Category: Good News E-mails

Good News Email – 8.31.18

Good News Email – 8.31.18


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Special Edition
August 31, 2018

Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear Friend,
Warm greetings from Los Angeles! Truly, the 2018 Global Leadership Conference – EMPOWERED – was our best one… yet! The Sunday Worship Service will surely be talked about in Heaven! The singing by the almost 2,700 in attendance was angelic! In the Communion, RD & April Baker – LA’s new Ventura Region Leaders and heroes of the Middle East – brought us to the cross! Joe & Kerry Willis were hysterical in motivating us to give generously at the Contribution Charge! Then came the glorious Sixth GLC Commencement of the International College of Christian Ministries where a record 92 received their BA Degrees and a record 6 received the prestigious Master’s Degree! Andrew Smellie of Lagos gave the message of the hour on TRANSFORMING POWER! Following, we witnessed 21 souls make their “good confession” and then were baptized into Christ! After these amazing miracles, we prayed on our knees for the Holy Spirit to send out the Columbus (Ohio) and Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Mission Teams, as well as to send out Nick & Denise Bordieri to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) to establish and oversee the Chhim MERCY Orphanage for the next year! To close the service, we stood arm-in-arm singing with LuJack Martinez The Glory Song – International Version! And to God was given all the glory!


The Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Mission Team will be
the 18th OPERATION EAGLE Planting! The
Inaugural Service is scheduled
for September 19, 2018!


The Columbus (Ohio) Mission Team will be the 19th
OPERATION EAGLE Planting! Their Inaugural
Service is scheduled for October 7,
2018 on Columbus Day Weekend!


At the GLC, the Holy Spirit sent off Nick
& Denise Bordieri to Phnom Penh
(Cambodia) to direct the Chhim
MERCY Orphanage!

 
HEADLINE NEWS
The 2018 Global Leadership Conference
For Elena & me, the 2018 GLC began on Thursday evening, August 9th with the World Sector Leader (WSL) Retreat!


Kip & Elena McKean met Michael & Sharon
Kirchner – the WSL Administration
Couple – for lunch before
the WSL Retreat!

 

Before pairing up for dinner, the World Sector Leaders gathered for a reception on the rooftop of the DoubleTree Hotel in beautiful Dana Point!


The WSL Reception was a joyful reunion for
Elena and Kerry Willis – the Woman
WSL for Austral-China!


Therese Untalan of LA (left) – a Movement
Shepherdess – caught up with Aliona
Sirotkina of Moscow, Lianne
Kernan of LA, and Patrique
Smellie of Lagos!

Sadly, our dear sister Michele Williamson was not able to be with us as she had to fly to Perth, Australia for the Memorial Service of her beloved mother. Praise God, Michele flew to LA and joined the GLC Festivities on the following Tuesday!


Though Michael Adrian and Mia missed their
mom, their father – Michael Williamson the
WSL of Europe – kept them encouraged
by having lunch with their grand-
mother in the faith, Elena!

 
On Friday, August 10th, as is the custom at every World Sector Leader Gathering, Elena & I shared for Communion! After the bread and juice were passed around, we held up the bread and proclaimed, “We are family!” Then we raised our cups and asserted, “By God’s grace to grow!”


Out for a sunrise prayer walk, Tim Kernan of LA,
Matt Sullivan of Miami, and Raul Moreno of
São Paulo were refreshed by each
other’s company!

After singing Jesus Is Lord, Andrew Smellie preached a very powerful lesson on WE HAVE DIVINE POWER! During his speech, Andrew spoke about the many challenges of the Lagos Disciples, which included taking a stand against parents to come to a “new church,” taking a stand at their jobs so as to come to all church services, and since Lagos is so religious, taking a stand against all of the false doctrines! To illustrate these challenges, Andrew shared about Tolani Abiodun when he first came home to Lagos from being converted in London. His father said to him, “Jesus is Lord in Heaven, but I am your God on earth! Obey me!” Praise God, Tolani took a stand and is now the Campus Ministry Intern for the mighty Lagos Church! Then we broke into Men’s and Women’s D-Groups!


Andrew Smellie preached to the World Sector
Leaders on WE HAVE DIVINE POWER!

 
For the remainder of Friday, the World Sector Leaders spent precious bonding time with one another! On Saturday, we continued to spend time together as we all moved to the Anaheim Sheraton for the remainder of the GLC!


Oleg & Aliona Sirotkin – the WSL Couple for
Eurasia – enjoyed the beautiful view of
the Dana Point Harbor!

 
On Sunday, August 12th, was the much anticipated IGNITE Church Service! IGNITE is an eight-day teen leadership program dynamically led by Ricky & Coleen Challinor of Los Angeles!


The Directors of IGNITE – Ricky & Coleen Challinor –
were outstanding in their overseeing of
the IGNITE Sunday Service!

They selected 30 teens and 8 IGNITE Interns from all of the SoldOut Movement Churches around the world!


The 2018 IGNITE Staff and Teens!

Each day had a special theme from A Day of Evangelism to A Day of Confession to A Day of MERCY, and even A Day of Fun!


The Day of MERCY!


The IGNITE Teens had fun every day, not
just on the Day of Fun!

 
The inspiring IGNITE Church Service was led entirely by the IGNITE Teens with terrific singing led by Myles Keys of LA and a powerful Welcome by Chris Burdick of Phoenix and Shefali Rajan of New Delhi!


The IGNITE Sunday Service was packed with
an audience of almost 700!

Then we were led in an International Prayer by Chris (English), Anna Smirnova of Moscow (Russian), Daniela Velasco of LA (French), Lucas Tria of São Paulo (Portuguese), Giovanny Martinez of Portland (Spanish), Lidiia Sirotkina of Moscow (Ukrainian), Miriam Chundula of London (Bemba), Shefali Rajan (Hindi), and Luke Chiappetta of LA (English)!


God understood eight different languages
during the International Prayer!

 
Of special note, Josiah Fisher of Washington DC introduced Bella Swann of New Jersey who shared for Communion! Bella publicly opened up for the first time about her struggle to forgive the older man – that claimed to be a disciple – who molested her on multiple occasions. Bella said in tears, “It was like I put Jesus on the cross again, because I thought I had the right to be angry and to not forgive. When I remembered all that Jesus did for me, then and only then was I able to fully forgive.”


During Communion, Bella Swann of New York City
vulnerably shared about the struggle for her
to forgive the man that molested
her as a teen!


Luke Chiappetta of LA and Mirriam Chundula
of London challenged all to sacrifice
for the Contribution that day!

 
For the sermonettes, we were inspired by Jordan Swann of New York City – The Slippery Slope Of Having No Hope, Lucas Tria – The World Needs More Amore, and Dylan Harding of LA – Faith Sets The Pace To Win The Race! Jordan in his sermon confessed his cowardliness in sharing his faith with one of his high school volleyball teammates – Steve. To his dismay, while still in high school, Steve passed away in his sleep without Jordan sharing with him. Then Jordan shared the conviction that changed his life, “My comfort is not worth the price of someone else’s salvation!”


The three sermonettes were powerfully preached by
Lucas Tria of São Paulo, Jordan Swann of New
York City, and Dylan Harding of LA as Ricky
had spent IGNITE Week teaching the
three how to fight spiritually!

 
The IGNITE Service came to a close with two baptisms, a restoration and a word of encouragement from Elena & me!


Kip & Elena closed out by thanking the IGNITE
Teens for an unforgettable worship service!

The remainder of the day was spent in fellowship with disciples from almost 30 nations!


The IGNITE Interns poured themselves out for the
teens, following the example of Ricky & Coleen!

 
On Monday evening, August 13th was the initial Crown of Thorns Council (COTC) Meeting! As most disciples are aware, the SoldOut Movement is striving to reduplicate Jesus’ ministry! So, the World Sector Leaders are paralleled to the 12 Apostles and the Crown of Thorns Council is paralleled to the 70 Apostles of Luke 10! The Jews – who were descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob, which formed the physical nation of Israel – came to understand that Jesus selected 12 Apostles as He was building a new “spiritual Israel!” Jesus later selected the 70 Apostles to convey His dream to evangelize all nations as Genesis 10 in the Table of All Nations has 70 nations listed!


Keri Garrido of Honolulu and Kerry Willis of
Sydney were excited to be registered
before the Crown of Thorns
Council Meeting!

 
After the Welcome and Prayer, the Crown of Thorns Council enjoyed a time of Good News Sharing!


Lance Underhill of LA – who directs ICC Hot
News – recorded the historic Crown of
Thorns Council Meeting!

Following a short break, Raul Moreno of São Paulo gave the unforgettable charge, PRAYER THAT IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE! His six points were: 1) Pray For Everyone In Your Ministry By Name; 2) Prayer Can Change God’s Mind; 3) Believe Before Praying; 4) Forgive For God To Answer Your Prayers; 5) Spiritual War Delays Answered Prayers; and 6) One Prayer Can Change Everything!


Raul’s message – PRAYER THAT IS POWERFUL
AND EFFECTIVE – was an upward call to
the COTC and even the Ushers!

 
On Tuesday morning, August 14th, the Crown of Thorns Council gathered for Men’s and Women’s Programs! Michael Williamson addressed the men and Elena spoke to the women on the theme of SYNERGOI, which when translated from the Greek means co-worker!


Michael challenged the brothers to have much more
“synergoi” (synergy) in their relationships with
God and with each other!

 


Elena’s gentle preaching style melted the hearts of
the COTC Sisters to resolve to become closer
co-workers with God and with one another!

In essence, each group was taught from the Scriptures that we are co-workers with God (2 Corinthians 6:1) and co-workers with each other! (Philippians 4:3) From the Greek word “synergoi,” we derive the English word “synergy.” The definition of synergy is the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. So, with God as our co-worker, we can do so much more than on our own, and because God has chosen to limit Himself according to our faith, God can do so much more with us as His co-workers if we are filled with faith! As well, working side-by-side with another disciple increases our boldness, our faith and our love! After these stirring messages we broke into D-Groups!


Each of the four D-Groups in the Men’s
Program was very intense as tears
of repentance were shed!

 
After a lunch break, the World Sector Leaders gave brief reports to the Crown of Thorns Council on “their” congregations, which covered all 92 churches now composed of 7,000 disciples in 35 nations in the Movement!


Cory Blackwell – the WSL of the Middle East –
and Kip welcomed back to Los Angeles
RD & April Baker from Dubai!

To close the afternoon, we discussed the 2018-2024 Road Map and the new SoldOut Movement Retirement Program for full-time ministry disciples!


Kip challenged the COTC to have the faith to
plant even more churches in 2019 than
the 10 planted in 2018!


Filled with enthusiasm, Michael outlined the
new Retirement Program for the full-time
SoldOut Movement Leaders!

 
At 5:00PM that Tuesday, the Prayer War Room was opened to “empower” all the disciples around the world, especially those who would participate in the GLC! A special thanks to Yamin Leyton and Karen Maciel for setting up and sustaining this great endeavor!


Karen Maciel opened the Prayer War Room, where
moments later as she prayed, she shed many
tears about leaving her beloved LA spiritual
family to go to Columbus!


By Sunday afternoon when the GLC was completed,
the walls of the Prayer War Room were covered
with scores of prayer requests!

 

After opening the Prayer War Room, I hurried over to the Sheraton Hotel to meet Tim, Michael and Elena for the signing of the ICCM Diplomas!


The 2018 ICCM Diplomas were signed by Kip –
Chancellor of ICCM, Elena – Vice Chancellor
of Women, Michael – Chairman of the
Board of Regents, and the extension
school ICCM President – in
this case Tim Kernan!

 
That evening at 8:00PM, all of the ICCM Faculty around the world met together for the ICCM Chancellor’s Dessert Reception! After a short charge, I asked the 2018 Master’s Degree Recipients – Jason & Sarah Dimitry, Blaise Feumba, Sharon Kirchner, LuJack Martinez and Matt Sullivan – to share what meant the most to them in attaining their degrees!


At the beginning of the Chancellor’s Dessert
Reception, Kip presented to each of the 11
Presidents and Deans of Women
new ICCM caps with their city
embroidered on the back!


Richie & Elizabeth McDonnell – the President
and Dean of Women for ICCM-Manila!


Luke Speckman of the new ICCM-New York City
and Coltin Rohn of the new ICCM-Columbus
were caught going after the desserts
before the prayer!

 
On Wednesday morning, August 15th was the Church Builders Workshop where almost 700 came to learn all that they could about being better church builders! Andrew & Patrique gave a stirring Welcome!


The Church Builders Workshop was filled with
anticipation of the morning events!

This was followed by 10 Admonitions by me. I addressed various topics from improving our song selection for worship services to communicating with the Lead Evangelist of a disciple whose heart is to be on a mission team before this disciple is officially asked to be on the team.


During Kip’s message, he brought up to the front
Isheeta Rajan and shared that even though she
was the only teen on the New Delhi Mission
Team, in just four months, the New Delhi
Teen Ministry has multiplied
to 18 disciples!

After this, Kolbe & Rebecca Gray of London shared about the exciting new ICCM Alumni Program!


Appointed this year as the ICCM Alumni Program
Directors, Kolbe & Rebecca Gray shared the
extraordinary opportunities accorded to
those willing to pay a small
yearly registration fee! 

 
Since Luke Speckman has been used by God to not only build the powerful New York City Church, but to oversee the thriving three churches in India, we selected him to speak on the theme, MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT! Luke preached from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 where Paul shares that God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong!” Luke’s easy-to-remember points were: 1) Weaknesses, 2) Insults, 3) Hardships, 4) Persecutions, and 5) Difficulties! As Luke began his speech, he asked the question, “Has Christ led you so far in 2018 in triumphant procession in your church?” He answered this question, “Yes… but the question really is, ‘Were you following?'”


Luke & Brandyn Speckman – the Lead Ministry
Couple of New York City – have fallen in
love with all the disciples in this
inspirational congregation!

After a break, we broke into three tracks: Track One – Campus Leaders emceed by Raul & Lynda Moreno; Track Two – Church Leaders overseen by Luke & Brandyn Speckman; and Track Three – Overseeing Church Leaders directed by Elena & me!


Cory’s lesson to the Overseeing Church Leaders
was entitled, NOT A MATTER OF
TALK BUT POWER!

Unique in this GLC was that Track One – Campus Leaders was conducted by the leaders converted as campus students through the efforts and prayers of the São Paulo Church! The speakers included Vini Rodriguez, Bia Hida, Caio Costa, Luis Viera, Malu Dias, Danilo & Carol Bataglin, Tulio & Vaítsa Amaral, and Luca Di Beo!


Tulio & Vaítsa Amaral are the new Bogotá
(Colombia) Church Leaders!


After the GLC, Danilo & Carol Bataglin
arrived in Dallas/Ft. Worth to serve
as the Campus Ministry Couple
for six months! Of note, Tyler
Sears converted Danilo while
planting the church
in São Paulo!

 


The Kingdom dream of Luca Di Beo & Sophia
Sirotkina is to plant the Rome (Italy) ICC!

 

On Wednesday evening at 6:00PM was the ICCM Alumni Reunion! After Kolbe & Rebecca explained the purpose of forming an Alumni Association, as well as the benefits to those who join, I gave the charge, THE ARDUOUS ROAD TO GRADUATE DEGREES! I opened and closed with Robert Frost’s narrative poem, The Road Not Taken! The final stanza reads,
 

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverge in a wood, and I –
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

 
I shared this poem to convey that the road to a Master’s or Doctorate Degree is indeed very difficult and time consuming, and that is why it is “the one less travelled by!” Yet, when one achieves this goal, there is a “sigh” not of regret, not of relief, but of deep satisfaction! Indeed for an Evangelist or Women’s Ministry Leader, these degrees will make “all the difference” in winning as many as possible!


Surrounding Kip as the Chancellor of ICCM are
all 11 ICCM Extension School Presidents!


Elena as the Vice Chancellor of Women strives to
inspire the 11 ICCM Extension School
Deans of Women!


Dr. Raul Felipe Moreno and Dr. Timothy Christopher
Kernan are great examples of scholarly studies
and practical teachings!

 
After having a few finger foods at the ICCM Alumni Reunion, many were off to the International Campus Devotional (ICD), which started at 8:00PM! This event is always one of the highlights of the GLC! This year, the ICD was overseen by the Smellies, who continue to win students to Christ at the University of Lagos! After several students shared good news from their campus ministries around the world, Coltin Rohn – the Columbus Mission Team Leader – preached the sermon entitled, I DECLARE YOUR POWER TO THIS GENERATION!


Coltin Rohn – the Columbus Mission Team Leader –
“layed it out” in the sermon I DECLARE YOUR
POWER TO THIS GENERATION at the
International Campus Devotional!

 
Thursday morning, August 16th was the First General Session of the GLC! After a phenomenal Opening Video and the joyful Welcome by Tim & Lianne Kernan – the City of Angels Church Leaders, we participated in an International Prayer in 20 different languages: English, Spanish, Ukrainian, Samoan, French, Chamorro, Hindi, Swedish, Mandarin, Ebo, Twi, German, Dutch, Cantonese, Tamil, Thai, Russian, Amharic, Tagalog and Portuguese!


Over 2,000 paid registrants attended the First
General Session of the GLC!


The 2018 GLC was a reunion for Isabelle
Clague of Sydney, Lauren James of LA,
Hanna Clague and Kaycee James
as they first met at
the 2009 GLC!

 
Then came the thrilling Flag Ceremony where 35 national flags – the nations of the SoldOut Movement Churches – were paraded!


Tajai Reed was privileged to
carry the Bolivian Flag!


Since he serves as the Paris Lead Evangelist,
Anthony Olmos carried the French Flag!


Joey Gregory of the Columbus Mission Team – an
OPERATION EAGLE planting – was honored
to carry the American Flag!


The 35 national flags of the SoldOut
Movement Churches!

 
Following, Elena & I shared the GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD coming from all six populated continents! Included in this presentation were the 10 plantings in 2018 in the SoldOut Movement: Albuquerque (New Mexico), Quito (Ecuador), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo – DRC), Mbuji-Mayi (DRC), Bandundu (DRC), Kikwit (DRC), New Delhi (India), Sean-d’Eau (Haiti), Columbus (Ohio), and Milwaukee (Wisconsin)!


During the GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE
WORLD, Elena lifted up Raul Moreno’s new
book, The Battle That Even Kings Lost –
Winning Your Own Battle For
Sexual Purity!

 
We shared in some detail about the four newly reconstructed churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo! Amazingly, their collective membership is over 400 disciples – the largest being Kinshasa, now the second largest church in the Movement, at 283 disciples!


Micky & Lyly Ngungu are the Kinshasa Church
Leaders and the Overseeing Ministry Couple
for the Democratic Republic of Congo!

 
We also praised God for the incredible turn around in Manila! After the devastation of losing their Lead Ministry Couple in 2017 with the consequence of so many fall aways, God has blessed the Manila Church in 2018 with 105 additions – 75 baptisms, 17 restorations and 13 place memberships! In 2018 – The Year of Grace, God has grown this incredible group of disciples from a membership of 187 to now 254 sold-out disciples!


After the GLC, Blady & Cielo Perez (right) moved to
Manila to train under Richie & Elizabeth to lead
the Phnom Penh Mission Team in June 2019!

 
Also, so exciting is that after just four months since the New Delhi Mission Team of 38 arrived from Chennai, God has blessed them with 73 additions – 51 baptisms, 21 restorations and 1 place membership! The New Delhi ICC is now 126 sold-out disciples!


The heroic New Delhi Mission Team was nicknamed
the Spartans by their gallant leaders –
Raja & Debs Rajan!

 
There was so much good news that I forgot to mention the encouraging report from Haiti! Since Alexis Turgeau – a Mainline Church of Christ Preacher from Port-au-Prince (Haiti) – was baptized five years ago at the 2013 GLC, God has multiplied this amazing disciple into 384 disciples in now 9 churches throughout Haiti!


Pray for Blaise Feumba as he will leave to visit the
nine churches of Haiti today on August 31st! He
will go on and preach in Mainline Churches
of Christ to prayerfully establish a
SoldOut Movement Church in
the Dominican Republic!

 
Then after the GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD came more great news: The Reinstatements of Chris & Sonja Chloupek of Orlando as an Evangelist and a Women’s Ministry Leader in the Kingdom of God!


Sonja Chloupek of Orlando was reinstated as a
Women’s Ministry Leader by Helen Sullivan
of the Miami ICC!


Chris Chloupek was reinstated as an Evangelist
by his best friend Matt Sullivan!


Afterward, Chris was interviewed by
Josiah Smith of ICC Hot News!

 
After the San Francisco Church Band led us to sing an old favorite hymn, Power, Blaise Feumba of LA delivered the tremendous speech, HIS POWER AND HIS GLORY! His convicting points were: 1) You Must Know His Glory; 2) You Must Show His Glory; and 3) You Must Fear His Glory! After this amazing lesson, we headed out to lunch!


Blaise Feumba preached a “blazing” sermon on
HIS POWER AND HIS GLORY!

 
In the afternoon, two Specialty Workshops began at 2:30PM: CyberCon emceed by the Lead CyberEvangelist of the Movement – Ron Harding of LA, and the MERCYworldwide Summit directed by the World Sector Leaders for MERCY – Nick & Denise Bordieri of LA! At CyberCon which was attended by over 200 disciples, Ron delivered the message EMPOWERING THE VOICES OF THE PROPHETS, which was followed by three more CyberEvangelist Appointments: AJ Penedo, Alex Rohde and Brice Williams all of LA!


Over 200 interested disciples attended
this year’s CyberCon!

Jeremy Ciaramella of Phoenix gave the charge
on Integration With Websites!


Joshua Ajayi of Lagos preached
on Content Production!


AJ Penedo of LA was appointed a CyberEvangelist
for the SoldOut Movement!

 

At the MERCY Summit, Nick delivered the message, EMPOWERED THROUGH COMPASSION IN ACTION, where he very enthusiastically shared about the Chhim MERCY Orphanage and our new partnership with the Children Social Welfare Services of Cambodia and MERCYworldwide! As well, Nick announced that Denise & he will be moving to Cambodia in September for a year to oversee the orphanage – which has 58 children already – and to lead the Phnom Penh Remnant Group!


The Chhim MERCY Orphanage is located in
the center of Phnom Penh!


General Chhim of the Children Social Welfare
Services and Nick Bordieri – the World
Sector Leader of MERCY – became
partners in overseeing the Chhim
MERCY Orphanage!


There are 58 orphans in the Chhim MERCY
Orphanage! Here Nick encouraged
two of them!


Moving forward, MERCY will feed and provide
all necessities for the orphans every day!


At Staff on Tuesday, August 28th, the Bordieris
were officially sent off to Cambodia!


Since the Bordieris will be moving to Phnom Penh,
the Kernans and the Bordieris asked Josiah &
Kristin Smith to become the new City of
Angels Church MERCY Directors!

On Thursday evening were the Men’s and Women’s Programs! Joe Willis and Elena were the respective emcees for these life changing sessions! At the beginning of each of these sessions there was a Kingdom Appointment! At the Men’s Program, Cory Blackwell appointed his valued son in the faith Markus Cameron to be an Evangelist, as they work together in the great Chicago Church!


Cory Blackwell appointed the dynamic Markus
Cameron to be an Evangelist in
the Kingdom of God!

 
At the same time, Elena appointed her dear daughter in the faith Lauren Ona to be a Women’s Ministry Leader, as they work side-by-side in the AMS Region of LA!


It was a tremendous pleasure and honor for Elena
to appoint Lauren Ona as a Women’s Ministry
Leader for the AMS Region of LA!

 
Both programs had the same main speech, BE STRONG IN HIS MIGHT AND POWER! John Causey of LA preached for the brothers, and Lynda Moreno spoke to the sisters! John’s two catchy points were Power Up and Open Up! John was quite open about getting “touchy” as he has gotten older. He confessed that this is one of his main struggles. John was recently asked how he had overcome and he humbly answered, “I realized that I am not a strong disciple, but I need to be a plugged-in disciple!”


The crowded Men’s Program!


John Causey of LA illustrated his
points with a badge…


And a stick of plastic “dynamite!”

 
During the Women’s Program, Lynda Moreno shared with the sisters one of the secrets to being empowered by God, “Alone the world is going to change you, but together we are going to change the world!”


One of the highlights for all of the sisters at the
GLC was the Women’s Program!


Elena introduced Lynda Moreno of São Paulo
with several accounts of Lynda’s heroics
on the mission field!

 
Following the main speeches, several short charges were preached: Empowered Devotional Life (Matt Sullivan/Patrique Smellie), Empowered Life-Force (Michael Williamson/Lucy Mejia), Empowered Life Skills (Michael Kirchner/Therese Untalan), Empowered Brotherhood/Sisterhood (RD Baker/Lianne Kernan), Empowered Marriage (Anthony Olmos), Empowered Fatherhood/Motherhood (Oleg Sirotkin/Aliona Sirotkina), Empowered Evangelism (Richie McDonnell/Helen Sullivan), Empowered Discipling (Kolbe Gray/Rebecca Gray), and Empowered Generosity (Joe Willis/Kerry Willis)! Then after these “empowering” charges, there were many who enjoyed late night fellowships!


Patrique eloquently spoke on the theme,
Empowered Devotional Life!


Lianne addressed the importance
of an Empowered Sisterhood!

 
Friday morning, August 17th were the invaluable World Sector Sessions! These inspiring seminars included the following groupings: Tribe – Western USA, Canada and Pacific Rim; SAGES – Eastern USA and South Asia; Southern USA, Central And South America; Europe And Russian Commonwealth; Midwest USA And Middle East; Africanus – Africa, Mid-Atlantic USA And French-Speaking Caribbean; and Austral-China!


Richie gave the main address at the Tribe World
Sector Session on THE WORD SPREAD!

 
Each session followed the same pattern: Singing, Welcome and Prayer, Heroic Bible Talk Sharing and then the main charge – THE WORD SPREAD AND GREW IN POWER! In some sessions, there were co-teachers. So the main speakers included: Richie McDonnell, Matt & Helen Sullivan, Carlos & Lucy Mejia, Oleg Sirotkin, Michael Williamson, Cory Blackwell, Andrew Smellie and Joe Willis!


Gina Dela Pena of Manila had applied and prayed
for a visa to come to America each year for
the past 10 years… This year God
honored her perseverance!

 
Following a break, short charges were given on the theme, Empowering Principles! These charges in every session gave several younger leaders an opportunity to preach at the 2018 GLC! Comprising these charges were: Empowering Commitment To The Cause, Empowering Standards, Empowering Unity, Empowering Women’s Ministries, and several others very interesting titles!


It was obvious to all that Dustin Miller – the Denver
Church Evangelist – had grown so much in his
preaching as he taught on Empowering
Preparation And Training!


Rachel McGee of LA taught the sisters
on Empowering Unity
!


Mark Garrido of Honolulu shared personally as he
spoke about Empowering Opportunities!


Emma Causey – the Woman Region Leader of
Metro Heights – shared on the theme
Empowering Cooperation!

 
For lunch, we held 2019 Mission Team Luncheons at various locations! These were by invitation only, but if a disciple was interested in the planting, the mission team leaders were always accommodating! There were Mission Team Luncheons for: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Atlanta (Georgia), Auckland (New Zealand), Bahrain, Davao (Philippines), Johannesburg (South Africa), Lima (Peru), and Salt Lake City (Utah)!


A beautiful invitation was given out for the
Amsterdam Mission Team Luncheon!


At the Davao Luncheon, Ariel shared about the joy
that her husband & she have in being asked
to lead the Davao Mission Team!


The Auckland Mission Team Leaders – Scotty Iakopo
& Jenna Loheed – are excited that their Inaugural
Service has been set for February 17, 2019!

 
That evening was the Second General Session – The Kingdom Banquet!


All things are ready…


Come to the feast!

Cory & Jee Blackwell gave a rousing Welcome which was followed by a very powerful Opening Prayer by Oleg! Then we enjoyed a scrumptious dinner!


Cory & Jee “got the crowd going”
with their humorous Welcome!

 
At the end of the dinner, there was a Special Performance by Lauren Ona, the LA Choir, Dancers headlined by Earnest Baker, and the awesome San Francisco Band – Sovereign Sounds!


The Special Performance for the Kingdom Banquet
began with the LA Choir and a
solo by Lauren Ona!


Gifted by God, Lauren’s singing stirred our souls!


Earnest Baker of New York City “brought down the
house” with his dance performance!


Mike Underhill – the LA Central Region Leader and
a super sax player – orchestrated the entire
Kingdom Banquet Special Performance!

 
Following this were the historic CyberMinistry Appointments! Ron Harding appointed the first three “CyberWomen’s Ministry Leaders:” Alicia Dunn of Washington DC, Jacque Economo of LA, and Chantelle Anderson also of LA!


The “Turning the World Up-Side-Down” Globes were
given to the first CyberWomen’s Ministry Leaders!


The first three CyberWomen’s Ministry Leaders:
Alicia Dunn, Jacque Economo and
Chantelle Anderson!


Chantelle’s father was so proud of his oldest
daughter, as well as of his other daughters –
Kristin Smith and Amber Anderson!

 
Then we witnessed another engaged couple – Sean O’Conner & Krystal Legarda – appointed Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader by Jared & Rachel McGee!


What a joy to see Krystal Legarda – the IE Women
Region Leader and fiancée
to Sean O’Conner –
appointed a Women’s Ministry Leader
by Rachel McGee!


Sean valiantly responded to the ancient charge
given to him as a new Evangelist by Jared,
“Preach the Word!”


Without hesitation after Alex Carranza’s plea to be
his girlfriend, Tajai said a resounding, “Yes!”


Sadhvi Monfleur of Mexico City – the adoring
new girlfriend of Miguel Mendez the
Evangelist of Dubai – will be joining
him in the work in Dubai
next month!


The hard-working and very fruitful leaders of the
Mexico City ICC – Carlos & Lucy Mejia!

 
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the Kingdom Banquet was the keynote address for the 2018 GLC simply entitled EMPOWERED! This life-changing message was delivered so eloquently by the Director of the GLC – Tim Kernan! 


Tim passionately delivered the keynote address
of the GLC – EMPOWERED!

We ended the evening with Micky Ngungu and Andrew Smellie leading us in most disciples’ favorite song from Africa, There Is A Joy! A huge conga line quickly formed that circumvented the entire room!


To close the evening, Micky Ngungu (center) and
Andrew Smellie (left) “tag-teamed” the leading
of the song, There Is A Joy!


A conga line that circumvented the huge ballroom
quickly formed to gloriously close out
the Kingdom Banquet!

 
On Saturday, August 18th began our Third General Session! Raja & Debs Rajan of New Delhi gave the Welcome and Prayer!


Raja & Debs Rajan – wanting to honor their dad &
mom in the faith – surprised the McKeans
with gifts from India!

Following, Nick & Denise Bordieri directed the MERCY Presentation! Highlighting the day was Jarrett Barrios, CEO of The American Red Cross in Los Angeles, who addressed the entire GLC! He was so exuberant as he spoke about the new national partnership between the Red Cross and MERCY in installing lifesaving fire alarms in the poorer areas throughout America!


Jared Barrios – the CEO of the Red Cross in LA –
rallied the GLC Delegates with words of thanks
and a vision to change the world!


Denise Bordieri – the beloved “Green
Angels” Woman Leader!


The Green Angels of MERCY!


The City of Angels Church of LA welcomed home
Dubai Mission Team Heroes – John
& Genina Tuason!

 
Then, I preached the 90-minute presentation, A GREATER GLORY – The History Of The Mainline Churches Of Christ, The ICOC And The SOLDOUT Movement! Every situation in our lives and every situation among God’s great people has a “parallel” somewhere in the Bible! I used the Books of 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Ezra and Haggai to teach how God worked to gather and build His Movements! I concluded this presentation with a view of Heaven and that all of our challenges on earth as disciples are “worth it!” (You can hear and see the entire presentation at
https://youtu.be/kdhpVqU6LwQ.)


The 90-minute presentation of A GREATER GLORY
encouraged the remnant and gave the converts
of the SoldOut Movement a new appreciation
of the price of building God’s Movement!

 

I received more feedback on this lesson than any that I have preached in the last few years! Here is a sample: Dear Kip, It really convicted me as far as comparing the Boston Movement, gathering prominent young leaders who were trained Biblically out of Mainline Church of Christ programs (Crossroads)  vs the SoldOut Movement, with the remnant who are joining being older, and not as freed up to go anywhere to lead. That is something I hadn’t really put into account, and mildly corrupted my attitude about the SoldOut Movement’s emphasis on campus ministry. It took so long for it to finally click that these are the Movement’s next leaders (much like the younger folks were in the early days of the ICOC). I mean, I was baptized at 20 years old in a campus ministry… and I am so grateful!


Kip preached at the 2006 Portland Jubilee – FOLLOW
THE FIRE! Just one month later, the McKeans were
in Hilo helping to build a sold-out base of
disciples! When opposed by ICOC
Leaders, this was the spark that
initiated the Portland/
SoldOut Movement!

 
Also, a dear veteran disciple was watching from Seattle! He was baptized in the frigid Puget Sound in 2001, and recently placed membership in the Seattle ICC! This lesson resonated deeply with him, answered many questions for him, as well as confirmed many of his suspicions that he has had about what happened to the ICOC. He is super fired up after watching a couple of the lessons from the GLC, especially yours. He really wishes he could have been there to meet many incredible disciples from around the world, as well as to share with you in person his support and gratitude to be in God’s true Movement!


The 42 sold-out Portland Disciples officially began
the SoldOut Movement with the planting of
the City of Angels Church on May 6, 2007!

Following the break, we attended the Specialty Ministry Sessions, which included: The AMS Global Conference, The Shepherds Forum, The Second Language Ministries Seminar, The Song Leaders Workshop, The Teen Ministry Seminar, The Administration World Congress, The Kingdom Kids Coordinators, and The Chemical Recovery Congress!


The charismatic Adam & soon-to-be Lauren Zepeda
led the AMS Global Conference!


At the AMS Global Conference, Kristen Smith –
former Fox News Anchor in Phoenix – spoke
on Working In The Industry!


At the Second Language Ministries Seminar, Victor
Gonzalez preached on Understanding
Second Language Demographics!


At the Administration World Congress (AWC),
Lindsay Hoagland – the Movement’s
Legal Counsel – spoke on the vital
topic of Legal Entities And
Visa Challenges!


At the AWC, Ryan Keenan addressed Reporting
Overview And Administration Procedures!

 
That afternoon was the ICCM Rehearsal, and that evening was followed by The Mature Singles Mixer, The Teen Devotional And Dance, The Talent Show and The PYUR Dance!


The phenomenal Talent Show Judges were: Kristen
Smith, Chris Chloupek, Lucy Mejia
and Michael Williamson!


At the Talent Show, Cassi Chloupek had a
mesmerizing style of singing all her own!


At the Talent Show, Stephen Rydstedt (left), Ryan
Gordon and David Rydstedt – the twin of
Stephen – “showed” Oregon’s
wealth of singing talent!


The DJ’s for the PYUR Dance – Rob Onekea (right)
and Pleng Rodphai – the future Bangkok
(Thailand) Mission Team Member
!


Disciples can dance on the ground…


And in the air!

 
On Sunday was the grand finale of the 2018 GLC – The Sunday Worship Service! John & Emma Causey gave the Welcome and Opening Prayer!


For the GLC Sunday Worship Service, a
record 2,700 were in attendance!

Then came the Kingdom Appointments of Dave & Jill Swann by Luke & Brandyn Speckman! The Swanns lead the New Jersey Region of the New York City ICC! In her response to being appointed, Jill shared Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!” Jill shared that she was baptized exactly 27 years ago on August 19, 1991, and becoming a Women’s Ministry Leader was one of her Kingdom dreams! Dave followed by sharing that he was thrilled to enter the full-time ministry for the first time at 50 years old! His region affectionately calls him – Papa Swann!


After Dave & Jill Swann’s appointments to be an
Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader in
New York City, Dave’s mom Violetta – also
a disciple – gave Dave the first
congratulatory hug and kiss!

 
The Communion was one of the best ever as April Baker shared her trials to remain faithful through all of her years! She spoke about her severe physical heart challenges and how God has used this to guide RD & her, as well as giving her the opportunity to “win as many as possible!” (1 Corinthians 9:19)


The Father and Mother of Faith for the Middle East
shared a heart-wrenching Communion!


As the trays were passed for Communion many wept
as Lauren Ona sang, When We Pray!

 
The Contribution was done by the author of the SoldOut Press International’s newest book – Money Is The Answer For Everything – Joe Willis and his lovely wife Kerry!


Joe & Kerry Willis – the Austral-China World Sector
Leaders – were hilarious in their challenges
for every disciple to be generous
in their giving!

 
Then came the Sixth Commencement Of The International College Of Christian Ministries where 92 received their BA Degrees and 6 were awarded their Master’s Degrees! Inspirationally, after the ICCM Chairman of the Board of Regents – Michael Kirchner – welcomed all to the 2018 Commencement, Wagner’s Ride Of The Valkyries was the music played for the Processional!


The ICCM Commencement began with the playing
of Wagner’s Ride Of The Valkyries!


Dr. Elena Garcia McKean – Vice Chancellor of
Women for ICCM-Global!


Dr. Timothy Christopher & Lianne Kernan –
ICCM-Los Angeles President and
Dean of Women!


Ron Harding is the ICCM-Global IT Registrar and
Chris Adams serves as the ICCM-Global
Redactor-in-Chief!


Dr. Andrew & Patrique Smellie – President and
Dean of Women of ICCM-Lagos!


Cesar & Debbie Limon – President and Dean
of Women of ICCM-Portland!


Coltin Rohn – ICCM-Global Dean of the
Undergraduates and thus Sargent at
Arms for the Class of 2018!


Joey Gregory – 2018 Co-Valdictorian!


Markesa Hill of LA!


Frank Simelane the Lead Evangelist
of Birmingham (England)!


Myrna Limon – Women Ministry Leader for the model
Teen Ministry for the Movement in Mexico City!


Meghan Loheed – Administrator in LA!

 
As the Chancellor of ICCM, I was privileged to introduce the ICCM-Global Faculty, the ICCM Board of Regents, and all of the ICCM Extension School Presidents and Deans of Women! Amazingly, God has multiplied our dream into 11 extension campuses in Columbus, Lagos, Los Angeles, Manila, Miami, New York City, Portland, San Francisco, São Paulo, Toronto and Washington DC!


ICCM-Global and the Board of Regents!

 
Following, I gave a short charge on SCROLLS AND PARCHMENTS sharing about the books that have been published by SoldOut Press International that were ICCM Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations!


Raul Moreno’s excellent new book is The
Battle That Even Kings Lost – Winning
Your Own Battle For Sexual Purity!


Joe Willis’ new classic, Money Is The
Answer For Everything!


20/20 – Tim Kernan’s book published last
year is now available in Spanish!

 
After Dr. Tim Kernan explained the European Degree System and Dr. Elena Garcia McKean shared from the ministry of Jesus about The Role Of Women In The ICCM, we were inspired by the Valedictory Addresses given by our 2018 Valedictorians – Joey Gregory of Columbus and Alicia Winthein of LA!


Alicia Winthein – Co-Valedictorian – dynamically
delivered her Valedictory Address!

 
Then came the conferring of the ICCM BA Degrees given for four different disciplines: Ministry – represented by red tassels, Ministry And Administration – blue tassels, Ministry And Charity Services – green tassels, and Ministry And Shepherding – white tassels!


Christian Enos of San Francisco!


Alexys Hall of Milwaukee!


Brittany Miller of LA!


Chuck Hess of Denver!


Geline Surio of DFW!


Carlos Robielos of Manila! Very purposefully,
the ICCM has an equal number of
male and female students!

 
Following came the awarding of six diligent disciples for the impressive ICCM Master’s Degree!


Jason Dimitry of San Francisco!


Sarah Dimitry of San Francisco!


Blaise Feumba of LA!


Sharon Kirchner of LA!


Matt Sullivan of Miami!


LuJack Martinez of Washington DC!

 
Before the reading of Psalm 126 for the Benediction, we observed the Tassel and Stole Ceremony! The tassels on the graduates’ graduation caps were moved from right to left, signifying that their new-found knowledge needs to be used in making decisions with the heart!


Courtney Barnett of Eugene and Carver Bedeau of
San Diego moved their tassels from right to left!


Coltin Rohn – Dean of the Undergraduates –
presented the Class of 2018!


Coltin Rohn passed the baton of Sargent at Arms
to Jared McGee!

Secondly, each BA Recipient was encouraged to give his or her stole to the individual most responsible for them to attain their degree!


Tomiwa & Vienne Safe-Adewumi – the Amsterdam
Mission Team Leaders – gave their stoles to
Michael & Michele Williamson,
who disciple them!

 
After a short break, Andrew Smellie delivered a message for the ages, TRANSFORMING POWER calling every disciple to make radical decisions from the GLC! Andrew had two points: Transform From Loving Tradition To Loving Truth and Transform From Loving The Praise Of Men To Loving The Praise From God! Andrew’s final words of admonition were, “Transformed people, transform people!”


Andrew Smellie gave a message for the ages when
he preached, TRANSFORMING POWER!

 
Then came one of the most amazing highlights of the entire GLC as we witnessed 21 baptized into Christ! Of very special note were the baptisms of Capil Estep’s mom – Krishna, who is of royal blood from Nepal, and Luke Speckman’s dad and mom – Fred & Virginia, who were at one time missionaries for a denominational church in Kenya! Not only did August 19, 2018 become Fred & Virginia’s spiritual birthdays, but also that day, they celebrated their 46th Wedding Anniversary!


As Brandyn cried, Luke shared about his beloved
parents before they gave their good confession!


Fred Speckman rejoiced in his salvation!


Virginia Speckman was baptized into Christ by her
husband of 46 years Fred and her son Luke!


After four long years of talks and studies,
Capil Estep and Kip baptized Capil’s
mom – Krishna of Nepal!

 
After these glorious celebrations came the Send Off of the Columbus and Milwaukee Mission Teams, as well as the send off of Nick & Denise Bordieri who will lead the Chhim MERCY Orphanage in Cambodia! Everyone fell on their knees to pray for the Holy Spirit to empower them to do “more than we asked or imagined!”


The Eagle with an American Flag Trophy was given
to each of the OPERATION EAGLE – Columbus
and Milwaukee – Mission Team Members!


The Holy Spirit sent out the Columbus and
Milwaukee Mission Team Members
through the prayers of Tony
Untalan and Nick Bordieri!

 
To close the most awesome of all GLC’s, we “bridged the aisles and came together arm-in-arm” as LuJack led The Glory Song – International Version!


LuJack Martinez led the closing song for
the historic 2018 GLC…


The Glory Song – International Version, which tells
of the history of the Discipling Movement
beginning in Boiston in 1979 to date!

 
That Sunday evening, as well as on Monday and Tuesday, many disciples stayed in LA to have more fellowship that would “empower” them to do “even greater things” upon their return to their home congregations! And to God be all the glory!


At a party held after the GLC, this specialty cake
was presented to honor Matt Sullivan and
Sharon Kirchner who received their
ICCM Master’s Degree that day!


The happy couple – Matt & Helen Sullivan!


Sharon’s sister Susan (second from the left) and her
niece Lizzy (second from the right) flew in
for Sharon’s graduation!


On Monday, a lunchtime strategy meeting was held
for South Asia with the Speckmans, Rajans and
the McKeans! At the meeting, Kip asked the
Speckmans to lead the Kathmandu (Nepal)
Mission Team in the summer of
2019! They said, “We’d love
to do just that!”


The SoldOut Movement’s Chemical Recovery Retreat
was led by Matthew & Marlo Lovacheff immediately
following the GLC on August 19-21, 2019!

 

In 2019, there will not be a Global Leadership Conference, so as to “free up” disciples to visit Geographic Missions Conferences in different nations around the world! Our next GLC will be in Los Angeles tentatively on August 6-9, 2020! See you then!
 

The 48 London Disciples that participated in the
2018 GLC are inviting you to come to London
on October 25-28, 2018 for the European
Missions Conference!


The inspirational theme for the 2018 European
Missions Conference is HEAVENBOUND!


The South American Missions Conference will be
held in Santiago, Chile on February 1-3, 2019!


The Pacific Rim Missions Conference will be held
in Metro Manila on June 13-16, 2019!

FAMILY NEWS
Eugene: Congratulations to David Rydstedt (baptized in Eugene) & Sara Garcia (baptized in Mexico City), who were married on the beach in Santa Monica just a few hours after the conclusion of the GLC!


The Rydstedt Wedding Party jumped into a bus
after the close of the GLC to travel to Santa
Monica Beach for the Wedding
of David & Sara!


Congratulations to David & Sara Rydstedt!

 
Boston: On August 10, 2018, Gianni DiFusco & Skyla Eastman were married under a beautiful sunset overlooking the mighty city of Boston! God painted the sky just for them, as the these two souls became one!


Congratulations to Gianni & Skylar!

 
New York City: On August 11th, Gerald & Danielle Gayle were married in the Brooklyn Region!


Congratulations to Gerald & Danielle Gayle!

 
London: On August 25th, Richárd Frankó proposed to his girlfriend Lisa Picciano of New York City while she was visiting him in London! She of course said, “Yes!”


Congratulations to the long distance
now engaged couple – the future
Richárd & Lisa Frankó!

 
Orlando: Praise God that the father of Chris Chloupek – the Evangelist of the Orlando Church – was restored to the Lord!


Praise God for the restoration of
Chris Chloupek’s father Niel!

 

Zach Shahan & Lauren Hammers were baptized in Orlando and were married the Saturday before the GLC!

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Hammers!


The Orlando ICC found a new and less
expensive home – The Seventh Day
Adventist Church of Orlando!


Praise God that for rent, the Orlando ICC
only pays $1,000 per month for all
Sundays and Wednesdays!

Portland: Greetings in the Lord! We had an amazing addition to the Limon Familia – the Portland Church Leaders – with the birth of their son Nathanael David on July 16th!


Welcome Nathanael David to the Green Angels!

 
What a joy it was to host over 30 disciples flying in to witness the wedding of “our” Ohio missionaries – Craig and Keshia, as they officially became the Davidsons on August 4th!


Congratulations to Craig & Keshia! Our prayers will
continue to be with you and the amazing
Columbus Mission Team!

 
There was much love in the air as the next day, we witnessed the engagement of Cesar & Debbie Limon’s son and daughter in the faith – Jorge Castillo & Valeria Garcia-Piñeda! They will be getting married October 20th in Portland, Oregon and would like to invite everyone to this special event! God is good… all the time!


Congratulations to our dear brother
and sister – Jorge & Valeria!

 
Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW): The entire DFW Church was ecstatic over the wedding of Hector & Taylor Mogollon!


Congratulations to Hector & Taylor Mongollon!

Honolulu: Our administrator Kawika Kelly & Reina Quimzon became engaged and will be married September 3rd!


May the Lord bless Kawika & Reina with many
fruitful years in the Kingdom!

 
Kiev: In June, we celebrated the awesome wedding of Sasha & Alina Balitsky! This marriage strengthened them, and immediately following their honeymoon, Sasha & Alina began to work full-time in the ministry!


Congratulations to Sasha & Alina on their Wedding
and going full-time for the Lord!

 
San Diego: Just before the impactful 2018 GLC – EMPOWERED, God “empowered” Fabian & Edimar Velasco to be fruitful with their beautiful new son, Isaac Jedidiah Velasco! Isaac was born July 24th at 8:20AM, weighing in at 8.15 pounds and 20.5 inches long! We are also excited that the Velascos will be stepping up to lead a newly established house church in the Greater San Diego ICC! To God be all the glory! 


Welcome Isaac Jedidiah to the Kingdom! We look
forward to your baptism in a few years!

 
Albuquerque: Encouragingly, a young married couple named Jet & Yuri Heredia were baptized in Albuquerque! Yuri is the cousin of Bridgette Sanchez and Yunice Luna in the Metro Heights Region of LA! Jet was baptized first and then he was blessed to baptize his wife Yuri!


Congratulations Jet & Yuri!

 
Seattle: On July 29th the Seattle Church witnessed the beautiful wedding of Owen & Letecha Hartley on the gorgeous Golden Garden Shores of Puget Sound!


Congratulations Owen & Letecha on
your marriage in the Lord!

 
Manila: Beth Tagimacruz was baptized in 1993 and was restored to the Lord in 2015 following a life-threatening stroke. She knew that God still had a purpose for her life, and after her restoration she baptized her mom, sister, daughter and niece! On August 22nd, she passed on to glory after being in the hospital for three months battling several health complications.


Let us all imitate the faith of our dear sister
Beth who “fought the good fight and
finished the race!”

 
Cebu: Aki Cabañero & Lou Ariate are full-time Campus Interns in Cebu, and they became engaged on July 25th!


Praying that your marriage will make you even
more fruitful as you preach the Word on
the Cebu Campuses!

 
Washington DC: Ms. Dolores Russell was baptized on March 18, 2018, and then went home to our Heavenly Father on her 87th birthday July 18, 2018! Her daughter Denise Russell and grandson Lawrence Russell were by her side during her studies, her illness and her glorious return to our true home! The church was united in prayer, as we watched her humble heart desire to be baptized! So we now rejoice as Dolores went on to glory as a faithful disciple!


Dolores, we will see you again in Heaven!

  
Wedding Bells are almost here, as we had an engagement! This couple has been friends for a few years now, and then at the Singles Christmas Party in 2017, Bryan asked Judith to be his girlfriend! After dating for six months, he asked her to be his wife! She said, “yes” with enthusiasm! In Bryan’s own words, “I would have never have made this choice (to be married) in the world.” Now, he sees that God truly meant for Judith to be his “wife of noble character” and sees her worth through God’s eyes!


Congratulations to the future
Mr. & Mrs. Williams!

 
Penelope Rose Carrothers was born on June 5, 2018 to Christopher & Patricia Carrothers! This little bundle of joy was excited to finally join us all! She was a quick delivery, without complications, and as you can see is a happy little baby girl!


Congratulations to the Carrothers
on the birth of little
Penelope Rose!

 
Mexico City: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.” (Psalm 127:3 NLT) It was an exciting July for Gustavo & Sofia Flores! Not only were they both baptized, but to finish off the month on July 31st, the Lord blessed them with the birth of their new son, Joshua Flores!


Pray for Joshua Flores as he has a lot to
live up to with his Bible namesake!

 
New Delhi: John & Salma, who lead the abundantly fruitful New Delhi Teen Ministry, are happily married now!


Congratulations to John & Salma on their marriage
and in leading the fastest growing Teen
Ministry in the Movement!

 

God blessed Gabriel & Seema in “starting” a new family with the birth of “Baby Genesis!”


Welcome to the family Baby Genesis! Perhaps
in the future you will have a little
brother named Exodus!

 
Satbeer & Nisha, who now lead a Bible Talk, were blessed with a baby boy – Nishanth!


Congratulations to Satbeer & Nisha on the
birth of their son Nishanth!

 
San Francisco: Kyle Gibson & Janelle Mendoza were happily engaged on July 23, 2018!


Congratulations to Kyle & Janelle on their
recent engagement!

The soon-to-be Nathaniel & Sam Pavon were engaged on July 30, 2018!


Congratulations to Nate & Sam who have been
asked to lead the Eugene Church at
the end of the year!

Afa & Tromila were blessed with Finiasi Molikeilahi Maile, who was born on July 30th at 8 pounds, 13 ounces and 21 inches long!


Afa adores little Finiasi Molikeilahi!

Excitingly, Anthony Fellis & Monica Fang were engaged on August 11, 2018!


Congratulations to our dear brother and
sister – Anthony & Monica!

Freddy Quintana & Alejandra Rivera were engaged during the GLC on August 18, 2018!


Congratulations to the future Quintanas! So if you
would like to get engaged, consider a move
to the San Francisco Church!

Sacramento: “Then immediately [the jailer] and all his family were baptized… He was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God – he and his whole family!” (Acts 16:33-34) We had a very empowering worship service the first Sunday after the GLC! To close out, we witnessed the very moving baptism of Brandon Baskus, whose whole household has now been impacted by the Gospel! It all started with Richie being baptized last month, who is on the Sacramento City College Wrestling Team! Then Richie’s mom, Selina (Brandon’s wife), was baptized a few weeks ago! Then Sam, the youngest son, was baptized two weeks ago, giving us our first teen baptism! God is truly displaying His power in a mighty way in Sacramento!


Congratulations to the entire Baskus Family
who is now united in Christ!

 
Los Angeles – East Region: Congratulations to Kirk & Margie Hamula, the East Region Leaders, on the birth of their son – Jeremiah James!


Jeremiah James Hamula so enjoyed
his first GLC with dad and mom!

 

Inland Empire Region: Please welcome the newest addition to the IE Family from Juan & Jhoselyn Mota – Leah Nicole who at her birth on August 16th was 19 inches!


Congratulations to Juan, Jhoselyn
and Leah Nicole!

 

Orange County Region – UNIDAD Sector: Meet the Gonzalez Familia! Jonathan (Jonny) & Lily were restored to the Lord and there kiddo Jayden is now studying the Bible and wants to be a disciple!


Pray for Jonny & Lilly’s son Jayden to
become a disciple very soon!
 

Metro Heights Region: Congratulations to Richard Cadle & Victoria Monroe on their engagement!


Congratulations to Richard & Victoria!

 

All in the Metro Heights Region are so moved by the repentance of Josiah Garcia – the son of Noel & Janice!


Josiah – a “Kingdom Kid” – had the immense
blessing of godly Christian parents –
Noel & Janice – and growing up
seeing God’s Church!

 
Jimmy & Carol Idrees were united in Christ through baptism with their teen daughter – Keilly Lopez at the GLC!


Congratulations to Jimmy, Carol and
Keilly – now one in Christ!

 
Coachella Valley Region: God has been uniting families in the Valley this summer as we were able to see three family members baptized! First, Michael was able to baptize his son, Andrew, who moved to Coachella Valley from Texas to be with his dad!


The Spirit drew Andrew from Texas to LA to
learn about Jesus’ true church!

 
And Cesar (who was baptized in February) was able to baptize both his mom, Sonia, after months of persecuting and his sister Silvana, who was a true three-day conversion!


Congratulations to Sonia!


Congratulations to Silvana!


And congratulations to Cesar!

 
Central Region: We were so blessed to see the incredible baptism of a wonderful Filipino woman named Myrna! Myrna’s son, Karl, was baptized over a year ago in the Pasadena City College Campus Ministry and Myrna has studied off and on for the past year, battling with her religiosity. Yet recently, God opened up her heart, and she studied urgently for three weeks and was baptized on August 5th!


Myrna is so grateful for her salvation as she
was taught the Gospel by Vicki James
(left), Joji Garza and her son Karl!

 
Valentina Marulanda was baptized almost a year ago at USC in Los Angeles, and on her trip home to Miami, Florida for winter break, she was questioned and persecuted by her family! However, after seeing her love and faithfulness, Valentina’s mom and teen sister started attending the Miami ICC! Her teen sister, Susana Marulanda-Ortega, was baptized on July 22nd, and miraculously at GLC Sunday, Valentina’s mom, Nora Ortega, was baptized as a sold-out disciple!


Congratulations to Nora who was baptized at
the GLC by her two amazing daughters –
Valentina and Susana!

 
It is so awesome to be in a Movement where family members can be baptized through the efforts of a sister church in another city!
 

EDITORIAL
“I Never Want To Go To Columbus!”

“The wind blows where it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit!” (John 3:8) Lord willing, tomorrow September 1st, Karen Maciel – one of the best hearted disciples that Elena & I have ever known – will pack up her car and drive over 2,000 miles to Columbus, Ohio where she will be the last Columbus Mission Team Member to arrive! So why did she say just four months ago, “I never want to go to Columbus?” Learning of her extraordinary life may help you understand, will likely inspire you, and perhaps prevent you from saying the word “never” to God!


Karen grasped tight the Columbus
OPERATION EAGLE Trophy!

 
Karen was born in Tijuana, Mexico on September 19, 1994 to a beautiful young woman – Araceli De La Huerta! Karen has two older sisters – Vanessa and Lizbeth Maciel. Karen has never met her father, but was graciously given her stepfather’s last name Maciel, so that she would not feel different or left out as she grew up. (Her stepfather is the biological dad of her two sisters.)


Karen (center) at one year old with her beloved
sisters Vanessa (right) and Lizbeth!

Since her oldest sister Vanessa is a United States citizen, in the year 2000, Karen’s mother and stepdad legally crossed the border with Karen’s older sister with a temporary visa. However, similar to Moses’ mom who radically risked Moses to “save” him, Karen’s mom paid complete strangers to smuggle across the Mexican border to America Lizbeth just 7 years old and Karen at 5 years old! The two of them were transported to three different homes full of Mexicans waiting to be brought to the United States. This all happened in one day! They were told to be brave and to pretend to be sleeping so as not to get nervous if they were questioned at the border. Once across, the smugglers gave back to their worried mother and stepdad at an agreed upon location two now very grateful little girls!


Karen (right) at five years old on the day that
she migrated to America!

 
Karen’s teen years were filled with sports as she played basketball and took up boxing after her nose was bloodied in middle school by in Karen’s words, “A really big girl!” In high school, she excelled in cross-country and track! She also did quite well in her studies!


Karen’s mom Araceli cheered Karen at this
her very first Cross Country Race!

 
In January 2012 at 17 years old while working at Tacos Mexico Restaurant, Karen was met by Ezequiel Gonzalez. However, first he reached out to her sister Lizbeth who also worked at the mall, but she was not interested so Lizbeth “volunteered” Karen! Ezequiel came to her job with his little sister Sara. Sara and Karen exchanged numbers, but even though Karen texted her, there was not a response. Six months later at the Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) Freshman Orientation, Ezequiel reached out to Karen again, but neither recognized the other. Karen did go to Bible Talk and there Sara recognized her and vigorously apologized for not following up! Karen was so inspired by the disciples’ love and the Bible study that she attended Devo that same night!


Sara helped Karen to select and buy her
very first Bible just three days
before her baptism!

The next week, Karen studied the Bible every day and was baptized at the City of Angels Church All-Congregational Service on July 1, 2012! This was the day that I first met Karen!


Karen was baptized at the City of Angels All-
Congregational Service on July 1, 2012!

 
On her second spiritual birthday, July 1, 2014, she moved to Las Vegas on the Supplemental Mission Team and led the UNLV Campus Ministry with her then fiancé. Sadly, a few months later, he fell away with another sister! Karen felt abandoned and betrayed by this young man. A few months later at the Jose & Liz Torres Wedding in Las Vegas, Elena & I met Karen again, as Elena had met her at the Staff Meeting before Karen left for Las Vegas. We were touched by her genuine warmth, her enthusiasm to serve by helping Sonia Gonzalez to cook for the wedding, and her effectiveness in the ministry at such a relatively young age of 19! It was then that I asked her to become a student at ICCM, as I saw so much potential! As well, the decision was made for the church to sponsor Karen for her DACA Work Permit!


Kip & Elena met Karen for only the second time
at the Torres Wedding when she was cooking
a separate salsa for Kip, because
he is allergic to garlic!


Elena and Karen moments before the
beginning of Jose’s & Liz’s Wedding!

 
In October 2015, we asked Karen to return to LA. This she gladly did as she went on to lead the San Bernardino Sector Women under Adam Zepeda and Rebecca Rico, who led the very fruitful IE Region! Since Rebecca was discipling Karen, when Rebecca left to join her future husband working in the London Church, she emphatically said, “Karen is the best person to replace me as your Assistant for the Good News Email as she is very effective, very smart and ‘knows everyone!'”


At the direction of Victor Gonzalez Sr.,
Karen was cooking carnitas for the
entire City of Angels Church at
the 2013 Labor Day Picnic!

 
So, in July 2016, Karen became Elena’s & my Assistant! Her work ethic with the Good News Email has been extraordinary in many long days and nights and in quality editing… redacting!


Elena is so proud of Karen as not only a terrific
Assistant, but as a very dear daughter
in the faith!

Peter and John were “unschooled and ordinary men” (Acts 4:13), yet after being with Jesus these fisherman wrote a very high quality of Greek in their writings! Similarly, Karen has become an excellent writer! In fact, she frequently “gently” corrects my grammar and punctuation! These are just a few of the reasons that Karen is now an ICCM-Global Assistant Redactor! (The ICCM-Global Redactor-in-Chief is Chris Adams, a Yale University Graduate, and the other Assistant Redactor is Dr. Jen Watkins, who received her PhD in Medieval Studies from another Ivy League School – Cornell University! Yes, Karen is now in their “league!”)


Karen received her ICCM BA Degree at
the 2017 GLC in Manila!


Karen’s mother not only came to see Karen
graduate, but she participated in the
Day of MERCY!

 
Elena & I thought we were going to have Karen for a couple more years, but the Spirit has directed otherwise. In April of this year, Karen had “caught the eye” of Joey Gregory – a very fruitful Campus Intern in the OC Region! He called me up several times for advice as he saw me as Karen’s dad in the faith! When Elena & I first sat down with Karen to “explore” if she had an interest in Joey, who was the right hand man for Coltin Rohn on the Columbus Mission Team, Karen’s first words were, “I will never go to Columbus!” Well, after a few dates, Joey won Karen over! So not unlike Silas, Luke and Timothy with Paul’s Macedonian Vision, it can now be said of Karen, “After [Joey] had seen the [Columbus Vision, Karen] got ready at once to leave for [Columbus], concluding that God had called [her] to preach the Gospel to them.” (Acts 16:10)


Little did Karen know that later that same day,
Joey would change her life by asking her
to be his girlfriend!

 
Why did she say, “I never want to go to Columbus?” It was simply because she loves her LA spiritual family and her mom Araceli so, so much! After all, she loved taking care of her mom, and in LA are her two spiritual Dads – Ricky Challinor and me! (She had several great moms in the faith as well – Coleen Challinor, Lianne Kernan, Megan Mathews, Sonia Gonzalez and Elena to name a few!)


Ricky & Coleen Challinor – the West Region Leaders
for the City of Angels Church – have trained Karen
at UCLA, and now she is ready to lead The
Ohio State Campus Ministry with Joey!


Tears were shed at the Tuesday, August 28th Staff
Meeting, as Kip gave to his precious daughter
in the faith his 2017 – Year of the
Impossible – Bible!

As well, Karen now understands that disciples must love God and His plans more than not just their physical families, but their spiritual families too! All this said, I am tearing up as I write this, because Karen has become a true daughter in the faith to Elena & me! She now understands the principle: Never say never to God! Do you?


On Monday, August 27th, the West Region Disciples,
Karen and the McKeans greeted Shefali Rajan who
had just flown for 28 hours from New Delhi!


Since Shefali will be the McKeans’ Assistant
for the remainder of the year, Karen has
helped her get acclimated to “all things
LA” like nachos at Rubio’s!


In 2009, Kip & Elena made their first visit to Chennai
and met the awesome Rajan Family! The McKeans
gave Bibles to their spiritual grandchildren –
Ashwin, Isheeta (center) and Shefali!

 
Let us all pray for the Milwaukee and Columbus Inaugural Services on September 19th and October 7th respectively, as well as for Nick & Denise Bordieri, who are joyfully leaving the comforts of America to oversee the Chhim MERCY Orphanage in the third world of Southeast Asia! Pray as well for every disciple in the SoldOut Movement to be EMPOWERED by God’s Spirit to take His Gospel to all nations in this generation! And to God be all the glory!
We are family… by God’s amazing grace,
Kip

Copyright © 2018 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

Good News Email – 7.14.18

Good News Email – 7.14.18


All content within this email is for the intended recipient only. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution and/or copy is a violation of applicable laws.

July 14, 2018

Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear Friend,
Greetings from Dallas/Ft. Worth, Moscow, Lagos, Dubai and Los Angeles! Elena & I had a terrific time with the Dallas/Ft. Worth Church as we joyfully celebrated Mother’s Day! Then it was on to Moscow for the amazing Eurasian Missions Conference on May 18th through May 20th, where almost 250 disciples came together to celebrate THE ETERNAL COVENANT! That same Sunday, the City of Angels International Christian Church (CAICC) raised over one million dollars for Missions! Then at the end of May, I had the great honor to preach at the 11th City of Angels Church Anniversary Service! Two weeks later, the CAICC had a record attendance at their Bring Your Neighbor Day (BYND) of 2,105! On Saturday, June 16th was the incredible International Day of MERCY where thousands around the world were served by the zealous and loving MERCY Ambassadors! At the African Missions Conference on June 21st to June 24th in Lagos, God blessed us with seven baptisms! On Friday, June 29th, in a very tearful leadership exchange, RD & April Baker – the Father and Mother of faith of the Middle East – graciously entrusted the souls of the 35 sold-out Dubai Disciples to Miguel Mendez and Megan Mathews! And to God be all the glory!

 

Michael Williamson, Andrew & Patrique Smellie, and
Kip & Elena were so fired up to participate in the
2018 African Missions Conference in Lagos!
 

In Dubai, RD & April Baker, Megan Mathews, Miguel
Mendez and Kip & Elena were grateful to be in
the fight together for the evangelization
of the Middle East!
 

HEADLINE NEWS

Tim Kernan – Director of the 2018 Global Leadership Conference (GLC): The thrilling theme for the 2018 GLC is EMPOWERED! So many Scriptures on God’s power come to mind: “The Kingdom of God [has] come with power.” (Mark 9:1) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order [to experience]… His incomparably great power for us who believe!” (Ephesians 1:18-19)
 
 

Enjoying his new GLC T-shirt, Adam
Zepeda – the AMC Region Leader
of LA – is excited to welcome
over 2,000 disciples to
the 2018 GLC!
 
The GLC will be held on Thursday, August 16th through Sunday, August 19th, 2018 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, California! Accommodations will be at the Sheraton Park Hotel – a five minute walk from the Convention Center! (It is also just a 10 minute walk to Disneyland!)
 

The gorgeous Anaheim Convention Center is
the site for the entire 2018 GLC!
 

GLC highlights will include amazing preaching, extraordinary singing, glorious fellowship, the Sixth Commencement of the International College of Christian Ministries, and the Spirit sending out two more OPERATION EAGLE Mission Teams: Columbus, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

 

Coltin, Mandee, Hailee and Trina Rohn are euphoric
that most of the Columbus Mission Team have
already moved into their respective homes!

We will also be hosting the “Kingdom’s Got Talent Show!” This year is the fifth such occasion! If you are interested in performing, please send a video of your act to the Director of KGT5 – Jay Causey – by July 15th! The full GLC Program has been posted on the City of Angels Church Website!

 

Since the Ohio State Stadium in Columbus
holds 105,000 people, perhaps a future
GLC will be held there!

The registration fee is $200 for a regular ticket; $180 for a current ICCM student; and $100 for a teen registration! Our Prayer Goals are for 1,800 American Disciples and 200 International Disciples to participate in the 2018 GLC as this will allow us to financially break even! Register now! (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-global-leadership-conference-empowered-tickets-42924191412)

 

The Kingdom Banquet and Encouragement
Dates are always a highlight of the Global
Leadership Conference… Especially
for the married sisters!

 
We are encouraging every Church Leader Couple, every Shepherding Couple and every CAICC Region Leader Couple to stay at the Sheraton Park Hotel. The cost of a room is $139/night plus tax. The group rate is available until July 17th, so book now! (https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/events/start.action?id=1801311047&key=E24CAE4)

 

At the 2018 GLC Commencement of the ICCM,
89 BA Degrees and 6 Master’s Degrees
will be awarded!

 
There will not be a Global Leadership Conference next year to financially allow particularly American Disciples to attend Geographic Missions Conferences outside of the United States! Thus, this makes the 2018 GLC all the more important to attend! Be praying that over 2,000 disciples from around the world will come together for this momentous event!

 

Nick Bordieri – World Sector Leader of MERCYworldwide: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)


MERCY is the acronym for Maximizing Efforts
for Relief Care and Youth!

On June 16, 2018 all of the SoldOut Movement Disciples on all six populated continents of the world became MERCY Ambassadors to let our light shine during the 11th Annual International Day of MERCY! Donning our KNOW MERCY T-shirts in a sign of unity across the globe, we served hurting individuals and communities with hearts of compassion and a spirit of joy!  

 

In Moscow at the 2018 Eurasian Mission Conference,
Nick & Denise Bordieri shared about MERCY
and its worldwide impact!

 
Our passion to live out our purpose did not go unnoticed! So many lives were impacted by MERCY Ambassadors during this year’s Day of MERCY! I particularly like the name the Sacramento Community gave the MERCY Ambassadors: “Angels in Green Shirts!” The following pictures only give a glimpse of how God used the Angels in Green Shirts!


On June 16th, the SoldOut Movement Disciples
donned their MERCY Shirts and became
MERCY Ambassadors known in
Sacramento as “Angels in
green shirts!”
 

The Abidjan MERCY Ambassadors went to the poor
neighborhood of Gesco to support a clinic that
helps pregnant women and the
sick free of charge!


