“And this is my prayer… that you may discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.” Philippians 1:9-10

The City of Angels International Christian Church was planted on May 7, 2007 by 42 sold-out disciples sent by the Spirit from Portland, Oregon!

Truth is of God and confusion is of Satan. (John 8:31-32, 43-44) Sadly, we live in a time when thousands of sincere disciples in scores of countries around the world are unsure about those of us who celebrated – during the month of October 2011 – the Fifth Anniversary of God’s new movement – officially named the International Christian Churches. Indeed, the present Biblical differences between the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) and the congregations of the International Christian Churches (ICC) – the SoldOut Discipling Movement – are so profound that at stake is the hope of salvation for this very lost world. My heartfelt prayer for disciples everywhere is “that you may discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.”

The ICOC has its roots in the Mainline Churches of Christ through a campus ministry movement begun in 1967 in Gainesville, Florida and known as the Crossroads Movement, but also called by detractors the “Total Commitment Movement.” Through the 70’s, the congregations of the Crossroads Movement were partially composed of “totally committed,” and thus zealous, newly baptized college students; however, the majority in their adult memberships were lukewarm. Well documented at the time was that the “average” Mainline Church of Christ had a Sunday attendance of 150 and just eight baptisms a year. Even recently, The Christian Chronicle – The International Newspaper For The Churches Of Christ (February 2012) – acknowledges, “Since 2003, [Mainline] Churches of Christ have lost more than 102,000 adherents – more people than the number that attended this year’s Super Bowl. Their 2012 Directory also counts 708 fewer Churches of Christ than it did nine years ago.” The number of Mainline Churches of Christ congregations, as well as their overall membership, continues to dramatically shrink just as in the 70’s.

The McKeans travelled to Santiago, Chile to oversee the leadership transition from the Gonzalezs to the Mejias! Carlos & Lucy will lead the great Santiago Church, as the Spirit sends Vic & Aurora to plant the Mexico City Church in August!

At the end of the 70’s, God put it on Elena’s & my heart to build a congregation entirely composed of only “totally committed Christians” – at that time not found anywhere in the world. (Of note, the term “disciple” did not become the primary nomenclature for ourselves until the second year of the Boston Movement in 1980, after I initiated the First Principles Study Series which included the “Discipleship Study” with the equation: Saved = Christian = Disciple.)
In 1979, after fasting, prayer and counsel, Elena and I believed it was the will of God to accept the leadership role in the Lexington Church of Christ – a dying congregation where only two individuals had been baptized in the previous three years. So with this vision of a “totally committed church membership,” on Friday evening, June 1, 1979, the “thirty would-be disciples” gathered in “the Gempels’ living room” where the Spirit began the “Boston Movement!” (The Lexington Church was renamed the Boston Church of Christ when we moved our services to downtown Boston in 1982.)

Lou Jack & Cathi Martinez are the leaders for our new Antelope Valley (AV) Sector of the Central Region! In the past six weeks, this sector has been initiated and grown to 27 sold-out disciples through remnant disciples joining the movement!

Unprecedented growth occurred in the first year, as 103 were baptized. In the second year, God blessed us with 200 baptisms, in the third year 252 baptisms, and in the fourth year 368 baptisms – more than daily additions! By 1988, this multiplication of disciples – and the addition of hundreds of remnant disciples from the Crossroads Movement and from the Mainline Churches of Christ – allowed us to baptize over 1,000 that year in Boston! Incredibly, by the end of our ninth year, the Boston Movement churches were planted throughout the United States, as well as in 15 different nations. Most notably in 1988, a central leadership was formed, which was called the “World Sector Leaders,” because of the charge I gave to each of these “Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader Couples” to evangelize “their” sector of the world – which collectively covered the entire globe.
By 1994, the Boston Movement Churches were in 53 nations and adopted the name International Churches of Christ. Church historian John Vaughn made a distinction between the “Mainline Churches of Christ” and the Boston Movement which he named the “International Churches of Christ.” The prime reason for this distinction was that the Mainline Churches of Christ existed primarily in the “Bible-belt” of America, whereas the Boston Movement churches had an almost equal number of congregations in and outside of the United States. As well in 1994, I penned – and every World Sector Leader signed – the Evangelization Proclamation, in which was inscribed the goal to plant a discipling church in every nation of the world with a city with a population of at least 100,000 by the year 2000. Through God’s power this came to pass in just six years, as the ICOC spread to 171 nations of the world’s 195 nations by the end of 2000!
Then only a few months later, the most tragic years in Elena’s and my lives began. Ron Harding – the historian of the SoldOut Movement – records this on KipMcKean.com, A History Of The Spread Of Christianity In Modern Times: At the beginning of 2001 as a college student in Boston, the oldest of the McKeans’ children began to question her faith. Though everyone who falls away must take full responsibility for this decision, it must be noted that this young woman was unjustly and heavily criticized – largely because of the high profile of her parents – and feeling unloved by many in the congregation contributed to her no longer attending church. (Luke 17:1-2) This single event caused uncertainty in the McKeans’ leadership among many of the World Sector Leaders, as well as among the Kingdom Elders and Kingdom Teachers. In September of 2001, the World Sector Leaders “forced” the McKeans to go on sabbatical – though later, some deeply regretted this decision.

The Spirit sent Chris & Sonja Chloupek to LA to initiate our Arts- Media-Sports (AMS) Region! Already, many actors, musicians, dancers, artists and media-savvy individuals have been baptized into Christ!

Unbiblically applied to Kip were the qualifications of an elder, not an evangelist. The reasoning was that to “oversee” a church, one had to “manage his own family [well or] how can he take care of God’s church.” (1 Timothy 3:4-5) Also cited incorrectly was Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and… he will not turn from it.” Left out from this quote is the phrase, “when he is old.” Disregarding what is obviously implied in the phrase “when he is old,” is that during their younger years children may not be faithful to God, but will return to the kingdom because of their good training when they are “old.” (This has now been seen in the SoldOut Movement and the ICOC over and over again.) Even sadder is the lack of grace by almost all of the World Sector Leaders, Kingdom Elders and Kingdom Teachers. In the Scriptures, some of God’s and Israel’s greatest leaders had unfaithful children – Aaron, Samuel, and even the Old Testament’s “man after God’s own heart,” David – yet they continued to victoriously lead “all Israel.”
…Clearly in retrospect at this juncture, [just one year later] a “domino effect” of “God’s ironic justice” was beginning to occur: as the World Sector Leaders had drawn back from the McKeans, so now most of the World Sector Leaders were being likewise undermined with no mercy by those under their leadership for similar issues: marriage dynamic, children’s behavior, and leadership style.

The SoldOut Movement spread to India when Raja & Debs Rajan initiated the dynamic remnant group in Chennai! As of today, God’s new movement can be found in New Delhi and in the nation of Sri Lanka!

This created a leadership vacuum. It was at this point that the Kingdom Elders and Kingdom Teachers chose to elevate themselves. Of note, these two groups were composed entirely of people with their roots in the Mainline Church of Christ. They were fueled by their feelings of under-appreciation and entitlement. Very sadly, their bitter “Absalomic spirit” and common denominational roots bonded the Kingdom Elders and Kingdom Teachers. Like Absalom, they initiated a very calculated campaign to “steal the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:6)… They heightened the issue of “unbelieving children disqualifying men from leadership” through a series of articles appearing on the Los Angeles ICOC website, [which they later recanted]. Here, they also introduced their “Mainline doctrines” of “consensus leadership” and [autonomy].
After our sabbatical began, Elena & I never made another decision for the ICOC. In retrospect, God was disciplining me through these hardships for my arrogance and lack of concern for the weak. (Hebrews 12:7-11) Yet, personally devastating to us were the false accusations by those we once held as dear brothers and friends, who “used” our weakened state and now voiceless position to undermine our influence through character assassination.

Kyle & Joan Bartholomew’s courageous stand for the honor of God in Hilo, Hawaii was the spark that initiated God’s new movement! They are moving from Honolulu to LA this summer to continue their training to plant the Crown of Thorns Church in Manila!

As Ron Harding in his “eye-witness history” reveals, an “Absalomic group” arose – composed of a few of the World Sector Leaders, the Kingdom Teachers and the Kingdom Elders – who meticulously guided the rest of the ICOC leaders to return to a Mainline Church of Christ theology. This was officially executed at the November 2002 Long Beach Unity Meeting. The Central Leadership of the World Sector Leaders was dissolved and called “unbiblical.” Embraced was a church government of local autonomy, where the elders “ruled over” the evangelists – a complete reversal of the early Boston Movement teachings. “The dream” for the evangelization of the nations in a generation was renounced and called by one of their foremost teachers, “A good idea, but impossible.”

Chris & Theresa Broom have been loyal and fruitful partners in the gospel to the McKeans during their days in Syracuse, Chicago and presently in Orange County!

With the advent of the “Kriete Letter” in February 2003, discipling in most congregations was eliminated or called “optional.” Viciously negative open forums ripped up once thriving congregations and several thousands walked away or fell away. At this horrific moment in 2003, all would agree that “the ICOC as we knew it ceased to exist.” From my perspective, a plague of bitterness descended on several in the membership as they simply mirrored their leaders’ bitter response to their leaders.
In July 2003, broken-hearted and devastated by the Satanic destruction of our life-long labors for the Lord, the Spirit carried Elena & me to Portland, Oregon. After much prayer and soul-searching, all we could do was to begin again because we believed in “the dream” and that making disciples through “discipling” was God’s only way to accomplish it. The Portland Church – through the healing process of repentance and forgiveness – began to grow bringing hope to many. (Luke 5:31-32) In fact, during our three years in Portland, God moved in disciples’ hearts to move to Portland from 25 different states in America to once again be in a discipling church. A miracle was unfolding – God was beginning “to gather” His remnant from the “farthest horizon.” (Nehemiah 1:8-9) With these additions and the scores of baptisms, the Portland Church grew to almost 500 disciples and became the fastest growing congregation in what was left of the ICOC. In fact, several church leaders from as far away as Santiago, Chile – Raul & Lynda Moreno – sought discipling from us.
Seeing “no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:16) for the decaying and dying ICOC fellowship, at the 2005 Portland World Missions Jubilee, I felt compelled by the Spirit to call out a remnant from what was left of ICOC churches, as well as from those that walked away or fell away. In response, courageous disciples such as Chris & Sonja Chloupek in Phoenix began small groups of sold-out disciples who broke away from lukewarm ICOC churches. Often, for these heroic stands, they were disfellowshipped. (John 12:42-43) We called these valiant new churches: “remnant groups.”

Nick & Denise Bordieri and Tony & Therese Untalan graciously received the McKeans during their first days in Portland in 2003. Now, both live in LA and serve as Shepherding Couples for the City of Angels Church and the movement! The Bordieris also lead the benevolent arm of the Sold-Out Movement – MERCYworldwide!

Our stand for the honor of God resulted in several letters against Elena & my convictions. Two of these letters were particularly harmful to the faith of many remaining in the ICOC. The first was signed by 65 ICOC church leaders, and the second – after a campaign for more signatures – was signed by 85 ICOC elders and evangelists, who opposed this radical calling and labeled every member in the Portland Church as “divisive.” Implied by the gathering of so many signatures was the question, “Can 85 brothers be wrong and one man be right?” As with Caleb’s and Joshua’s “minority report,” as well as with Elijah’s challenge to the 450 prophets of Baal, often in the Scriptures only “the few” are on the narrow path. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Cory Blackwell, our South Central Region Leader, has been given the charge to evangelize the Middle East! After joining the movement, he’s baptized his son CJ and daughter Avrie!

