Declare His Glory!

God did incredible things this weekend in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I was there for three days and I saw firsthand the power of God. The San Pedro Sula Church was celebrating their one year anniversary. They started with 50 disciples and now they have 75 disciples… The 75 disciples today had 320 visitors at church plus 105 kids. This is amazing. They also had three baptisms. I had the privilege to preach for them. Dorian and Rosa, who are the non-fulltime church leaders, are very committed to God and His mission and God is taking care of them even financially. He works in real estate, and because of the conference has not had time to work much this week. However a few minutes ago, Dorian sold a house in 10 minutes making him the money to meet his needs. When we put His Kingdom first, He adds everything we need! (Matthew 6:33) – Raul Moreno – Santiago, Chile

The Church needs to be planted in Malawi in Muzuz area in the North! – Malawi (Malawi is located in Southeastern Africa) KM

I wanted to talk to you about helping out the new church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We just got back from visiting my family and the old ICOC church, and I see that the walls are “broken down” and the church is “in ruins”, spiritually. What the DeVaults are doing there is needed, in my opinion. My vision and dream is to see my home state, where I became a disciple 14 years ago, evangelized. Being mostly a rural state, I think the internet is a major way of how to reach each of the small cities and towns. I’d like to discuss this with you. – San Francisco, California (On December 1-2, Lu Jack and Cathi Martinez went to preach for the church that meets in the DeVault’s house!) KM

Kip and Elena, we remember very vividly your vist to India in 1995. We thought we must give you a peep into our lives and family background. I am 38 years old, Annie is 35, Samuel is 10 years old, Samantha is 7 years old and Sean is 4 years old. I became a disciple in Chennai in 1991 and was instrumental in bringing my whole family to Christ. My dad, John Selvaraj and mom Anna Selvaraj, who were in the mainline church of Christ, went on to become one of the first elder couples in ICOC India. My dad passed away in November 2004 and my mom still serves the Lord zealously. He was very forthright and even went on to resign from Eldership

as well as trusteeship when he found compromise and noticed that focus shifted from serving God to pleasing people. Annie became a disciple in 1990 at Bangalore and went to Chennai when severely persecuted by her family. Through seeing her life, her father, one brother, sister and brother-in-law became disciples. We were married in 1994 and went on to lead the mission team to Hyderabad in the same year. God blessed the Church immensely as we grew from 16 to 120 disciples in two years. We have hung on for many years despite several challenges that we have faced and are grateful to God that we have learnt to lean on him more even as the ICOC went through tremendous turmoil. But we see that the zeal is at its lowest and several Christians are in pain and nothing seems to be changing as the leadership is struggling to set an example (I pray I am not judgmental and ask God to forgive me, if I am). In the recent past my wife and I (and seven other disciples) decided to lead people to God through the Bible, as we had learnt true uncompromised discipleship during our early ministry days. Last Sunday we had a service in the evening on our own where we had over 75 in attendance and truly felt grateful that God could use us to bring people to him again like old times… We will keep in constant touch with you and will be very glad to see you in India again! – Johnny Selvaraj – Bangalore, India

I’ve been tracking your progress from the Portland Church to the church in Los Angeles and all the gracious things that have come with it… The reason I wished the best for you is for the fact that I did spend a considerable amount of my prime time in ICOC (1995-2002). I was made to be an evangelist in the year December 2000 at the SALC conference in Hyderabad, India. The reasons why I left the church in 2002 was similar to those who resigned because of doctrinal issues. The only thing that I expected from the church leadership is to see the difference between black and white but never intended to leave the church as such. But it created a hostile situation that we had to leave the church. And I felt better to appreciate the ones who admit their mistakes and walk on than to still cover it up and pretend as if nothing has happened in the guise of some changes taking place. And this is exactly what’s happening with the Indian churches today and left most of them disillusioned… My desire is to fellowship with the “remnant” and really see if God has this for me. If I do still carry one desire on my heart then it is for me and my family to be used by God again. – Gali Solomon – Hyderabad, India

Well, I am a disciple of Christ here in Lubbock, Texas. I have read the first few newsletters you guys put out. And frankly, my soul is on fire for the work you guys are doing. I wish my brothers and sisters here had the same flame. Truthfully we are a bunch of talkers but no doers out here. I have had many talks about what it would be like to be a part of something that shared my same beliefs… I feel very stagnant. Our parent churches here in Texas tell us we are responsible for our well being. I feel they planted us, they should have an active role in our congregation. We have dwindled from approximately 50-60 in 2001 to 11 today. They tell us there is no plan for that, nor has there been. – Texas

I wanted to pass on our thanks to you for the series on Judges from our little group here in Reno! We are listening from afar! It was exactly what I needed to hear. It also blows my mind how the message you did yesterday totally relates to some things that we are going through. – Jenn Crossthwaite – Reno, Nevada

Dear Los Angeles, I really must say that I have been so grateful for this year. I had the opportunity to listen to Elena and Kacie, titled “She Did What She Could.” It really encouraged and inspired me. I realize that Jesus is calling us higher. – Portland, Oregon

I just can’t help but be filled with gratitude that I hear your sermon today entitled “The Dream”…But I got so convicted by the message and I want to go back to God and renew again my dreams for Him and start shedding tears again for discipleship, leadership and persecutions… I need someone to walk with me and disciple me. – John Malnegro – Davao, Philippines

Kip, your article (December 9, 2007) on discipling I want to respond to. Another great article!! I appreciate you still teaching us how to love God and each other more!! Thanks for calling us to do the right thing. It only helps our relationship with God and our impact on the world. I love your articles!! I love your depth!! Proud to call you my bro!! – Lisa – Boise, Idaho

Dear Los Angeles Church, We are in desperate need of a church of Sold-out disciples in Raleigh, North Carolina… Are there any plans to bring the “new” movement towards the southeast? – Former Staff of the Boston Church

Kip McKean