In New York City, while watching Sarah perform,
one passerby commented, “It is great to see
so many young people fighting for a cause
they believe in and sharing their
joy with the world!”


The Phnom Penh MERCY Ambassadors
brought water, food and joyful games
to the children of the Cambodia
Social Welfare Orphanage!


The Los Angeles MERCY Ambassadors partnered
with the Red Cross and installed a record
1,400 fire alarms!


Teams of three disciples – with one being a
Spanish-speaker – were required to
install each alarm in the
underprivileged city of
Pico Rivera!


The Paris MERCY Ambassadors teamed up with
a local Fire Department for the Day of MERCY!


In preparation for a disaster, medical emergency
or terrorist attack, the disciples learned
life-saving CPR and first aid skills!


At the Sixth Annual Hilo MERCY Day Fair, the people
affected by the Kilauea Volcano eruption were
treated to free food, clothing, haircuts
and entertainment!


The Mexico City MERCY Ambassadors served
with TLC (tender loving care) babies
and children in two orphanages!


The Seattle Disciples developed a partnership with
Home Depot and the Washington Native Plant
Society to plant trees! As well,
a first for the
International Day of MERCY, an
“Ambassadors-in-Training”
Program was initiated!

 
Andrew Smellie – World Sector Leader of Africa: Greetings from Lagos, Nigeria and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), respectively the largest and third largest cities on the continent of Africa according to WorldAtlas.com! After an inspiring African Missions Conference in Lagos, I had the privilege to travel to Kinshasa on Wednesday, June 27th to help build a sold-out base of disciples by strengthening the Kinshasa Church Leadership and planning the evangelization of the almost 80 million souls of the DRC!


The Democratic Republic of Congo has a population
of almost 80 million lost souls!


With a population of over 13 million, Kinshasa
has become the third largest
megacity in Africa!

 

On my arrival to Kinshasa, at 1:30AM on Thursday morning, I was greeted by Micky & Lyly Ngungu, the Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader for the Kinshasa Church, along with seven other zealous Kinshasa Disciples!  

 

Upon arriving in Kinshasa at 1:30AM, Andrew
was given an enthusiastic SoldOut
Movement Welcome!

 
After getting some rest on Thursday, I met with the Ngungus for lunch and celebrated Lyly’s birthday as we reviewed the status and history of the Kinshasa Church. Micky & Lyly are both Congolese and became disciples in early 1993 in Johannesburg, South Africa as a married couple with two kids! After moving to Abidjan, Ivory Coast because French was their native language, they were called to the ministry in 1995 and planted the Kinshasa ICOC in October of that year! After moving back to Abidjan from 1997-2000, they returned to their homeland in 2000 and led the Kinshasa Church which reached 800 disciples by 2005!

 

Andrew and the beloved Kinshasa ICC Leaders –
Micky & Lyly Ngungu!

 
Sadly, due to the “Great Tribulation” in the fall of the ICOC, the Ngungus were mistreated and deeply wounded spiritually. There was deep division in the Kinshasa Church as the ICOC usurped the Ngungus’ leadership and eventually disfellowshipped 12 key leaders. Included in the 12 were the Ngungus, who chose to take a godly stand against returning to autonomy and other Mainline Church of Christ doctrines. In 2007, Lyly in desperation took a job in South Africa just to make money as a nanny, since the Ngungu Family had grown to four children – Li, Sarah, Lena and Delia!
After meeting with Tim Kernan back in 2012, Micky was eager to join the new Movement and came with a group of 150 remnant disciples also desperate for revival! At our First African Missions Conference in Abidjan in 2015, Lyly was restored to the Lord! Now both Micky & Lyly live in Kinshasa together, strong and united in the Lord!


The Ngungus and Kip first embraced one
another at the 2015 AMC in Abidjan!

On Friday, we visited the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), which numbers over 26,000 students! It is a large campus, and a few disciples who graduated from UNIKIN also work at the university. Our prayer is for the whole Kinshasa Church to meet in their large amphitheater soon! 

 

The prestigious University of Kinshasa – UNIKIN!


The UNIKIN Disciples are praying for the whole
Kinshasa Church to meet in their large
amphitheater very soon!

 
On Friday night, I was encouraged to meet with all the 42 Bible Talk Leaders of the Kinshasa Church! Since the Democratic Republic of Congo is French-speaking and my secondary school training in French is far from fluent, I was grateful to have Micky translate for me! His ability to speak in English has grown tremendously, and inspires me to practice and become fluent in French! We are also looking forward to having our dear friends Blaise & Patricia Feumba move back to Abidjan, Ivory Coast in June 2019, so that they can oversee the evangelization of the 14 French-speaking Countries on the continent of Africa!

 

The cranking Bible Talk Leaders Meeting!

 
After preaching to the leaders from Ezekiel 33 and giving them an admonition to be courageous and to call every disciple to be “fully committed” (2 Chronicles 16:9), they were inspired to surpass the “former glory” of 800 members in the ICOC and do “even greater things” for the Lord! After our d-groups that evening, I was told that because of the lack of availability of water for a baptistery on Sunday, we would need to meet on Saturday morning at the Congo River to see 13 souls baptized – a new record in the Kinshasa Church! At 2:00AM, we greeted Amadou & Angele Sountoura – the present Abidjan Church Leaders – with the same warm SoldOut Movement Welcome that I received! 

 

Met at the airport by Andrew and Micky, Amadou –
still wearing his AMC Yellow T-shirt – and
his wife Angele of Abidjan were excited
to arrive in the DRC to help with the
Kinshasa Reconstruction!
 
Then we headed over to the river for the baptisms! It was incredible to see the joy of the Kinshasa Church as they sang all the way from our meeting place to the river where we had the baptisms!
 

While escorting their future brothers and sisters,
the Kinshasa Disciples sang all the way
to the Congo River!
 

Our 13 new Kinshasa Disciples!

 
After the baptisms we went to the hospital to encourage Lyly’s sister Martha, one of the most fruitful Sector Leaders of the Kinshasa Church! Despite three rounds of chemotherapy for breast cancer and enduring a mastectomy, she was fired up to greet us and sends her love to the Lagos Church and to the disciples around the world!

 

Though suffering from cancer, Martha realized
that because the Lord has not taken her
home, it means, “fruitful labor for
[her]!”
(Philippians 1:22)

 
On Sunday, we celebrated the start of the Kinshasa Church Reconstruction with much singing and dancing! I preached on being RELIGIOUS OR RIGHTEOUS? from Daniel 3 to an audience of 579 souls! In fact, we probably had well over 600 as there were even more people outside of the windows listening intently to the message as Micky translated in French!


To encourage Andrew, the Kinshasa Disciples
sang his favorite song, Men Who Dream!

 
After a great day of worship, Amadou preached at a very fired up Bible Talk Leaders Meeting on the lessons that God taught him in the reconstruction of the Abidjan Church just three years ago! He concluded by sharing about their Bring Your Neighbor Day on June 17, 2018 where 150 Abidjan Disciples had 602 in attendance and witnessed 8 baptisms and 1 restoration!
Amadou preached that those kind of miracles will only occur when the foundation of a congregation is composed of only sold-out disciples! Amadou explained that this sold-out foundation was accomplished by counting the cost with every Abidjan Church Member!

 

A record 602 attended the Abidjan BYND and heard
a prophet preach – our brother Blaise Feumba!
 
Then, we had dinner and a Sector Leaders Meeting at the Ngungus’ home. Afterward, we had a time of Q&A regarding their ministries and we counted the cost with each of these leaders! As a result of the reconstruction, the Kinshasa Church is now 291 sold-out disciples, making it the second largest church after Los Angeles in God’s new Movement! After cost-counting in Kinshasa, the Ngungus counted the cost with the three other established DRC Remnant Groups – Mbuji-Mayi (53 disciples), Bandundu (34 disciples), and Kikwit (22 disciples)! That means that there are now exactly 400 disciples in the Democratic Republic of Congo!
 

Charlie & Boniface Bidilukinu – the
Mbuji-Mayi ICC Leaders – now
serve 53 sold-out disciples!


Constant Buya leads the 34 disciples in the
newly reconstructed Bandundu ICC!


After the reconstruction, there were 22 Kikwit
ICC Disciples nobly led by Good &
Cathy Kwekana!

 
What a privilege it is to serve the Lord on the Motherland of Africa! Please pray for forceful advancement as God continues to build His Kingdom in the DRC and throughout the African continent!
 
Richie McDonnell – Lead Evangelist of Manila: Greetings from the beautiful 7,641 Islands of the Philippines! The month of June has been incredible for the Filipino Churches! The Metro Manila ICC celebrated our Third Anniversary on June 10th with a record attendance of 433!


At the Metro Manila Third Anniversary Service,
God blessed them with a record
433 in attendance!

 
Then both the Metro Manila and Metro Cebu Churches had an amazing Day of MERCY on June 16th! It was a day filled with serving the young and impoverished children of the Payatas Community, which is a neighborhood adjacent to a dumpsite. The people of Payatas rummage through the dumpsite to recycle the trash for their everyday lives. This community is the poorest of the poor. Most of them are unable to afford an inexpensive jeepney ride out of the neighborhood, costing only about $0.14 USD. 


According to Wikipedia, Payatas houses a 50
acre landfill dumpsite, which earned it the
name “Second Smokey Mountain!”


Medicines were made available for prescription
by doctors and dentists that served
at the Manila Day of MERCY!


“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but
painful. Later on, however, it produces
[good teeth]!”
(Hebrews 12:11)


The MERCY Ambassadors enjoyed the games
as much as the children!


Since delicious Jollibee food was served to all of
the children, the Jollibee Mascot was the
most popular person that day!

 
In Metro Cebu the Day of MERCY was just as awesome! The MERCY Ambassadors similar to us in Manila played games with the children of Barangay Ermita, performed songs, and danced with the kids! Delicious food was provided for all of the children and over 100 backpacks of school supplies were given to them as well! God was truly glorified on this Day of MERCY!


In Cebu, the MERCY Ambassadors gave out to the
children of Barangay Ermita over 100 backpacks
filled with school supplies!

 
Next, on June 24th, the Metro Cebu Church hosted its very First Women’s Day where 18 sisters and 7 visiting sisters had 96 women in attendance and 3 baptisms!

 

The powerful preaching of Elizabeth McDonnell
coupled with the tremendous organization
of Anna Malnegro ELEVATED the faith of
all 96 women that attended the First
Cebu Women’s Day!
 

Many of the visitors were so impacted by the
Women’s Day that they studied the
Bible immediately after this
momentous event!
 

The incredible Cebu Women’s Day Speakers!

 
It has been an exciting month as the Lord continues to “add to our number!” The Metro Manila ICC has been blessed by God with 83 additions in 2018 so far – 56 baptisms, 16 restorations and 11 place memberships! Also of note, a new remnant group of 13 has come out just a three hour bus ride north of Cebu in Daanbantayan! And to God be all the glory!
 
Anthony Olmos – Lead Evangelist of Paris: Greetings from Kiev! Though it has been difficult to be away from Paris, I am very appreciative of Kip and Oleg giving me the opportunity to reconstruct the Kiev Church! It has truly been an amazing time here, as Cassidy & I have fallen in love with the disciples and this incredible city! God has been glorified as we celebrated the One Year Anniversary Service of the Kiev Church on a boat! With 40 disciples, we had 191 in attendance! By God’s grace, we will have many baptisms and restorations very soon!


The beautiful Dnieper River flows through
the heart of the city of Kiev!


Very creatively, Anthony & Cassidy Olmos planned
for the One Year Anniversary of the Kiev Church
to be on a boat traveling on the Dnieper River!


40 Kiev Disciples filled the boat with 191
in attendance at their unique
Anniversary Service!


Anthony was translated by Dr. Sergiy Pomentun –
a tremendous servant of the Kiev Church!


Oleg Sirotkin – the Eurasian World Sector Leader –
closed out the service with high words of
praise for the Kiev Disciples!


The Kiev Campus Ministry Leaders – Sasha & Alina
Balitski – had Sasha’s sister as one
of their many guests!

 
These past three weeks in Kiev have been inspiring, yet extremely challenging! Most challenging of all is that Cassidy suffered her second miscarriage in the past few months, and now both of her Fallopian tubes have been surgically removed – one from each miscarriage! We were very encouraged by Cassidy’s doctor when she shared that Cassidy might still be able to become pregnant through “in vitro fertilization.” I am so very proud of her as she is still radiant, faithful and trusting in the Lord! We celebrated her 30th Birthday this past weekend! To make it extra special, I surprised Cassidy on Friday morning with a “piece of Paris” cake! After her cake, our Father and Mother in the faith – Michael & Michele Williamson – sent beautiful flowers that moved Cassidy to tears! We continued to celebrate that night at a restaurant overlooking all of Kiev!


The Olmoses as they headed out for
Cassidy’s birthday dinner!

 
The next day was the most special surprise of all for Cassidy, as her best friend Rebecca Gray secretly traveled from London to Kiev! This was the most special as Cass was “stung” by unbelief! Both sisters embraced each other and were filled with emotion as each wept in each other’s arms! This was really one of Cassidy’s best birthdays!

 
 
 

Cassidy’s spirits were greatly lifted at the
surprise visit of her best friend from
London – Rebecca Gray!
 
Thank you to all the family around the world who keeps us in your prayers!

 
Dustin Miller – Lead Evangelist of Denver: Greetings from the beautiful Mile High City! It has been an incredible last few months as we have seen the Denver ICC grow in so many ways! Amanda & I are so proud of the church in Denver as we blew out our Missions Goal of $80,000 (which was a 32x for us)! Also, we have seen 13 additions since the last Good News Email on May 5th, and have even sent out our intern to Albuquerque and an incredible sister to Columbus, Ohio!


Dustin & Amanda Miller have done a tremendous
job in leading the Denver ICC!

 
Since volunteering to send Shyloe Pollard to Albuquerque, God blessed us with 4 amazing place memberships! It is incredible to have seen firsthand how God really does take care of us when we trust Him! Lastly, very encouraging to me was to see the baptism of Angie Garcia! Angie was reached out to by our dear sister Jennifer Torres during a very tough time. Jennifer gave birth to a son named Sam, and very sadly only a few minutes later he passed away. It was during this time that Jen reached out to Angie. Angie shared at her baptism that it was seeing Jen’s incredible faithfulness and love for God during her trials that inspired Angie to pursue a relationship with God and make Him Lord of her life! 


Angie (center) shared at her baptism that it was
Jen’s (left) faithfulness to God during a very
difficult time in her life that inspired Angie
to make her decision to follow Christ!

 
Lastly, Curt & Morgan Valdez have joined our efforts to evangelize the Rocky Mountains! Amanda & I are so excited to build an incredible partnership in the Gospel with them!


The Millers welcomed Curt & Morgan
Valdez back “home” to Colorado!

 
Alfredo Anuch – Overseeing Evangelist of Quito: The Quito (Ecuador) Church was planted in March 2018 by Manuel & Claudia Palma! They were sent off at the South American Missions Conference last February! The Lord used the Palmas, and they valiantly grew the church from 9 disciples to 19 disciples in just three months! This was remarkable! That being said, we know that Satan often attacks after victories, and that is precisely what he did. Satan attacked the Palmas through discouragement and acedia. Now, the good news is that the Palmas are faithful and happy to be back in the fellowship in Santiago!


The South American Nation of Ecuador has a
growing population of 17 million!


Of the 17 million of Ecuadorians,
5 million live in Quito!

 
As the Lord always does, He provided a new leadership couple to lead the Quito Church to build on the foundation of the Palmas. That couple is Anthony & Alejandra Rodriguez, who planted and led the Monterrey (Mexico) ICC.


Though Anthony & Alejandra Rodriguez (left) are
Venezuelans, they have acclimated extremely
quickly to life in Ecuador!

The Rodriguezes are fired up to be in Quito, and once again God is taking care of His church as He always does!
 
Peter Markarian – Lead Minister of Gainesville: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8) Greetings from Gator Country! In the past two months since Jessica & I were blown by the Spirit to Gainesville, the miracles have been nothing short of phenomenal! First off, we are very grateful for Marcel & Tia Turner’s love, patience and training! So amazing for the Gainesville Church was that in the midst of preparing the Miami Supplemental Mission Team, God gave us five powerful additions!

 
The Send Off Party of the 10 on the Miami
Supplemental Mission Team!

 
One of these baptisms was met by our brother Zach Dryden a year ago! He studied the Bible, but at the time he was heavily engrossed in Satan worship. After arguing with the Scriptures, he decided to walk away only to return a year later humbled by God. He ran into the brothers once again, and after restudying for about four weeks, Trey was baptized! He went from being a pagan in the Kingdom of Darkness to now a prince in the Kingdom of Light!


The blood of Christ has taken Trey (third from
the left) from the Kingdom of Darkness
to the Kingdom of Light!

 
On that very same day, a supplemental mission team was sent to Miami! It was a tearing of heart as friendships had been forged in just a few short years with these faithful few, and yet God has called them to “even greater things!”


Marcel & Tia – the Miami Supplemental Mission
Team Leaders – will serve as the Miami
Campus Ministry Leaders!

 
Lastly, the parents of two sisters here have been heavily persecuting them and the church, and even went as far as to file a complaint to the University Police Department! That is when one of the workers overheard them making their complaint, and instead of being repelled, he was compelled to find this controversial church! He recalled at that moment, “I have not heard of persecution like this since the Crossroads Church in the 70’s and early 80’s!” After finding us online, Steve & Angie Middleton – who were both part of the Crossroads Movement and the ICOC – attended their first service and quickly realized that “this was the church they were baptized into!” About three weeks later after becoming dear friends to the Turners, Jessica & me, they officially placed membership with God’s SoldOut Discipling Movement! The Middletons were so moved by the passion and fire of every single disciple in the fellowship! Steve shared with tears in his eyes that his heart has again been ignited on fire like the day he was first baptized! 


Steve & Angie (center) knew to follow persecution
to find God’s true church!

 
Raul Moreno – World Sector Leader of Central and South America: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8) What an amazing passage! Abraham went to Canaan even though he had never been there, and he was blessed because of this faith! Likewise, the São Paulo Church has made some radical decisions to see our part of the world won for Christ! At service, we announced all the changes and everyone was filled with joy and with tears as well! Here are the plans we laid before the Lord:


Raul & Lynda Moreno lead the fast-expanding
Central and South American World Sector!

 
1. After the GLC, Tulio & Vaítsa Amaral will move from leading the Tatuapé Sector to lead the South Region of the São Paulo Church! Lynda & I will be there with them for six months to further their training. In January 2019, the Amarals will move to Santiago, Chile to learn Spanish, as in February 2019, they will plant the Lima (Peru) Church! We already have a small remnant group there, and we have several more Peruvian Disciples in both São Paulo and Santiago that will go on the team!


Tulio & Vaítsa Amaral are “good to go”
wherever the Spirit takes them!

 
2. After the GLC, Danilo & Carol Bataglin will move from leading the West Region of the São Paulo Church to, God willing, Dallas, Texas to bolster the campus ministry work there! After that time, they will move to Santiago for about a year to lead the campus ministry!


Danilo & Carol Bataglin were among the first
few baptisms at USP – the University
of São Paulo!

 
3. After the GLC, Vini Rodrigues & Bia Hida will move from the South Region to lead the West Region of the São Paulo Church! The West Region will be divided into two sectors: an English Sector and a Portuguese Sector! An English church service is very attractive to opinion leaders in São Paulo, so we will use this resource to save those individuals!


Lord willing, Vini & Bia will be married
immediately after Vini graduates
from USP this December!

 
4. The English Sector will be led from August 2018 to December 2018 by Lynda & me with Luca di Beo assisting! In January 2019, the Holy Spirit will bring Sophia Sirotkina from Moscow to São Paulo as she just “happens to be” dating Luca! Then for the first six months of 2019, Luca & Sophia will lead the English Sector, and when Luca graduates from USP in June, Lord willing, they will move to London to further their training to plant a discipling church in Rome!

 

Though Luca & Sophia only began dating in
May, they share the dream to plant the
Rome International Christian Church!

 
5. After the GLC, our Tatuapé Sector will be led by Renato & Maria Jose Tria! This sector will be used to train two awesome young dating couples for the ministry: Alex Carrim & Daine Ferreira and Gabriel Especamilha & Amanda Silva!


Renato & Maria Jose Tria have been best of
friends with Raul & Lynda since the 90’s!

 
Thank you LA for sending missionaries to São Paulo to plant our church seven years ago! God-willing, we will imitate your example to produce a similar result! Oh yes, we are so ecstatic to welcome Jasmine Mikulak of LA to help Lynda & me with our children’s homeschooling! Indeed, “God is good!” (Psalm 106:1)

 

Though Jasmine (left) and Karen are dear partners
in the Gospel, both are excited that the Spirit
is sending Jasmine to the mission field of
Brazil – almost like a Hollywood Movie!

 
Brian Carr – Lead Evangelist of Eugene: After completing our Missions Contribution, we moved into our “Fight for Someone Summer of Fun Campaign” where everyone adopted the goal of finding one open person to befriend, study the Bible with, and baptize! Excitingly, Leo was baptized into Christ just 10 days into the campaign!


Immediately before leaving to Dubai,
Emmanuel (right) baptized Leo!

Tyler Jongsma from Sacramento came to surprise his dad in Eugene for Father’s Day and reached out to his friend Denny. Amazingly, Tyler and I made plans to go hike a mountain one morning and do a follow-up study with our newly baptized brother Leo, and Denny just “so happened to be” at the same mountain to go hiking that morning! We ended up all hiking the mountain together, studying the Bible with Denny at the top, and in less than two weeks he was baptized as our brother in Christ! To God be the glory!


Denny’s first Bible Study was literally a
mountain-top experience!

 
Raja Rajan – Lead Evangelist of New Delhi: Greetings from the Capital of India! God has given us more than we could ask or imagine! Since the New Delhi Mission Team landed in New Delhi just 63 days ago, God has added 70 souls – 38 baptisms, 19 restorations and 13 place memberships! So with 38 on the mission team, God has grown the Delhi Church to now 108 sold-out disciples!


The six that were baptized that day in Delhi
collectively celebrated their spiritual
births with a cake!

 
We started with just one teen, our daughter Isheeta, and now in just two months, we have 17 teens in the New Delhi Church!

 
Akshath was one of 16 teens baptized in the first
two months of the Delhi Planting, and is the
son of Johnson & Vandana Gona – the
Shepherding Couple for
the Delhi Church!

 
We also had our first marriage in the church – Vignesh & Scarlett! Vignesh is from a Hindu background and Scarlett from a Muslim background! At their wedding, the disciples fulfilled the Scriptures to be “their” mother, brother and sister as both physical families did not come for the wedding! However, it was a magnificent and glorious celebration!

 

Congratulations to Vignesh & Scarlett!

 
We started the First Principles Classes and many from our former fellowship heard the teaching and said, “We have never heard such teachings before;” “We were never taught these truths as only the full-time workers did the studies;” “These teachings are good and will help me to teach others effectively;” and “I am so happy I get to learn how to teach others!”


The phenomenal New Delhi Teen Ministry!

 
We are so excited to meet all of our brothers and sisters from across the world during the GLC in just five weeks!

 
MCKEANS’ MISSIONARY TRAVELS
Elena & I were so looking forward to going to Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) for the Mother’s Day Weekend on May 11th through the 13th! Not only were we able to fellowship with the DFW Church and their valiant leaders – Tyler & Shay Sears – but we were able to spend great time with our daughter Olivia, her husband Santtu and our two precious granddaughters – Scarlett (5) and Savannah (2)!


“Abuela Elena” celebrated Mother’s Day with her
darling daughter Olivia and her two precious
granddaughters – Scarlett and Savannah!

 
One of the many highlights of the Mother’s Day Service was the Welcome and Opening Prayer! The Welcome was given by Ernesto & Stephanie Morales and the Prayer was done by their disciple sons – Geo and Aiden! Then beautiful roses were passed out to all the “moms” in the audience that day!

 

The Morales Family gave the Welcome and
delivered the Opening Prayer for the
DFW Mother’s Day Service!

 
Amazingly, without talking to each other, Nicole Peralta moved our hearts for Communion as she shared Proverbs 3:1-6, and Elena for Contribution shared Proverbs 3:9-10!

 

During the Contribution message, Elena shared
about the many miracles around the world that
were made possible because of the sacrifice
of the American Churches!

 
For the sermon entitled GOD’S AMAZING GRACE, I chose the account of Hosea & Gomer to help the brothers and sisters appreciate God’s amazing love for us as sinners! After church, we were blessed to have an incredible Mother’s Day meal with Santtu, Olivia, Scarlett and Savannah!

 

Scarlett loves her daddy which she
calls in Finnish “Isi!”
 

Savannah loves her mom which she
calls in Spanish “Mama!”
 

After a very joyful but long Mother’s Day,
Abuela and Scarlett did not make it
through the movie!

 
Then Elena returned to LA, but I went on to Moscow for the Eurasian Missions Conference! I was met at the airport by Raul Moreno of São Paulo, Oleg & Aliona Sirotkin – the Eurasian World Sector Leaders – and the new dating couple Luca Di Beo also of São Paulo & Sophia Sirotkina! The exciting them was THE ETERNAL COVENANT!

 

Kip was greeted at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport
by Raul, Oleg & Aliona, and the new dating
couple – Luca & Sophia!
 

The stirring theme of the 2018 Eurasian Missions
Conference was ETERNAL COVENANT!

 
On Thursday evening, May 17th, we had the Speakers Dinner which was in fact a delicious meal! To conclude that evening, I gave a short charge on GOD SCATTERS AND GOD GATHERS challenging all the leaders to be like Jesus and be the very hands of God in gathering the lost and the remnant! My four points were simply, 1) God Gathered; 2) Jesus Gathered; 3) Paul Gathered; and 4) We Must Gather!


Oleg welcomed the out-of-town speakers and the
Moscow Staff to the Speakers Dinner!


An incredible Russian feast was enjoyed by all!


Kip was blessed to sit with the Moscow Campus
Leaders – Vlad Matveyuk and Masha Bizimova!

 
Friday morning, May 18th was the Leadership Workshop where Michael Williamson of London preached to a packed house on THE ETERNAL COVENANT! He stressed that disciples do not have a “contract” with God, but a “covenant!”

 

Key leaders in Kiev – Kirill & Lesia Karasyov –
were among the first to finish
the registration process!


The “pre-huddle” prayer for the 2018 EAMC
Leadership Workshop was powerfully
delivered by Raul Moreno!

 

One of the best Song Leaders in the Kingdom –
Sergey Anohin – led the opening song!
 

The EAMC Leadership Workshop was filled with zeal
even before the first speech!
 

Though the Leadership Workshop was filled with
zeal, all received an upward call from Michael
Williamson’s convicting preaching!
 

There was a packed house for the
Leadership Workshop!
 
 

Though young at heart, Victor Gonzalez Sr. of LA
celebrated his 60th birthday at the EAMC!

 
Then we divided into Men’s and Women’s Programs! Anthony Olmos of Paris preached to the men on A COVENANT OF LOVE! I will never forget his account of Cassidy – who like Anthony – had been very fired up over her newfound pregnancy because she had previously suffered two miscarriages! However, Cassidy was rushed to the hospital for a third miscarriage! And yet, Cassidy was singing Thank You Lord! This was a huge upward call for me to be joyful as it was a very tough day since my father would have turned 90 years old that day.


The enthusiastic Men’s Program!


Anthony moved the crowd to tears as he shared
about the trials of his wonderful wife Cassidy!

 
Following Anthony’s inspirational lesson, five short charges were preached by Slava Kapskiy of Moscow, Kaspar Tambaur of Stockholm, Vlad Matveyuk of Moscow, Luca Di Beo and RD Baker! Kaspar shared a terrific insight: The Greek word for co-worker is “synergoi.” This is where we get the English word – synergy – which means the performance of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts! So in 2 Corinthians 6:1, we are “co-workers with God,” therefore we can do much more than we thought possible! Being a “co-worker” with fellow disciples as Paul shared about in Philippines 4:3, each of us is motivated to do more!


Kaspar Tambaur of Stockholm shared his insights
about being co-workers with God and
with one another!

 
In the Women’s Program, Michele Williamson of London spoke on ELEVATE FOR ETERNITY!


Aliona – translated by Sophia – introduced Denise
Bordieri of LA to pray and Michele Williamson
of London to preach!


All the sisters had a notepad and a pen ready
to learn from the Scriptures!


Michele is a gifted speaker who moves her
audiences to laugh, cry and everything
in between!

 
After her lesson, the five charges were given by Aliona Sirotkina, Sophia Sirotkina, Masha Bizimova of Moscow, Cassidy Olmos of Paris, and April Baker of Dubai!


Sophia had many opportunities to translate for
her mom Aliona from Russian to English…


But then Sophia spoke and it was Aliona’s joy to
translate from English to Russian!


Masha’s spiritual aura encouraged all
the sisters as she spoke!


Cassidy has lived out, “Rejoice in the Lord
always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

(Philippians 4:4)


April Baker inspired the sisters to rely
on the Lord and on one another!

 
For lunch, I was able to fellowship with Erik & Michelle af Klint and Erik’s son Gustaf that I had known since he was in elementary school!


Kip had a delightful lunch with the
Af Klints, especially enjoying his
reunion with Gustaf!

Later that afternoon, Oleg and I studied “remnant theology” with Sasha & Paulina Korostelov of Kiev, who were attending our former fellowship yet seeking revival! The following weekend they placed membership with the Kiev ICC!


Kip and Oleg studied the Bible with Sasha & Paulina
Korotelov to give them the courage and the
convictions to join God’s new Movement!

On Friday evening, was the First General Session of the Eurasian Missions Conference! The singing was incredible! Then came a powerful Opening Video! Following was the always inspirational Flag Ceremony of all the Eurasian Nations! While the flags were paraded into the conference hall, Sophia beautifully sang the lead for the Moscow Band as they sang, Make Me A Believer!


MERCY Night at the EAMC!


The Flag Ceremony at the EAMC included the
15 Russian-speaking nations of the
former Soviet Union!

 
Then I was privileged to share GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!


As Paul did when he arrived in Jerusalem after his
third missionary journey, Kip “reported in detail
what God had done among the [nations]
through his ministry!”
(Acts 21:19)

 
Then came a brief but powerful MERCY Presentation by Nick & Denise Bordieri – the World Sector Leaders of MERCY – and Slava & Lena Kapskiy, the Moscow MERCY Directors!


Slava & Lena Kapskiy are the very creative
Moscow MERCY Directors!

To conclude this “MERCY Moment,” we saw several of the Down Syndrome children – that the Moscow MERCY Ambassadors reach out to regularly at Dancing House – perform a dance with their house parents! There was not a dry eye in the auditorium!


After the riveting performance of the Dancing House
Children – all with Down Syndrome – each of
the children received a special
bag of food and gifts!

 
After a break and more singing, Oleg preached the Word as only Oleg can preach it with humor and conviction on the theme, GIVE YOUR LAST DROP OF BLOOD!


Jurij Zykov of London was masterful in
translating Oleg’s often humorous
but convicting speech!


The EAMC MERCY Ambassadors!

 
On Saturday, May 19th was the Second General Session! I spoke on THE COVENANT OF GRACE! After a half-an-hour break, we divided into three sessions: Marrieds, Singles and Campus And Teens! For the Marrieds, RD & April spoke together on THE ETERNAL MARRIAGE COVENANT! This class was followed by Admonitions by Erik & Michelle Af Klint of Stockholm, Victor & Sonia Gonzalez of LA, and Dima & Tanya Serafonov of Moscow!


Victor & Sonia Gonzalez preached
on Keeping The Covenant!

 
The Singles Track was led by Anthony & Cassidy on the theme ENJOY BEING SINGLE! Short charges were given by Timur & Vika Butakov of St. Petersburg, Juriy Zykov of London, and Yulia Ursul of Kiev!


Anthony & Cassidy emceed and taught
at the Singles Session!


Timur & Vika Butakov – the St. Petersburg (Russia)
Remnant Group Leaders – preached decisively
at the Singles Session on The Covenant
Of Righteousness!


Jurij Zykov and Yulia Ursul have lived out
their message – Eternal Loyalty!

 
For the Campus And Teens, Raul spoke on FORCEFUL ADVANCEMENT! Then the students were treated to amazing practical Biblical teachings from Luca, Sophia, Vlad and Masha!


Luca & Sophia were magnificent as they
taught together for the first time at the
Campus And Teens Session!


Aliona translated for Kip at a very informative
lunch meeting with the Kiev Interns –
Alina (left), Sasha and Yulia!

 
Then at 3:00PM was the Football (Soccer) Tournament: Moscow vs. the World! Well, it ended with Moscow handily winning 8 to 3!


Oleg – the Moscow Team Captain – tried in vain
to keep up with Luca of the World Team and
Vlad of the Moscow Team, yet Moscow
dominated the game 8 to 3!

 
Saturday night was the Third General Session – The Kingdom Banquet! There was sooooo much food and very tasty too!


The EAMC Kingdom Banquet began
with a giant Prayer Circle!


Lydia Sirotkina (right) with Varya Kapskiya – the
gracious daughter of Slava & Lena – led the
way through the buffet line!


The EAMC Banquet was delicious!


Sasha, Paulina, Sasha (8) and Yana (4) Korostelov
so enjoyed the relaxing evening!


That evening, to conclude his 60th birthday
celebration, Victor & Sonia enjoyed the
chocolate fondue fountain!

 
Then we heard Raul deliver the masterful speech, ETERNAL IMPACT calling us to focus our eyes not on this world, but on all things eternal!


Raul preached an incredible lesson from 1 Kings 17
on the faith of the widow of Zarephath!


The remarkable Moscow Teen Ministry!

 
Sunday morning, we opened up church with a Mini Concert! Sophia and the Moscow Band again sang, Make Me A Believer! Marina Pryadko of Kiev sang a famous Russian song which translates to, I Will Stay. Ada Rodriguez of Moscow – a professional singer – treated us with Raise Me Up in English, and Walt Whitaker of Stockholm sang an amazing song that he wrote, I’m A Soldier!


Sunday Service at the EAMC began
with a Mini Concert!


Marina Pryadko sang the famous
Russian song, I Will Stay!


Ada Rodriguez followed with an amazing
rendition in English of Raise Me Up!


Walt Whitaker performed, I’m A Soldier!

 
After this, Michele Williamson shared for Communion saying, “The Kingdom is all I have!” Then, Raul read Haggai 1:2-4 and gave a stirring Contribution Charge!


The Moscow Teen Ministry celebrated Sophia’s
4th Spiritual Birthday with a cake
and beautiful flowers!

 
Then RD Baker gave the close out speech, ETERNAL GRACE! He preached on the Great Commission in Matthew 28, and then told the story of the Dubai Mission Team which celebrated their Inaugural Service in September 2016! There were 9 on the team, and they did have 6 restorations in that Fall! However, there were no baptisms, as well three on the original team returned to their homelands in the Fall because of visa issues. So the then 12 Dubai Disciples at the 2017 January Winter Workshop were called to repent and in the next 12 months, God blessed them with 29 baptisms! RD laid it out, “I learned that people are as open my mouth!” He went on to say, “So you do not want to be a missionary on a mission team? Well, it’s too late! You signed up to be a missionary when you were baptized!” It was an incredible send off speech for all of us!


RD challenged the crowd to understand that
how hard we work to win souls is directly
proportional to how much we
appreciate God’s grace!

 
At the end of the service, Lena placed membership; Tanya was restored; and Julia was baptized!


Lena placed membership all the way from our
former fellowship in Novosibirsk, Russia!


Our sister Tanya was thrilled to be
back in her Father’s House!


Sophia asked Julia the two most important
questions of her life!

 
The fellowship went on for quite some time after the phenomenal singing of the closing song, Молитва За Cмелость (Prayer For Boldness)!


After church, Kip enjoyed a late lunch
with the Sirotkins and Luca!

 
Three weeks after the 11th Anniversary Service of the City of Angels Church on May 27th, Elena & I flew to Lagos, Nigeria for the African Missions Conference (AMC) entitled, FEAR NONE… EXCEPT GOD!

 

The challenging theme of the 2018 African Missions
Conference was FEAR NONE EXCEPT GOD!
 
We arrived on the afternoon of June 19th and were greeted by the fiery Lagos Disciples with the song, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord!
 

Kip & Elena were given a rousing
SoldOut Movement Welcome!


On their way to the McKeans’ hotel, traffic was so
horrific that street vendors could walk in
between the cars selling their wares!

 
The next two days, we spent great time with Andrew & Patrique Smellie – the heroic Lagos Church Leaders, as well as we renewed our relationships with so many disciples including Michael Williamson, Blaise & Patricia Feumba of LA, LuJack & Cathi Martinez of Washington DC, and Benedict & Felicia Atason of Lagos!
 

The Washington DC Church – planted by the
Smellies and led by LuJack & Cathi
Martinez – is now a part of the
Africanus World Sector!
 
The AMC officially began on Thursday evening, June 21st with the Speakers Dinner held at the beautiful Terra Kulture Restaurant!
 

Amadou entered the Prayer War Room to do battle
on behalf of the Lord and the AMC!
Gathered that evening were the key leaders of the Lagos ICC, as well as disciples from 10 African Countries: Dr. Carol Lourdes from Mozambique, Tamru Belhu from Ethiopia, Ben & Monique Mpah of Cameroon, Amadou & Angele Sountoura of Ivory Coast, Micky & Lyly Ngungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ezekiel Awira and Emmanuel Lemmon of Uganda, Michael & Pamphilia Otsieno of Kenya, Nick Winn and Jacques & Jeanette Groenewald of South Africa, and Jerry Koroma of Sierra Leone!
 

Blaise registered at the Terra Kulture Restaurant –
the site of the Speakers Dinner!

 

Andrew & Patrique joyfully welcomed all
to the Speakers Dinner!


A Nigerian Buffet complete with jollof rice was
scrumptious and seasoned quite hot!


Teddy and Tamru came all the way from Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia to Lagos, which is
about 5,500 km (3,500 miles)!


“What a fellowship…”


“What a joy divine!”


Elena graciously autographed her book for Tosin –
the wife of our new brother Rotimi!

 


Micky and Kip – loyal Prayer Warriors –
reunited for the battle in Africa!
 
Other special visiting disciples were Brandon Davis of London and Jonathan Panossian of Los Angeles!
 

Jonathan Panossian (center right) of LA on one of
his many missionary journeys to Uganda!

 
After an incredible Nigerian Feast, we heard our dynamic brother Blaise Feumba deliver the stirring message, FEAR GOD AND GIVE HIM GLORY! My favorite quote from that amazing message was, “The power is not in the messenger, the power is in the message!”


Blaise passionately preached the Word on FEAR
GOD AND GIVE HIM GLORY!

 
In the morning of June 22nd, we met at the Virginrose Hotel for the Church Builders Workshop of the AMC! Andrew & Patrique gave the Welcome and announced that it was Patricia Feumba’s 50th Birthday!

 

Andrew & Patrique welcomed the excited disciples
from 10 African Nations to the AMC Church
Builders Workshop!
 

During the Opening Prayer, everyone lifted up
holy hands in reverence to God!
 
Then after the prayer, Elena & I were privileged to share GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!
 

Kip & Elena enthusiastically shared GOOD
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!


Tina Nwachukwu (left) – a Lagos Intern – met and
baptized Dr. Carol Lourdes in Paris! Now
Carol is a “one-woman remnant group”
in Maputo, Mozambique!

 

After a short break, we came back together with the song, Come And See where a Conga Line quickly formed around the room!

 

Tony Adamu of Lagos led the song,
Come And See…
 

And a Conga Line formed where everybody – even
Blaise – was dancing around the room!
 
Then we heard Michael Williamson preach on Nehemiah 7:2, INTEGRITY AND FEAR OF GOD! He shared that in the Bible there are 18 different words for the fear of God! His three points were so memorable: 1) The Fear Of God Has Been Dismantled In The Churches; 2) There Are Varying Degrees Of The Fear Of God; and 3) The Signs Of Churches Who Do Not Fear God! On his last point, he preached that churches that do not fear God are fruitless, idolizing of people, autonomous and do not raise up leaders!
 

Michael’s modeling head shot from his Portland
Days (upper left) has been posted
all over Lagos!
 
After another break, we heard four admonitions from Exodus 18 on LEADERS WHO FEAR GOD! Micky Ngungu preached on Being Worthy Of Trust; Jacques Groenewald spoke on Hate Dishonest Gain; Andrew & Patrique addressed the issue of Dealing With Difficult Cases; and Amadou Sountoura closed out this session with Stand The Strain!
 

ICC Hot News covered Blaise translating
Micky from French to English on
Being Worthy Of Trust!

 

Jacques Groenewald – the Johannesburg
Remnant Group Leader – preached
on Hate Dishonest Gain!
 

Amadou – the Abidjan ICC Leader – spoke
passionately on Stand The Strain!

 
The afternoon was open so it afforded more opportunities for fellowship and some rest! That evening was the First General Session!


The extraordinary First General Session!

The opening included amazing singing, a Cultural Dance Performance, a Welcome Video and the Opening Prayer by Dr. Benedict Atason – the “Man of Nigeria!”


Five extremely talented Lagos Sisters danced…

While African Drums beat at an
ever-increasing rate!
 

Benedict was given the name “Man of Nigeria” similar to the “Man of Macedonia” in Paul’s dream recorded in Acts 16 where a “Man of Macedonia [begged Paul], ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us!'” This gave direction to Paul – from God – to expand his ministry from Asia to Europe! Likewise, Benedict’s plea to Andrew and me was to change the Crown of Thorns Project’s key African City from Johannesburg to Lagos! This we did!

 

Naomi and Isaiah Smellie were thrilled to be with
their spiritual grandparents: Elena,
Benedict & Felicia!

Three generations of disciples: Andrew the
Evangelist, Kaine the Intern, and Faith
the University of Lagos Disciple!

 
Then we had a very encouraging session where several different disciples shared GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND AFRICA!

 

Tamru shared about the working of the
Holy Spirit in Addis Ababa!
 

Cathi shared about the mighty
Washington DC Church!
 

Ezekiel presented Andrew with a Ugandan
Flag as a symbol of unity under
Andrew’s leadership!


At the AMC, Blaise and Jonathan brought the two
Ugandan Remnant Groups together! Emmanuel
(second from the left) led 40 Kampala Disciples!
Ezekiel led the 50 Lira Disciples that are
moving down to Kampala, where
Ezekiel will lead the now
90 Kampala Disciples!

 
Immediately following, I preached on THE IDOLS MEN FEAR OVER GOD! We concluded this session rather early at about 9:30PM!
 

Proudly wearing his African garb, Kip was very
serious as he spoke on THE IDOLS MEN
FEAR OVER GOD!

 
On Saturday morning, June 23rd, we divided into Men’s and Women’s Programs! The lessons from Proverbs 23:17 – BE ZEALOUS FOR THE FEAR OF THE LORD – were delivered by LuJack Martinez and Elena respectively!


LuJack so enjoyed preaching in Africa for the first
of what promises to be many times in his life!


Ariel Hazelton – a member of the courageous Lagos
Mission Team – introduced Elena by sharing
about ELEVATE!


Elena spoke fervently on the theme, BE ZEALOUS
FOR THE FEAR OF THE LORD!

 
Then each program heard five very interesting 20 minute charges: Overcoming The Fear Of Failure, Overcoming The Fear Of Family, Overcoming The Fear Of Sacrifice, Overcoming The Fear Of Job Loss, and Overcoming The Fear Of The Past! When I heard Bolaji speak so powerfully on Overcoming The Fear Of Job Loss, I sensed that he would once again become a very influential Evangelist!


Bolaji shared first-hand about how he & his
wife Chinyere wrestled in prayer on
Overcoming The Fear Of
Job Loss!


The effervescent speakers for the
AMC Women’s Program!

After a short lunch break, we boarded small buses to go to our MERCY Project at the Red Cross Orphanage in the underprivileged community of Makoko! Unfortunately, it rained during our time there so it limited some of the disciples’ access to the orphans. That said, those of us that were able to go into the buildings had a terrific time holding babies, singing Kingdom Songs with the younger children, and doing crafts as well as playing games with some of the older orphans!

 

Travel to Makoko for the AMC MERCY Event was
quite treacherous as the rain flooded
many of the streets!


The Lagos Church has built a strong partnership
with the Nigerian Red Cross Orphanage!

 

Sharon Groman – a New York City Disciple – took a
selfie with her beloved Nigerian Family!


Sharon knew Andrew & Patrique when
they were baptized in Syracuse!


The MERCY Ambassadors shared the love of
Jesus with the children of the orphanage!

 

The light drizzle did not dampen the spirits
of the MERCY Ambassadors!
 

Bolaji presented food and gifts on behalf
of the Lagos MERCY Ambassadors
to the Red Cross Orphanage!

 
That evening was the Talent Show and Dance Party! Elena & I were not able to attend, as this was the only time available for us to fellowship with Bolaji & Chinyere! The Akinfenwas are a very talented couple who served full-time in our former movement overseeing the work in three African Nations! Lord willing, Chinyere will join Bolaji on the full-time Lagos Staff in the very near future!


Bolaji & Chinyere inspired their daughter
Abigail to get baptized one year ago!

Sunday, June 24th was the Final General Session and the AMC Worship Service! To open up the service, our hearts were greatly moved by the singing and an International Prayer! I still remember leaning over to Michael Williamson and enthusiastically sharing that there is no place else where the singing is as powerful as in Africa!

 

Kate was so fired up about the Second Anniversary
of the Lagos ICC… especially about the cake!

 

The singing on Sunday morning so inspired one
of Patrique’s guests (second from the
right) – a former Vogue Model!
 
Then Bolaji dedicated to the Lord the son of Lordson & Faith Atason – little “Baby Nathan” – with a prayer!
 

Bolaji prayed for “Baby Nathan” to become
a disciple through the godly parenting
of Lordson & Faith!
 
Following was the Communion by the Feumbas and the Contribution by the Groenewalds!
 

The Groenewalds shared from their hearts about
the need for every disciple to sacrifice
for their weekly contribution!


Though the auditorium at the Virginrose Hotel
was a little dark, the Groenewalds were
easily heard with the excellent
sound system!

 
The Sunday sermon was WHOM SHALL I FEAR? by Dr. Andrew Smellie! Very interestingly, Andrew had three points: 1) What Do Religious People Fear? 2) What Do Irreligious People Fear? and 3) What Should Disciples Fear?

 


Andrew answered the question posed by
his third point, “What should disciples
fear… FEAR NONE EXCEPT GOD” –
which was the AMC theme!
 
After all of us were thoroughly convicted, we had the Kinshasa Reconstruction Team Send Off! Ornate Ostrich Egg Trophies with a map of Africa beautifully painted on them were given to Micky & Lyly – the Kinshasa Church Leaders – and Blaise & Patricia – the Overseeing Ministry Couple for French-speaking Africa!
 

Kip & Elena oversaw the Kinshasa Reconstruction
Team Send Off!
 

An ornate Ostrich Egg Trophy painted in great
detail with a map of Africa was presented to
both the Ngungus and the Feumbas!
 
Then we heard the “good confessions” of seven who were baptized after service: Uduak, Segun, Daniel, Livius, Kehinde, Taiwo and Felicia Atason, who saw from the Scriptures that she was not baptized as a disciple in the Mainline Church of Christ!
 

Kehinde literally jumped for joy because
of his salvation!

 

Forever bonded by the moment are the seven AMC
Baptisms, who stand hand-in-hand as the newest
members of the Lagos Family!
 

Goodhope Atason helped Patrique to
baptize his mom – Felicia!

 
To gloriously close out the AMC, LuJack Martinez wrote new words to The Glory Song – The Africanus Version!
 


LuJack led the final song of the AMC, The
Glory Song – The Africanus Version!


The gathering of the Johannesburg Mission
Team, which Lord willing will be sent out
at the 2019 AMC in Lagos!


Sunday night, “Grandpa Kip” & “Grandma Elena”
treated Naomi and Isaiah to Pinkberry!

 

Monday, June 25th Elena & I had very special times with the Lagos Women Interns and Tolani & Kate!


Monday morning the McKeans enjoyed coffee
with three of the Lagos Women Interns:
Tina, Dolapo and Ariel!


Following, the McKeans were delighted to spend
a special time with the newly dating
couple – Tolani & Kate!

Then we were off to the airport to fly from Lagos to Frankfurt to Dubai! As we neared Dubai, so many awesome memories of the Dubai Mission Team and Inaugural Service flooded our minds!
 


There were seven Americans on the Dubai Mission
Team in August 2016! Gina de la Pena of Manila
and June Picardo of Chennai would
meet the team in Dubai!

Upon landing in Dubai on Tuesday night, June 26th, since we were in a Middle Eastern Country, there was no singing by the disciples, but there was loud cheering and signs warmly welcoming us to the United Arab Emirates! We also circled up and had an awesome prayer!

 

Almost every Dubai Disciple greeted the McKeans
at 11:00PM on a Tuesday night!
 

Elena was presented with a “Dubai teddy bear”
and beautiful flowers!

 
Our main purpose for going to Dubai was to oversee the change of leadership from RD & April Baker to Miguel Mendez and Megan Mathews! The next two days were spent in fellowship times with these four courageous disciples!

 

Like the old prophet Haggai and the young
prophet Zechariah, are Kip and his
grandson in the faith Miguel!
 
Friday mornings are the days of worship for our Dubai Church Family! We gathered on Friday, June 29th as usual at 11:00AM at the Welcome Hotel!
 

Two key hotels in the short history of the Dubai ICC:
The Hilton Garden Inn – the site of the September
2016 Inaugural Service (right) and the Welcome
Inn – where the Dubai Church meets presently!
 
Amazingly, with 35 disciples, God gave us 69 in attendance! Several non-Christians had come to say their good-byes to RD & April, who had endeared themselves to them during their almost two years in Dubai!
 

For the Leadership Transfer Friday Service,
God blessed the 35 Dubai Disciples
with 69 in attendance!

 
Since RD was preaching and he usually led the singing as well, I volunteered to “come out of retirement” and to lead several of the songs for our worship service!

 

Kip “came out of retirement” to help
lead the singing!
 
Miguel and Megan gave the Welcome which was followed by a Multi-language Prayer! This bold prayer was delivered by: Tchalo Filipe – who was baptized in Paris after initially studying the Bible in Dubai – who prayed in French; Anna Aviles prayed in Arabic; Jobert Bravin in Tamil; Angel Bisht in Tagalog; and Praveen Bisht closed out in English!
 

Miguel Mendez and Megan Mathews are
the new Dubai ICC Leaders!
 

For Communion, April shared about her life and how her time in Dubai had impacted her.

 

Kip gave a glowing introduction of April
for the Communion!
 

For the Communion, April prepared a slideshow!
Here she shared that she was 11 months old
with the disease Cardiomyopathy where
the doctors did not expect her to live!
 
For Contribution, Elena & I shared GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD focusing on the financial sacrifice that particularly the American Churches have made through the years, especially helping the Dubai Church!
 

Kip & Elena shared with the Dubai Church the love
that the USA Churches have expressed in
their Missions Contribution that helps
to support the Dubai Church!
 

Before RD preached, we were shown a slideshow about all the good times and the baptisms in Dubai for the past two years! Inspirationally, the song Time Of Your Life was played during the slideshow! The title of RD’s sermon was THE END OF CHAPTER ONE! He began his lesson by recounting the sacrifices of the original nine-person mission team and the astounding Inaugural Service attendance of 56! He also shared about April suffering a heart attack and ensuing cardiac arrest for four minutes in 2017! Yet, God blessed the 12 Dubai Disciples of January 1, 2017 with 40 baptisms in 21 months! Due to the transient nature of the city of Dubai, 10 of these baptisms have moved “home” to nations such as India and the Philippines! As RD finished his sermon, there was not a dry eye in the house!
 


Jeremiah was the weeping prophet of the Old
Testament; RD is the weeping prophet
of the new Movement… His
tissues are by his side!
 

After service, we had lunch and an awesome study with a remnant couple – Sada & Dores Kochunni! A week later, Sada placed membership in the Dubai ICC!

 

Sada & Dores – remnant disciples – studied the Bible
with Megan, Miguel, the Bishts and the McKeans!
Sada placed membership the following Friday!

 
Saturday, we had a farewell breakfast with the Bakers knowing that we would see them very soon in Los Angeles, where they will become the Ventura Region Leaders!


RD & April are the Father and Mother of faith
for the Middle East and will be eternally
thanked by the Lord, the Dubai
Church and their converts!

 
Saturday night was the Going Away Party for the Bakers! The room was exquisitely decorated with balloons and pictures of the Bakers’ Dubai Days! Pasted on the wall at the back of the room was the heartwarming thought, “Home is where the Lord is!”

 
 

As the Bakers entered the room for their Going
Away Party, RD touched everyone’s
hearts as he wept!
 
After a delicious meal of foods from around the world as the disciples of Dubai are from around the world, Elena & I shared about RD & April and then we were driven to the airport to return to the States!
 
 

At the Going Away Party there was plenty of food
from around the world, and affectionate sharing!
 
As we sat on the plane, we could not help but thank God for this incredible missionary trip to encourage and to be encouraged by our beloved Lagos and Dubai Church Families!
 

A picture for the Dubai Family Album!
 
Pray for Miguel, Megan and the dynamic Dubai Church as they begin “Chapter Two!” And to God be all the glory!
 

John & Genina Tuason – instrumental members
of the Dubai Mission Team – are pregnant
and so are moving back to their “home
church” in Los Angeles!
 

Our dear sister Ana Aviles is the last member of the
original Dubai Mission Team to continue the
work in the United Arab Emirates!

FAMILY NEWS
Portland: It is great to be a part of a worldwide Movement as Cristina, who was studying the Bible earlier this year, was told by her husband that if she was baptized, he would divorce her. Cristina was having a hard time until she went on a prayer run and it finally clicked for her: God is a lot more important than anyone or anything! She was baptized that weekend and then because of certain situations, they soon moved to Mexico City! Her husband Raul had met the disciples in Mexico City… And then he met God through the studies and was baptized! Excitingly, Cristina then baptized her mom and Cristina returned to Portland last month, but this time with her mother and her “formerly persecuting” husband as disciples of Christ! Praise God we have a church in Portland! Praise God we have a church in Mexico City! And praise God we have churches in so many cities to baptize our families!


Cristina endured intense persecution from her
husband Raul, but her steadfast faith won
him over to the Lord!

 
Denver: We were all able to witness the incredible baptism of Dave Jones! Dave is the father of our young campus brother Sean and has been attending church since Amanda & I moved to Denver a year and half ago! We are very proud of Sean and the example he has set for his family!


Sean (center) lived out the dream of
baptizing his father Dave!

 
Dallas/Ft. Worth: Hector Mogollon & Taylor Williams were engaged on May 12th and their wedding is planned for August 11, 2018! Hector was baptized in the South Region of Los Angeles in 2011 and was a key member of the DFW Mission Team! Taylor was baptized in DFW in 2015 and is also the sister of Ryan & Nikki Williams in San Diego! Together they help lead our Teen Ministry!


Congratulations to Hector & Taylor on
their engagement!

 
Boston: On May 13, 2018, Sharmayne Viscichini gave birth to her first child, Ethan Tobias in Brooklyn, New York just two weeks before Aaron & Sharmayne left New York City to lead the mighty Boston Church! Aaron shared, “What a miraculous experience that will forever change our lives and my perspective on the strength of women, as Sharmayne had an all-natural birth!”

Ethan Viscichini is happy-as-can-be bringing
much joy to his parents – Aaron &
Sharmayne – and to all of his
“aunties” and “uncles”
in the Kingdom!
 

Also, on Saturday, July 7th, Gianni DiFusco got down on one knee and proposed to the “love of his life” Skyla Eastman! These two talented disciples just started leading the Boston AMS Ministry and are “superlatively happy” (Psalm 119:1-2), as they enter into this new adventure and new stage of life!


Congratulations to the future
Mr. & Mrs. DiFusco!

 
New York City: On June 25th, we had our smallest addition to the New York City Family! We are honored to announce “Baby Iva Merritt” is finally here!


Bobby & Kensey Merritt welcomed
“Baby Iva” on June 25th!

 
On June 30th, our dear brother Jamal Ellis was “finally” engaged to be married to an amazing woman of God – Urline Jean-Baptiste!


Congratulations to a very sweet
couple – Jamal & Urline!

 
Mexico City: The first six months of 2018 have been simply amazing as God has given us 44 baptisms, 8 restorations and 5 place memberships! One of our most recent miracles is the birth of Isabella Wagers, the beautiful daughter of Albert & Jeny!


Papa Albert loves “Little Isabella!”

 
Moscow: On June 10th, Rezo & Sasha Davitadze inspired the entire Moscow Church at their wedding with their love for God and their vows to one another!


Pozdravleniya to Rezo & Sasha Davitadze!

Kiev: Congratulations to Sasha & Alina Balitski who dynamically lead the Kiev Campus Ministry!


Congratulations to Sasha & Alina – the hard-working
Kiev Campus Ministry Leaders!

Las Vegas: José & Liz Torres are now the proud parents of two beautiful little girls! Their second daughter – Riley Margarita Torres Gonzalez – was born on May 3rd at 6:40AM at 7lbs. and 18inches!


“Riley Margarita” is the 15th grandchild of
Victor & Sonia Gonzalez!

São Paulo: At the 2018 Women’s Day, everyone rejoiced that Luca’s mom Marisa Vila Real was baptized into Christ!


Luca’s mom Marisa was baptized by Luca at
the São Paulo Women’s Day!

 
Honolulu: This past week, we had two incredible teens baptized! Toa and Meleane are the son and daughter of Joe & Mary Santos – the Honolulu Shepherding Couple!

 
 

Joe & Mary Santos joyfully baptized
their oldest son Toa!
 

Toa then helped his parents baptize
his sister Meleane!
 

Shouts of joy and tears came
from the Santos Family!

 
Hilo: Chris & Mahe Directo – who serve as the Hilo Shepherding Couple – baptized their youngest son, Austin! So now their family is totally united in Christ!


Congratulations to the Directo Ohana!

San Francisco: Since the last Good News Email, two of our amazing interns here in the San Francisco Church – Tyre Ellison & Jael Cook – were engaged! Lord willing, they will be married in November and then next year at our Annual Winter Workshop, “the Ellisons” will lead the planting of our fifth region in Hayward, California!


Congratulations to Tyre & Jael!

 
Los Angeles – Metro Heights Region: Congratulations to Omar Valdovinos on the baptisms of his twins – Savana and Ezekiel!


The moment Omar had been waiting for all
of his Christian life was baptizing
his son Ezekiel…


And Ezekiel’s twin sister Savana!

 
Also, a special congratulations to Mario Mijango & Michelle Miranda on their engagement!

 
 

Congratulations to an enchanting couple –
Mario & Michelle!

 
Los Angeles – Antelope Valley Region (AV): For the AV Teen Ministry, we witnessed the baptism of Isaah Hernandez on June 28th and Christina Hernandez on July 5th! To add to these miracles, Isaah and Christina are the younger siblings of Malonie Penn (our new teen leader) and the children of our amazing sister Genisha Williams! Their family now has four disciples united in Christ!


Isaah (right) helped to baptized his sister
Christina (center) on July 5th, just
one week after he was baptized!

 

Los Angeles – AMS Region: Our dear brother Terri Tait passed on to glory on June 8th. On the card sent with the beautiful bouquet of flowers to Debbie Tait in honor of her disciple husband was written, “Terri touched so many lives as ‘he fought the good fight and finished the race!’ Our spirits are lifted from our loss because we will see him in Heaven! Our condolences to you who must remain separated from your love for a while. We are family… by God’s amazing grace, the City of Angels International Christian Church.”

 

Before Terri passed on to glory, Adam had
several deep and inspiring conversations
about Heaven with him.

 

Terri & Debbie lived across the street from
Chris & Sonja Chloupek, who studied the
Bible with them and brought them
into the AMS Region Family!

 
Miami/Ft. Lauderdale: On a very bittersweet note, we had our dear sister Juana Dominguez join the angels last Tuesday. She is the grandmother of Dania who moved to Miami from NYC to be on the mission team. Dania had one dream coming here and that was for her grandmother to become a disciple! Juana made her good confession and was baptized late last year at 88 years of age! Since her health was failing, Juana could only make it to a few Bible Talks, one House Church Service, and just a few months ago, she had enough strength to attend one Congregational Service! She was so full of life and at one point was so fired up that she stood up during service and lifted her hands in joy and Dania and the Spanish Ministry were amazed! She leaves behind a very grateful family, including Joseph, Dania’s cousin who was also baptized a few months ago! The family is sad, but content, knowing Juana made it home!


Pilar (left) and Yinet were inspired by Juana’s
unwavering faith about going to Heaven!

 
Manila: Incredibly, on June 2nd, Felip Biongan & Wis Leuterio, the Ateneo Campus Ministry Leaders, became engaged at the Armor Bearers and Shield Maidens Royalty Gala! 

 

Heartfelt congratulations to Felip & Wis – the
charismatic Ateneo Campus
Ministry Leaders!

 
On May 19th, the Manila Church celebrated the wedding of Arkho & Hon Andalis! 


Congratulations to Arkho & Hon Andalis!

Hon so enjoyed dancing with her father –
Tito Willie – at her wedding reception!

 
In the last two months, it has been incredible to see so many physical family members become spiritual family together! Joy’s younger brother, Wil, was baptized! Yanyan, the teenage daughter of Lito was baptized! Janine’s mother, Margarita, was restored! Aires’s sister, Love, was baptized! Ge’s cousin, Mela, was baptized! Rose’s sister, Che, was baptized! Mark’s niece, Grace, was baptized! Maricel’s daughter, Justine, was also baptized!


God answered Rosas’ (second from the left)
impossible prayer when she baptized her
sister Che (center left)!
 

Lastly, it was incredible to see a whole family brought to unity in Christ: the Siasat Family, who were seeking spiritual revival after having left the ICOC years ago! First, the youngest teenage daughter and Kingdom Kid, Jaja, was baptized, which then inspired her older sister, Christia, to be restored the following week! These events finally culminated in their two parents, Relly & Gina, getting restored the week after! To God be the glory! 


Keyk and Caramel Castro baptized Jaja – a fellow
Kingdom Kid with which they grew up!


The Siasat Family rejoiced that Jaja (center) was
baptized and Christia (right) – inspired by
her sister – was restored!

LOCAL LA NEWS
Tim Kernan – Lead Evangelist of Los Angeles: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:57) Greetings from sunny and beautiful Los Angeles, California! We are currently in the middle of an unprecedented heatwave as temperatures have hit 117 degrees! The highest previous record in Downtown LA was 112 in 1990! Lianne & I do not have air-conditioning, so it has been a little like living in a Western movie at the Kernans!

 

Mason & Nathalie Fetelika have been sent
by the Spirit from LA to lead the
undaunted San Diego Church!

 
We are so grateful to God for all the amazing things that are happening right now highlighted by raising over 1.1 million dollars for Missions in May! 


Priscilla – the oldest daughter of Jared & Rachel
McGee – sold lemonade and coffee to raise
money for Missions! In her appeal on her
poster, Priscilla shared, “Born on
the Mission Field!”


Priscilla raised $350 for Missions!

Another landmark victory was the record attendance of 2,105 at our Bring Your Neighbor Day on Sunday, June 10th!


The record attendance of 2,105 for the City of
Angels Church on BYND came through
prayer, fasting and many late nights
and early morning of hard work!

Thank you to Kip & Elena who called each LA Disciple to fast and pray to move God’s heart until that disciple had collected five commitments for the BYND! Lianne & I are so grateful for each LA Disciple who fought so hard for this immense victory!

 

The Normand Family of Toronto was given a SoldOut
Movement Welcome by the City of Angels Church!
The Normands will stay in LA until they leave
to become full-time in the New York
City ICC after the GLC!

 
Another amazing story is that of Anthony & Tayyiba “Ty” Haneef-Park who were baptized on Saturday, July 7th in the FORCE Sector of the Orange County Region! Ty is a three-time Olympian in Women’s Volleyball! Amazingly, she won silver medals in both Beijing and London! Anthony is a fighter pilot who ran track and played football for the Air Force Academy! Ty was met through the CyberMinistry via Chantelle Anderson’s Confidently His VLOG! Ty came out to the AMS Women’s Day with Chantelle! After Ty heard Chantelle’s testimony and Therese Untalan, the keynote speaker, she immediately started to study! Our mighty Congregational Shepherds – Tony & Therese Untalan and Nick & Denise Bordieri – led most of the studies!

 
 

Anthony & Ty Haneef-Park were baptized through
the efforts of so many disciples!
 

Ty contacted Chantelle after watching
one of her Facebook Vlogs!
Chantelle invited her to the
AMS Women’s Day!
 
 

Ty is a two-time Olympic Silver Medalist in
Women’s Volleyball! She stands 6′ 9″!
 

All of these medals were won by Anthony when
he played football and ran track for the
United States Air Force Academy!

 
Lastly, it is so encouraging that our dear sister Yelena Astanina has recovered from a diabetic coma and is now back working in our amazing Movement Administrative Staff! Please keep us in your prayers as we are in the middle of radicalizing all of our Bible Talks! And to God be the glory!

 
EDITORIAL
International Nationals

The 2018 African Missions Conference in Lagos had so many memorable moments! From a church-building perspective, perhaps the most profound for me was when I was introduced to Tolani Abiodun and Deji Aregbesola – both Nigerian nationals who were baptized in London through the efforts of Michael Williamson! Upon their returning home to Nigeria, Andrew Smellie saw both of these “International Nationals” to be five-talent men! Therefore, they quickly became full-time interns and students at ICCM-Lagos!


Working together for world evangelism, Michael
was fired up to baptize the Nigerian Nationals
Tolani (second from the left) and Deji, and
then to send them to Andrew in Lagos
who quickly selected them as interns!

 
Women International Nationals that have made a huge difference in Lagos are Tina Nwachukwu and Kate Awara! Again, both five-talent and full-time interns! What makes these four disciples so special is that they have renounced “their rights” to live in the First World! It could be said of Tolani, “By faith [Tolani] when he had grown up, refused to be known as a [Londoner]. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as a greater value than the treasures of [England], because he was looking ahead to his reward! By faith, he left [England], not fearing [his parents’] anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible!” (Hebrews 11:24-27)

 
Though born in England, Anna Adebayo has a
Nigerian heritage, and after attending the
AMC, she has decided to move to
Lagos to become an intern!

 
Other young national disciples that have had a terrific impact returning to their homelands or their heritage include: Marc & Maika Carbonell, Zach & Ariel Shields, RJ Castro and Carlos Robielos – in Manila; Lucy Mejia, Miguel & Myrna Limon in Mexico City; and six of the Hong Kong Seven Mission Team! All of these disciples have made a huge difference in building these key churches!


In 2015, Zach & Ariel Shields – because of their
Filipino heritage – were on the Manila Mission
Team, and later were married on the mission
field! They have been targeted to plant the
Davao (Philippines) Church in June 2019!

 
It also occurred to me that God in His foreknowledge knew that our former fellowship would be scattered because of our sins. Yet, He left a small remnant in most nations that allows us to initially begin remnant groups. In time, we are able to plant churches by sending mission teams or by reconstruction. International remnants have allowed us to build incredible churches in India (Raja & Debs Rajan), Russia (Oleg Sirotkin), Ukraine (Aliona Sirotkina), London (Michele Williamson), Sydney (Kerry Willis), Santiago (Alfredo & Alejandra Anuch), Paris (Philippe Scheidecker), Lagos (Goodhope & Bonita Atason and Bolaji & Chinyere Akinfenwa), Abidjan (Amadou & Angele Sountoura), Kinshasa (Micky & Lyly Ngungu), Johannesburg (Jacques & Jeanette Groenewald), and seven more couples in seven other African Nations!


When Benedict Atason joined the new Movement, he
traveled to Lagos and studied the Bible with his
son Goodhope and his wife Bonita Atason.
They left the Mainline Church of Christ
and initiated the Lagos ICC
Remnant Group!

 
Often, remnant disciples from our former fellowship or Mainline Churches of Christ come into God’s new Movement still hurting from being in lukewarm congregations. Most have lost a great deal of trust in God and in church leadership leading them to the sins of acedia, contempt and even lukewarmness! “To win the remnant,” young church leaders must have a respect for these “veterans” in the war against Satan. In love, we must offer trust and mercy even when the remnant are hesitant to give their hearts. We must continue to “fry the airwaves” in getting God’s message out to the remnant – both in churches and fallen away!


The Causeys (left), the McKeans and the Kernans
continue to take a stand against lukewarmness!