Between these two letters, the Portland leadership penned our response – Our Concern For All The Churches. Yet, a little less than a year later in September 2006, everything came to head when Kyle & Joan Bartholomew, asked Elena & me to disciple them and their congregation in Hilo, Hawaii. Evangelists and elders of what was left of the ICOC traveled hundreds of miles to publically oppose my preaching and teaching during a three day workshop on discipling for the little Hilo, Hawaii Church. So after praying for two weeks about this final rejection of the truth, by October 2006, it was clear to me and to the remnant who moved to Portland that the Spirit had begun a revival movement out of the ICOC similar to the Boston Movement coming out of the Mainline Churches of Christ over 25 years earlier. Some called us the “Portland Movement,” but ironically our detractors mockingly named us the “SoldOut Movement,” because of our strong preaching against lukewarmness and our call to be “sold-out” for the Lord. (Matthew 13:44-46)
Almost daily, I am asked, “What are the differences between the ICOC and the ICC?” The simple answer is that from 1979 to 2001, the Boston Movement (ICOC) and the present-day SoldOut Movement (ICC) have almost exactly the same core Biblical convictions. (Prayerfully, one key difference in God’s new movement – since we have been greatly humbled by God – is that we make decisions with much more prayer, mercy and grace.) Interestingly, for most current ICOC members upon visiting an ICC Church, the differences in love and commitment are so apparent between the two fellowships that almost always the “visiting disciple” says, “Now this is the church I was baptized in!” The following are the five Biblical differences:

Jeremy Ciaramella, Rob Onekea and Ron Harding have built the Global Internet Ministries of the SoldOut Movement! Hundreds have joined God’s movement after first reading about His miracles on different church websites! Last year, Tim Kernan was appointed a Cyber- Evangelist and now oversees the WebDeacons for each congregation!

1. A Bible Church vs. A New Testament Church The Mainline Church of Christ is an off-shoot of the Restoration Movement begun in the United States in the early 1800’s by Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone to name a few. Their plea was to “restore the New Testament Church.” Therefore, they believed that though the Old Testament was divinely inspired and historically accurate, only the New Testament would be their sole rule of faith and practice in deciding matters of doctrine including ecclesiastical structure. This is now the conviction of the most influential leaders in the ICOC.
However, we in the ICC believe like Paul who wrote in late 66 AD – some 35 years after the beginning of the church, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Technically speaking, the word “Scripture” in this passage refers to only the Old Testament. Now, through the inspiration of the Spirit, we believe that it applies as well to the New Testament. Though we believe “the Law” is no longer binding (Colossians 2:13-14), the Scriptural concepts in the Old Testament such as “calling out the remnant,” “dating and marrying only disciples,” and “a central leader and leadership for God’s movement” are in the New Testament, yet the Old Testament is much richer in its depth on these vital issues. Also, the “Jethro Principle” of leadership in Exodus18 allows us to lead and take care of thousands of God’s precious people. Therefore, we believe we are commanded by God to build congregations based on both the Old and New Testaments – a “Bible Church,” not simply a “New Testament Church.”

Tim & Lianne Kernan will return to the “City of Light” in August to lead this Crown of Thorns Church planting!

2. Interpretation of Scripture Thomas Campbell is credited with the “interpretation of Scripture” for the Restoration Movement. The Mainline Churches of Christ and the most influential leaders of the ICOC now share Campbell’s mode of interpretation: “Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.” In other words, there must be “a command, example or an inference” in order for a practice to exist in the church. For example, the Mainline Church of Christ only has non-instrumental services and they believe only men can baptize men and women, because these are the only “examples” in the New Testament. Though the ICOC is mixed in these practices, at the 2002 Long Beach Unity Meeting, there was a call to eliminate World Sector Leaders, Lead Evangelists, and Women’s Ministry Leaders, because these “titles” could not be found in the New Testament. Thus they were deemed “unbiblical.”
As for the interpretation of Scripture, I and the ICC believe the opposite of Campbell: “Be silent where the Bible speaks and speak where the Bible is silent.” In other words, we are free to practice or name something as long as it does not contradict the Scriptures. (Genesis 2:19; 1 Corinthians 10:23) We are more than comfortable with the terms and practices of Lead Evangelists, Women’s Ministry Leaders, and the authority of our Central Leadership Council over all of the SoldOut Movement churches. Let us not forget, the word “Bible” is not in the Bible, but we believe it is of God!

Oleg & Aliona Sirotkin will be moving from Kiev to LA in June to initiate their training to plant the Crown of Thorns Church in Moscow!

3. Discipling is a command of God and not optional. After a person is baptized, Jesus commands that the new convert be “taught to obey everything [He had] commanded.” (Matthew 28:19-20) This is discipling! Discipling is detailed in the “one another” passages: “love one another,” “instruct one another,” “confess your sins to each other,” “pray for each other,” etc. In our modern world with such busy schedules in such an individualistic and highly structured society, we have found that the only way to guarantee that every member in our congregations is being discipled is to have structured discipling – discipleship partners. The dynamic in this relationship begins as a teacher/student relationship, and then matures to a more adult/adult relationship. Also, every member in each of our congregations is organized into Bible Talks – our practical implementation of following the example of Jesus evangelizing with His apostles.

Michael & Michele Williamson at their send-off party to lead the Crown of Thorns Church in London!

4. A Central Leadership with a Central Leader vs. Autonomous congregations Throughout the Bible, the Israelites were at their strongest with the Lord when they had a central leader: Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David. As a matter of fact, the book of Judges says of those days when they did not, “Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” (Judges 21:25) In the New Testament, Jesus is the leader of “the Movement!” Uniquely, when He ascends to Heaven, Peter takes on this responsibility as “the apostle to the Jews” since for the first seven years of Christianity only Jews became Christians. Interestingly, after Paul became “the apostle to the Gentiles,” the leadership of the movement by Acts 15 had passed to Jesus’ oldest half brother James. At the Jerusalem Council, James, after listening to both sides of the circumcision issue, gives his singular authoritative “judgment” which is then bound on all the churches. (Acts 15:19-24) Even Paul after his missionary journeys reports to James and submits to his direction. (Acts 21:24) The Mainline Church of Christ and the ICOC do not believe in an authoritative central leader or leadership. Sadly, autonomous churches only produce autonomous disciples. In fact, in 2005, some of the most influential ICOC leaders came to me and begged me to be on a “team of leaders” if I would only say that autonomy was “a matter of opinion.” I said, “No. It is sin.” Since I disagreed with them, I was labeled “divisive” which is what Jesus understood would happen if you preach the truth. (Luke 12:51-53)

Matt & Helen Sullivan – the leaders of the Orlando Mission Team – after winning the costume contest at our 70’s Marrieds Valentines Dinner and Dance!

5. The dream of the evangelization of the nations in THIS generation. This vision to change the world was rejected, because many ICOC teachers wrongly concluded that this was one of the primary reasons for bitterness in the ICOC. Biblically, God’s church in the Book of Acts is portrayed as a movement – “the Word of God continued to increase and spread.” (Acts 12:24) Implied in this passage is the numeric “increase” of disciples and the geographic “spread” of the movement. Jesus’ vision for His church was to go “from Jerusalem, to all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Thirty-some years later in 61 AD Paul writes, “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing… This is the gospel that you heard and has been proclaimed to every creature under Heaven.” (Colossians 1:6, 23) If the world was evangelized in the first century, certainly, we can do it again in the twenty-first century!
Since these five changes were never formally announced in the ICOC – thus in my opinion deceitfully and sinfully implemented – many in the ICOC became confused. (2 Corinthians 11:2-4) Therefore, some individual disciples in the ICOC churches still believe one or all of these five distinguishing Biblical convictions, because these were the principles that I taught “everywhere in every church” while I served the Lord by leading the ICOC. (1 Corinthians 4:15-17) Three things prove the truth and magnitude of these Biblical differences:
1. Almost every ICOC church changed their name. Recently, in the City of Angels International Christian Church, Courtney Irwin married Joel Parlour. With her “status” dramatically changed from single to married, she is now called Courtney Parlour! In the aftermath of the 2002 Long Beach Unity Meeting and the Kriete Letter, almost every congregation of the ICOC changed their name to signal a change in doctrine. For example the Chicago International Church of Christ became the Chicago Church of Christ. This evidences the undeniable reality of the return to Mainline Church of Christ theology by the ICOC.
2. An all pervasive lukewarmness continues in the ICOC congregations, because of no or optional discipling. Most of the key leaders of the ICOC want to “divorce” themselves from the five distinguishing doctrines of the Boston Movement and meld with the Mainline Church of Christ. For example in Porto Alegre, Brazil, this once dynamic church had declined and lost its distinctiveness so much so that members were told to disband and go to the local Mainline Church of Christ. Without discipling, is it any wonder that divorces are now common in the ICOC, when at one time they were extremely rare? I believe that “marriage discipling” in the ICC will once again make divorce extremely infrequent and only for Biblical reasons. (Matthew 19:9)

Ricky & Coleen Challinor – one of the most fruitful young ministry couples in the movement – will lead the Portland Church beginning this summer! Ricky will be appointed an Evangelist and Coleen will be appointed will be appointed a Women’s Ministry Leader at the 2012 Global Leadership Conference!

3. A monumental reduction in the number of disciples in every ICOC congregation around the world after the Kriete Letter. In Portland, the church went from around 300 members in January 2003 to just 25 at mid-weeks by the time that Elena and I arrived in the summer of 2003. Another “proof” of the destruction by the return to the Mainline Church of Christ theology of autonomy is that several ICOC churches had their regions become autonomous. For example, there are now six different “ICOC churches” in London; seven former ICOC churches in Los Angeles, and 12 different congregations with ICOC roots in Atlanta. Lastly, there has been a severe reduction in the number of nations in which the ICOC has a presence and in the past ten years only a handful of church plantings by the ICOC have occurred around the world.
Essential to grasp: no longer can one generalize and say an “ICOC member” believes this or that. Some still sincerely and fiercely believe the five or at least a few of the distinguishing Biblical doctrines exactly as I taught in the Boston Movement from 1979 to 2001 and presently teach in the SoldOut Movement. However, all are fully aware that “something has changed.” Paul’s words to the Corinthians are my words as “the father of faith” to the ICOC, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you the one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be lead astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:2-5)

Married last summer, Mike & Brittany Underhill are the Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader for the dynamic Chicago Church! This summer, they will lead the planting to San Francisco – one of three 2012 Samaritan Project plantings!

Let me be clear, I believe there are still thousands of faithful disciples in the ICOC, though no longer are the ICOC congregations composed of only “totally committed” disciples with a “sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Consequently, without a dream to change the world, without Jesus’ plan of multiplying disciples through discipling, and without a central leadership to guide the movement making difficult but unifying “judgments,” the world cannot be evangelized through the ICOC. The ICOC is no longer a unified movement that is expanding numerically and geographically, but merely a loose fellowship of autonomous churches with various standards of commitment even within each congregation.
Today, in God’s SoldOut Movement our prayers are being answered that “the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1) As well today, the City of Angels International Christian Church celebrates the Fifth Anniversary of its planting! The Holy Spirit sent 42 sold-out disciples from Portland to LA in May of 2007. In just five years, we have over 900 at Sunday services, a weekly contribution of over $25,000, and daily additions! (Acts 2:47) During this short span, the Spirit has sent out 125 of our most mature disciples to plant six churches: Honolulu (2008), New York City (2008), Portland (2009), San Diego (2010), London (2010), and Sao Paulo (2011).

