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Ridge Missions

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Reaching the unreached and serving the vulnerable

We believe God's passionate pursuit of all people compels us to reach the unreached and serve the vulnerable in our city and around the world. We want to pursue people, in our communities and beyond our borders, with the love of Jesus.

The Ridge Missions team is honored to work as an extension of your generosity to our local and global missional partners.

Learn more about our strategic focus areas below and find opportunities to get involved.

Our Strategic Focus

Learn more about our strategic approach to reaching the unreached and serving the vulnerable in the city and around the world.

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Serving the Vulnerable in our City

Caring for vulnerable children and families

There are 1,400+ children in foster care within Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties, and the Church has a vital role to play through supporting roles and as licensed foster parents.

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Reaching the Unreached in our City

Serving refugees in Travis Heights

We are serving the Muslim refugee community through prayer walking and meeting tangible needs through teaching English and academic tutoring.

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Serving the Vulnerable around the World

Ending forced-labor slavery and OSEC

We have partnered with International Justice Mission to battle forced-labor slavery and the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).

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Reaching the Unreached around the World

Church planting among unreached Hindus

We have partnered with India Gospel League to plant churches and provide sustainable, practical resources for local families in South Asia.

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Short-Term Trips

See cross-cultural missions work firsthand

Austin Ridge provides a number of opportunities to participate in short-term mission trips throughout the year.

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Sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive prayer requests and updates about how our partnerships are reaching the unreached and serving the vulnerable in our city and around the world.

our partners

Explore a comprehensive list of our current missions partners.

Ridge Missions Team

  • Christine Stehno

    Christine Stehno

    Christine was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She received her degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Since college, Christine has spent time working in Parks and Recreation as well as at a Christian Camp in Sequoia National Forest in California. A trip to Nepal really opened her heart to all aspects of missions. She loves being outside in the sunshine as much as possible, reading, pick-up pickleball games, and watching Husker sports – especially football. Go Big Red! She’s excited to be living in the warmth of the south and grateful for this chapter working in ministry and getting to pursue her passion for people.

  • Clark Richardson

    Clark Richardson

    Clark is a Waco native and a Dallas Baptist University graduate. His non-traditional college and career track within the landscape industry and fundraising/development unknowingly prepared him for such a time as this. Over a number of trips to Uganda, God opened his eyes to how he could use his gifts and talents both locally and globally for the Kingdom. That led him to put his “yes” on the table in 2016, and the rest is history. He married up when landing his beautiful wife, Natalie, in 2010, and they have two children, Graham and Isla. He is a jack of all trades and master of none. He enjoys being a dad of two and when there is time, hunting, sports, dabbling with smoking meat, and campfires.

  • Don Ellsworth

    Don Ellsworth

    Born in New York and raised in Pennsylvania, Don's family relocated to San Diego so he could meet his beautiful wife, Becky. They are blessed with and entertained by their four married kids and kids-in-law, and awesome grandchildren. Don graduated from San Diego Christian College and Dallas Seminary. Don loves going on dates with his wife, anything at the beach, USC football, college football and basketball, Hula Hut, reading, and chocolate. As Missions Pastor, Don loves his job of helping the Ridge reach the unreached and serve the vulnerable in our city and around the world.

  • Donald Dumbacher

    Donald Dumbacher

    Don was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He met his wife, Shelli, at The Ohio State University. They have four married children living all around the world, and five grandchildren…so far.

  • Ginger Cortinas

    Ginger Cortinas

    Ginger is a native Texan born and raised in Austin who now lives in the Buda area. She and her husband, Henry, have a full house with three grown daughters and five dogs. She enjoys spending time with family, baseball, hiking, traveling, and having a good coffee. She is excited to use her passion for serving others and to be a part of the Austin Ridge team!

  • Uriel Novelo

    Uriel Novelo

    Uriel was born and raised in Mexico City, third generation PK. He graduated from Mexico’s Central Bank School with a BA in Banking and a degree in Corporate Finance. After his career as a stock broker in God’s mercy, God graciously changed Uriel's deepest affections and send him to California to receive an MDIV from The Master’s Seminary. Uriel is madly in love with his high school sweetheart Paty, and together they have three tiny bilingual Jesus followers also called los 3 amigos. As our Latino Pastor, Uriel provides vision, guidance, and spiritual care to our bilingual congregation and has a deep love and innate understanding of our growing immigrant community, their tough lives under the sun, complex challenges, and gracious beautiful colors. Uriel loves training men in the gospel, teaching God’s word in Spanish, dating his wife, laughing with his kids, drinking Mexican chocolate, and playing soccer, ping pong and chess.