Interview with Ken Herman of Austin American Statesman

Last week I received a call from Ken Herman from the local newspaper, the Austin American Statesman. He wanted to interview me about our church now owning and having services at a former car dealership.

I didn't know what to expect. So we set up the interview time at the church that afternoon. Ken was really curious of how a church could purchase a dealership and have religious services in it.

Ken had done some research of our church from our church website http://www.ombchurch.org/ and came well prepared with an assortment of questions. His main overriding question was "What made you picture a church in this place?"

In todays world we see churches popping up in all types of places. There are some that meet in bars, schools, community centers and now a former dealership. Why not? In the Bible, the book of Acts says "That the church (Christians) are to go out into all of the earth and proclaim the "Good news" in Jesus Christ. First starting with our Jerusalem (our location) Judea (our country) Samaria (our continent) and to the remotest parts of the earth.

Well, that's what we are doing. We are in a great location for people from all over the United States and the world that drive through Austin. Like I told the reporter "Beautiful South Austin has for to long had an eye sore as people drove in and out of South Austin. That is because of the 3 adult business that are on south I-35 on the northbound feeder road.

Now with our church in this same area, those who drive into and out of Austin can now see a sign of hope for their lives. A church now sits greeting them as they arrive and praying for them as they leave. The bright lights of the triple x signs are no longer going to be the attraction but a steeple with a cross bringing hope to South Austin.

I know Ken thought it odd for a church to be in a former dealership. But I know that God has blessed us and we want to take this same blessing to those in our new neighborhood and all of beautiful South Austin.

Here is the link to the article and to the video. Video:Former Chrysler dealership becoming a church.http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1485820904?bctid=39616458001 Here is the newspaper article. http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/2009/09/15/0915herman_edit.html