Like family to Kip & Elena are Michael & Sharon Kirchner, a Shepherding Couple for the City of Angels Church and the movement! Michael also serves the Lord as the Administrator for all the SoldOut Movement churches!

Globally, in five years, the SoldOut Movement is not merely adding but multiplying daily, as the Lord has established through plantings and the gathering of remnant groups some 40 churches in 19 nations! Excitingly, this summer new SoldOut Discipling Movement churches will be planted in Boston, Mexico City, Orlando, Paris and San Francisco! With so many being saved around the world, the truth seeker will joyfully acknowledge that this is not a movement of men, but a movement of God!

The valiant leaders of the Crown of Thorns Church in Sao Paulo – Raul & Lynda Moreno and Tyler & Shay Sears!

Again, let me be clear, there will be a few ICOC churches that will grow and have “lots of baptisms,” but this has occurred for years in the dying Mainline Churches of Christ. However, a few “with it” congregations will not build a movement to change the world. Paul in 1 Timothy 2:3-4 teaches, “God our Savior… wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God’s will is for “all men to be saved.” Is God’s will, your will? If it is, then it is imperative that you are in a movement of disciples that has Jesus’ dream of world evangelism, not in an autonomous congregation.
My daily prayer is that every confused disciple will prayerfully study the Scriptures to “discern what is best” and Biblically correct. Then courageously act upon these convictions by joining God’s new movement! The Apostle John challenged everyone who believed in Jesus and in His first century movement, but did not have the purity of heart to join, when he wrote, “Because of the Pharisees ‘they’ would not confess their faith for fear ‘they’ would be put out of the synagogue – [disfellowshipped]; for ‘they’ loved the praise from men more than praise from God.”(John 12:42-43)

The Willis Family – Joe, Kerry, Ally and Luke – recently arrived from their homeland of Australia to LA to begin their training to plant the Crown of Thorns Church in Sydney!

In short, to be in God’s new SoldOut Movement one must be sold-out, even to the point of choosing God over relationships that were once of God. (Luke 14:25-26) God’s grace and mercy allowed the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land on “their second try,” and likewise, I believe that for the faithful remnant, on “our second try” that God’s Spirit will propel His new movement into all nations in THIS generation! And to God be all the glory!
Kip McKean

The amazing cast of The Crossmaker directed by our AMS Region Leader – Chris Chloupek!

The Easter Sunday Celebration Service of the City of Angels Church can be summed up in one word – “hot!” With an attendance of 864, the fellowship and the singing were electric! Included in the service was the AMS Region’s presentation of the moving play entitled, The Crossmaker – which so fittingly for Easter, glorifies the resurrection of Jesus Christ. During this momentous day, the Lord added 11 to our number – seven baptisms, two place memberships from our former fellowship, and two restorations – one of whom was Nivan Bhalla, a former Evangelist in India and Pakistan! Very excitingly, with a challenging goal of $334,000 for our Missions Contribution, the Lord blessed us as $374,956 was joyfully sacrificed to help plant five more SoldOut Movement Churches this summer – Boston, Orlando, San Francisco, Mexico City and Paris!

God desires and demands “wholehearted devotion” from His people. (1 Kings 8:23) Jesus reiterates this total commitment when asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus answers quoting from the Book of Deuteronomy, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:28-30) At another time, Jesus explains that “the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44) This “sold-out” commitment does not “pay” for our salvation, but it is God’s gracious condition for us to be received into His presence as His “treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 26:16-18)

This same call echoes in the first century church, as on the very first day of its creation all 3,000 “members” “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42) In fact, at the height of persecution during Domitian’s reign in the late first century, Jesus admonishes disciples, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) God’s people – physical Israel in the Old Testament and “spiritual Israel” (the church) in the New Testament – are called to a singular devotion in a “covenant of love” – “hot” with zeal for His purposes.

Kiana, who is in our sister church in Phoenix, traveled to LA to baptize her sister Olivia! Only as a unified movement are we able to help family members in other cities become baptized disciples!

Sadly, America has plunged into a post-Christian era. In fact, “For the first time in Gallup’s tracking of the issue, a majority of Americans (53%) believe same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages.” (Gallup Politics) On the website Californiality is another shocking revelation, “The California divorce rate is now at a staggering 75 percent. Three out of four marriages in the Golden State end in divorce… The marriage breakup of former First Couple Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, the marital split of superstar couple Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, the Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries breakup, the Katy Perry and Russell Brand divorce drama, and the sad split of Seal and Heidi Klum are well-publicized examples of marriages on the rocks.” Of the utmost concern, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 34,598 deaths. The overall rate was 11.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 people. An estimated 11 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death.”

What has been the “Christian church’s” response to this escalating darkness? Today, “churches” embrace homosexual ministers, perform gay marriages, and cover-up the sexual abuse of children by their priests. The darkness of the world has “leavened” the church – eroding Biblical convictions. There is no call from the pulpits for obedience to the standard of absolute truth – the Bible – to rescue marriages and families, let alone to give answers for those whose life is hopeless and in despair.

Nivan, a former Evangelist in India and Pakistan, was restored and his dear mother Moni placed membership at our Easter Sunday Celebration!

“Traditional churches” such as the Mainline Church of Christ are losing members. In fact, according to The Christian Chronicle, the International Newspaper for Churches of Christ, “Since 2003, Churches of Christ have lost more than 102,000 adherents – more people than the number that attended this year’s Super Bowl. Their 2012 Directory also counts 708 fewer Churches of Christ than it did nine years ago.”

For many so-called “Christians,” they have found a home in “community churches.” Some choose these churches by the relative proximity to their homes. Others are mesmerized by a church band or entertained by the church choir, both of which sadly cover up for the lack of heart in congregational singing. The concept of a community church is foreign to the teachings of Jesus, who called God’s people to be “the light of the [entire] world” – not just the local community. (Matthew 5:14) The core concept of community churches is simply to “meet the needs” of each of its members while often preaching a “prosperity gospel.” This is the complete antithesis of Jesus’ radical call to change the world by surrendering comfort and riches. (Luke 14:33) Deceived and enticed, many find the community church to be “better” than the “traditional church” they left or were raised in. Yet, in actuality, it’s simply a matter of “degrees of lukewarmness!”

In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea as “lukewarm.” Interestingly, the statement “lukewarm – neither hot nor cold” has an historical background. In Hierapolis, just six miles north of Laodicea, were mineral “hot” springs. Colossae, about 11 miles east, was known for its “cold” pure waters. Yet, Laodicea’s water came from a spring five miles to the south which arrived through Roman aqueducts only “lukewarm.”

The Lord blessed the AMS Region with three baptisms – Alexys, Shannon and Ivan!

The much admired Pulpit Commentary’s “take” on Jesus’ words, “So, because you are lukewarm… I am about to spit you out of my mouth” is: “The distaste and nausea produced by lukewarm food [or drink], which the stomach naturally rejects with loathing, are used as a figure of speech in which to express the abhorrence of Christ for those who lacked zeal in His service.” The vision of the lukewarm church given to John was of Jesus standing at the door and knocking. In other words, the Spirit was not in the church! As a matter of fact, the church – with its door closed – was stopping Him from getting in!

Two questions arise: Why is Jesus so angry at lukewarm Christians? Secondly, why don’t the lukewarm change? The answer to the first question is actually quite simple: The word “jealous” and “zealous” are one in the same in the Old Testament Hebrew texts. As a man would be upset with the adultery of his wife, so God is upset at Christians who are less than totally faithful to Him. (Ezekiel 16:1-32) Amazingly, as Hosea once again loved Gomer, God will accept us back because of His grace and mercy, if we would just “repent.” However, Jesus says, the lukewarm don’t repent because they say, “‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’” Jesus then confronts their apathetic numbness, “But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17) A lukewarm Christian [or church] “feels” that they are “doing fine spiritually” or they are falsely convinced that they are “on the verge of changing” to become “hot.” But the often infuriating truth to them is that they remain nauseous to Jesus.

Many are alarmed when a congregation or a whole fellowship is “labeled” as “lukewarm.” Yet Jesus calls the whole Laodicean Church “lukewarm.” Interestingly, in His address to the Sardis Church, He says, “I know your deeds; you have the reputation of being alive but you’re dead.” However, after calling the church dead, He says, “Yet,  you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me dressed in white, for they are worthy.” (Revelation 3:4) So Jesus recognizes that in a dead church or a lukewarm church, there are still “a few” who are sold-out disciples that are saved.

Some question, “Why can’t we all be united and work together?” The best parallel comes from 2 Chronicles 36 when God scatters and exiles Judah because “there was no remedy.” (2 Chronicles 36:16) In other words, “His people” were so calloused by their cancerous sins, God had to start again. Some in lukewarm churches, may see their leaders as “wholeheartedly devoted” to God, yet lukewarm churches exist because leaders are either cowardly about the consequences of preaching the Word and the Biblical call to obedience, or they are sentimental as they place relationships above Jesus’ call “to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) This failure is their lukewarmness.

Kacie drove across the country to enable Kayla to place membership!

Conversely, more and more people are being baptized, restored and placing membership in the SoldOut Movement Churches around the world. Of special note is the forming of a Paris Remnant Group by two former full-time ministry couples in Paris – Guillaume & Stephanie Bellamy and Philippe & Prisca Scheidecker. Also exciting is the forming of a group of disciples coming out of our former fellowship in the Antelope Valley some 70 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Presently, they number 20… and counting! Each of these “remnant disciples” have visited the City of Angels Church and said in one manner or another, “This is the church I was baptized in!”

Revival is desperately needed in America and indeed worldwide! To have revival, there must be courageous, Spirit-filled leadership! Having personally attended Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Mainline Church of Christ “seminary” – Harding Graduate School of Religion – though these institutions are genuinely helpful in understanding the Greek and Hebrew texts of the Bible, their graduates produce little “fruit of disciples.” This is not surprising as their graduates “now fully trained, will be like [their] teachers.” (Luke 6:40) Sadly, these once idealistic young people upon graduation simply receive “degrees of lukewarmness.”

To bring a passionate fire to the training of Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders who can effectively build multiplying ministries, there must be a walking with an “expert builder,” as well as formal schooling in the Bible. (1 Corinthians 3:10) Therefore, it is with great joy that we are formally announcing the founding of the International College of Christian Ministries. Awarded will be Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in Ministry upon the appointment of Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders in the SoldOut Movement. We will also confer a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Ministry after the fulfillment of these requirements: 1) Completion of a specified reading list; 2) Either the acquiring of a second language for mission work or one academic year of studying Greek or Hebrew in a university; and 3) The writing of a thesis which will be approved by the Central Leadership Council.

My heartfelt plea is for disciples anywhere and everywhere – whether in the Mainline Churches of Christ, conservative Christian Churches, the International Churches of Christ, those who have drifted into denominational churches, or even fall-aways: Let the Spirit gather us together as one in God’s new movement. Let us be unified by being “consumed with [a fiery, hot] zeal for our Father’s house” (John 2:17) and “loving one another deeply from the heart.” (1 Peter 1:22)  Then and only then, will we become “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” distinct from the world and worldly churches with various degrees of lukewarmness. (1 Peter 2:9) And to God be all the glory!