 
It is time to call our young national disciples to remember their vow at baptism – “go anywhere, do anything and give up everything!” Yes, the price is high, but what a joy it will be to bring “their people” and for many their physical families the message of the Gospel and the gifts of forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, the Church and Heaven for eternity! So looking forward to meeting and hugging all of our International Nationals at the 2018 Global Leadership Conference! And to God be all the glory in all nations!
We are family… by God’s amazing grace,
Kip

Copyright © 2018 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

2018 Global Leadership Conference

2018 Global Leadership Conference


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Good News Email
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Dear Friend,

Greetings from sunny Los Angeles! The 2018 Global Leadership Conference (GLC) is fast approaching and we will be able to hear first-hand about the many miracles happening around the world such as the planting of the New Delhi International Christian Church!
 
The New Delhi Mission Team was led by
the valiant Raja & Debs Rajan!
 
At the South Asia Missions Conference in Chennai, India, on Sunday, April 22nd, the New Delhi Mission Team was formally sent out by prayer and the Holy Spirit! Then on Friday, April 27th, the 38 members of the mission team boarded a train that traveled 28 hours from Chennai to New Delhi! They arrived on Saturday at the Delhi Train Station and were enthusiastically greeted by the 18 disciples in the New Delhi Remnant Group! The next day on Sunday, God blessed them with 205 in attendance!
 
The New Delhi Mission Team was sent out at the
2018 South Asia Missions Conference
and was nicknamed the Spartans!
 
On June 2nd and 3rd at the Inaugural Service Weekend, God blessed them with 10 baptisms, 3 restorations and an attendance of 223! So since the New Delhi Mission Team landed just 36 days ago, God has added to their number 52 additions – 20 baptisms, 14 restorations and 18 place memberships from the Delhi Remnant Group! Now the New Delhi International Christian Church numbers 89 sold-out disciples! And to God be all the glory!
 
Debs Rajan and Brandyn Speckman – best of
friends – are both speaking at the GLC
Church Builders Workshop!
 
The thrilling theme for the 2018 GLC is EMPOWERED! So many Scriptures on God’s power come to mind: “The Kingdom of God [has] come with power.” (Mark 9:1) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order [to experience]… His incomparably great power for us who believe!” (Ephesians 1:18-19)
 
As of the end of May, 11 of the 22 on the Columbus
Mission Team, were from the City of Angels
Church including their dynamic leaders –
Coltin & Mandee Rohn!
 
However, on June 2nd, Joey Gregory asked
Karen Maciel to be his girlfriend! Praise
God, because now there are 23 on
the Columbus Mission Team!
 

The GLC will be held on Thursday, August 16th through Sunday, August 19th, 2018 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, California! Accommodations will be at the Sheraton Park Hotel – a five minute walk from the Convention Center! (It is also just a 10 minute walk to Disneyland!)


The beautiful Anaheim Convention Center is the
site of the Global Leadership Conference
on August 16-19, 2018!

 
GLC highlights will include amazing preaching, extraordinary singing, glorious fellowship, the Sixth Commencement of the International College of Christian Ministries, and the Spirit sending out two more OPERATION EAGLE Mission Teams: Columbus, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

 
Jay & Barb Shelbrack are the inspirational
Milwaukee Mission Team Leaders! Lord
willing, the Milwaukee ICC will be the
19th OPERATION EAGLE Planting!
 
“The fields are ripe for the harvest” among the
44,000 students at the University of
Wisconsin Milwaukee!
 
We will also be hosting the “Kingdom’s Got Talent Show!” This year is the fifth such occasion! If you are interested in performing, please send a video of your act to the Director of KGT5 – Jay Causey – by June 15th! The full GLC Program will be posted on the City of Angels Church Website on Sunday, June 10th!


In 2017 at the Fifth Commencement Ceremony of
the ICCM, 90 BA Degrees, 2 Masters Degrees
and 1 Doctorate Degree were conferred!

 
The registration fee is $200 for a regular ticket; $180 for a current ICCM student; and $100 for a teen registration! Our Prayer Goals are for 1,800 American Disciples and 200 International Disciples to participate in the 2018 GLC as this will allow us to financially break even! Register now! (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-global-leadership-conference-empowered-tickets-42924191412)
 


Dynamic speakers will be heard from all over
the world such as Andrew Smellie
of Lagos, Nigeria!
 
Michael & Michele Williamson are planning
on bringing 25 London Disciples to
the 2018 GLC!

We are encouraging every Church Leader Couple, every Shepherding Couple and every CAICC Region Leader Couple to stay at the Sheraton Park Hotel. The cost of a room is $139/night plus tax. The group rate is available until July 16th, so book now! (https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/events/start.action?id=1801311047&key=E24CAE4)


The Kingdom Banquet is always a
highlight of the GLC!

 
There will not be a Global Leadership Conference next year to financially allow particularly American Disciples to attend Geographic Missions Conferences outside of the United States! Thus, this makes the 2018 GLC all the more important to attend!

 
Kip & Elena McKean are so excited that over
2,100 disciples from around the world
have committed to come to the
2018 GLC in LA!
 
As at every GLC, I am reminded of Jesus’ words to the Apostles after the 70 had returned with joy, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23-24) In essence, Jesus was saying to the 12, “It is happening… The evangelization of the nations in this generation!” Prayerfully, after the GLC, we too can have a similar vision of “It is happening… again!” And to God be all the glory!
We are family… by God’s amazing grace,
Kip

Copyright © 2018 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

Good News Email – 5.3.18

Good News Email – 5.3.18


All content within this email is for the intended recipient only. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution and/or copy is a violation of applicable laws.

May 3, 2018

Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear Friend,
Greetings from San Francisco, Hilo, Manila, Hong Kong, Chennai, Paris and Los Angeles! In the almost two months since the last Good News Email, the Spirit has done so much around the world! In March, Elena & I had the pleasure of being with the San Francisco Church for their Women’s Day entitled BEAUTIFUL where 91 disciples had 230 in attendance! In late March, we flew to Hilo to help our dear son in the faith Kyle Bartholomew be restored to the Lord! We then flew to Manila for the exciting Pacific Rim Missions Conference where three were restored and one was baptized on Sunday! Then Elena & I flew to Hong Kong where we were able to study with and baptize Ria – an actress, model and singer! Following those memorable days, Elena flew home to LA and I traveled on to Chennai for the South Asia Missions Conference (SAMC)! At the Sunday Worship Service, nine were baptized and the Spirit sent out the historic 38 disciple New Delhi Mission Team led by Raja & Debs Rajan! Then before coming home, I flew to Paris to preach to the church and spend time with my beloved grandson and granddaughter in the faith – Anthony & Cassidy Olmos!


Sent out by the Spirit at the 2018 South Asia
Missions Conference was the 38 Disciple
New Delhi Mission Team, which was
nicknamed the Spartans!


The New Delhi Remnant Group was so excited about
the coming of the Mission Team that 14 of their
18 disciples traveled 1,100 miles
(1,800 km) for the SAMC!


Holding up the arms of the New Delhi Mission Team
Leaders – Raja & Debs Rajan – are the Speckmans
and the Sullivans!

 
Amazingly, this month, we celebrate the 11th Anniversary of God’s SoldOut Movement as the Spirit has multiplied the 42 Portland Disciples that planted the City of Angels International Christian Church on May 6, 2007 to now 6,000 disciples in 91 churches in 36 nations on all 6 populated continents of the world! Truly, this is not a mere movement of men, it is the very Movement of God! And to God be all the glory!

 
HEADLINE NEWS
Raja Rajan – Lead Evangelist of New Delhi: After a 28 hour train ride from Chennai to New Delhi, the 38 on the New Delhi Mission Team received a very warm and noisy welcome when we arrived at the Hazrath Nizamuddin Station on Saturday, April 28th! All of us received flower garlands and were invited to dance and rejoice with the 18 disciples in the New Delhi Remnant Group, as the SoldOut Movement of God had officially come to the capital of India!


The New Delhi Mission Team rejoiced as they
traveled by train from Chennai and arrived
in India’s capital after 28 hours!

 
Sunday was a real blow out service as we had an attendance of 205! The singing was electric! Luke Speckman’s Communion was very touching, and I preached the whole sermon in Hindi with full conviction! Many of our old friends from the ICOC came seeking revival and said this was just like old times! Some had informed their leaders and said good bye to them with the explanation that they were “joining the Kingdom of God!”


After only one day in their new home, the New Delhi
Mission Team was blessed by God to have
a Sunday attendance of 205!

 
We are now busy with studying the Bible with 30 visitors! God is truly moving in a powerful way! All glory to God!

 
Tim Kernan – Director of the 2018 Global Leadership Conference (GLC): Out of hundreds of suggested themes for the 2018 GLC, we would like to congratulate Victor Gonzalez Sr. for his entry of EMPOWERED!


The thrilling theme for the 2018 Global Leadership
Conference is EMPOWERED!

And yes, Victor will now receive a free registration for this momentous event! So many Scriptures on God’s power come to mind: “The Kingdom of God [has] come with power.” (Mark 9:1) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order [to experience]… His incomparably great power for us who believe!” (Ephesians 1:18-19)


Tim Kernan congratulated Victor Gonzalez Sr.
for entering the winning theme for the
2018 GLC – EMPOWERED!

 
The 2018 GLC will be held on Thursday, August 16th through Sunday, August 19th, 2018 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, California! Accommodations will be at the Sheraton Park Hotel – a five minute walk from the Convention Center! (It is also just a 10 minute walk to Disneyland!)


The beautiful Anaheim Convention Center is the
site of the Global Leadership Conference
on August 16-19, 2018!

 
GLC highlights will include amazing preaching, extraordinary singing, glorious fellowship, the Sixth Commencement of the International College of Christian Ministries, and the Spirit sending out two OPERATION EAGLE Mission Teams: Columbus, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wisconsin! We will also be hosting the “Kingdom’s Got Talent Show!” This year is the fifth such occasion! If you are interested in performing, please send a video of your act to the Director of KGT5 – Jay Causey – by June 1st! A full program will be sent out in the coming weeks!


In 2017 at the Fifth Commencement Ceremony of
the ICCM, 90 BA Degrees, 2 Masters Degrees
and 1 Doctorate Degree were conferred!


Karen Maciel – the Co-Editor of the Good News
Email – received her BA Degree at the
2017 GLC in Manila!

 
The registration fee is $200 for a regular ticket; $180 for a current ICCM student; and $100 for a teen registration! Our Prayer Goals are for 1,800 American Disciples and 200 International Disciples to participate in the 2018 GLC as this will allow us to financially break even! Register now! (
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-global-leadership-conference-empowered-tickets-42924191412)
 


Dynamic speakers will be heard from all over
the world such as Andrew Smellie
of Lagos, Nigeria!

We are encouraging every Church Leader Couple, every Shepherding Couple and every CAICC Region Leader Couple to stay at the Sheraton Park Hotel. The cost of a room is $139/night plus tax. The group rate is available until July 16th, so book now! (https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/events/start.action?id=1801311047&key=E24CAE4)


The Kingdom Banquet is always a
highlight of the GLC!

 
REMEMBER: There will not be a Global Leadership Conference next year to financially allow particularly American Disciples to attend Geographic Missions Conferences outside of the United States! Thus, this makes the 2018 GLC all the more important to attend!

 
Andrew Smellie – Lead Evangelist of Lagos: Greetings from Nigeria, now known as “The Giant of Africa!” With a population of approximately 195 million souls, Nigeria has become the seventh most populous country in the world! In the city of Lagos, God has blessed our efforts in the church as we have seen eight precious souls come to the Lord in the month of April! We are begging God for every disciple to be fruitful before our Second Anniversary on June 24th as we are currently at almost 90 disciples!  


Nigeria is the largest country in all of Africa
with 195 million lost souls!

 
On Easter Sunday, April 1st, we witnessed an incredible miracle as three souls came to be baptized – Lolade and Enoch (Students at the University of Lagos majoring in Chemical and Systems Engineering respectively), and Rotimi, my dear friend and neighbor! Rotimi is the Head of Market Development for Africa at the Siemens Corporation! 


Easter Spiritual Triplets: Lolade (second from the
left), Rotimi (fourth from the left), and
Enoch (second from the right)!


Neighbors, best of friends, and now
brothers – Rotimi and Andrew!

 
On April 8th, we witnessed another two glorious baptisms as two more campus students came to the Lord – Dorcas and Jibola! Jibola is the younger brother of Deji Aregbesola, a brother who placed membership from London earlier this year!


Spiritual Twins: Dorcas (second from the left)
and Jibola (second from the right)!
 

On the 15th of April, Queenest Aregbesola, the younger sister of our brother Deji, was baptized! After his sister’s baptism, Deji shared with me that he is eager to win all of Nigeria for the Lord by pursuing the full-time ministry! He is now a Campus Ministry Intern!


Deji’s younger brother Jibola was baptized on
April 8th and his sister Queenest was
baptized on April 15th!

On April 22nd, we saw two more incredible baptisms: Fega from the Campus Ministry and Frank from the Singles Ministry!


April 22nd Spiritual Twins: Frank (third from
the left) and Fega (third from the right)!

In the month of April, we also witnessed the birth of our first “Kingdom baby” in the church as Lordwilson & Faith Simon had a baby boy on April 4th named Nathan!


Lordwilson & Faith are so thankful to the
Lord for their son Nathan!

 
In Nigerian tradition, babies are not named immediately, but instead the family has a “Naming Ceremony” on the 8th day of birth where family members come together to offer different names of meaning to the baby! Nathan’s full name is now Nathan Ojo-Arome Akumabi Simon! Akumabi means, “a fortress that cannot be shaken!”


Nathan and all of his new uncles in the Lord!

 
As the Evangelist of the church, I was given the privilege to “officially” bless and pray for the new baby! My Nigerian brothers affectionately gave me my own “Naming Ceremony” as I was called “Oluwaranmi” (“God sent me”) and “Ayanfeoluwa” (“The Chosen of the Lord”)! It was encouraging!


The heroic Smellie Family: Andrew,
Patrique, Naomi and Isaiah!

 
In addition to all the amazing miracles this month, I have been deeply moved and inspired by the faith of my brother Tolani Abiodun, who has handed in his resignation from a prominent IT position and has answered the call of God to pursue the full-time ministry! Tolani counted the cost to be part of the Remnant Group in Lagos before the Lagos Church planting in June 2016! He was baptized in London while finishing his graduate studies at UCL in March 2015! Please pray for our dear brother as both he and Deji join our Staff Team on May 1st! It is so encouraging to see the impact of the Nigerian Homecoming Project (NHP) – where we encourage Nigerian nationals that are converted in other countries to return to Nigeria! The NHP has not only reaped a harvest of many souls, but is raising up the leadership that is dreaming to win all of Africa for the Lord!


Andrew & Patrique are so encouraged that
Tolani & Kate not only are their right
hand couple in the Lagos Church,
but are now dating!

 
The 2018 African Missions Conference will be held in Lagos on June 21-24, 2018! Do not miss this incredible time of inspiration and fellowship with African leaders from around the continent! There will be a plethora of activities from viewing Nigerian art and culture, enjoying incredible food, and serving orphans in the community! You can register at the following Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-african-missions-conference-fear-none-except-god-tickets-44210489765.


Come to the 2018 African Missions Conference
entitled, FEAR NONE EXCEPT GOD!

 
Thank you American Disciples for your incredible sacrifice that allows us to be used by God who continues to do great miracles here in Lagos and throughout the African Continent! We love you!
 
Blady Perez – Lead Evangelist of Phnom Penh: Greetings from Cambodia! It was at the 2017 GLC in Manila, when my wife & I together with our son Bryce decided to place membership in the International Christian Churches! We immediately returned to Cambodia to start the church. We had our Inaugural Service last October 29, 2017 with a total of 69 in attendance! God has grown the church from 3 disciples to now 13 disciples in the last 6 months!


Kip welcomed Blady, Cielo and Bryce Perez into
the SoldOut Movement from the Phnom
Penh ICOC at the 2017 GLC!

 
It is by God’s grace and vision that He moved in the heart of two former full-times of the ICOC in Phnom Penh to join us and build the Kingdom of God! Rasmey & Chan Mona Seng are former staff and the admin couple of our former movement in Phnom Penh! Pheakday & Socheat Kim are missionaries and were full-time in the ICOC when they decided to place membership with us!


Rasmey & Chan Mona Sing are former full-time
staff in our former fellowship!


Pheakday & Socheat Kim were full-time in the ICOC.
However, they began to seek revival and decided
to place membership in the Phnom Penh ICC!

Just last month their son Mathuselah Kim was baptized!


Mathuselah Kim was baptized by Bryce Perez
and his fired up father!

 
We also had our first Women’s Day this month and with only 5 sisters we had 27 in attendance and Ani was baptized on the same day! We are very grateful for Joe & Kerry Willis for their discipling of us and the Phnom Penh Church! We are especially appreciative for all of their help in our first Women’s Day!


The 5 Phnom Penh Sisters had an outstanding 27
in attendance at their Women’s Day!

 

As well, we are learning from and imitating the fired up Sydney Campus Ministry to convert university students here! To God be the glory!

Joe Willis – Lead Evangelist of Sydney: Greetings from Australia in what we are claiming to be “The Best Year of our Lives!” The Sydney Church has grown this year from 47 to 61 disciples and now has 21 different nationalities represented! So encouraging to see in this one minute “Thank You Video” for everyone’s continual financial support through the raising of Special Missions Contribution! (https://youtu.be/cdkOeSbieM4)


Patrick (center) who is from China was embraced
after his baptism by Emannuel, who is leaving
this year to join the work in Lagos, and
Ken (right) who is Korean!

 
Other highlights this year included the baptism of our first Aboriginal Disciple, Paula! She is a first year Law Student at University of New South Wales!


Naomi and Jenna (right) prayed with Paula –
Sydney’s first Aboriginal Disciple!

 
Equally exciting is the baptism of Uka, who was Naomi Radnaabazar’s co-leader in her old denominational church in Mongolia! Their dream is to now plant a true church of sold-out disciples in their home country! We have found a pocket of other Mongolians here in Sydney that are coming to church and studying the Bible! Pray for us to reach all nations!


Flanked by Scotty Lakopo (left), the New Zealand
Mission Team Leader, and Tyrone White, his
right hand man, are Uka and
Naomi – Mongolians!


Uka and Naomi’s dream is to plant the
SoldOut Movement Flag in their
homeland of Mongolia!

 
Jason Dimitry – Lead Evangelist of San Francisco: “On this rock I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18) Greetings from the Saints in the Bay Area! What an incredible last couple of months it has been! Where do we start… hmmm.. Women’s Day! This epic annual event entitled BEAUTIFUL took place March 10th and for the very first time was held in Downtown San Francisco!


Great friends and partners in the
Gospel – Elena and Sarah!

 
God blessed us with Elena McKean as our guest speaker and our 91 sisters had a phenomenal 230 in attendance! 


Served before the sharing and Elena’s main speech,
was a delicious continental breakfast buffet!


For the San Francisco Women’s Day whose theme
was BEAUTIFUL, Elena preached on “unfading
beauty”
from 1 Peter 3:1-6!

 
If that was not enough, we had three incredible baptisms at the Women’s Day in a BEAUTIFUL baptistry with red and white rose petals floating on the water!


Emily from San Francisco State was one of three
BEAUTIFUL baptisms at the Women’s Day!

 
Another highlight had to be the This Is Me Performance which came from the movie The Greatest Showman! The sisters absolutely “brought down the house!” Here is a link if you would like to check it out: 
https://youtu.be/gsIK6THc4Aw.


Devon, Jael and Alexis were the lead singers
for the This Is Me Performance!


The Usher Team – led by Kwaku Sarkodie (left) –
guarded the gift baskets!

 
The following day on Sunday, we had the privilege to hear Kip preach to a combined service of the San Francisco and Sacramento Churches! That day 2 more were baptized and another soul was restored!


The combined Worship Service of the San Francisco
and Sacramento Churches packed the auditorium!

 
Other incredible feats of God this year have been the 34 baptisms and 3 restorations we have had so far! Of note, it has been so inspiring to see how God has worked in the Spanish-speaking Ministry! Since last year when Fernando & Jackie Chavez heroically uprooted their family and moved to the Bay for ministry training, God has blessed their Spanish-speaking Bible Talk with 7 incredible baptisms including 2 married couples! Very excitingly is that come June they will assume the leadership of the South Bay Region centered in San Jose! 
 


The Chavez Familia: Fernando, Jackie,
Andrea, Natalia and Vivi!

 
Luke Speckman – Lead Evangelist of New York City: This was an outstanding month for us! Particularly energizing was the final week of our Basketball League!


The New York City Basketball League
played at Columbia University!

As the number 1 seed, New Jersey had a bye and Manhattan played Queens in the semi-final. Manhattan rallied from a 10 point deficit to claim the victory over Queens! Jordan Swann won the 3 point competition which was held between the semi-final and final game! Then Manhattan beat New Jersey by 10 points to become the champions!


Jordan Swann attempted to block his
New Jersey opponent’s shot!


Malik Speckman sealed the New York City
Championship with a breakaway dunk!


The New York City Basketball League Champions –
the Manhattan Region!


Malik was awarded the MVP of the NYC
Church League and Jordan walked
away with the 3 Point
Championship!

 
On Easter Sunday, we had a congregational service! It was a joyous celebration as we had not had a congregation service since our Winter Workshop the first weekend in January! There were outstanding dance, musical, singing and spoken word performances done by the disciples as well as a Chemical Recovery (CR) Graduation which was very powerful! Also, we had over $105,000 turned in for Missions that day!


Aaron & Sharmayne Viscichini are joyfully but
forcefully advancing the Kingdom
in the Brooklyn Region!

 
The highlights of the day were the 5 additions – 1 restoration and 4 baptisms! Kiana Davis, who is a daughter to my wife Brandyn & me, had fallen away late last year. Yesterday, she was joyfully restored by Jill Swann and Brandyn!


At Kiana’s restoration, she tearfully apologized
to her husband Jonathan!

 
The Manhattan Campus Men had 2 baptisms: 1 from CCNY and 1 from the Ivy League College – Columbia University! Of special note, Malcolm completed his Bachelor’s Degree at Columbia and currently works on campus. He is preparing to begin his Master’s at Columbia as well. Malcolm played football at Columbia for 4 years and is helping to connect me with the coaching staff and other football players. Since I now have a position in the Chaplain’s Office, my goal is to be the Chaplain of the Columbia Football Team beginning this fall! On Friday, I received keys to my office and a conference room that I have access to. Nick Enfantino and I did 3 Bible Studies there that day!


Malcom played for the Columbia
University Football Team!

 
As well, just two weeks later another Columbia Student was baptized and on Monday another Columbia Student became a disciple! So with the baptisms of Jerome and Sally, we now have 5 men and 5 women in our Columbia Ministry! 14 months ago, we had only 1 man!
 
RD Baker – Lead Evangelist of Dubai: Greeting from the United Arab Emirates! We have had an exciting last two months here in this key city in the Persian Gulf! To celebrate our Year And-a-half Anniversary, we had a special Desert Safari Service in the Arabian Desert! Incredibly, we had 71 in attendance! This is our second highest total yet!


The daring Dubai International Christian Church!


After two years in the Middle East, RD & April Baker –
the valiant Dubai Mission Team Leaders – are
heading back to LA for April’s healthcare!
Miguel Mendez and Megan Mathews will
become the new Dubai Church
Leaders in June!

 
We have had 4 baptisms in the last month: Mesraq Kizito, Ivan Giliwango, Paul Moni and Angela Rapiz! The 3 young men were from Uganda, and Angela is from the Philippines. This brings us to 7 baptisms this year and 38 since January 2017! Mesraq from Kampala, Uganda was raised as a Muslim. However, when he was 18 years old his family gave him the option to choose to continue in the Islamic faith or pursue another path. As God’s Spirit directed, his friend Paul who had been studying the Bible invited Mesraq to come witness the church that was having such a great effect on his life! Mesraq saw the truth in the Scriptures and made Jesus his Lord and was baptized! Paul quickly followed suit and was baptized shortly after! 


John Tuason and Jobert Bravin baptized
Paul on a cool Dubai night!

 
We are also excited by the two incredible additions of Evangelist Miguel Mendez and Woman’s Ministry Leader Megan Mathews! The church has enjoyed “welcoming” them to the family, and acclimating them to our wonderful city! Both have already made a huge impact on our church! It will be announced on Friday, May 4th that April & I are heading back to the States and Miguel and Megan will become the new Dubai Church Leaders! I believe the church is in great hands!


Megan Mathews’ farewell party at the West
Region Women’s Midweek in LA!


Megan Mathews’ warm SoldOut Movement
welcome to Dubai!

 
Finally, we have enjoyed hosting many brothers and sisters from around the world who have encouraged the church greatly: Tamara Kusto from Stockholm, Michael & Sharon Kirchner of LA, Jay & Barb Shelbrack of soon-to-be Milwaukee, and Ernest & Shannon Baker of New York City! Also, Dao Henderson (an original Dubai Mission Team Member) and her boyfriend Nick Enfantino also visited and encouraged the disciples!


Miguel Mendez showed the visiting brothers –
Ernest, Michael, Jay and Nick – the Burj
Khalifa, presently the tallest building
in the world!

 
Oleg Sirotkin – Lead Evangelist of Moscow: After Aliona & I were convicted by attending the South American Missions Conference in Brazil, we began to pray for the list for people who had left the Moscow Church for a year or more. First, Angelica called us and she was restored a week later! Then a campus girl named Milana called and was restored at the Women’s Conference! Then Ludmila and Yuriy called disciples and were restored in the Lord last Sunday! A few weeks ago, Olga called with a humble question, “What do I need to do to be in family of God again?” So, this Sunday, we received back our fifth sister! All these people were on the prayer list which further united the Moscow Church through prayer! Glory to our Lord that He does not want anyone to perish, but to live!


Milana was restored on March 18th and
baptized her mother Angela
on April 1st!

 
Not only has God given us many restorations, but He has blessed us with even more baptisms! To mention a few, God blessed us by baptism with a beautiful campus girl Julia! She was invited to Bible Talk by our young sister Lola. At the Bible Talk, Julia shared that she was a member of a Pentecostal church, but after studying the Bible with true disciples, she understood that she had never become a disciple and was baptized in a week!


Julia was a campus convert
on March 11th!

Also in March, God blessed us with an awesome young campus guy, perhaps a diplomat in the future, Kyril! He was invited a few months ago by Oleg Sirotkin (me 😊) in the gym where we were both working out! Despite his high social level as he is the heir of Lev (Leo) Tolstoy, the well-known author of War And Peace, Kyril had a very soft heart and was baptized in the Lord with strong conviction!


Oleg (left) was personally fruitful with Kyril,
a descendant of Leo Tolstoy!

 
Lastly, Heo Kyu is an awesome teen boy from Moscow! Since his father is from South Korea, Heo speaks fluent Russian, English and Korean! He was baptized Sunday, April 29th! Our Teen Ministry Family is growing spiritually and in many fruits! Heo’s teacher said that he was the main troublemaker in school, and he even persecuted Lydia because of her conviction on salvation. A month ago at a basketball tournament in their Academy, Sophia and Lydia decided to invite Heo to the Campus and Teen Devo. Afterward, Heo started to study the Bible! At the counting of the cost, Lydia told him that she is ready to go on a mission team even to North Korea! Then she asked Heo, “What about you?” He quickly answered, “Yes!” He went on to say that this is an answer from God, as there is a new start of relations for the first time in 65 years between South and North Korea! The parents of Heo were at the baptism and testified about the huge changes in their son and gave glory to God with all of us! God is a faithful Father and full of grace!


Heo is the sixth disciple in the same “Christian
Academy,” where Sophia was the only
disciple just a year and-a-half ago!

 
Michael Williamson – Lead Evangelist of London: Greetings from England! We had an incredible celebration this weekend as we saw three campus students baptized, and the beautiful wedding of Denzel Keyede (from Ghana) & Thu Lé (from Vietnam)!


Congratulations to Denzel & Thu!

 
All three baptisms were amazing, but let me share about a very intelligent and gifted young woman Victrix! She is a first year physics major at UCL, who received a scholarship to attend there as she received “ten A stars,” a grade that made her eligible to attend either Oxford or Cambridge University! I am so proud of Jenia (Jurij Zykov’s new girlfriend), Josie and my lovely wife Michele for meeting and converting this incredible young gentle woman who is a direct fruit from our Women’s Day!


Praise God for London’s Triplets!


Ian (left) was baptized a week ago
and is an IT business owner!


Rachel Perejel likewise was baptized a week ago
and is the twin sister of Joseph!

 
Also terrifically exciting, we had an incredible CR Graduation where six more graduates received their certificates, and then we sent off our faithful Kiwi warrior Chris Singers to Sydney, Australia to train for the New Zealand Mission Team!


Kolbe & Rebecca Gray – London’s West Region
Leaders – have been selected to be the
ICCM Alumni Relations Directors!

 
A News Flash: So proud of my son “Lil Mike” who had four three’s… a few Steph Curry runners… and was 2 for 4 from the line to drop 20 – the highest score in the championship game!
 


With Michael Adrian’s scoring prowess in
3 point shooting, he has really taken
after his spiritual Grandpa!

Finally, we are just three weeks away from our 20X Missions Contribution, so please keeps us in your prayers!

 
Raul Moreno – Lead Evangelist of São Paulo: Greetings Brothers and Sisters! The saints are fired up in Brazil as God has allowed the São Paulo Church to grow from exactly 200 disciples at the beginning of the year to 221 as of now!


The 70 Disciples of the São Paulo Campus Ministry!

 
One of the innovative endeavors that we started was to host a weekly English Service. This creates a platform to bring visitors that are “opinion leaders!” One of those visitors was an amazing USP Campus Student named Lucas that was baptized last Sunday!


Lucas (second from the right) is a fellow USP
Student with Moises, Luis and Gabriel!

 
Also last week, the 28 disciples of our valiant and very loved Rio de Janeiro Church had an amazing 4 baptisms to the glory of God! I guess they are fired up as their church leaders, Caio & Carol, were joyfully married just 2 weeks prior!


Congratulations to Caio & Carol – the Rio
de Janeiro Church Leaders!

 
Love seems to be in air in this part of the world, as our very own São Paulo Sector Leaders, Tulio & Vaitsa, were happily married this week as well!


Congratulations to Tulio & Vaitsa Amaral – the
East Campus Sector Leaders of the
o Paulo Church!

We also have three more weddings looming on the horizon! God is always good! (Psalm 106:1)
 
Chi Leong – Lead Evangelist of Hong Kong: Greetings from China! I was so encouraged that the City of Angels Church in Los Angeles sent one of their best interns – Alicia Winthein – to co-lead the Hong Kong Church with me! She has made an incredible difference with the sisters!


Joe & Kerry Willis (center) flew to Hong Kong to
be with Chi in welcoming Alicia!

 
In the past month, the Lord has been working powerfully in Hong Kong by blessing us with 4 baptisms! Their names are Matthew, Daisy, Ria and Harry! These young men and women are from the University of Hong Kong and Polytechnic University! We look forward to all the great things that God will do through these zealous disciples!


Aaron shared from the Scriptures about
Harry’s love for God!

 
Also, we had our first Women’s Day where the Lord brought out 47 women in attendance as the sisters shared their hearts to inspire the crowd!


With only 6 women disciples including those from
Sydney, the Hong Kong Women’s Day
had 47 in attendance!


Jenna Loheed of Sydney delivered the keynote
address on INNER BEAUTY!

 
In addition, we had our record Sunday church attendance of 37 when Kip came and preached the Word powerfully to the crowd!


At the Hong Kong Church Service, Kip preached
to a record Sunday crowd of 37!

 
Please continue to pray for us as now there are a total of 13 disciples in the Hong Kong International Christian Church! To God be all the glory!
 
Cory Blackwell – Lead Evangelist of Chicago: God is amazing and He is doing great things in the Windy City! After a long spell with no baptisms, the church fasted and prayed for God to open His floodgates of fruit! Prayer really works! We have had additions the last 6 weeks in a row!


Cory baptized Avrie on August 7, 2011! Today,
Avrie is a full-time intern in Chicago and
is returning to USC as a student
in the fall!

 
I will share about only one of these amazing miracles! Luis Avila was born in Venezuela. Today his country is in great political turmoil. Like many from third world countries, he had the American dream. He received a full baseball scholarship, but unfortunately like many young athletes without guidance, he made poor choices that cost him his baseball scholarship! When Luis was met on the UIC Campus, he was faced with deportation! Something told him to listen to the brothers that reached out to him. Luis persevered through all the hardships. Then he made the best decision of his life – making Jesus Lord! Immediately after Luis’ baptism, he was no longer faced with deportation and he has been asked to play baseball for a new college, where he longs to help build the Kingdom!


God blessed Luis (center) with a second chance
in life when he was baptized and shortly
afterward, Luis had a second chance
at a baseball scholarship!

 
Blaise Feumba – Overseeing Evangelist of Haiti: “So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests [PREACHERS] became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7) At the beginning of the month of April, the Lord blessed the International Christian Churches of the nation of Haiti with the forming of a ninth church! Alexis Turgeau, Jean Bonard Colin and 13 other leaders of our Haitian Congregations in Port-au-prince, Saint-Marc, Mirebalais and Jacmel answered the call of a desperate denominational church in the city of Seau-d’Eau, an hour-and-a-half away from Port-au-prince! Our team landed there to teach the First Principles Series to over 100 people! After 5 days of intense Bible studies, the Lord blessed their efforts with 21 baptisms, 6 of them were preachers!


Anel Magoffy baptized Bidjinie Baptiste, 1 of 21
new disciples in the Seau-d’Eau Church!


Elysee Alexandre (kneeling) – the Saint-Marc ICC
Leader – with 7 new disciples in Seau-d’Eau!

 
Alexis and another group of leaders are planning to go back next week from May 3rd to May 6th to strengthen these new disciples and to study the Bible with many more!


The Haitian Leadership Team with Blaise
during his last visit in 2017!

 
It is amazing to see what the Lord has done with Alexis – a Mainline Church of Christ Preacher – who reached out to Kip! Kip invited him to attend the 2013 GLC! After studying with several of the French-speaking Evangelists, Alexis was baptized the day after the GLC ended! So, from one sold-out former Church of Christ Preacher, we now have 367 disciples in 9 churches in Haiti!


The French-speaking Evangelists – Tim, Blaise and
Amadou – studied with Alexis (second from
the right) during the 2013 GLC!


Tim baptized Alexis – a Mainline Church of Christ
Preacher – as a sold-out disciple of Christ!


Tim and Blaise rejoiced with Alexis
over his salvation!

Amazingly, 25 of these disciples are former preachers with 16 of them coming directly from the Mainline Churches of Christ!
 
MCKEANS’ MISSIONARY TRIP
Elena & I flew to Hilo, Hawaii on Tuesday, March 27th where we were warmly greeted by Kyle Bartholomew, as well as Dennis & Corinna Sloan who are the Hilo Church Leaders! Over the next few days, we were able to spend quality time with the Sloans!


Dennis & Corinna Sloan graciously welcomed
the McKeans to Hilo!


Corinna was very excited to have
fellowship with them!

However, the main purpose for our going was to study with Kyle to be restored on Easter Sunday! A highlight for us was on Friday night when Elena & I had dinner with Kyle and his three children – Brett, Connor and Bree!


The McKeans had a fun dinner on Friday night
with Kyle and his children – Brett,
Connor and Bree!

 
Another highlight was Saturday night as we enjoyed reconnecting with the Hilo Shepherding Couples – Chris & Mahe Directo and Robbie & Linda Robinson! All four were part of the 12 Hilo Disciples – led by Kyle Bartholomew – that took a stand for discipling, central leadership and world evangelism in September 2006, thus sparking the New SoldOut Movement into existence!


The McKeans were reunited with the
Directos and the Robinsons!

 
Of course, the ultimate highlight was Easter Sunday and Kyle’s tearful restoration! At his restoration, Kyle shared Micah 7:8-9, “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Because I have sinned against Him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath, until He pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see His righteousness.” Kyle wholeheartedly apologized to the Lord, to the churches in Hawaii and the Philippines, and to his physical family. He wept as he expressed how disappointed the Lord was in him and how his falling away had a devastating impact on so many peoples’ faith.


Kyle’s tearful restoration!


After Kyle’s restoration, the Hilo Church sang to
him, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord!


Kyle’s mom Cindy – a Hilo Disciple – was among
the first to congratulate Kyle!


Kyle’s adoring parents – Jay & Cindy Bartholomew!

 
Interestingly, after singing to Kyle, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord, and taking a fellowship break to welcome him back to the family, Kyle’s father Jay – who is not a disciple – came up to me asking if he could address the church for five to ten minutes. After a quick “Nehemiah Prayer,” I said, “Sure!” So after a song to gather everybody back, I introduced Jay to the church. Jay began by saying, “I want to share with you a true story, something that I witnessed about a month ago, but in fact, it is a parable. As I was walking I heard the squawking of a large flock of mynah birds in a tree. All of a sudden, one of them flew off alone and then a huge hawk pounced on him, grabbing the mynah bird with his sharp talons! Then all of the mynah birds in the tree squawked all the louder as they witnessed the hawk clutching one of their own! You may ask yourself why did the mynah bird fly off on its own? Well… Maybe it was arrogance? (Kyle shared during his restoration that the core sin that took him out was arrogance!) Maybe it was stupidity? Or maybe the mynah bird was just seeking a thrill?


Hawaiian Mynah Birds in flight!

 
Almost immediately after all the birds were screeching, four of the mynah birds came out of the tree and hit the hawk in rapid succession! Now you may be thinking, ‘Why didn’t more mynah birds come to the rescue?’ Well… Maybe they thought that the bird that flew out on its own was getting what he deserved? Or perhaps they were just cowardly? Anyway, after the four birds hit the hawk, the hawk dropped the one mynah bird and the mynah bird flew to safety back with the flock in the tree. I believe the church is a family and for me, I can never give up on family. Let me just say, Kyle is not the only one who has struggled and went away on his own. Don’t look down on your brothers and sisters that stray like the one mynah bird, but with love and courage – no matter the price – go after them. Be true family! That’s all I’ve got to say!”
Then Jay went back into the audience and sat down.


Jay shared with the Hilo Church his moving
Mynah Bird Parable!

 
After this amazing parable, I was supposed to preach and I did! That said, I believe the most memorable sermon that day was the Mynah Bird Parable delivered so eloquently by Jay Bartholomew! Since the Easter Church Service was held in an outdoor facility, it was relatively easy to have a picnic feast and an Easter Egg Hunt! Most of us left after a few hours so encouraged and with a bit of a sunburn!


Ready for the Egg Hunt?


Kyle helped his precious little Bree to
collect her Easter Eggs!

 
On Tuesday night, April 3rd, Elena & I were given a SoldOut Movement Greeting by the Manila Disciples!


The Manila Disciples gave the McKeans an ever-so
encouraging SoldOut Movement Welcome!

 
On Wednesday, we had lunch with the dynamic new leaders of the Metro Manila International Christian Church (MMICC) – Richie & Elizabeth McDonnell! Over lunch, we discussed the incredible healing that had taken place in the MMICC over the three months that the McDonnells had led the church. We also overviewed the program for the 2018 Pacific Rim Missions Conference (PRMC) entitled STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! All of the titles for the sermons and lessons came from the Book of Joshua!  


Metro Manila has a population of over 24 million
with a density of 100,000 people/square mile!

 
That evening at 7:00PM, was the opening of the Prayer War Room and the Speakers Dinner! At the dinner, all of us who attended from outside of the Philippines were very impressed with all of the Filipino Leaders!


Kiko Javier of Cebu prepared to enter
the Prayer War Room!


By Sunday morning, the Prayer War Room
was covered in post-its with heart felt
prayer requests!

 
On Thursday morning was the Leadership Workshop from 9:00AM – 11:30AM! All the way from LA, Tim & Lianne Kernan – the World Sector Leaders for the Pac Rim – delivered a stirring Welcome and Ronnie Gonzalez – one of the MMICC Shepherds – gave a moving Prayer!


The Leadership Workshop’s fervent singing
was led by RJ Castro!


Tim & Lianne Kernan’s Welcome filled us
with anticipation for the PRMC!

 
Jason Dimitry – the Lead Evangelist of the San Francisco Bay Church – gave an amazing speech entitled, GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN! In Jason’s opening remarks, he shared that he lived in Daly City, which is called in San Francisco because so many Filipinos live there – “Little Manila!” So Jason said that he felt quite at home in “Big Manila!” As Jason preached about Caleb having the vigor to take the mountain in his old age, Jason recalled his father’s words to him, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”


Jason Dimitry lives in “Little Manila!”

 
Following came the COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP SERMONETTES: Courageous Preaching by Princeton & Joy George of Las Vegas, Courageous Hard Work by Ricky & Coleen Challinor of LA, Courageous Discipling by the newly engaged couple Sean O’Connor & Krystal Legarda of LA, Courage For Nationals To Save Their People by Marc & Maika Carbonell of Manila, Courage On Campus by Zach & Ariel Shields of Manila, Courageous Marriages by John & Emma Causey of LA, Courageous Prayer Life by Joel Parlour of Seattle, and Courage In Finances by Tim Kernan!


The charismatic COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP
SERMONETTE Teachers!


Zach & Ariel Shields are the new Davao
Mission Team Leaders!

 
Thursday evening was the First General Session of the PRMC! After incredible singing, Richie & Elizabeth gave the Welcome and EJ Duldulao opened with a Prayer!


The McDonnells gave the Welcome at the First
General Session and EJ Duldulao stirred
everyone’s heart in prayer!
 

Then came the glorious Flag Ceremony where all the flags of the Pacific Rim Countries were represented!

 

The magnificent Flag Ceremony
of the Pacific Rim Nations!

Then Elena & I shared GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!


Kip & Elena never tire in sharing GOOD NEWS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD!

Following was a Special Dance Presentation!


Our sisters Vin and Yna sang and danced
respectively with all their hearts!


The dance changed from classical to hip-hop, but
it was still done with all their hearts!


To close the Special Dance Presentation, confetti
was shot into the air as Carlos and the other
brothers waved the Pac Rim Flags!

 
The main speech for the evening was enthusiastically delivered by John Causey on the theme, AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD! In John’s speech, he shared about ceramic bowls that cracked in Japan. The cracked bowls are far more valuable than ones that are not! Why? Because the Japanese glue together the cracked bowls with gold! He went on to share that all of us have “cracks” in our lives and through the gold of discipling, we can become everything God wants us to be!

 


Joel Parlour of Seattle offered his discipler John
Causey a few words of encouragement
before he spoke!


John used Joshua 24 as his text for the riveting
sermon, AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD!

 
On Friday morning, the Challinors gave a rousing Welcome for the Second General Session!

 

Ricky & Coleen Challinor gave a rousing Welcome
for the Second General Session!

The main speech was powerfully preached by Richie and entitled, GET THESE PEOPLE READY! Richie’s amazing lesson had three simple points: 1) Ready To Do Anything, 2) Ready To Go Anywhere, and 3) Ready To Give Up Everything! He had us in tears when he read a poem by his beloved wife Elizabeth that encapsulated these points!


Richie has become one of the best young
preachers in the entire Movement!

 
In the afternoon, from 2:00PM – 4:30PM were the Men’s and Women’s Programs emceed respectively by Ronnie Gonzalez and Elena!

 


One of the MMICC Shepherds – Ronnie Gonzalez –
emceed the Men’s Program which was
opened with a prayer by
Jason Alejandro!

The initial sermon of each program was entitled EVERY PLACE YOU SET YOUR FOOT! They were delivered respectively by Ricky Challinor and Elizabeth McDonnell!


Ricky preached with deep conviction!


Elizabeth shared the challenges that she has
faced since moving to Manila!

Thrilling short charges followed the opening main speeches: Setting Your Foot In Integrity, Setting Your Foot In Purity, Setting Your Foot In Life-Skills, and Setting Your Foot In The Light!


The Women’s Program Speakers!


The Men’s Program Speakers!

The second major speech was given by John Malnegro and Lianne Kernan on THE WALLS OF JERICHO!
 


John Malnegro – the Cebu Church Leader – has
grown so much in his preaching since
the planting last September!


Lianne spoke decisively on the qualities that
sisters need to have in order to assault
THE WALLS OF JERICHO!

 

After the main speeches, short charges were given on Marching By Faith, Marching By Conviction, Marching By Leading, and Marching By Loving!
 


JC Jose preached passionately on his
short charge: Marching By Love!


Gina Dela Peña spoke boldly on
Marching By Faith!

 
That evening was the Third General Session – The Kingdom Banquet! Nimrod & Vis Malnegro – a Shepherding Couple for the MMICC – presented the Welcome and Oliver Lapeña gave the Prayer! Following was an incredible Dance Presentation!

 


The Kingdom Banquet Dance Presentation!


At the Kingdom Banquet, a good
time was had by all!


Aki asked Lou to start dating him! Following this,
both Aki & Lou were named full-time
interns in Cebu!

 
I had the privilege to deliver the message of the hour, HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU?


In his lesson HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU,
Kip said, “All commands have a
motivating promise!”

Although we were a bit tired, all of us went to our rooms with great expectations for Saturday’s MERCY Day!


Baby Monty and Baby Miracle are dreaming to
be campus interns one day!

 
All of the International Delegates for the PRMC were taken from the Hotel Jen to the Don Bosco School, while the Filipino Delegates easily found their way to the MERCY Day site!


The MERCY Ambassadors were so excited to
spend time with the children at the
Laura Vicuña Foundation!

Two hours before we arrived, 173 children of squatters were treated by doctors and dentists sponsored by MERCY!
 


Doctors and dentists were provided for
all 173 kids at the Don Bosco School!

Co-directing this event with Manila’s MERCY Director Ronnie Gonzalez was Sister Helen, who is the leader of the Laura Vicuña Foundation.


Nick & Denise Bordieri met the
delightful Sister Helen!

 
The program was filled with games, singing, dancing and lots of fun!

 


The setting of the Don Bosco School provided
the perfect MERCY Day site!

 

Perhaps the most riveting of the performances was the Filipino Martial Arts!
 

In the Filipino Marital Arts Performance, Maruja
was attacked by two “bad guys!”


After a gravity-defying “scissor – headlock” around
the “Bad Guy Reymer’s” neck, it is safe to say
that the “bad guys” will not bother her again!

One of the children’s favorite games was Making Mummies!
 


Sean O’Connor (above) and John Causey
became living mummies!

Each child was presented with a backpack full of school supplies and delicious food from Jollibee’s!


A backpack full of school supplies was
given to each of the 173 children!


Princeton George did a “duet rap” with
the Jolibee Mascot!


The phenomenal MERCY Day Event!

 
The Sunday Worship Service and Final General Session was incredible with 346 in attendance!


The Final General Session had
346 in attendance!

JC Jose and Rosas Sobrino – the East Region Leaders of the MMICC – were given the honor to share for Communion!


For Communion, Rosas Sobrino shared vulnerably
about her insecurities that have plagued
her Christian life!

Nimrod & Vis Malnegro gave a convicting message on Contribution where they shared on the Scripture, “Get your provisions ready!” They told “their story” about moving from the Davao Remnant Group to Manila! Although it was difficult, in doing this both of their sons Michael and Lance became disciples!


Nimrod & Vis convinced us all that when
we sacrifice, we are the ones that
are blessed!

 
Then, Dr. Tim Kernan gave perhaps his best message to date entitled, BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! Tim was hilarious as he told us about the movie The Dark Tower! In the movie, the last gunslinger defeats the man in black. The gunslinger played by Idris Elba makes the statement, “I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I aim with my eye. I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I shoot with my mind. I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father. I kill with my heart.” Tim admonished us to always “remember the face of our Father!”


As Tim spoke on The Dark Tower, at first there
was much laughter, but by the end of the
analogy the dropping of a pin
could be heard!

 
To close the service were 3 moving restorations – Lorenz, Rachel and Janien – and 1 baptism, Estella the mother of Alba Guitierrez!


Janein’s confession and restoration helped
to heal those who were hurt
when she fell away!


Janein’s mother filmed the restoration and
was touched by the softness of her
daughter’s heart!


The Father welcomed back the 3 restorations:
Janein, Lorenz and Rachel!

 
We closed out the service arm-in-arm singing at the top of our voices my favorite Kingdom song, Great Among The Nations! Incredibly, since January 14th when the MMICC had their first 2 baptisms of the year and 187 disciples in their membership, God has blessed this amazing church with 59 additions – 38 baptisms, 10 restorations and 11 place memberships! They now have 235 sold-out disciples! And to God be the glory!


Of the 38 disciples in the Cebu Church, 32 of
them flew to Manila for the PRMC!

 
On Thursday, April 12th, Elena & I flew to Hong Kong! However, our plane was quite late and so we arrived after midnight! Nonetheless, all but one of the then 11 member church was there greeting us with big smiles and singing, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord!

 


The lights of Hong Kong at night!

The McKeans landed in Hong Kong after midnight,
but the disciples stayed in the airport to give
them a SoldOut Movement Welcome!

 
Friday night, Elena & I met with the Hong Kong Church Leaders – Chi Leong and Alicia Winthein! It was a tremendous time of sharing about their efforts at Hong Kong University and the Polytechnic University!


Chi and Alicia are doing a great job in
leading the Hong Kong Church!

 
On Saturday, we had lunch with the brothers – Dean, Cain, Aaron and Matthew!


The Hong Kong Brothers were looking forward
to pizza, not knowing that Chi had taken the
McKeans to a pizza place the night before!

Following this marvelous time, Chi and Alicia asked Elena & me to study with a young Chinese woman who had wrestled with witchcraft and sorcery. Only 24 years old, Victoria “Ria” Li was very vulnerable and humble despite being a beautiful actress, model and singer! After several hours of Bible Study, Ria decided to be baptized the next day on Sunday!


What a joy for Kip & Elena to study with Ria!

 
On Saturday evening, Elena & I had dinner with the sisters – Shaineh, Jess, Themis, Kandice and Daisy! All of them were so fired up that Ria was getting baptized the next day!


The Hong Kong Sisters – being a little classier
than the Brothers – opted for Thai!

 
On Sunday morning, we woke up to rain! Even at noontime when Chi picked us up in a taxi to go to the baptism, it was still raining!


Sunday morning it was raining when Chi picked up
the McKeans to go to Ria’s baptism!


While waiting for Ria, it was obvious that
McDonalds was not waiting for anybody
as they are evangelizing the world!

However, when all the disciples had gathered at Kowloon Park (essentially Hong Kong Central Park), Ria appeared and the rain stopped! We gathered in a circle and all of us shared something encouraging about Ria’s conversion! I will never forget when our brother Cain shared. He cried while he said that he did not believe that most of his friends in his homeland of Taiwan would ever become Christians, because they were involved in witchcraft. Then he added, “Ria, your conversion has given me hope for all of them!”


 

When Ria arrived in Kowloon Park, God stopped the
rain and we began the sharing for Ria’s baptism!
At about 1:30PM, Ria was baptized and received God’s precious and powerful Holy Spirit!


Jess and Alicia were just as jubilant as Ria
after her baptism!


Ria promises to be a powerful “force” for the
Lord as a model, actress and singer!

 
Since we had a little bit of time before the worship service, Elena wanted to stay awake and so we headed to Starbucks!


Like McDonalds, Starbucks is
evangelizing the world!

Church in Hong Kong is at 4:00PM and amazingly, with 12 disciples in the church and Elena & me, God blessed us with 37 in attendance! Truly the “fields are ripe for harvest!” (John 4:35)


The brothers set up for 4:00PM church!


The view from the window on the 17th floor where
the Hong Kong Church meets!


Chi was inspirational as a song leader!


Before Elena shared for Communion, she gave an
autographed copy of her book ELEVATE
to our new sister, Ria!

 
On Tuesday morning, April 17th, Elena flew home to Los Angeles as her doctors have urged her not to travel as much as me because travel increases stress and stress can cause her health problems to return. Also that morning, I flew on to Chennai, India for the 2018 South Asia Missions Conference (SAMC)! Because of a long layover in Singapore, I did not arrive into Chennai until after 10:00PM! Amazingly, when I came out of the terminal, over 100 Indian Disciples sang, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord and they greeted me with hugs for about an hour!


Over 100 Indian Disciples greeted Kip as he
landed in Chennai!

 
On Wednesday morning, I gathered with Raja & Debs Rajan – the former Chennai Church Leaders and the New Delhi Mission Team Leaders, Luke & Brandyn Speckman – the New York City Church Leaders and the Overseeing Ministry Couple for South Asia, and Matt & Helen Sullivan – the Miami Church Leaders and the SAGES World Sector Leaders, to go over the SAMC Program!


The planning meeting with the Speckmans,
Sullivans, Rajans and Kip!

 
At noontime was the Shepherd’s Luncheon where we were able to meet several of the stronger and more mature couples in the Chennai, Bangalore and soon-to-be New Delhi Churches!


At the Shepherd’s Luncheon, Luke asked everyone
to introduce themselves and to share good news!


The Gonas and the Vijayans – Shepherding
Couples – had lunch with Nick Bordieri!

 
After an afternoon of fellowship, we celebrated the Speakers Dinner!


The Speakers Dinner offered another opportunity
for the International Delegates to get to know
the Indian Church Leaders!

 
On Thursday morning, we got ready to go on the Historical Tour where we visited the Monuments of Mahabalipuram, which are located about 60 km (37 miles) south of Chennai.


Anup and Mali of Kathmandu were the first to
board the bus for the Historical Tour!


The horrific Chennai traffic as viewed
from the bus!


Yet, the traffic went unnoticed by all the disciples
who were having a blast fellowshipping with
disciples from all over the world!

 

Fascinatingly, all of these Hindu Monuments were hewed out of giant rocks! This sculptural legacy was left behind by King Mahendravarman I (580 – 630 AD) and his son King Narasimhavarman I (630 – 668 AD).

 
 
The Five Brothers Temple!


Prathrap – the Chennai Church Leader – was a very
knowledgeable tour guide as he explained about
Krishna’s ten forms, one of which is a pig!


The Pattersons of Boston were in awe of
the Ganesha Rada Temple which took
50 years to be carved from one
rock in the 6th century!


This rock is nicknamed the “Butterball!”


The International Delegates gathered under
the immense Butterball Rock!


Sharon Kirchner of LA decided to take the fast way
down the slope to get to the air-conditioned bus
as the temperature was about
100 F (38 C)!

That evening at 7:30PM, we gathered for the Bible Talk Leaders Workshop! After a warm Welcome by Raja & Debs, I was honored to present GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!  
 


Thursday evening was the exciting Bible
Talk Leaders Workshop!

Kip shared GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE
WORLD especially highlighting Hilo,
Manila and Hong Kong!

 
After this was a Special Dance Performance by Yassa Green! She performed the extremely difficult Bharatnatyam Dance, which is the State Dance of Tamil Nadu where Chennai is located!


Roger was so proud of his wife Yassa for
performing flawlessly the difficult
Bharatnatyam Dance!

 
Then Luke delivered an amazing sermon, KEEP ON SPEAKING AND NOT BE SILENT!


Luke pleaded with all the Bible Talk Leaders
to refocus on their personal evangelism!


During the fellowship, Kip was very impressed by
meeting Ani and Emmanuel – doctoral students
who were recently baptized!


Kip invited Anup Shakya (left) from Kathmandu,
Nepal to be on the New Delhi Mission Team!
He in turn invited another former Buddhist
Priest – Mali – to come to the SAMC!

 
On Friday morning, April 20th, all of us were ready at 6:30AM to go to the MERCY Event, which was held at Chengalpet Leprosy Colony! After two short charges by Nick Bordieri – the World Sector Leader for MERCY – and myself, the International Delegates were broken into 6 groups.


Kip exhorted the MERCY Ambassadors from
Mark 1:40-42 to be like Jesus who was
“filled with compassion” and willing
to reach out and touch the lepers!

Each group had an Indian couple in charge with other Indian Disciples to help us out with translation. As well, we had several packets of clothes to distribute to each one of the lepers. Amazingly, leprosy can be completely cured with a series of shots that have a total cost of only $150 USD! In visiting one leper who is a 48 year old woman and had been in the Leprosy Colony for 6 years, she shared with my group, “I prayed today would be a great day.” I responded, “God has answered your prayers!” Our visit with the lepers lifted their spirits and changed our lives!


There were 6 MERCY Ambassador Teams that
went to the 6 wards of the Leprosy Colony!


Tamil and Kip took time to reach out to Jayaraman
and his wife Bala Mani! Kip asked the question
to Jayaraman, “What is the secret of living
to be 74 years old?” He simply
answered, “God!”


Franklin peeled an orange for the 50 year old
woman named Muniammal! His kindness
caused her to cry!


Jaysree – Tamil’s wife – began a Bible study with
Bagyawathi whose husband died just 9
months ago!


The disciples Shanthi, Kavinpriyai and Melissa
reached out to a 48 year old woman, who
does not have leprosy, but her mother
does. She has a monthly salary to
sew and cook of 40 rupees –
less than $1 USD!


Our sisters Ilakkiya (middle) and Phoniya
encouraged Ajunabhi – a leprosy patient
who had been there 20 years!


The MERCY Ambassadors!

 
After spending 2 hours at the Leprosy Colony, we came back to shower and then went for a South Indian Lunch at Hotel Saravana Bhavan, where we ate on banana leaf plates only using our fingers!


The Speckmans and the Shelbracks were amused
at having banana leaves for plates and the
prospect of eating with their hands!


Luke cleaned his plate!


Sadly, Debzy (left) – who is Indian – “corrupted”
Melissa and Omar of NYC by leading them
astray with spoons!

Then we were off to St. Thomas Mount to see where the Apostle Thomas was martyred in 72 AD. We ended our “St. Thomas Tour” where he humbly lived in a cave!


Ernest & Shannon Baker of NYC were sobered by
the Apostle Thomas’ home, which was a cave!

 
On Saturday, the First General Session began at 9:00AM! The singing was off the charts! Luke & Brandyn gave a great Welcome and Prayer! Nick gave a short charge about MERCY Projects around the world!


The First General Session of the SAMC!


Nick Bordieri – the World Sector Leader for
MERCY – shared about MERCY Projects
around the world!

Then we witnessed a Special Indian States Dance! 6 of the 29 States of India were represented: the Bollywood Dance of Maharashtra, the Fisherman’s Dance of Goa, the Sampalpuri Dance of Bihar, the Mohini Attam Dance of Kerala, the Kashmiri Dance of Jammu, and the Garba Dance of Gujarat!


The Special Indian States Dance were
mesmerizing in motion and color!

 
At 9:45AM, Raja spoke on BY WHAT POWER AND WHAT NAME? He shared in his message about his Hindu background where over time he became an atheist. After a life of partying and immorality, Raja called his life “a total mess.” One Saturday night after a party, he was so distraught that he hit his bedroom wall several times crying out in tears, “God are you there?” A short time later, he was met by disciples and was baptized! After his baptism, Raja’s father beat him and threw him out of his house along with his clothes. God has raised up a great prophet for India from this miraculous conversion!


In his sermon, Raja called upon the Chennai
Disciples – who would be “orphaned” by the
38 on the New Delhi Mission Team – not
to focus on man but on their
Father in Heaven!

 
Another highlight followed Raja’s lesson when Prathap & Maggie Stevenson were appointed Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader in the Kingdom of God! They now lead the mighty Chennai Church!


Debs appointed her daughter in the faith, Maggie
to be a Women’s Ministry Leader!


Prathrap was choked up by Raja’s fatherly
kindness and confidence as he was
appointed an Evangelist to lead
the Chennai Church!

 
From 11:00AM – 1:00PM were the Men’s and Women’s Programs! The first message of both sessions was delivered respectively by Jay Shelbrack of New York City and Helen Sullivan titled, SAVE YOURSELF FROM THIS CORRUPT GENERATION!


The mighty Men’s Program!


Jay Shelbrack will lead the Milwaukee
Mission Team in August!

Following were short charges on different characters in the Book of Acts!


Marcel Turner of Gainesville encouraged the
brothers in his preaching and
his song leading!


Christy – the Bangalore Church Leader – preached
on Barnabas the encourager!


Rafael Jerez of Syracuse admonished the brothers
not to be like Ananias in Acts 5!


Ernest Baker spoke on the powerful preaching
of the first Christian martyr – Stephen!

The second main message for both programs was entitled, CHANGING THE CUSTOMS! From the buzz in the fellowship, Prathrap and Debs did a terrific job on this topic!


Prathrap & Maggie – the new Chennai Church
Leaders – and their baby Yalimi Abigail!

 
The Second General Session was from 3:00PM – 4:30PM! We were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 – Campus and Group 2 – Singles and Marrieds! In the Campus Session, Mike & Chenelle Patterson of Boston taught the class, THE LORD ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER DAILY.


Mike Patterson of Boston spoke with great authority
that the Lord can add to our numbers daily
when we retain a sold-out foundation
in a church!
 

For the Singles and Marrieds Session, Luke & Brandyn had this same topic!
 


Luke & Brandyn had two points: 1) Mission
Minded Marrieds and 2) Sold-out Singles!
In each class, short practical lessons were given to help to implement the Scriptures in THE LORD ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER DAILY lessons!
 

Matt introduced the speakers for the Singles and
Marrieds Session: Thomas, Ted, Scarlett,
Jaysree, Lisa and Jeffrey!
 

Ted Green admonished everyone to be
“devoted to the fellowship!”

 

Lisa Picciano encouraged all of the sisters to
never lose their sense of awe of God
and His miracles!
That evening, the International Delegates and the Indian Church Leaders enjoyed a Fellowship Banquet! Matt gave the charge that night on WE MUST GO THROUGH MANY HARDSHIPS!
 

Jaysree (left) and Yassa were inspired by
Sabrina’s Indian outfit and henna tattoo!
 

The Fellowship Banquet!


Though many of the SAMC participants were tired,
Matt captivated everyone by his preaching about
“exciting difficulties” and praying on our
knees for a half an hour daily!

 
Sunday was the Final General Session where 347 gathered to worship God!


For the Final General Session, 347
packed out the auditorium!

 
For our Worship Service, we were led in an International Prayer and Matt & Helen shared GOOD NEWS FROM THE SAGES WORLD SECTOR! (SAGES is an acronym for South Asia, Gulf and Eastern USA States!)
 

Isaac Gonzalez of Miami prayed in Spanish
during the International Prayer!


Matt & Helen shared GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND
THE SAGES WORLD SECTOR!

 
Communion was the goodbye to the Chennai Church from the Rajans and the Gonas, who served nobly as one of the Chennai Shepherding Couples but now were leaving on the New Delhi Mission Team!


In a very touching Communion, the Rajans and
the Gonas expressed their love for the
Chennai Church and called for
Chennai, Bangalore and New
Delhi to be one church!

 
Contribution was admirably done by Michael & Sharon Kirchner – the World Sector Leader Admin Couple!


The Kirchners inspired the Indian Disciples
about how much the American Disciples
love them and sacrifice for them!
 

During the collection of the Contribution, the New Delhi Remnant Group sang in Hindi, Jesus Comes Into My Heart!

 

Jeffrey Norris and the New Delhi Remnant
Group led a Hindi song after the
Contribution that got the
crowd on its feet!

 
Then I was privileged to give the keynote address, UNSTOPPABLE!


To honor Kip before he spoke, the Rajans and
Gonas presented him with a maharaja
turban and a beautiful brass sword!

 
Following, we had 9 baptisms – Ravi, Cathy, Manjula, Viju, Yokesh, Sylvester, Srinivas, Monica – a Delhi baptism, and Dipshi – a very talented screenwriter of Bollywood!


Scarlett and Debs shared about Dipshi – the
Bollywood Screenwriter – before Dipshi
confessed, “Jesus is Lord!”


Mercy who is in the Bangalore Church prayed
daily for her son Sylvester to be baptized!

 
Then came the moment we were all waiting for, The New Delhi Mission Team Send-Off! Amazingly, 38 fired up disciples were on the team and 18 remnant group disciples were waiting for them to come to New Delhi! Encouragingly, 14 of the 18 came to the SAMC!


Luke gathered both the New Delhi Mission Team
and Remnant Group on the stage and passed
out to each disciple an upside down globe
emblematic of us turning the world
upside down! (Acts 17:6 RSV)

The entire conference went to our knees as Ted Green – one of two SAGES World Sector Shepherds in Miami – and Thomas Vijayan – one of the Chennai Shepherds – led the prayer to send out the New Delhi Mission Team!


The entire SAMC fell on their knees and begged
the Spirit to make the New Delhi Planting
the most fruitful one yet!

 
Our closing song was Prayer For Boldness! Immediately after Prayer For Boldness which Vignesh led, Vignesh – a former Hindu and intern for Delhi – dropped to his knees and asked Scarlett – a former Muslim named Ussain – and asked her to marry him! She said, “Yes!”


Vignesh led the closing song


And then got down on his knees to ask Scarlett
to be his wife! She said, “Yes!”

Following, all of the Indian Brothers and Sisters broke out in a jubilant dance! Earnest & Shannon Baker of New York City – former professional dancers – led the International Delegates to follow suit!


Following the end of the SAMC and the
engagement, everyone began to
dance for joy!

 
Following all the celebrations, we enjoyed a scrumptious Indian Lunch!


So encouraging was that Julie Stevenson
of NYC had her father Russ at the
entire SAMC!


Before Kip left for the airport to go to Paris, he
had dinner with the Rajan Family – Raja,
Debs, Ashwin, Shefali and Isheeta!
Isheeta asked, “Kip Uncle, can I
go to the GLC?” Kip had no
choice but to say, “Yes!”

 
That Sunday night, I boarded a plane to fly to Frankfurt and then on to Paris for the final stop of this missionary journey! I was so looking forward to seeing Anthony & Cassidy Olmos as well as preaching to the Paris Church! I finally arrived late Monday afternoon!


On Monday afternoon at the airport, the Paris
Disciples sang in French, We Love You
With The Love Of The Lord!

The three of us had a delightful dinner on Tuesday night!


Kip’s beloved grandson and granddaughter in
the faith – Anthony & Cassidy Olmos!

 
During dinner, Cassidy shared about the two Women’s Day Events that she has spoken at this year – Stockholm and Paris! Amazingly, in Paris, Cassidy spoke in French for the entire program including her speech! God blessed both churches as both exceeded their attendance goals! In Stockholm, with 8 women disciples, they had an attendance of 22! The Paris Church with 14 women disciples had an incredible attendance of 53!


Cassidy preached at the Stockholm
Women’s Day!


For the Olmoses to go to Stockholm, it was
a great time of bonding with Kaspar &
Ashley Tambaur who lead the
Stockholm Church!

 
At the Wednesday night Midweek, I was able to encourage the church which has grown from 14 when the 4 person Paris Supplemental Mission Team arrived from London in October to now 26 sold-out disciples!


Wednesday night, Nayomie learned that
she would be a full-time intern in the
Paris Church!


Wednesday night, Kevin Lacken-toto did a
superb job translating Kip’s message!

 
Because of unseen circumstances, I cut my visit short and left on Thursday morning. Praise God, I arrived home to see my beloved wife of 41 years Elena feeling much better! And to God be all the glory!

 
FAMILY NEWS
Boston: Arthur Hughes was able to baptize his younger brother Bobby into Christ on April 9th! Arthur shared with tear-filled eyes from John 1:40-42 where Andrew had brought his brother Simon to meet Jesus! It has been his Kingdom dream to baptize someone in his family!


Congratulations to Arthur who baptized
his brother Bobby!

 
Denver: We are so happy for Adrian Garcia-Zataray & Lidia Barrios who were married on April 21, 2018! Both Adrian & Lidia are truly a son and daughter to Dustin & Amanda Miller, and Dustin was honored to marry them!


Congratulations to Adrian & Lidia!

 
New York City: Since the last Good News Email, the New York City Church has witnessed a wedding and an engagement! Angel & Jocelyn Santiago were married on March 24th! Jocelyn had been a single mom until the wedding! It is so incredible to see God bring fathers to the fatherless in His Kingdom!


Jazlyn was soooo fired up for her mother
Jocelyn to be married to an incredible
man of God – Angel Santiago!

 
Also, after 3 years of dating, Gerald Gayle & Danielle Jamison were finally engaged! We look forward to their wedding! 


Congratulations to Gerald & Danielle!

 
Alan Moncayo was baptized in Boston a few years ago. He fell away and then was married. So touching was that on the day Alan was restored, he baptized his wife Judy!


Praise God for Alan’s (left) restoration
and Judy’s baptism that unites
them in Christ!

 
Paris: At the end of March, we celebrated the first wedding of the year! It was incredibly powerful to see the union of Landry & Christelle Mokwa! They dated in world and had a son, but because they wanted a clear conscience they broke up to put God first! And after one year of pure dating, they became united under God at their wedding! This momentous occasion gave us 150 visitors to hear the Word of God preached!


Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Mokwa!

 
New Delhi: John (the Baptist) & Salma are engaged and now lead the Teen Ministry in the New Delhi International Christian Church!


Congratulations to John & Salma on their
engagement and leading the New
Delhi Teen Ministry!

