleship Bible study groups meet at 6:30 p.m. for all ages and stages.
- Adults can join Bible study or take part in worship-team, choir and orchestra opportunities.
- AXIS, the student ministry, meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Student Worship Suite for games, fellowship, worship and teaching from God's Word.
- Kids Encounter serves kindergarten through fifth grade, and Preschool Encounter offers a separate preschool program.
- The ABC Library is open Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Midweek connects the worship services to the rest of the week by giving children, students and adults time to study, eat together and serve through the church's ministries.
Bible Fellowship Groups for Every Age
ABC calls its 10:00 a.m. classes Bible Fellowship Groups. They are on-campus Bible studies for preschool through adults, and groups may be joined at any time without registration. The classes cover every stage from infancy through senior adulthood.
- Preschool: Separate classes for babies, one-year-olds through four-year-olds, plus a special-needs class, each with age-appropriate teaching.
- Children: Kindergarten through fifth grade meet in grade-level rooms for Bible lessons.
- Students: Grades 6 through 12 have a dedicated group for each grade.
- Families: Family Ties serves parents of high school and college students, Rooted serves parents of preschool and elementary children, and S.A.L.T. serves parents of middle school and elementary children.
- Adults: Groups range from multi-generational and international communities to studies for adults in their 40s, 50s and 60s. All Nations welcomes adults with an international background or a desire for international community, while Mosaic is a study for women.
Several adult groups also meet on Zoom. Koinonia and Lamplighters welcome all ages and stages, and Maranatha serves adults 60 and older. Seasons uses a lecture-discussion format, Crossroads is a study for adults 50 and up, and Pathfinders focuses on adults in their late 40s and 50s.
Summit Young Adults and a Place for Every Woman
Summit Young Adults exists to show young adults in Austin the satisfaction of life found in Jesus Christ. Its Sunday groups use the 10:00 Bible Fellowship Group hour to help college students, young professionals and newly married couples deepen their understanding of Scripture and build community.
- Launch: A college-focused group for ages 18 to 22.
- A.C.T.S.: A group for people in their twenties and early thirties.
- Foundations: A group for young married couples without children or beginning parenthood.
Summit Sports gathers every Monday at 6:00 p.m. for pickleball and basketball. The gathering is open from college age through 35, equipment is provided, and all skill levels are welcome. Summit home groups also meet during the week over a meal for smaller friendships and Christ-centered relationships.
ABC Women seeks to connect women with Christ, one another and the community through Bible studies, fellowship and service. Its recurring gatherings include Sweet Sunday at least once a month, with treats, fellowship and a closing devotional, and pickleball and mahjong on the fourth Tuesday of every month. No experience is necessary for the games, and instructors are available.
Women's Bible studies use inductive and topical formats. MomQ provides intergenerational mentorship for mothers, whether stay-at-home or working, and CORD - Connecting Others Relationally through Discipleship - pairs women for encouragement, shared testimony and spiritual growth.
Worship Made by Volunteers
ABC's Worship and Music Ministry exists to glorify God, love others, serve as Jesus served and invite people to join in making praise glorious. Its teams are made up of volunteers with gifts in music, arts and a desire to honor Christ with integrity and humility.
- The 8:45 service has choir and orchestra teams.
- The 11:15 service has band and vocal teams.
- Handbells, the ABC Kids Choir and Creative Arts Camp give younger musicians places to serve.
- Acting, instruments, singing and special productions welcome people whose gifts are not limited to the platform.
Sermons are available through ABC's online watch service, and the church's podcast conversations focus on practical ways to equip followers of Jesus.
Starting Point, First Steps, Learning, and Support
Starting Point is an introduction to membership and ministry, with pastors available to help guests learn about ABC. Children with questions about the first steps of becoming a Christian or considering believer's baptism can join the First Steps class with Rachel Tovar and Dr. Jonathan Spencer.
ABC also provides professional, faith-based, on-site counseling resources. Its library is open Sunday from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., with books available to browse and reserve online. Giving is available through ABC's online giving.
Serving Austin and Supporting Work Beyond It
ABC's missions emphasis is to have every person on mission through prayer, giving and going. The church works with local, national and international partners to minister to people who are hurting, share Christ and strengthen discipleship.
- Local partners: Texas Baptist Children's Home, Baptist Community Center Mission, Embrace Grace, Mission of Hope, Agape Women's Clinic, Bill Glass Behind The Walls, Texans on Mission, Mission Possible Austin, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The Source Women's Clinic, Healing with Horses Ranch, Highland Lakes Camp, Education Connection, Hands of Luke and Austin Baptist Chapel.
- National and international partners: tC Egypt, Love for Myanmar, NAMB Send Network, International Mission Board, Pioneers and Revive Texas Ministries.
ABC supports these partners with prayer, financial giving and short-term mission teams. Volunteers can also join hospitality, worship, children's, student, media and photography teams across the church.
Grace, Authenticity, Impact, and Truth
ABC's core values are specific. The church believes the Word of God is a lamp and Christ calls the church to lift up truth; it desires a church marked by radical grace where all are welcomed; it values authenticity and partnership; and it seeks an eternal impact on homes, neighborhoods and the world. Its mission is to lead people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, and its vision is to see God light up life, home, neighborhood and world.
- The Bible: God's revelation, written under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the church's authority and guide and is without error.
- God: One triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - eternally exists as creator, redeemer and ruler.
- Humanity: Men and women are made in God's image, but sin separates people from God.
- Salvation: Jesus lived the perfect life, died the deserved death and rose again; salvation is a free gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and Jesus will return as King.
- Eternity: Heaven and Hell are real, and people live eternally either with God or separated from him because of sin.
- Baptism and the Lord's Supper: ABC baptizes believers by immersion after faith in Jesus, and observes the Lord's Supper in worship several times each year.
- The church: The church is a group of people rather than a building. ABC holds to local autonomy and cooperates with other Baptist churches through the Southern Baptist Convention and Texas Baptists.
The People Leading ABC
Dr. Jonathan Spencer serves as senior pastor, with Dr. Matt Gillum as executive pastor, Dr. Todd Stearns as worship pastor, Bill McGinnis as pastor of senior adults and care, and Nathan Wood as young adults and connections pastor.
The ministry team includes Rachel Tovar as director of ABC Kids; Anita McGinnis as women's minister; Corbin Smith as student minister; Garrett Ullrich as associate worship leader; Stephen Vaughn as director of media ministries; Addy Winters as girls minister; Eby Whatley as Little Lights Preschool director; Anakaren Moreno and Jana Bolin as ABC Kids ministry associates; and Lynn Wood as worship ministry associate.
That shared structure defines Austin Baptist Church: a multi-generational congregation whose Sunday worship, age-graded study, Midweek life and mission partnerships center on grace, truth and service.