Kip McKean

(Mike & Brittany Underhill, who humbly serve as the Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader of the dynamic Chicago Church, are the San Francisco Mission Team Leaders. They are very dear friends to Elena & me. Though they are a young couple who was married less than a year ago, they are held in high esteem for their work’s sake by the entire SoldOut Movement. KM)

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:4

Mike and Brittany Underhill - The San Francisco Bay Mission Team Leaders!

God has set His eyes on one of the most beautiful cities in the world – San Francisco. This “Paris of the West” has always been about the heart with songs written about it such as: I Left My Heart In San Francisco sung by Tony Bennett; Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding; Welcome To Paradise by Green Day; Save Me, San Francisco by Train, and of course, one of the hippie movement’s anthem songs – If You’re Going To San Francisco, which inspired thousands to move to San Francisco in the late ’60′s. Hauntingly, another lesser known song that is inspiring to the whole San Francisco Mission Team is by American Music Band, All The Lost Souls Welcome You To San Francisco! With that song in mind, there are almost eight million lost souls in this amazing world city who prayerfully will “welcome [the mission team] to San Francisco!”

Wasiq, who is from a Muslim background, enters into the Kingdom through prayer and the discipling of the East Region brothers!

The local band Train sings, Hey, Soul Sister, and I am so honored to be called by God to “the City by the Bay” with my new bride and “soul sister,” Brittany, along with about 30 sold-out disciples – primarily from our sister churches in Chicago and LA. In August after the Global Leadership Conference, we will begin to lay the foundation for an awesome discipling church – the San Francisco Bay International Christian Church! Lord willing, the official Inaugural Service will be September 23, 2012!

Last week, my wife and I travelled to San Francisco from LA with Chris and Theresa Broom to tour the city with Kip and Elena McKean. It was a two-and-a-half day trip filled with some of the most glorious memories of my life… so far! We began by traveling up the coast from Los Angeles with the Brooms, twisting down roads overlooking the Pacific Ocean while driving (safely) along the edge of cliffs a thousand feet high on one side and waterfalls on the other! Late that night, we arrived in San Francisco – a city beaming with lights, but especially noticeable was the lighthouse flashing from Alcatraz Island! We settled down for the night looking forward to the next morning when we would meet up with Kip and Elena to scout out the San Francisco Bay Area!

Victor and Sara immediately after her baptism in the ocean at Huntington Beach! Excitingly, Victor & Sonia Gonzalez have now seen all ten of their children baptized into Christ!

Day one began when we arrived at the Marine Memorial Hotel in Union Square where the McKeans were waiting for us. Kip had his Bible and maps for all of us in hand. He read Joshua 1:3-6, our theme Scripture and activity for the day, “The Lord said, ‘I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. …No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous.’” We prayed arm-in-arm together in a circle in the heart of the city and set our feet there (actually, we stomped our feet!) claiming San Francisco for God! We then jumped into the van and traveled south towards our first stop – Palo Alto. While driving, Brittany and I were gaining a new and profound respect for that area, seeing the office buildings of such major companies as Apple, eBay, Google, Intel and Yahoo in the fabled Silicon Valley. When we arrived in Palo Alto, we parked at Stanford University – considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world. After a lengthy walk through the breath-taking campus – each of us sensing our IQ raising 30 points – we again prayed arm-in-arm together stomping our feet to claim “The Farm” for our Lord!

Irene, baptized just a few months ago, baptizes her younger “teen” sister Engracia!

From there we found “the way to San Jose” (as the song goes) and were amazed as we came to San Jose State with over 32,000 students and boasting “more graduates that work in Silicon Valley than any other school in the nation.” Of course we set our feet there and prayed believing that these future converts would really help the contribution! Next, we went to the city of Oakland. As it was beginning to rain, we prayed rather quickly for “Raider Nation,” again setting our feet, as we were so fired-up that God was allowing us to claim this incredible land!

After that, we traveled a short distance to “UC Berkeley,” the number one public university in the country! It was incredible driving through the hills of the campus, as our GPS was constantly getting rerouted! Excitingly, UC Berkeley is 46% Asian, a gateway to evangelizing Asia! Finally, we crossed the Richmond Bridge in a Bay Area downpour and made it to Sausalito to claim that little vacation paradise for God, as well. We finished off the trip driving through the icon symbolizing the impossible dream, the Golden Gate Bridge, which overlooks downtown San Francisco. After seeing how powerful and diverse each community was and how huge the need is for the 588,000 students in this amazing metropolitan area, San Francisco had more than lived up to all the aforementioned songs! …That night my wife and I felt “the desires of [our] hearts” beginning to take root there!

Congratulations to Joel & Courtney Parlour!

Day two, Kip and Elena had us focus on downtown San Francisco. So, we headed to Japantown and Golden Gate Park. In Japantown, Brittany prayed for the area and, with Japanese buildings and culture in every direction we looked, we had a deeper sense of San Francisco’s role as the gateway for Asia. We then arrived at Golden Gate Park and LOVED IT! We were surprised to find out that this gorgeous park nestled in this sprawling urban city rivals New York City’s Central Park and is actually 20% LARGER, which for me was mind-blowing since I lived in New York City a couple of years ago! In this flower laden park, we noticed the contrasting palms and pines, so symbolic of San Francisco’s phenomenal diversity.

Next, we stopped in the Castro District and prayed there, setting our feet to claim that area. This is one of the most prominent gay communities in the U.S. with a huge rainbow flag flying in this district’s center on this windy day. For us, we saw the rainbow as its true symbol, God’s love for mankind after the flood in the days of Noah (Genesis 7) and the evangelization of all nations. Then, we drove to the waterfront, prayed and set our feet at the Ferry Building on Embarcadero Street. We went next to Fisherman’s Wharf, a magnet for tourists from all over the globe, and enjoyed some delicious clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls and prayed for this area where we set our feet.

Martin is baptized through the hard labor of the brothers in the Latin Sector of the OC Region!

Following lunch, we hopped aboard a trademark San Francisco cable car traveling up Hyde Street and stopped at Lombard Street – “the crookedest street in the world!” After we quickly enjoyed the view and Brittany and Theresa ran up and down the steep road for some fun, we prayed and set our feet there! In the late afternoon, we journeyed to San Francisco State University (SFSU), a pristine campus of over 30,000 students, “to spy out the land” that perhaps my wife and I would personally live near. To punctuate that God wanted us to come to San Francisco and to live near to SFSU, Theresa, after we’d gotten lost on campus, reached out to a young man for directions. He is very open, is very anxious for our return to study the Bible, and his name is “Francisco!” Now knowing this was going to be our home area, we prayed at two different spots at SFSU, the final one being perched on top of the student union overlooking the entire campus. Lastly, we finished in historic Chinatown praying that God would not bring Big Trouble In Little China, but great fruit as we set our feet there!

The Santa Monica College brothers are building God’s temple, the church, with “costly stones” as they baptized “Emerald” into Christ!

In 1906, a devastating 7.9 Richter Scale earthquake hit San Francisco! This summer, San Francisco will shake again! Paraphrasing Haggai’s prophesy, “The Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while, I will once more shake… the earth… I will shake [the Bay Area] and the desired of [the Bay Area] will come, and I will fill this [church] with glory!’” (Haggai 2:6-7) As the fog horns cry out through this City by the Bay, there is a cry from God to join or rejoin His movement. God is calling every fall-away who has become silent because he has turned from God, every remnant couple looking for a spiritual lighthouse in the Bay Area, and every disciple within God’s modern day movement with the love of San Francisco on their heart! Therefore, I beg you on behalf of All The Lost Souls in San Francisco please join us in our dream to evangelize this spectacular city! (Call me or email me for more information!)

It’s awesome to be back in Chicago! The church is cranking! We’ve seen many miracles this past month: baptisms, restorations, and $18,000 raised in only five days of “tagging” (asking people in cars for donations). But for me, I’ll never be the same. Chris Broom called me up after the trip and told me I left something in San Francisco. At first I felt some anxiety since I left my wallet in LA at the home one of the future San Francisco Shepherding Couples, Gary & Cindy Ochs, before my trip to San Francisco. Then I laughed when I finally understood Chris’ point… Tony Bennett’s voice continues to echoe in my mind: I left my heart in San Francisco! High on a hill, it calls to me. To be where cable cars climb halfway to the stars. The morning fog may chill the air, I don’t care. My love waits there in San Francisco. And to those singing Save Me, San Francisco for the glory of God, we’re going to build a church that will make San Francisco truly a city of salvation worth singing about!

Mike Underhill
(213) 268-1231
Mike(at)usd21.org

Guest Editorial – Helen Sullivan

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”  2 Corinthians 1:20

Elena and the speakers for the English Women’s Day – Coleen, Kristin, Sonja and Therese!

What an incredible Women’s Day! When asked what was personally the most impacting, the women responded… “The gathering and sharing of women speakers always causes a great time of reflection. The event also allows me another opportunity to be closer to my daughter who invited me.” “The courage of the women and their vulnerability touched my heart. Also the interpretive dance moved me deeply. Thank you.” “Sonja was brilliantly used by God. Truly, an amazing day!”

With 270 sisters in the City of Angels Church, we had a total of 726 women who came out to Women’s Day – 557 attended the English Women’s Day and 169 participated in the Latin (Spanish-speaking) Women’s Day! Although the events took place on March 3rd and March 10th, respectively, the preparation started much earlier! In December, the sisters – powerfully led by Elena – began to discuss the possible themes and most importantly, committed to pray daily for this special conference specifically designed to move women’s hearts. We agreed to keep everything simple! Once January hit, we began calling everyone we knew – family, friends and acquaintances – to invite them to attend. During Staff Meetings every Tuesday morning, the women gathered separately from the men in order to spend time planning and praying, as well as listening to inspiring lessons about loving women, reaching out to them, and winning them to Christ.

Theresa Broom did an excellent job in directing the Latin Women’s Day and Helen Sullivan delivered an extraordinary keynote address on “La Promesa!”

On the morning of March 3rd, walking into the Downtown Los Angeles Sheraton Hotel was amazing! The look was simple yet elegant – 50 tables with white and red table cloths, red rose center pieces, and many rows of chairs in front of the stage. With the room completely full, Elena and Prisca Scheidecker, who was visiting from Paris and is part of the new remnant group there, welcomed everyone and taught us how to give a warm “French greeting,” which consists of a “holy kiss” on each cheek! (Romans 16:16) Together they introduced our theme of The Promise based on 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.”

After the opening prayer, we enjoyed a time of fellowship and a delicious continental breakfast. Then, Thea Beach sang the soothing theme song The Promise – an adapted version by Tracy Chapman. With softened hearts, four amazing women shared their powerful testimonies collectively entitled, Living Out The Promises. Lianne Kernan, who along with her husband Tim Kernan will be leading the Paris Mission Team this August, spoke about The Promise Of Strength. Kristin Anderson – who is from our sister church in Phoenix – works for FOX 10 News as their morning anchor. Kristin did a marvelous job sharing about the most difficult times in her life, and how when she became a Christian, God gave her The Promise Of Peace. Coleen Challinor and her mother, Theresa Untalan, spoke about The Promise of Love and The Promise of Healing, respectively. Both of them spoke candidly and vulnerably about what led them to seek God. Each woman in the audience could relate to something that was shared – whether it was the loss of hope, feeling unloved, sexual abuse, neglect, the lack of fulfillment of success or the devastation of marital unfaithfulness. Clearly, but gently proclaimed, is that God through His mercy and grace was the only way to heal the hurt and the pain.