 
Bangalore: Christy & Maria, the leaders of the Bangalore Church, were blessed with Lydia Brielle Christopher!


Maria – the Women’s Ministry Leader of the
Bangalore Church – adores her beautiful
baby Lydia Brielle!

 
Portland: God has been working in a powerful way to bring families to ​Christ! After months of prayer, on March 11th, we witnessed our sister Daniela’s son Aaron get baptized into Christ!


Daniela would not take “no” from Aaron in
coming to church and in time being
baptized!

 
Then on Resurrection Sunday, after receiving much persecution from his physical family, our campus ​brother William was able to baptize his ​mother ​Olga! William’s father then joined them in Christ as he was baptized last Sunday where he shared, “I am so glad that my son has now become my father in the faith!”​


On Easter Sunday, William baptized his mom and
three weeks later he baptized his father!


Lastly, three weeks ago a man told his daughter, “We need to start getting closer to God and go to church once more.” She responded, “Dad, I need to do homework, so can we go to Starbucks?” Little did they know that Rich Hardy and the Starbucks Ministry was going to be there having Bible Talk! The daughter, a teen named Vania, was baptized at our Women’s Day Event, and on Sunday, her father Javier, who is a pilot, shared in tears that he was finally able to face the challenges of forgiveness after years of holding bitterness! God’s grace is abounding in Portland!


After Vania’s baptism, her changes were
so compelling that her father
Javier was baptized!

 
Mirebalais (Haiti): Congratulations to Emmanuel & Beltude Pierre on their wedding!


Toutes nos felicitations to Emmanuel & Beltude!

 
Moscow: As in every family, a wedding is always a great event and the whole church in Moscow is looking forward to the next one! At the Women’s Conference, during the lesson, music played as well as the sound of a helicopter, and Rezo Davitadze came out in black glasses as agent 007 and offered Sasha Korotova, our dear sister, to be his wife, adding that, “Resistance is useless!” Afterward, everyone congratulated Rezo & Sasha! Then Aliona finished her lesson saying that in the church, we build pure dating relationships in Christ and that’s the blessing of God for us and the power of Bible teaching! This touched the hearts of all the women guests!


Congratulations to Rezo & Sasha!

 
Manila: Rey & Nina Hayag gave birth to an 8 lbs. and 15 inch baby boy, Marc Hercules, on April 4th! We are confident that he will live up to the noble heroism of his namesake!


Welcome Baby Marc Hercules to God’s
worldwide family!

Miami: So exciting for the whole Miami Church are the engagements of two awesome couples: Will Nelson & Tatyana Brutus as well as Zach Shahan & Lauren Hammers!


Congratulations to Will & Tatyana!


Congratulations to Zach & Lauren!

Eugene: Congratulations to Brian & Joaly Carr – the dynamic Eugene Church Leaders – on the birth of Sahalie Rae!


Congratulations to Brian & Joaly on the
birth of Sahalie Rae!

Los Angeles – AMS Region: Congratulations to Adam Zepeda & Lauren Ona – the AMS Region Leaders – on their engagement which was on Lauren’s birthday – a very lucky Friday, April 13th!


Congratulations to Adam & Lauren – the AMS Region
Leaders for the City of Angels Church!

 
West Region: Congratulations to Marvell Holder & Alexys Hall who were engaged on April 14th! Excitingly, they are on the Milwaukee Mission Team as Milwaukee is Marvell’s hometown!


Congratulations to Marvell & Alexys who will be
going on the Milwaukee Mission Team!

 
Antelope Valley (AV) Region: Leilani Aguilar was added to God’s family! She is the daughter of Jason & Monique Aguilar and sister of Conner Aguilar! The Aguilar Family now has 4 of 7 faithful disciples, who are all full of joy! Of note in 2013, at the young age of 10, Leilani was the one to encourage her family to start attending church! Leilani is an incredible addition to our growing Teen Ministry!


Congratulations to the Aguilar Family on the
baptism of Leilani (second from the right)!

 
Sirena Rubio was baptized by Samantha Massman and her physical sister Jasmine Diaz! Sirena is 14 years old, and was so fired up to get right with God, that she spent the entire week of spring break in back to back Bible studies! With her baptism, this spreads the Teen Ministry to high schools in both Lancaster and Palmdale!


Sirena Rubio (center) was baptized by Samantha
Massman and her physical sister
Jasmine Diaz (right)!

 
Ronnie Martinez is an incredible and humble young man! He is a cousin to the Aguirre/Carrillo Family, who now have 8 members who are disciples in the AV Region! But as God would have it, he was actually met and invited out to church by his coworker Matthew Fajardo, a disciple in our Singles Ministry! After showing up to service, realizing that this is the same church so many in his family are a part of, he eagerly desired to study the Bible! After a few weeks, Ronnie became our brother in Christ!


The Aguirre/Carrillo Familia was fired up
about Ronnie’s (center) conversion!

 
Josh Massman is 15 years old and was born and raised in the Kingdom! The fight and perseverance of his physical family (9 of which are disciples, making Josh the 10th), have proven to be influential in his decision to make Jesus Lord! He has overcome so much to become a disciple! Josh calls all of us higher, as since studying the Bible, he has been having consistent 5:00AM quiet times and is on his knees every morning praying to God! He is such a powerful addition to the AV Teen Ministry!


David Orellana had the honor to join the Massman
Family in baptizing Josh into Christ!

Coachella Valley (CV) Region: At our Women’s Day in the CV Region, on March 11th, after 4 long years of prayer, Laura Miranda was baptized! Laura was reached out to by one of the original CV Mission Team members, Monique Carrasco. Laura brought her sister Dasey to the very first church service in the Valley. Dasey went on to become a disciple, while Laura fled. After much prayer and fasting, and to God’s glory, Laura was baptized and is now united with her physical sister, Dasey!


Laura was so fired up after her baptism and
that now Dasey is her “double sister!”

 
Orange County (OC) Region: Sarah and Christina have been solid sisters in the Orange County Region for some time. When they were originally reached out to, their little sister Angelica was with them (age 11 at the time). Now after being faithful for 4 years, Sarah and Christina helped start the Teen Ministry in the LIFE Sector of the OC Region and their little sister Angelica started to study the Bible! After transforming her life and being made into a disciple, Angelica was baptized as their sister in Christ on March 3rd! Since then she has already been fruitful and baptized her best friend from high school, Azalea on April 13th!


Christina (left) and Sarah (right) rejoiced at
their little sister Angelica’s salvation!

 
The following is a special note from Shay Sears of Dallas about her mother Debbie Vloet’s baptism in the OC Region of LA: “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6) I am so grateful to be a part of a worldwide movement because as we “grow,” not only are more souls being saved, but the hope for our physical families “grow” as well! 


Shay (Vloet) Sears was the McKeans’
personal assistant for three years!

 
Growing up my mother and I had a saying that we would express daily before she dropped me off at school. I would say, “I love you,” and she would say, “How much?” Then I would finish out with “All the way to Heaven!” Eleven years ago, while in college at Cal State Fullerton in Orange County, I was reached out to and asked to study the Bible. After three weeks of studying, Tracy Harding baptized me into Christ! Although I rejoiced in the treasure of having a relationship with God, my heart was tinged with a hint of sadness when I looked at my Mom and knew that I could not at that moment say, “All the way to Heaven.” That day a fervent, “impossible prayer” began for my Mom’s soul. She was less than “fired up” with my decision as she printed and read every persecution article she could get her hands on, and even had some “spicy talks” with the Hardings and the McKeans!


Tyler & Shay trusted God that He would convert
their families as they left on the Sã
o
Paulo Mission Team!

 
Over the years, I watched my Mom go through some very challenging trials in her life that brought her to her knees and opened her heart to see her need for God. I am beyond grateful for the many women like Lynda Moreno, Sharon Kirchner, Connie Underhill, Loidy Frenzley, Elena McKean and so many more who have “watered” the seed that was planted in her heart. A special thank you to Judy Harding, Therese Untalan and Tracy Harding who studied the Bible with her. Truly it was God who made her love and faith “grow” and just last week, my sister Lori and I were able to fly from Dallas to LA and surprise my Mom by emerging from the Harding’s room during the sharing! 


Shay and Lori – both of Dallas – surprised their
Mom during the sharing that they had
come to help baptize her!


Debbie shared about Shay and Lori growing up!

Shortly after the sharing, Lori and I baptized Mom into Christ! I have always admired my Mom’s strength, but today what makes her beautiful is her vulnerability and her willingness to show her weaknesses so that God can be her strength!


Now Shay, Lori and Debbie are Sisters
in Christ and closer than ever!

Now as sisters in Christ, I can say with confidence “Mom, I love you! How much? All the way to Heaven!”
 

LOCAL LA NEWS
Greetings from sunny Los Angeles, California! God is moving powerfully in the City of Angels Church as He has blessed us with 123 baptisms in the first 119 days of 2018, bringing this congregation to its largest membership yet of 976 members! We are praying fervently for “1,000 for the Lord” before the end of July!


The entire City of Angels Church is
praying for “1,000 for the Lord!”

 
I’m also excited to share with you what God did with the Women’s Days here in Los Angeles: 521 sisters had 1,426 women in attendance, as well as a whopping 12 baptisms at the actual Women’s Days! I am so grateful for my lovely wife Lianne, to Megan Matthews and to all the amazing sisters who worked so hard to make this Women’s Day an incredible success! 


The City of Angels Church Women’s Day
was blessed with over 1,400
in attendance!

God is truly “doing a new thing” here in CR! (Isaiah 43:19) We just started 12 Week Sessions of CR in each of the 5 groups here in LA! Lord willing, we will have 40 graduates by July 31, 2018!


Matthew & Marlo Lovacheff are pioneering
new ways to implement the godly
teachings of the CR Ministry!

 
The congregation here in Los Angeles is working eagerly to raise missions to support our dear brothers and sisters who are planting and building churches around the world and here in the United States! By the grace of God as a church, we are at 59% of our goal! I want to especially commend the faith and hard work of the Central Region led by the inspirational Mike & Brittany Underhill, who have surpassed 100% of their missions goal a month early!


The Central Region of the City of Angels Church
is to be imitated in their sacrifice by all
the churches in the Movement!

 
Two very creative projects to raise money for missions are Smokey Joe’s Café led by Jay Causey, and the Reach Short Film Festival hosted by the AMS Region and inspired by Josiah & Kristin Smith!


Smokey Joe’s Cafe’s first show will be
this Sunday, May 6th – the 11th
Anniversary of the CAICC!


Pray for and support the REACH Short Film
Festival on May 19th, as they already
have several sponsors!

 
Please pray for us as we are in step to blow out our Missions Goal by Sunday, May 20th!
 
Not only are we giving money for missions, but from the Ventura Region led by the hard-working Curtis & Morgan Valdez, we sent out one of our best, Alicia Winthein, to Hong Kong, China at the end of March! Interestingly, when you give to God, then God gives back even more, as the Spirit has blessed the Ventura Region recently with 3 Chinese campus baptisms – Craig, Adele, and Jetta! 


Alicia was able to help baptize Adele
(second from the left) before she
left for Hong Kong!

Another highlight in the month of March in the awesome Ventura Region was the baptism of Johnathan Franklin! Johnathon was reached out to in 2013 while he was playing football for UCLA where he broke 4 rushing records while playing there! He lost touch with the disciples, but went on to be drafted into the NFL by the Green Bay Packers! He played only 11 games when he had a career ending injury.


Johnathan Franklin played American football
for UCLA and the Green Bay Packers!

Through finding his identity due to career change, Johnathan reached out to Micheal Peterson in the Metro Heights Region. He soon studied the Bible in the Ventura Region due to living in Oxnard, California and came to the knowledge of the truth to become a disciple and get baptized! After baptism, Johnathan was so excited to make disciples that he asked the HR Department of the Los Angeles Rams – where is an Executive Spokesperson – to start a Bible Talk and they said “Yes!”


Praise God, Johnathan (second from the right)
already has set up a Bible Talk at
the LA Rams Facility!

 
The City of Angels Church Family is very excited to host all of you in just 3 and-a-half months at the 2018 Global Leadership Conference – EMPOWERED!
 

EDITORIAL
Divorce And Remarriage In The Philippines

On Sunday, April 8th, at the Pacific Rim Missions Conference, I addressed the Filipino Brothers and Sisters on the issue of Divorce and Remarriage. The following is the transcription of my announcement of our historic decision:

Good morning family! I want to address an issue that for the most part we have been silent on for a few decades. I want to deal with divorce and remarriage. The Philippines at this time is the last of several Catholic nations where divorce is still illegal. Interestingly enough, the first so-called Catholic nation to strike down this law was Italy in 1974. The most recent one was Chile in 2004.
 
Now, it is important for us to understand a couple of definitions. First of all, divorce recognizes that a marriage existed but is now over. Annulment says there never was a marriage. In the Philippines, one can receive an annulment for congenital flaws or mental illness. Therefore, to receive an annulment, in gist, most people would be lying to say there was no marriage, and usually, the stated reason for the annulment is also a lie. As well, the cost can be up to $5,000 USD. Now some Filipinos go outside the Philippines and get a divorce. However, if you are a Filipino citizen and you return to the Philippines, the divorce is deemed illegal. Interestingly enough, the Philippines House of Representatives have been wrestling with this issue over the last few weeks. As a matter of fact, it passed a divorce bill fairly overwhelmingly. However, an article on March 5th stated that it will not pass the Philippines Senate. The Senate Minority Leader, Franklin Drilon, said emphatically “no” to divorce. However, he did add, “Perhaps we can reform our current laws on annulment to make it less tedious and less expensive to attain.” But let me just remind you, an annulment takes a lie, and that means totally denying marriage vows that were made before God.
 
So, I have been very conflicted in my conscience. I have been uncomfortable in my conscience as I see the existing law that divorce is illegal to be something that stops people from coming into the Kingdom. If we really apply the Scriptures, and say a person quote, “Is no longer living with their first wife,” but quote, “they have a second marriage,” then we would have to say that you need to separate because that is immorality. Or we would have to look past it and condone what in actuality is immorality. If we demand a separation in keeping with the Scriptures, it could be a separation not only of husband and wife, but even children. Again, this is quite a conundrum. Therefore, what are we to do as God’s holy church? Elena & I have prayed for the last several months and we met with the World Sector Leaders in Brazil at the end of January to consider this question, because we see it as blocking people from coming into the Kingdom of God, as well as making people liars that are in the Kingdom of God. We also had a meeting two days ago, where I met with John & Anna Malnegro, Richie & Elizabeth McDonnell, Tim & Lianne Kernan, John & Emma Causey, and Elena to once again discuss divorce, annulment and remarriage in the Philippines.


The historic Metro Manila Meeting on divorce,
annulment and remarriage!

 
It is true that Romans 13 states that we must submit to governing authorities, and yet we must also remember Acts 5:29, where Peter and all the Apostles respond, “We must obey God, rather than men.” In 1986, the Discipling Movement at that time out of Boston, made a decision, to not obey the laws of the land in South Africa. In South Africa at that time, apartheid – separation between blacks and whites – was the law of the land. We were even told by Mainline Churches of Christ to send a black mission team and a white mission team. I ardently said, “No!” We sent a racially mixed team of brothers and sisters (half-white and half-black) to Johannesburg, South Africa going against the law, because we must obey God rather than men! Even in the New Movement, about a year ago in Russia, they passed a law that said, “You are not allowed to share your faith. You can have any conviction you want, but you are not allowed to share your faith.” In the Moscow Church the very next day, we preached that every disciple is commanded to preach the Word and to share their faith! We must obey God, rather than men! Are you with me here?
 
We need to understand that it is true in the book of Malachi that God hates divorce. Even beyond hate, it breaks His heart. And yet, there are two reasons that the Scriptures give for divorce in the New Testament. The first is by Jesus in Matthew 19:8-9, “Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness and marries another woman, commits adultery.'” Jesus says the first reason for divorce is adultery. Now unbeknownst to some disciples, there is a second reason. This one is given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:14-15, “For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife. And the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband, otherwise, your children would be unclean. But as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so, a believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances. God has called us to live in peace.” So, Jesus teaches quite clearly that adultery is a Biblical reason for divorce. Paul teaches that abandonment is a Biblical reason for divorce. Therefore, with the heart to see as many as possible coming into the Kingdom of God and with the heart to keep our fellowship pure of lying and deceit, going forward, the International Christian Churches in the Philippines will issue a Certificate of Divorce that will be retroactive to the date of the separation of said disciple. It will say on the certificate, that we are granting this divorce in the eyes of God, but it will also state, that in the Republic of the Philippines, it is not legally recognized.
 
Let me address a couple of issues. To be married in the Philippines there must be a Justice of the Peace or Certified Individual to conduct the wedding. We will still abide by the law of the land that Filipinos must be 21 years old in order to be married. Now we did have a situation come up last year where a young couple was married. One was 21 years old and the other was 20. Some have questioned the validity of this particular wedding. Now I want to speak to it. It did indeed break “Filipino law,” but it was done in the eyes of God and witnessed by the church, so this couple is married. But in order to do what is right in the eyes of God and the eyes of man so far as we can, this coming week, that couple is getting their civil ceremony done. Amen? I also want to remind you of the mindset that we have in all of our churches around the world. The fact that there is a wedding done by a Justice of the Peace is in most nations. So recently, Elena & I were able to participate in a wedding of two individuals that we love very much and that is now Kolbe & Rebecca Gray. Now in England, the only marriage that is recognized is a Civil Wedding. So, Kolbe & Rebecca went to get married on a Wednesday in a Civil Ceremony. However, they were not married in this case by me, as their chosen presiding minister for their “church wedding” until Sunday. And if they would have touched each other in a sexual way, we would have looked down on that because we recognize that it is God and His church that sanctify the wedding of two disciples. Are you with me right here? Therefore, I do not think it to be unreasonable that the church, being the hands of God, once more says, “Now you are married.” So, the church can also say, “Now you are divorced.” And so, I pray that you will get your hearts behind this.
 
There may be some of you that can be helped. The church will absolutely recognize an annulment as being legal and there will be no further necessary things to be done. On the other hand, there may be some in the audience that have quote been, “married a second time, sort of, but not really.” You need to come to either Richie McDonnell if you are here in Manila, or if you are in Cebu, please see John Malnegro. Talk to them and share about your situation. We will sit down with you and write for you a Certificate of Divorce going back to your separation from your previous spouse. Then of course we’ll decide how to move forward in your case. Remember, our goal is for everybody to have a clear and good conscience. We don’t want to make the lack of being able to attain a divorce a huge roadblock for people coming into the Kingdom. There are Biblical reasons for breaking up: adultery and abandonment. And once more, as God’s church, we must obey the laws of the land, but when they are in contradiction to the Bible and the Bible does teach there are two reasons for divorce – adultery and abandonment – then we must obey God rather than man. Thank you very much.


“God has the whole world in His hands” and
has EMPOWERED us to evangelize the
nations in this generation!

 
Dearest SoldOut Movement Family,
EMPOWERED is the incredible theme of the 2018 Global Leadership Conference! Indeed, the Spirit working through God’s great people will empower us to take the Gospel into all nations in this generation even when human laws defy God’s Word! So with The Glory Song ringing in our ears, let us all continue to pray and fast to see “the world evangelized in our day!” And to God be all the glory!
We are family… by God’s amazing grace,
Kip

Copyright © 2018 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

Good News Email – 5.3.18

Good News Email – 5.3.18


All content within this email is for the intended recipient only. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution and/or copy is a violation of applicable laws.

May 3, 2018

Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear Friend,
Greetings from San Francisco, Hilo, Manila, Hong Kong, Chennai, Paris and Los Angeles! In the almost two months since the last Good News Email, the Spirit has done so much around the world! In March, Elena & I had the pleasure of being with the San Francisco Church for their Women’s Day entitled BEAUTIFUL where 91 disciples had 230 in attendance! In late March, we flew to Hilo to help our dear son in the faith Kyle Bartholomew be restored to the Lord! We then flew to Manila for the exciting Pacific Rim Missions Conference where three were restored and one was baptized on Sunday! Then Elena & I flew to Hong Kong where we were able to study with and baptize Ria – an actress, model and singer! Following those memorable days, Elena flew home to LA and I traveled on to Chennai for the South Asia Missions Conference (SAMC)! At the Sunday Worship Service, nine were baptized and the Spirit sent out the historic 38 disciple New Delhi Mission Team led by Raja & Debs Rajan! Then before coming home, I flew to Paris to preach to the church and spend time with my beloved grandson and granddaughter in the faith – Anthony & Cassidy Olmos!


Sent out by the Spirit at the 2018 South Asia
Missions Conference was the 38 Disciple
New Delhi Mission Team, which was
nicknamed the Spartans!


The New Delhi Remnant Group was so excited about
the coming of the Mission Team that 14 of their
18 disciples traveled 1,100 miles
(1,800 km) for the SAMC!


Holding up the arms of the New Delhi Mission Team
Leaders – Raja & Debs Rajan – are the Speckmans
and the Sullivans!

 
Amazingly, this month, we celebrate the 11th Anniversary of God’s SoldOut Movement as the Spirit has multiplied the 42 Portland Disciples that planted the City of Angels International Christian Church on May 6, 2007 to now 6,000 disciples in 91 churches in 36 nations on all 6 populated continents of the world! Truly, this is not a mere movement of men, it is the very Movement of God! And to God be all the glory!

 
HEADLINE NEWS
Raja Rajan – Lead Evangelist of New Delhi: After a 28 hour train ride from Chennai to New Delhi, the 38 on the New Delhi Mission Team received a very warm and noisy welcome when we arrived at the Hazrath Nizamuddin Station on Saturday, April 28th! All of us received flower garlands and were invited to dance and rejoice with the 18 disciples in the New Delhi Remnant Group, as the SoldOut Movement of God had officially come to the capital of India!


The New Delhi Mission Team rejoiced as they
traveled by train from Chennai and arrived
in India’s capital after 28 hours!

 
Sunday was a real blow out service as we had an attendance of 205! The singing was electric! Luke Speckman’s Communion was very touching, and I preached the whole sermon in Hindi with full conviction! Many of our old friends from the ICOC came seeking revival and said this was just like old times! Some had informed their leaders and said good bye to them with the explanation that they were “joining the Kingdom of God!”


After only one day in their new home, the New Delhi
Mission Team was blessed by God to have
a Sunday attendance of 205!

 
We are now busy with studying the Bible with 30 visitors! God is truly moving in a powerful way! All glory to God!

 
Tim Kernan – Director of the 2018 Global Leadership Conference (GLC): Out of hundreds of suggested themes for the 2018 GLC, we would like to congratulate Victor Gonzalez Sr. for his entry of EMPOWERED!


The thrilling theme for the 2018 Global Leadership
Conference is EMPOWERED!

And yes, Victor will now receive a free registration for this momentous event! So many Scriptures on God’s power come to mind: “The Kingdom of God [has] come with power.” (Mark 9:1) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order [to experience]… His incomparably great power for us who believe!” (Ephesians 1:18-19)


Tim Kernan congratulated Victor Gonzalez Sr.
for entering the winning theme for the
2018 GLC – EMPOWERED!

 
The 2018 GLC will be held on Thursday, August 16th through Sunday, August 19th, 2018 at the Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, California! Accommodations will be at the Sheraton Park Hotel – a five minute walk from the Convention Center! (It is also just a 10 minute walk to Disneyland!)


The beautiful Anaheim Convention Center is the
site of the Global Leadership Conference
on August 16-19, 2018!

 
GLC highlights will include amazing preaching, extraordinary singing, glorious fellowship, the Sixth Commencement of the International College of Christian Ministries, and the Spirit sending out two OPERATION EAGLE Mission Teams: Columbus, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wisconsin! We will also be hosting the “Kingdom’s Got Talent Show!” This year is the fifth such occasion! If you are interested in performing, please send a video of your act to the Director of KGT5 – Jay Causey – by June 1st! A full program will be sent out in the coming weeks!


In 2017 at the Fifth Commencement Ceremony of
the ICCM, 90 BA Degrees, 2 Masters Degrees
and 1 Doctorate Degree were conferred!


Karen Maciel – the Co-Editor of the Good News
Email – received her BA Degree at the
2017 GLC in Manila!

 
The registration fee is $200 for a regular ticket; $180 for a current ICCM student; and $100 for a teen registration! Our Prayer Goals are for 1,800 American Disciples and 200 International Disciples to participate in the 2018 GLC as this will allow us to financially break even! Register now! (
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-global-leadership-conference-empowered-tickets-42924191412)
 


Dynamic speakers will be heard from all over
the world such as Andrew Smellie
of Lagos, Nigeria!

We are encouraging every Church Leader Couple, every Shepherding Couple and every CAICC Region Leader Couple to stay at the Sheraton Park Hotel. The cost of a room is $139/night plus tax. The group rate is available until July 16th, so book now! (https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/events/start.action?id=1801311047&key=E24CAE4)


The Kingdom Banquet is always a
highlight of the GLC!

 
REMEMBER: There will not be a Global Leadership Conference next year to financially allow particularly American Disciples to attend Geographic Missions Conferences outside of the United States! Thus, this makes the 2018 GLC all the more important to attend!

 
Andrew Smellie – Lead Evangelist of Lagos: Greetings from Nigeria, now known as “The Giant of Africa!” With a population of approximately 195 million souls, Nigeria has become the seventh most populous country in the world! In the city of Lagos, God has blessed our efforts in the church as we have seen eight precious souls come to the Lord in the month of April! We are begging God for every disciple to be fruitful before our Second Anniversary on June 24th as we are currently at almost 90 disciples!  


Nigeria is the largest country in all of Africa
with 195 million lost souls!

 
On Easter Sunday, April 1st, we witnessed an incredible miracle as three souls came to be baptized – Lolade and Enoch (Students at the University of Lagos majoring in Chemical and Systems Engineering respectively), and Rotimi, my dear friend and neighbor! Rotimi is the Head of Market Development for Africa at the Siemens Corporation! 


Easter Spiritual Triplets: Lolade (second from the
left), Rotimi (fourth from the left), and
Enoch (second from the right)!


Neighbors, best of friends, and now
brothers – Rotimi and Andrew!

 
On April 8th, we witnessed another two glorious baptisms as two more campus students came to the Lord – Dorcas and Jibola! Jibola is the younger brother of Deji Aregbesola, a brother who placed membership from London earlier this year!


Spiritual Twins: Dorcas (second from the left)
and Jibola (second from the right)!
 

On the 15th of April, Queenest Aregbesola, the younger sister of our brother Deji, was baptized! After his sister’s baptism, Deji shared with me that he is eager to win all of Nigeria for the Lord by pursuing the full-time ministry! He is now a Campus Ministry Intern!


Deji’s younger brother Jibola was baptized on
April 8th and his sister Queenest was
baptized on April 15th!

On April 22nd, we saw two more incredible baptisms: Fega from the Campus Ministry and Frank from the Singles Ministry!


April 22nd Spiritual Twins: Frank (third from
the left) and Fega (third from the right)!

In the month of April, we also witnessed the birth of our first “Kingdom baby” in the church as Lordwilson & Faith Simon had a baby boy on April 4th named Nathan!


Lordwilson & Faith are so thankful to the
Lord for their son Nathan!

 
In Nigerian tradition, babies are not named immediately, but instead the family has a “Naming Ceremony” on the 8th day of birth where family members come together to offer different names of meaning to the baby! Nathan’s full name is now Nathan Ojo-Arome Akumabi Simon! Akumabi means, “a fortress that cannot be shaken!”


Nathan and all of his new uncles in the Lord!

 
As the Evangelist of the church, I was given the privilege to “officially” bless and pray for the new baby! My Nigerian brothers affectionately gave me my own “Naming Ceremony” as I was called “Oluwaranmi” (“God sent me”) and “Ayanfeoluwa” (“The Chosen of the Lord”)! It was encouraging!


The heroic Smellie Family: Andrew,
Patrique, Naomi and Isaiah!

 
In addition to all the amazing miracles this month, I have been deeply moved and inspired by the faith of my brother Tolani Abiodun, who has handed in his resignation from a prominent IT position and has answered the call of God to pursue the full-time ministry! Tolani counted the cost to be part of the Remnant Group in Lagos before the Lagos Church planting in June 2016! He was baptized in London while finishing his graduate studies at UCL in March 2015! Please pray for our dear brother as both he and Deji join our Staff Team on May 1st! It is so encouraging to see the impact of the Nigerian Homecoming Project (NHP) – where we encourage Nigerian nationals that are converted in other countries to return to Nigeria! The NHP has not only reaped a harvest of many souls, but is raising up the leadership that is dreaming to win all of Africa for the Lord!


Andrew & Patrique are so encouraged that
Tolani & Kate not only are their right
hand couple in the Lagos Church,
but are now dating!

 
The 2018 African Missions Conference will be held in Lagos on June 21-24, 2018! Do not miss this incredible time of inspiration and fellowship with African leaders from around the continent! There will be a plethora of activities from viewing Nigerian art and culture, enjoying incredible food, and serving orphans in the community! You can register at the following Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-african-missions-conference-fear-none-except-god-tickets-44210489765.


Come to the 2018 African Missions Conference
entitled, FEAR NONE EXCEPT GOD!

 
Thank you American Disciples for your incredible sacrifice that allows us to be used by God who continues to do great miracles here in Lagos and throughout the African Continent! We love you!
 
Blady Perez – Lead Evangelist of Phnom Penh: Greetings from Cambodia! It was at the 2017 GLC in Manila, when my wife & I together with our son Bryce decided to place membership in the International Christian Churches! We immediately returned to Cambodia to start the church. We had our Inaugural Service last October 29, 2017 with a total of 69 in attendance! God has grown the church from 3 disciples to now 13 disciples in the last 6 months!


Kip welcomed Blady, Cielo and Bryce Perez into
the SoldOut Movement from the Phnom
Penh ICOC at the 2017 GLC!

 
It is by God’s grace and vision that He moved in the heart of two former full-times of the ICOC in Phnom Penh to join us and build the Kingdom of God! Rasmey & Chan Mona Seng are former staff and the admin couple of our former movement in Phnom Penh! Pheakday & Socheat Kim are missionaries and were full-time in the ICOC when they decided to place membership with us!


Rasmey & Chan Mona Sing are former full-time
staff in our former fellowship!


Pheakday & Socheat Kim were full-time in the ICOC.
However, they began to seek revival and decided
to place membership in the Phnom Penh ICC!

Just last month their son Mathuselah Kim was baptized!


Mathuselah Kim was baptized by Bryce Perez
and his fired up father!

 
We also had our first Women’s Day this month and with only 5 sisters we had 27 in attendance and Ani was baptized on the same day! We are very grateful for Joe & Kerry Willis for their discipling of us and the Phnom Penh Church! We are especially appreciative for all of their help in our first Women’s Day!


The 5 Phnom Penh Sisters had an outstanding 27
in attendance at their Women’s Day!

 

As well, we are learning from and imitating the fired up Sydney Campus Ministry to convert university students here! To God be the glory!

Joe Willis – Lead Evangelist of Sydney: Greetings from Australia in what we are claiming to be “The Best Year of our Lives!” The Sydney Church has grown this year from 47 to 61 disciples and now has 21 different nationalities represented! So encouraging to see in this one minute “Thank You Video” for everyone’s continual financial support through the raising of Special Missions Contribution! (https://youtu.be/cdkOeSbieM4)


Patrick (center) who is from China was embraced
after his baptism by Emannuel, who is leaving
this year to join the work in Lagos, and
Ken (right) who is Korean!

 
Other highlights this year included the baptism of our first Aboriginal Disciple, Paula! She is a first year Law Student at University of New South Wales!


Naomi and Jenna (right) prayed with Paula –
Sydney’s first Aboriginal Disciple!

 
Equally exciting is the baptism of Uka, who was Naomi Radnaabazar’s co-leader in her old denominational church in Mongolia! Their dream is to now plant a true church of sold-out disciples in their home country! We have found a pocket of other Mongolians here in Sydney that are coming to church and studying the Bible! Pray for us to reach all nations!


Flanked by Scotty Lakopo (left), the New Zealand
Mission Team Leader, and Tyrone White, his
right hand man, are Uka and
Naomi – Mongolians!


Uka and Naomi’s dream is to plant the
SoldOut Movement Flag in their
homeland of Mongolia!

 
Jason Dimitry – Lead Evangelist of San Francisco: “On this rock I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18) Greetings from the Saints in the Bay Area! What an incredible last couple of months it has been! Where do we start… hmmm.. Women’s Day! This epic annual event entitled BEAUTIFUL took place March 10th and for the very first time was held in Downtown San Francisco!


Great friends and partners in the
Gospel – Elena and Sarah!

 
God blessed us with Elena McKean as our guest speaker and our 91 sisters had a phenomenal 230 in attendance! 


Served before the sharing and Elena’s main speech,
was a delicious continental breakfast buffet!


For the San Francisco Women’s Day whose theme
was BEAUTIFUL, Elena preached on “unfading
beauty”
from 1 Peter 3:1-6!

 
If that was not enough, we had three incredible baptisms at the Women’s Day in a BEAUTIFUL baptistry with red and white rose petals floating on the water!


Emily from San Francisco State was one of three
BEAUTIFUL baptisms at the Women’s Day!

 
Another highlight had to be the This Is Me Performance which came from the movie The Greatest Showman! The sisters absolutely “brought down the house!” Here is a link if you would like to check it out: 
https://youtu.be/gsIK6THc4Aw.


Devon, Jael and Alexis were the lead singers
for the This Is Me Performance!


The Usher Team – led by Kwaku Sarkodie (left) –
guarded the gift baskets!

 
The following day on Sunday, we had the privilege to hear Kip preach to a combined service of the San Francisco and Sacramento Churches! That day 2 more were baptized and another soul was restored!


The combined Worship Service of the San Francisco
and Sacramento Churches packed the auditorium!

 
Other incredible feats of God this year have been the 34 baptisms and 3 restorations we have had so far! Of note, it has been so inspiring to see how God has worked in the Spanish-speaking Ministry! Since last year when Fernando & Jackie Chavez heroically uprooted their family and moved to the Bay for ministry training, God has blessed their Spanish-speaking Bible Talk with 7 incredible baptisms including 2 married couples! Very excitingly is that come June they will assume the leadership of the South Bay Region centered in San Jose! 
 


The Chavez Familia: Fernando, Jackie,
Andrea, Natalia and Vivi!

 
Luke Speckman – Lead Evangelist of New York City: This was an outstanding month for us! Particularly energizing was the final week of our Basketball League!


The New York City Basketball League
played at Columbia University!

As the number 1 seed, New Jersey had a bye and Manhattan played Queens in the semi-final. Manhattan rallied from a 10 point deficit to claim the victory over Queens! Jordan Swann won the 3 point competition which was held between the semi-final and final game! Then Manhattan beat New Jersey by 10 points to become the champions!


Jordan Swann attempted to block his
New Jersey opponent’s shot!


Malik Speckman sealed the New York City
Championship with a breakaway dunk!


The New York City Basketball League Champions –
the Manhattan Region!


Malik was awarded the MVP of the NYC
Church League and Jordan walked
away with the 3 Point
Championship!

 
On Easter Sunday, we had a congregational service! It was a joyous celebration as we had not had a congregation service since our Winter Workshop the first weekend in January! There were outstanding dance, musical, singing and spoken word performances done by the disciples as well as a Chemical Recovery (CR) Graduation which was very powerful! Also, we had over $105,000 turned in for Missions that day!


Aaron & Sharmayne Viscichini are joyfully but
forcefully advancing the Kingdom
in the Brooklyn Region!

 
The highlights of the day were the 5 additions – 1 restoration and 4 baptisms! Kiana Davis, who is a daughter to my wife Brandyn & me, had fallen away late last year. Yesterday, she was joyfully restored by Jill Swann and Brandyn!


At Kiana’s restoration, she tearfully apologized
to her husband Jonathan!

 
The Manhattan Campus Men had 2 baptisms: 1 from CCNY and 1 from the Ivy League College – Columbia University! Of special note, Malcolm completed his Bachelor’s Degree at Columbia and currently works on campus. He is preparing to begin his Master’s at Columbia as well. Malcolm played football at Columbia for 4 years and is helping to connect me with the coaching staff and other football players. Since I now have a position in the Chaplain’s Office, my goal is to be the Chaplain of the Columbia Football Team beginning this fall! On Friday, I received keys to my office and a conference room that I have access to. Nick Enfantino and I did 3 Bible Studies there that day!


Malcom played for the Columbia
University Football Team!

 
As well, just two weeks later another Columbia Student was baptized and on Monday another Columbia Student became a disciple! So with the baptisms of Jerome and Sally, we now have 5 men and 5 women in our Columbia Ministry! 14 months ago, we had only 1 man!
 
RD Baker – Lead Evangelist of Dubai: Greeting from the United Arab Emirates! We have had an exciting last two months here in this key city in the Persian Gulf! To celebrate our Year And-a-half Anniversary, we had a special Desert Safari Service in the Arabian Desert! Incredibly, we had 71 in attendance! This is our second highest total yet!


The daring Dubai International Christian Church!


After two years in the Middle East, RD & April Baker –
the valiant Dubai Mission Team Leaders – are
heading back to LA for April’s healthcare!
Miguel Mendez and Megan Mathews will
become the new Dubai Church
Leaders in June!

 
We have had 4 baptisms in the last month: Mesraq Kizito, Ivan Giliwango, Paul Moni and Angela Rapiz! The 3 young men were from Uganda, and Angela is from the Philippines. This brings us to 7 baptisms this year and 38 since January 2017! Mesraq from Kampala, Uganda was raised as a Muslim. However, when he was 18 years old his family gave him the option to choose to continue in the Islamic faith or pursue another path. As God’s Spirit directed, his friend Paul who had been studying the Bible invited Mesraq to come witness the church that was having such a great effect on his life! Mesraq saw the truth in the Scriptures and made Jesus his Lord and was baptized! Paul quickly followed suit and was baptized shortly after! 


John Tuason and Jobert Bravin baptized
Paul on a cool Dubai night!

 
We are also excited by the two incredible additions of Evangelist Miguel Mendez and Woman’s Ministry Leader Megan Mathews! The church has enjoyed “welcoming” them to the family, and acclimating them to our wonderful city! Both have already made a huge impact on our church! It will be announced on Friday, May 4th that April & I are heading back to the States and Miguel and Megan will become the new Dubai Church Leaders! I believe the church is in great hands!


Megan Mathews’ farewell party at the West
Region Women’s Midweek in LA!


Megan Mathews’ warm SoldOut Movement
welcome to Dubai!

 
Finally, we have enjoyed hosting many brothers and sisters from around the world who have encouraged the church greatly: Tamara Kusto from Stockholm, Michael & Sharon Kirchner of LA, Jay & Barb Shelbrack of soon-to-be Milwaukee, and Ernest & Shannon Baker of New York City! Also, Dao Henderson (an original Dubai Mission Team Member) and her boyfriend Nick Enfantino also visited and encouraged the disciples!


Miguel Mendez showed the visiting brothers –
Ernest, Michael, Jay and Nick – the Burj
Khalifa, presently the tallest building
in the world!

 
Oleg Sirotkin – Lead Evangelist of Moscow: After Aliona & I were convicted by attending the South American Missions Conference in Brazil, we began to pray for the list for people who had left the Moscow Church for a year or more. First, Angelica called us and she was restored a week later! Then a campus girl named Milana called and was restored at the Women’s Conference! Then Ludmila and Yuriy called disciples and were restored in the Lord last Sunday! A few weeks ago, Olga called with a humble question, “What do I need to do to be in family of God again?” So, this Sunday, we received back our fifth sister! All these people were on the prayer list which further united the Moscow Church through prayer! Glory to our Lord that He does not want anyone to perish, but to live!


Milana was restored on March 18th and
baptized her mother Angela
on April 1st!

 
Not only has God given us many restorations, but He has blessed us with even more baptisms! To mention a few, God blessed us by baptism with a beautiful campus girl Julia! She was invited to Bible Talk by our young sister Lola. At the Bible Talk, Julia shared that she was a member of a Pentecostal church, but after studying the Bible with true disciples, she understood that she had never become a disciple and was baptized in a week!


Julia was a campus convert
on March 11th!

Also in March, God blessed us with an awesome young campus guy, perhaps a diplomat in the future, Kyril! He was invited a few months ago by Oleg Sirotkin (me 😊) in the gym where we were both working out! Despite his high social level as he is the heir of Lev (Leo) Tolstoy, the well-known author of War And Peace, Kyril had a very soft heart and was baptized in the Lord with strong conviction!


Oleg (left) was personally fruitful with Kyril,
a descendant of Leo Tolstoy!

 
Lastly, Heo Kyu is an awesome teen boy from Moscow! Since his father is from South Korea, Heo speaks fluent Russian, English and Korean! He was baptized Sunday, April 29th! Our Teen Ministry Family is growing spiritually and in many fruits! Heo’s teacher said that he was the main troublemaker in school, and he even persecuted Lydia because of her conviction on salvation. A month ago at a basketball tournament in their Academy, Sophia and Lydia decided to invite Heo to the Campus and Teen Devo. Afterward, Heo started to study the Bible! At the counting of the cost, Lydia told him that she is ready to go on a mission team even to North Korea! Then she asked Heo, “What about you?” He quickly answered, “Yes!” He went on to say that this is an answer from God, as there is a new start of relations for the first time in 65 years between South and North Korea! The parents of Heo were at the baptism and testified about the huge changes in their son and gave glory to God with all of us! God is a faithful Father and full of grace!


Heo is the sixth disciple in the same “Christian
Academy,” where Sophia was the only
disciple just a year and-a-half ago!

 
Michael Williamson – Lead Evangelist of London: Greetings from England! We had an incredible celebration this weekend as we saw three campus students baptized, and the beautiful wedding of Denzel Keyede (from Ghana) & Thu Lé (from Vietnam)!


Congratulations to Denzel & Thu!

 
All three baptisms were amazing, but let me share about a very intelligent and gifted young woman Victrix! She is a first year physics major at UCL, who received a scholarship to attend there as she received “ten A stars,” a grade that made her eligible to attend either Oxford or Cambridge University! I am so proud of Jenia (Jurij Zykov’s new girlfriend), Josie and my lovely wife Michele for meeting and converting this incredible young gentle woman who is a direct fruit from our Women’s Day!


Praise God for London’s Triplets!


Ian (left) was baptized a week ago
and is an IT business owner!


Rachel Perejel likewise was baptized a week ago
and is the twin sister of Joseph!

 
Also terrifically exciting, we had an incredible CR Graduation where six more graduates received their certificates, and then we sent off our faithful Kiwi warrior Chris Singers to Sydney, Australia to train for the New Zealand Mission Team!


Kolbe & Rebecca Gray – London’s West Region
Leaders – have been selected to be the
ICCM Alumni Relations Directors!

 
A News Flash: So proud of my son “Lil Mike” who had four three’s… a few Steph Curry runners… and was 2 for 4 from the line to drop 20 – the highest score in the championship game!
 


With Michael Adrian’s scoring prowess in
3 point shooting, he has really taken
after his spiritual Grandpa!

Finally, we are just three weeks away from our 20X Missions Contribution, so please keeps us in your prayers!

 
Raul Moreno – Lead Evangelist of São Paulo: Greetings Brothers and Sisters! The saints are fired up in Brazil as God has allowed the São Paulo Church to grow from exactly 200 disciples at the beginning of the year to 221 as of now!


The 70 Disciples of the São Paulo Campus Ministry!

 
One of the innovative endeavors that we started was to host a weekly English Service. This creates a platform to bring visitors that are “opinion leaders!” One of those visitors was an amazing USP Campus Student named Lucas that was baptized last Sunday!


Lucas (second from the right) is a fellow USP
Student with Moises, Luis and Gabriel!

 
Also last week, the 28 disciples of our valiant and very loved Rio de Janeiro Church had an amazing 4 baptisms to the glory of God! I guess they are fired up as their church leaders, Caio & Carol, were joyfully married just 2 weeks prior!


Congratulations to Caio & Carol – the Rio
de Janeiro Church Leaders!

 
Love seems to be in air in this part of the world, as our very own São Paulo Sector Leaders, Tulio & Vaitsa, were happily married this week as well!


Congratulations to Tulio & Vaitsa Amaral – the
East Campus Sector Leaders of the
o Paulo Church!

We also have three more weddings looming on the horizon! God is always good! (Psalm 106:1)
 
Chi Leong – Lead Evangelist of Hong Kong: Greetings from China! I was so encouraged that the City of Angels Church in Los Angeles sent one of their best interns – Alicia Winthein – to co-lead the Hong Kong Church with me! She has made an incredible difference with the sisters!


Joe & Kerry Willis (center) flew to Hong Kong to
be with Chi in welcoming Alicia!

 
In the past month, the Lord has been working powerfully in Hong Kong by blessing us with 4 baptisms! Their names are Matthew, Daisy, Ria and Harry! These young men and women are from the University of Hong Kong and Polytechnic University! We look forward to all the great things that God will do through these zealous disciples!


Aaron shared from the Scriptures about
Harry’s love for God!

 
Also, we had our first Women’s Day where the Lord brought out 47 women in attendance as the sisters shared their hearts to inspire the crowd!


With only 6 women disciples including those from
Sydney, the Hong Kong Women’s Day
had 47 in attendance!


Jenna Loheed of Sydney delivered the keynote
address on INNER BEAUTY!

 
In addition, we had our record Sunday church attendance of 37 when Kip came and preached the Word powerfully to the crowd!


At the Hong Kong Church Service, Kip preached
to a record Sunday crowd of 37!

 
Please continue to pray for us as now there are a total of 13 disciples in the Hong Kong International Christian Church! To God be all the glory!
 
Cory Blackwell – Lead Evangelist of Chicago: God is amazing and He is doing great things in the Windy City! After a long spell with no baptisms, the church fasted and prayed for God to open His floodgates of fruit! Prayer really works! We have had additions the last 6 weeks in a row!


Cory baptized Avrie on August 7, 2011! Today,
Avrie is a full-time intern in Chicago and
is returning to USC as a student
in the fall!

 
I will share about only one of these amazing miracles! Luis Avila was born in Venezuela. Today his country is in great political turmoil. Like many from third world countries, he had the American dream. He received a full baseball scholarship, but unfortunately like many young athletes without guidance, he made poor choices that cost him his baseball scholarship! When Luis was met on the UIC Campus, he was faced with deportation! Something told him to listen to the brothers that reached out to him. Luis persevered through all the hardships. Then he made the best decision of his life – making Jesus Lord! Immediately after Luis’ baptism, he was no longer faced with deportation and he has been asked to play baseball for a new college, where he longs to help build the Kingdom!


God blessed Luis (center) with a second chance
in life when he was baptized and shortly
afterward, Luis had a second chance
at a baseball scholarship!

 
Blaise Feumba – Overseeing Evangelist of Haiti: “So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests [PREACHERS] became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7) At the beginning of the month of April, the Lord blessed the International Christian Churches of the nation of Haiti with the forming of a ninth church! Alexis Turgeau, Jean Bonard Colin and 13 other leaders of our Haitian Congregations in Port-au-prince, Saint-Marc, Mirebalais and Jacmel answered the call of a desperate denominational church in the city of Seau-d’Eau, an hour-and-a-half away from Port-au-prince! Our team landed there to teach the First Principles Series to over 100 people! After 5 days of intense Bible studies, the Lord blessed their efforts with 21 baptisms, 6 of them were preachers!


Anel Magoffy baptized Bidjinie Baptiste, 1 of 21
new disciples in the Seau-d’Eau Church!


Elysee Alexandre (kneeling) – the Saint-Marc ICC
Leader – with 7 new disciples in Seau-d’Eau!

 
Alexis and another group of leaders are planning to go back next week from May 3rd to May 6th to strengthen these new disciples and to study the Bible with many more!


The Haitian Leadership Team with Blaise
during his last visit in 2017!

 
It is amazing to see what the Lord has done with Alexis – a Mainline Church of Christ Preacher – who reached out to Kip! Kip invited him to attend the 2013 GLC! After studying with several of the French-speaking Evangelists, Alexis was baptized the day after the GLC ended! So, from one sold-out former Church of Christ Preacher, we now have 367 disciples in 9 churches in Haiti!


The French-speaking Evangelists – Tim, Blaise and
Amadou – studied with Alexis (second from
the right) during the 2013 GLC!


Tim baptized Alexis – a Mainline Church of Christ
Preacher – as a sold-out disciple of Christ!


Tim and Blaise rejoiced with Alexis
over his salvation!

Amazingly, 25 of these disciples are former preachers with 16 of them coming directly from the Mainline Churches of Christ!
 
MCKEANS’ MISSIONARY TRIP
Elena & I flew to Hilo, Hawaii on Tuesday, March 27th where we were warmly greeted by Kyle Bartholomew, as well as Dennis & Corinna Sloan who are the Hilo Church Leaders! Over the next few days, we were able to spend quality time with the Sloans!


Dennis & Corinna Sloan graciously welcomed
the McKeans to Hilo!


Corinna was very excited to have
fellowship with them!

However, the main purpose for our going was to study with Kyle to be restored on Easter Sunday! A highlight for us was on Friday night when Elena & I had dinner with Kyle and his three children – Brett, Connor and Bree!


The McKeans had a fun dinner on Friday night
with Kyle and his children – Brett,
Connor and Bree!

 
Another highlight was Saturday night as we enjoyed reconnecting with the Hilo Shepherding Couples – Chris & Mahe Directo and Robbie & Linda Robinson! All four were part of the 12 Hilo Disciples – led by Kyle Bartholomew – that took a stand for discipling, central leadership and world evangelism in September 2006, thus sparking the New SoldOut Movement into existence!


The McKeans were reunited with the
Directos and the Robinsons!

 
Of course, the ultimate highlight was Easter Sunday and Kyle’s tearful restoration! At his restoration, Kyle shared Micah 7:8-9, “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Because I have sinned against Him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath, until He pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see His righteousness.” Kyle wholeheartedly apologized to the Lord, to the churches in Hawaii and the Philippines, and to his physical family. He wept as he expressed how disappointed the Lord was in him and how his falling away had a devastating impact on so many peoples’ faith.


Kyle’s tearful restoration!


After Kyle’s restoration, the Hilo Church sang to
him, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord!


Kyle’s mom Cindy – a Hilo Disciple – was among
the first to congratulate Kyle!


Kyle’s adoring parents – Jay & Cindy Bartholomew!

 
Interestingly, after singing to Kyle, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord, and taking a fellowship break to welcome him back to the family, Kyle’s father Jay – who is not a disciple – came up to me asking if he could address the church for five to ten minutes. After a quick “Nehemiah Prayer,” I said, “Sure!” So after a song to gather everybody back, I introduced Jay to the church. Jay began by saying, “I want to share with you a true story, something that I witnessed about a month ago, but in fact, it is a parable. As I was walking I heard the squawking of a large flock of mynah birds in a tree. All of a sudden, one of them flew off alone and then a huge hawk pounced on him, grabbing the mynah bird with his sharp talons! Then all of the mynah birds in the tree squawked all the louder as they witnessed the hawk clutching one of their own! You may ask yourself why did the mynah bird fly off on its own? Well… Maybe it was arrogance? (Kyle shared during his restoration that the core sin that took him out was arrogance!) Maybe it was stupidity? Or maybe the mynah bird was just seeking a thrill?


Hawaiian Mynah Birds in flight!

 
Almost immediately after all the birds were screeching, four of the mynah birds came out of the tree and hit the hawk in rapid succession! Now you may be thinking, ‘Why didn’t more mynah birds come to the rescue?’ Well… Maybe they thought that the bird that flew out on its own was getting what he deserved? Or perhaps they were just cowardly? Anyway, after the four birds hit the hawk, the hawk dropped the one mynah bird and the mynah bird flew to safety back with the flock in the tree. I believe the church is a family and for me, I can never give up on family. Let me just say, Kyle is not the only one who has struggled and went away on his own. Don’t look down on your brothers and sisters that stray like the one mynah bird, but with love and courage – no matter the price – go after them. Be true family! That’s all I’ve got to say!”
Then Jay went back into the audience and sat down.


Jay shared with the Hilo Church his moving
Mynah Bird Parable!

 
After this amazing parable, I was supposed to preach and I did! That said, I believe the most memorable sermon that day was the Mynah Bird Parable delivered so eloquently by Jay Bartholomew! Since the Easter Church Service was held in an outdoor facility, it was relatively easy to have a picnic feast and an Easter Egg Hunt! Most of us left after a few hours so encouraged and with a bit of a sunburn!


Ready for the Egg Hunt?


Kyle helped his precious little Bree to
collect her Easter Eggs!

 
On Tuesday night, April 3rd, Elena & I were given a SoldOut Movement Greeting by the Manila Disciples!


The Manila Disciples gave the McKeans an ever-so
encouraging SoldOut Movement Welcome!

 
On Wednesday, we had lunch with the dynamic new leaders of the Metro Manila International Christian Church (MMICC) – Richie & Elizabeth McDonnell! Over lunch, we discussed the incredible healing that had taken place in the MMICC over the three months that the McDonnells had led the church. We also overviewed the program for the 2018 Pacific Rim Missions Conference (PRMC) entitled STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! All of the titles for the sermons and lessons came from the Book of Joshua!  


Metro Manila has a population of over 24 million
with a density of 100,000 people/square mile!

 
That evening at 7:00PM, was the opening of the Prayer War Room and the Speakers Dinner! At the dinner, all of us who attended from outside of the Philippines were very impressed with all of the Filipino Leaders!


Kiko Javier of Cebu prepared to enter
the Prayer War Room!


By Sunday morning, the Prayer War Room
was covered in post-its with heart felt
prayer requests!

 
On Thursday morning was the Leadership Workshop from 9:00AM – 11:30AM! All the way from LA, Tim & Lianne Kernan – the World Sector Leaders for the Pac Rim – delivered a stirring Welcome and Ronnie Gonzalez – one of the MMICC Shepherds – gave a moving Prayer!


The Leadership Workshop’s fervent singing
was led by RJ Castro!


Tim & Lianne Kernan’s Welcome filled us
with anticipation for the PRMC!

 
Jason Dimitry – the Lead Evangelist of the San Francisco Bay Church – gave an amazing speech entitled, GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN! In Jason’s opening remarks, he shared that he lived in Daly City, which is called in San Francisco because so many Filipinos live there – “Little Manila!” So Jason said that he felt quite at home in “Big Manila!” As Jason preached about Caleb having the vigor to take the mountain in his old age, Jason recalled his father’s words to him, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”


Jason Dimitry lives in “Little Manila!”

 
Following came the COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP SERMONETTES: Courageous Preaching by Princeton & Joy George of Las Vegas, Courageous Hard Work by Ricky & Coleen Challinor of LA, Courageous Discipling by the newly engaged couple Sean O’Connor & Krystal Legarda of LA, Courage For Nationals To Save Their People by Marc & Maika Carbonell of Manila, Courage On Campus by Zach & Ariel Shields of Manila, Courageous Marriages by John & Emma Causey of LA, Courageous Prayer Life by Joel Parlour of Seattle, and Courage In Finances by Tim Kernan!


The charismatic COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP
SERMONETTE Teachers!


Zach & Ariel Shields are the new Davao
Mission Team Leaders!

 
Thursday evening was the First General Session of the PRMC! After incredible singing, Richie & Elizabeth gave the Welcome and EJ Duldulao opened with a Prayer!


The McDonnells gave the Welcome at the First
General Session and EJ Duldulao stirred
everyone’s heart in prayer!
 

Then came the glorious Flag Ceremony where all the flags of the Pacific Rim Countries were represented!

 

The magnificent Flag Ceremony
of the Pacific Rim Nations!

Then Elena & I shared GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!


Kip & Elena never tire in sharing GOOD NEWS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD!

Following was a Special Dance Presentation!


Our sisters Vin and Yna sang and danced
respectively with all their hearts!


The dance changed from classical to hip-hop, but
it was still done with all their hearts!


To close the Special Dance Presentation, confetti
was shot into the air as Carlos and the other
brothers waved the Pac Rim Flags!

 
The main speech for the evening was enthusiastically delivered by John Causey on the theme, AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD! In John’s speech, he shared about ceramic bowls that cracked in Japan. The cracked bowls are far more valuable than ones that are not! Why? Because the Japanese glue together the cracked bowls with gold! He went on to share that all of us have “cracks” in our lives and through the gold of discipling, we can become everything God wants us to be!

 


Joel Parlour of Seattle offered his discipler John
Causey a few words of encouragement
before he spoke!


John used Joshua 24 as his text for the riveting
sermon, AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD!

 
On Friday morning, the Challinors gave a rousing Welcome for the Second General Session!

 

Ricky & Coleen Challinor gave a rousing Welcome
for the Second General Session!

The main speech was powerfully preached by Richie and entitled, GET THESE PEOPLE READY! Richie’s amazing lesson had three simple points: 1) Ready To Do Anything, 2) Ready To Go Anywhere, and 3) Ready To Give Up Everything! He had us in tears when he read a poem by his beloved wife Elizabeth that encapsulated these points!


Richie has become one of the best young
preachers in the entire Movement!

 
In the afternoon, from 2:00PM – 4:30PM were the Men’s and Women’s Programs emceed respectively by Ronnie Gonzalez and Elena!

 


One of the MMICC Shepherds – Ronnie Gonzalez –
emceed the Men’s Program which was
opened with a prayer by
Jason Alejandro!

The initial sermon of each program was entitled EVERY PLACE YOU SET YOUR FOOT! They were delivered respectively by Ricky Challinor and Elizabeth McDonnell!


Ricky preached with deep conviction!


Elizabeth shared the challenges that she has
faced since moving to Manila!

Thrilling short charges followed the opening main speeches: Setting Your Foot In Integrity, Setting Your Foot In Purity, Setting Your Foot In Life-Skills, and Setting Your Foot In The Light!


The Women’s Program Speakers!


The Men’s Program Speakers!

The second major speech was given by John Malnegro and Lianne Kernan on THE WALLS OF JERICHO!
 


John Malnegro – the Cebu Church Leader – has
grown so much in his preaching since
the planting last September!


Lianne spoke decisively on the qualities that
sisters need to have in order to assault
THE WALLS OF JERICHO!

 

After the main speeches, short charges were given on Marching By Faith, Marching By Conviction, Marching By Leading, and Marching By Loving!
 


JC Jose preached passionately on his
short charge: Marching By Love!


Gina Dela Peña spoke boldly on
Marching By Faith!

 
That evening was the Third General Session – The Kingdom Banquet! Nimrod & Vis Malnegro – a Shepherding Couple for the MMICC – presented the Welcome and Oliver Lapeña gave the Prayer! Following was an incredible Dance Presentation!

 


The Kingdom Banquet Dance Presentation!


At the Kingdom Banquet, a good
time was had by all!


Aki asked Lou to start dating him! Following this,
both Aki & Lou were named full-time
interns in Cebu!

 
I had the privilege to deliver the message of the hour, HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU?


In his lesson HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU,
Kip said, “All commands have a
motivating promise!”

Although we were a bit tired, all of us went to our rooms with great expectations for Saturday’s MERCY Day!


Baby Monty and Baby Miracle are dreaming to
be campus interns one day!

 
All of the International Delegates for the PRMC were taken from the Hotel Jen to the Don Bosco School, while the Filipino Delegates easily found their way to the MERCY Day site!


The MERCY Ambassadors were so excited to
spend time with the children at the
Laura Vicuña Foundation!

Two hours before we arrived, 173 children of squatters were treated by doctors and dentists sponsored by MERCY!
 


Doctors and dentists were provided for
all 173 kids at the Don Bosco School!

Co-directing this event with Manila’s MERCY Director Ronnie Gonzalez was Sister Helen, who is the leader of the Laura Vicuña Foundation.


Nick & Denise Bordieri met the
delightful Sister Helen!

 
The program was filled with games, singing, dancing and lots of fun!

 


The setting of the Don Bosco School provided
the perfect MERCY Day site!

 

Perhaps the most riveting of the performances was the Filipino Martial Arts!
 

In the Filipino Marital Arts Performance, Maruja
was attacked by two “bad guys!”


After a gravity-defying “scissor – headlock” around
the “Bad Guy Reymer’s” neck, it is safe to say
that the “bad guys” will not bother her again!

One of the children’s favorite games was Making Mummies!
 


Sean O’Connor (above) and John Causey
became living mummies!

Each child was presented with a backpack full of school supplies and delicious food from Jollibee’s!


A backpack full of school supplies was
given to each of the 173 children!


Princeton George did a “duet rap” with
the Jolibee Mascot!


The phenomenal MERCY Day Event!

 
The Sunday Worship Service and Final General Session was incredible with 346 in attendance!


The Final General Session had
346 in attendance!

JC Jose and Rosas Sobrino – the East Region Leaders of the MMICC – were given the honor to share for Communion!


For Communion, Rosas Sobrino shared vulnerably
about her insecurities that have plagued
her Christian life!

Nimrod & Vis Malnegro gave a convicting message on Contribution where they shared on the Scripture, “Get your provisions ready!” They told “their story” about moving from the Davao Remnant Group to Manila! Although it was difficult, in doing this both of their sons Michael and Lance became disciples!


Nimrod & Vis convinced us all that when
we sacrifice, we are the ones that
are blessed!

 
Then, Dr. Tim Kernan gave perhaps his best message to date entitled, BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! Tim was hilarious as he told us about the movie The Dark Tower! In the movie, the last gunslinger defeats the man in black. The gunslinger played by Idris Elba makes the statement, “I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I aim with my eye. I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I shoot with my mind. I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father. I kill with my heart.” Tim admonished us to always “remember the face of our Father!”


As Tim spoke on The Dark Tower, at first there
was much laughter, but by the end of the
analogy the dropping of a pin
could be heard!

 
To close the service were 3 moving restorations – Lorenz, Rachel and Janien – and 1 baptism, Estella the mother of Alba Guitierrez!


Janein’s confession and restoration helped
to heal those who were hurt
when she fell away!


Janein’s mother filmed the restoration and
was touched by the softness of her
daughter’s heart!


The Father welcomed back the 3 restorations:
Janein, Lorenz and Rachel!

 
We closed out the service arm-in-arm singing at the top of our voices my favorite Kingdom song, Great Among The Nations! Incredibly, since January 14th when the MMICC had their first 2 baptisms of the year and 187 disciples in their membership, God has blessed this amazing church with 59 additions – 38 baptisms, 10 restorations and 11 place memberships! They now have 235 sold-out disciples! And to God be the glory!


Of the 38 disciples in the Cebu Church, 32 of
them flew to Manila for the PRMC!

 
On Thursday, April 12th, Elena & I flew to Hong Kong! However, our plane was quite late and so we arrived after midnight! Nonetheless, all but one of the then 11 member church was there greeting us with big smiles and singing, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord!

 


The lights of Hong Kong at night!

The McKeans landed in Hong Kong after midnight,
but the disciples stayed in the airport to give
them a SoldOut Movement Welcome!

 
Friday night, Elena & I met with the Hong Kong Church Leaders – Chi Leong and Alicia Winthein! It was a tremendous time of sharing about their efforts at Hong Kong University and the Polytechnic University!


Chi and Alicia are doing a great job in
leading the Hong Kong Church!

 
On Saturday, we had lunch with the brothers – Dean, Cain, Aaron and Matthew!


The Hong Kong Brothers were looking forward
to pizza, not knowing that Chi had taken the
McKeans to a pizza place the night before!

Following this marvelous time, Chi and Alicia asked Elena & me to study with a young Chinese woman who had wrestled with witchcraft and sorcery. Only 24 years old, Victoria “Ria” Li was very vulnerable and humble despite being a beautiful actress, model and singer! After several hours of Bible Study, Ria decided to be baptized the next day on Sunday!


What a joy for Kip & Elena to study with Ria!

 
On Saturday evening, Elena & I had dinner with the sisters – Shaineh, Jess, Themis, Kandice and Daisy! All of them were so fired up that Ria was getting baptized the next day!


The Hong Kong Sisters – being a little classier
than the Brothers – opted for Thai!

 
On Sunday morning, we woke up to rain! Even at noontime when Chi picked us up in a taxi to go to the baptism, it was still raining!


Sunday morning it was raining when Chi picked up
the McKeans to go to Ria’s baptism!


While waiting for Ria, it was obvious that
McDonalds was not waiting for anybody
as they are evangelizing the world!

However, when all the disciples had gathered at Kowloon Park (essentially Hong Kong Central Park), Ria appeared and the rain stopped! We gathered in a circle and all of us shared something encouraging about Ria’s conversion! I will never forget when our brother Cain shared. He cried while he said that he did not believe that most of his friends in his homeland of Taiwan would ever become Christians, because they were involved in witchcraft. Then he added, “Ria, your conversion has given me hope for all of them!”


 

When Ria arrived in Kowloon Park, God stopped the
rain and we began the sharing for Ria’s baptism!
At about 1:30PM, Ria was baptized and received God’s precious and powerful Holy Spirit!


Jess and Alicia were just as jubilant as Ria
after her baptism!


Ria promises to be a powerful “force” for the
Lord as a model, actress and singer!

 
Since we had a little bit of time before the worship service, Elena wanted to stay awake and so we headed to Starbucks!


Like McDonalds, Starbucks is
evangelizing the world!

Church in Hong Kong is at 4:00PM and amazingly, with 12 disciples in the church and Elena & me, God blessed us with 37 in attendance! Truly the “fields are ripe for harvest!” (John 4:35)


The brothers set up for 4:00PM church!


The view from the window on the 17th floor where
the Hong Kong Church meets!


Chi was inspirational as a song leader!


Before Elena shared for Communion, she gave an
autographed copy of her book ELEVATE
to our new sister, Ria!

 
On Tuesday morning, April 17th, Elena flew home to Los Angeles as her doctors have urged her not to travel as much as me because travel increases stress and stress can cause her health problems to return. Also that morning, I flew on to Chennai, India for the 2018 South Asia Missions Conference (SAMC)! Because of a long layover in Singapore, I did not arrive into Chennai until after 10:00PM! Amazingly, when I came out of the terminal, over 100 Indian Disciples sang, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord and they greeted me with hugs for about an hour!


Over 100 Indian Disciples greeted Kip as he
landed in Chennai!

 
On Wednesday morning, I gathered with Raja & Debs Rajan – the former Chennai Church Leaders and the New Delhi Mission Team Leaders, Luke & Brandyn Speckman – the New York City Church Leaders and the Overseeing Ministry Couple for South Asia, and Matt & Helen Sullivan – the Miami Church Leaders and the SAGES World Sector Leaders, to go over the SAMC Program!


The planning meeting with the Speckmans,
Sullivans, Rajans and Kip!

 
At noontime was the Shepherd’s Luncheon where we were able to meet several of the stronger and more mature couples in the Chennai, Bangalore and soon-to-be New Delhi Churches!


At the Shepherd’s Luncheon, Luke asked everyone
to introduce themselves and to share good news!


The Gonas and the Vijayans – Shepherding
Couples – had lunch with Nick Bordieri!

 
After an afternoon of fellowship, we celebrated the Speakers Dinner!


The Speakers Dinner offered another opportunity
for the International Delegates to get to know
the Indian Church Leaders!

 
On Thursday morning, we got ready to go on the Historical Tour where we visited the Monuments of Mahabalipuram, which are located about 60 km (37 miles) south of Chennai.


Anup and Mali of Kathmandu were the first to
board the bus for the Historical Tour!


The horrific Chennai traffic as viewed
from the bus!


Yet, the traffic went unnoticed by all the disciples
who were having a blast fellowshipping with
disciples from all over the world!

 

Fascinatingly, all of these Hindu Monuments were hewed out of giant rocks! This sculptural legacy was left behind by King Mahendravarman I (580 – 630 AD) and his son King Narasimhavarman I (630 – 668 AD).

 
 
The Five Brothers Temple!


Prathrap – the Chennai Church Leader – was a very
knowledgeable tour guide as he explained about
Krishna’s ten forms, one of which is a pig!


The Pattersons of Boston were in awe of
the Ganesha Rada Temple which took
50 years to be carved from one
rock in the 6th century!


This rock is nicknamed the “Butterball!”


The International Delegates gathered under
the immense Butterball Rock!


Sharon Kirchner of LA decided to take the fast way
down the slope to get to the air-conditioned bus
as the temperature was about
100 F (38 C)!

That evening at 7:30PM, we gathered for the Bible Talk Leaders Workshop! After a warm Welcome by Raja & Debs, I was honored to present GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!  
 


Thursday evening was the exciting Bible
Talk Leaders Workshop!

Kip shared GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE
WORLD especially highlighting Hilo,
Manila and Hong Kong!

 
After this was a Special Dance Performance by Yassa Green! She performed the extremely difficult Bharatnatyam Dance, which is the State Dance of Tamil Nadu where Chennai is located!


Roger was so proud of his wife Yassa for
performing flawlessly the difficult
Bharatnatyam Dance!

 
Then Luke delivered an amazing sermon, KEEP ON SPEAKING AND NOT BE SILENT!


