When the founders of ABBA came together, they realized that the city of Austin had vast resources in the community and non‐profits to meet the needs of the city and its people. However, most community organizations providing services to those in need were working in “silos”, independent of each other, and there was minimal collaboration. The founders envisioned connecting or bridging the Church community and its resources with existing non‐profits through volunteerism and service.
This would help strengthen and expand the capacity of organizations and enable critical needs of the city to be more efficiently and effectively met. Thanks to their vision and commitment, Austin Bridge Builders Alliance (ABBA) was established as a 501 c 3 organization in 2002.
Much of our early work was connecting resources with needs in the name of Christ as we connected non‐profits, churches and individuals to collaborate for efficiency and the common good. We were instrumental in gathering marketplace and community leaders together for two half‐day workshops and we instituted two annual Pastor’s Orientation Meetings for newer pastors to the Austin community in which we introduced them to many city and community leaders and officials. In 2003, through Pastors in Covenant (PIC), the ministry of small groups for senior pastors in Austin, ABBA initiated an annual
Pastors Prayer Gathering in January/February each year at Camp Buckner. The gathering includes two days of prayer and worship for and by the pastors. The 8th annual event was held in February 2011 and was attended by 153 pastors.
ABBA is a virtual organization of a few people that build and facilitate the building of alliances of like minded high capacity, high character Christian leaders in various sectors/domains of the community to make a positive difference. We do not strive to own anything; rather, we serve as a neutral catalyst and facilitator to encourage Christian non‐profits in the community to be more effective and help them do what they do better. That assistance may come in the form of coaching or connecting or assisting them to find additional sources of funding. One example of our work is our facilitation of ACF Mission team on a tour of East Austin ministries several years ago that resulted in new support and work with Texas Reach Out Ministries and Community New Start.
Over the past three years (2007‐2010) ABBA prayerfully considered its mission and concluded the way to strategically reach the city for Christ was to focus on four key areas. Those areas include Prayer, Pastors and Churches, the Needs of the City, and Living on Mission.
Now we are seeing the emergence of leadership teams from within the Church, the Ministry, and the Business arenas. These leadership teams are fanning the movement of being “In the City For the City”. Key conversations focus on the questions: “Are there 1 or 2 things the Christian community throughout the city can rally around in considering the call to ‘Go, Make disciples’?” and “If so, what are they and how do we invite others to participate?”