So many mothers and daughters came together for the Women’s Day! Naveh’s mom joined us all the way from San Francisco!

After a short break, we enjoyed watching Set The World On Fire, an inspiring interpretive dance performance choreographed by Nathalie Moningka and performed by seven brothers and sisters. Then, my dear friend and sister Sonja Chloupek gave the inspiring and challenging keynote address – The Promise. Reading Luke 8:42-48, Sonja shared about the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. She highlighted the pain, discomfort, frustration and weakness this woman must have felt and how Jesus was the only one who could heal her. Then Sonja openly shared about her own life and the ways God had healed her. In closing, she asked the women what they were going to do. No matter what was going on in their lives presently, no matter what their situation was, they needed to make a decision to seek God, because He was the only one who could heal them. We ended the day watching the greatest miracle of all. Allison Stone, a single woman from the South Central Region, was baptized by the newest City of Angels Church’s Woman Regional Leader – Megan Mathews!

Coming for the Women’s Day, Prisca Scheidecker arrived from Paris to Los Angeles early in the morning at 1:20AM, and was greeted by 40 fired-up disciples!

Sunday morning came quickly! With over 800 people in attendance, Kip preached an incredible message entitled, In The Hand Of A Jealous God. Reading Ezekiel 16:1-19, we learned how God called His people from nothing and made them into an incredible nation, but then instead of trusting in God, they trusted in their beauty and their fame – the very beauty and fame that God had given them! This was their idolatry and remains so for many women today. Also, Kip reminded us that we should be consumed with the same intense zeal for God as Jesus when He entered the temple courts and scattered the animals and overturned the tables of the money changers! (John 2:13-17)

The Women’s Day was thoroughly enjoyed by all ages – Bridgette Martin’s mom Debra, Brandyn Speckman of Phoenix, and Lianne Kernan – who shared her testimony at this life-changing event!

The service concluded with six incredible baptisms: Kyle (South Region), Tamika (South Region), Ricky (Central Region), Jonathan (East Region), Wasiq (East Region), and Krystal (OC Region). In addition, three people placed membership: Rebecca – from the dynamic New York City Church, and David and Scott – from the mighty Phoenix Church. And of special note, the Spirit moved by bringing a group of 17 remnant disciples and their children to join us all the way from the Antelope Valley which is about 40 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles!

Although the weekend ended here, Women’s Day continued! On the following Saturday, under the leadership of Theresa Broom and aided by the sisters in the Latin Sector of the Orange County Region, we had an incredible Latin Women’s Day! The morning started with a light breakfast served in a courtyard at Cal State Fullerton. Then, we moved inside to the Titan Student Union Theater, where guests outnumbered the seats!

Stacy, Gloria and Lori travelled all the way from Orange County for the Women’s Day!

Theresa Broom shared in this week’s Good News Email, “The prayers of many were answered on Saturday morning, as God’s Word was preached powerfully in Spanish! …Sonia Gonzalez and her daughter Elizabeth shared vulnerably about overcoming through Christ the consequences of their abusive upbringings. Jessica Zepeda shared powerfully about being rescued from teenage alcoholism, which caused many tears to be shed! With hearts moved after listening to the testimonies, Nadari Hockenhull sang, Un Lugar Celestial (A Heavenly Place).”

The performers of the interpretive dance – Set The World On Fire!

“Helen Sullivan preached powerfully the keynote sermon about the emptiness of her life without God and how at one time she contemplated suicide, but now she trusts in God’s promises! Elida Flores (Lucy Mejia’s aunt) also preached passionately about her own hypocrisy and ‘discipleship light,’ as she had led a comfortable religious life for many years in Mexico without making any disciples. She challenged all the women to not be ‘wimpy cry-babies!’ Elida’s son, Alejandro, traveled from Mexico with his wife Juanita just to support Elida this weekend! Now Alejandro & Juanita have begun to study the Bible and learn about ‘true discipleship!’ Please pray for muchos bautismos por favor!”

Allison is baptized by the South Central sisters to conclude the Women’s Day!

As sisters, we are so grateful that the City of Angels Church – and in fact all of the SoldOut Movement Churches – believes in and supports Women’s Ministry! We are also grateful for the brothers’ incredible support and help, especially on the day of this momentous event. Sisters, let us all strengthen our convictions that no matter how desperate our situation, no matter how hopeless our feelings, all of God’s promises “are ‘Yes’ in Christ!” And to God be all the glory!

Helen Sullivan

Hirem, whose parents are Indian and Fijian, was baptized through the efforts of the disciples in the Fullerton Campus Ministry!

Since the City of Angels Church was planted by 42 disciples from Portland, Oregon on May 6, 2007, the Lord has blessed our prayers with an incredible harvest of souls! Our congregation is now having close to 800 on Sundays, a contribution of $25,000 per week, and God is adding “to our number daily” through baptisms, restorations and place memberships. (Acts 2:47)

Of special note, almost 125 disciples have been sent-out by the Spirit to plant churches in Honolulu (2008), New York (2008), Portland (2009), San Diego (2010), London (2010), and Sao Paulo (2011), as well as to strengthen churches in Chicago, Hilo, Kiev, Phoenix, Santiago, Syracuse, and Washington DC. Collectively, in less than five years, “the 42” have multiplied into over 1,500 disciples with a combined attendance nearing 2,500!

A few days ago as I was reading the book of Acts, I was reminded that prayer was of the highest priority to the disciples. Prayer moves God. In turn, our sovereign God moves and impacts men by His Spirit, His angels, His Word and His providence. This is how the early church grew so dynamically! Let the following prayers by our first century brothers inspire us by their ensuing impact, as well as serving as a pattern and upward call as we strive to build God’s church here in Los Angeles and around the world in this generation.

Ayana and Walt – physical and spiritual sister and brother – helped to bring to the Lord fellow Cal State Fullerton student, Pam!

Prayer: Acts 1:14 “[The apostles] all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
Impact: Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted [Peter’s] message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

Prayer: Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Impact: Acts 2:47 “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Prayer: Acts 3:1 “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon.”
Impact: Acts 4:4 “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”

The West Region sisters rejoice with Jordan immediately after her baptism!

Prayer: Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your Word with great boldness.”
Impact: Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.”

Prayer: Acts 6:3-4 “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.”
Impact: Acts 6:7 “So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

Steve and Alton both from Mainland China and in the UCLA Ministry are fired-up about another UCLA/Mainland China baptism – Sean! God is building the Hong Kong Crown of Thorns Mission Team!

Impact: Acts 8:4, 12 “Those who had been scattered [by the great persecution begun at Stephen’s death] preached the Word wherever they went… [Many] were baptized, both men and women.”

Prayer: Acts 9:13 “‘Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.’”
Impact: Acts 9:18 “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized…”

Prayer: Acts 10:4, 9 “[Cornelius], your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God… About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.”
Impact: Acts 10:24, 47-48 “Cornelius… called together his relatives and close friends. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Teri, who is from a Buddhist background, sought after God and in time the Central Region sisters made her into a disciple of Jesus and baptized her!

Prayer: Acts 12:5 “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
Impact: Acts 12:14, 16, 24 “When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, ‘Peter is at the door!’ …But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished… The Word of God continued to increase and spread.”

Prayer: Acts 13:3 “So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
Impact: Acts 13: 12, 49; 14:1, 21 “Immediately mist and darkness came over [the false prophet Elymas], and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord… The Word of the Lord spread through the whole region… At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed… They preached the good news in [Derbe] and won a large number of disciples.”

Austin baptizes Cody, his high school classmate and fellow track team member!

Prayer: Acts 16:13 “On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who were gathered there.

Impact: Acts 16:14-15 “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message… She and the members of her household were baptized.”

Prayer: Acts 16:25 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
Impact: Acts 16:33 “At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.”

Prayer: Acts 18:9-10 “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent… because I have many people in this city.’”

Impact: Acts 18:11 “So Paul stayed for a year and a half teaching them the Word of the Lord.”

The progress of the West Region’s Missions Fund-raising Drive will be recorded on a very creative graph designed by Kensey Perkins and Kristtina Javierre!

Prayer: Acts 20:36 “When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.”

Impact: Acts 21:13 “Paul answered, ‘I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’”

Prayer: Acts 23:11 “The following night, the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’”

Impact: Acts 28:30-31 “For two whole years, Paul stayed in [Rome] in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance, he preached the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Bianca, Petra, Morgan and Soraya – the newest AMS sisters – all of whom were baptized in the past two months!

The book of Acts chronicles the early church from the ascension of Christ in Acts 1 in approximately 30 AD to Paul’s imprisonment in Acts 28 around 60 AD. One of the letters Paul writes during this imprisonment was to the Colossian Church. He wrote, “We always thank God when we pray for you… [for] all over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it.” Clearly in the mind of Paul, prayer propelled and then sustained the evangelization of the world in the first century. So City of Angels Church, let us continue to fall on our knees, calling on the same Spirit to empower us to boldly preach Christ in all nations in the twenty-first century. And to God be the glory!

Kip McKean

The brothers of the South Region rejoice after Yogesh’s baptism! Yogesh is so looking forward to returning home to Chennai, India to preach the Word to his family and friends!

One of the most inspirational lives recorded in the Scriptures is John Mark. This is the same brother who writes the first widely accepted “Gospel of Jesus,” which is known to this day as the Book of Mark. His Hebrew name, John, would be translated, “Yohanan” which means grace. His Latin name was Marcus which probably indicates that he was a Roman citizen. Most likely, in his younger years, he was known primarily as “John Mark” to distinguish him from others who had the common Jewish name of John. Throughout his life, he was privileged to walk besides not only Jesus, but the most gallant preachers of the early church: Barnabas – the son of encouragement, Peter – the apostle to the Jews, and Paul – the apostle to the Gentiles.

The Coptic (Egyptian Orthodox) Church tradition, backed by Alfred Edershim’s extensively researched book The Life And Times Of Jesus The Messiah, holds that Jesus and His Twelve had their last Passover meal together in the “upper room” in the home of Mary and her husband, the parents of a teenage John Mark. (Mark 14:12-16) Most believe that John Mark was perhaps 14 or 15 years old. Some even connect the Passover’s “upper room” of Mark and Luke 22, to be one and the same “upper room” as Luke mentions in Acts 1-2, where the 120 gathered led by the Twelve after Jesus’ ascension. Here, they collectively receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Kyle & Joan Bartholomew and Jake & Jen Ramsier after Honolulu’s Winter Workshop Sunday Service where the McKeans were the guest speakers! The Bartholomews will be moving to LA this summer to train to lead the Manila Mission Team! After their departure, the Ramsiers will become the new Honolulu Church Leaders!

However, not one scholar doubts that we are “officially” first introduced to John Mark in his gospel when Judas – accompanied by the temple guards and “a crowd armed with swords and clubs” – has Jesus arrested. Only Mark of the four gospel evangelists records that after “everyone deserted [Jesus] and fled” that there was a “young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, [that] was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” This is Mark humbly introducing himself to his readers. His point is simply, if you leave Jesus, you have nothing. This is a lesson, he himself would learn years later.