Luke pleaded with all the Bible Talk Leaders
to refocus on their personal evangelism!


During the fellowship, Kip was very impressed by
meeting Ani and Emmanuel – doctoral students
who were recently baptized!


Kip invited Anup Shakya (left) from Kathmandu,
Nepal to be on the New Delhi Mission Team!
He in turn invited another former Buddhist
Priest – Mali – to come to the SAMC!

 
On Friday morning, April 20th, all of us were ready at 6:30AM to go to the MERCY Event, which was held at Chengalpet Leprosy Colony! After two short charges by Nick Bordieri – the World Sector Leader for MERCY – and myself, the International Delegates were broken into 6 groups.


Kip exhorted the MERCY Ambassadors from
Mark 1:40-42 to be like Jesus who was
“filled with compassion” and willing
to reach out and touch the lepers!

Each group had an Indian couple in charge with other Indian Disciples to help us out with translation. As well, we had several packets of clothes to distribute to each one of the lepers. Amazingly, leprosy can be completely cured with a series of shots that have a total cost of only $150 USD! In visiting one leper who is a 48 year old woman and had been in the Leprosy Colony for 6 years, she shared with my group, “I prayed today would be a great day.” I responded, “God has answered your prayers!” Our visit with the lepers lifted their spirits and changed our lives!


There were 6 MERCY Ambassador Teams that
went to the 6 wards of the Leprosy Colony!


Tamil and Kip took time to reach out to Jayaraman
and his wife Bala Mani! Kip asked the question
to Jayaraman, “What is the secret of living
to be 74 years old?” He simply
answered, “God!”


Franklin peeled an orange for the 50 year old
woman named Muniammal! His kindness
caused her to cry!


Jaysree – Tamil’s wife – began a Bible study with
Bagyawathi whose husband died just 9
months ago!


The disciples Shanthi, Kavinpriyai and Melissa
reached out to a 48 year old woman, who
does not have leprosy, but her mother
does. She has a monthly salary to
sew and cook of 40 rupees –
less than $1 USD!


Our sisters Ilakkiya (middle) and Phoniya
encouraged Ajunabhi – a leprosy patient
who had been there 20 years!


The MERCY Ambassadors!

 
After spending 2 hours at the Leprosy Colony, we came back to shower and then went for a South Indian Lunch at Hotel Saravana Bhavan, where we ate on banana leaf plates only using our fingers!


The Speckmans and the Shelbracks were amused
at having banana leaves for plates and the
prospect of eating with their hands!


Luke cleaned his plate!


Sadly, Debzy (left) – who is Indian – “corrupted”
Melissa and Omar of NYC by leading them
astray with spoons!

Then we were off to St. Thomas Mount to see where the Apostle Thomas was martyred in 72 AD. We ended our “St. Thomas Tour” where he humbly lived in a cave!


Ernest & Shannon Baker of NYC were sobered by
the Apostle Thomas’ home, which was a cave!

 
On Saturday, the First General Session began at 9:00AM! The singing was off the charts! Luke & Brandyn gave a great Welcome and Prayer! Nick gave a short charge about MERCY Projects around the world!


The First General Session of the SAMC!


Nick Bordieri – the World Sector Leader for
MERCY – shared about MERCY Projects
around the world!

Then we witnessed a Special Indian States Dance! 6 of the 29 States of India were represented: the Bollywood Dance of Maharashtra, the Fisherman’s Dance of Goa, the Sampalpuri Dance of Bihar, the Mohini Attam Dance of Kerala, the Kashmiri Dance of Jammu, and the Garba Dance of Gujarat!


The Special Indian States Dance were
mesmerizing in motion and color!

 
At 9:45AM, Raja spoke on BY WHAT POWER AND WHAT NAME? He shared in his message about his Hindu background where over time he became an atheist. After a life of partying and immorality, Raja called his life “a total mess.” One Saturday night after a party, he was so distraught that he hit his bedroom wall several times crying out in tears, “God are you there?” A short time later, he was met by disciples and was baptized! After his baptism, Raja’s father beat him and threw him out of his house along with his clothes. God has raised up a great prophet for India from this miraculous conversion!


In his sermon, Raja called upon the Chennai
Disciples – who would be “orphaned” by the
38 on the New Delhi Mission Team – not
to focus on man but on their
Father in Heaven!

 
Another highlight followed Raja’s lesson when Prathap & Maggie Stevenson were appointed Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader in the Kingdom of God! They now lead the mighty Chennai Church!


Debs appointed her daughter in the faith, Maggie
to be a Women’s Ministry Leader!


Prathrap was choked up by Raja’s fatherly
kindness and confidence as he was
appointed an Evangelist to lead
the Chennai Church!

 
From 11:00AM – 1:00PM were the Men’s and Women’s Programs! The first message of both sessions was delivered respectively by Jay Shelbrack of New York City and Helen Sullivan titled, SAVE YOURSELF FROM THIS CORRUPT GENERATION!


The mighty Men’s Program!


Jay Shelbrack will lead the Milwaukee
Mission Team in August!

Following were short charges on different characters in the Book of Acts!


Marcel Turner of Gainesville encouraged the
brothers in his preaching and
his song leading!


Christy – the Bangalore Church Leader – preached
on Barnabas the encourager!


Rafael Jerez of Syracuse admonished the brothers
not to be like Ananias in Acts 5!


Ernest Baker spoke on the powerful preaching
of the first Christian martyr – Stephen!

The second main message for both programs was entitled, CHANGING THE CUSTOMS! From the buzz in the fellowship, Prathrap and Debs did a terrific job on this topic!


Prathrap & Maggie – the new Chennai Church
Leaders – and their baby Yalimi Abigail!

 
The Second General Session was from 3:00PM – 4:30PM! We were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 – Campus and Group 2 – Singles and Marrieds! In the Campus Session, Mike & Chenelle Patterson of Boston taught the class, THE LORD ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER DAILY.


Mike Patterson of Boston spoke with great authority
that the Lord can add to our numbers daily
when we retain a sold-out foundation
in a church!
 

For the Singles and Marrieds Session, Luke & Brandyn had this same topic!
 


Luke & Brandyn had two points: 1) Mission
Minded Marrieds and 2) Sold-out Singles!
In each class, short practical lessons were given to help to implement the Scriptures in THE LORD ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER DAILY lessons!
 

Matt introduced the speakers for the Singles and
Marrieds Session: Thomas, Ted, Scarlett,
Jaysree, Lisa and Jeffrey!
 

Ted Green admonished everyone to be
“devoted to the fellowship!”

 

Lisa Picciano encouraged all of the sisters to
never lose their sense of awe of God
and His miracles!
That evening, the International Delegates and the Indian Church Leaders enjoyed a Fellowship Banquet! Matt gave the charge that night on WE MUST GO THROUGH MANY HARDSHIPS!
 

Jaysree (left) and Yassa were inspired by
Sabrina’s Indian outfit and henna tattoo!
 

The Fellowship Banquet!


Though many of the SAMC participants were tired,
Matt captivated everyone by his preaching about
“exciting difficulties” and praying on our
knees for a half an hour daily!

 
Sunday was the Final General Session where 347 gathered to worship God!


For the Final General Session, 347
packed out the auditorium!

 
For our Worship Service, we were led in an International Prayer and Matt & Helen shared GOOD NEWS FROM THE SAGES WORLD SECTOR! (SAGES is an acronym for South Asia, Gulf and Eastern USA States!)
 

Isaac Gonzalez of Miami prayed in Spanish
during the International Prayer!


Matt & Helen shared GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND
THE SAGES WORLD SECTOR!

 
Communion was the goodbye to the Chennai Church from the Rajans and the Gonas, who served nobly as one of the Chennai Shepherding Couples but now were leaving on the New Delhi Mission Team!


In a very touching Communion, the Rajans and
the Gonas expressed their love for the
Chennai Church and called for
Chennai, Bangalore and New
Delhi to be one church!

 
Contribution was admirably done by Michael & Sharon Kirchner – the World Sector Leader Admin Couple!


The Kirchners inspired the Indian Disciples
about how much the American Disciples
love them and sacrifice for them!
 

During the collection of the Contribution, the New Delhi Remnant Group sang in Hindi, Jesus Comes Into My Heart!

 

Jeffrey Norris and the New Delhi Remnant
Group led a Hindi song after the
Contribution that got the
crowd on its feet!

 
Then I was privileged to give the keynote address, UNSTOPPABLE!


To honor Kip before he spoke, the Rajans and
Gonas presented him with a maharaja
turban and a beautiful brass sword!

 
Following, we had 9 baptisms – Ravi, Cathy, Manjula, Viju, Yokesh, Sylvester, Srinivas, Monica – a Delhi baptism, and Dipshi – a very talented screenwriter of Bollywood!


Scarlett and Debs shared about Dipshi – the
Bollywood Screenwriter – before Dipshi
confessed, “Jesus is Lord!”


Mercy who is in the Bangalore Church prayed
daily for her son Sylvester to be baptized!

 
Then came the moment we were all waiting for, The New Delhi Mission Team Send-Off! Amazingly, 38 fired up disciples were on the team and 18 remnant group disciples were waiting for them to come to New Delhi! Encouragingly, 14 of the 18 came to the SAMC!


Luke gathered both the New Delhi Mission Team
and Remnant Group on the stage and passed
out to each disciple an upside down globe
emblematic of us turning the world
upside down! (Acts 17:6 RSV)

The entire conference went to our knees as Ted Green – one of two SAGES World Sector Shepherds in Miami – and Thomas Vijayan – one of the Chennai Shepherds – led the prayer to send out the New Delhi Mission Team!


The entire SAMC fell on their knees and begged
the Spirit to make the New Delhi Planting
the most fruitful one yet!

 
Our closing song was Prayer For Boldness! Immediately after Prayer For Boldness which Vignesh led, Vignesh – a former Hindu and intern for Delhi – dropped to his knees and asked Scarlett – a former Muslim named Ussain – and asked her to marry him! She said, “Yes!”


Vignesh led the closing song


And then got down on his knees to ask Scarlett
to be his wife! She said, “Yes!”

Following, all of the Indian Brothers and Sisters broke out in a jubilant dance! Earnest & Shannon Baker of New York City – former professional dancers – led the International Delegates to follow suit!


Following the end of the SAMC and the
engagement, everyone began to
dance for joy!

 
Following all the celebrations, we enjoyed a scrumptious Indian Lunch!


So encouraging was that Julie Stevenson
of NYC had her father Russ at the
entire SAMC!


Before Kip left for the airport to go to Paris, he
had dinner with the Rajan Family – Raja,
Debs, Ashwin, Shefali and Isheeta!
Isheeta asked, “Kip Uncle, can I
go to the GLC?” Kip had no
choice but to say, “Yes!”

 
That Sunday night, I boarded a plane to fly to Frankfurt and then on to Paris for the final stop of this missionary journey! I was so looking forward to seeing Anthony & Cassidy Olmos as well as preaching to the Paris Church! I finally arrived late Monday afternoon!


On Monday afternoon at the airport, the Paris
Disciples sang in French, We Love You
With The Love Of The Lord!

The three of us had a delightful dinner on Tuesday night!


Kip’s beloved grandson and granddaughter in
the faith – Anthony & Cassidy Olmos!

 
During dinner, Cassidy shared about the two Women’s Day Events that she has spoken at this year – Stockholm and Paris! Amazingly, in Paris, Cassidy spoke in French for the entire program including her speech! God blessed both churches as both exceeded their attendance goals! In Stockholm, with 8 women disciples, they had an attendance of 22! The Paris Church with 14 women disciples had an incredible attendance of 53!


Cassidy preached at the Stockholm
Women’s Day!


For the Olmoses to go to Stockholm, it was
a great time of bonding with Kaspar &
Ashley Tambaur who lead the
Stockholm Church!

 
At the Wednesday night Midweek, I was able to encourage the church which has grown from 14 when the 4 person Paris Supplemental Mission Team arrived from London in October to now 26 sold-out disciples!


Wednesday night, Nayomie learned that
she would be a full-time intern in the
Paris Church!


Wednesday night, Kevin Lacken-toto did a
superb job translating Kip’s message!

 
Because of unseen circumstances, I cut my visit short and left on Thursday morning. Praise God, I arrived home to see my beloved wife of 41 years Elena feeling much better! And to God be all the glory!

 
FAMILY NEWS
Boston: Arthur Hughes was able to baptize his younger brother Bobby into Christ on April 9th! Arthur shared with tear-filled eyes from John 1:40-42 where Andrew had brought his brother Simon to meet Jesus! It has been his Kingdom dream to baptize someone in his family!


Congratulations to Arthur who baptized
his brother Bobby!

 
Denver: We are so happy for Adrian Garcia-Zataray & Lidia Barrios who were married on April 21, 2018! Both Adrian & Lidia are truly a son and daughter to Dustin & Amanda Miller, and Dustin was honored to marry them!


Congratulations to Adrian & Lidia!

 
New York City: Since the last Good News Email, the New York City Church has witnessed a wedding and an engagement! Angel & Jocelyn Santiago were married on March 24th! Jocelyn had been a single mom until the wedding! It is so incredible to see God bring fathers to the fatherless in His Kingdom!


Jazlyn was soooo fired up for her mother
Jocelyn to be married to an incredible
man of God – Angel Santiago!

 
Also, after 3 years of dating, Gerald Gayle & Danielle Jamison were finally engaged! We look forward to their wedding! 


Congratulations to Gerald & Danielle!

 
Alan Moncayo was baptized in Boston a few years ago. He fell away and then was married. So touching was that on the day Alan was restored, he baptized his wife Judy!


Praise God for Alan’s (left) restoration
and Judy’s baptism that unites
them in Christ!

 
Paris: At the end of March, we celebrated the first wedding of the year! It was incredibly powerful to see the union of Landry & Christelle Mokwa! They dated in world and had a son, but because they wanted a clear conscience they broke up to put God first! And after one year of pure dating, they became united under God at their wedding! This momentous occasion gave us 150 visitors to hear the Word of God preached!


Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Mokwa!

 
New Delhi: John (the Baptist) & Salma are engaged and now lead the Teen Ministry in the New Delhi International Christian Church!


Congratulations to John & Salma on their
engagement and leading the New
Delhi Teen Ministry!

 
Bangalore: Christy & Maria, the leaders of the Bangalore Church, were blessed with Lydia Brielle Christopher!


Maria – the Women’s Ministry Leader of the
Bangalore Church – adores her beautiful
baby Lydia Brielle!

 
Portland: God has been working in a powerful way to bring families to ​Christ! After months of prayer, on March 11th, we witnessed our sister Daniela’s son Aaron get baptized into Christ!


Daniela would not take “no” from Aaron in
coming to church and in time being
baptized!

 
Then on Resurrection Sunday, after receiving much persecution from his physical family, our campus ​brother William was able to baptize his ​mother ​Olga! William’s father then joined them in Christ as he was baptized last Sunday where he shared, “I am so glad that my son has now become my father in the faith!”​


On Easter Sunday, William baptized his mom and
three weeks later he baptized his father!


Lastly, three weeks ago a man told his daughter, “We need to start getting closer to God and go to church once more.” She responded, “Dad, I need to do homework, so can we go to Starbucks?” Little did they know that Rich Hardy and the Starbucks Ministry was going to be there having Bible Talk! The daughter, a teen named Vania, was baptized at our Women’s Day Event, and on Sunday, her father Javier, who is a pilot, shared in tears that he was finally able to face the challenges of forgiveness after years of holding bitterness! God’s grace is abounding in Portland!


After Vania’s baptism, her changes were
so compelling that her father
Javier was baptized!

 
Mirebalais (Haiti): Congratulations to Emmanuel & Beltude Pierre on their wedding!


Toutes nos felicitations to Emmanuel & Beltude!

 
Moscow: As in every family, a wedding is always a great event and the whole church in Moscow is looking forward to the next one! At the Women’s Conference, during the lesson, music played as well as the sound of a helicopter, and Rezo Davitadze came out in black glasses as agent 007 and offered Sasha Korotova, our dear sister, to be his wife, adding that, “Resistance is useless!” Afterward, everyone congratulated Rezo & Sasha! Then Aliona finished her lesson saying that in the church, we build pure dating relationships in Christ and that’s the blessing of God for us and the power of Bible teaching! This touched the hearts of all the women guests!


Congratulations to Rezo & Sasha!

 
Manila: Rey & Nina Hayag gave birth to an 8 lbs. and 15 inch baby boy, Marc Hercules, on April 4th! We are confident that he will live up to the noble heroism of his namesake!


Welcome Baby Marc Hercules to God’s
worldwide family!

Miami: So exciting for the whole Miami Church are the engagements of two awesome couples: Will Nelson & Tatyana Brutus as well as Zach Shahan & Lauren Hammers!


Congratulations to Will & Tatyana!


Congratulations to Zach & Lauren!

Eugene: Congratulations to Brian & Joaly Carr – the dynamic Eugene Church Leaders – on the birth of Sahalie Rae!


Congratulations to Brian & Joaly on the
birth of Sahalie Rae!

Los Angeles – AMS Region: Congratulations to Adam Zepeda & Lauren Ona – the AMS Region Leaders – on their engagement which was on Lauren’s birthday – a very lucky Friday, April 13th!


Congratulations to Adam & Lauren – the AMS Region
Leaders for the City of Angels Church!

 
West Region: Congratulations to Marvell Holder & Alexys Hall who were engaged on April 14th! Excitingly, they are on the Milwaukee Mission Team as Milwaukee is Marvell’s hometown!


Congratulations to Marvell & Alexys who will be
going on the Milwaukee Mission Team!

 
Antelope Valley (AV) Region: Leilani Aguilar was added to God’s family! She is the daughter of Jason & Monique Aguilar and sister of Conner Aguilar! The Aguilar Family now has 4 of 7 faithful disciples, who are all full of joy! Of note in 2013, at the young age of 10, Leilani was the one to encourage her family to start attending church! Leilani is an incredible addition to our growing Teen Ministry!


Congratulations to the Aguilar Family on the
baptism of Leilani (second from the right)!

 
Sirena Rubio was baptized by Samantha Massman and her physical sister Jasmine Diaz! Sirena is 14 years old, and was so fired up to get right with God, that she spent the entire week of spring break in back to back Bible studies! With her baptism, this spreads the Teen Ministry to high schools in both Lancaster and Palmdale!


Sirena Rubio (center) was baptized by Samantha
Massman and her physical sister
Jasmine Diaz (right)!

 
Ronnie Martinez is an incredible and humble young man! He is a cousin to the Aguirre/Carrillo Family, who now have 8 members who are disciples in the AV Region! But as God would have it, he was actually met and invited out to church by his coworker Matthew Fajardo, a disciple in our Singles Ministry! After showing up to service, realizing that this is the same church so many in his family are a part of, he eagerly desired to study the Bible! After a few weeks, Ronnie became our brother in Christ!


The Aguirre/Carrillo Familia was fired up
about Ronnie’s (center) conversion!

 
Josh Massman is 15 years old and was born and raised in the Kingdom! The fight and perseverance of his physical family (9 of which are disciples, making Josh the 10th), have proven to be influential in his decision to make Jesus Lord! He has overcome so much to become a disciple! Josh calls all of us higher, as since studying the Bible, he has been having consistent 5:00AM quiet times and is on his knees every morning praying to God! He is such a powerful addition to the AV Teen Ministry!


David Orellana had the honor to join the Massman
Family in baptizing Josh into Christ!

Coachella Valley (CV) Region: At our Women’s Day in the CV Region, on March 11th, after 4 long years of prayer, Laura Miranda was baptized! Laura was reached out to by one of the original CV Mission Team members, Monique Carrasco. Laura brought her sister Dasey to the very first church service in the Valley. Dasey went on to become a disciple, while Laura fled. After much prayer and fasting, and to God’s glory, Laura was baptized and is now united with her physical sister, Dasey!


Laura was so fired up after her baptism and
that now Dasey is her “double sister!”

 
Orange County (OC) Region: Sarah and Christina have been solid sisters in the Orange County Region for some time. When they were originally reached out to, their little sister Angelica was with them (age 11 at the time). Now after being faithful for 4 years, Sarah and Christina helped start the Teen Ministry in the LIFE Sector of the OC Region and their little sister Angelica started to study the Bible! After transforming her life and being made into a disciple, Angelica was baptized as their sister in Christ on March 3rd! Since then she has already been fruitful and baptized her best friend from high school, Azalea on April 13th!


Christina (left) and Sarah (right) rejoiced at
their little sister Angelica’s salvation!

 
The following is a special note from Shay Sears of Dallas about her mother Debbie Vloet’s baptism in the OC Region of LA: “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6) I am so grateful to be a part of a worldwide movement because as we “grow,” not only are more souls being saved, but the hope for our physical families “grow” as well! 


Shay (Vloet) Sears was the McKeans’
personal assistant for three years!

 
Growing up my mother and I had a saying that we would express daily before she dropped me off at school. I would say, “I love you,” and she would say, “How much?” Then I would finish out with “All the way to Heaven!” Eleven years ago, while in college at Cal State Fullerton in Orange County, I was reached out to and asked to study the Bible. After three weeks of studying, Tracy Harding baptized me into Christ! Although I rejoiced in the treasure of having a relationship with God, my heart was tinged with a hint of sadness when I looked at my Mom and knew that I could not at that moment say, “All the way to Heaven.” That day a fervent, “impossible prayer” began for my Mom’s soul. She was less than “fired up” with my decision as she printed and read every persecution article she could get her hands on, and even had some “spicy talks” with the Hardings and the McKeans!


Tyler & Shay trusted God that He would convert
their families as they left on the Sã
o
Paulo Mission Team!

 
Over the years, I watched my Mom go through some very challenging trials in her life that brought her to her knees and opened her heart to see her need for God. I am beyond grateful for the many women like Lynda Moreno, Sharon Kirchner, Connie Underhill, Loidy Frenzley, Elena McKean and so many more who have “watered” the seed that was planted in her heart. A special thank you to Judy Harding, Therese Untalan and Tracy Harding who studied the Bible with her. Truly it was God who made her love and faith “grow” and just last week, my sister Lori and I were able to fly from Dallas to LA and surprise my Mom by emerging from the Harding’s room during the sharing! 


Shay and Lori – both of Dallas – surprised their
Mom during the sharing that they had
come to help baptize her!


Debbie shared about Shay and Lori growing up!

Shortly after the sharing, Lori and I baptized Mom into Christ! I have always admired my Mom’s strength, but today what makes her beautiful is her vulnerability and her willingness to show her weaknesses so that God can be her strength!


Now Shay, Lori and Debbie are Sisters
in Christ and closer than ever!

Now as sisters in Christ, I can say with confidence “Mom, I love you! How much? All the way to Heaven!”
 

LOCAL LA NEWS
Greetings from sunny Los Angeles, California! God is moving powerfully in the City of Angels Church as He has blessed us with 123 baptisms in the first 119 days of 2018, bringing this congregation to its largest membership yet of 976 members! We are praying fervently for “1,000 for the Lord” before the end of July!


The entire City of Angels Church is
praying for “1,000 for the Lord!”

 
I’m also excited to share with you what God did with the Women’s Days here in Los Angeles: 521 sisters had 1,426 women in attendance, as well as a whopping 12 baptisms at the actual Women’s Days! I am so grateful for my lovely wife Lianne, to Megan Matthews and to all the amazing sisters who worked so hard to make this Women’s Day an incredible success! 


The City of Angels Church Women’s Day
was blessed with over 1,400
in attendance!

God is truly “doing a new thing” here in CR! (Isaiah 43:19) We just started 12 Week Sessions of CR in each of the 5 groups here in LA! Lord willing, we will have 40 graduates by July 31, 2018!


Matthew & Marlo Lovacheff are pioneering
new ways to implement the godly
teachings of the CR Ministry!

 
The congregation here in Los Angeles is working eagerly to raise missions to support our dear brothers and sisters who are planting and building churches around the world and here in the United States! By the grace of God as a church, we are at 59% of our goal! I want to especially commend the faith and hard work of the Central Region led by the inspirational Mike & Brittany Underhill, who have surpassed 100% of their missions goal a month early!


The Central Region of the City of Angels Church
is to be imitated in their sacrifice by all
the churches in the Movement!

 
Two very creative projects to raise money for missions are Smokey Joe’s Café led by Jay Causey, and the Reach Short Film Festival hosted by the AMS Region and inspired by Josiah & Kristin Smith!


Smokey Joe’s Cafe’s first show will be
this Sunday, May 6th – the 11th
Anniversary of the CAICC!


Pray for and support the REACH Short Film
Festival on May 19th, as they already
have several sponsors!

 
Please pray for us as we are in step to blow out our Missions Goal by Sunday, May 20th!
 
Not only are we giving money for missions, but from the Ventura Region led by the hard-working Curtis & Morgan Valdez, we sent out one of our best, Alicia Winthein, to Hong Kong, China at the end of March! Interestingly, when you give to God, then God gives back even more, as the Spirit has blessed the Ventura Region recently with 3 Chinese campus baptisms – Craig, Adele, and Jetta! 


Alicia was able to help baptize Adele
(second from the left) before she
left for Hong Kong!

Another highlight in the month of March in the awesome Ventura Region was the baptism of Johnathan Franklin! Johnathon was reached out to in 2013 while he was playing football for UCLA where he broke 4 rushing records while playing there! He lost touch with the disciples, but went on to be drafted into the NFL by the Green Bay Packers! He played only 11 games when he had a career ending injury.


Johnathan Franklin played American football
for UCLA and the Green Bay Packers!

Through finding his identity due to career change, Johnathan reached out to Micheal Peterson in the Metro Heights Region. He soon studied the Bible in the Ventura Region due to living in Oxnard, California and came to the knowledge of the truth to become a disciple and get baptized! After baptism, Johnathan was so excited to make disciples that he asked the HR Department of the Los Angeles Rams – where is an Executive Spokesperson – to start a Bible Talk and they said “Yes!”


Praise God, Johnathan (second from the right)
already has set up a Bible Talk at
the LA Rams Facility!

 
The City of Angels Church Family is very excited to host all of you in just 3 and-a-half months at the 2018 Global Leadership Conference – EMPOWERED!
 

EDITORIAL
Divorce And Remarriage In The Philippines

On Sunday, April 8th, at the Pacific Rim Missions Conference, I addressed the Filipino Brothers and Sisters on the issue of Divorce and Remarriage. The following is the transcription of my announcement of our historic decision:

Good morning family! I want to address an issue that for the most part we have been silent on for a few decades. I want to deal with divorce and remarriage. The Philippines at this time is the last of several Catholic nations where divorce is still illegal. Interestingly enough, the first so-called Catholic nation to strike down this law was Italy in 1974. The most recent one was Chile in 2004.
 
Now, it is important for us to understand a couple of definitions. First of all, divorce recognizes that a marriage existed but is now over. Annulment says there never was a marriage. In the Philippines, one can receive an annulment for congenital flaws or mental illness. Therefore, to receive an annulment, in gist, most people would be lying to say there was no marriage, and usually, the stated reason for the annulment is also a lie. As well, the cost can be up to $5,000 USD. Now some Filipinos go outside the Philippines and get a divorce. However, if you are a Filipino citizen and you return to the Philippines, the divorce is deemed illegal. Interestingly enough, the Philippines House of Representatives have been wrestling with this issue over the last few weeks. As a matter of fact, it passed a divorce bill fairly overwhelmingly. However, an article on March 5th stated that it will not pass the Philippines Senate. The Senate Minority Leader, Franklin Drilon, said emphatically “no” to divorce. However, he did add, “Perhaps we can reform our current laws on annulment to make it less tedious and less expensive to attain.” But let me just remind you, an annulment takes a lie, and that means totally denying marriage vows that were made before God.
 
So, I have been very conflicted in my conscience. I have been uncomfortable in my conscience as I see the existing law that divorce is illegal to be something that stops people from coming into the Kingdom. If we really apply the Scriptures, and say a person quote, “Is no longer living with their first wife,” but quote, “they have a second marriage,” then we would have to say that you need to separate because that is immorality. Or we would have to look past it and condone what in actuality is immorality. If we demand a separation in keeping with the Scriptures, it could be a separation not only of husband and wife, but even children. Again, this is quite a conundrum. Therefore, what are we to do as God’s holy church? Elena & I have prayed for the last several months and we met with the World Sector Leaders in Brazil at the end of January to consider this question, because we see it as blocking people from coming into the Kingdom of God, as well as making people liars that are in the Kingdom of God. We also had a meeting two days ago, where I met with John & Anna Malnegro, Richie & Elizabeth McDonnell, Tim & Lianne Kernan, John & Emma Causey, and Elena to once again discuss divorce, annulment and remarriage in the Philippines.


The historic Metro Manila Meeting on divorce,
annulment and remarriage!

 
It is true that Romans 13 states that we must submit to governing authorities, and yet we must also remember Acts 5:29, where Peter and all the Apostles respond, “We must obey God, rather than men.” In 1986, the Discipling Movement at that time out of Boston, made a decision, to not obey the laws of the land in South Africa. In South Africa at that time, apartheid – separation between blacks and whites – was the law of the land. We were even told by Mainline Churches of Christ to send a black mission team and a white mission team. I ardently said, “No!” We sent a racially mixed team of brothers and sisters (half-white and half-black) to Johannesburg, South Africa going against the law, because we must obey God rather than men! Even in the New Movement, about a year ago in Russia, they passed a law that said, “You are not allowed to share your faith. You can have any conviction you want, but you are not allowed to share your faith.” In the Moscow Church the very next day, we preached that every disciple is commanded to preach the Word and to share their faith! We must obey God, rather than men! Are you with me here?
 
We need to understand that it is true in the book of Malachi that God hates divorce. Even beyond hate, it breaks His heart. And yet, there are two reasons that the Scriptures give for divorce in the New Testament. The first is by Jesus in Matthew 19:8-9, “Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness and marries another woman, commits adultery.'” Jesus says the first reason for divorce is adultery. Now unbeknownst to some disciples, there is a second reason. This one is given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:14-15, “For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife. And the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband, otherwise, your children would be unclean. But as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so, a believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances. God has called us to live in peace.” So, Jesus teaches quite clearly that adultery is a Biblical reason for divorce. Paul teaches that abandonment is a Biblical reason for divorce. Therefore, with the heart to see as many as possible coming into the Kingdom of God and with the heart to keep our fellowship pure of lying and deceit, going forward, the International Christian Churches in the Philippines will issue a Certificate of Divorce that will be retroactive to the date of the separation of said disciple. It will say on the certificate, that we are granting this divorce in the eyes of God, but it will also state, that in the Republic of the Philippines, it is not legally recognized.
 
Let me address a couple of issues. To be married in the Philippines there must be a Justice of the Peace or Certified Individual to conduct the wedding. We will still abide by the law of the land that Filipinos must be 21 years old in order to be married. Now we did have a situation come up last year where a young couple was married. One was 21 years old and the other was 20. Some have questioned the validity of this particular wedding. Now I want to speak to it. It did indeed break “Filipino law,” but it was done in the eyes of God and witnessed by the church, so this couple is married. But in order to do what is right in the eyes of God and the eyes of man so far as we can, this coming week, that couple is getting their civil ceremony done. Amen? I also want to remind you of the mindset that we have in all of our churches around the world. The fact that there is a wedding done by a Justice of the Peace is in most nations. So recently, Elena & I were able to participate in a wedding of two individuals that we love very much and that is now Kolbe & Rebecca Gray. Now in England, the only marriage that is recognized is a Civil Wedding. So, Kolbe & Rebecca went to get married on a Wednesday in a Civil Ceremony. However, they were not married in this case by me, as their chosen presiding minister for their “church wedding” until Sunday. And if they would have touched each other in a sexual way, we would have looked down on that because we recognize that it is God and His church that sanctify the wedding of two disciples. Are you with me right here? Therefore, I do not think it to be unreasonable that the church, being the hands of God, once more says, “Now you are married.” So, the church can also say, “Now you are divorced.” And so, I pray that you will get your hearts behind this.
 
There may be some of you that can be helped. The church will absolutely recognize an annulment as being legal and there will be no further necessary things to be done. On the other hand, there may be some in the audience that have quote been, “married a second time, sort of, but not really.” You need to come to either Richie McDonnell if you are here in Manila, or if you are in Cebu, please see John Malnegro. Talk to them and share about your situation. We will sit down with you and write for you a Certificate of Divorce going back to your separation from your previous spouse. Then of course we’ll decide how to move forward in your case. Remember, our goal is for everybody to have a clear and good conscience. We don’t want to make the lack of being able to attain a divorce a huge roadblock for people coming into the Kingdom. There are Biblical reasons for breaking up: adultery and abandonment. And once more, as God’s church, we must obey the laws of the land, but when they are in contradiction to the Bible and the Bible does teach there are two reasons for divorce – adultery and abandonment – then we must obey God rather than man. Thank you very much.


“God has the whole world in His hands” and
has EMPOWERED us to evangelize the
nations in this generation!

 
Dearest SoldOut Movement Family,
EMPOWERED is the incredible theme of the 2018 Global Leadership Conference! Indeed, the Spirit working through God’s great people will empower us to take the Gospel into all nations in this generation even when human laws defy God’s Word! So with The Glory Song ringing in our ears, let us all continue to pray and fast to see “the world evangelized in our day!” And to God be all the glory!
We are family… by God’s amazing grace,
Kip

Copyright © 2018 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

Good News Email – 3.8.18

Good News Email – 3.8.18


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March 8, 2018

Good News Email
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Dear Friend,
Greetings from Manila, Stockholm, Orlando, São Paulo, Mexico City and LA! Indeed, this has been a very busy two months of travel for Elena and me! In Manila, we spent two weeks as we introduced Richie and Elizabeth McDonnell as the new Metro Manila Church Leaders, and helped them conduct their New Year’s Workshop! Following, Elena headed home and I continued on to preach in the great Stockholm and Orlando Churches! Then Elena and I traveled to São Paulo on January 27th for the World Sector Leaders Retreat and the incredible 2018 South American Missions Conference (SAMC), where the Quito Mission Team was sent out! After returning to LA for a few days, we then flew on February 13th to Mexico City for the thrilling 2018 Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC)! So exciting that with the plantings of Albuquerque, New Mexico last Sunday and Quito, Ecuador, God’s SoldOut Movement has multiplied from the 42 Portland Disciples that planted the City of Angels Church in May 2007 to now almost 6,000 disciples in 91 churches in 35 nations on all 6 populated continents of the world! Truly this is not merely a movement of men, it is the very Movement of God! And to God be all the glory!


The SoldOut Movement World Sector Leaders
boarded a bus in
São Paulo to travel to
Campos do Jordão for their retreat
before the SAMC!

 
HEADLINE NEWS
Joshua Christensen – Lead Evangelist of Albuquerque: Greetings from beautiful New Mexico! The Holy Spirit sent out the Albuquerque (ABQ) Mission Team on Sunday, January 7th at the City of Angels Church Winter Workshop!


Upside down globes have been given for each
member of a Crown of Thorns Project Mission
Team! Now, for OPERATION EAGLE Mission
Teams, an eagle carrying the American flag
will be given to each team member!


Tim and Lianne Kernan – the Pac Rim Tribe World
Sector Leaders – stood proudly beside the bold
Albuquerque Mission Team!

Since that time, the team has secured housing, jobs and one baptism – Izaac Pacheco, a student at Central New Mexico University!


Congratulations to Izaac – the first baptism
of the Albuquerque ICC!

 
Amazingly, for our Inaugural Service, the 13 ABQ Disciples saw God bring 147 in attendance! We were blessed to have 29 disciples from Denver, 27 from Phoenix, 10 from LA, 26 children in Kid’s Kingdom, and 42 adult guests – 3 to 1 visitors to ABQ Disciples! For this historic day, we were especially honored to have in attendance the World Sector Leaders: Tim Kernan, Tony Untalan, Nick Bordieri and Michael Kirchner!


The SoldOut Movement Shepherds – Nick Bordieri
and Tony Untalan – gave the opening prayer for
the Albuquerque Inaugural Service!


For the Inaugural, Joshua Christensen delivered an
inspirational sermon entitled, THE PROMISE!

Another highlight is that as a Movement – through OPERATION EAGLE – we are now in 17 of the 50 States in the USA!


Lord willing, at the 2018 GLC, two more
OPERATION EAGLE Mission Teams
will be sent out – Columbus, Ohio
and Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

 
Richie McDonnell – Lead Evangelist of Metro Manila: Greetings from Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, Philippines! It has been an incredible first 61 days in the Philippines! Elizabeth, Sawyer, Lucy, Nathalie and I arrived in Manila on January 4th, warmly welcomed by so many of the brothers and sisters of the Metro Manila International Christian Church (MMICC)!


Richie, Elizabeth, Sawyer, Lucy and “Baby Nathalie”
McDonnell were given a SoldOut Movement
Welcome when the Manila Disciples
sang, We Love You With The
Love Of The Lord!

 
Drs. Kip and Elena McKean arrived that same evening, and they immediately began to introduce us to all of the incredible leaders in the MMICC over the next couple of days. Then they officially introduced us to the church at that Friday night’s Congregational Devotional!


Kip and Elena welcomed RJ Castro back home to
the Manila Church Family, which he helped
to plant in June 2015!


The McKeans then welcomed Carlos Robielos as
another new intern for the MMICC!


The McDonnells, RJ and Carlos were graciously
given barongs as their “welcoming gifts”
by the MMICC!


The McDonnells were formally introduced to JC and
Rosas – the MMICC East Region Leaders!


As a symbol of the abundant fruit in the Philippines
that the McDonnells’ Ministry will bear, Elena
offered Richie and Elizabeth the tastiest
mangoes in the world!

Our first Sunday Service on January 7th with the MMICC was incredible! Elizabeth shared for Communion, the McKeans shared for Contribution, and I preached my first sermon of 2018, entitled, MEN AND WOMEN WHO DREAM taken from Psalm 126! To conclude the lesson, I called the MMICC to dream for the evangelization of all 17 cities of Metro Manila, the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, and all 11 countries of South East Asia!


Richie and Elizabeth fell in love with the MMICC
at their very first Sunday Worship Service!


Richie moved the hearts of all in attendance
with the sermon, MEN AND WOMEN
WHO DREAM!


The January 14th MMICC Bulletin featured
Richie’s article, By The Grace Of God,
which emphasized the SoldOut
Movement’s Year of Grace!

 
During the next week, Kip took Carlos Robielos, RJ Castro and Elizabeth and me to “spy out the land” at many of the key campuses! Most impressive were the University of Philippines (UP), Ateneo and the Intramuros Campuses!


Carlos Robielos gets around the massive University
of Philippines Campus by jeepney!

Then, the following weekend was our New Year’s Workshop, titled STRONG IN THE GRACE! It was a phenomenal time of faithful preaching, encouragement and spiritual revival for all of the brothers and sisters! It was also great having John and Anna Malnegro – the Metro Cebu ICC Leaders – and 15 others from the Metro Cebu ICC participate in the New Year’s Workshop in Manila! 


The theme for the MMICC New Year’s Workshop
was STRONG IN THE GRACE!


Several Manila Disciples went to the airport to
welcome the 17 Cebu Disciples!


On Saturday morning, Richie and Elizabeth met with
the Campus Interns of both Manila and Cebu
to ensure a strong start for 2018!


The McKeans introduced the gallant Cebu Church
Leaders – John and Anna Malnegro –
to the McDonnells!

 
At the conclusion of the New Year’s Workshop, the MMICC took ahold of the challenge to see the Lord bring daily additions in the year of 2018! The Lord is beginning to answer this prayer as we had our first two baptisms of the year on Sunday, January 14th – Quennie Biongan (the younger sister of Felip) and Airi (the daughter of the Javiers)! And on that Sunday, we had 187 disciples! So we are quickly gaining momentum! So after our first crazy 61 days, we are now at 223 disciples, which is a growth of 36 disciples through 8 place memberships, 5 restorations and 24 baptisms… and sadly, one fall away! And to God be the glory!


At the Glorietta Mall, Kip bumped into the Javier
Family – Francis and Liza and their children Airi
and Aaron – the day before Airi was baptized!


Felip – a UP Intern – had his beloved little sister
Quennie fly from the Island of Mindanao to
participate in the New Year’s Workshop!
Three days later Quennie was
baptized! A week after that,
she moved to Manila!


Quennie and Airi – the first two baptisms
of 2018 in the Philippines!


Quennie and Airi were baptized at exactly the same
moment, making them true spiritual twins!

 
To really get the Metro Manila Campus Ministry off to a great start for 2018, I gathered all of the Campus Interns and leaders at the Old Manila Campuses of Intramuros to set an example of a model Bible Talk. We all met together in a park beside the Intramuros Campuses at 6:00AM for a time of prayer, and then we shared our faith for two hours on the campuses! Then we had our Bible Talk! Incredibly, the Lord blessed the efforts of the 24 disciples by giving us 38 visitors at our first Bible Talk of the semester! 


Richie’s plan to set an example of a model Campus
Bible Talk in Intramuros was blessed by God
as 24 disciples had 38 visitors!

 
Two weeks after the New Year’s Workshop, the MMICC had our Bring Your Neighbor Day on January 28th, where we were fasting and praying for the Lord to break our record attendance! Amazingly, after only two weeks of fasting, prayer and sharing our faith, the Lord blessed our faith and deeds, giving the then 194 disciples of the MMICC a record attendance of 424!


Richie and Elizabeth have brought “real
class” to the Manila Staff!

 
After four weeks in Metro Manila, Elizabeth and I flew 350 miles (570 km) to Metro Cebu to encourage the church there and spend time with John and Anna Malnegro! After an incredible welcome by the disciples at the airport on Friday afternoon, we gathered for a Congregational Devotional that evening! Then on Sunday, the Metro Cebu ICC had their Bring Your Neighbor Day! 32 disciples had an amazing attendance of 112, and three souls were baptized into Christ!


On their first visit to Cebu, the McDonnells were given
a fired up SoldOut Movement Welcome
by the Cebu Disciples!

 
Today, Sunday March 4th, the Metro Manila Church hosted its very first Women’s Day with the theme ELEVATE! Astonishingly, with 114 Metro Manila Sisters, God blessed them with an attendance of 358! As well, there were three baptisms and one restoration at our Women’s Day! I was so proud of my wife Elizabeth and all of my Metro Manila Sisters for hosting this awesome event!

 


God blessed the unity of the MMICC Sisters at
their First Women’s Day as 114 sisters
had 358 in attendance!

 
Please keep not only the churches in the Philippines in your prayers, but also our upcoming Pacific Rim Missions Conference (PRMC) on April 5-8, 2018! This year’s exciting theme is STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! All of the speeches and classes are on the Book of Joshua, as Joshua led God’s people to conquer the Promised Land!


The exciting theme of the 2018 PRMC is from the
Book of Joshua, STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

The PRMC will be held at Hotel Jen, Pasay City, Metro Manila. (The link to discounted rates will be posted soon!) However, you can register now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-pac-rim-missions-conference-strong-courageous-april-5th-8th-tickets-43260086082.
 
Mark Garrido – Overseeing Evangelist for the Hawaiian Islands and Guam: Greetings from the “Surf Sector” of the Pacific Rim Tribe World Sector, which our dear leader Tim Kernan refers to as “Surf and Turf” – the “Turf Sector” being the Western USA and Canada! 


Mark and Keri Garrido – the Overseeing Ministry
Couple for the Hawaiian Islands and Guam –
are spearheading a terrific revival
in the Islands!

 
This past Sunday in Honolulu on the Island of Oahu, the Lord blessed us with an incredible “one for one” visitors at our Bring Your Neighbor Day Service! Of special note was the emotional restoration of our brother Alex Pangelinan – the first cousin to Zach Shields of our Metro Manila Church! During one of our Bible Studies, I will never forget what Alex shared, “I AM BLIND BUT NOW I CAN TRULY SEE!” Alex went on to say, “My blindness will not stop me from living out the vision of Jesus!” After service, we had an incredible potluck and many friends who visited for the first time did Bible Studies!


Although he is blind, Alex heroically
shared, “My blindness will not
stop me from living out the
vision of Jesus!”

 
Kona – which is on the West Shore of the Big Island – also had an incredible restoration, Alexander Aehegma!


During his restoration, Alexander felt the
love of God through the love of
the Kona Disciples!

 
At the Kona Church, Souvi and Parmina Kiona heard the Word of the Lord and saw that they were not pleasing God by living together in a sinful way. After repentance, Souvi and Parmina were married by David Kelly and now have been added by baptism to God’s great Kingdom!


Congratulations to Souvi and Parmina on their
new marriage and even more so, in
their new lives in Christ!

 
In Hilo – which is on the East Shore of the Big Island – Maddie, like her older teen sister in the Directo Family, was baptized! The whole family encouraged Maddie with leis around her neck to say, “We love you with love of the Lord!” GO TEEEEEEENS!


After Maddie’s baptism, her parents were
equally as jubilant as she was!

 
On February 11th, John Escano was baptized in the beautiful Island of Guam! John is the fourth baptism since the planting of the Guam ICC with just five remnant disciples joining only four disciples on the mission team, who were sent out at the 2017 GLC!


At the September 2017 Guam ICC Inaugural,
there were only nine disciples! With the
addition of John, their fourth baptism,
they have grown by 44%
in five months!

 
Please continue to pray for the “Surf Sector” as many are about to enter the surf!

Mike Patterson – Lead Evangelist of Boston: In the last five weeks, God has given us eight additions – five baptisms and three place memberships from the Charlotte Remnant Group! Chenelle and I have been so encouraged by our new partnership in the Gospel with Luke and Brandyn Speckman as they just began discipling us a month ago!


The Boston ICC had 156 for their Bring
Your Neighbor Day!


Harvard University T-shirts were presented to Luke
and Brandyn Speckman – the new Overseeing
Ministry Couple for Boston!

Today, our service was themed Never Enough from a song in The Greatest Showman! Special performances of the song Never Enough by Janah Dawson and From Now On by David Rydstedt and the choir amazed us all! Luke’s sermon A MILLION DREAMS inspired us to dream big for God and build the church to 140 by the end of the year! Brandyn gave her Communion based off the song This Is Me and for one of the only times I can remember, there was a standing ovation for Communion! God gave us for our Bring Your Neighbor Day today our highest attendance ever as a church of 156! Highlights of the day included the baptisms of Carter, a freshman Harvard student, and Heidi, a Suffolk student!


As a freshman at Harvard, Carter became
a Prayer Warrior for Jesus!


Heidi – a Suffolk Co-ed – now looks to
God to guide her steps!

Other good news is that we had ICCM a week ago on the Harvard University Campus, as the college now lets us use these amazing rooms for free! We will also be having our first Friday Campus Devotional at Harvard! This should be a permanent location for us!

Chi Leong – Lead Evangelist of Hong Kong: Greetings from China! 2018 has been awesome so far as we had our first Chinese New Year Church Service! The Lord generously blessed us with a total attendance of 31 including 7 disciples!


The Hong Kong Disciples prepared for Chinese
New Year on February 16th!

At the Chinese New Year Service, the
seven Hong Kong Disciples had
31 in attendance!

 

Also on the first day of the Lunar New Year, God allowed us to baptize a Filipino woman named Shaineh!


The Hong Kong Disciples were so encouraged by
Shaineh’s baptism!

 
Sadly, late last year, my amazing co-leader for the women – Naomi Radnaabazar – was not allowed to return to Hong Kong because of visa issues since she is from Mongolia. Although we miss her dearly, we are so excited that the City of Angels Church is graciously sending Alicia Winthein to help the women for three months starting April 1st! We look forward to all the great things God will continue to do in Hong Kong!


Knowing she was going to Hong Kong, Alicia’s
passion for foreign missions increased all the
more at the LAMC in Mexico City!

 
Cory Blackwell – Overseeing Evangelist of Dubai: My good news is Miguel Mendez! After we attended the Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC) in Mexico City, Miguel and I flew directly to Dubai so that I could introduce him to the church! Miguel has taken to Dubai like it has been his home for years! He had visitors at church the very first day, which was his first sermon too! It was incredible to see Miguel so bold and confident in the Lord!


God has selected the three Middle East
Musketeers – RD, Cory and Miguel –
to evangelize one of the most
difficult World Sectors!


The fiery Dubai Church on the first
Friday that Miguel preached!

He has one awesome young man named Aris past the Light and Darkness Study, who is poised to be baptized Lord willing on Friday! I am so happy with the way that the Dubai Church Leaders – RD and April Baker – have received him with love and care. Megan Mathews arrives in Dubai in one month to be April’s right hand sister!


John Tuason – a member of the original Dubai
Mission Team – baptized Bijay!

The Dubai Brothers warmly
embraced Bijay!

 
So amazing to think that just 14 months ago, there were but 13 disciples in Dubai. Yet during that time through the power of the Holy Spirit, God has given them 33 baptisms – four already in 2018!


Charie (second from the right) was baptized in the
Persian Gulf by Anna, Marina and Angel!

 
RD, April, Miguel, Jee and I are so very grateful for all of the sacrifices and generosity shown to the Dubai Church by our USA Churches that keep our mission dreams alive in the Middle East!
 
Jason Dimitry – Lead Evangelist of San Francisco: Greetings from the Bay Area! 2018 is off to a triumphant start! Our goal as a church this year is to have 150 additions! The Lord blessed us with exactly 100 additions in the calendar year of 2017, and so we are faithful that God will do “even greater things” in 2018! It has been eight weeks and we are sitting at 16 additions thus far – 15 baptisms and 1 restoration! A highlight of these first two months was the sending out of the Hayward House Church at our Bay Area Winter Workshop in January!


The Hayward House Church was sent off by the
Holy Spirit at the Bay Area Winter Workshop
on January 7th!

We sent out 10 incredible disciples led by Fred Palmer and Jenora Cooper, two non-fulltime ministry people, and they just had their first two baptisms last Sunday!


Noe – the cousin of Pete Wade of Sydney – and
Monique were the first two baptisms
of the Hayward House Church!

Anthony Olmos – Lead Evangelist of Paris: Greetings from the City of Lights! When we arrived in Paris from London with the five disciple Supplemental Mission Team, there were 13 disciples in the Paris Church! With these 18 disciples, God blessed us with 61 at our Inaugural Service on October 8th! Since that time, even though I was in the hospital on two separate occasions late last year, the Spirit has given us seven baptisms and one restoration! The zealous Paris Church is now 26 fired up disciples!


The valiant Paris Supplemental Mission Team
was led by the indomitable Anthony
and Cassidy Olmos!

Two of the amazing baptisms have been in 2018! The first was Dr. Michele Wokem, who has her PhD in Pharmaceutical Studies! She battled her emotions and pride for weeks. We knew she was ready when at our House Church Service she stood up and said, “I don’t ever want to let my logic or pride get in the way of Jesus’ truth! I want to be baptized for real today!” Her act of faith was so moving that it inspired our now brother Lilian Dalin to be baptized the following week! Lilian had been coming out for months and was even giving his tithe, but he was afraid to commit. One act of faith changed it all!


The two most recent baptisms of the Paris Church
are Lilian and Michele (center)!

Keep us in your prayers as we have Women’s Day on March 25th with the title, Tout Commence Par Un Rêve! (Everything Starts With A Dream!)


Please pray for the Women’s Day in Paris
entitled, Tout Commence Par Un Rêve!
(Everything Starts With A Dream!)

Joe Willis – Lead Evangelist of Sydney: Greetings from the “Land Down Under!” 2018 has been a great year so far as we launched a two month “Big Bang” Evidences Campaign that has seen the church grow from 48 to 56 disciples! Included in this time was our Annual All Night Prayer with 14 visitors in attendance and ending in the baptism of Schuster from Shenzeng – which will be our first Mainland China Planting in 2020! We also had our Annual Chinese New Year Service with exactly 100 in attendance!


Mark and Lan (who was originally baptized
in LA) did the Welcome at Sydney’s
Annual Chinese Service!
 

Three very faith-building baptisms were: Arm, our first Thai Brother; Daniel, the best friend of Dom our German Intern, who was only visiting for a holiday; and Jessi, the best friend of India, who had just come off a 14 nation missionary journey for the denominational group Youth With A Mission!


India (left) baptized her great friend Jessi who
moved to Sydney after the Chinese Service!

 

This Sunday, we had an amazing 86 in attendance! After service, Hiroshi, who studied in Shanghai in English School but speaks Mandarin, was baptized! He also carries a New Zealand passport and is only 19 years old!


Hiroshi was met at the University of Hawaii Manoa
three weeks before his visa expired, and praise
God, his New Zealand passport allowed him to
move to Sydney where he was baptized!

 
Elena Sirotkina – Lead Women’s Ministry Leader of Moscow: We are very happy to welcome a new couple into the Moscow Church Family – Denis and Julia! Denis first came to know about the church six years ago, but under the pressure of persecution from his family, Denis stopped studying the Bible. However, the disciples did not stop praying for him, and a little more than a month ago, Denis came to church, and wanted to become a disciple once again! Yet Denis faced a challenge – he had to tell his wife of his decision! When he finally shared it, Julia called him out on being quiet about his wish to study the Bible, and said that now she wants to study the Bible also and be baptized! With great urgency, Denis and Julia studied the Scriptures and were baptized! Julia now sings in our choir, and Denis helps with the sound tech!


Praying to God for courage, Denis
reached out to his wife and they
were baptized on the same day!

 
Furthermore, we are happy to greet three young sisters who were baptized into the church – Eunice, Angelica and Milana!


Elena Sirotkina joyfully shared about Angelica
before her baptism!

  
After a strong spiritual influence of the World Sector Leaders Retreat and the South American Missions Conference in Brazil, Oleg – my awesome husband – and I are on fire for God! Upon returning home, we preached John 15 about the purification of our hearts through the Word of God and called the church to repent by returning to the high standard of the sold-out disciples of the first century! Today, the Moscow Church is united in fasting, daily sharing of faith, and prayers for not only daily baptisms, but also baptisms of future leaders to evangelize Eurasia in our generation! We are very grateful for God’s miracles of repentance and baptisms!
 
Alfredo Anuch – Lead Evangelist of Santiago: Greetings from Chile – literally “the ends of the earth!” Incredibly, in December, God initiated a new remnant group in South America – Lima, Peru, which currently numbers seven sold-out disciples!


Julio (left) studied the Bible through Facebook Video
Call with the Santiago Brothers! When he was ready
to be baptized, Aaron flew from Santiago to
Lima, Peru and baptized Julio on his
way to Bogotá!

 
Also very exciting for the Santiago Church, since it is summertime here when school is out and most take vacations, in the first two months of 2018, God has added 14 new souls!


Roosmery (left) and Mery enthusiastically rejoiced
with their new sister Valentina!

 
In early February, 35 disciples of our 200 members flew 2,600 km (1,600 miles) from Santiago to São Paulo to attend the best ever South American Missions Conference! During this event, God allowed my wife Alejandra and me to appoint two Chilean Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders: José and Pilar Vargas, who are Region Leaders, and Manuel and Claudia Palma, who are the Quito Mission Team Leaders! Keep the Quito Mission Team in your prayers as they are preparing for their Inaugural Service on March 11th!


Jose and Pilar (right) and Manuel and Claudia (left)
were appointed Evangelists and Women’s
Ministry Leaders respectively at the
SAMC by Alfredo and Alejandra!

Luke Speckman – Lead Evangelist of New York City: 2018 has kicked off with an exciting start for us! Firstly, we were able to increase our contribution and put Dao Henderson (formerly of Dubai) on Staff to co-lead the NYC Campus Ministry with her amazing boyfriend Nick Enfantino. Also, we put Jill Swan on Staff who co-leads the New Jersey Region with her incredible husband, Dave! Up to this point, Jill had been self-supported in the ministry with the earnings from their house and business sale in California! 


Mike and Chenelle Patterson of Boston traveled
200 miles (320 km) to New York City for
their first d-time with Luke and
Brandyn Speckman!

One of the most exciting developments that has happened this year is my approval as a Religious Life Advisor at Columbia University through the office of the University Chaplain! (Columbia is one of eight Ivy League Colleges, which includes Harvard and Yale! Presently, we have six students at Columbia!) I act as an officer for Columbia and have been given a Columbia ID and email, shared office space, and counseling hours so that I can spend time with students who need spiritual guidance! Essentially, I am given space in the Chaplain’s building with the expectation that I will do Bible Studies with students! This is obviously a very exciting opportunity and I have already made some incredible connections in the Columbia Community!


Earl Hall is one of the Chaplain’s buildings and this
is where Luke has an office space to study the
Bible with students! This is also where the
Manhattan Region has Midweek Services!


Luke (left) and Nick (right) finished doing the
Church Study with one of the
Columbia Students!

On a personal note, Brandyn and I are so proud of our 17 year old son, Malik! His high school won the State Championship in Basketball for the second year in a row! At 6’7″, Malik is the starting forward!


Congratulations to Malik – the son of Luke and
Brandyn – for winning his second straight
New York State High School
Basketball Championship!

Raja Rajan – Lead Evangelist of Chennai: Greetings from India! In the past eight weeks, God gave us 10 baptisms, of which eight of them were campus students! The Chennai Church now numbers 226 disciples strong!


Our new brother Immanuel is pursuing his PhD in
Commerce from the prestigious Madras
Christian College!

 


Later Immanuel helped to baptize his friend
Rajkamal, a Mechanical Engineer!

Let’s welcome our new sister Ani, who is in the
PhD Program in Sociology at Queen
Mary’s College!
 

Of special note is Kenvin who is just 17 years old and had intense persecution at home as he challenged even his grandpa of not being a Christian. His family (father, mother, sister and grandfather) were very upset and came to persecute the church as well as to stop the baptism. However, when they came to church, Kenvin’s entire family was blown away by the love, fellowship and the message! After the message, Kenvin’s father came up to me and said, “According to what you preached from the Scriptures, even I am not a Christian!” His father pleaded with me to not let his son drift away from this fellowship and then agreed to participate in his son’s joyful celebration! The entire family rejoiced at Kenvin’s decision!


Kenvin was baptized in spite of
severe persecution!

Kenvin’s younger cousin Celsia, who is doing her Engineering Degree, was so inspired by Kenvin’s convictions, that she too studied the Bible and was baptized!


Celsia (second from the right) was so inspired by
her cousin Kenvin’s courage that she too
was baptized into Christ!

Last Saturday, 110 disciples went to the Government Rehabilitation Centre, which is actually a Colony for Lepers that lies in the outskirts of Chennai. The disciples started at 6:00AM in the morning with fruits and biscuit packets to spend time with the “Untouchables” of society! Every disciple was moved and came back saying truly how grateful they were to God for their own lives!


The MERCY Ambassadors carried the needed
supplies for the Rehabilitation Centre!


Prathap – the new Chennai Church Leader –
instructed the MERCY Ambassadors
on that day’s activities!

 
Kamala (left) was so encouraged by receiving much
needed supplies, and even more so by the
love and encouragement of the
MERCY Ambassadors!


Yassa and her friend Ani had a great time
serving the poor and needy!

 

Lastly, we are very excited to announce the theme for the South Asia Missions Conference (SAMC) – UNSTOPPABLE! The Chennai Church will be hosting this historic event from April 19-22, 2018!


The inspirational theme for the
2018 SAMC is UNSTOPPABLE!

Lord willing, at the Sunday Service of the SAMC, 40 disciples will be sent off on the Delhi Mission Team giving us three churches in three of the five key cities of India! You may register for the SAMC at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-south-asian-missions-conference-unstoppable-april-19-22-tickets-43770522812!
 

MCKEANS’ MISSIONARY TRIPS
After spending the first two weeks of January working with our dear Metro Manila Church, Elena flew home, but I continued onto Stockholm for three days!


Kip was given a glorious SoldOut Movement
Welcome by the Stockholm Disciples and
the Sirotkins of Moscow – the Eurasian
World Sector Leaders!

At that same time, Oleg and Elena Sirotkin flew into Stockholm from Moscow as Scandinavia is in their Eurasian World Sector. As well, they asked our new Kiev Church Leader – Victor Masleanicov – to come for the meetings! Warmly receiving all of us were the incredible new leaders of the Stockholm Church – Kaspar and Ashley Tambaur!


On Monday evening, when Kip arrived in Stock-
holm, there was no snow on the ground, but
things drastically changed over night! This
was the beautiful view from his hotel
room on Tuesday afternoon!

On Tuesday night, the Tambaurs and the
Sirotkins were fired up about their
meeting with Kip and the snow!

On Wednesday, Victor Masleanikov – the new Kiev
Church Leader – flew in to Stockholm!

 
After all the meetings, on Thursday night January 18th, Oleg and I addressed the Stockholm Church to encourage and strengthen them! It was a tremendous time of fellowship and revival!


Kaspar gave a stirring Welcome at the Thursday
Evening Special Service with Kip and Oleg!


Oleg shared his heart and several Scriptures to
strengthen the Stockholm Church!

 
On Friday, I flew from Stockholm in Orlando – with short layovers in Frankfort and Chicago – finally arriving late that night! I was able to see my Mom for the first time since my Father’s Memorial Service in late November 2017.


Kip’s Mom was so encouraged by Kip’s
visit that she even agreed to a selfie
in her backyard!

 
As well, I was able to preach for the 60 disciples of the the Orlando Church where Chris and Sonja Chloupek are doing a tremendous job building family, as 55 Orlando Disciples were on the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Mission Team! As we left church on Sunday afternoon, my Mom said, “The Chloupeks are the perfect choice to get the Orlando Church strong once again!” I then flew home to LA on Tuesday, January 23rd!
 

Kip’s Mom came to Sunday Service at the Orlando
Church and was warmly greeted by
Sonja Chloupek and her lovely
daughter Cassi!

 
Elena and I flew into São Paulo on Saturday, January 27th and had dinner that evening with the dynamic São Paulo Church Leaders – Raul and Lynda Moreno!


The McKeans and all who came to the SAMC saw
the colorful “Bem Vindo do Brasil” sign and
then heard We Love You With The Love
Of The Lord
in Portuguese!

Most of the World Sector Leaders also flew in that same day, so as to be able to worship with the São Paulo ICC on Sunday morning! In particular, Elena and I wanted all the World Sector Leaders to “see” the amazing São Paulo Campus Ministry of 70 disciples! Of special note, 35 of these disciples go to the University of São Paulo (USP) – the number one ranked college for all of Central and South America! Therefore, Raul arranged for a “Young Guns Sunday,” where the spiritual and talented students (or recent graduates) preached the Word!


The vibrant Sunday Worship Service of the São
Paulo ICC on January 28th just four
days before the SAMC!


Tyler and Shay Sears – now the Dallas/Ft. Worth
Church Leaders – were on the original S
ão
Paulo Mission Team in 2011 composed
of only seven disciples from LA!


Bia (center) and Malu shared their
hearts for Communion!


Luca was one of four “Young Gun Preachers” who
was very impressive in his preaching! Though
Brazilian, he also carries an Italian Passport.
The plan for Luca is to move to London,
train to be an Evangelist, and lead
the Rome Mission Team!

 

At the Worship Service, Raul asked me to say some closing words of encouragement to the church. I shared with the 200 São Paulo Brothers and Sisters that they were the model church for the Movement in Campus Ministry! Then I had the World Sector Leaders all stand and after I introduced them, I said, “If Jesus were here in the flesh, I believe He would say to each of you, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it!'” (Luke 10:23-24)


The USP Campus Ministry in Brazil is a model for the
USC Campus Ministry in LA! The USC Ministry
began the new year with an all-night prayer
over the city of Los Angeles!


Last August, the USC Campus Ministry had zero
students. In the past six months, God has
blessed them with 11 baptisms!

 
To conclude the service, we witnessed five baptisms and one restoration!

 


Meet (from left to right) Alef, Stephanie, Maria, Any
and Patrique who were baptized, and
Roger who was restored!


The World Sector Leaders of the Middle East –
Cory and Jee Blackwell – relay so much
God-given wisdom wherever
they travel!

 
Late Monday morning, the World Sector Leaders boarded a bus to go to our retreat site in Campos do Jordão, which is about a three hour bus ride from São Paulo!


The Vila Inglesa Hotel was located in the mountains
surrounding the little German city of Campos
do Jord
ão just three hours outside
of
São Paulo!


Upon arriving at the retreat site, Michael and Michele
Williamson – the European World Sector Leaders –
spent some downtime with the McKeans!

That night the 12 World Sector Leader Couples came together for Communion and a dinner! Since it is the Year of Grace for the SoldOut Movement, at the Communion as we each held a piece of bread torn from one loaf, all repeated after me, “We are family!” Then lifting up a communion cup of red wine in their other hand, they repeated, “By God’s amazing grace!”


All of the World Sector Leaders are the dearest
of friends to each other!


Following the scrumptious meal, each World Sector
Leader Couple shared good news! Andrew and
Patrique – the World Sector Leaders of Africa –
shared good news about the Lagos ICC!


Michael and Sharon Kirchner – the World Sector
Leader Admin Couple – shared a light-hearted
account from their lives!

 
On Tuesday morning, we gathered for my lesson entitled, STRONG IN THE GRACE!


The World Sector Leaders gathered on Tuesday
morning for some serious Bible Study! That
said, Tim’s selfie game is strong!


Kip preached on STRONG IN THE GRACE,
striving to meet the needs of his fellow
World Sector Leaders!

Afterwards, we broke into Men’s and Women’s D-groups to confess our sins, thus building a greater unity. The remainder of the day we spent time as individuals and as couples with one another.


The Men’s World Sector D-group was a time of
honesty and confession found only in
the Kingdom!

 
On Wednesday morning, we came together to go over the SoldOut Movement Road Map! This was an exciting time as we discussed new church plantings, missions contributions, new appointments for Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders, and how to work with couples in nations where divorce is not legal. Again, the remainder of the day was spent with various disciples! Some of us did play ping-pong and one brother was undefeated… I will not embarrass the many brothers who lost by naming their names!


The Untalans – the World Sector Leaders of
Shepherding – and the Bordieris – the
World Sector Leaders of MERCY –
have been with the McKeans
since the first days of
Portland in 2003!


Matt and Helen Sullivan – the USA East Coast and
South Asia World Sector Leaders – have been
loyal partners in the Gospel to the McKeans
since moving to Portland in 2004!

 
Thursday morning, the World Sector Leaders again boarded a bus to head back to São Paulo. That evening was the first event of the 2018 South American Missions Conference (SAMC) – The Speakers Dinner!

 


ATE O FIM (TO THE END) was the incredible
Scriptural theme for the 2018 SAMC!

The Speakers Dinner was held at a traditional
Brazilian Churrascaria!


At a Churrascaria, you serve yourself side dishes…


And the servers bring around different cuts of
meat from chicken hearts to steak!


The McKeans so appreciate the grace that God
has given them to witness the expansion of
God’s Kingdom all over the world!


The evening’s sharing was by the incredible
Brazilian Couples that Raul and Lynda
are training! The first to share
was Luis and Malu – both
USP Students!


Luca joyfully followed…


Danilo and Carol – both USP Graduates (Carol was
the Valedictorian of the Engineering Program) –
were recently married! They lead the West
Region and the USP Campus Ministry!


Vini and Bia lead the South Region as fulltime
USP Students!


Caio and Carol are USP Graduates and lead the
Rio de Janeiro Church!


Tulio is an ICOC Kingdom Kid who helped to restore
his mom to the New Movement! Vaitsa
is an USP Graduate! They lead the
Campus Sector of the
East Region!


Renato and Marie Jose Tria are remnant disciples
who joined the New Movement and now lead
the East Region!


The McKeans and the Morenos are filled with joy
at the incredible zeal and talent of the
Brazilian Leaders!

 
During the Speakers Dinner, Alfredo and Alejandra Anuch of Santiago preached at the International Campus Devotional!


Alfredo and Alejandra Anuch of Santiago preached
at the International Campus Devotional!

 
The theme for the 2018 SAMC was from Revelation 2:26, ATE O FIM (TO THE END)! Friday morning was the Leaders Workshop! Dr. Tim Kernan of Los Angeles delivered a powerful opening speech, PERSEVERE TO THE END!


Tim Kernan’s message, PERSEVERE TO THE END,
was one of his very best!

Then we heard very interesting short challenges entitled, TO THE END FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF: STEPHEN by Alfredo Anuch, ESTHER by Lynda Moreno, JAMES (John’s Brother) by Renato Tria – the São Paulo East Region Leader, RUTH by Shay Sears of Dallas, DEBORAH by Carol Bataglin – the São Paulo West Region Woman Leader, and PAUL by Danilo Bataglin – the São Paulo West Region Leader!


Even though she has been gone from Brazil for four
years, Shay spoke on RUTH the entire time
using her Portuguese!

 
To close out the workshop, Dr. Andrew Smellie of Lagos preached the stirring address, FIRM TO THE END!


Vini translated for Andrew in his stirring
address, FIRM TO THE END!

 
On Friday evening was the thrilling First General Session! Highlights included an incredible Video, a Cultural Dance, a Drum Troop and a Flag Ceremony of all the flags of the South American nations!


