Addressing Gaps
We believe intercession, church planting, evangelism, mercy and justice, work and faith, Christian institutions, and leadership development are key components of city reaching.
Through our research, we want to help identify gaps and create solutions for engaging all of Austin.
Our work is driven by the reality that the Kingdom of God is not fully expressed in Austin:
Romans 15:18–21
For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written,
“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”
Addressing Gaps
The Greater Austin Mission Society exists because there are places in our city where the gospel is not yet present in word or deed. Austin is a fast-growing, complex region, and while God has blessed us with many faithful churches and ministries, significant gaps remain.
Some neighborhoods have no church at all. Some generations are disengaging from the Church at alarming rates. Some communities carry burdens of poverty, injustice, and marginalization without a consistent gospel witness. These gaps are not just statistics. They represent real people - families, students, neighbors, and nations God has brought to our city.
Our calling is not to do everything, but to notice where the needs are and help the Church respond together.
What We See
Through research and prayerful listening, several gaps in Greater Austin have become clear:
Geographic Gaps - Rapidly growing corridors like Kyle/Buda, Jarrell, and Northeast Travis have far fewer gospel-centered churches per capita than the urban core.
Generational Gaps - The percentage of practicing Christians in Austin has declined from 46% in 2012 to 26% in 2024. Younger generations, especially Gen Z, are often disconnected from the local church.
Leadership Gaps - Few pipelines exist to raise up new pastors, planters, and evangelists. Many leaders are aging or transitioning without a next generation ready to step in.
Trust Gaps - Scarcity, competition, and fragmentation hinder collaboration across traditions, even though unity is essential for credible witness.
Justice and Mercy Gaps - While Austin has many nonprofits, collective impact is often elusive. Vulnerable populations - the poor, the immigrant, the marginalized - remain underserved by consistent gospel presence.
How We Respond
We believe gaps are invitations. Where the city is underserved, the Spirit is often stirring the Church to act. Our approach is to:
Map and Measure - Conduct ongoing research to identify where gospel presence is weak or absent.
Equip Leaders - Develop cohorts, training, and partnerships that prepare a new generation of leaders to plant churches, share the gospel, and serve the city.
Catalyze Partnerships - Connect ministries already working in underserved areas and foster collaboration instead of duplication.
Support Collective Impact - Partner with nonprofits and churches to address systemic needs in education, housing, justice, and care for the vulnerable.
Pray and Discern - Seek God’s guidance through intercession, asking Him to reveal where He is already at work and where He is calling us to join.
The Invitation
Addressing gaps is not about filling spreadsheets - it’s about filling neighborhoods with the presence of Jesus. Together, we can ensure that every community in Greater Austin has access to a vibrant, faithful witness of the gospel.
We invite churches, ministries, and leaders to see what is missing and join in creating what could be: a city where no one is overlooked, every generation hears the good news, and the love of Christ reaches every corner.