In 42 AD, King Herod puts James the apostle to death. Immediately following, he arrests and imprisons Peter. All of the house churches throughout Jerusalem were praying for Peter’s release. (Acts 12:5) Upon being miraculously rescued by an angel, Peter goes “to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark.” (Acts 12:12) Seemingly, by this time, John Mark is about 25 years old and his father has passed away, some traditions say by martyrdom. Peter must have been a frequent visitor to the house, because even the servant girl Rhoda recognized his voice as he tried to gain entrance to the house church. From this passage, we can surmise that John Mark comes from a wealthy family as his home is a large two-story dwelling and his family has servants. (Luke 22:10; Acts 12:13) And yes, John Mark is what we would call a “Kingdom Kid!”

The costume winners of our 70’s Marrieds Valentines Dinner & Dance – Matt & Helen Sullivan!

From the epistles, we also learn that “Mark” is the cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10), and at some point becomes Peter’s son in the faith. (1 Peter 5:13) Mark must have been a young disciple of great promise because, “When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission [to bring relief funds to the Jerusalem Church – during which was Peter’s release from prison] they returned [to Antioch], taking with them John, also called Mark.” (Acts 12:25) So in 44 AD, Mark goes to be “an intern” in Antioch. Perhaps, about three years later in 47 AD, the Holy Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul from the other leaders of the Antioch Church for the first planned missionary journey. Luke simply records, “John was with them as their helper.” (Acts 13:5) This missionary journey began by sailing to Cyprus, Barnabas’ home nation, where they established churches in the cities of Salamis and Paphos. Amazingly in Paphos, despite strong opposition to the gospel from the wicked Elymas the sorcerer (ironically named Bar-Jesus – son of Jesus – but blinded and called “Bar-Devil” – son of the Devil – by Paul), the proconsul Sergius Paulus becomes a disciple! After these amazing events, Barnabas, Paul and John Mark sail on to what is in our modern world, the southern coast of central Turkey. During this second phase of the first missionary journey, the Galatian churches of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe would be planted! However, before Barnabas and Paul had begun to travel to the first Galatian city of Pisidian Antioch, when they docked at the coastal city of Perga, “John left them to return to Jerusalem.”

Capil, from Kathmandu, Nepal, was restored to Christ by Sarah and the South Region sisters!

This unexplained but unquestioned desertion from the mission of Jesus would be to John Mark’s shame for years to come. Having seen so many miracles and conversions in Cyprus, let alone all the answered prayers which included Peter’s release from prison, having been raised by awesome Christian parents, and even having been there at Jesus’ arrest and seeing Jesus’ courage was simply not enough to stop him from turning back. He lost his “first love” and his faith. What devastation to the church, as the man who was mentored to be “the next great preacher” was now labeled a coward and a failure.

A few years later shortly after the great Jerusalem Council in 49 AD, Paul and Barnabas wanted to revisit the churches they had planted in Cyprus and Galatia, thus beginning their second missionary journey. However, “Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him because he deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.” Afterwards, “Barnabas took Mark and sailed [home] to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left commended by the brothers.” (Acts 15:37-40) From my experience, I believe Paul was correct in his “hard-line stand” on who should be on a mission team. It seems that “the brothers” agreed with this, as only Paul not Barnabas was “commended” by them. However, Barnabas’s heart to disciple, heal, and “believe in” John Mark must now be vindicated, as by 61 AD, Mark is again ministering with and to Paul in his first imprisonment in Rome. (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24) Interestingly, a few years later in 64 AD, he is mentioned in Peter’s first epistle as a son in the faith to Peter himself and most likely, since he was highly educated coming from a rich family, he served as Peter’s amanuensis.

Eric was met by Kensey at their work where he serves as a scientist, who literally is working on the cure for cancer!

Evidently, the Roman disciples pleaded with John Mark to put in writing what Peter had taught them about his days of walking with Jesus. Most agree that the outline of this book was approved by Peter, but since Peter died in 67 AD, he did not see the “final product” of the Gospel bearing Mark’s name. Of note, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Eusebius, Tertullian and St. Jerome all signify that Peter was indeed the true author. This is the reason the Book of Mark is wholeheartedly accepted to be included in the New Testament canon is that in substance it was Peter’s Gospel, except for the description of Jesus’ arrest, as Mark was an eyewitness.

Later, during his second imprisonment in Rome when Paul is quite lonely and senses his impending martyrdom, he writes to Timothy, the “Lead Evangelist” in Ephesus in late 66 AD before his death in early 67 AD, that “only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he’s helpful to me in my ministry.” At the end of his life, Paul had his faithful friend Luke with him and desired only two other disciples to share his last days – his beloved Timothy and the now forgiven and much appreciated John Mark!

Stacy, who is from Taiwan, was baptized through the efforts of not only the OC sisters, but also Connie Goh of San Diego, because Stacy’s first language is Mandarin and Connie is from Shanghai!

Very few disciples can say they never failed the Lord. Failure and the shame that’s attached to it often discourage disciples to never strive to once again do great things for God. However, this would not be the epitaph of our brother John Mark. Not only does he pen the Gospel of Mark from which Matthew and Luke borrow heavily, early church history records that Mark travels to Alexandria, Egypt where he preaches the Word with incredible fervor that only grace can bring. In 70 AD, he confronts a pagan parade in honor of the god Serapis. The mob ruthlessly seizes this seasoned and steeled preacher now 55 years old, and ties him with ropes to the back of a chariot dragging him to pieces ending his earthly life. It is then that John Mark is welcomed into glory by our Savior Jesus who presents to him the victor’s “crown of righteousness,” and is joyfully received into Heaven’s hallowed fellowship with hugs from the giants of the faith who preceded him – Barnabas, Peter, Paul, his dad and his beloved mother Mary.

As a disciple that has woefully failed, John Mark is an inspiring upward call to me. I have learned from him how to overcome failure and the ensuing “deadly sin of acedia,” which usually manifests itself in lethargic depression and spiritual numbness. As with John Mark, when you fail the Lord, repent and accept God’s grace shedding all shame, draw close to strong disciples who desire to help you, believe that God will use you in even greater ways, and never, never, never, never look back, but only look forward to bringing “as many as possible” to Heaven. If we do this without self-pity, then we too will be welcomed into “our Father’s house” with the words, “Well done good and faithful servant. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21) And we too will be hugged by all the champions of the faith – including our brother John Mark! And to God be the glory!

Kip McKean

Elena & I are so encouraged to be serving in the South Central Region alongside Cory Blackwell and Megan Matthews. Our South Central Region BYND was incredible! Last January 2011, Cory started this ministry with just nine disciples, and on Sunday our now 52 disciples had 170 at church! Not only did we witness the powerful restoration of Abdul, the moving baptism of Hilda, the humble communion sharing by Megan, and enjoyed an incredible “international pot luck lunch,” but Cory delivered one of his very best messages of all time!

Cory shared very vulnerably about his life’s many valleys – both before and after becoming a disciple. He shared about the death of his brother, growing-up without a father, being “let go” from the NBA, his divorce from the mother of his four precious children, and wandering in a spiritual desert after the demise of our former fellowship. After each account Cory summarized his emotional and spiritual state with the phrase, “I was afraid and alone.” After leading us in a very stimulating Scripture study of King Asa, Cory shared that as he placed membership in the City of Angels Church in November 2010, he was restored to his “first love” for God. Then, after sharing in detail God’s many blessings on his physical family, his closing words were so profound, “So today, knowing I’m in the presence of my God and so encouraged by my spiritual family in South Central LA, I’m no longer ‘afraid and alone!’” Though most of us were in tears, we gave a standing ovation to Cory, but in actuality to our loving Father in heaven!

Now more refreshing good news from around the world…

Mike Underhill of Chicago: In John 17:23, Jesus prayed for His disciples, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Today at our Sunday service, we had a blow-out attendance of 311 – our highest attendance ever without a guest speaker – and saw miracles that come only from a united movement of God! First were visitors who were family members of disciples in our sister congregations. Our dear brother, from Honolulu, Paul Schaefle, encouraged his mother to attend service today in Chicago, and afterwards, she told the sisters here that she “loved it!” Iwona, from the South Region of LA, was visiting family here and brought her mother and younger brothers out to service today, and they too shared that they loved it! Also, a sister here had been praying to have an old friend come out to church. She asked her long-time friend in Phoenix to visit the Phoenix Church. Not only did her friend attend service in Phoenix, she brought her other friends as well! Also, a young woman named Lydia, who is originally from Portland, started studying the Bible here at Columbia University. It turns out she is childhood best friends with Ricky Challinor and Gordo Esparza of LA.

Lastly, an incredible young man with great talents in film, Dom, was baptized today! During his studies this week, he shared with his friend Marcus about his upcoming baptism, Lord willing, on Sunday. Dom’s friend Marcus shared about how his sister was just baptized in Los Angeles. After talking some more, they realized that Marcus’ sister was Morgan, who just became our sister in LA in the AMS Region last week! She had been urging him to go visit the Chicago Church and Marcus saw God’s hand working in amazing ways by placing Dom in his life. (Acts 17:26-27) He attended service today, saw Dom get baptized, and started studying the Bible immediately after service! Here in Chicago, we’re so grateful to be part of a unified movement that Jesus prayed for and gives us hope for everyone’s family and friends throughout the world!

Vic Gonzalez Jr.: Greetings from the church way down here in the Southern hemisphere – Santiago, Chile! God continues to bless us with more and more fruit! In the 42 weeks since the “supplemental mission team” arrived, our gracious Lord has blessed us with 54 baptisms! So far in 2012, God has blessed us with a Campus Ministry baptism, a Singles Ministry baptism, and a Marrieds Ministry baptism! Now that’s team work! To God be all the glory!

Lola Lof of Kinshasa: What a wonderful service today as we had a big time together with brothers and sisters in listening to a powerful sermon entitled, Victory Over Prideful Attitudes. This lesson helped all of us – disciples and visitors – take care of our heart more than anything else. We praise the Lord as 80 attended the service! The greatest good news is the restoration of an awesome couple: Jean-Claude & Henriette, who decided to come back to the Lord and serve Him with their whole heart! (Joshua 14:8) Keep us in your prayers!

Luke Speckman: Greetings from Phoenix, where temperatures got up to 80 degrees on this sunny winter day! Today, Vic Jr. of Santiago preached a powerful and convicting lesson to 200 people! So many people came up to him afterward and were very grateful, because it was just what they needed to hear! Our giving was great today, as we came in about $500 over budget, and we also collected about $3,000 for our Special Missions Contribution! It was great to have Vic & Aurora in town so that the church could meet them and see what we are giving our Special Missions to!

I am very excited about our Campus Ministry! We had 45 in attendance at our Campus Devotional on Friday, which is especially exciting considering we started last semester with only nine campus students! We had our first ASU student of the semester baptized today! Dale, a dynamic RA at the ASU Polytechnic Campus, had six of his residents witness his baptism at church today! They are all currently studying the Bible, and prayerfully, one or two of them will be baptized this next week! We are fired-up to bring in the harvest in Phoenix!

Blaise Feumba of London – the overseeing Evangelist for French-speaking Africa:Great news from Abidjan, Ivory Coast! The Abidjan Church had a baptism yesterday under an outpouring of rain from heaven! Our sister Adele was added to the Lord’s church and our Father blessed them with 145 in attendance! Pray for the speedy recovery of our brother Amadou, the preacher, who is presently sick.

Evan Bartholomew of San Diego: Sunday was all the more incredible as Liz, an awesome single woman, was baptized at the end of our service! There’s lots more to come here in San Diego!

