Kyle Baird
Born: April 18th in Houston, TX
Sibling: a younger sister Ava ("She is super.")
Kyle loves fast-paced walks on beaches, one handed push-ups, drinking iced teas, candlelight dinners, winning.
Hero (other than Jesus): His parents. "I have no idea where I would be today without their Christ-like example and continuous prayers in my life. "
Music: "Damien Rice, Randy Rogers Band, Hillsong…..Kenny G, Michael Bolton, Bryan Adams, WHAM! etc. etc. (I’m being serious)"
Movies: Gladiator, Count of Monte Cristo, Shawshank, The Sandlot, The Fugitive, and "any and every" McGee and Me video.
Verse: Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Life Story
I asked Jesus to come into my life immediately after watching “All Dogs Go to Heaven” at the age of 7 (Pastor John, do not underestimate the power of All Dogs Go to Heaven). My father started a church in south Houston when I was 5, and pastored the church for 15 years. Growing up I was the kid who knew all the answers in Sunday school class and was seen as the perfect little angel by our church congregation. However, this head knowledge never seemed to translate to my heart, nor my actions.
Throughout my teenage life I believed that Jesus was my Savior, but I never lived out these beliefs. I had a very small youth group at church, and in turn had virtually no Christian friends in my life. In high school I tried to find joy in worldly things. Popularity became more important to me than living a life for the purpose of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, during this time I made numerous poor decisions and ruined many opportunities to share my faith with friends and classmates. By the grace of God and the prayers of my parents I never had any serious consequences from these actions.
The day after I graduated from high school I moved to Austin to start college at UT. That summer I continued to stray further and further away from God. Pretty soon thereafter, the party scene I was living in was not fun anymore. My life hit rock bottom one night in the fall semester of my freshman year. I felt this huge emptiness inside and very alone. The next day, on a road trip to Lubbock, God really grabbed my heart and convicted me. I had turned into the person I had always feared growing up. I knew I was meant to be part of an amazing story and was supposed to do great things for God, but somewhere along the way I had gotten completely lost. I hated the person I had become and I wanted Jesus to have control of my life. So that Friday afternoon, somewhere between Austin and Lubbock, I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ. Back in Austin, I did not have one single Christian friend, nor did I have a church. But, over the next couple of months God placed me in an awesome ministry and surrounded me with amazing friends who were passionate followers of Christ. Their influence in my life cannot even be expressed in words.
My goal in life is to glorify God in everything that I do and to continue to fall more and more in love with Him. God had given me a passion for reaching the youth in America and all over the world. I am so excited to be able to share in God’s work here in Austin.
Vision for The Austin Stone
My vision for the Austin Stone is that we continue to be a body that authentically worships and follows Christ no matter the cost or consequence. I pray that God uses this church to transform the city of Austin for His name and purpose and that we continue to make disciples all over the world.
Anything else people should know about you?
- I’m really good at naps.
- I am retriever and beaver, equally.
- I have a black-belt in keeping it real.