Scott Austin [Community Bible Church, San Antonio, Texas USA] says hang the DJ!
[03.05]

Hi, welcome to our virtual coffee shop. Pull up a chair, take the load of your feet. Let's chat.

So who are you, where you from, what do you do in life?
Scott, I am a pastor in San Antonio, TX

Can I get you a drink? Cappucino, earl grey, dandelion and burdock, pale ale?
Coffee, Black… Ale after noon, I mean 5PM

Would you like a doughnut or pastry to go with that?
negative

So, if you had to describe the church/project/experiment/thingy you are currently involved with in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
A bridge… San Antonio is a little slow on the culture trend side on things, we are doing our homework to be ready as our culture continues to evolve.

Are you an instigator? / new recruit? / have absolutely no recollection of how you got involved?
Instigator, I am always looking for a good fight

What do you value most about being part of it?
Community first and foremost… my church is my family. Second, asking the question do people come to faith in Christ who are not in the middle of crisis? If so, how do we connect with those people? not alone in my desire to see what God is doing, great friendships and the communion wine is an improvement on Baptist grape juice..

What excites you most about it?
This new trend is inspiring some of the churches best art, music, and poetry in decades. Plus, this is real… I think most everyone wants to give their life to something that is real.

Has anyone ever turned up out of the blue not knowing what to expect?
What did they say?
Sure… we look for people to use words like fresh and new. But, the nicest thing I have ever heard was one guy who told me my sermons were f***ing awesome. Beautiful!

Three words that describe your attitude to 'being church' in the big wide world: Authentic… Community… Charitable

Three words that DON'T:
Trendy… Postmodern (if you use that word to describe your church, it isn’t!)… One Dimensional

You have this weird dream - you meet Jesus face to face.
Where does it happen, what does he say to you?
More than likely a coffee house, but I would like to think a swanky wine bar downtown. He says, while watching trendy 20 something's file in and out, “we have gotten so good at starting churches in Africa we seem to have forgotten all about these people, I wish someone would buy a girl a drink to share the gospel and listen to her story, rather than just hit on her.”

What's the big secret you're itching to share with everyone?
Home Safe… we are developing a service to drive drunk people from the bars downtown to their homes. We are hoping to prevent them from driving, give them a bottle of water, and love them at a time when they are the most unlovable. No preaching, no condemnation… just love.

What would your 'emerging church survival kit' contain?
Hmmm… candles, projectors, a dj, big crosses, and a bunch of painters dancing to the house music… wait scrap all that. I am thinking all I would bring is a real community of faith. In fact, the absence of instruments may inspire our most beautiful worship.

Thanks! Good to see you, have a good day!