Jeremiah Clark:Greetings from the Mighty Eugene Church! It has been a faith building couple of weeks for the Eugene Church. Last week, we were greatly inspired by Cory Blackwell at our annual Bible Talk Leaders Workshop, and this past Friday and Saturday, we had a much needed Leaders Retreat where we “laughed, cried and got unified”. On Sunday, we had an encouraging place membership with Jessie Owens from Portland, and, best of all, we also had an amazing teen baptism last week! We love you all and thank-you for your prayers!

Jay Hernandez of Hilo: Greetings from your brothers and sisters on the Big Island of Hawaii! God’s mercy and grace continue to shine here in Hawaii. This last week was an incredible week for the church here as we continue to pick-up momentum. On Friday and Saturday, we had our first 24 hour prayer chain for the church, begging God to mold us into workers and bring us fruit! In response, God has graciously given us more Bible studies and more visitors to church than ever, as we build toward our Bring Your Neighbor Day on Super Bowl Sunday. Two particular people stand out in our Bible studies. First there is Ken. He is from Thailand, and was met by Stefano and Marley. The first thing he came to was our New Year’s Workshop with Kip & Elena! He sat in the front row and he felt that Kip preached right to him! To say the least, he was blown away, and now is eagerly studying the Bible!

The second person is a single mom named Carolina. Stefano also met Carolina, but truly it was God reaching out to her. Stefano was sharing his faith in the mall when he got a phone number of a guy who said he wanted to study the Bible. A couple of days later, Stefano called the guy to set up the study, however, a woman answered the call. Stefano asked for the guy, but the woman on the other end of the phone told him he had the wrong number. He explained he was supposed to study the Bible with the guy, so he asked the woman if she would want to study the Bible. She said yes, as she actually had been wanting to go to church and to get closer to God! Stefano asked her if he could have one of the sisters call her and she said yes again. What makes this even cooler, is that Carolina was on the Island of Maui at the time, but was coming to live here on the Big Island! Now, Carolina is eagerly studying the Bible and should be baptized this week! God does “determine the times and places,” and people are wide open as our brother Chris Broom preached this last week! We love you with all of our hearts, pray for our BYND as we pray for God’s blessings in your lives!

Andrew & Patrique Smellie of New York City: Greetings from the Big Apple! “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) At our Campus Devotional last Friday, the entire NYC Campus Ministry cheered as they embraced the vision of being united under one “banner” (Isaiah 1:10-12) by adopting one name to make our presence known on our Campus Ministries across New York City and Long Island – Disciples of the Cross! (See the banner and our new invitations below.) The image of the Jerusalem cross (the red cross representing the blood-stained cross of Christ and the four white crosses representing the gospel going to the four corners of the earth) represents the dream of world evangelism that unites us in our mission to save “the harassed and helpless.” (Matthew 9:36) We re-committed ourselves to the dream of evangelizing all the campuses of New York City, Long Island, and the metropolitan area, as we carry the message of the cross to this lost world! Pray for us as we continue to proclaim the truth at Columbia University, New York University, Brooklyn College, City College of New York, and several other schools through the NYC area!

Today was also a great day in the Lord as we had numerous visitors join us in worship as we began our Book of Acts Series! Visitors from past weeks were eager to introduce their own visitors to us! The church was also excited to hear several of the names for the Boston Mission Team that have been finalized! For our Wednesday Midweeks, we are about to begin a new series to keep our fear of God as we study out the topic of Humility in our relationship with God, his church, and the world. While God has been working to bless our faith through nine additions in January (six baptisms, two restorations and one place membership), Satan is also lurking to hinder our efforts. Please pray for us as we are in the midst of searching for a new building to meet since the Supreme Court’s decision to bar churches from meeting in NYC public schools in December of last year. Our entire church will be praying and fasting this Friday, as we focus on finding a great facility for our growing fellowship! Please join us in prayer for God to work miracles by our final move-out date of February 12th! We know that our “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20), and to Him be all the glory!

What a tremendous first month of 2012! Please remember to put on your calendars, the 2012 Global Leadership Conference officially beginning on Sunday morning August 5th and ending on Tuesday afternoon. As usual, the Central Leadership Council will gather on the preceding Thursday and Friday (August 2-3); our Campus and Teen Devotional will be open for all early arrivals on Friday night (August 3); a Special Women’s Ministry Training Session will be held on Saturday morning (August 4); and there will be a Shepherding Couples Reception at 5PM on Saturday evening (August 4). Finally, let’s be praying that February will be our most fruitful month yet as a movement! And to God be all the glory, honor and praise! Amen!

Much love,

Kip

By Kip McKean

“Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Tim and Lianne Kernan in Notre Dame!

Our 2012 theme for the City of Angels International Christian Church and our Winter Workshop is Seek First His Kingdom. However, before we look ahead, let’s remember how the Spirit has moved in 2011. Perhaps most amazing is witnessing the unfolding of Jesus’ plan of the multiplication of disciples!

The City of Angels Church started 2011 with 303 disciples. In the past 365 days, “the Lord added to our number [more than] daily” as He blessed us with 366 additions: 260 baptisms, 49 restorations, and 57 place memberships – many of whom came from our former fellowship seeking revival! Also awe-inspiring was the sending out of the third Crown of Thorns Mission Team – Sao Paulo in late August. Already, the Spirit has more than tripled this congregation from seven to twenty-two sold-out disciples! In fact, over the past four and-a-half years since the City of Angels Church was planted, the Spirit has sent out 118 disciples on six mission teams – Honolulu, New York City, Portland, San Diego, London and Sao Paulo – as well as leaders to strengthen our sister churches in Santiago, Washington DC, Chicago, Kiev and Hilo. Therefore, since God planted the City of Angels Church in May 2007, the original 42 disciples from Portland have multiplied to over 1,500 disciples with 2,500 in attendance on Sundays!

Multiplication by God’s Spirit has also occurred in the leadership of the SoldOut Movement. So incredible at our 2011 Global Leadership Conference were the reinstatements and appointments of 16 Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders: Cory Blackwell – whose son CJ and daughter Avrie were baptized in 2011, Blaise & Patricia Feumba, DJ Comisford, Tyler & Shay Sears, Mike & Brittany Underhill, Chris & Kerri-Sue Adams, Tim & Lianne Kernan, Vic Gonzalez Jr., Coltin Rohn and Jay Shelbrack. Of special note, Chris Broom was appointed Missions Evangelist, and his son Austin was baptized. Earlier in the year, it was also encouraging that Luke & Brandon Speckman of Phoenix were appointed Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader by Chris & Sonja Chloupek.

This past year, the City of Angels Church has been blessed with the raising-up of Shepherding Couples-in-training for each of our nine regions! These efforts have already had a great impact for the Lord as our retention rate is significantly higher than in 2010. It was also a great joy to have Michael & Sharon Kirchner not only become full-time to oversee the administration in God’s new movement, but also to see this awesome couple join the Bordieris and the Untalans as our movement’s third Shepherding Couple.

The leaders of the Mexico City Mission Team Vic & Aurora Gonzalez and their two children in Chile!

So many other miracles flood my mind with precious memories. At the forefront is the record setting Women’s Day with an attendance of 500 in March, as well as the global efforts of MERCYworldwide’s Day of MERCY in June and our Toy Drive in December. Even though our congregation has grown to almost 500 disciples, I sense a greater closeness to God and to one another. Certainly, the retreats for the Marrieds, the Singles, the Campus & Teens, and our Middle School Ministry contributed to this reality, as well as “fun events” such as our Labor Day Congregational Picnic and Play Day.

With this year’s theme of Seek First His Kingdom, the City of Angels Church Leadership has set before the Lord the following prayer goals for 2012:

1. “This gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations…” (Matthew 24:14) Excitingly, three of the 12 Crown of Thorns Cities have been planted – Santiago, London and Sao Paulo. Of note, Vic & Aurora Gonzalez have “forcefully advanced the Kingdom”in Santiago as this sister church has witnessed 50 baptisms in 2011! (Matthew 11:12) Lord willing, Carlos & Lucy Mejia will move to Santiago this summer to allow the Gonzalezes to lead the fourth Crown of Thorns Mission Team to Mexico City, Mexico – Vic’s homeland! Then, our fifth Crown of Thorns Planting will be led by Tim & Lianne Kernan to the great city of Paris.Equally amazing are the church plantings inside the United States which we have chosen to call the Samaritan Project. Lord willing, Coltin & Mandee Rohn will lead the planting to Boston; Mike & Brittany Underhill will lead the mission team to San Francisco; and Matt & Helen Sullivan will take their mission team to Orlando which will be joined by a great remnant group of already 35 disciples. Pray that all five of these plantings will be sent-out in August at the 2012 Global Leadership Conference!
2. “Jesus went through all the towns and villages…preaching the good news of the Kingdom.” (Matthew 9:35) The daily additions that the Lord blessed us with in 2011 will be very challenging for us to achieve again in 2012, because 40 of our most fruitful disciples will be sent-out next summer. Many will be on the five mission teams, but also included in this number are disciples who will be sent-out to strengthen young churches such as Richard & Rotasha Lewis who are going to London. With that being said, we believe that God will once again bless our congregation with more than daily additions! A short-term goal that will help us to achieve this is our January 29th Bring Your Neighbor Day. We are praying to have over 1,000 in attendance – “1,000 for the Lord!” Hopefully, by the end of the year there will be a thousand in attendance every Sunday morning, and this bountiful increase of disciples will allow us to initiate our tenth region – the North Region!

Brianna, our awesome new teen is baptized in Orange County!

1. “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word!”(2 Timothy 4:1-2) With the multiplication of our movement’s disciples, there is a continual need to mature this ever-increasing number by training Evangelists, Women’s Ministry Leaders, Shepherding Couples and Deacon Couples.Prayerfully as a movement, we will appoint at least six Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders. Secondly, within the City of Angels Church, our goal is to have trained Shepherding Couples in each of our ten regions. Lastly, we are praying that there will be at least one Deacon Couple in each of the regions as well.
2. “Jesus said, ‘Let the [teens] come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’”(Luke 18:16) At the outset of this year, the City of Angels Church Leadership is dedicated to building awesome High School and Middle School Ministries for our teens and older pre-teens. Presently, there are 17 baptized teenagers in our congregation. We have asked Joel Parlour & Courtney Irwin to spearhead this effort throughout our congregation. Already, Regional Teen Leaders have been selected in most of our regions.To augment this effort, we are asking DJ & Kacie Comisford to initiate and oversee a very similar program to our former fellowship’s HOPE Youth Corps. Our effort will be called IGNITE – Impacting Generation Next International Teen Explosion. This camp will be held in San Diego from July 7-16, 2012. Included will be bonding in an outdoor camp, a day of service for MERCY (perhaps in Tijuana, Mexico), a day of evangelism, and the teens conducting the Sunday Service of the San Diego International Christian Church. IGNITE will be open to all baptized teens throughout the movement, but will be limited to 30 disciples. More details about the selection process are coming, but in essence, it will include an essay and a recommendation from their local church leader. The cost will be around $500 plus travel expenses to come to San Diego. This money may come from the disciple’s family, their local congregation, or from various fundraising activities. Pray that this effort will allow our teens to become leaders not only in the church of tomorrow, but in God’s church today!

Marjory, the sister of Norma who had been a Christian 20 years ago, was baptized in Sao Paulo!

