Our History
How it began…
To understand the background and tradition of Two Rivers Bible Church you must go back to the founding of Hill country Bible Church (now known as Hill country Bible Church-Northwest). Hill Country Bible Church began on October 23, 1985, when 17 people met together in a home to discuss the possibility of starting a new church in northwest Austin. Most of those present were attending a church in the area but sensed a need for a more balanced ministry. After consultation with the elders of that church, it became clear that this group should seek fulfillment of their ministry objectives in another church. So out of that early meeting, the vision for what has become the Association of Hill Country Bible Churches was formed.
Attendees of the first meeting were all intent on establishing a church with a "balanced ministry," one that would effectively minister to every part of the family of God. The consensus of the group was that the church incorporate the best of both traditional and innovative approaches in ministry and outreach. This initial meeting was concluded with a study of Scriptures relating to the New Testament Church, a moving time of prayer, and a bonding in relationships. The group voted unanimously to move forward with the plans for the new church. God tells us that if we will be obedient and faithful to Him, He will bless us and draw near. The church had its first public service in Spicewood Elementary School on January 5, 1986.
The Association of Hill Country Bible Churches dates back to a God-sized dream that was conceived on an elder’s retreat in 1992. During this historic meeting of the elders of Hill Country Bible Church Northwest, God provided a vision to reach people in all of greater Austin. How? By planting multiple Hill Country Bible Churches, so that all 1.4 million people in greater Austin would have the opportunity to go to heaven because they heard the Gospel from the lips of someone from a Hill Country Bible Church. A short time later, the Association of Hill Country Bible Churches (Association) was formally established.
In 1992, the goal of the Association was to plant 10 churches in 20 years. The original vision was completed (16 years from inception) with the launch of Two Rivers Bible Church on January 19, 2008. Ten years into the church planting process, it became obvious that God was moving the Association toward a more dramatic and bold approach. A Church Planting Training Center was established that provides a one year residency for the equipping of potential church planters. The Training Center has provided a steady stream of trained church planters that has resulted in the establishment of 16 plant churches to date with 5 more planned to launch in 2009.
The vision for Two Rivers Bible Church began as a small group meeting in a home in Gonzales, Texas in September of 2005. The group met for worship, Bible study, prayer and fellowship. Most of those in the small group had attended other churches in the area but sensed a need for a different approach to worship and ministry in Gonzales County. The group decided to seek fulfillment of their ministry objectives by starting a new church in Gonzales that is family oriented, reaches across traditional cultural and socio-economic barriers, teaches God’s Word and worships in spirit and in truth. Most of the group began attending services at Hill Country Bible Church Southwest in Austin, Texas. Many of the Gonzales group began to serve in various ministries of this church to develop a better concept of their approach to ministry. At Hill Country Bible Church Southwest, the Gonzales group found the worship style and ministry philosophy that could be effectively applied in Gonzales.
After much deliberation in prayer by the Gonzales group, they approached the elders of Hill Country Bible Church Southwest in the fall of 2006 with the proposal to plant a church in the near future in Gonzales, Texas. At the same time, the group chose the name for the proposed new church as Two Rivers Bible Church. Shortly thereafter, the elders of Hill Country Bible Church Southwest agreed to support the planting of a Bible church in Gonzales, Texas.
The original group meeting is now called a ReaLife Group which was adopted from similar home groups at Hill Country Bible Church Southwest. Two Rivers Bible Church started meeting in Gonzales one Sunday per month for Bible Study, fellowship and an uplifting worship experience in January of 2007 in the Gonzales Elementary School. At this time, two Small Groups were also meeting weekly. These meetings allow people to experience what Two Rivers Bible Church is all about, study of the Bible, worship, fellowship, reaching the unchurched and prayer. As God brings people in to the fellowship, new Small Groups are formed.
Two Rivers Bible Church’s first Pastor, Jesse Elizondo who was trained as a church planter by Hill Country Bible Church - Northwest, assumed responsibilities on September 1, 2007 with a clear sense of purpose and strategy to launch the church publically with a grand opening by the end of the year. The pastor has provided energy, vision and a dynamic passion to move forward with all aspects of the original vision with the support of the other elders of the church. Since that time, with the concerted effort of the Pastor and congregation and by the grace of God, the church has more than quadrupled in attendance.
At this time Two Rivers Bible Church is a daughter church of Hill Country Bible Church-Southwest, though decisions that relate to the overall direction of the church are made by our elders. The desire of both churches is that Two Rivers Bible Church would ultimately become a sister church within the Association of Hill Country Bible Churches and have all the voting privileges that come with that status.
Since our passion is about people knowing God, we continue to praise Him as we have seen restored relationships, mended marriages, transformed lives and people finding relational intimacy with the Savior. We have watched Him change lives through the life-changing reality of Jesus Christ. As we continue to seek God's will and remain obedient, we believe He will continue to faithfully provide His power, wisdom and presence for years to come.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21