Raul and Lynda welcomed all to the South
American Missions Conference!


The First General Session of the SAMC!


An imaginative Cultural Dance was performed by
the gifted Brazilian Sisters!


A Brazilian Drum Troop ushered in the
Flag Ceremony!


Through seeing all of the flags of the South
American Nations, we were given a vision
of evangelizing them in our generation!

Then Elena and I were privileged to share Good News From Around The World! Following came the Kingdom Appointments of two awesome married couples from Santiago: Jose Andres and Pilar Vargas as well as Manuel and Claudia Palma!


Manuel Palma humbly addressed the SAMC after
being given the ancient charge by Alfredo
to “Preach the Word!”

Then we heard two charges! The first was by Michael Kirchner, TO THE END IN FINANCES! The second charge was given by Tony Untalan, TO THE END AS A SHEPHERD!


Michael preached about generosity and
frugality in personal finances!


Tony appealed to be concerned about every
single disciple in God’s flock!

Then Cory Blackwell powerfully closed out the evening with the sermon, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE!


Cory in his message, TO THE VERY END OF THE
AGE, shared miraculous accounts from his
ministries in Chicago and the Middle East!

On Saturday morning was the Men’s Workshop! The main speakers were Matt Sullivan of Miami who was very vulnerable as he spoke on LOVE TO THE END, and Michael Williamson of London who inspired us with the lesson, EVANGELIZING THE NATIONS TO THE END!

 

Matt Sullivan touched our hearts with his
personal vulnerability!

Michael amplified our Movement’s vision
to evangelize all nations!

 
Saturday afternoon was the Women’s Workshop! Elena preached on LOVE TO THE END and various sisters gave enthusiastic short charges!


The title of Elena’s lesson, LOVE TO THE END,
allowed Elena to share how her weaknesses
had become strengths!


The first set of admonitions at the Women’s
Workshop were powerfully delivered by:
Vaitsa, Bia, Marie Jose, Lynda, Pilar,
Claudia and Alejandra!


Sharing her fears and dreams, Patrique spoke
on SACRIFICE TO THE END!


Lianne shared her heart as she addressed
the sisters on LEADING TO THE END no
matter the circumstances!


Jee was quite fired up to share about
HEALTHY TO THE END!

 
Saturday night was MERCY Night where all of us put on our green MERCY T-shirts! Nick and Denise Bordieri – the Global Directors of MERCYworldwide – shared about different MERCY Projects around the world!


Nick and Denise Bordieri are thrilled to coordinate
the serving of the poor around the world!


The SAMC MERCY Night always makes us
remember we are a unified Movement
of “ambassadors for Christ!”

Then came the unforgettable Skit simply titled, TO THE END that depicted the cosmic battle between God and Satan!


The unforgettable Skit, TO THE END, elicited so
many emotions because it was all about the
cosmic war against Satan and his demons!

 
Following, Dr. Raul Moreno passionately preached on IRREPROACHABLE TO THE END!

 


As an Evangelist, Raul’s integrity
is IRREPROACHABLE!

To conclude the evening, there was the Pure Dance where the theme was Galaxy and so everyone was asked to wear a futuristic outfit!


The Pure Dance Party had a theme of Galaxy,
but it felt like Heaven!

 
On Sunday was the incredible Worship Service where 369 gathered to praise God! The Sirotkins of Moscow moved our hearts in Communion! The Willises of Sydney convicted us about the Contribution!


Oleg and Elena passionately lifted up the
Cross at Communion!


Joe and Kerry Willis – the Austral-China World Sector
Leaders – gave a challenging Contribution
Admonition! They called us to be
thankful to God and thus be
generous like God!

 
Following a short break was the First ICCM-São Paulo Commencement where 16 very deserving students received their BA Degree in Ministry!

 


When Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries played, the
ICCM-
São Paulo Commencement began with
the Processional of Faculty and Students
led by Chancellor McKean!


Dr. Kip McKean welcomed all and then passed
the ICCM Staff to Raul Moreno, who led
the graduation ceremony!


Raul and Lynda – the President and Dean of Women
for ICCM-
São Paulo – were overjoyed to see the
dream of BA Graduates become a reality!


Dr. Tim Kernan – Vice Chancellor of Operations for
ICCM-Global – explained the European
Degree System!


The 2018 ICCM-São Paulo Graduating Class was
called to stand before receiving their diplomas!


Kip congratulated Waldir upon receiving his ICCM
BA Degree! Edison is a Peruvian Citizen studying
in the PhD Program at USP! He longs to be
on the Lima Mission Team!


Congratulations to the 2018 ICCM-São
Paulo Graduating Class!

So encouraging was that Vini Rodrigues de Souza and his father Augusto both received degrees, which was the first degree ever for Augusto and Vini was the Valedictorian!
 


Vini and his dad Augusto were so
proud of each other!

 
After a fairly long break, I was privileged to speak on VICTORIOUS TO THE END!

 


The closing speech by Kip was appropriately
entitled, VICTORIOUS TO THE END!

 

Then we witnessed seven more baptisms and another restoration! 


God added to His Kingdom that day: Raul, Karolina,
Juliana, Isabela, Magnolia, Mika, Karina and
Isabela! All were baptized with the
exception of Magnolia who
was restored!


The seven glorious baptisms!

To close the service, the Holy Spirit sent out the Quito Mission Team and we sang together the “Brazilian Version” of LuJack Martinez’s Glory Song, which not only gave the history of the Discipling Movement since 1979, but included details about South America and in particular the Brazilian Churches!


The Quito Mission Team Members were
each given a Condor Trophy as the
Condor is Ecuador’s national bird!


The high-flying Quito Mission Team!

Exactly a week after the SAMC, Tulio and his mom Luisa baptized Rita, Tulio’s grandmother and Luisa’s mom!


Rita – Tulio’s grandmother and Luisa’s mom –
entered the Kingdom at 87 years old!

 
After a few days of being home in Los Angeles, Elena and I flew to Mexico City on Tuesday, February 13th for the Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC)! The exciting theme of the LAMC was CONVICCION DE CORAZON (CONVICTION OF THE HEART)!


Evan and Kelly Bartholomew and the McKeans
were given a heartsy SoldOut Movement
Welcome at the Mexico City Airport!

That night, we had a great dinner with the gallant Mexico City Church Leaders – Carlos and Lucy Mejia! Then after working on our speeches all day on February 14th – Valentine’s Day, Elena and I were blessed to celebrate dinner that night with our dear grandson and granddaughter in the faith – Adam Zepeda and Lauren Ona! What a great time we had!


The McKeans had a fun Valentine’s Date Night with
their precious grandson and granddaughter
in the faith, Adam and Lauren!

 
On Thursday morning, the Leadership Workshop was held at the newly built and gorgeous Mexico City ICC Building!


Gustavo (left) tore down the huge garden
in front of his home, and in its place built
the gorgeous Mexico City ICC Building!


The third floor auditorium in the Mexico City
building was just big enough for the
Leadership Workshop!

 

In attendance were approximately 200 Americans – 120 were leaders graciously brought by Tim and Lianne Kernan from the Pac Rim Tribe World Sector! As well, about 75 Mexican Leaders were in attendance! Dr. Raul Moreno gave the first speech entitled, AN OPEN HEART! Most of the Evangelists were cut by Raul’s fourth point, When Raising Up Leaders, Expect To Lose Them Quickly!


At the Leadership Workshop, 300 packed the
auditorium! Visiting disciples were in awe
of the beauty of the building!

 
Following this tremendous sermon were several charges on LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES OF THE HEART: The Heart To Learn by Hector and Adriana Gomez of Mexico City, The Heart To Teach by José and Daniela Otero of Monterrey, The Heart To Train Others In Righteousness by Ricky and Coleen Challinor of LA, The Heart Behind Correcting by Joel and Courtney Parlour of Seattle, The Heart Of Being Thoroughly Equipped by Jason and Sarah Dimitry of San Francisco, and The Heart For Confession And Atonement by Jared and Rachel McGee of LA! During this session, came perhaps the most quoted words of the conference concerning Bible Talks by Coleen Challinor, “It’s not okay to not have baptisms!”


The electrifying teachers for the LEADERSHIP
PRINCIPLES OF THE HEART each gave
five minute charges!

 
Following the close of this session around noontime, the International Delegates boarded buses to the Teotihuacán Pyramids! For the previous two years, Elena and I thoroughly enjoyed the bus ride with the disciples, climbing the pyramid, and the Mexican Buffet Dinner at the Gran Teocalli Restaurant! However, this time both of us were quite sick and needed to save ourselves for Friday!


Ron Harding – the Evangelist of the FORCE
Sector in LA – was so excited to have his
son Dylan with him for the Pyramid
Climb and the LAMC!


Where once human sacrifices were made to false
gods at the top of the Teotihuacán Pyramid of
the Sun – some 216 feet (65 meters) high –
the LAMC Delegates prayed and then
sang Dios Tu Pueblo Canta (God
The People Praise You)!


The Aztec Dancers at the Gran Teocalli
Restaurant were mesmerizing!

 
On Friday, Tim and Lianne Kernan gathered all of the Church Leaders in the Pac Rim Tribe World Sector for a four hour Training Session! Then at about 5:30PM, a 7.2 earthquake hit 200 miles south of us in Oaxaca! We still felt it very strongly and as a matter of fact, all of the buildings in Mexico City had mandatory evacuations! Since the earthquake had paralyzed the city with everyone in the streets, the First General Session started over an hour late at around 8:30PM. Yet, the LAMC Participants were all the more fired up as we remembered Acts 4:31, when after the disciples had prayed for great boldness, God answered with an earthquake and the Bible simply reads, “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly!” After a rousing Welcome and an International Prayer, we witnessed a terrific Opening Video on reviving a frozen heart!


Opening night at the LAMC was held in another
venue that Gustavo owns!

Quite creatively, for the LAMC Registration, all of the Registration Staff were wearing doctor’s coats and stethoscopes signifying that we were all undergoing “major heart surgery” by attending the LAMC!


Daniela – like all the other Registration Staff – wore a
doctors coat and a stethoscope signifying that
all LAMC Participants were undergoing
“major heart surgery!”

 
Following the phenomenal video by José Otero, Elena and I shared Good News From Around The World!


The McKeans shared Good News
From Around The World!

Then the Mexico City Teen Ministry put on a dance performance that none of us will ever forget, which ended in the Parade of Flags of Central and South America!


The Dance Performance and Flag Ceremony
conducted by the Mexico City Teen
Ministry blew everyone away!


Ricky and Coleen Challinor (left) – the Movement’s
Overseeing Couple for Teen Ministry – call
Mexico City’s Teen Ministry the model
for the entire Movement!

 
After this, we saw the Kingdom Appointments of Kwaku and Ashley Sarkodie of San Francisco!


Kwuaku and Ashley Sarkodie of San Francisco
were appointed Evangelist and Women’s
Ministry Leader by Jason and
Sarah Dimitry!

 
That evening, Cory Blackwell of Chicago closed out this momentous day with the sermon, THE GREAT PHYSICIAN! Cory opened his lesson by asking the question, “Do you remember how sick you were as a non-Christian?”


Cory preached on THE GREAT PHYSICIAN sharing
that he needed healing not only as a non-
Christian, but also as a wounded
remnant disciple!

 
On Saturday morning, we gathered for the Second General Session! Dr. Tim Kernan delivered a tremendous lesson entitled, DISCIPLES AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART! Tim began his lesson with the words, “The God who invented fire, speed, lions and sharks wants to talk to you about His heart for forceful advancement!”


In Tim’s lesson, DISCIPLES AFTER GOD’S OWN
HEART, Tim did a marvelous job in sharing
the history of  “Christianity”
through the ages!

Then we heard charges on The Heart Of MERCY by Nick and Denise Bordieri, The Heart Of A Shepherd by Philippe Scheidecker of Mexico City and Travis and Cecy Frazier of LA, and The Heart Of Finances by Nick and Jacque Economo of LA!


The MERCY Morning at the LAMC!

Leaders from all over the USA Section of the Tribe
World Sector gathered for fellowship and
discipling! The Causeys have been such
an inspiration to the Parlours
(center) of Seattle!

 
Then to close out the morning, we broke into Men’s and Women’s Sessions on THE HEART OF THE CHURCH – BIBLE TALKS! That afternoon, special classes were offered and perhaps most talked about was Carlos Mejia’s lesson on, DARKNESS TO LIGHT – OVERCOMING ABUSE!


The speakers for the Women’s Session on BIBLE
TALKS: Rachel, Lynda, Emma, Lucy, Debbie,
Myrna, Sarah and Lianne!

 
On Saturday evening was the much anticipated Kingdom Banquet! The food was amazing and the Mariachis were even better!


The Mariachi dazzled everyone at the
Kingdom Banquet… including
the Mexican Disciples!


Professional dancers gave a show
while the Mariachi played their
uptempo music!


The dessert was delicious frozen fruit…
But as Lynda would later discover,
it was not “fruit that will last!”

Although I consider this the most difficult time to preach, as many people are quite distracted and tired, Carlos Mejia preached on PRECIOUS BLOOD and humorously shared about different personalities being one of four colors – red, yellow, blue and green! To conclude, Carlos challenged us from the Scriptures that our differences need to be overcome if we as true disciples are to be a united witness to a lost world!


Carlos through much needed humor called all
disciples to be totally unified because of
Jesus’ PRECIOUS BLOOD!

 
To cap this amazing evening, there was a Family Pure Dance!


Carlos asked everyone who had been
married 40 years or more to dance
on the dance floor first…


Then the “younger couples” who had “ONLY” been
married 30 years were called – such as the
Limons (Cesar and Miguel’s parents),
and the Causeys!

 
For various reasons, the Fourth General Session – The Congregational Sunday Worship Service – was scheduled to begin at 2:00PM! At this epic service of 447 in attendance, the singing was incredible as we sang mostly in Spanish, but some in English! Then came the touching Kingdom Appointments of Miguel and Myrna Limon! The Limons lead the Movement’s Model Teen Ministry in Mexico City, which now numbers 25 sold-out disciples!


Standing ovations accompanied Carlos’ and Lucy’s
words of encouragement, as they appointed
Miguel and Myrna as an Evangelist
and a Women’s Ministry Leader!


Cesar’s and Miguel’s father was very proud that
both of his sons are Evangelists!

 
Communion and Contribution were beautifully done by Salvador and Patricia Velasco of LA and Daniel and Patty Granger of LA, respectively! After a short break, the Mexico City Teens once more dazzled the entire LAMC with another heartsy Special Dance Presentation!


Priscilla (right) and Daniela – the daughters of the
Velascos who presided over Communion – were
so inspired by the Mexico City Teen Ministry!

 
The keynote address was CONVICTION OF THE HEART! My opening text was the account of Hosea and Gomer and how God was like Hosea who took back His fallen bride Gomer – who is parallel to us! My two points were simply, Grace Motivates and Grace Does Not Negotiate!


In the denominational world, for many grace is
cheap. This is a complete misunderstanding!
Grace cost God everything! This needs to
be our CONVICTION OF THE HEART!

 
The service closed with nine baptisms, two restorations and one place membership! Yet that did not really tell the whole story, because just a couple days before, four others were baptized! Therefore, for that week, God blessed the Mexico City Church with 16 additions making them 193 disciples strong!


For the closing song, all of the LAMC Delegates
came together arm-in-arm bonded by
memories they will take
into Heaven!

Everyone walked away from this incredible Missions Conference with the Great Physician removing our “hearts of stone, and giving us a new heart of flesh!” (Ezekiel 36:26) And to God be all the glory!
 
FAMILY NEWS
São Paulo: Congratulations to Tulio Amaral and Vaítsa Haratsaris on their engagement! They serve as Sector Leaders in the East Region of the São Paulo Church! Both Tulio and Vaítsa shared the same sentiment about their engagement while serving in church leadership, “We are feeling inexpressible joy!”


Congratulations to Tulio and Vaitsa!

Also from São Paulo, another couple was engaged! Congratulations to Vini Rodrigues de Souza and Bia Hida! Amazingly, they met about eight years ago in high school, and then started dating in college! They broke up to become disciples four years ago, and then dated in the Kingdom for two times, two years apart. Amazingly, the way that Vini and Bia conducted themselves in the Kingdom inspired both of Vini’s parents to become disciples! They now lead the South Region of the São Paulo Church! Bia says, “Being engaged is a constant reminder of how much grace God has given us!”


Danilo and Carol (right) celebrated
Vini’s and Bia’s big moment!

 

Rio de Janeiro: Congratulations to Caio Costa and Carol Placco – the Rio de Janeiro Church Leaders – who were recently engaged and Lord willing will be married in April!


Caio and Carol worked together so well helping with
the ICCM Diplomas! Their teamwork carried over
this week in their leadership of the Rio Church,
as on Sunday God blessed them with five
baptisms and one restoration!

 
A fourth Brazilian engagement happened at the end of the Women’s Program of the South American Missions Conference when Valdemar Monteiro got on his knee to ask Fernanda Gomes to be his wife! In tears, she said, “Yes!” very quickly!


Congratulations to Valdemar and Fernanda!

San Francisco: San Francisco witnessed the incredible wedding of Emmanuel “Manny” and Adina Alberto! They dated in the world but then Adina studied the Bible in March of 2015 and broke it off with “Manny” and was baptized! Manny then studied the Bible with Jason Dimitry and was baptized two months later! They now serve diligently as the San Francisco Kingdom Kids Coordinators!


Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Alberto!
 

Seattle: Owen Hartley and Letecha Dixon were engaged on December 30, 2017 – a grand finale answered “impossible prayer” in the Year of the Impossible!
 

Congratulations to an incredible
couple – Owen and Letecha!

Las Vegas: Congratulations to Arvind and Yine Patel who were married by Jason Dimitry on February 25th! This was a particularly exciting wedding as Arvind and Yine were some of the first converts in Las Vegas back in 2013 when the church was planted by the Dimitrys! 


Congratulations to Arvind and Yine Patel!

 
Stockholm: On January 17th, our dear sister Anna Karlsson went on to glory after a short and intense battle with cancer. Working as Dr. Erik af Klint’s nurse, she became a disciple during the remnant group days of the Stockholm Church. Anna was dearly loved by all in the church for her sense of humor, hospitality and character. One of Anna’s favorite things was song leading in the Kingdom! We all miss her, but are looking forward to seeing her at the resurrection of the righteous! (John 11:25-26)


Praise God that our sister Anna is now
singing with the angels!

 
More news from Sweden… Baby Oliver Tambaur entered into this world on March 1st at 8:03AM at 3.45kg (7.6 pounds) and 52cm (20.6 inches)! He is a healthy, gorgeous baby! Baby Oliver, Ashley and Kaspar are all doing well!


Baby Oliver, welcome to your worldwide family!

 
Kiev: Alex Balitskiy and Alina Ignatchenko were engaged on New Year’s Eve in the Kiev Church!


Congratulations to Alex and Alina!

 
Orlando: Congratulations to Wayne Shaw and Larci Robinson on their recent engagement!


Congratulations to the happy couple –
Wayne and Larci!

 
Denver: Excitingly, our dear brother Adrian Garcia and sister Lidia Barrios were engaged in December and will become one in marriage on April 21, 2018! Adrian and Lidia were both baptized in the San Francisco Church and moved with Dustin and Amanda Miller to Denver last year! They have been tremendously instrumental in building the church of the Rocky Mountains, and we believe that they will continue to do “even greater things” as a married couple!


Let us be praying for Adrian and Lidia’s
wedding on April 21, 2018!

 
Gainesville: Greeting from the home of the University of Florida! It is bitter sweet to share that our dear sister, Sherry Beck, passed onto glory in late December 2017. Bill and Sherry Beck were pillars of the Gainesville Church, and Sherry had become a best friend to Tia Turner – the leader of the Gainesville Sisters. Bill valiantly stood by her side every day to ensure she was comfortable and ready for the Lord. A week before her passing, her last question to Tia was, “Can you read to me about Heaven?” Lastly, please pray for Bill who was “blown by the Spirit” to Honolulu to be a part of our sister church there and to live with his son Jeremy Beck and his family.


Bill and Sherry Beck (left) – before Sherry passed
on to glory – were dear friends of Marcel and
Tia Turner (right), who lead the Gainesville
Church, and Dr. Luan Solomon,
who Bill baptized last year!
LOCAL LA NEWS
Lianne Kernan – Lead Women’s Ministry Leader of LA: Greetings Family from your valiant sisters here in the City of Angels International Christian Church! A wise man once said, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) Well, the sisters in LA have something better than charm and beauty; we had UNFADING BEAUTY as the first round of Women’s Days began this weekend in seven of our 12 LA Regions!

The timeless theme for the City of Angels
Church Women’s Days was UNFADING
BEAUTY in all 12 Regions!

 

Praise God, Lianne Kernan – the Women’s Ministry
Leader of the City of Angels Church – has done a
tremendous job organizing all 12 Women’s
Days and delivered a “sermon for the
ages” for the West Region
Women’s Day!

The amazing women in the Antelope Valley Region and the beautiful sisters in the West Region led the way this past Saturday! Our dear sister Julie Clark of San Francisco preached powerfully in the Antelope Valley, and I was so honored to be able to speak in the West! From the decorations to the testimonials, the interpretive dance and the incredible baptisms, all of the visitors were so moved and inspired!


At the AV Women’s Day Fashion Show,
Sam Massman (third from the left)
wore her mother’s Indian
heritage outfit
!


In her testimony, Mik Mengija cheerfully reflected
on the hope that God restored in her life!


Julie Clark inspired the 28 disciple women of the
AV Region and their 102 visitors as well!


The Lord answered the prayer of Karen Maciel – the
Co-Editor of the Good News Email – to bless the
West Region Women’s Day “beyond anything
they could ask or imagine!”


Coleen Challinor – the charismatic West Region
Women’s Ministry Leader – introduced the
three women who shared their
testimonies: Kerri-Sue,
Frida and Alexys!


In the West Region, a beautiful interpretive dance
was performed by Precious, Jazmin and Kaitlin!

Then this past Sunday, the mighty women of the Metro Heights, AMS, Inland Empire, Ventura and East Regions gathered in their respective regions for incredible Women’s Days that had such an unforgettable impact on all who attended! My mother in the faith Dr. Elena Garcia McKean inspired the women in Metro Heights!


Emma Causey and Elena – the keynote speaker
for the Metro Heights Women’s Day – are
expecting God to give them much
fruit from the day!


The 59 sisters in the Metro Heights Region had a
packed house of 156 in attendance!


Melinda Contreras (second from the left) is the
Woman Leader of the Indianapolis
Remnant Group!

In the AMS Region, Lauren Ona marvelously directed her very first Women’s Day! Therese Untalan – LA’s dear Shepherdess – was the key speaker for the women of the AMS!


Lauren Ona was outstanding in directing her very
first Women’s Day for the AMS Region!


Kristin welcomed to the AMS Region Chantelle –
her “big” sister (6’9″), who is a former WNBA
player! Chantelle is a motivational speaker
and now a part-time intern for the AMS!


As Heather sung Scars To Your Beautiful,
Jasminn used her talents to glorify
God in dance!


Therese Untalan was the keynote speaker for the
AMS, as she was Miss Guam in 1985!


The AMS Sisters were so fired up
for Dakota at her baptism!

Sarah Dimitry – my partner in the Gospel and the Women’s Ministry Leader of the great San Francisco Church – spoke powerfully to the Inland Empire, and Julie Clark delighted the women in Ventura!
 


Brittany – the Coachella Valley Region Leader,
Krystal – the San Bernardino Sector Leader,
Sarah – the San Francisco Church Leader,
and Rachel – the IE Region Leader,
huddled to conduct the
IE Women’s Day!


Sarah preached a heartfelt lesson
on UNFADING BEAUTY!


Morgan (left) led the Ventura Women’s Day
with the guidance of Patricia (center)
and Cecy!

Lastly, Margie Hamula preached her first keynote address at a Women’s Day to her amazing women in the East Region!


Margie inspired the faithful 27 East Women to
have an astounding attendance of 102!


Patti Deaves – Cassidy Olmos’ mom – participated
in the East Region Women’s Day, which was the
first Women’s Day that she has come to in
Cassidy’s seven years as a disciple…
and she won the Raffle!

And so, for 262 sisters present at the seven Women’s Days this weekend, their total attendance was an astonishing 787 with 10 women getting baptized and making their good confession, “Jesus Is Lord!” Truly God blessed the efforts of the women here in LA!


Vonisha – a student at Cal State San Bernardino –
was baptized in the IE’s beautiful rose
petal covered baptistry!

I would be remiss if I did not lift up the brothers that helped this weekend, as they poured themselves out by serving, ushering, fasting and many of them bringing visitors for our Women’s Days to bring glory to God! Praise God that we have such amazing brothers who lead us and encourage us as we fight to bring as many souls to Christ as possible!
 


The remarkable brothers of the Metro Heights
Region served at the Women’s Day
with incredible zeal!


Under Ricky Challinor, the West Region Brothers
bonded through serving at the incredible
West Women’s Day!

I cannot wait to see what God does this coming weekend in the remaining five Women’s Days in the Orange County, Central, South, Coachella Valley and North Regions! Stay tuned, because God is not through yet!
 

EDITORIAL
A New Every Other Year Format For The GLC
The dates for the 2018 Global Leadership Conference (GLC) have been finalized for August 16-19, 2018 at the Anaheim Convention Center! Anaheim – which is a city in Metro Los Angeles – was the site for the 2016 GLC! Rooms have been reserved at the Sheraton Hotel just a three minute walk from the Anaheim Convention Center! Further details will be coming soon! I wanted to add – as a bit of an incentive to come to this year’s GLC – that there will not be a GLC next year in 2019! We will go into a new format of having a GLC every other year!
 

VICTORIOUS was the inspirational theme for the 2017
GLC! This year we want to do the GLC on the Holy
Spirit! Therefore, if you have an idea for the
theme, and we select your theme, you will
receive free registration to the 2018
GLC! Please send your idea to
kip@usd21.org!
So after this year, our next GLC will be August 2020! This way, particularly American Disciples can save their money to attend Geographic Missions Conferences which will continue to be held on a yearly basis. Here is our list for this year:
 

South American Missions Conference: February 2-4th in São Paulo!
Latin American Missions Conference: February 15-18th in Mexico City!
Pac Rim Missions Conference: April 5-8th in Manila!
South Asia Missions Conference: April 19-22nd in Chennai!
Eurasian Missions Conference: May 18-20th in Moscow!
African Missions Conference: June 22-24th in Lagos!
European Missions Conference: October 25-28th in London!
Austral-China Missions Conference: November 2-4th in Sydney!

 
Lord willing, in late 2019, there will be a new Middle East Missions Conference in Dubai!

 

Kip and Elena are looking forward to seeing many
of you at the 2018 GLC and even more of you
at the Geographic Missions Conferences!
 
Let’s be keeping all the churches in our prayers! And to God be all the glory!
We are family… by God’s amazing grace,
Kip

Copyright © 2018 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

Good News Email – 3.8.18

Good News Email – 3.8.18


All content within this email is for the intended recipient only. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution and/or copy is a violation of applicable laws.

March 8, 2018

Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear Friend,
Greetings from Manila, Stockholm, Orlando, São Paulo, Mexico City and LA! Indeed, this has been a very busy two months of travel for Elena and me! In Manila, we spent two weeks as we introduced Richie and Elizabeth McDonnell as the new Metro Manila Church Leaders, and helped them conduct their New Year’s Workshop! Following, Elena headed home and I continued on to preach in the great Stockholm and Orlando Churches! Then Elena and I traveled to São Paulo on January 27th for the World Sector Leaders Retreat and the incredible 2018 South American Missions Conference (SAMC), where the Quito Mission Team was sent out! After returning to LA for a few days, we then flew on February 13th to Mexico City for the thrilling 2018 Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC)! So exciting that with the plantings of Albuquerque, New Mexico last Sunday and Quito, Ecuador, God’s SoldOut Movement has multiplied from the 42 Portland Disciples that planted the City of Angels Church in May 2007 to now almost 6,000 disciples in 91 churches in 35 nations on all 6 populated continents of the world! Truly this is not merely a movement of men, it is the very Movement of God! And to God be all the glory!


The SoldOut Movement World Sector Leaders
boarded a bus in
São Paulo to travel to
Campos do Jordão for their retreat
before the SAMC!

 
HEADLINE NEWS
Joshua Christensen – Lead Evangelist of Albuquerque: Greetings from beautiful New Mexico! The Holy Spirit sent out the Albuquerque (ABQ) Mission Team on Sunday, January 7th at the City of Angels Church Winter Workshop!


Upside down globes have been given for each
member of a Crown of Thorns Project Mission
Team! Now, for OPERATION EAGLE Mission
Teams, an eagle carrying the American flag
will be given to each team member!


Tim and Lianne Kernan – the Pac Rim Tribe World
Sector Leaders – stood proudly beside the bold
Albuquerque Mission Team!

Since that time, the team has secured housing, jobs and one baptism – Izaac Pacheco, a student at Central New Mexico University!


Congratulations to Izaac – the first baptism
of the Albuquerque ICC!

 
Amazingly, for our Inaugural Service, the 13 ABQ Disciples saw God bring 147 in attendance! We were blessed to have 29 disciples from Denver, 27 from Phoenix, 10 from LA, 26 children in Kid’s Kingdom, and 42 adult guests – 3 to 1 visitors to ABQ Disciples! For this historic day, we were especially honored to have in attendance the World Sector Leaders: Tim Kernan, Tony Untalan, Nick Bordieri and Michael Kirchner!


The SoldOut Movement Shepherds – Nick Bordieri
and Tony Untalan – gave the opening prayer for
the Albuquerque Inaugural Service!


For the Inaugural, Joshua Christensen delivered an
inspirational sermon entitled, THE PROMISE!

Another highlight is that as a Movement – through OPERATION EAGLE – we are now in 17 of the 50 States in the USA!


Lord willing, at the 2018 GLC, two more
OPERATION EAGLE Mission Teams
will be sent out – Columbus, Ohio
and Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

 
Richie McDonnell – Lead Evangelist of Metro Manila: Greetings from Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, Philippines! It has been an incredible first 61 days in the Philippines! Elizabeth, Sawyer, Lucy, Nathalie and I arrived in Manila on January 4th, warmly welcomed by so many of the brothers and sisters of the Metro Manila International Christian Church (MMICC)!


Richie, Elizabeth, Sawyer, Lucy and “Baby Nathalie”
McDonnell were given a SoldOut Movement
Welcome when the Manila Disciples
sang, We Love You With The
Love Of The Lord!

 
Drs. Kip and Elena McKean arrived that same evening, and they immediately began to introduce us to all of the incredible leaders in the MMICC over the next couple of days. Then they officially introduced us to the church at that Friday night’s Congregational Devotional!


Kip and Elena welcomed RJ Castro back home to
the Manila Church Family, which he helped
to plant in June 2015!


The McKeans then welcomed Carlos Robielos as
another new intern for the MMICC!


The McDonnells, RJ and Carlos were graciously
given barongs as their “welcoming gifts”
by the MMICC!


The McDonnells were formally introduced to JC and
Rosas – the MMICC East Region Leaders!


As a symbol of the abundant fruit in the Philippines
that the McDonnells’ Ministry will bear, Elena
offered Richie and Elizabeth the tastiest
mangoes in the world!

Our first Sunday Service on January 7th with the MMICC was incredible! Elizabeth shared for Communion, the McKeans shared for Contribution, and I preached my first sermon of 2018, entitled, MEN AND WOMEN WHO DREAM taken from Psalm 126! To conclude the lesson, I called the MMICC to dream for the evangelization of all 17 cities of Metro Manila, the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, and all 11 countries of South East Asia!


Richie and Elizabeth fell in love with the MMICC
at their very first Sunday Worship Service!


Richie moved the hearts of all in attendance
with the sermon, MEN AND WOMEN
WHO DREAM!


The January 14th MMICC Bulletin featured
Richie’s article, By The Grace Of God,
which emphasized the SoldOut
Movement’s Year of Grace!

 
During the next week, Kip took Carlos Robielos, RJ Castro and Elizabeth and me to “spy out the land” at many of the key campuses! Most impressive were the University of Philippines (UP), Ateneo and the Intramuros Campuses!


Carlos Robielos gets around the massive University
of Philippines Campus by jeepney!

Then, the following weekend was our New Year’s Workshop, titled STRONG IN THE GRACE! It was a phenomenal time of faithful preaching, encouragement and spiritual revival for all of the brothers and sisters! It was also great having John and Anna Malnegro – the Metro Cebu ICC Leaders – and 15 others from the Metro Cebu ICC participate in the New Year’s Workshop in Manila! 


The theme for the MMICC New Year’s Workshop
was STRONG IN THE GRACE!


Several Manila Disciples went to the airport to
welcome the 17 Cebu Disciples!


On Saturday morning, Richie and Elizabeth met with
the Campus Interns of both Manila and Cebu
to ensure a strong start for 2018!


The McKeans introduced the gallant Cebu Church
Leaders – John and Anna Malnegro –
to the McDonnells!

 
At the conclusion of the New Year’s Workshop, the MMICC took ahold of the challenge to see the Lord bring daily additions in the year of 2018! The Lord is beginning to answer this prayer as we had our first two baptisms of the year on Sunday, January 14th – Quennie Biongan (the younger sister of Felip) and Airi (the daughter of the Javiers)! And on that Sunday, we had 187 disciples! So we are quickly gaining momentum! So after our first crazy 61 days, we are now at 223 disciples, which is a growth of 36 disciples through 8 place memberships, 5 restorations and 24 baptisms… and sadly, one fall away! And to God be the glory!


At the Glorietta Mall, Kip bumped into the Javier
Family – Francis and Liza and their children Airi
and Aaron – the day before Airi was baptized!


Felip – a UP Intern – had his beloved little sister
Quennie fly from the Island of Mindanao to
participate in the New Year’s Workshop!
Three days later Quennie was
baptized! A week after that,
she moved to Manila!


Quennie and Airi – the first two baptisms
of 2018 in the Philippines!


Quennie and Airi were baptized at exactly the same
moment, making them true spiritual twins!

 
To really get the Metro Manila Campus Ministry off to a great start for 2018, I gathered all of the Campus Interns and leaders at the Old Manila Campuses of Intramuros to set an example of a model Bible Talk. We all met together in a park beside the Intramuros Campuses at 6:00AM for a time of prayer, and then we shared our faith for two hours on the campuses! Then we had our Bible Talk! Incredibly, the Lord blessed the efforts of the 24 disciples by giving us 38 visitors at our first Bible Talk of the semester! 


Richie’s plan to set an example of a model Campus
Bible Talk in Intramuros was blessed by God
as 24 disciples had 38 visitors!

 
Two weeks after the New Year’s Workshop, the MMICC had our Bring Your Neighbor Day on January 28th, where we were fasting and praying for the Lord to break our record attendance! Amazingly, after only two weeks of fasting, prayer and sharing our faith, the Lord blessed our faith and deeds, giving the then 194 disciples of the MMICC a record attendance of 424!


Richie and Elizabeth have brought “real
class” to the Manila Staff!

 
After four weeks in Metro Manila, Elizabeth and I flew 350 miles (570 km) to Metro Cebu to encourage the church there and spend time with John and Anna Malnegro! After an incredible welcome by the disciples at the airport on Friday afternoon, we gathered for a Congregational Devotional that evening! Then on Sunday, the Metro Cebu ICC had their Bring Your Neighbor Day! 32 disciples had an amazing attendance of 112, and three souls were baptized into Christ!


On their first visit to Cebu, the McDonnells were given
a fired up SoldOut Movement Welcome
by the Cebu Disciples!

 
Today, Sunday March 4th, the Metro Manila Church hosted its very first Women’s Day with the theme ELEVATE! Astonishingly, with 114 Metro Manila Sisters, God blessed them with an attendance of 358! As well, there were three baptisms and one restoration at our Women’s Day! I was so proud of my wife Elizabeth and all of my Metro Manila Sisters for hosting this awesome event!

 


God blessed the unity of the MMICC Sisters at
their First Women’s Day as 114 sisters
had 358 in attendance!

 
Please keep not only the churches in the Philippines in your prayers, but also our upcoming Pacific Rim Missions Conference (PRMC) on April 5-8, 2018! This year’s exciting theme is STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! All of the speeches and classes are on the Book of Joshua, as Joshua led God’s people to conquer the Promised Land!


The exciting theme of the 2018 PRMC is from the
Book of Joshua, STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

The PRMC will be held at Hotel Jen, Pasay City, Metro Manila. (The link to discounted rates will be posted soon!) However, you can register now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-pac-rim-missions-conference-strong-courageous-april-5th-8th-tickets-43260086082.
 
Mark Garrido – Overseeing Evangelist for the Hawaiian Islands and Guam: Greetings from the “Surf Sector” of the Pacific Rim Tribe World Sector, which our dear leader Tim Kernan refers to as “Surf and Turf” – the “Turf Sector” being the Western USA and Canada! 


Mark and Keri Garrido – the Overseeing Ministry
Couple for the Hawaiian Islands and Guam –
are spearheading a terrific revival
in the Islands!

 
This past Sunday in Honolulu on the Island of Oahu, the Lord blessed us with an incredible “one for one” visitors at our Bring Your Neighbor Day Service! Of special note was the emotional restoration of our brother Alex Pangelinan – the first cousin to Zach Shields of our Metro Manila Church! During one of our Bible Studies, I will never forget what Alex shared, “I AM BLIND BUT NOW I CAN TRULY SEE!” Alex went on to say, “My blindness will not stop me from living out the vision of Jesus!” After service, we had an incredible potluck and many friends who visited for the first time did Bible Studies!


Although he is blind, Alex heroically
shared, “My blindness will not
stop me from living out the
vision of Jesus!”

 
Kona – which is on the West Shore of the Big Island – also had an incredible restoration, Alexander Aehegma!


During his restoration, Alexander felt the
love of God through the love of
the Kona Disciples!

 
At the Kona Church, Souvi and Parmina Kiona heard the Word of the Lord and saw that they were not pleasing God by living together in a sinful way. After repentance, Souvi and Parmina were married by David Kelly and now have been added by baptism to God’s great Kingdom!


Congratulations to Souvi and Parmina on their
new marriage and even more so, in
their new lives in Christ!

 
In Hilo – which is on the East Shore of the Big Island – Maddie, like her older teen sister in the Directo Family, was baptized! The whole family encouraged Maddie with leis around her neck to say, “We love you with love of the Lord!” GO TEEEEEEENS!


After Maddie’s baptism, her parents were
equally as jubilant as she was!

 
On February 11th, John Escano was baptized in the beautiful Island of Guam! John is the fourth baptism since the planting of the Guam ICC with just five remnant disciples joining only four disciples on the mission team, who were sent out at the 2017 GLC!


At the September 2017 Guam ICC Inaugural,
there were only nine disciples! With the
addition of John, their fourth baptism,
they have grown by 44%
in five months!

 
Please continue to pray for the “Surf Sector” as many are about to enter the surf!

Mike Patterson – Lead Evangelist of Boston: In the last five weeks, God has given us eight additions – five baptisms and three place memberships from the Charlotte Remnant Group! Chenelle and I have been so encouraged by our new partnership in the Gospel with Luke and Brandyn Speckman as they just began discipling us a month ago!


The Boston ICC had 156 for their Bring
Your Neighbor Day!


Harvard University T-shirts were presented to Luke
and Brandyn Speckman – the new Overseeing
Ministry Couple for Boston!

Today, our service was themed Never Enough from a song in The Greatest Showman! Special performances of the song Never Enough by Janah Dawson and From Now On by David Rydstedt and the choir amazed us all! Luke’s sermon A MILLION DREAMS inspired us to dream big for God and build the church to 140 by the end of the year! Brandyn gave her Communion based off the song This Is Me and for one of the only times I can remember, there was a standing ovation for Communion! God gave us for our Bring Your Neighbor Day today our highest attendance ever as a church of 156! Highlights of the day included the baptisms of Carter, a freshman Harvard student, and Heidi, a Suffolk student!


As a freshman at Harvard, Carter became
a Prayer Warrior for Jesus!


Heidi – a Suffolk Co-ed – now looks to
God to guide her steps!

Other good news is that we had ICCM a week ago on the Harvard University Campus, as the college now lets us use these amazing rooms for free! We will also be having our first Friday Campus Devotional at Harvard! This should be a permanent location for us!

Chi Leong – Lead Evangelist of Hong Kong: Greetings from China! 2018 has been awesome so far as we had our first Chinese New Year Church Service! The Lord generously blessed us with a total attendance of 31 including 7 disciples!


The Hong Kong Disciples prepared for Chinese
New Year on February 16th!

At the Chinese New Year Service, the
seven Hong Kong Disciples had
31 in attendance!

 

Also on the first day of the Lunar New Year, God allowed us to baptize a Filipino woman named Shaineh!


The Hong Kong Disciples were so encouraged by
Shaineh’s baptism!

 
Sadly, late last year, my amazing co-leader for the women – Naomi Radnaabazar – was not allowed to return to Hong Kong because of visa issues since she is from Mongolia. Although we miss her dearly, we are so excited that the City of Angels Church is graciously sending Alicia Winthein to help the women for three months starting April 1st! We look forward to all the great things God will continue to do in Hong Kong!


Knowing she was going to Hong Kong, Alicia’s
passion for foreign missions increased all the
more at the LAMC in Mexico City!

 
Cory Blackwell – Overseeing Evangelist of Dubai: My good news is Miguel Mendez! After we attended the Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC) in Mexico City, Miguel and I flew directly to Dubai so that I could introduce him to the church! Miguel has taken to Dubai like it has been his home for years! He had visitors at church the very first day, which was his first sermon too! It was incredible to see Miguel so bold and confident in the Lord!


God has selected the three Middle East
Musketeers – RD, Cory and Miguel –
to evangelize one of the most
difficult World Sectors!


The fiery Dubai Church on the first
Friday that Miguel preached!

He has one awesome young man named Aris past the Light and Darkness Study, who is poised to be baptized Lord willing on Friday! I am so happy with the way that the Dubai Church Leaders – RD and April Baker – have received him with love and care. Megan Mathews arrives in Dubai in one month to be April’s right hand sister!


John Tuason – a member of the original Dubai
Mission Team – baptized Bijay!

The Dubai Brothers warmly
embraced Bijay!

 
So amazing to think that just 14 months ago, there were but 13 disciples in Dubai. Yet during that time through the power of the Holy Spirit, God has given them 33 baptisms – four already in 2018!


Charie (second from the right) was baptized in the
Persian Gulf by Anna, Marina and Angel!

 
RD, April, Miguel, Jee and I are so very grateful for all of the sacrifices and generosity shown to the Dubai Church by our USA Churches that keep our mission dreams alive in the Middle East!
 
Jason Dimitry – Lead Evangelist of San Francisco: Greetings from the Bay Area! 2018 is off to a triumphant start! Our goal as a church this year is to have 150 additions! The Lord blessed us with exactly 100 additions in the calendar year of 2017, and so we are faithful that God will do “even greater things” in 2018! It has been eight weeks and we are sitting at 16 additions thus far – 15 baptisms and 1 restoration! A highlight of these first two months was the sending out of the Hayward House Church at our Bay Area Winter Workshop in January!


The Hayward House Church was sent off by the
Holy Spirit at the Bay Area Winter Workshop
on January 7th!

We sent out 10 incredible disciples led by Fred Palmer and Jenora Cooper, two non-fulltime ministry people, and they just had their first two baptisms last Sunday!


Noe – the cousin of Pete Wade of Sydney – and
Monique were the first two baptisms
of the Hayward House Church!

Anthony Olmos – Lead Evangelist of Paris: Greetings from the City of Lights! When we arrived in Paris from London with the five disciple Supplemental Mission Team, there were 13 disciples in the Paris Church! With these 18 disciples, God blessed us with 61 at our Inaugural Service on October 8th! Since that time, even though I was in the hospital on two separate occasions late last year, the Spirit has given us seven baptisms and one restoration! The zealous Paris Church is now 26 fired up disciples!


The valiant Paris Supplemental Mission Team
was led by the indomitable Anthony
and Cassidy Olmos!

Two of the amazing baptisms have been in 2018! The first was Dr. Michele Wokem, who has her PhD in Pharmaceutical Studies! She battled her emotions and pride for weeks. We knew she was ready when at our House Church Service she stood up and said, “I don’t ever want to let my logic or pride get in the way of Jesus’ truth! I want to be baptized for real today!” Her act of faith was so moving that it inspired our now brother Lilian Dalin to be baptized the following week! Lilian had been coming out for months and was even giving his tithe, but he was afraid to commit. One act of faith changed it all!


The two most recent baptisms of the Paris Church
are Lilian and Michele (center)!

Keep us in your prayers as we have Women’s Day on March 25th with the title, Tout Commence Par Un Rêve! (Everything Starts With A Dream!)


Please pray for the Women’s Day in Paris
entitled, Tout Commence Par Un Rêve!
(Everything Starts With A Dream!)

Joe Willis – Lead Evangelist of Sydney: Greetings from the “Land Down Under!” 2018 has been a great year so far as we launched a two month “Big Bang” Evidences Campaign that has seen the church grow from 48 to 56 disciples! Included in this time was our Annual All Night Prayer with 14 visitors in attendance and ending in the baptism of Schuster from Shenzeng – which will be our first Mainland China Planting in 2020! We also had our Annual Chinese New Year Service with exactly 100 in attendance!


Mark and Lan (who was originally baptized
in LA) did the Welcome at Sydney’s
Annual Chinese Service!
 

Three very faith-building baptisms were: Arm, our first Thai Brother; Daniel, the best friend of Dom our German Intern, who was only visiting for a holiday; and Jessi, the best friend of India, who had just come off a 14 nation missionary journey for the denominational group Youth With A Mission!


India (left) baptized her great friend Jessi who
moved to Sydney after the Chinese Service!

 

This Sunday, we had an amazing 86 in attendance! After service, Hiroshi, who studied in Shanghai in English School but speaks Mandarin, was baptized! He also carries a New Zealand passport and is only 19 years old!


Hiroshi was met at the University of Hawaii Manoa
three weeks before his visa expired, and praise
God, his New Zealand passport allowed him to
move to Sydney where he was baptized!

 
Elena Sirotkina – Lead Women’s Ministry Leader of Moscow: We are very happy to welcome a new couple into the Moscow Church Family – Denis and Julia! Denis first came to know about the church six years ago, but under the pressure of persecution from his family, Denis stopped studying the Bible. However, the disciples did not stop praying for him, and a little more than a month ago, Denis came to church, and wanted to become a disciple once again! Yet Denis faced a challenge – he had to tell his wife of his decision! When he finally shared it, Julia called him out on being quiet about his wish to study the Bible, and said that now she wants to study the Bible also and be baptized! With great urgency, Denis and Julia studied the Scriptures and were baptized! Julia now sings in our choir, and Denis helps with the sound tech!


Praying to God for courage, Denis
reached out to his wife and they
were baptized on the same day!

 
Furthermore, we are happy to greet three young sisters who were baptized into the church – Eunice, Angelica and Milana!


Elena Sirotkina joyfully shared about Angelica
before her baptism!

  
After a strong spiritual influence of the World Sector Leaders Retreat and the South American Missions Conference in Brazil, Oleg – my awesome husband – and I are on fire for God! Upon returning home, we preached John 15 about the purification of our hearts through the Word of God and called the church to repent by returning to the high standard of the sold-out disciples of the first century! Today, the Moscow Church is united in fasting, daily sharing of faith, and prayers for not only daily baptisms, but also baptisms of future leaders to evangelize Eurasia in our generation! We are very grateful for God’s miracles of repentance and baptisms!
 
Alfredo Anuch – Lead Evangelist of Santiago: Greetings from Chile – literally “the ends of the earth!” Incredibly, in December, God initiated a new remnant group in South America – Lima, Peru, which currently numbers seven sold-out disciples!


Julio (left) studied the Bible through Facebook Video
Call with the Santiago Brothers! When he was ready
to be baptized, Aaron flew from Santiago to
Lima, Peru and baptized Julio on his
way to Bogotá!

 
Also very exciting for the Santiago Church, since it is summertime here when school is out and most take vacations, in the first two months of 2018, God has added 14 new souls!


Roosmery (left) and Mery enthusiastically rejoiced
with their new sister Valentina!

 
In early February, 35 disciples of our 200 members flew 2,600 km (1,600 miles) from Santiago to São Paulo to attend the best ever South American Missions Conference! During this event, God allowed my wife Alejandra and me to appoint two Chilean Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders: José and Pilar Vargas, who are Region Leaders, and Manuel and Claudia Palma, who are the Quito Mission Team Leaders! Keep the Quito Mission Team in your prayers as they are preparing for their Inaugural Service on March 11th!


Jose and Pilar (right) and Manuel and Claudia (left)
were appointed Evangelists and Women’s
Ministry Leaders respectively at the
SAMC by Alfredo and Alejandra!

Luke Speckman – Lead Evangelist of New York City: 2018 has kicked off with an exciting start for us! Firstly, we were able to increase our contribution and put Dao Henderson (formerly of Dubai) on Staff to co-lead the NYC Campus Ministry with her amazing boyfriend Nick Enfantino. Also, we put Jill Swan on Staff who co-leads the New Jersey Region with her incredible husband, Dave! Up to this point, Jill had been self-supported in the ministry with the earnings from their house and business sale in California! 


Mike and Chenelle Patterson of Boston traveled
200 miles (320 km) to New York City for
their first d-time with Luke and
Brandyn Speckman!

One of the most exciting developments that has happened this year is my approval as a Religious Life Advisor at Columbia University through the office of the University Chaplain! (Columbia is one of eight Ivy League Colleges, which includes Harvard and Yale! Presently, we have six students at Columbia!) I act as an officer for Columbia and have been given a Columbia ID and email, shared office space, and counseling hours so that I can spend time with students who need spiritual guidance! Essentially, I am given space in the Chaplain’s building with the expectation that I will do Bible Studies with students! This is obviously a very exciting opportunity and I have already made some incredible connections in the Columbia Community!


Earl Hall is one of the Chaplain’s buildings and this
is where Luke has an office space to study the
Bible with students! This is also where the
Manhattan Region has Midweek Services!


Luke (left) and Nick (right) finished doing the
Church Study with one of the
Columbia Students!

On a personal note, Brandyn and I are so proud of our 17 year old son, Malik! His high school won the State Championship in Basketball for the second year in a row! At 6’7″, Malik is the starting forward!


Congratulations to Malik – the son of Luke and
Brandyn – for winning his second straight
New York State High School
Basketball Championship!

Raja Rajan – Lead Evangelist of Chennai: Greetings from India! In the past eight weeks, God gave us 10 baptisms, of which eight of them were campus students! The Chennai Church now numbers 226 disciples strong!


Our new brother Immanuel is pursuing his PhD in
Commerce from the prestigious Madras
Christian College!

 


Later Immanuel helped to baptize his friend
Rajkamal, a Mechanical Engineer!

Let’s welcome our new sister Ani, who is in the
PhD Program in Sociology at Queen
Mary’s College!
 

Of special note is Kenvin who is just 17 years old and had intense persecution at home as he challenged even his grandpa of not being a Christian. His family (father, mother, sister and grandfather) were very upset and came to persecute the church as well as to stop the baptism. However, when they came to church, Kenvin’s entire family was blown away by the love, fellowship and the message! After the message, Kenvin’s father came up to me and said, “According to what you preached from the Scriptures, even I am not a Christian!” His father pleaded with me to not let his son drift away from this fellowship and then agreed to participate in his son’s joyful celebration! The entire family rejoiced at Kenvin’s decision!


Kenvin was baptized in spite of
severe persecution!

Kenvin’s younger cousin Celsia, who is doing her Engineering Degree, was so inspired by Kenvin’s convictions, that she too studied the Bible and was baptized!


Celsia (second from the right) was so inspired by
her cousin Kenvin’s courage that she too
was baptized into Christ!

Last Saturday, 110 disciples went to the Government Rehabilitation Centre, which is actually a Colony for Lepers that lies in the outskirts of Chennai. The disciples started at 6:00AM in the morning with fruits and biscuit packets to spend time with the “Untouchables” of society! Every disciple was moved and came back saying truly how grateful they were to God for their own lives!


The MERCY Ambassadors carried the needed
supplies for the Rehabilitation Centre!


Prathap – the new Chennai Church Leader –
instructed the MERCY Ambassadors
on that day’s activities!

 
Kamala (left) was so encouraged by receiving much
needed supplies, and even more so by the
love and encouragement of the
MERCY Ambassadors!


Yassa and her friend Ani had a great time
serving the poor and needy!

 

Lastly, we are very excited to announce the theme for the South Asia Missions Conference (SAMC) – UNSTOPPABLE! The Chennai Church will be hosting this historic event from April 19-22, 2018!


The inspirational theme for the
2018 SAMC is UNSTOPPABLE!

Lord willing, at the Sunday Service of the SAMC, 40 disciples will be sent off on the Delhi Mission Team giving us three churches in three of the five key cities of India! You may register for the SAMC at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-south-asian-missions-conference-unstoppable-april-19-22-tickets-43770522812!
 

MCKEANS’ MISSIONARY TRIPS
After spending the first two weeks of January working with our dear Metro Manila Church, Elena flew home, but I continued onto Stockholm for three days!


Kip was given a glorious SoldOut Movement
Welcome by the Stockholm Disciples and
the Sirotkins of Moscow – the Eurasian
World Sector Leaders!

At that same time, Oleg and Elena Sirotkin flew into Stockholm from Moscow as Scandinavia is in their Eurasian World Sector. As well, they asked our new Kiev Church Leader – Victor Masleanicov – to come for the meetings! Warmly receiving all of us were the incredible new leaders of the Stockholm Church – Kaspar and Ashley Tambaur!


On Monday evening, when Kip arrived in Stock-
holm, there was no snow on the ground, but
things drastically changed over night! This
was the beautiful view from his hotel
room on Tuesday afternoon!

On Tuesday night, the Tambaurs and the
Sirotkins were fired up about their
meeting with Kip and the snow!

On Wednesday, Victor Masleanikov – the new Kiev
Church Leader – flew in to Stockholm!

 
After all the meetings, on Thursday night January 18th, Oleg and I addressed the Stockholm Church to encourage and strengthen them! It was a tremendous time of fellowship and revival!


Kaspar gave a stirring Welcome at the Thursday
Evening Special Service with Kip and Oleg!


Oleg shared his heart and several Scriptures to
strengthen the Stockholm Church!

 
On Friday, I flew from Stockholm in Orlando – with short layovers in Frankfort and Chicago – finally arriving late that night! I was able to see my Mom for the first time since my Father’s Memorial Service in late November 2017.


Kip’s Mom was so encouraged by Kip’s
visit that she even agreed to a selfie
in her backyard!

 
As well, I was able to preach for the 60 disciples of the the Orlando Church where Chris and Sonja Chloupek are doing a tremendous job building family, as 55 Orlando Disciples were on the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Mission Team! As we left church on Sunday afternoon, my Mom said, “The Chloupeks are the perfect choice to get the Orlando Church strong once again!” I then flew home to LA on Tuesday, January 23rd!
 

Kip’s Mom came to Sunday Service at the Orlando
Church and was warmly greeted by
Sonja Chloupek and her lovely
daughter Cassi!

 
Elena and I flew into São Paulo on Saturday, January 27th and had dinner that evening with the dynamic São Paulo Church Leaders – Raul and Lynda Moreno!


The McKeans and all who came to the SAMC saw
the colorful “Bem Vindo do Brasil” sign and
then heard We Love You With The Love
Of The Lord
in Portuguese!

Most of the World Sector Leaders also flew in that same day, so as to be able to worship with the São Paulo ICC on Sunday morning! In particular, Elena and I wanted all the World Sector Leaders to “see” the amazing São Paulo Campus Ministry of 70 disciples! Of special note, 35 of these disciples go to the University of São Paulo (USP) – the number one ranked college for all of Central and South America! Therefore, Raul arranged for a “Young Guns Sunday,” where the spiritual and talented students (or recent graduates) preached the Word!


The vibrant Sunday Worship Service of the São
Paulo ICC on January 28th just four
days before the SAMC!


Tyler and Shay Sears – now the Dallas/Ft. Worth
Church Leaders – were on the original S
ão
Paulo Mission Team in 2011 composed
of only seven disciples from LA!


Bia (center) and Malu shared their
hearts for Communion!


Luca was one of four “Young Gun Preachers” who
was very impressive in his preaching! Though
Brazilian, he also carries an Italian Passport.
The plan for Luca is to move to London,
train to be an Evangelist, and lead
the Rome Mission Team!

 

At the Worship Service, Raul asked me to say some closing words of encouragement to the church. I shared with the 200 São Paulo Brothers and Sisters that they were the model church for the Movement in Campus Ministry! Then I had the World Sector Leaders all stand and after I introduced them, I said, “If Jesus were here in the flesh, I believe He would say to each of you, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it!'” (Luke 10:23-24)


The USP Campus Ministry in Brazil is a model for the
USC Campus Ministry in LA! The USC Ministry
began the new year with an all-night prayer
over the city of Los Angeles!


Last August, the USC Campus Ministry had zero
students. In the past six months, God has
blessed them with 11 baptisms!

 
To conclude the service, we witnessed five baptisms and one restoration!

 


Meet (from left to right) Alef, Stephanie, Maria, Any
and Patrique who were baptized, and
Roger who was restored!


The World Sector Leaders of the Middle East –
Cory and Jee Blackwell – relay so much
God-given wisdom wherever
they travel!

 
Late Monday morning, the World Sector Leaders boarded a bus to go to our retreat site in Campos do Jordão, which is about a three hour bus ride from São Paulo!


The Vila Inglesa Hotel was located in the mountains
surrounding the little German city of Campos
do Jord
ão just three hours outside
of
São Paulo!


Upon arriving at the retreat site, Michael and Michele
Williamson – the European World Sector Leaders –
spent some downtime with the McKeans!

That night the 12 World Sector Leader Couples came together for Communion and a dinner! Since it is the Year of Grace for the SoldOut Movement, at the Communion as we each held a piece of bread torn from one loaf, all repeated after me, “We are family!” Then lifting up a communion cup of red wine in their other hand, they repeated, “By God’s amazing grace!”


All of the World Sector Leaders are the dearest
of friends to each other!


Following the scrumptious meal, each World Sector
Leader Couple shared good news! Andrew and
Patrique – the World Sector Leaders of Africa –
shared good news about the Lagos ICC!


Michael and Sharon Kirchner – the World Sector
Leader Admin Couple – shared a light-hearted
account from their lives!

 
On Tuesday morning, we gathered for my lesson entitled, STRONG IN THE GRACE!


The World Sector Leaders gathered on Tuesday
morning for some serious Bible Study! That
said, Tim’s selfie game is strong!


Kip preached on STRONG IN THE GRACE,
striving to meet the needs of his fellow
World Sector Leaders!

Afterwards, we broke into Men’s and Women’s D-groups to confess our sins, thus building a greater unity. The remainder of the day we spent time as individuals and as couples with one another.


The Men’s World Sector D-group was a time of
honesty and confession found only in
the Kingdom!

 
On Wednesday morning, we came together to go over the SoldOut Movement Road Map! This was an exciting time as we discussed new church plantings, missions contributions, new appointments for Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders, and how to work with couples in nations where divorce is not legal. Again, the remainder of the day was spent with various disciples! Some of us did play ping-pong and one brother was undefeated… I will not embarrass the many brothers who lost by naming their names!


The Untalans – the World Sector Leaders of
Shepherding – and the Bordieris – the
World Sector Leaders of MERCY –
have been with the McKeans
since the first days of
Portland in 2003!


Matt and Helen Sullivan – the USA East Coast and
South Asia World Sector Leaders – have been
loyal partners in the Gospel to the McKeans
since moving to Portland in 2004!

 
Thursday morning, the World Sector Leaders again boarded a bus to head back to São Paulo. That evening was the first event of the 2018 South American Missions Conference (SAMC) – The Speakers Dinner!

 


ATE O FIM (TO THE END) was the incredible
Scriptural theme for the 2018 SAMC!

The Speakers Dinner was held at a traditional
Brazilian Churrascaria!


At a Churrascaria, you serve yourself side dishes…


And the servers bring around different cuts of
meat from chicken hearts to steak!


The McKeans so appreciate the grace that God
has given them to witness the expansion of
God’s Kingdom all over the world!


The evening’s sharing was by the incredible
Brazilian Couples that Raul and Lynda
are training! The first to share
was Luis and Malu – both
USP Students!


Luca joyfully followed…


Danilo and Carol – both USP Graduates (Carol was
the Valedictorian of the Engineering Program) –
were recently married! They lead the West
Region and the USP Campus Ministry!


Vini and Bia lead the South Region as fulltime
USP Students!


Caio and Carol are USP Graduates and lead the
Rio de Janeiro Church!


Tulio is an ICOC Kingdom Kid who helped to restore
his mom to the New Movement! Vaitsa
is an USP Graduate! They lead the
Campus Sector of the
East Region!


Renato and Marie Jose Tria are remnant disciples
who joined the New Movement and now lead
the East Region!


The McKeans and the Morenos are filled with joy
at the incredible zeal and talent of the
Brazilian Leaders!

 
During the Speakers Dinner, Alfredo and Alejandra Anuch of Santiago preached at the International Campus Devotional!


Alfredo and Alejandra Anuch of Santiago preached
at the International Campus Devotional!

 
The theme for the 2018 SAMC was from Revelation 2:26, ATE O FIM (TO THE END)! Friday morning was the Leaders Workshop! Dr. Tim Kernan of Los Angeles delivered a powerful opening speech, PERSEVERE TO THE END!


Tim Kernan’s message, PERSEVERE TO THE END,
was one of his very best!

Then we heard very interesting short challenges entitled, TO THE END FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF: STEPHEN by Alfredo Anuch, ESTHER by Lynda Moreno, JAMES (John’s Brother) by Renato Tria – the São Paulo East Region Leader, RUTH by Shay Sears of Dallas, DEBORAH by Carol Bataglin – the São Paulo West Region Woman Leader, and PAUL by Danilo Bataglin – the São Paulo West Region Leader!


Even though she has been gone from Brazil for four
years, Shay spoke on RUTH the entire time
using her Portuguese!

 
To close out the workshop, Dr. Andrew Smellie of Lagos preached the stirring address, FIRM TO THE END!


Vini translated for Andrew in his stirring
address, FIRM TO THE END!

 
On Friday evening was the thrilling First General Session! Highlights included an incredible Video, a Cultural Dance, a Drum Troop and a Flag Ceremony of all the flags of the South American nations!


Raul and Lynda welcomed all to the South
American Missions Conference!


The First General Session of the SAMC!


An imaginative Cultural Dance was performed by
the gifted Brazilian Sisters!


A Brazilian Drum Troop ushered in the
Flag Ceremony!


Through seeing all of the flags of the South
American Nations, we were given a vision
of evangelizing them in our generation!

Then Elena and I were privileged to share Good News From Around The World! Following came the Kingdom Appointments of two awesome married couples from Santiago: Jose Andres and Pilar Vargas as well as Manuel and Claudia Palma!


Manuel Palma humbly addressed the SAMC after
being given the ancient charge by Alfredo
to “Preach the Word!”

Then we heard two charges! The first was by Michael Kirchner, TO THE END IN FINANCES! The second charge was given by Tony Untalan, TO THE END AS A SHEPHERD!


Michael preached about generosity and
frugality in personal finances!


Tony appealed to be concerned about every
single disciple in God’s flock!

Then Cory Blackwell powerfully closed out the evening with the sermon, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE!


Cory in his message, TO THE VERY END OF THE
AGE, shared miraculous accounts from his
ministries in Chicago and the Middle East!

On Saturday morning was the Men’s Workshop! The main speakers were Matt Sullivan of Miami who was very vulnerable as he spoke on LOVE TO THE END, and Michael Williamson of London who inspired us with the lesson, EVANGELIZING THE NATIONS TO THE END!

 

Matt Sullivan touched our hearts with his
personal vulnerability!

Michael amplified our Movement’s vision
to evangelize all nations!

 
Saturday afternoon was the Women’s Workshop! Elena preached on LOVE TO THE END and various sisters gave enthusiastic short charges!


The title of Elena’s lesson, LOVE TO THE END,
allowed Elena to share how her weaknesses
had become strengths!


The first set of admonitions at the Women’s
Workshop were powerfully delivered by:
Vaitsa, Bia, Marie Jose, Lynda, Pilar,
Claudia and Alejandra!


Sharing her fears and dreams, Patrique spoke
on SACRIFICE TO THE END!


Lianne shared her heart as she addressed
the sisters on LEADING TO THE END no
matter the circumstances!


Jee was quite fired up to share about
HEALTHY TO THE END!

 
Saturday night was MERCY Night where all of us put on our green MERCY T-shirts! Nick and Denise Bordieri – the Global Directors of MERCYworldwide – shared about different MERCY Projects around the world!


Nick and Denise Bordieri are thrilled to coordinate
the serving of the poor around the world!


The SAMC MERCY Night always makes us
remember we are a unified Movement
of “ambassadors for Christ!”

Then came the unforgettable Skit simply titled, TO THE END that depicted the cosmic battle between God and Satan!


The unforgettable Skit, TO THE END, elicited so
many emotions because it was all about the
cosmic war against Satan and his demons!

 
Following, Dr. Raul Moreno passionately preached on IRREPROACHABLE TO THE END!

 


As an Evangelist, Raul’s integrity
is IRREPROACHABLE!

To conclude the evening, there was the Pure Dance where the theme was Galaxy and so everyone was asked to wear a futuristic outfit!


The Pure Dance Party had a theme of Galaxy,
but it felt like Heaven!

 
On Sunday was the incredible Worship Service where 369 gathered to praise God! The Sirotkins of Moscow moved our hearts in Communion! The Willises of Sydney convicted us about the Contribution!


Oleg and Elena passionately lifted up the
Cross at Communion!


Joe and Kerry Willis – the Austral-China World Sector
Leaders – gave a challenging Contribution
Admonition! They called us to be
thankful to God and thus be
generous like God!

 
Following a short break was the First ICCM-São Paulo Commencement where 16 very deserving students received their BA Degree in Ministry!

 


When Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries played, the
ICCM-
São Paulo Commencement began with
the Processional of Faculty and Students
led by Chancellor McKean!


Dr. Kip McKean welcomed all and then passed
the ICCM Staff to Raul Moreno, who led
the graduation ceremony!


Raul and Lynda – the President and Dean of Women
for ICCM-
São Paulo – were overjoyed to see the
dream of BA Graduates become a reality!


Dr. Tim Kernan – Vice Chancellor of Operations for
ICCM-Global – explained the European
Degree System!


The 2018 ICCM-São Paulo Graduating Class was
called to stand before receiving their diplomas!


Kip congratulated Waldir upon receiving his ICCM
BA Degree! Edison is a Peruvian Citizen studying
in the PhD Program at USP! He longs to be
on the Lima Mission Team!


Congratulations to the 2018 ICCM-São
Paulo Graduating Class!

So encouraging was that Vini Rodrigues de Souza and his father Augusto both received degrees, which was the first degree ever for Augusto and Vini was the Valedictorian!
 


Vini and his dad Augusto were so
proud of each other!

 
After a fairly long break, I was privileged to speak on VICTORIOUS TO THE END!

 


The closing speech by Kip was appropriately
entitled, VICTORIOUS TO THE END!

 

Then we witnessed seven more baptisms and another restoration! 


God added to His Kingdom that day: Raul, Karolina,
Juliana, Isabela, Magnolia, Mika, Karina and
Isabela! All were baptized with the
exception of Magnolia who
was restored!


The seven glorious baptisms!

To close the service, the Holy Spirit sent out the Quito Mission Team and we sang together the “Brazilian Version” of LuJack Martinez’s Glory Song, which not only gave the history of the Discipling Movement since 1979, but included details about South America and in particular the Brazilian Churches!


The Quito Mission Team Members were
each given a Condor Trophy as the
Condor is Ecuador’s national bird!


The high-flying Quito Mission Team!

Exactly a week after the SAMC, Tulio and his mom Luisa baptized Rita, Tulio’s grandmother and Luisa’s mom!


Rita – Tulio’s grandmother and Luisa’s mom –
entered the Kingdom at 87 years old!

 
After a few days of being home in Los Angeles, Elena and I flew to Mexico City on Tuesday, February 13th for the Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC)! The exciting theme of the LAMC was CONVICCION DE CORAZON (CONVICTION OF THE HEART)!


Evan and Kelly Bartholomew and the McKeans
were given a heartsy SoldOut Movement
Welcome at the Mexico City Airport!

That night, we had a great dinner with the gallant Mexico City Church Leaders – Carlos and Lucy Mejia! Then after working on our speeches all day on February 14th – Valentine’s Day, Elena and I were blessed to celebrate dinner that night with our dear grandson and granddaughter in the faith – Adam Zepeda and Lauren Ona! What a great time we had!