1. “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20) In 2011, the disciples of the City of Angels Church not only “talked” about financial sacrifice, but they depended upon the “power” of God to meet our financial goals both in our weekly collection and in our two Missions Contributions. As we begin this year, the City of Angels Church pledge is $22,300 – $46 per disciple. We are calling upon the congregation to increase our collective pledge to $25,000 by late January. Also, on Easter Sunday, April 8th, we will join all of the other churches in the SoldOut Movement to once again give a 15X Missions Contribution to further God’s movement around the world.

The Surio clan is fired up as they baptize their mom, Mama Joji!

1. “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and [works through His Kingdom to save] those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) As a church family, each member of the SoldOut Movement is called upon to serve “the broken-hearted” – the poor, the widows, the fatherless and the orphans. The benevolent arm of God’s new movement is called MERCYworldwide, and each disciple in our family of churches is called a “MERCY Ambassador.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) Nick & Denise Bordieri have done an outstanding job coordinating all of our efforts throughout the world for the annual events of our Day of MERCY and our Christmas Toy Drive. To enhance their leadership, Cory Blackwell has been appointed Director for United States Projects and Blaise Feumba has been appointed Director for International Projects. Let’s continue to pray that Christ can be seen through our “mercy” to the “broken-hearted” of this lost world.
2. “If a Kingdom is divided against itself, that Kingdom cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24) The unity of all of the churches in the SoldOut Movement is essential if we are to see the evangelization of the nations in this generation. To further strengthen our young movement’s unity, we have already begun to plan the 2012 Global Leadership Conference. It will be held in the same facility as last year – the Garden Grove Hyatt Regency in Orange County. The actual conference will begin on Sunday morning with a combined worship service of the San Diego, Phoenix and Los Angeles Churches. The program will conclude around noon on Tuesday. Pray that all of the Bible Talk Leaders in our family of churches can attend what promises to be an historic event with the sending-out of the five mission teams!

Cassie get's some last minute direction from Kacie before getting baptized!

This time of the year is often filled with New Year’s resolutions that sadly are rarely realized. Yet as disciples, we can claim the promise of Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that’s at work within us to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen!” Though our movement’s and congregational dreams are exhilarating, it is important that every disciple has Kingdom dreams. These are different than worldly New Year’s resolutions, because you have the power of God working within you. God promises us that “He is able to do more than we [pray] or even [dream]!” So be encouraged! “Seek first His Kingdom” and dream! For “who knows that you have not come to the Kingdom for such a time is this?” (Esther 4:14 RSV) And to God be all the glory!

YPIG,
Kip Mckean

The Fullerton sisters embrace Jackie immediately after her baptism!

Immediately before Paul was baptized, Ananias shared with him God’s destiny for his life, “The God of our fathers
has chosen you to know His will… You will be His witness to ALL MEN of what you have seen and heard.” (Acts 22:14-15) At the end of his life, Paul was so grateful to God that He had enabled Paul to fulfill this destiny. Just a short time before his execution in early 67 AD, Paul writes, “The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and ALL GENTILES might hear it.” (2 Timothy 4:17) Clearly, Paul believed that the world was evangelized during his lifetime – ONE GENERATION!

Sadly, many have derided the vision – the evangelization of the nations in THIS generation. One prominent false teacher in our former fellowship has simply called it “impossible.” Another stated in the closing sermon of their 2005 Leadership Conference, “I see no plan or strategy in the Bible for the evangelization of the world in a generation.” Disciples have been led astray by these faithless proclamations, because they teach an “easier path” to Heaven, as if there is one. (2 Timothy 4:3-4) Abandoned is the call to go anywhere, do anything, and give up everything for Jesus, His church, and His mission. Without the goal of Jesus’ dream – “Go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS and baptize them” – disciples become greedy, worldly, lazy and apathetic. Collectively, they evolve into denominational community churches that are concerned only about their own well-being. Of these wandering sheep, the proverb is true, “Without vision the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

Congratulations to Cesar & Karla Limon!

What does it mean “to evangelize the nations?” It simply means that everyone has heard of Jesus and His church. It does not mean that everyone has become a Christian, or even that everyone has gone through the First Principles Study Series! When Paul rejoices that “this is the gospel that has been proclaimed to EVERY CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN,” he does not mean through the preaching of disciples only, but largely through the negative proclamation of persecutors.

Jesus alludes to this as He shares with the apostles, “You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and you will be hated by ALL NATIONS because of me… And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the WHOLE WORLD as a testimony to ALL NATIONS, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:9-14) Most scholars agree, “the end” of which Jesus speaks is the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Therefore, Jesus prophesies – and all His prophesies come true – that “ALL NATIONS” will hate the apostles and be evangelized by 70 AD, the Apostles’ generation!

Since we believe that the known world was evangelized in ONE GENERATION, and that Paul was commissioned by God at his baptism to lead this charge to get the message to ALL MEN – which he said he did – then what strategies did Paul employ to accomplish this “impossible” task?

1. PRAYER – “I urge then that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for EVERYONE – for kings and all those in authority… This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants ALL MEN to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for ALL MEN… and for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle.” (1Timothy 2:1-7) Paul admonished the early Christians to pray for their political leaders, because war – conflict between political leaders – and laws that prohibit the free proclamation of the Word could cripple or even stop the spread of the gospel. Also, prayer moves God to lead us to open people. (Colossians 4:3)

Eric & Grace were baptized through the tireless efforts of the married disciples in the OC!

2. SELECTION OF SOLD-OUT MISSION TEAMS – On the first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas ask John Mark to accompany them. (Acts 12:25) Sadly, John Mark deserted them when the journey became too difficult for him. (Acts 13:13) Perhaps from this incident, Paul learned that one could not sentimentally choose a mission team, as John Mark was Barnabas’ cousin. (Colossians 4:10) Therefore, for the second missionary journey, Paul selected Silas, a prophet (Acts 15:32), and Timothy, of whom the brothers in two churches “spoke well of.” (Acts 16:2)

3. THE CITY EVANGELIZES THE SURROUNDING REGION – On the first missionary journey, Paul preached in Pisidian Antioch, the largest city in that area. Then, “the Word of the Lord spread through the whole region.” (Acts 13:49) This principle is also seen in the third missionary travels in Paul’s ministry in Ephesus – called in that day, “The first and greatest Metropolis of Asia.” In just two years “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord.” (Acts 19:10)

4. TARGET THE MAJOR CITIES – Having understood that the natural influence of a city will evangelize the entire geographic region of its influence, Paul – commanded in a dream to evangelize Macedonia – passed through the small seaport of Neapolis without preaching, and traveled nine miles to “Philippi… the leading city of that district in Macedonia.” (Acts 16:12) Next, Paul walked 100 miles as he passed by the smaller cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia to preach in Thessalonica. Thessalonica was the seat of the Roman governor, capital of the province of Macedonia, and Macedonia’s largest city. (Strabo) Later, Paul went to Athens – the intellectual capital of the world; Corinth – the capital of the Roman province of Achaia; and Ephesus – the leading city of the most prosperous province of the Roman Empire, as well as the Empire’s fourth largest city behind Rome, Alexandria (Egypt), and Antioch (Syria). By the end of the third missionary journey, Paul strategized going to Rome (Acts 19:21) – the city that influenced the entire known world. Interestingly, after preaching while jailed in Rome for two years, Paul wrote in about 61 AD, “This is the gospel that has been proclaimed to EVERY CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN.”

The Irvine sisters are fired-up by Alma’s decision to become a sold-out disciple!

5. TARGET OPINION LEADERS – On the first missionary journey on the island of Cyprus, Paul converted the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. During his second missionary trip in Philippi, he converted Lydia, a high-powered business woman, who then converted her family. (Acts 16:14) Paul also baptized the “Jail Superintendent” and his family. (Acts 16:33) In both Thessalonica and Berea many “prominent women and many Greek men” were converted. (Acts 17:4, 12)

In Athens, Paul baptized “Dionysius, a member of the [prestigious] Areopagus.” (Acts 17:34) (The Christian historian Eusebius wrote in 170 AD that Dionysius became the “first bishop of Athens.”) In Corinth, Paul baptized “Crispus, the synagogue ruler and his entire household” (Acts 18:8), as well as Crispus’ replacement as synagogue ruler, the persecutor – Sosthenes. (Acts 18:17) Later Sosthenes becomes a preacher and helps Paul write the letter of 1 Corinthians! (1 Corinthians 1:1)

Also at Paul’s conversion, Paul was told that he was God’s “chosen instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles and their kings.” (Acts 9:15) The Holy Spirit allowed Paul to be arrested, and through a series of trials, Paul preached to governors – Felix and Festus (Acts 24-25), as well as kings – King Agrippa (Acts 25) and because of his appeal, perhaps even Caesar himself – the man who influenced the entire known world! (Acts 25:12) The conversion of opinion leaders gave the early church talented and charismatic disciples that through the Spirit would not only multiply disciples, but multiply churches!

6. TARGET HEADS OF FAMILIES – As mentioned above, when the leader of the family was baptized, as with Crispus, his entire household – wife, children and servants – was converted as well.

Let’s welcome back Tyler & Shay Sears from Sao Paulo! Let’s join with them in praying for new visas. In the meantime, this dynamic couple will lead the CSUN Campus Ministry!

7. TARGET THE CAMPUS – In Ephesus, “Paul took the disciples with him and had daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.” (Acts 19:9) Once more, Paul was trying to get to opinion leaders that would take the message back to their home towns and home nations. College students are given to ideas and causes. Energetic, idealistic and ambitious, they are unencumbered by family duties, financial responsibilities and past personal failures. Therefore, it should not surprise us that in two years time as Paul converts and trains these dynamic souls, “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord.” Most likely, it is during this time that the other “six churches of Asia” are planted! (Revelation 1:4) If we are to evangelize the nations, campus ministry should be one of our top priorities to focus our resources of leadership, money and most precious of all – time. For from the campuses will come future evangelists, elders, deacons and women leaders. These seven strategies are presently being applied in all of the congregations in the SoldOut Movement. In the States, we have dynamic discipling ministries in America’s four most influential cities – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and DC. All of our Stateside efforts – including Charlotte, Eugene, Hilo, Honolulu, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego and Syracuse – are all working together to provide leadership and money for the forceful advancement of the movement, especially in building, supporting and sending out mission teams. Though the SoldOut Movement is only five years old, the evangelization of America is well under way.

Smiles all around after Tajai was baptized by the West Region sisters!

Our world differs from Paul’s in one significant aspect; there is not “one Rome,” but perhaps 10 to 14 around the world. Therefore, we set before all the disciples in God’s new movement, the Crown of Thorns Project which targets the modern-day “Romes” – Cairo, Chennai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Paris, Santiago, Sao Paulo and Sydney. Though discipling churches have been planted in London, Santiago and Sao Paulo, prayerfully, dynamic churches with our same “life and doctrine” will also be established in the remaining nine cities in the next four years or so! In turn, these churches will influence all the nations around them – all 195 nations of the world! Then we will be able to “boast in the Lord” like our brother Paul, “ALL OVER THE WORLD this gospel is bearing fruit and growing.” (Colossians 1:6)

City of Angels Church, let us “always give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because we know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) Nike, Coca-Cola and Britney Spears have evangelized the world in our day. That’s not to say that everyone wears Nike shoes, or drinks Coke or listens to Britney Spears – it simply means, they have heard about these entities. Therefore, as the people of God who are empowered by His Spirit, can we not do the “impossible” and evangelize the nations in THIS GENERATION? I believe we can. I believe we must. And I believe we will. And to God be all the glory!

Kip McKean