The McKeans had a fun Valentine’s Date Night with
their precious grandson and granddaughter
in the faith, Adam and Lauren!

 
On Thursday morning, the Leadership Workshop was held at the newly built and gorgeous Mexico City ICC Building!


Gustavo (left) tore down the huge garden
in front of his home, and in its place built
the gorgeous Mexico City ICC Building!


The third floor auditorium in the Mexico City
building was just big enough for the
Leadership Workshop!

 

In attendance were approximately 200 Americans – 120 were leaders graciously brought by Tim and Lianne Kernan from the Pac Rim Tribe World Sector! As well, about 75 Mexican Leaders were in attendance! Dr. Raul Moreno gave the first speech entitled, AN OPEN HEART! Most of the Evangelists were cut by Raul’s fourth point, When Raising Up Leaders, Expect To Lose Them Quickly!


At the Leadership Workshop, 300 packed the
auditorium! Visiting disciples were in awe
of the beauty of the building!

 
Following this tremendous sermon were several charges on LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES OF THE HEART: The Heart To Learn by Hector and Adriana Gomez of Mexico City, The Heart To Teach by José and Daniela Otero of Monterrey, The Heart To Train Others In Righteousness by Ricky and Coleen Challinor of LA, The Heart Behind Correcting by Joel and Courtney Parlour of Seattle, The Heart Of Being Thoroughly Equipped by Jason and Sarah Dimitry of San Francisco, and The Heart For Confession And Atonement by Jared and Rachel McGee of LA! During this session, came perhaps the most quoted words of the conference concerning Bible Talks by Coleen Challinor, “It’s not okay to not have baptisms!”


The electrifying teachers for the LEADERSHIP
PRINCIPLES OF THE HEART each gave
five minute charges!

 
Following the close of this session around noontime, the International Delegates boarded buses to the Teotihuacán Pyramids! For the previous two years, Elena and I thoroughly enjoyed the bus ride with the disciples, climbing the pyramid, and the Mexican Buffet Dinner at the Gran Teocalli Restaurant! However, this time both of us were quite sick and needed to save ourselves for Friday!


Ron Harding – the Evangelist of the FORCE
Sector in LA – was so excited to have his
son Dylan with him for the Pyramid
Climb and the LAMC!


Where once human sacrifices were made to false
gods at the top of the Teotihuacán Pyramid of
the Sun – some 216 feet (65 meters) high –
the LAMC Delegates prayed and then
sang Dios Tu Pueblo Canta (God
The People Praise You)!


The Aztec Dancers at the Gran Teocalli
Restaurant were mesmerizing!

 
On Friday, Tim and Lianne Kernan gathered all of the Church Leaders in the Pac Rim Tribe World Sector for a four hour Training Session! Then at about 5:30PM, a 7.2 earthquake hit 200 miles south of us in Oaxaca! We still felt it very strongly and as a matter of fact, all of the buildings in Mexico City had mandatory evacuations! Since the earthquake had paralyzed the city with everyone in the streets, the First General Session started over an hour late at around 8:30PM. Yet, the LAMC Participants were all the more fired up as we remembered Acts 4:31, when after the disciples had prayed for great boldness, God answered with an earthquake and the Bible simply reads, “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly!” After a rousing Welcome and an International Prayer, we witnessed a terrific Opening Video on reviving a frozen heart!


Opening night at the LAMC was held in another
venue that Gustavo owns!

Quite creatively, for the LAMC Registration, all of the Registration Staff were wearing doctor’s coats and stethoscopes signifying that we were all undergoing “major heart surgery” by attending the LAMC!


Daniela – like all the other Registration Staff – wore a
doctors coat and a stethoscope signifying that
all LAMC Participants were undergoing
“major heart surgery!”

 
Following the phenomenal video by José Otero, Elena and I shared Good News From Around The World!


The McKeans shared Good News
From Around The World!

Then the Mexico City Teen Ministry put on a dance performance that none of us will ever forget, which ended in the Parade of Flags of Central and South America!


The Dance Performance and Flag Ceremony
conducted by the Mexico City Teen
Ministry blew everyone away!


Ricky and Coleen Challinor (left) – the Movement’s
Overseeing Couple for Teen Ministry – call
Mexico City’s Teen Ministry the model
for the entire Movement!

 
After this, we saw the Kingdom Appointments of Kwaku and Ashley Sarkodie of San Francisco!


Kwuaku and Ashley Sarkodie of San Francisco
were appointed Evangelist and Women’s
Ministry Leader by Jason and
Sarah Dimitry!

 
That evening, Cory Blackwell of Chicago closed out this momentous day with the sermon, THE GREAT PHYSICIAN! Cory opened his lesson by asking the question, “Do you remember how sick you were as a non-Christian?”


Cory preached on THE GREAT PHYSICIAN sharing
that he needed healing not only as a non-
Christian, but also as a wounded
remnant disciple!

 
On Saturday morning, we gathered for the Second General Session! Dr. Tim Kernan delivered a tremendous lesson entitled, DISCIPLES AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART! Tim began his lesson with the words, “The God who invented fire, speed, lions and sharks wants to talk to you about His heart for forceful advancement!”


In Tim’s lesson, DISCIPLES AFTER GOD’S OWN
HEART, Tim did a marvelous job in sharing
the history of  “Christianity”
through the ages!

Then we heard charges on The Heart Of MERCY by Nick and Denise Bordieri, The Heart Of A Shepherd by Philippe Scheidecker of Mexico City and Travis and Cecy Frazier of LA, and The Heart Of Finances by Nick and Jacque Economo of LA!


The MERCY Morning at the LAMC!

Leaders from all over the USA Section of the Tribe
World Sector gathered for fellowship and
discipling! The Causeys have been such
an inspiration to the Parlours
(center) of Seattle!

 
Then to close out the morning, we broke into Men’s and Women’s Sessions on THE HEART OF THE CHURCH – BIBLE TALKS! That afternoon, special classes were offered and perhaps most talked about was Carlos Mejia’s lesson on, DARKNESS TO LIGHT – OVERCOMING ABUSE!


The speakers for the Women’s Session on BIBLE
TALKS: Rachel, Lynda, Emma, Lucy, Debbie,
Myrna, Sarah and Lianne!

 
On Saturday evening was the much anticipated Kingdom Banquet! The food was amazing and the Mariachis were even better!


The Mariachi dazzled everyone at the
Kingdom Banquet… including
the Mexican Disciples!


Professional dancers gave a show
while the Mariachi played their
uptempo music!


The dessert was delicious frozen fruit…
But as Lynda would later discover,
it was not “fruit that will last!”

Although I consider this the most difficult time to preach, as many people are quite distracted and tired, Carlos Mejia preached on PRECIOUS BLOOD and humorously shared about different personalities being one of four colors – red, yellow, blue and green! To conclude, Carlos challenged us from the Scriptures that our differences need to be overcome if we as true disciples are to be a united witness to a lost world!


Carlos through much needed humor called all
disciples to be totally unified because of
Jesus’ PRECIOUS BLOOD!

 
To cap this amazing evening, there was a Family Pure Dance!


Carlos asked everyone who had been
married 40 years or more to dance
on the dance floor first…


Then the “younger couples” who had “ONLY” been
married 30 years were called – such as the
Limons (Cesar and Miguel’s parents),
and the Causeys!

 
For various reasons, the Fourth General Session – The Congregational Sunday Worship Service – was scheduled to begin at 2:00PM! At this epic service of 447 in attendance, the singing was incredible as we sang mostly in Spanish, but some in English! Then came the touching Kingdom Appointments of Miguel and Myrna Limon! The Limons lead the Movement’s Model Teen Ministry in Mexico City, which now numbers 25 sold-out disciples!


Standing ovations accompanied Carlos’ and Lucy’s
words of encouragement, as they appointed
Miguel and Myrna as an Evangelist
and a Women’s Ministry Leader!


Cesar’s and Miguel’s father was very proud that
both of his sons are Evangelists!

 
Communion and Contribution were beautifully done by Salvador and Patricia Velasco of LA and Daniel and Patty Granger of LA, respectively! After a short break, the Mexico City Teens once more dazzled the entire LAMC with another heartsy Special Dance Presentation!


Priscilla (right) and Daniela – the daughters of the
Velascos who presided over Communion – were
so inspired by the Mexico City Teen Ministry!

 
The keynote address was CONVICTION OF THE HEART! My opening text was the account of Hosea and Gomer and how God was like Hosea who took back His fallen bride Gomer – who is parallel to us! My two points were simply, Grace Motivates and Grace Does Not Negotiate!


In the denominational world, for many grace is
cheap. This is a complete misunderstanding!
Grace cost God everything! This needs to
be our CONVICTION OF THE HEART!

 
The service closed with nine baptisms, two restorations and one place membership! Yet that did not really tell the whole story, because just a couple days before, four others were baptized! Therefore, for that week, God blessed the Mexico City Church with 16 additions making them 193 disciples strong!


For the closing song, all of the LAMC Delegates
came together arm-in-arm bonded by
memories they will take
into Heaven!

Everyone walked away from this incredible Missions Conference with the Great Physician removing our “hearts of stone, and giving us a new heart of flesh!” (Ezekiel 36:26) And to God be all the glory!
 
FAMILY NEWS
São Paulo: Congratulations to Tulio Amaral and Vaítsa Haratsaris on their engagement! They serve as Sector Leaders in the East Region of the São Paulo Church! Both Tulio and Vaítsa shared the same sentiment about their engagement while serving in church leadership, “We are feeling inexpressible joy!”


Congratulations to Tulio and Vaitsa!

Also from São Paulo, another couple was engaged! Congratulations to Vini Rodrigues de Souza and Bia Hida! Amazingly, they met about eight years ago in high school, and then started dating in college! They broke up to become disciples four years ago, and then dated in the Kingdom for two times, two years apart. Amazingly, the way that Vini and Bia conducted themselves in the Kingdom inspired both of Vini’s parents to become disciples! They now lead the South Region of the São Paulo Church! Bia says, “Being engaged is a constant reminder of how much grace God has given us!”


Danilo and Carol (right) celebrated
Vini’s and Bia’s big moment!

 

Rio de Janeiro: Congratulations to Caio Costa and Carol Placco – the Rio de Janeiro Church Leaders – who were recently engaged and Lord willing will be married in April!


Caio and Carol worked together so well helping with
the ICCM Diplomas! Their teamwork carried over
this week in their leadership of the Rio Church,
as on Sunday God blessed them with five
baptisms and one restoration!

 
A fourth Brazilian engagement happened at the end of the Women’s Program of the South American Missions Conference when Valdemar Monteiro got on his knee to ask Fernanda Gomes to be his wife! In tears, she said, “Yes!” very quickly!


Congratulations to Valdemar and Fernanda!

San Francisco: San Francisco witnessed the incredible wedding of Emmanuel “Manny” and Adina Alberto! They dated in the world but then Adina studied the Bible in March of 2015 and broke it off with “Manny” and was baptized! Manny then studied the Bible with Jason Dimitry and was baptized two months later! They now serve diligently as the San Francisco Kingdom Kids Coordinators!


Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Alberto!
 

Seattle: Owen Hartley and Letecha Dixon were engaged on December 30, 2017 – a grand finale answered “impossible prayer” in the Year of the Impossible!
 

Congratulations to an incredible
couple – Owen and Letecha!

Las Vegas: Congratulations to Arvind and Yine Patel who were married by Jason Dimitry on February 25th! This was a particularly exciting wedding as Arvind and Yine were some of the first converts in Las Vegas back in 2013 when the church was planted by the Dimitrys! 


Congratulations to Arvind and Yine Patel!

 
Stockholm: On January 17th, our dear sister Anna Karlsson went on to glory after a short and intense battle with cancer. Working as Dr. Erik af Klint’s nurse, she became a disciple during the remnant group days of the Stockholm Church. Anna was dearly loved by all in the church for her sense of humor, hospitality and character. One of Anna’s favorite things was song leading in the Kingdom! We all miss her, but are looking forward to seeing her at the resurrection of the righteous! (John 11:25-26)


Praise God that our sister Anna is now
singing with the angels!

 
More news from Sweden… Baby Oliver Tambaur entered into this world on March 1st at 8:03AM at 3.45kg (7.6 pounds) and 52cm (20.6 inches)! He is a healthy, gorgeous baby! Baby Oliver, Ashley and Kaspar are all doing well!


Baby Oliver, welcome to your worldwide family!

 
Kiev: Alex Balitskiy and Alina Ignatchenko were engaged on New Year’s Eve in the Kiev Church!


Congratulations to Alex and Alina!

 
Orlando: Congratulations to Wayne Shaw and Larci Robinson on their recent engagement!


Congratulations to the happy couple –
Wayne and Larci!

 
Denver: Excitingly, our dear brother Adrian Garcia and sister Lidia Barrios were engaged in December and will become one in marriage on April 21, 2018! Adrian and Lidia were both baptized in the San Francisco Church and moved with Dustin and Amanda Miller to Denver last year! They have been tremendously instrumental in building the church of the Rocky Mountains, and we believe that they will continue to do “even greater things” as a married couple!


Let us be praying for Adrian and Lidia’s
wedding on April 21, 2018!

 
Gainesville: Greeting from the home of the University of Florida! It is bitter sweet to share that our dear sister, Sherry Beck, passed onto glory in late December 2017. Bill and Sherry Beck were pillars of the Gainesville Church, and Sherry had become a best friend to Tia Turner – the leader of the Gainesville Sisters. Bill valiantly stood by her side every day to ensure she was comfortable and ready for the Lord. A week before her passing, her last question to Tia was, “Can you read to me about Heaven?” Lastly, please pray for Bill who was “blown by the Spirit” to Honolulu to be a part of our sister church there and to live with his son Jeremy Beck and his family.


Bill and Sherry Beck (left) – before Sherry passed
on to glory – were dear friends of Marcel and
Tia Turner (right), who lead the Gainesville
Church, and Dr. Luan Solomon,
who Bill baptized last year!
LOCAL LA NEWS
Lianne Kernan – Lead Women’s Ministry Leader of LA: Greetings Family from your valiant sisters here in the City of Angels International Christian Church! A wise man once said, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) Well, the sisters in LA have something better than charm and beauty; we had UNFADING BEAUTY as the first round of Women’s Days began this weekend in seven of our 12 LA Regions!

The timeless theme for the City of Angels
Church Women’s Days was UNFADING
BEAUTY in all 12 Regions!

 

Praise God, Lianne Kernan – the Women’s Ministry
Leader of the City of Angels Church – has done a
tremendous job organizing all 12 Women’s
Days and delivered a “sermon for the
ages” for the West Region
Women’s Day!

The amazing women in the Antelope Valley Region and the beautiful sisters in the West Region led the way this past Saturday! Our dear sister Julie Clark of San Francisco preached powerfully in the Antelope Valley, and I was so honored to be able to speak in the West! From the decorations to the testimonials, the interpretive dance and the incredible baptisms, all of the visitors were so moved and inspired!


At the AV Women’s Day Fashion Show,
Sam Massman (third from the left)
wore her mother’s Indian
heritage outfit
!


In her testimony, Mik Mengija cheerfully reflected
on the hope that God restored in her life!


Julie Clark inspired the 28 disciple women of the
AV Region and their 102 visitors as well!


The Lord answered the prayer of Karen Maciel – the
Co-Editor of the Good News Email – to bless the
West Region Women’s Day “beyond anything
they could ask or imagine!”


Coleen Challinor – the charismatic West Region
Women’s Ministry Leader – introduced the
three women who shared their
testimonies: Kerri-Sue,
Frida and Alexys!


In the West Region, a beautiful interpretive dance
was performed by Precious, Jazmin and Kaitlin!

Then this past Sunday, the mighty women of the Metro Heights, AMS, Inland Empire, Ventura and East Regions gathered in their respective regions for incredible Women’s Days that had such an unforgettable impact on all who attended! My mother in the faith Dr. Elena Garcia McKean inspired the women in Metro Heights!


Emma Causey and Elena – the keynote speaker
for the Metro Heights Women’s Day – are
expecting God to give them much
fruit from the day!


The 59 sisters in the Metro Heights Region had a
packed house of 156 in attendance!


Melinda Contreras (second from the left) is the
Woman Leader of the Indianapolis
Remnant Group!

In the AMS Region, Lauren Ona marvelously directed her very first Women’s Day! Therese Untalan – LA’s dear Shepherdess – was the key speaker for the women of the AMS!


Lauren Ona was outstanding in directing her very
first Women’s Day for the AMS Region!


Kristin welcomed to the AMS Region Chantelle –
her “big” sister (6’9″), who is a former WNBA
player! Chantelle is a motivational speaker
and now a part-time intern for the AMS!


As Heather sung Scars To Your Beautiful,
Jasminn used her talents to glorify
God in dance!


Therese Untalan was the keynote speaker for the
AMS, as she was Miss Guam in 1985!


The AMS Sisters were so fired up
for Dakota at her baptism!

Sarah Dimitry – my partner in the Gospel and the Women’s Ministry Leader of the great San Francisco Church – spoke powerfully to the Inland Empire, and Julie Clark delighted the women in Ventura!
 


Brittany – the Coachella Valley Region Leader,
Krystal – the San Bernardino Sector Leader,
Sarah – the San Francisco Church Leader,
and Rachel – the IE Region Leader,
huddled to conduct the
IE Women’s Day!


Sarah preached a heartfelt lesson
on UNFADING BEAUTY!


Morgan (left) led the Ventura Women’s Day
with the guidance of Patricia (center)
and Cecy!

Lastly, Margie Hamula preached her first keynote address at a Women’s Day to her amazing women in the East Region!


Margie inspired the faithful 27 East Women to
have an astounding attendance of 102!


Patti Deaves – Cassidy Olmos’ mom – participated
in the East Region Women’s Day, which was the
first Women’s Day that she has come to in
Cassidy’s seven years as a disciple…
and she won the Raffle!

And so, for 262 sisters present at the seven Women’s Days this weekend, their total attendance was an astonishing 787 with 10 women getting baptized and making their good confession, “Jesus Is Lord!” Truly God blessed the efforts of the women here in LA!


Vonisha – a student at Cal State San Bernardino –
was baptized in the IE’s beautiful rose
petal covered baptistry!

I would be remiss if I did not lift up the brothers that helped this weekend, as they poured themselves out by serving, ushering, fasting and many of them bringing visitors for our Women’s Days to bring glory to God! Praise God that we have such amazing brothers who lead us and encourage us as we fight to bring as many souls to Christ as possible!
 


The remarkable brothers of the Metro Heights
Region served at the Women’s Day
with incredible zeal!


Under Ricky Challinor, the West Region Brothers
bonded through serving at the incredible
West Women’s Day!

I cannot wait to see what God does this coming weekend in the remaining five Women’s Days in the Orange County, Central, South, Coachella Valley and North Regions! Stay tuned, because God is not through yet!
 

EDITORIAL
A New Every Other Year Format For The GLC
The dates for the 2018 Global Leadership Conference (GLC) have been finalized for August 16-19, 2018 at the Anaheim Convention Center! Anaheim – which is a city in Metro Los Angeles – was the site for the 2016 GLC! Rooms have been reserved at the Sheraton Hotel just a three minute walk from the Anaheim Convention Center! Further details will be coming soon! I wanted to add – as a bit of an incentive to come to this year’s GLC – that there will not be a GLC next year in 2019! We will go into a new format of having a GLC every other year!
 

VICTORIOUS was the inspirational theme for the 2017
GLC! This year we want to do the GLC on the Holy
Spirit! Therefore, if you have an idea for the
theme, and we select your theme, you will
receive free registration to the 2018
GLC! Please send your idea to
kip@usd21.org!
So after this year, our next GLC will be August 2020! This way, particularly American Disciples can save their money to attend Geographic Missions Conferences which will continue to be held on a yearly basis. Here is our list for this year:
 

South American Missions Conference: February 2-4th in São Paulo!
Latin American Missions Conference: February 15-18th in Mexico City!
Pac Rim Missions Conference: April 5-8th in Manila!
South Asia Missions Conference: April 19-22nd in Chennai!
Eurasian Missions Conference: May 18-20th in Moscow!
African Missions Conference: June 22-24th in Lagos!
European Missions Conference: October 25-28th in London!
Austral-China Missions Conference: November 2-4th in Sydney!

 
Lord willing, in late 2019, there will be a new Middle East Missions Conference in Dubai!

 

Kip and Elena are looking forward to seeing many
of you at the 2018 GLC and even more of you
at the Geographic Missions Conferences!
 
Let’s be keeping all the churches in our prayers! And to God be all the glory!
We are family… by God’s amazing grace,
Kip

Copyright © 2018 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

Good News Email – 3.8.18

Good News Email – 3.8.18


All content within this email is for the intended recipient only. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution and/or copy is a violation of applicable laws.

March 8, 2018

Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear Friend,
Greetings from Manila, Stockholm, Orlando, São Paulo, Mexico City and LA! Indeed, this has been a very busy two months of travel for Elena and me! In Manila, we spent two weeks as we introduced Richie and Elizabeth McDonnell as the new Metro Manila Church Leaders, and helped them conduct their New Year’s Workshop! Following, Elena headed home and I continued on to preach in the great Stockholm and Orlando Churches! Then Elena and I traveled to São Paulo on January 27th for the World Sector Leaders Retreat and the incredible 2018 South American Missions Conference (SAMC), where the Quito Mission Team was sent out! After returning to LA for a few days, we then flew on February 13th to Mexico City for the thrilling 2018 Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC)! So exciting that with the plantings of Albuquerque, New Mexico last Sunday and Quito, Ecuador, God’s SoldOut Movement has multiplied from the 42 Portland Disciples that planted the City of Angels Church in May 2007 to now almost 6,000 disciples in 91 churches in 35 nations on all 6 populated continents of the world! Truly this is not merely a movement of men, it is the very Movement of God! And to God be all the glory!


The SoldOut Movement World Sector Leaders
boarded a bus in
São Paulo to travel to
Campos do Jordão for their retreat
before the SAMC!

 
HEADLINE NEWS
Joshua Christensen – Lead Evangelist of Albuquerque: Greetings from beautiful New Mexico! The Holy Spirit sent out the Albuquerque (ABQ) Mission Team on Sunday, January 7th at the City of Angels Church Winter Workshop!


Upside down globes have been given for each
member of a Crown of Thorns Project Mission
Team! Now, for OPERATION EAGLE Mission
Teams, an eagle carrying the American flag
will be given to each team member!


Tim and Lianne Kernan – the Pac Rim Tribe World
Sector Leaders – stood proudly beside the bold
Albuquerque Mission Team!

Since that time, the team has secured housing, jobs and one baptism – Izaac Pacheco, a student at Central New Mexico University!


Congratulations to Izaac – the first baptism
of the Albuquerque ICC!

 
Amazingly, for our Inaugural Service, the 13 ABQ Disciples saw God bring 147 in attendance! We were blessed to have 29 disciples from Denver, 27 from Phoenix, 10 from LA, 26 children in Kid’s Kingdom, and 42 adult guests – 3 to 1 visitors to ABQ Disciples! For this historic day, we were especially honored to have in attendance the World Sector Leaders: Tim Kernan, Tony Untalan, Nick Bordieri and Michael Kirchner!


The SoldOut Movement Shepherds – Nick Bordieri
and Tony Untalan – gave the opening prayer for
the Albuquerque Inaugural Service!


For the Inaugural, Joshua Christensen delivered an
inspirational sermon entitled, THE PROMISE!

Another highlight is that as a Movement – through OPERATION EAGLE – we are now in 17 of the 50 States in the USA!


Lord willing, at the 2018 GLC, two more
OPERATION EAGLE Mission Teams
will be sent out – Columbus, Ohio
and Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

 
Richie McDonnell – Lead Evangelist of Metro Manila: Greetings from Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, Philippines! It has been an incredible first 61 days in the Philippines! Elizabeth, Sawyer, Lucy, Nathalie and I arrived in Manila on January 4th, warmly welcomed by so many of the brothers and sisters of the Metro Manila International Christian Church (MMICC)!


Richie, Elizabeth, Sawyer, Lucy and “Baby Nathalie”
McDonnell were given a SoldOut Movement
Welcome when the Manila Disciples
sang, We Love You With The
Love Of The Lord!

 
Drs. Kip and Elena McKean arrived that same evening, and they immediately began to introduce us to all of the incredible leaders in the MMICC over the next couple of days. Then they officially introduced us to the church at that Friday night’s Congregational Devotional!


Kip and Elena welcomed RJ Castro back home to
the Manila Church Family, which he helped
to plant in June 2015!


The McKeans then welcomed Carlos Robielos as
another new intern for the MMICC!


The McDonnells, RJ and Carlos were graciously
given barongs as their “welcoming gifts”
by the MMICC!


The McDonnells were formally introduced to JC and
Rosas – the MMICC East Region Leaders!


As a symbol of the abundant fruit in the Philippines
that the McDonnells’ Ministry will bear, Elena
offered Richie and Elizabeth the tastiest
mangoes in the world!

Our first Sunday Service on January 7th with the MMICC was incredible! Elizabeth shared for Communion, the McKeans shared for Contribution, and I preached my first sermon of 2018, entitled, MEN AND WOMEN WHO DREAM taken from Psalm 126! To conclude the lesson, I called the MMICC to dream for the evangelization of all 17 cities of Metro Manila, the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, and all 11 countries of South East Asia!


Richie and Elizabeth fell in love with the MMICC
at their very first Sunday Worship Service!


Richie moved the hearts of all in attendance
with the sermon, MEN AND WOMEN
WHO DREAM!


The January 14th MMICC Bulletin featured
Richie’s article, By The Grace Of God,
which emphasized the SoldOut
Movement’s Year of Grace!

 
During the next week, Kip took Carlos Robielos, RJ Castro and Elizabeth and me to “spy out the land” at many of the key campuses! Most impressive were the University of Philippines (UP), Ateneo and the Intramuros Campuses!


Carlos Robielos gets around the massive University
of Philippines Campus by jeepney!

Then, the following weekend was our New Year’s Workshop, titled STRONG IN THE GRACE! It was a phenomenal time of faithful preaching, encouragement and spiritual revival for all of the brothers and sisters! It was also great having John and Anna Malnegro – the Metro Cebu ICC Leaders – and 15 others from the Metro Cebu ICC participate in the New Year’s Workshop in Manila! 


The theme for the MMICC New Year’s Workshop
was STRONG IN THE GRACE!


Several Manila Disciples went to the airport to
welcome the 17 Cebu Disciples!


On Saturday morning, Richie and Elizabeth met with
the Campus Interns of both Manila and Cebu
to ensure a strong start for 2018!


The McKeans introduced the gallant Cebu Church
Leaders – John and Anna Malnegro –
to the McDonnells!

 
At the conclusion of the New Year’s Workshop, the MMICC took ahold of the challenge to see the Lord bring daily additions in the year of 2018! The Lord is beginning to answer this prayer as we had our first two baptisms of the year on Sunday, January 14th – Quennie Biongan (the younger sister of Felip) and Airi (the daughter of the Javiers)! And on that Sunday, we had 187 disciples! So we are quickly gaining momentum! So after our first crazy 61 days, we are now at 223 disciples, which is a growth of 36 disciples through 8 place memberships, 5 restorations and 24 baptisms… and sadly, one fall away! And to God be the glory!


At the Glorietta Mall, Kip bumped into the Javier
Family – Francis and Liza and their children Airi
and Aaron – the day before Airi was baptized!


Felip – a UP Intern – had his beloved little sister
Quennie fly from the Island of Mindanao to
participate in the New Year’s Workshop!
Three days later Quennie was
baptized! A week after that,
she moved to Manila!


Quennie and Airi – the first two baptisms
of 2018 in the Philippines!


Quennie and Airi were baptized at exactly the same
moment, making them true spiritual twins!

 
To really get the Metro Manila Campus Ministry off to a great start for 2018, I gathered all of the Campus Interns and leaders at the Old Manila Campuses of Intramuros to set an example of a model Bible Talk. We all met together in a park beside the Intramuros Campuses at 6:00AM for a time of prayer, and then we shared our faith for two hours on the campuses! Then we had our Bible Talk! Incredibly, the Lord blessed the efforts of the 24 disciples by giving us 38 visitors at our first Bible Talk of the semester! 


Richie’s plan to set an example of a model Campus
Bible Talk in Intramuros was blessed by God
as 24 disciples had 38 visitors!

 
Two weeks after the New Year’s Workshop, the MMICC had our Bring Your Neighbor Day on January 28th, where we were fasting and praying for the Lord to break our record attendance! Amazingly, after only two weeks of fasting, prayer and sharing our faith, the Lord blessed our faith and deeds, giving the then 194 disciples of the MMICC a record attendance of 424!


Richie and Elizabeth have brought “real
class” to the Manila Staff!

 
After four weeks in Metro Manila, Elizabeth and I flew 350 miles (570 km) to Metro Cebu to encourage the church there and spend time with John and Anna Malnegro! After an incredible welcome by the disciples at the airport on Friday afternoon, we gathered for a Congregational Devotional that evening! Then on Sunday, the Metro Cebu ICC had their Bring Your Neighbor Day! 32 disciples had an amazing attendance of 112, and three souls were baptized into Christ!


On their first visit to Cebu, the McDonnells were given
a fired up SoldOut Movement Welcome
by the Cebu Disciples!

 
Today, Sunday March 4th, the Metro Manila Church hosted its very first Women’s Day with the theme ELEVATE! Astonishingly, with 114 Metro Manila Sisters, God blessed them with an attendance of 358! As well, there were three baptisms and one restoration at our Women’s Day! I was so proud of my wife Elizabeth and all of my Metro Manila Sisters for hosting this awesome event!

 


God blessed the unity of the MMICC Sisters at
their First Women’s Day as 114 sisters
had 358 in attendance!

 
Please keep not only the churches in the Philippines in your prayers, but also our upcoming Pacific Rim Missions Conference (PRMC) on April 5-8, 2018! This year’s exciting theme is STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! All of the speeches and classes are on the Book of Joshua, as Joshua led God’s people to conquer the Promised Land!


The exciting theme of the 2018 PRMC is from the
Book of Joshua, STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

The PRMC will be held at Hotel Jen, Pasay City, Metro Manila. (The link to discounted rates will be posted soon!) However, you can register now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-pac-rim-missions-conference-strong-courageous-april-5th-8th-tickets-43260086082.
 
Mark Garrido – Overseeing Evangelist for the Hawaiian Islands and Guam: Greetings from the “Surf Sector” of the Pacific Rim Tribe World Sector, which our dear leader Tim Kernan refers to as “Surf and Turf” – the “Turf Sector” being the Western USA and Canada! 


Mark and Keri Garrido – the Overseeing Ministry
Couple for the Hawaiian Islands and Guam –
are spearheading a terrific revival
in the Islands!

 
This past Sunday in Honolulu on the Island of Oahu, the Lord blessed us with an incredible “one for one” visitors at our Bring Your Neighbor Day Service! Of special note was the emotional restoration of our brother Alex Pangelinan – the first cousin to Zach Shields of our Metro Manila Church! During one of our Bible Studies, I will never forget what Alex shared, “I AM BLIND BUT NOW I CAN TRULY SEE!” Alex went on to say, “My blindness will not stop me from living out the vision of Jesus!” After service, we had an incredible potluck and many friends who visited for the first time did Bible Studies!


Although he is blind, Alex heroically
shared, “My blindness will not
stop me from living out the
vision of Jesus!”

 
Kona – which is on the West Shore of the Big Island – also had an incredible restoration, Alexander Aehegma!


During his restoration, Alexander felt the
love of God through the love of
the Kona Disciples!

 
At the Kona Church, Souvi and Parmina Kiona heard the Word of the Lord and saw that they were not pleasing God by living together in a sinful way. After repentance, Souvi and Parmina were married by David Kelly and now have been added by baptism to God’s great Kingdom!


Congratulations to Souvi and Parmina on their
new marriage and even more so, in
their new lives in Christ!

 
In Hilo – which is on the East Shore of the Big Island – Maddie, like her older teen sister in the Directo Family, was baptized! The whole family encouraged Maddie with leis around her neck to say, “We love you with love of the Lord!” GO TEEEEEEENS!


After Maddie’s baptism, her parents were
equally as jubilant as she was!

 
On February 11th, John Escano was baptized in the beautiful Island of Guam! John is the fourth baptism since the planting of the Guam ICC with just five remnant disciples joining only four disciples on the mission team, who were sent out at the 2017 GLC!


At the September 2017 Guam ICC Inaugural,
there were only nine disciples! With the
addition of John, their fourth baptism,
they have grown by 44%
in five months!

 
Please continue to pray for the “Surf Sector” as many are about to enter the surf!

Mike Patterson – Lead Evangelist of Boston: In the last five weeks, God has given us eight additions – five baptisms and three place memberships from the Charlotte Remnant Group! Chenelle and I have been so encouraged by our new partnership in the Gospel with Luke and Brandyn Speckman as they just began discipling us a month ago!


The Boston ICC had 156 for their Bring
Your Neighbor Day!


Harvard University T-shirts were presented to Luke
and Brandyn Speckman – the new Overseeing
Ministry Couple for Boston!

Today, our service was themed Never Enough from a song in The Greatest Showman! Special performances of the song Never Enough by Janah Dawson and From Now On by David Rydstedt and the choir amazed us all! Luke’s sermon A MILLION DREAMS inspired us to dream big for God and build the church to 140 by the end of the year! Brandyn gave her Communion based off the song This Is Me and for one of the only times I can remember, there was a standing ovation for Communion! God gave us for our Bring Your Neighbor Day today our highest attendance ever as a church of 156! Highlights of the day included the baptisms of Carter, a freshman Harvard student, and Heidi, a Suffolk student!


As a freshman at Harvard, Carter became
a Prayer Warrior for Jesus!


Heidi – a Suffolk Co-ed – now looks to
God to guide her steps!

Other good news is that we had ICCM a week ago on the Harvard University Campus, as the college now lets us use these amazing rooms for free! We will also be having our first Friday Campus Devotional at Harvard! This should be a permanent location for us!

Chi Leong – Lead Evangelist of Hong Kong: Greetings from China! 2018 has been awesome so far as we had our first Chinese New Year Church Service! The Lord generously blessed us with a total attendance of 31 including 7 disciples!


The Hong Kong Disciples prepared for Chinese
New Year on February 16th!

At the Chinese New Year Service, the
seven Hong Kong Disciples had
31 in attendance!

 

Also on the first day of the Lunar New Year, God allowed us to baptize a Filipino woman named Shaineh!


The Hong Kong Disciples were so encouraged by
Shaineh’s baptism!

 
Sadly, late last year, my amazing co-leader for the women – Naomi Radnaabazar – was not allowed to return to Hong Kong because of visa issues since she is from Mongolia. Although we miss her dearly, we are so excited that the City of Angels Church is graciously sending Alicia Winthein to help the women for three months starting April 1st! We look forward to all the great things God will continue to do in Hong Kong!


Knowing she was going to Hong Kong, Alicia’s
passion for foreign missions increased all the
more at the LAMC in Mexico City!

 
Cory Blackwell – Overseeing Evangelist of Dubai: My good news is Miguel Mendez! After we attended the Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC) in Mexico City, Miguel and I flew directly to Dubai so that I could introduce him to the church! Miguel has taken to Dubai like it has been his home for years! He had visitors at church the very first day, which was his first sermon too! It was incredible to see Miguel so bold and confident in the Lord!


God has selected the three Middle East
Musketeers – RD, Cory and Miguel –
to evangelize one of the most
difficult World Sectors!


The fiery Dubai Church on the first
Friday that Miguel preached!

He has one awesome young man named Aris past the Light and Darkness Study, who is poised to be baptized Lord willing on Friday! I am so happy with the way that the Dubai Church Leaders – RD and April Baker – have received him with love and care. Megan Mathews arrives in Dubai in one month to be April’s right hand sister!


John Tuason – a member of the original Dubai
Mission Team – baptized Bijay!

The Dubai Brothers warmly
embraced Bijay!

 
So amazing to think that just 14 months ago, there were but 13 disciples in Dubai. Yet during that time through the power of the Holy Spirit, God has given them 33 baptisms – four already in 2018!


Charie (second from the right) was baptized in the
Persian Gulf by Anna, Marina and Angel!

 
RD, April, Miguel, Jee and I are so very grateful for all of the sacrifices and generosity shown to the Dubai Church by our USA Churches that keep our mission dreams alive in the Middle East!
 
Jason Dimitry – Lead Evangelist of San Francisco: Greetings from the Bay Area! 2018 is off to a triumphant start! Our goal as a church this year is to have 150 additions! The Lord blessed us with exactly 100 additions in the calendar year of 2017, and so we are faithful that God will do “even greater things” in 2018! It has been eight weeks and we are sitting at 16 additions thus far – 15 baptisms and 1 restoration! A highlight of these first two months was the sending out of the Hayward House Church at our Bay Area Winter Workshop in January!


The Hayward House Church was sent off by the
Holy Spirit at the Bay Area Winter Workshop
on January 7th!

We sent out 10 incredible disciples led by Fred Palmer and Jenora Cooper, two non-fulltime ministry people, and they just had their first two baptisms last Sunday!


Noe – the cousin of Pete Wade of Sydney – and
Monique were the first two baptisms
of the Hayward House Church!

Anthony Olmos – Lead Evangelist of Paris: Greetings from the City of Lights! When we arrived in Paris from London with the five disciple Supplemental Mission Team, there were 13 disciples in the Paris Church! With these 18 disciples, God blessed us with 61 at our Inaugural Service on October 8th! Since that time, even though I was in the hospital on two separate occasions late last year, the Spirit has given us seven baptisms and one restoration! The zealous Paris Church is now 26 fired up disciples!


The valiant Paris Supplemental Mission Team
was led by the indomitable Anthony
and Cassidy Olmos!

Two of the amazing baptisms have been in 2018! The first was Dr. Michele Wokem, who has her PhD in Pharmaceutical Studies! She battled her emotions and pride for weeks. We knew she was ready when at our House Church Service she stood up and said, “I don’t ever want to let my logic or pride get in the way of Jesus’ truth! I want to be baptized for real today!” Her act of faith was so moving that it inspired our now brother Lilian Dalin to be baptized the following week! Lilian had been coming out for months and was even giving his tithe, but he was afraid to commit. One act of faith changed it all!


The two most recent baptisms of the Paris Church
are Lilian and Michele (center)!

Keep us in your prayers as we have Women’s Day on March 25th with the title, Tout Commence Par Un Rêve! (Everything Starts With A Dream!)


Please pray for the Women’s Day in Paris
entitled, Tout Commence Par Un Rêve!
(Everything Starts With A Dream!)

Joe Willis – Lead Evangelist of Sydney: Greetings from the “Land Down Under!” 2018 has been a great year so far as we launched a two month “Big Bang” Evidences Campaign that has seen the church grow from 48 to 56 disciples! Included in this time was our Annual All Night Prayer with 14 visitors in attendance and ending in the baptism of Schuster from Shenzeng – which will be our first Mainland China Planting in 2020! We also had our Annual Chinese New Year Service with exactly 100 in attendance!


Mark and Lan (who was originally baptized
in LA) did the Welcome at Sydney’s
Annual Chinese Service!
 

Three very faith-building baptisms were: Arm, our first Thai Brother; Daniel, the best friend of Dom our German Intern, who was only visiting for a holiday; and Jessi, the best friend of India, who had just come off a 14 nation missionary journey for the denominational group Youth With A Mission!


India (left) baptized her great friend Jessi who
moved to Sydney after the Chinese Service!

 

This Sunday, we had an amazing 86 in attendance! After service, Hiroshi, who studied in Shanghai in English School but speaks Mandarin, was baptized! He also carries a New Zealand passport and is only 19 years old!


Hiroshi was met at the University of Hawaii Manoa
three weeks before his visa expired, and praise
God, his New Zealand passport allowed him to
move to Sydney where he was baptized!

 
Elena Sirotkina – Lead Women’s Ministry Leader of Moscow: We are very happy to welcome a new couple into the Moscow Church Family – Denis and Julia! Denis first came to know about the church six years ago, but under the pressure of persecution from his family, Denis stopped studying the Bible. However, the disciples did not stop praying for him, and a little more than a month ago, Denis came to church, and wanted to become a disciple once again! Yet Denis faced a challenge – he had to tell his wife of his decision! When he finally shared it, Julia called him out on being quiet about his wish to study the Bible, and said that now she wants to study the Bible also and be baptized! With great urgency, Denis and Julia studied the Scriptures and were baptized! Julia now sings in our choir, and Denis helps with the sound tech!


Praying to God for courage, Denis
reached out to his wife and they
were baptized on the same day!

 
Furthermore, we are happy to greet three young sisters who were baptized into the church – Eunice, Angelica and Milana!


Elena Sirotkina joyfully shared about Angelica
before her baptism!

  
After a strong spiritual influence of the World Sector Leaders Retreat and the South American Missions Conference in Brazil, Oleg – my awesome husband – and I are on fire for God! Upon returning home, we preached John 15 about the purification of our hearts through the Word of God and called the church to repent by returning to the high standard of the sold-out disciples of the first century! Today, the Moscow Church is united in fasting, daily sharing of faith, and prayers for not only daily baptisms, but also baptisms of future leaders to evangelize Eurasia in our generation! We are very grateful for God’s miracles of repentance and baptisms!
 
Alfredo Anuch – Lead Evangelist of Santiago: Greetings from Chile – literally “the ends of the earth!” Incredibly, in December, God initiated a new remnant group in South America – Lima, Peru, which currently numbers seven sold-out disciples!


Julio (left) studied the Bible through Facebook Video
Call with the Santiago Brothers! When he was ready
to be baptized, Aaron flew from Santiago to
Lima, Peru and baptized Julio on his
way to Bogotá!

 
Also very exciting for the Santiago Church, since it is summertime here when school is out and most take vacations, in the first two months of 2018, God has added 14 new souls!


Roosmery (left) and Mery enthusiastically rejoiced
with their new sister Valentina!

 
In early February, 35 disciples of our 200 members flew 2,600 km (1,600 miles) from Santiago to São Paulo to attend the best ever South American Missions Conference! During this event, God allowed my wife Alejandra and me to appoint two Chilean Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders: José and Pilar Vargas, who are Region Leaders, and Manuel and Claudia Palma, who are the Quito Mission Team Leaders! Keep the Quito Mission Team in your prayers as they are preparing for their Inaugural Service on March 11th!


Jose and Pilar (right) and Manuel and Claudia (left)
were appointed Evangelists and Women’s
Ministry Leaders respectively at the
SAMC by Alfredo and Alejandra!

Luke Speckman – Lead Evangelist of New York City: 2018 has kicked off with an exciting start for us! Firstly, we were able to increase our contribution and put Dao Henderson (formerly of Dubai) on Staff to co-lead the NYC Campus Ministry with her amazing boyfriend Nick Enfantino. Also, we put Jill Swan on Staff who co-leads the New Jersey Region with her incredible husband, Dave! Up to this point, Jill had been self-supported in the ministry with the earnings from their house and business sale in California! 


Mike and Chenelle Patterson of Boston traveled
200 miles (320 km) to New York City for
their first d-time with Luke and
Brandyn Speckman!

One of the most exciting developments that has happened this year is my approval as a Religious Life Advisor at Columbia University through the office of the University Chaplain! (Columbia is one of eight Ivy League Colleges, which includes Harvard and Yale! Presently, we have six students at Columbia!) I act as an officer for Columbia and have been given a Columbia ID and email, shared office space, and counseling hours so that I can spend time with students who need spiritual guidance! Essentially, I am given space in the Chaplain’s building with the expectation that I will do Bible Studies with students! This is obviously a very exciting opportunity and I have already made some incredible connections in the Columbia Community!


Earl Hall is one of the Chaplain’s buildings and this
is where Luke has an office space to study the
Bible with students! This is also where the
Manhattan Region has Midweek Services!


Luke (left) and Nick (right) finished doing the
Church Study with one of the
Columbia Students!

On a personal note, Brandyn and I are so proud of our 17 year old son, Malik! His high school won the State Championship in Basketball for the second year in a row! At 6’7″, Malik is the starting forward!


Congratulations to Malik – the son of Luke and
Brandyn – for winning his second straight
New York State High School
Basketball Championship!

Raja Rajan – Lead Evangelist of Chennai: Greetings from India! In the past eight weeks, God gave us 10 baptisms, of which eight of them were campus students! The Chennai Church now numbers 226 disciples strong!


Our new brother Immanuel is pursuing his PhD in
Commerce from the prestigious Madras
Christian College!

 


Later Immanuel helped to baptize his friend
Rajkamal, a Mechanical Engineer!

Let’s welcome our new sister Ani, who is in the
PhD Program in Sociology at Queen
Mary’s College!
 

Of special note is Kenvin who is just 17 years old and had intense persecution at home as he challenged even his grandpa of not being a Christian. His family (father, mother, sister and grandfather) were very upset and came to persecute the church as well as to stop the baptism. However, when they came to church, Kenvin’s entire family was blown away by the love, fellowship and the message! After the message, Kenvin’s father came up to me and said, “According to what you preached from the Scriptures, even I am not a Christian!” His father pleaded with me to not let his son drift away from this fellowship and then agreed to participate in his son’s joyful celebration! The entire family rejoiced at Kenvin’s decision!


Kenvin was baptized in spite of
severe persecution!

Kenvin’s younger cousin Celsia, who is doing her Engineering Degree, was so inspired by Kenvin’s convictions, that she too studied the Bible and was baptized!


Celsia (second from the right) was so inspired by
her cousin Kenvin’s courage that she too
was baptized into Christ!

Last Saturday, 110 disciples went to the Government Rehabilitation Centre, which is actually a Colony for Lepers that lies in the outskirts of Chennai. The disciples started at 6:00AM in the morning with fruits and biscuit packets to spend time with the “Untouchables” of society! Every disciple was moved and came back saying truly how grateful they were to God for their own lives!


The MERCY Ambassadors carried the needed
supplies for the Rehabilitation Centre!


Prathap – the new Chennai Church Leader –
instructed the MERCY Ambassadors
on that day’s activities!

 
Kamala (left) was so encouraged by receiving much
needed supplies, and even more so by the
love and encouragement of the
MERCY Ambassadors!


Yassa and her friend Ani had a great time
serving the poor and needy!

 

Lastly, we are very excited to announce the theme for the South Asia Missions Conference (SAMC) – UNSTOPPABLE! The Chennai Church will be hosting this historic event from April 19-22, 2018!


The inspirational theme for the
2018 SAMC is UNSTOPPABLE!

Lord willing, at the Sunday Service of the SAMC, 40 disciples will be sent off on the Delhi Mission Team giving us three churches in three of the five key cities of India! You may register for the SAMC at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-south-asian-missions-conference-unstoppable-april-19-22-tickets-43770522812!
 

MCKEANS’ MISSIONARY TRIPS
After spending the first two weeks of January working with our dear Metro Manila Church, Elena flew home, but I continued onto Stockholm for three days!


Kip was given a glorious SoldOut Movement
Welcome by the Stockholm Disciples and
the Sirotkins of Moscow – the Eurasian
World Sector Leaders!

At that same time, Oleg and Elena Sirotkin flew into Stockholm from Moscow as Scandinavia is in their Eurasian World Sector. As well, they asked our new Kiev Church Leader – Victor Masleanicov – to come for the meetings! Warmly receiving all of us were the incredible new leaders of the Stockholm Church – Kaspar and Ashley Tambaur!


On Monday evening, when Kip arrived in Stock-
holm, there was no snow on the ground, but
things drastically changed over night! This
was the beautiful view from his hotel
room on Tuesday afternoon!

On Tuesday night, the Tambaurs and the
Sirotkins were fired up about their
meeting with Kip and the snow!

On Wednesday, Victor Masleanikov – the new Kiev
Church Leader – flew in to Stockholm!

 
After all the meetings, on Thursday night January 18th, Oleg and I addressed the Stockholm Church to encourage and strengthen them! It was a tremendous time of fellowship and revival!


Kaspar gave a stirring Welcome at the Thursday
Evening Special Service with Kip and Oleg!


Oleg shared his heart and several Scriptures to
strengthen the Stockholm Church!

 
On Friday, I flew from Stockholm in Orlando – with short layovers in Frankfort and Chicago – finally arriving late that night! I was able to see my Mom for the first time since my Father’s Memorial Service in late November 2017.


Kip’s Mom was so encouraged by Kip’s
visit that she even agreed to a selfie
in her backyard!

 
As well, I was able to preach for the 60 disciples of the the Orlando Church where Chris and Sonja Chloupek are doing a tremendous job building family, as 55 Orlando Disciples were on the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Mission Team! As we left church on Sunday afternoon, my Mom said, “The Chloupeks are the perfect choice to get the Orlando Church strong once again!” I then flew home to LA on Tuesday, January 23rd!
 

Kip’s Mom came to Sunday Service at the Orlando
Church and was warmly greeted by
Sonja Chloupek and her lovely
daughter Cassi!

 
Elena and I flew into São Paulo on Saturday, January 27th and had dinner that evening with the dynamic São Paulo Church Leaders – Raul and Lynda Moreno!


The McKeans and all who came to the SAMC saw
the colorful “Bem Vindo do Brasil” sign and
then heard We Love You With The Love
Of The Lord
in Portuguese!

Most of the World Sector Leaders also flew in that same day, so as to be able to worship with the São Paulo ICC on Sunday morning! In particular, Elena and I wanted all the World Sector Leaders to “see” the amazing São Paulo Campus Ministry of 70 disciples! Of special note, 35 of these disciples go to the University of São Paulo (USP) – the number one ranked college for all of Central and South America! Therefore, Raul arranged for a “Young Guns Sunday,” where the spiritual and talented students (or recent graduates) preached the Word!


The vibrant Sunday Worship Service of the São
Paulo ICC on January 28th just four
days before the SAMC!


Tyler and Shay Sears – now the Dallas/Ft. Worth
Church Leaders – were on the original S
ão
Paulo Mission Team in 2011 composed
of only seven disciples from LA!


Bia (center) and Malu shared their
hearts for Communion!


Luca was one of four “Young Gun Preachers” who
was very impressive in his preaching! Though
Brazilian, he also carries an Italian Passport.
The plan for Luca is to move to London,
train to be an Evangelist, and lead
the Rome Mission Team!

 

At the Worship Service, Raul asked me to say some closing words of encouragement to the church. I shared with the 200 São Paulo Brothers and Sisters that they were the model church for the Movement in Campus Ministry! Then I had the World Sector Leaders all stand and after I introduced them, I said, “If Jesus were here in the flesh, I believe He would say to each of you, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it!'” (Luke 10:23-24)


The USP Campus Ministry in Brazil is a model for the
USC Campus Ministry in LA! The USC Ministry
began the new year with an all-night prayer
over the city of Los Angeles!


Last August, the USC Campus Ministry had zero
students. In the past six months, God has
blessed them with 11 baptisms!

 
To conclude the service, we witnessed five baptisms and one restoration!

 


Meet (from left to right) Alef, Stephanie, Maria, Any
and Patrique who were baptized, and
Roger who was restored!


The World Sector Leaders of the Middle East –
Cory and Jee Blackwell – relay so much
God-given wisdom wherever
they travel!

 
Late Monday morning, the World Sector Leaders boarded a bus to go to our retreat site in Campos do Jordão, which is about a three hour bus ride from São Paulo!


The Vila Inglesa Hotel was located in the mountains
surrounding the little German city of Campos
do Jord
ão just three hours outside
of
São Paulo!


Upon arriving at the retreat site, Michael and Michele
Williamson – the European World Sector Leaders –
spent some downtime with the McKeans!

That night the 12 World Sector Leader Couples came together for Communion and a dinner! Since it is the Year of Grace for the SoldOut Movement, at the Communion as we each held a piece of bread torn from one loaf, all repeated after me, “We are family!” Then lifting up a communion cup of red wine in their other hand, they repeated, “By God’s amazing grace!”


All of the World Sector Leaders are the dearest
of friends to each other!


Following the scrumptious meal, each World Sector
Leader Couple shared good news! Andrew and
Patrique – the World Sector Leaders of Africa –
shared good news about the Lagos ICC!


Michael and Sharon Kirchner – the World Sector
Leader Admin Couple – shared a light-hearted
account from their lives!

 
On Tuesday morning, we gathered for my lesson entitled, STRONG IN THE GRACE!


The World Sector Leaders gathered on Tuesday
morning for some serious Bible Study! That
said, Tim’s selfie game is strong!


Kip preached on STRONG IN THE GRACE,
striving to meet the needs of his fellow
World Sector Leaders!

Afterwards, we broke into Men’s and Women’s D-groups to confess our sins, thus building a greater unity. The remainder of the day we spent time as individuals and as couples with one another.


The Men’s World Sector D-group was a time of
honesty and confession found only in
the Kingdom!

 
On Wednesday morning, we came together to go over the SoldOut Movement Road Map! This was an exciting time as we discussed new church plantings, missions contributions, new appointments for Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders, and how to work with couples in nations where divorce is not legal. Again, the remainder of the day was spent with various disciples! Some of us did play ping-pong and one brother was undefeated… I will not embarrass the many brothers who lost by naming their names!


The Untalans – the World Sector Leaders of
Shepherding – and the Bordieris – the
World Sector Leaders of MERCY –
have been with the McKeans
since the first days of
Portland in 2003!


Matt and Helen Sullivan – the USA East Coast and
South Asia World Sector Leaders – have been
loyal partners in the Gospel to the McKeans
since moving to Portland in 2004!

 
Thursday morning, the World Sector Leaders again boarded a bus to head back to São Paulo. That evening was the first event of the 2018 South American Missions Conference (SAMC) – The Speakers Dinner!

 


ATE O FIM (TO THE END) was the incredible
Scriptural theme for the 2018 SAMC!

The Speakers Dinner was held at a traditional
Brazilian Churrascaria!


At a Churrascaria, you serve yourself side dishes…


And the servers bring around different cuts of
meat from chicken hearts to steak!


The McKeans so appreciate the grace that God
has given them to witness the expansion of
God’s Kingdom all over the world!


The evening’s sharing was by the incredible
Brazilian Couples that Raul and Lynda
are training! The first to share
was Luis and Malu – both
USP Students!


Luca joyfully followed…


Danilo and Carol – both USP Graduates (Carol was
the Valedictorian of the Engineering Program) –
were recently married! They lead the West
Region and the USP Campus Ministry!


Vini and Bia lead the South Region as fulltime
USP Students!


Caio and Carol are USP Graduates and lead the
Rio de Janeiro Church!


Tulio is an ICOC Kingdom Kid who helped to restore
his mom to the New Movement! Vaitsa
is an USP Graduate! They lead the
Campus Sector of the
East Region!


Renato and Marie Jose Tria are remnant disciples
who joined the New Movement and now lead
the East Region!


The McKeans and the Morenos are filled with joy
at the incredible zeal and talent of the
Brazilian Leaders!

 
During the Speakers Dinner, Alfredo and Alejandra Anuch of Santiago preached at the International Campus Devotional!


Alfredo and Alejandra Anuch of Santiago preached
at the International Campus Devotional!

 
The theme for the 2018 SAMC was from Revelation 2:26, ATE O FIM (TO THE END)! Friday morning was the Leaders Workshop! Dr. Tim Kernan of Los Angeles delivered a powerful opening speech, PERSEVERE TO THE END!


Tim Kernan’s message, PERSEVERE TO THE END,
was one of his very best!

Then we heard very interesting short challenges entitled, TO THE END FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF: STEPHEN by Alfredo Anuch, ESTHER by Lynda Moreno, JAMES (John’s Brother) by Renato Tria – the São Paulo East Region Leader, RUTH by Shay Sears of Dallas, DEBORAH by Carol Bataglin – the São Paulo West Region Woman Leader, and PAUL by Danilo Bataglin – the São Paulo West Region Leader!


Even though she has been gone from Brazil for four
years, Shay spoke on RUTH the entire time
using her Portuguese!

 
To close out the workshop, Dr. Andrew Smellie of Lagos preached the stirring address, FIRM TO THE END!


Vini translated for Andrew in his stirring
address, FIRM TO THE END!

 
On Friday evening was the thrilling First General Session! Highlights included an incredible Video, a Cultural Dance, a Drum Troop and a Flag Ceremony of all the flags of the South American nations!


Raul and Lynda welcomed all to the South
American Missions Conference!


The First General Session of the SAMC!


An imaginative Cultural Dance was performed by
the gifted Brazilian Sisters!


A Brazilian Drum Troop ushered in the
Flag Ceremony!


Through seeing all of the flags of the South
American Nations, we were given a vision
of evangelizing them in our generation!

Then Elena and I were privileged to share Good News From Around The World! Following came the Kingdom Appointments of two awesome married couples from Santiago: Jose Andres and Pilar Vargas as well as Manuel and Claudia Palma!


Manuel Palma humbly addressed the SAMC after
being given the ancient charge by Alfredo
to “Preach the Word!”

Then we heard two charges! The first was by Michael Kirchner, TO THE END IN FINANCES! The second charge was given by Tony Untalan, TO THE END AS A SHEPHERD!


Michael preached about generosity and
frugality in personal finances!


Tony appealed to be concerned about every
single disciple in God’s flock!

Then Cory Blackwell powerfully closed out the evening with the sermon, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE!


Cory in his message, TO THE VERY END OF THE
AGE, shared miraculous accounts from his
ministries in Chicago and the Middle East!

On Saturday morning was the Men’s Workshop! The main speakers were Matt Sullivan of Miami who was very vulnerable as he spoke on LOVE TO THE END, and Michael Williamson of London who inspired us with the lesson, EVANGELIZING THE NATIONS TO THE END!

 

Matt Sullivan touched our hearts with his
personal vulnerability!

Michael amplified our Movement’s vision
to evangelize all nations!

 
Saturday afternoon was the Women’s Workshop! Elena preached on LOVE TO THE END and various sisters gave enthusiastic short charges!


The title of Elena’s lesson, LOVE TO THE END,
allowed Elena to share how her weaknesses
had become strengths!


The first set of admonitions at the Women’s
Workshop were powerfully delivered by:
Vaitsa, Bia, Marie Jose, Lynda, Pilar,
Claudia and Alejandra!


Sharing her fears and dreams, Patrique spoke
on SACRIFICE TO THE END!


Lianne shared her heart as she addressed
the sisters on LEADING TO THE END no
matter the circumstances!


Jee was quite fired up to share about
HEALTHY TO THE END!

 
Saturday night was MERCY Night where all of us put on our green MERCY T-shirts! Nick and Denise Bordieri – the Global Directors of MERCYworldwide – shared about different MERCY Projects around the world!


Nick and Denise Bordieri are thrilled to coordinate
the serving of the poor around the world!


The SAMC MERCY Night always makes us
remember we are a unified Movement
of “ambassadors for Christ!”

Then came the unforgettable Skit simply titled, TO THE END that depicted the cosmic battle between God and Satan!


The unforgettable Skit, TO THE END, elicited so
many emotions because it was all about the
cosmic war against Satan and his demons!

 
Following, Dr. Raul Moreno passionately preached on IRREPROACHABLE TO THE END!

 


As an Evangelist, Raul’s integrity
is IRREPROACHABLE!

To conclude the evening, there was the Pure Dance where the theme was Galaxy and so everyone was asked to wear a futuristic outfit!


The Pure Dance Party had a theme of Galaxy,
but it felt like Heaven!

 
On Sunday was the incredible Worship Service where 369 gathered to praise God! The Sirotkins of Moscow moved our hearts in Communion! The Willises of Sydney convicted us about the Contribution!


Oleg and Elena passionately lifted up the
Cross at Communion!


Joe and Kerry Willis – the Austral-China World Sector
Leaders – gave a challenging Contribution
Admonition! They called us to be
thankful to God and thus be
generous like God!

 
Following a short break was the First ICCM-São Paulo Commencement where 16 very deserving students received their BA Degree in Ministry!

 


When Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries played, the
ICCM-
São Paulo Commencement began with
the Processional of Faculty and Students
led by Chancellor McKean!


Dr. Kip McKean welcomed all and then passed
the ICCM Staff to Raul Moreno, who led
the graduation ceremony!


Raul and Lynda – the President and Dean of Women
for ICCM-
São Paulo – were overjoyed to see the
dream of BA Graduates become a reality!


Dr. Tim Kernan – Vice Chancellor of Operations for
ICCM-Global – explained the European
Degree System!


The 2018 ICCM-São Paulo Graduating Class was
called to stand before receiving their diplomas!


Kip congratulated Waldir upon receiving his ICCM
BA Degree! Edison is a Peruvian Citizen studying
in the PhD Program at USP! He longs to be
on the Lima Mission Team!


Congratulations to the 2018 ICCM-São
Paulo Graduating Class!

So encouraging was that Vini Rodrigues de Souza and his father Augusto both received degrees, which was the first degree ever for Augusto and Vini was the Valedictorian!
 


Vini and his dad Augusto were so
proud of each other!

 
After a fairly long break, I was privileged to speak on VICTORIOUS TO THE END!

 


The closing speech by Kip was appropriately
entitled, VICTORIOUS TO THE END!

 

Then we witnessed seven more baptisms and another restoration! 


God added to His Kingdom that day: Raul, Karolina,
Juliana, Isabela, Magnolia, Mika, Karina and
Isabela! All were baptized with the
exception of Magnolia who
was restored!


The seven glorious baptisms!

To close the service, the Holy Spirit sent out the Quito Mission Team and we sang together the “Brazilian Version” of LuJack Martinez’s Glory Song, which not only gave the history of the Discipling Movement since 1979, but included details about South America and in particular the Brazilian Churches!


The Quito Mission Team Members were
each given a Condor Trophy as the
Condor is Ecuador’s national bird!


The high-flying Quito Mission Team!

Exactly a week after the SAMC, Tulio and his mom Luisa baptized Rita, Tulio’s grandmother and Luisa’s mom!


Rita – Tulio’s grandmother and Luisa’s mom –
entered the Kingdom at 87 years old!

 
After a few days of being home in Los Angeles, Elena and I flew to Mexico City on Tuesday, February 13th for the Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC)! The exciting theme of the LAMC was CONVICCION DE CORAZON (CONVICTION OF THE HEART)!


Evan and Kelly Bartholomew and the McKeans
were given a heartsy SoldOut Movement
Welcome at the Mexico City Airport!

That night, we had a great dinner with the gallant Mexico City Church Leaders – Carlos and Lucy Mejia! Then after working on our speeches all day on February 14th – Valentine’s Day, Elena and I were blessed to celebrate dinner that night with our dear grandson and granddaughter in the faith – Adam Zepeda and Lauren Ona! What a great time we had!


The McKeans had a fun Valentine’s Date Night with
their precious grandson and granddaughter
in the faith, Adam and Lauren!

 
On Thursday morning, the Leadership Workshop was held at the newly built and gorgeous Mexico City ICC Building!


Gustavo (left) tore down the huge garden
in front of his home, and in its place built
the gorgeous Mexico City ICC Building!


The third floor auditorium in the Mexico City
building was just big enough for the
Leadership Workshop!

 

In attendance were approximately 200 Americans – 120 were leaders graciously brought by Tim and Lianne Kernan from the Pac Rim Tribe World Sector! As well, about 75 Mexican Leaders were in attendance! Dr. Raul Moreno gave the first speech entitled, AN OPEN HEART! Most of the Evangelists were cut by Raul’s fourth point, When Raising Up Leaders, Expect To Lose Them Quickly!


At the Leadership Workshop, 300 packed the
auditorium! Visiting disciples were in awe
of the beauty of the building!

 
Following this tremendous sermon were several charges on LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES OF THE HEART: The Heart To Learn by Hector and Adriana Gomez of Mexico City, The Heart To Teach by José and Daniela Otero of Monterrey, The Heart To Train Others In Righteousness by Ricky and Coleen Challinor of LA, The Heart Behind Correcting by Joel and Courtney Parlour of Seattle, The Heart Of Being Thoroughly Equipped by Jason and Sarah Dimitry of San Francisco, and The Heart For Confession And Atonement by Jared and Rachel McGee of LA! During this session, came perhaps the most quoted words of the conference concerning Bible Talks by Coleen Challinor, “It’s not okay to not have baptisms!”


The electrifying teachers for the LEADERSHIP
PRINCIPLES OF THE HEART each gave
five minute charges!

 
Following the close of this session around noontime, the International Delegates boarded buses to the Teotihuacán Pyramids! For the previous two years, Elena and I thoroughly enjoyed the bus ride with the disciples, climbing the pyramid, and the Mexican Buffet Dinner at the Gran Teocalli Restaurant! However, this time both of us were quite sick and needed to save ourselves for Friday!


Ron Harding – the Evangelist of the FORCE
Sector in LA – was so excited to have his
son Dylan with him for the Pyramid
Climb and the LAMC!


Where once human sacrifices were made to false
gods at the top of the Teotihuacán Pyramid of
the Sun – some 216 feet (65 meters) high –
the LAMC Delegates prayed and then
sang Dios Tu Pueblo Canta (God
The People Praise You)!


The Aztec Dancers at the Gran Teocalli
Restaurant were mesmerizing!

 
On Friday, Tim and Lianne Kernan gathered all of the Church Leaders in the Pac Rim Tribe World Sector for a four hour Training Session! Then at about 5:30PM, a 7.2 earthquake hit 200 miles south of us in Oaxaca! We still felt it very strongly and as a matter of fact, all of the buildings in Mexico City had mandatory evacuations! Since the earthquake had paralyzed the city with everyone in the streets, the First General Session started over an hour late at around 8:30PM. Yet, the LAMC Participants were all the more fired up as we remembered Acts 4:31, when after the disciples had prayed for great boldness, God answered with an earthquake and the Bible simply reads, “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly!” After a rousing Welcome and an International Prayer, we witnessed a terrific Opening Video on reviving a frozen heart!


Opening night at the LAMC was held in another
venue that Gustavo owns!

Quite creatively, for the LAMC Registration, all of the Registration Staff were wearing doctor’s coats and stethoscopes signifying that we were all undergoing “major heart surgery” by attending the LAMC!


Daniela – like all the other Registration Staff – wore a
doctors coat and a stethoscope signifying that
all LAMC Participants were undergoing
“major heart surgery!”

 
Following the phenomenal video by José Otero, Elena and I shared Good News From Around The World!


The McKeans shared Good News
From Around The World!

Then the Mexico City Teen Ministry put on a dance performance that none of us will ever forget, which ended in the Parade of Flags of Central and South America!


The Dance Performance and Flag Ceremony
conducted by the Mexico City Teen
Ministry blew everyone away!


Ricky and Coleen Challinor (left) – the Movement’s
Overseeing Couple for Teen Ministry – call
Mexico City’s Teen Ministry the model
for the entire Movement!

 
After this, we saw the Kingdom Appointments of Kwaku and Ashley Sarkodie of San Francisco!


Kwuaku and Ashley Sarkodie of San Francisco
were appointed Evangelist and Women’s
Ministry Leader by Jason and
Sarah Dimitry!

 
That evening, Cory Blackwell of Chicago closed out this momentous day with the sermon, THE GREAT PHYSICIAN! Cory opened his lesson by asking the question, “Do you remember how sick you were as a non-Christian?”


Cory preached on THE GREAT PHYSICIAN sharing
that he needed healing not only as a non-
Christian, but also as a wounded
remnant disciple!

 
On Saturday morning, we gathered for the Second General Session! Dr. Tim Kernan delivered a tremendous lesson entitled, DISCIPLES AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART! Tim began his lesson with the words, “The God who invented fire, speed, lions and sharks wants to talk to you about His heart for forceful advancement!”


In Tim’s lesson, DISCIPLES AFTER GOD’S OWN
HEART, Tim did a marvelous job in sharing
the history of  “Christianity”
through the ages!

Then we heard charges on The Heart Of MERCY by Nick and Denise Bordieri, The Heart Of A Shepherd by Philippe Scheidecker of Mexico City and Travis and Cecy Frazier of LA, and The Heart Of Finances by Nick and Jacque Economo of LA!


The MERCY Morning at the LAMC!

Leaders from all over the USA Section of the Tribe
World Sector gathered for fellowship and
discipling! The Causeys have been such
an inspiration to the Parlours
(center) of Seattle!

 
Then to close out the morning, we broke into Men’s and Women’s Sessions on THE HEART OF THE CHURCH – BIBLE TALKS! That afternoon, special classes were offered and perhaps most talked about was Carlos Mejia’s lesson on, DARKNESS TO LIGHT – OVERCOMING ABUSE!


The speakers for the Women’s Session on BIBLE
TALKS: Rachel, Lynda, Emma, Lucy, Debbie,
Myrna, Sarah and Lianne!

 
On Saturday evening was the much anticipated Kingdom Banquet! The food was amazing and the Mariachis were even better!


The Mariachi dazzled everyone at the
Kingdom Banquet… including
the Mexican Disciples!


Professional dancers gave a show
while the Mariachi played their
uptempo music!


The dessert was delicious frozen fruit…
But as Lynda would later discover,
it was not “fruit that will last!”

Although I consider this the most difficult time to preach, as many people are quite distracted and tired, Carlos Mejia preached on PRECIOUS BLOOD and humorously shared about different personalities being one of four colors – red, yellow, blue and green! To conclude, Carlos challenged us from the Scriptures that our differences need to be overcome if we as true disciples are to be a united witness to a lost world!


Carlos through much needed humor called all
disciples to be totally unified because of
Jesus’ PRECIOUS BLOOD!

 
To cap this amazing evening, there was a Family Pure Dance!


Carlos asked everyone who had been
married 40 years or more to dance
on the dance floor first…


Then the “younger couples” who had “ONLY” been
married 30 years were called – such as the
Limons (Cesar and Miguel’s parents),
and the Causeys!

 
For various reasons, the Fourth General Session – The Congregational Sunday Worship Service – was scheduled to begin at 2:00PM! At this epic service of 447 in attendance, the singing was incredible as we sang mostly in Spanish, but some in English! Then came the touching Kingdom Appointments of Miguel and Myrna Limon! The Limons lead the Movement’s Model Teen Ministry in Mexico City, which now numbers 25 sold-out disciples!


Standing ovations accompanied Carlos’ and Lucy’s
words of encouragement, as they appointed
Miguel and Myrna as an Evangelist
and a Women’s Ministry Leader!


Cesar’s and Miguel’s father was very proud that
both of his sons are Evangelists!

 
Communion and Contribution were beautifully done by Salvador and Patricia Velasco of LA and Daniel and Patty Granger of LA, respectively! After a short break, the Mexico City Teens once more dazzled the entire LAMC with another heartsy Special Dance Presentation!


Priscilla (right) and Daniela – the daughters of the
Velascos who presided over Communion – were
so inspired by the Mexico City Teen Ministry!

 
The keynote address was CONVICTION OF THE HEART! My opening text was the account of Hosea and Gomer and how God was like Hosea who took back His fallen bride Gomer – who is parallel to us! My two points were simply, Grace Motivates and Grace Does Not Negotiate!


In the denominational world, for many grace is
cheap. This is a complete misunderstanding!
Grace cost God everything! This needs to
be our CONVICTION OF THE HEART!

 
The service closed with nine baptisms, two restorations and one place membership! Yet that did not really tell the whole story, because just a couple days before, four others were baptized! Therefore, for that week, God blessed the Mexico City Church with 16 additions making them 193 disciples strong!


For the closing song, all of the LAMC Delegates
came together arm-in-arm bonded by
memories they will take
into Heaven!

Everyone walked away from this incredible Missions Conference with the Great Physician removing our “hearts of stone, and giving us a new heart of flesh!” (Ezekiel 36:26) And to God be all the glory!
 
FAMILY NEWS
São Paulo: Congratulations to Tulio Amaral and Vaítsa Haratsaris on their engagement! They serve as Sector Leaders in the East Region of the São Paulo Church! Both Tulio and Vaítsa shared the same sentiment about their engagement while serving in church leadership, “We are feeling inexpressible joy!”


Congratulations to Tulio and Vaitsa!

Also from São Paulo, another couple was engaged! Congratulations to Vini Rodrigues de Souza and Bia Hida! Amazingly, they met about eight years ago in high school, and then started dating in college! They broke up to become disciples four years ago, and then dated in the Kingdom for two times, two years apart. Amazingly, the way that Vini and Bia conducted themselves in the Kingdom inspired both of Vini’s parents to become disciples! They now lead the South Region of the São Paulo Church! Bia says, “Being engaged is a constant reminder of how much grace God has given us!”


Danilo and Carol (right) celebrated
Vini’s and Bia’s big moment!

 

Rio de Janeiro: Congratulations to Caio Costa and Carol Placco – the Rio de Janeiro Church Leaders – who were recently engaged and Lord willing will be married in April!


Caio and Carol worked together so well helping with
the ICCM Diplomas! Their teamwork carried over
this week in their leadership of the Rio Church,
as on Sunday God blessed them with five
baptisms and one restoration!

 
A fourth Brazilian engagement happened at the end of the Women’s Program of the South American Missions Conference when Valdemar Monteiro got on his knee to ask Fernanda Gomes to be his wife! In tears, she said, “Yes!” very quickly!


Congratulations to Valdemar and Fernanda!

San Francisco: San Francisco witnessed the incredible wedding of Emmanuel “Manny” and Adina Alberto! They dated in the world but then Adina studied the Bible in March of 2015 and broke it off with “Manny” and was baptized! Manny then studied the Bible with Jason Dimitry and was baptized two months later! They now serve diligently as the San Francisco Kingdom Kids Coordinators!


Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Alberto!
 

Seattle: Owen Hartley and Letecha Dixon were engaged on December 30, 2017 – a grand finale answered “impossible prayer” in the Year of the Impossible!
 

Congratulations to an incredible
couple – Owen and Letecha!

Las Vegas: Congratulations to Arvind and Yine Patel who were married by Jason Dimitry on February 25th! This was a particularly exciting wedding as Arvind and Yine were some of the first converts in Las Vegas back in 2013 when the church was planted by the Dimitrys! 


Congratulations to Arvind and Yine Patel!

 
Stockholm: On January 17th, our dear sister Anna Karlsson went on to glory after a short and intense battle with cancer. Working as Dr. Erik af Klint’s nurse, she became a disciple during the remnant group days of the Stockholm Church. Anna was dearly loved by all in the church for her sense of humor, hospitality and character. One of Anna’s favorite things was song leading in the Kingdom! We all miss her, but are looking forward to seeing her at the resurrection of the righteous! (John 11:25-26)


Praise God that our sister Anna is now
singing with the angels!

 
More news from Sweden… Baby Oliver Tambaur entered into this world on March 1st at 8:03AM at 3.45kg (7.6 pounds) and 52cm (20.6 inches)! He is a healthy, gorgeous baby! Baby Oliver, Ashley and Kaspar are all doing well!


Baby Oliver, welcome to your worldwide family!

 
Kiev: Alex Balitskiy and Alina Ignatchenko were engaged on New Year’s Eve in the Kiev Church!


Congratulations to Alex and Alina!

 
Orlando: Congratulations to Wayne Shaw and Larci Robinson on their recent engagement!


Congratulations to the happy couple –
Wayne and Larci!

 
Denver: Excitingly, our dear brother Adrian Garcia and sister Lidia Barrios were engaged in December and will become one in marriage on April 21, 2018! Adrian and Lidia were both baptized in the San Francisco Church and moved with Dustin and Amanda Miller to Denver last year! They have been tremendously instrumental in building the church of the Rocky Mountains, and we believe that they will continue to do “even greater things” as a married couple!


Let us be praying for Adrian and Lidia’s
wedding on April 21, 2018!

 
Gainesville: Greeting from the home of the University of Florida! It is bitter sweet to share that our dear sister, Sherry Beck, passed onto glory in late December 2017. Bill and Sherry Beck were pillars of the Gainesville Church, and Sherry had become a best friend to Tia Turner – the leader of the Gainesville Sisters. Bill valiantly stood by her side every day to ensure she was comfortable and ready for the Lord. A week before her passing, her last question to Tia was, “Can you read to me about Heaven?” Lastly, please pray for Bill who was “blown by the Spirit” to Honolulu to be a part of our sister church there and to live with his son Jeremy Beck and his family.


Bill and Sherry Beck (left) – before Sherry passed
on to glory – were dear friends of Marcel and
Tia Turner (right), who lead the Gainesville
Church, and Dr. Luan Solomon,
who Bill baptized last year!
LOCAL LA NEWS
Lianne Kernan – Lead Women’s Ministry Leader of LA: Greetings Family from your valiant sisters here in the City of Angels International Christian Church! A wise man once said, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) Well, the sisters in LA have something better than charm and beauty; we had UNFADING BEAUTY as the first round of Women’s Days began this weekend in seven of our 12 LA Regions!

The timeless theme for the City of Angels
Church Women’s Days was UNFADING
BEAUTY in all 12 Regions!

 

Praise God, Lianne Kernan – the Women’s Ministry
Leader of the City of Angels Church – has done a
tremendous job organizing all 12 Women’s
Days and delivered a “sermon for the
ages” for the West Region
Women’s Day!

The amazing women in the Antelope Valley Region and the beautiful sisters in the West Region led the way this past Saturday! Our dear sister Julie Clark of San Francisco preached powerfully in the Antelope Valley, and I was so honored to be able to speak in the West! From the decorations to the testimonials, the interpretive dance and the incredible baptisms, all of the visitors were so moved and inspired!


At the AV Women’s Day Fashion Show,
Sam Massman (third from the left)
wore her mother’s Indian
heritage outfit
!


In her testimony, Mik Mengija cheerfully reflected
on the hope that God restored in her life!


Julie Clark inspired the 28 disciple women of the
AV Region and their 102 visitors as well!


The Lord answered the prayer of Karen Maciel – the
Co-Editor of the Good News Email – to bless the
West Region Women’s Day “beyond anything
they could ask or imagine!”


Coleen Challinor – the charismatic West Region
Women’s Ministry Leader – introduced the
three women who shared their
testimonies: Kerri-Sue,
Frida and Alexys!


In the West Region, a beautiful interpretive dance
was performed by Precious, Jazmin and Kaitlin!

Then this past Sunday, the mighty women of the Metro Heights, AMS, Inland Empire, Ventura and East Regions gathered in their respective regions for incredible Women’s Days that had such an unforgettable impact on all who attended! My mother in the faith Dr. Elena Garcia McKean inspired the women in Metro Heights!


Emma Causey and Elena – the keynote speaker
for the Metro Heights Women’s Day – are
expecting God to give them much
fruit from the day!


The 59 sisters in the Metro Heights Region had a
packed house of 156 in attendance!


Melinda Contreras (second from the left) is the
Woman Leader of the Indianapolis
Remnant Group!

In the AMS Region, Lauren Ona marvelously directed her very first Women’s Day! Therese Untalan – LA’s dear Shepherdess – was the key speaker for the women of the AMS!


Lauren Ona was outstanding in directing her very
first Women’s Day for the AMS Region!


Kristin welcomed to the AMS Region Chantelle –
her “big” sister (6’9″), who is a former WNBA
player! Chantelle is a motivational speaker
and now a part-time intern for the AMS!


As Heather sung Scars To Your Beautiful,
Jasminn used her talents to glorify
God in dance!


Therese Untalan was the keynote speaker for the
AMS, as she was Miss Guam in 1985!


The AMS Sisters were so fired up
for Dakota at her baptism!

Sarah Dimitry – my partner in the Gospel and the Women’s Ministry Leader of the great San Francisco Church – spoke powerfully to the Inland Empire, and Julie Clark delighted the women in Ventura!
 


Brittany – the Coachella Valley Region Leader,
Krystal – the San Bernardino Sector Leader,
Sarah – the San Francisco Church Leader,
and Rachel – the IE Region Leader,
huddled to conduct the
IE Women’s Day!


Sarah preached a heartfelt lesson
on UNFADING BEAUTY!


Morgan (left) led the Ventura Women’s Day
with the guidance of Patricia (center)
and Cecy!

Lastly, Margie Hamula preached her first keynote address at a Women’s Day to her amazing women in the East Region!


Margie inspired the faithful 27 East Women to
have an astounding attendance of 102!


Patti Deaves – Cassidy Olmos’ mom – participated
in the East Region Women’s Day, which was the
first Women’s Day that she has come to in
Cassidy’s seven years as a disciple…
and she won the Raffle!

And so, for 262 sisters present at the seven Women’s Days this weekend, their total attendance was an astonishing 787 with 10 women getting baptized and making their good confession, “Jesus Is Lord!” Truly God blessed the efforts of the women here in LA!


Vonisha – a student at Cal State San Bernardino –
was baptized in the IE’s beautiful rose
petal covered baptistry!

I would be remiss if I did not lift up the brothers that helped this weekend, as they poured themselves out by serving, ushering, fasting and many of them bringing visitors for our Women’s Days to bring glory to God! Praise God that we have such amazing brothers who lead us and encourage us as we fight to bring as many souls to Christ as possible!
 


The remarkable brothers of the Metro Heights
Region served at the Women’s Day
with incredible zeal!


Under Ricky Challinor, the West Region Brothers
bonded through serving at the incredible
West Women’s Day!

I cannot wait to see what God does this coming weekend in the remaining five Women’s Days in the Orange County, Central, South, Coachella Valley and North Regions! Stay tuned, because God is not through yet!
 

EDITORIAL
A New Every Other Year Format For The GLC
The dates for the 2018 Global Leadership Conference (GLC) have been finalized for August 16-19, 2018 at the Anaheim Convention Center! Anaheim – which is a city in Metro Los Angeles – was the site for the 2016 GLC! Rooms have been reserved at the Sheraton Hotel just a three minute walk from the Anaheim Convention Center! Further details will be coming soon! I wanted to add – as a bit of an incentive to come to this year’s GLC – that there will not be a GLC next year in 2019! We will go into a new format of having a GLC every other year!
 

VICTORIOUS was the inspirational theme for the 2017
GLC! This year we want to do the GLC on the Holy
Spirit! Therefore, if you have an idea for the
theme, and we select your theme, you will
receive free registration to the 2018
GLC! Please send your idea to
kip@usd21.org!
So after this year, our next GLC will be August 2020! This way, particularly American Disciples can save their money to attend Geographic Missions Conferences which will continue to be held on a yearly basis. Here is our list for this year:
 

South American Missions Conference: February 2-4th in São Paulo!
Latin American Missions Conference: February 15-18th in Mexico City!
Pac Rim Missions Conference: April 5-8th in Manila!
South Asia Missions Conference: April 19-22nd in Chennai!
Eurasian Missions Conference: May 18-20th in Moscow!
African Missions Conference: June 22-24th in Lagos!
European Missions Conference: October 25-28th in London!
Austral-China Missions Conference: November 2-4th in Sydney!

 
Lord willing, in late 2019, there will be a new Middle East Missions Conference in Dubai!

 

Kip and Elena are looking forward to seeing many
of you at the 2018 GLC and even more of you
at the Geographic Missions Conferences!
 
Let’s be keeping all the churches in our prayers! And to God be all the glory!
We are family… by God’s amazing grace,
Kip

Copyright © 2018 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

2017 GLC Early Bird Registration

2017 GLC Early Bird Registration


All content within this email is for the intended recipient only. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution and/or copy is a violation of applicable laws.

January 1, 2017

Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear Friend,
Happy New Year! For the first time, the Annual Global Leadership Conference (GLC) of the SoldOut Movement will be celebrated outside the United States further signifying that we are a worldwide family! The location for the historic 2017 GLC will be Metro Manila, Philippines at the Makati Shangri La Hotel! Be sure to save the dates for this glorious event – August 3-6, 2017!
 


The Metro Manila ICC was planted in June 2015 and
has become the fastest growing SoldOut
Movement Church since that time! This
remarkable congregation now has
215 sold-out disciples with
close to 300 on Sundays!


The Spirit guided Kyle & Joan Bartholomew to
become the Manila Mission Team Leaders
in order to evangelize Joan’s homeland
of the Philippines!

 

Since we are centering all the lessons on the Book of Revelation, the inspirational theme for the 2017 GLC is VICTORIOUS! “And I saw… those who had been VICTORIOUS over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: ‘…All nations will come and worship before you!'” (Revelation 15:2-4)
 

Since the 2017 GLC will be based on the Book
of Revelation, we have selected the
thrilling theme – VICTORIOUS!

 

During this epic occasion, a whole day will be devoted for every MERCY Ambassador to serve in some of the poorest communities of Metro Manila! As well, we will witness the Fifth Commencement of the International College of Christian Ministries! And perhaps most excitingly, Lord willing, three mission teams will be sent out: Miami (Florida), Cebu (Philippines), and Hong Kong (China) – the Twelfth (and last) Crown of Thorns City!
 

2,000 MERCY Ambassadors participated
in the 2016 GLC!
The cost for the registration will be $225 for those outside of the Philippines. Filipino Disciples may register for $40. To encourage as many as possible to register early, we are having an Early Bird Special Registration of $205 until the end of January! Our Prayer Goals are for 250 Filipino Disciples and 550 International Disciples to participate in the 2017 GLC as this will allow us to financially break-even! You may register at https://glcvictorious.eventbrite.com and keep up-to-date on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/673811956128076/!
 

At the 2016 ICCM Commencement, we awarded
65 Bachelor’s Degrees, 5 Master’s Degrees
and 1 Doctorate Degree in Ministry!
We are encouraging every Church Leader Couple, every Shepherding Couple and every LA Region Leader Couple to stay at the Shangri La Hotel as we have agreed in our contract to have at least 400 room nights. The cost of a room (which includes an incredible breakfast) is $158/night. There are many considerably less expensive hotels in the area that others may select online. If you choose to do so, strive to find an option that is in or close to Makati as the traffic in Metro Manila is considered by many to be the worst in the world! We will send out a link to register at the Makati Shangri La ASAP! 
 


The entire 2017 GLC Program will be held in the
magnificent Makati Shangri-La Hotel
in Metro Manila!

Once in the Philippines, food is relatively inexpensive. However, plane tickets will surely increase in price as the event draws near, so consider buying your plane ticket ASAP! Let’s be praying daily for the 2017 GLC to be such a momentous event that we will still be talking about it in Heaven! Please feel free to contact Tim Kernan – the GLC Director – with any questions at tim@usd21.org!

We are family… into eternity,
Kip

 

Copyright © 2016 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

2017 GLC Early Bird Registration

2017 GLC Early Bird Registration


All content within this email is for the intended recipient only. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution and/or copy is a violation of applicable laws.

January 1, 2017

Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear <<First Name>>,
Happy New Year! For the first time, the Annual Global Leadership Conference (GLC) of the SoldOut Movement will be celebrated outside the United States further signifying that we are a worldwide family! The location for the historic 2017 GLC will be Metro Manila, Philippines at the Makati Shangri La Hotel! Be sure to save the dates for this glorious event – August 3-6, 2017!
 


The Metro Manila ICC was planted in June 2015 and
has become the fastest growing SoldOut
Movement Church since that time! This
remarkable congregation now has
215 sold-out disciples with
close to 300 on Sundays!


The Spirit guided Kyle & Joan Bartholomew to
become the Manila Mission Team Leaders
in order to evangelize Joan’s homeland
of the Philippines!

 

Since we are centering all the lessons on the Book of Revelation, the inspirational theme for the 2017 GLC is VICTORIOUS! “And I saw… those who had been VICTORIOUS over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: ‘…All nations will come and worship before you!'” (Revelation 15:2-4)
 

Since the 2017 GLC will be based on the Book
of Revelation, we have selected the
thrilling theme – VICTORIOUS!

 

During this epic occasion, a whole day will be devoted for every MERCY Ambassador to serve in some of the poorest communities of Metro Manila! As well, we will witness the Fifth Commencement of the International College of Christian Ministries! And perhaps most excitingly, Lord willing, three mission teams will be sent out: Miami (Florida), Cebu (Philippines), and Hong Kong (China) – the Twelfth (and last) Crown of Thorns City!
 

2,000 MERCY Ambassadors participated
in the 2016 GLC!
The cost for the registration will be $225 for those outside of the Philippines. Filipino Disciples may register for $40. To encourage as many as possible to register early, we are having an Early Bird Special Registration of $205 until the end of January! Our Prayer Goals are for 250 Filipino Disciples and 550 International Disciples to participate in the 2017 GLC as this will allow us to financially break-even! You may register at https://glcvictorious.eventbrite.com and keep up-to-date on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/673811956128076/!
 

At the 2016 ICCM Commencement, we awarded
65 Bachelor’s Degrees, 5 Master’s Degrees
and 1 Doctorate Degree in Ministry!
We are encouraging every Church Leader Couple, every Shepherding Couple and every LA Region Leader Couple to stay at the Shangri La Hotel as we have agreed in our contract to have at least 400 room nights. The cost of a room (which includes an incredible breakfast) is $158/night. There are many considerably less expensive hotels in the area that others may select online. If you choose to do so, strive to find an option that is in or close to Makati as the traffic in Metro Manila is considered by many to be the worst in the world! We will send out a link to register at the Makati Shangri La ASAP! 
 


The entire 2017 GLC Program will be held in the
magnificent Makati Shangri-La Hotel
in Metro Manila!

Once in the Philippines, food is relatively inexpensive. However, plane tickets will surely increase in price as the event draws near, so consider buying your plane ticket ASAP! Let’s be praying daily for the 2017 GLC to be such a momentous event that we will still be talking about it in Heaven! Please feel free to contact Tim Kernan – the GLC Director – with any questions at tim@usd21.org!

We are family… into eternity,
Kip

 

Copyright © 2016 City Of Angels International Christian Church, All rights reserved.
For more information, please visit the City of Angels International Christian Church website at CAICC.net

LiveStream Christmas Worship Service 

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————————————————————
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** LiveStream LA Christmas
Worship Service
December 13, 2015
————————————————————
Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear &lt;&lt;First Name>>,
Holiday Greetings from the City of Angels International Christian Church! One of the highlights of our entire year is our Annual Christmas Worship Service! At this glorious occasion, we also participate in the International MERCY Toy Drive! This service will be historic as the mantle of leadership for the City of Angels Church will be passed on to our dear son and daughter in the faith – Tim & Lianne Kernan! This will allow Elena & myself to focus our efforts on building up the Crown of Thorns Churches as well as taking more time to write Biblically based articles and prayerfully commentaries!
The Kernan Family – Tim, Lianne,
Junior and David!
To enjoy this momentous event, the 2015 Christmas Worship Service can be viewed in three ways:
1. From your personal computer at https://livestream.com/caicc/2015Xmas (https://livestream.com/caicc/) or www.caicc.net.
2. From the ROKU Streaming Media Player on your TV and be sure to download the Livestream Plugin.
3. If you are on the go, you can download the Livestream App on the Google Play Store for Android devices and the Apple App Store for the iPhone/iPad.

For Livestream Support requests, please first see the Support Section on Livestream.com at http://help.livestream.com/customer/portal/articles/search?q=how+to+watch.You may subscribe to the CAICC Channel using your Facebook account or personal email. In this way, you can stay in the loop about all upcoming Livestream Events and Features. The CyberMinsitry and the Livestream Production Team is here to help you, when you just can’t figure it out! In those cases, don’t be discouraged! Please email us at Livestreaming@usd21.org (mailto:Livestreaming@usd21.org) . Provide details and how to best contact you immediately and we will have someone get back to you shortly!
At the 2015 Global Leadership Conference (above),
the messages were sent through LiveStream
to over 60 countries around the world!
God has accomplished so much through the efforts of the disciples in His SoldOut Movement! Perhaps most noteworthy are the church plantings of Moscow, Manila, Abidjan, Korezouzoua, Sacramento and Stockholm!
The Moscow Mission Team!

The Stockholm Mission Team!

The Manila Mission Team!
As I reflect on these great miracles, I remember Psalm 126, “When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men [and women] who dreamed! Our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy! Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!” Merry Christmas!

We are family… to the end,
Kip

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New CAICC Mobile App

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** November 24, 2014
————————————————————
Good News Email
SPECIAL MOBILE APP ANNOUNCEMENT

Download and Install the new CAICC Mobile App now at http://caicc.mobapp.at!

Within the framework of this app you and your members will be able to do the following:
Watch Sermons
Read Articles/Good News – Signup for Good News Email
Access Worldwide/Local Directories
Check Congregational Calendar
Give Online (Tracked by Region!)
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Access Affiliate Sites (kipmckean.com, ICCM, MERCY, Historical Archives)
Access First Principles
Download Admin Forms

Brought to you by the CyberMinistry: courtesy of AJ Penedo, Jacque Economo, and Rob Onekea!

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Good News Email – Special Edition – KipMcKean.com Update

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** November 24, 2014
————————————————————
UPDATED SPECIAL EDITION
The History Of The Spread Of Christianity In Modern Times
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.
Dear &lt;&lt;First Name>>,
Greetings in the Lord from Washington DC! If you have read this article in the past year, perhaps you will simply want to scroll down to the newest chapter: 2014 – The Year Of Prayer. Otherwise enjoy the entire narrative or go to KipMcKean.com (http://www.kipmckean.com) .
In His service,
Ron Harding

A HISTORY OF THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY IN MODERN TIMES
By Ron Harding*

The primary purposes of this exciting narration are to honor God with the truth and to encourage those who have never had the dream – or perhaps have lost it – to share in Jesus’ dream of the “evangelization of all nations in this generation.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) Since we live in an age in which the proliferation of information is often distorted, I have sought to carefully investigate and document with first-hand accounts – including my own – the incredible story of the spread of true Christianity from the 1970’s to this very day. Much of this rich history is intertwined with the life of my “partner in the gospel” Kip McKean – known as a preacher, missionary, reformer, theologian and humanitarian. Therefore, using many of his experiences as a timeline – his faith, his faults and his rekindled fire – allows a detailed rendering for this “orderly [historical] account.” (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1)
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Kip McKean at Smokey Mountain outside
of Manila in 1989!

** Overview
————————————————————

Dr. Thomas Wayne McKean II (May 31, 1954 – present) was named after his ancestor Thomas McKean, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. (His mother nicknamed him “Kip.”) In 2003, Kip became the Evangelist for the Portland International Church of Christ. In October 2006, after a valiant three-year effort to bring reform to the crumbling International Churches of Christ, the Holy Spirit used Kip, soon joined by other valiant disciples on every continent, to initiate the new Portland / SoldOut Discipling Movement!

In May 2007, Kip and Elena McKean alongside 40 other disciples from Portland planted the City of Angels International Christian Church, which now has 1,200 at their Sunday Services! While leading the City of Angels Church, Kip serves as the “World Missions Evangelist” for the now fastest spreading Christian movement in the world! Another milestone was achieved in 2012, as decades of dreams and prayers were fulfilled with the founding of the International College of Christian Ministries where Kip serves as the President.

Of note in 1979, Kip and Elena were invited to lead the Lexington Church of Christ (later renamed the Boston Church of Christ). From these “30 would-be-disciples,” the Spirit ignited a movement of churches known as the Boston Movement and in 1994 renamed the International Churches of Christ. Kip’s tenacious embrace of Jesus’ radical dream “to evangelize the nations in a generation,” his bold theological reforms, his personal warmth coupled with his charismatic and uncompromising Bible preaching, allowed the Spirit to take the gospel from one small dying church in Boston to become almost 400 churches in 171 of the 196 nations of the world by the year 2000! Then as this noble effort was being tragically decimated in 2001, 2002 and 2003, God sent Kip on a rocky path of suffering and redemption. For two years, he wandered in a lonely, spiritual wilderness, which greatly humbled him. Yet, those dark days ultimately strengthened Kip’s resolve to fulfill “the dream.” Therefore in
2014, it is so amazing that in just seven years, God’s new SoldOut Movement has almost 60 congregations in 26 nations… and counting! From a historical perspective, no other preacher in the past century has been directly responsible for the planting of so many congregations around the world!

Concerning “the evangelization of the nations in this generation,” some have asked, “What is going to be different this ‘second time’ around?” This presupposes the question, “Can it be different this second time?” The answer in the Scriptures is a resounding yes! The first time the Israelites approached the Promised Land, their lack of faith led them to the dreadful desires to choose a different leader than the one God had chosen and to return to their lives of slavery in Egypt. This unbelief ultimately resulted in their death in the desert. The second time the Spirit led the Israelites to the border of the Promised Land, the Hebrew people – having learned to rely on God in their wanderings in the desert – now succeeded to make God’s dream and promise a reality. This same learning from the past prayerfully will be true for God’s new SoldOut Movement. As Kip preached at the 2010 Jubilee on the theme of The Promised Land on the Second Try, “Second is best because God rewards
the quest.”
Table of Contents
Overview (#_Toc185591988)
Early Life And Family (#_Toc185599045)
Marriage And Children (#_Toc185599046)
High School And College Years (#_Toc184522613)
God’s Preparation And Education (#_Toc185599048)
Revolutionary Theology (#_Toc185599049)
The Boston Movement Begins (#_Toc185599050)
Unprecedented Growth And Impact (#_Toc185599051)
The Boston Movement Plantings (#_Toc185599052)
Central Leadership – The World Sector Leaders (#_Toc185599053)
World Missions Evangelist – Sabbatical (#_Toc184522618)
The Cape Fear Psalm (#_Toc185599054)
The Destruction Of A Global Movement (#_Toc185599055) .
Fired By Men – Approved By God (#_Toc185599056)
The Spirit Moves The McKeans To Portland (#_Toc185599057)
The Portland Song (#_Toc185599058)
The Global Internet Ministry is Initiated (#_Toc185599059)
The Portland Controversy (#_Toc185599060)
The Birth Of The SoldOut Movement (#_Toc185599061)
The Spirit Takes The McKeans To Los Angeles (#_Toc185599062)
The Portland Church Is Led Astray (#_Toc185599063)
The Crown Of Thorns Project (#_Toc185599064)
God Gathers From The Farthest Horizon (#_Toc185599065)
The New Movement Multiplies (#_Toc185599066)
The Founding of the International College of Christian Ministries (#_Toc185599066)
2014 – The Year of Prayer (#_Toc185591111)
Faithful To The End (#_Toc185599067)

** Early Life And Family
————————————————————

Kip McKean was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 31, 1954. Like many young men of the 1960’s, he was inspired by those who refused to compromise and were willing to sacrifice everything for a worthy cause. This temperament is also deep in the McKean family heritage, as they are called higher by the courage of one of their ancestors, Thomas McKean. As with all of the “Signers of the Declaration of Independence,” death threats were common. Interestingly, Thomas McKean not only was a “Signer” for Delaware, but also was “the President” of the Congress of Confederation – the highest office in the new United States of America – when news arrived from General Washington that the British had surrendered!

Kip’s father, serving as an admiral in the U.S. Navy, became a strong influence and an early role model for leadership and excellence. His mother, a very talented artist, nurtured in him a warmth as well as a character of resilience. Between the ages of seven and 16, every summer Kip alongside his beloved younger brother Randy and dear younger sister Dana spent one month with each set of grandparents – “Grampy and Grammy” and “Grandpa and Grandma.” Those days with his grandparents in Michigan and Indiana respectively heightened his sense of adventure and deepened his love and appreciation of family.
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Both of Kip’s parents – Tom & Kim – celebrate their 80th
Birthdays in the summer of 2008!

During his high school years – in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Winter Park, Florida; and Libertyville, Illinois – Kip was active in athletics, was selected to be a member of the National Honor Society, and also obtained the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts. During these formative years, Kip’s heroes became John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, in time, Kip’s greatest hero became Jesus.

**
————————————————————
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Kip & Elena are married on December 11, 1976!

Kip married Elena Garcia-Bengochea on December 11, 1976. Elena was born in Havana, Cuba on September 2, 1955 and fled with her family to the United States in a boat in 1959. Growing up in Gainesville, Florida, Elena attended P. K. Yonge High School. She distinguished herself as an honor student, Student Body Treasurer, Captain of the Tennis Team, Captain of the Varsity Cheerleaders, and Homecoming Queen.

At 17, Elena was baptized into Christ the summer before her freshman year at the University of Florida on August 8, 1973. Kip and Elena met at the Crossroads Church of Christ and were married there. In 1981, they welcomed their first child – Olivia. Then in 1982 and 1984 respectively, Sean and Eric were born. Their strong characters of the McKeans’ children as well as their godly upbringing are illustrated by the fact that Olivia and Sean graduated from Harvard and Eric, though accepted at Harvard, chose to attend and then graduated from Stanford, where he served as Captain of the renowned Stanford Tennis Team. (Their educations were funded through the combination of the McKeans’ small savings, Kip’s parents, close friends of the McKeans, and scholarships – both academic and athletic, as well as financial aid.)
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The McKeans’ children in 1990 in Los Angeles!

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Eric, Olivia and Sean in 2008!

Through the years, through all their individual trials, the McKeans remain an extremely happy and tight-knit family. All three children have married and have very successful careers. Kip and Elena are now tremendously excited to be grandparents!
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“Abuelo Kip” and one of his beloved
granddaughters Scarlett!

** High School And College Years
————————————————————

Prior to high school, Kip was not religious. However, at the end of Kip’s sophomore year in high school, he became very involved in a dynamic fundamental Christian congregation in Maitland, Florida – the Asbury United Methodist Church. Here he came to a deep personal faith in Christ and in the divine inspiration of the Bible.
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The Asbury United Methodist Church of Maitland, Florida
where Kip wasfirst influenced to study the Bible!

At the end of his freshman year at the University of Florida, he was invited to a college devotional sponsored by the 14th Street Church of Christ. (A year later, this congregation adopted the name of the Crossroads Church of Christ.) This congregation in Gainesville had begun a pilot program for campus ministry for the Mainline Churches of Christ just five years earlier. Some of the more progressive Mainline Churches of Christ desired to impact the secular college campus and initially modeled their efforts after Campus Crusade. They called this new program – led by Chuck Lucas – Campus Advance. Here Kip was taught to give up everything for Christ and be baptized for the remission of sins to become a Christian. As a 17 year old freshman, Kip made this commitment and was baptized at 1:30AM on April 11, 1972.

For summer vacation in 1972, Kip returned home to Chicago. He became very sick; boils covered the entire upper part of his body. Bandages were wrapped around his body for the next three months. He believes that at this time God was testing and humbling him, particularly through the scarring on his face. Of note, the members of the Mainline Church of Christ that he attended in the Chicago area never came to visit him while he was sick. This incident in his life sensitized him to meeting people’s needs, particularly visiting the sick. Later that summer, even though the doctors strongly advised him otherwise because of his weakened health, he returned to Gainesville so that he could once again participate in a strong fellowship of college Christians.

During his sophomore year in college, though involved in the High Honors Chemistry Pre-med Program at the University of Florida, Kip began to dream about becoming a campus minister. God reinforced this dream when his brother Randy was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 1973. Kip baptized his brother six months later. (His sister Dana was baptized 15 years later.) Kip’s Christianity also led to conflict where he lived in the Sigma Chi Fraternity House. That same year, his stand for purity almost led to his dismissal from the fraternity. However, many of his fellow fraternity brothers rallied around him electing him “Tribune.” Also, during his three years of living in the fraternity house, he hosted a weekly Bible Study in his room, through which eight of his fraternity brothers were baptized into Christ. These events solidified Kip’s sense that God was calling him into the full-time ministry, thus sacrificing the much more lucrative lifestyle of a doctor.
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In 1973, Kip hears the voice of God and
decides to go into the ministry!

During his college years while attending the Crossroads Church of Christ, the vision of dynamic campus ministries throughout America was put on Kip’s heart. He was inspired by the powerful preaching of Chuck Lucas and his associate Sam Laing, as well as in their innovations derived from Biblical principles: “prayer partners” – based on the “one another” Scriptures, “counting the cost” with each individual before baptism from Luke 14:25-33, and evangelistic small group Bible studies called “Soul Talks.” At this point, the seeds of discipling were placed in his life as he personally saw how one man could affect another’s daily lifestyle and eternal destiny for God. During these early years of the “Crossroads Movement” – also known as the “Total Commitment Movement” – the Crossroads Church and the young ministers they sent out became more and more controversial within the Mainline Churches of Christ, because of these innovations. In some cases, these “Crossroads Ministry Chur
ches” were “disfellowshipped” or “marked” by the “other” Mainline Churches of Christ.

** God’s Preparation And Education
————————————————————
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Kip first served in the fulltime ministry as the Campus
Minister to Northeastern Christian College
beginning in 1975!

In June 1975, Kip graduated from the University of Florida with High Honors as well as being selected to the most well-known of all scholastic honorary fraternities – Phi Beta Kappa. Shortly afterward, the Spirit guided Kip to Philadelphia where he was hired as the Campus Minister for Northeastern Christian College (NCC), a Mainline Church of Christ school. Here he saw first-hand how uncommitted many of the so-called “Christian students” were: drugs, drunkenness, prejudice, impurity and immorality were prevalent. He came to a deep conviction that being religious is not the same as being a righteous and true follower of Jesus.

While Kip was serving as the Campus Minister at NCC, the King of Prussia Church of Christ gave him a scholarship to attend Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. There he was challenged by one of his professors, the Dean of Academics, that the Bible is not the “only” inspired Word of God. Shocked, yet sure in his faith, Kip zealously responded to the Dean’s challenge, “If there are any other holy writings beside the Bible, then Christianity is reduced to simply another philosophy like Confucianism, Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism. To me, Christ and His Word are the only way, the only truth and the only life.” This core conviction has guided Kip during his 39 years of full-time ministry. As with Jesus, the Apostles and all of God’s prophets, Kip has been persecuted with several death threats, as well as publically chastised in TV shows, on the internet, and in magazines and newspapers for his “narrow view” of the Bible and salvation. (Matthew 7:13-14, Acts 4:12) Yet, he has never
wavered in his convictions about Jesus as the Christ and the inspiration of the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

In the fall of 1976, Kip began to serve the Lord at the Heritage Chapel Church of Christ in Charleston, Illinois where he was asked to initiate a campus ministry at Eastern Illinois University, a small college of 9,300 students. During his three years there – starting with just seven college students – God blessed his ministry with 300 campus baptisms!
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Kip and Elena during their second year in Illinois,
visiting Elena’s extended family – the
Garcia-Bengochea Familia!

Interestingly, Illinois was considered a “mission field” of the Mainline Churches of Christ, as the Mainline Churches are largely concentrated in America’s Southern States – the “Bible Belt.” Kip was supported “as a missionary” by the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. After nine months, some of the elders of the Memorial Church visited the Heritage Chapel Church. Instead of rejoicing at the large number of converts, they were “appalled” by the clapping during the singing of devotional songs, women praying in mixed groups, and the overall fervor of the worship service. Accused of “Pentecostalism,” “brain-washing,” and “cult-like practices,” Kip was fired by the Memorial Church two weeks later. Yet inside of the Heritage Chapel Church, the members were very appreciative and loyal. God blessed the church’s Biblical convictions from Kip’s preaching as financial support was quickly found from the Union Avenue Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee. The Union Avenue C
hurch generously gave Kip not only financial support, but also a full scholarship to Harding Graduate School of Religion, a “Mainline Church of Christ seminary.”

** Revolutionary Theology
————————————————————

Continuing his quest of a Masters in Theology which he began at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kip attended Harding Graduate School for two summers. He concluded that though helpful in scholastic pursuits, a formal seminary where future ministers were consumed with their academics and so were “removed” from being immersed in the lives of people was not the way to train evangelists. Rather, it is one minster walking with another like Jesus with His Twelve, or Paul training Timothy and Titus.

Well documented at this time was that an “average” Mainline Church of Christ congregation had 150 members and only eight baptisms per year. Six of these baptisms were children of the members and the others were baptized from the world. A majority of the member’s children left the church, and over 90% of the other baptisms fell away. This stagnation remains in the Mainline Churches to this day.

Flavil Yeakley, in his book Why Churches Grow, reported that Mac Lynn’s first accurate survey of the Mainline Churches of Christ revealed only 965,439 actual members as opposed to the 2.5 million that had been claimed. He discovered that instead of an estimated 15,000 congregations, there were actually only 10,165 Mainline Churches of Christ in America. Lynn recorded, “The Churches of Christ have only 24 churches with a membership of 1,000 or more, only four with a membership of 2,000 or more, and only one with a membership of more than 3,000.” The largest Mainline Church of Christ outside the borders of the United States was only 500 in attendance. Yeakley also wrote, “In 1980, the Church of Christ in the United States did stop increasing and started decreasing in total membership [through fall aways and an escalating death rate in an aging membership]. It is clear that if the 1965-1980 trend were to continue unchanged, the Church of Christ would cease to exist in this
nation in just a few years.”

Since the senior minister of the Heritage Chapel Church was only able to baptize a few adults, the adult membership remained lukewarm. So during Kip’s time in Charleston, he realized that no matter how dynamic a campus ministry was, unless a whole church is “totally committed,” the campus ministry’s impact will be limited. From Kip’s experience and travels, he observed that many Mainline Churches of Christ with campus ministers from Crossroads split and several of these young campus ministers in turn quit the ministry. In time, Kip would preach, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.” (Luke 5:37-38) Thus, Kip concluded through prayer and Bible study that the best way to build churches where every member is “totally committed” is to start new churches – for “new wine [zealous young ministers] must be poured into new
wineskins [new churches].”

In Kip’s years at Charleston and Memphis, he devoted himself to studying the Old Testament. This became a major turning point in Kip’s revolutionary theology. First of all, he came to a deep conviction that unlike the Mainline Church of Christ whose plea was to be a “New Testament Church,” a better understanding of God’s eternal plan and His Word would create a “Bible Church.” He fully realized that the Law – “the written code, with its regulations” from the Old Testament, were “nailed to the cross” thus nullifying it. (Colossians 2:14-15) However, Kip taught from 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” The word “Scripture” in the context of this passage refers only to the Old Testament; therefore, the intent by Paul was to call Timothy – and all disciples – to use the Old Testament “Scriptures” in their preaching, in their discipling, and in their lives. (City of Angels Interna
tional Christian Church Bulletin – May 22, 2011: The Biblical Significance Of The Old Testament In New Testament Times)

Secondly, Kip came to differ with the Mainline Church of Christ on Bible interpretation. In the early 1800’s, Thomas Campbell – one of the founders of the Restoration Movement, which is the heritage of the Mainline Church of Christ – gave the Mainline Church of Christ the following creed: “Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent.” This creed dictated that one must have specific authorization by command, example or necessary inference only from the New Testament in order to implement a teaching or practice. However, Kip – believing that both the New Testament and Old Testament should be the foundation of the church – coined a phrase in sharp contrast to the Mainline’s approach to interpretation. Kip taught churches should be: “Silent where the Bible speaks, and speak where the Bible is silent.” In other words, a Christian should simply obey where the Bible speaks, and speak (have opinions) where the Bible is silent. Theologically, Christians are
free to implement any practice or apply any name that is not prohibited in the Bible.

These two revolutionary concepts about the Scriptures were the fundamental reasons that many Mainline Churches of Christ opposed Kip. Ironically, though he is regarded by most as the “Founder of the International Churches of Christ,” when in the early 2000’s after the ICOC had returned to a more Mainline Church of Christ theological stance, because Kip continued to hold these same convictions, these revolutionary views of Scripture were the underlying causes for most of the leaders of the ICOC to vehemently oppose Kip and God’s new SoldOut Discipling Movement.

** The Boston Movement Begins
————————————————————

In 1979, during the McKeans’ last year in Charleston, the Elders of the Lexington Church of Christ in Massachusetts contacted Kip to be both their pulpit and campus minister. At that time, this Mainline Church of Christ was desperate for a new direction as they were considering closing their doors, because their number had shrunk to about 60 members. When the McKeans interviewed for the position, Kip expressed to the leaders in the Lexington congregation that in order for Elena and him to come, the leaders would need to support him in calling “every member” – adults, singles, campus and teens – to be “totally committed.” After five long months of deliberation, they believed that God had not given them any other alternative, so they unanimously invited the young 25 year old preacher to lead them!

Driving all night from Charleston to Boston, the McKeans arrived in the morning of Friday, June 1, 1979. So in this small dying congregation, history was made that fateful evening, as “30 would-be disciples” gathered with enormous expectations in the living-room of members Bob and Pat Gempel to hear Kip’s first lesson! At this point, the Lexington Church was simply viewed as another congregation of the “Crossroads” or “Total Commitment Movement.” The profound difference between the Lexington Church and the other “Crossroads Ministries” would soon become apparent as Kip’s revolutionary call from the Bible was for every member of the church to be “totally committed,” not just the campus students.
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Kip & Elena in 2012 in front of what was the Lexington
Church of Christ building in 1979!

In 1980, to help his congregation to grow spiritually and numerically, Kip developed a Bible Study Series called First Principles. (Hebrews 5:12; 6:1-3 WEV) The members of the church were asked to memorize these studies and then use the First Principles Studies so that each Christian could be trained to teach non-Christians the original standards that God has for individuals to become disciples of Christ. Perhaps the most radical and impacting study of the series was called “Discipleship.” In this study, Kip taught that in Acts 11:26: SAVED = CHRISTIAN = DISCIPLE. Simply meaning that you cannot be saved and one is not a true Christian without being a baptized disciple. (John 4:1-2; Acts 2:38-42) Kip developed the “Discipleship Study” not only to convert non-Christians, but to bring to light the sharp Biblical distinction between the Lexington (later renamed Boston) Church of Christ, and all “other churches,” including the “Crossroads Ministries.” As a result of the call to
“total commitment” to God and the practice of the Biblical concept of discipleship from everyone in the congregation, the Boston Church of Christ multiplied disciples at an unprecedented rate!

Another of Kip’s radical Biblical restorations was the role of an evangelist. He believed that the evangelist’s charge was not simply to shepherd his congregation, but to evangelize that church’s region of influence. (2 Corinthians 10:13-16) Thus in Boston, he divided the city into four geographical “regions.” An evangelist was placed over the disciples that lived in this “territory” for the purpose of evangelizing the entire “field.” In each region there were a number of “house churches,” and in each house church there were a number of Bible Talks. This “pyramidal structure” was Kip’s innovative application of Exodus 18:13-26.

To have the church appreciate the incredible training and sacrifice to become an Evangelist or Women’s Ministry Leader, Kip and Elena began to appoint qualified individuals in front of the congregation. During this powerful ceremony, Kip (or Elena if appointing a Women’s Ministry Leader) would share personally about the deserving disciple and then close out with the “ancient charge” of 2 Timothy 4:1-2 and the presentation of a Bible. This practice was imitated “everywhere in every church” in the Boston Movement, thus further unifying the churches. (1 Corinthians 4:14-17) So amazing is that every congregation in the Boston Movement “recognized” the appointed Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders throughout the other churches in the movement!

** Unprecedented Growth And Impact
————————————————————

During the ten years that the McKeans served the Boston Church of Christ, the Spirit produced exponential growth! The original Lexington Church of Christ had witnessed only two baptisms in the previous three years before June 1979. Through the restoration of the radical call and practice that every member of the congregation is “totally committed,” the Boston Church of Christ had 103 baptisms the first year! The most dynamic Mainline Church of Christ for decades had only baptized 200 to 300 each year. In fact, during the 80’s, every year a list of Mainline Churches of Christ baptizing 100 or more was published which usually had only 15 Mainline Churches listed. With God’s Spirit working through the McKeans, the Boston Church of Christ saw 200 baptisms their second year; 256 their third; 368 in the fourth; 457 in the fifth; 679 in the sixth; 735 in the seventh; 947 in the eighth; 1424 in the ninth; and in the churches tenth year 1621 were baptized into Christ. By this time
also, the Sunday attendance in Boston was approaching 4,000 as the church met in the famed Boston Garden, “home” of the Boston Celtics professional basketball team. Not only was this the largest single congregation in the history of New England, but it also became the largest “Church of Christ” in the entire world!
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The Lexington Church of Christ out-grew its building
after just one year of the McKeans’ ministry. Their
second location was the beautiful First Baptist
Church of Arlington. (Pictured above) Then in
1982 after filling up this building, they
moved into the Boston Opera House,
which is located within the city
limits of Boston. It was at that
juncture that the Lexington
Church of Christ legally
changed its name to the
“Boston Church of
Christ.”

Perhaps unappreciated by the casual observer was the challenge to meet the needs and keep faithful the unprecedented number of new Christians – over 2,000 in the first six years in Boston! In the 60’s and 70’s in the denominational world, there had been much discussion and writing on the “body life of the church” and “shepherding one another.” Thus, in the Crossroads Movement, “one another Christianity” was expressed in a buddy system called “prayer partners,” where each person chose their own “buddy” or “buddies.” Many chose Christians even of the opposite sex!

With so many new Christians in the Boston Church of Christ, Kip felt that the “buddy system” approach was not effective. Building upon the concepts of “shepherding” and “prayer partners,” he came up with “discipleship partners.” In these relationships, the evangelists, elders and women’s ministry leaders – after discussion and prayer – arranged for an older or stronger Christian of the same sex to give direction to each of the younger or weaker ones. (This principle of mentoring is clearly seen in Jesus’ relationship with the Twelve, Paul’s relationship to Timothy, as well as in Titus 2:3-5 where the older women are commanded to train the younger women.) Each pair was expected to meet weekly and have daily contact. This “one-over-one” discipling paradigm was also applied to marriages; thus came the innovation of “marriage discipling” – a mature married couple mentoring a younger married couple. Also honoring marriage, another of Kip’s creative innovations was to replace
“Bachelor Parties” (often accompanied with worldly overtones) with “Groom Honoring Parties.”

** The Boston Movement Plantings
————————————————————

In 1981, the Lord put a vision on Kip’s heart: “The evangelization of the nations in a generation.” This passion was ignited as he was influenced by former missionaries and the mission efforts especially of the Sunset School of Preaching – a Mainline Church of Christ school to train preachers – located in Lubbock, Texas. Kip’s plan was a simple one: if the Boston Church of Christ could place a small group of disciples (a mission team) in each of the key metropolitan centers of the world, they in turn – by the multiplication of leaders and disciples – could send church plantings to each of the capital cities of the surrounding nations that were under their influence. Then these “capital city churches” could send out church plantings throughout that nation. Therefore, collectively, these capital city churches would evangelize the nations in one generation just as in the first century. (Acts 19:8-10; Colossians 1:6, 23)

The key churches planted in the major metropolitan centers were called “pillar churches” – for a world brotherhood was envisioned to be built on them. Dr. Donald McGavran, the “Father of Modern Church Growth” (in the broadest definition of Christianity), saw the Boston Movement as unique in that it had a plan to evangelize the entire world from one congregation. Almost everyone in the Boston Movement saw the uniqueness of this simple plan as God revealing “His plan” to “evangelize the nations in a generation.”

Kip zealously pursued this vision, as he trained ministers in Boston. Women were also trained in “women’s ministry” by Elena and Pat Gempel. These trained ministry couples were sent to the “pillar cities.” In 1982, Chicago, Illinois and London, England, were the first two plantings of the Boston Movement. By 2000, the Chicago Church attendance was 5,000 and the London Church attendance was 3,000.

In 1983, the New York City Church of Christ was planted. Though this city had a population of 18 million, only 18 disciples were sent from Boston. Kip deeply believed that only one church of “totally committed” disciples – no matter how small – would be necessary to evangelize an entire metropolitan area – no matter how large. At its zenith in 2001, the New York City Church had 7,000 in attendance.

In 1985, Toronto, Canada became the Boston Movement’s second foreign planting. The Lord blessed this congregation with over 100 baptisms in their very first year!

In 1986, Johannesburg, South Africa was planted. God used this planting in a powerful way to glorify His name among the nations, as the “black” and “white” disciples did not merely coexist, but in honor to God, for the first time hugged one another as “one church” in the midst of apartheid and under the threat of extremists. Paris and Stockholm were also planted in 1986, which proved language as an inconsequential barrier for the mission work of the Boston Movement.

In 1987 came the plantings of Mexico City, Mexico; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Hong Kong, China. Also of special note – as detailed in the LA Story’s entitled Revolution (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=831&call=1) , Multiplicity (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=869&call=1) , and From Here to Eternity (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=893&call=1) – 1987 marked the milestone of the then disparate churches abandoning autonomy to form one ‘world brotherhood’ which would have a central leadership. It was written in multiple articles that autonomy was the evil which would insure the world would never be evangelized, let alone in our generation.
* 1987 – Friends are Friends Forever (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=636&call=1)
* 1988 – Disposition Diseases (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=668&call=1)

* 1988 – World Brotherhood (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=648&call=1)
* 1992 – Year of the Bible (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=799&call=1)

In 1988, Bombay, India; Cairo, Egypt; and Tokyo, Japan were planted. The Tokyo planting was built on the Mainline Yoyogi-Hachiman Church of Christ foundation of the 1950’s built by George and Irene Gurganus – whom Kip affectionately called his “Spiritual Grandparents.”

In 1989, there were seven plantings whose mission teams were collectively composed of 120 Bible Talk Leaders sent out from Boston: Honolulu, Hawaii; Los Angeles, California; Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Seattle, Washington; Washington DC; Manila, Philippines; and Bangkok, Thailand.

In 1990, the McKeans moved from Boston to Los Angeles to inspire the other church leaders of the movement by leading a smaller church which was “more relatable in size” to the other Boston Movement congregations – thus more easily imitated. (It was from Los Angeles in 1991 that Moscow, Russia was planted.) Valiantly, Kip and Elena personally led the mission teams to Manila, Bangkok and Moscow! In the first year in Manila, 400 were baptized into Christ! In Moscow’s first year, 850 were baptized!
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Moscow-1.jpg
Kip’s photo of the Moscow Mission Team on July 9, 1991
– the day they landed in Moscow! (Elena is
pictured on the far right.)

Of note, in the summer of 1989 after planting Manila, Kip courageously moved his family to Cairo after seven of the original eight mission team members – who were Americans – were deported by the government. This was a daring decision for Kip, Elena and their three young children. Kip felt that if he was to call others to preach in such life-threatening places as the Middle East, he himself must set an example to demonstrate this radical level of faith and sacrifice. Not only in Cairo, but throughout all of his years in ministry to this present day, there have been several death threats against Kip and even a few against his whole family, as preaching the truth always earns Satan’s wrath. (Revelation 2:13, 12:17)
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/John_Beshai.jpg
In 2011, the Egyptian lawyer John Beshai – a hero of the
evangelization of the Middle East – joined the
SoldOut Movement! John went home to
the Father on September 1, 2013.

Unique to the Boston Movement, not only did disciples make disciples, but churches planted churches. The Boston Church planted each of the “pillar churches,” which planted other churches, which planted still others. By 2001, at the time of his sabbatical, there were almost 400 churches in 171 nations and a combined Sunday morning attendance of about 200,000! 42 churches had more than 1,000 in attendance and 15 churches had more than 3,000 in attendance! The largest international congregation was the Manila Church at 6,000 in attendance! These numbers were staggering when compared with the Mainline Churches of Christ or any denominational group. Never in history has any church growth movement ever spread as quickly and to so many nations!

From 1981 on through the 80’s greatly aiding this expansion was the coming into the movement of about 2,000 mostly young people from the various elements of the Mainline Churches of Christ, especially the “Crossroads Campus Ministry Churches.” They moved to Boston or to one of the Boston Church of Christ plantings to become disciples or be strengthened as disciples, and to train to be on mission teams. These people – many of whom were leaders – were in awe of God and the unprecedented growth that the Holy Spirit produced in Boston and her daughter churches. They were often referred to as “remnant disciples.” (Isaiah 10:20-22) Kip documents this exciting Biblical phenomenon of God gathering His remnant in both Revolution Through Restoration Part 1 and Part 2.

In retrospect, one amazing aspect of this young movement was that many of these “remnant disciples” who were leaders had several philosophical and doctrinal conflicts with each other. However, Kip made every effort to forge a bond of unity between all of these leaders from the Scriptures by calling them to work side-by-side for one purpose. (Philippians 1:27; 2:1-4) Over time being “partners in the gospel” helped them to “surrender” their personal perspectives and be united in pursuing “the dream!”

On a sad note in 1987, when the Atlanta Church of the Boston Movement was “planted” through a split in a “Crossroads Ministry Congregation,” at this historic moment, the Crossroads Church of Christ sinfully “disfellowshipped” the McKeans, the Boston Church of Christ, and all of its affiliated plantings. Without debate, this made a clear distinction between the Boston Movement and the Crossroads Movement, which was in sharp decline in 1985 after the departure from the full-time ministry of their leader Chuck Lucas for personal reasons.

** Central Leadership – The World Sector Leaders
————————————————————
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/World_Sector_Leaders.jpg
The World Sector Leaders in 1992 – Front Row: Bob
Gempel, Kip McKean, Phil Lamb and Al Baird.
Second Row: Marty Fuqua, Scott Green,
Doug Arthur, Randy McKean, Steve
Johnson and Frank Kim.

In 1988, because of the rapid expanse of the churches, several brothers encouraged Kip to focus on a few “capable… and trustworthy men.” (Exodus 18:13-26) After six months of prayerful consideration and several discussions, Kip and Elena chose nine couples: Doug and Joyce Arthur, Al and Gloria Baird, Tom and Kelly Brown, Bob and Pat Gempel, Scott and Lynne Green, Steve and Lisa Johnson, Frank and Erica Kim, Phil and Donna Lamb, Randy and Kay McKean. These leaders – whom the McKeans had personally trained for the ministry – became known as the “World Sector Leaders.”

This was extremely significant, because the Mainline Church of Christ believes in autonomy – the independence of each congregation. Practically autonomy means that all final decisions about that local congregation are made by the local leadership. They believe that conferring with leadership from other congregations is good, but there is no overseeing authority, which can give directives on matters such as: dealing with difficult situations, raising and sending money for mission efforts, or calling for certain disciples for mission teams to complete an overall plan. Yet in the Scriptures, Paul writes the “overseeing evangelist” Titus (who Paul himself oversees), “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you… for there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers… They must be silenced… Therefore, encourage and rebuke with all authority.” (Titus 1:5, 10-11; 2:15) So Kip
and Elena, because of their vision and convictions from Scriptures, forged a “leadership family,” where each couple would “oversee” the evangelization of “their region” of the world – which collectively covered the globe! (Of note, during the first few years of the World Sector Leaders, the McKeans alongside the Bairds and the Gempels – as Shepherding Couples – would make the major decisions for the movement. Later, the Arthurs, the Kims and the Johnsons were added to this decision-making group.)
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/McKeans_Gempels_Gethsemane.jpg
Kip & Elena and Bob & Pat Gempel stroll together
through the Garden of Gethsemane just outside
of Jerusalem in 1994.

On January 1, 1990, the McKeans went to fortify the Los Angeles Church, which was planted in August 1989 by Tom and Kelly Brown. In turn, the Browns were sent back to Boston for strengthening, and Marty and Chris Fuqua replaced them as World Sector Leaders. When the McKeans arrived, the Los Angeles Church had 154 members. By March 1993 when I was baptized, church services were incredible celebrations of God’s glory. At that time, the LA Church was having 3,000 in attendance! Amazingly in 2001, the last year that the McKeans led the congregation, there were 10,000 members with about 15,000 in attendance regularly every Sunday morning, and 2,500 were baptized that year! Of special note, one of my most memorable worship services of the LA Church was when 17,000 of us gathered on a warm Saturday evening in November 1997 in one of America’s largest stadiums – the Rose Bowl! At this glorious occasion, Kip’s visionary sermon was simply entitled, The Purposes Of God.

As well in 1991, the McKeans asked Bob and Pat Gempel to become the Directors of the newly founded HOPEworldwide as their charge as World Sector Leaders. HOPEworldwide was the benevolent arm of the Boston Movement Churches. Its uniqueness from all other charity organizations was that the World Sector Leaders could mobilize every member of every church in every country for a focused volunteer effort to help the poor and needy around the world. In 1994, the World Sector Leaders of the Boston Movement officially adopted the name International Church of Christ (ICOC). This name was first given to the Boston Movement by John Vaughn, a denominational church growth expert. He surmised that the vast majority of the Mainline Churches of Christ were located in the “Bible Belt” of America, but the Boston Movement (to him with a similar plan of salvation) had an equal number of congregations internationally as they did nationally. So in his articles from his research, he distinguished
between the Mainline Churches of Christ and the Boston Movement Churches, thus birthing the name: “International” Church of Christ!

Also in 1994, Kip wrote and laid out his most visionary project to date – The Evangelization Proclamation! Signed by the McKeans and all the World Sector Leaders, they vowed before God to plant a discipling church in every nation of the world that had a city with at least a population of 100,000 by the year 2000! It became more commonly known as The Six Year Plan. At its signing, we were in “just” 53 countries. Through the power of God, this monumental task was accomplished by July 2000! Unprecedented in the history of Christianity, in just 21 years, God had multiplied the “30 would-be disciples” in the Boston Church to almost 400 churches, 135,000 disciples in 171 nations with a combined Sunday attendance of 200,000!
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/World_Sector_Leader_Couples-India.jpg
The World Sector Leaders in the fall of 1994. By this time,
Cory & Megan Blackwell had been added to the group
to spearhead the evangelization of the Middle East!
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WSL-Women1.jpg
The Women World Sector Leaders in 1998 – First Row:
Chris Fuqua, Megan Blackwell, Gloria Baird, Elena
McKean, Pat Gempel and Kay McKean.
Second Row: Donna Lamb, Erika Kim,
Lisa Johnson, Joyce Arthur
and Lynne Green.

Very encouraging to the movement were the following leadership appointments. In the late 80’s, Kip asked Cecil Wooten – a two-time recipient of the Purple Heart in World War II and the former Vice President of Chicago Bridge and Iron – to become the Administrator of the Boston Movement Churches. Each World Sector Leader had a World Sector Administrator. Cecil oversaw and coordinated this group. In 1993, the McKeans asked Al and Gloria Baird to oversee a new world sector called the “Media and Law World Sector.” Also at that time, the McKeans trained Cory Blackwell – a former NBA basketball player – and his wife Megan for the ministry, while building the “Cross and Switchblade Ministry” in the dangerous neighborhoods of South Central LA. Since Cory’s single mother was a devote Muslim, the Blackwells were asked by the McKeans to become the World Sector Leaders for the Middle East. (Cory’s mom – Wazirah – was later baptized in 1999!)
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Cory_Mother.jpg
Fellowshipping together in 2013, Wazirah, Cory
Blackwell’s mother, and Elena, whom Cory
affectionately calls his “spiritual mom.”

Another replacement among the World Sector Leaders was made when the Lambs, because of “family and health issues,” were asked to step aside in order to receive strengthening. (Sadly, the Lambs later divorced; Phil fell away, yet Donna remained faithful till her death by cancer in December 2007.) To replace the Lambs, who oversaw the Central and South America World Sector, Peter and Laura Garcia – the trusted brother and sister-in-law of Elena – were asked to serve in this role. In 1999, Cecil was in his 70’s and wanted to take a step back from the rigorous demands of administration. Consequently, Andy and Tammy Fleming were selected to assume his role as the leaders of all the administrators throughout the ICOC. The McKeans made this into the “Administration World Sector.” The last World Sector Leaders selected were Russ and Gail Ewell. They led the “NET World Sector” – New media, Exceptional children, and Technology. The leadership structure of the International Churches of
Christ was as simple as it was creative and unique! Of the original World Sector Leaders – except the Gempels and the Bairds whose role was to shepherd the group – each was given a geographic charge. There evolved eight geographic World Sectors: British Commonwealth – Great Britain, India, Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia (Arthurs); ACES – Africa, Caribbean, Eastern States (Johnsons); Europe (the Randy McKeans); Pac Rim (Kims); Central and South America (Lambs); Northern Federation – former Soviet Union nations; Scandinavia, Canada and the Western US (Fuquas); China (Greens); and later the Middle East (Blackwells). Each World Sector Leader Couple’s discipling group was composed of 10-12 other couples: a World Sector Administrator, a World Sector Elder, a World Sector Teacher, and Geographic Sector Leaders (Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders). Also, in most world sectors, there was a World Sector Media and Law Couple. The World Sector Elders were collectively called
the “Kingdom Elders.” They were overseen by the Bairds. The World Sector Teachers were collectively known as the “Kingdom Teachers,” and eventually led by Andy Fleming. The Geographic Sector Leaders (GSL) oversaw the evangelism of a region of that World Sector. For example, in the ACES, Mike and Anne-Brigitte Taliaferro were the “GSL Couple” for Africa, and in the Northern Federation, Sasha and Louisa Kostenko served as the “GSL Couple” for the 15 nations in the former Soviet Union – the Commonwealth of Independent States. In time, each GSL Couple built their own discipleship group, which was composed of essentially an evangelist and women’s ministry leader for each nation or group of nations, which was in their geographic charge.

** World Missions Evangelist – Sabbatical
————————————————————

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.

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 hear
t,” David – yet they continued to victoriously lead “all Israel.”

Kip was profoundly affected by his beloved daughter leaving the faith, the “stripping away” of his leadership, and the public condemnation of his “leadership style” and the Biblical teachings that propelled the movement to almost all nations. Most of all, he was brokenhearted at the decimation of the churches that came in early 2003. I remember quite vividly those dark days of the McKeans’ sabbatical. After working on Elena’s computer in 2002, I came downstairs to see my devastated friend and leader, distraught by the condition of God’s family and hurting from the lost relationships of those who abandoned him in his time of need. The only words I could muster were, “Kip, I don’t know what to say to you. But, I do know that the whole Kingdom world-wide is falling apart around us and you need to ‘get back on the horse’.” Through God’s strength found in weakness, this he did.

In the past 10 years in both sermons and his writings, Kip is quite vulnerable about wrestling with bitterness, being depressed and unmotivated, as well as drifting and becoming quite distant in his walk with God for about a year of this one-and-a-half year sabbatical. Kip has openly confessed that these are all signs of one of the rarely acknowledged “seven deadly sins” – “acedia,” from which many other remnant disciples have suffered the consequences. (2 Corinthians 7:10; Hebrews 12:3, 15)

Read Kip’s Article on Acedia (http://www.caicc.net/2014/06/16/acedia-the-forgotten-sin/)

In the summer of 2002, the McKeans were invited to Bald Head Island, North Carolina, which is located near where the Cape Fear River empties into the Atlantic. Kip writes the following in Revolution Through Restoration Part 3:

“In the waters off the beach known as Cape Fear, there were huge, raging waves as the currents of the Atlantic Ocean collided with the currents of the Cape Fear River. Historically, this tumult resulted in many shipwrecks. I went to spend time with God at Cape Fear. I soon noticed that where there should have been a lighthouse, there was only a weathered foundation. This is what I wrote that day:”

** The Cape Fear Psalm
————————————————————

The rage of the opposing currents
Has shipwrecked my faith.
The lighthouse has gone
And I have no direction.
I am alone for I feel your anger Lord
From your Word and from people who feel like foes,
That used to call me friend and leader.
I gloried in your victories
Which I foolishly called my own.

And now your hand is pushing me under the currents
For I exalted myself, and not your grace.
I am weary through unceasing pain
From morning until night,
In sleep there is a peace when I close my eyes.
But my dreams are full of anguish and darkness.
Because your lighthouse has been destroyed.

I am drowning in self-pity and bitterness engulfs me.
You know that I cannot bear much more.
I fear for your movement.
I fear for my family.
And I fear most for my soul.
I have thoughts of dying.
But realize there would await me
Only an unrelenting, malicious presence,
To be eternally away from you.

My daily tears have been for me,
Yet now they are because I have disappointed you
And have hurt so many through my sins.
Please forgive my arrogance.
I became confused in my pride
And I turned from your wisdom to mine.
I stopped consulting your Word and my brother prophets.

Let my heart return to that simple eternal moment
Where I first saw your lighthouse.
Through the calm sea of baptism
I responded to your Word.
I first felt your Fatherly embrace
Just 30 short years ago.

I was indignant at your enemies of false prophets
Those hypocritical leaders of your people
For they led me and the whole world astray.
I was damaged by their arrogance and sin.

But by your Mighty Hand, even that first day
You gave me the strength to confront them.
Now I am them. I find no fellowship.
Only angry confrontations.
The prophets I trained are furious
At the damage I have caused your movement.
Few remember my deeds, fewer my zeal,
Only you know my heart.

Father, lead me to rebuild that lighthouse.
If your mercy allows, I will help to rebuild it.
Today I promise you I will stop drifting out to sea.
Today I promise I will swim till I reach the other shore.
I will not quit.
I realize my sacrifice only brought you ever-lessening pleasure
As my heart became dull.
For you desire only a broken and contrite heart.
Only these prayers are the incense of heaven.

Today I promise to strive to be only a disciple.
I surrender my ambition to lead till you refine it in the fires of criticism.
I will no longer care what the media, my enemies and even my friends say.
Because this brought me to Cape Fear.
Only your approval will I seek.

My most heartfelt prayer is
Let me and my family make it through the raging currents.
Let your lighthouse shine mightily
So we can make it to the other side.

Kip continues in Revolution Through Restoration Part 3 reflecting on how his sins affected the movement:

During the sabbatical, God taught me to take responsibility for my leadership in the Kingdom, the decisions of the World Sector Leaders, and for the spiritual condition of each person in my family. My sins are clear and grievous. I have been arrogant, almost always thinking I was right. I did not listen. I did not actively seek discipling for me and my family. I was only partially open and deceit came into my life. This led to the sin of anger towards those who disagreed with me. Too often, I viewed these individuals as critical. I did not draw people out. I built an atmosphere in which people were afraid to speak up. There were times when I corrected people that I was mean, cruel and I even humiliated them. I was too controlling. For this I apologize. I am truly sorry…

Ultimately, my most devastating sin was claiming God’s victories as mine. In pride, I boasted in “my” accomplishments. I allowed people to give me glory; I did not refocus them to God. Though some have charged “growth was god,” this was never true. My goal was, and still is, simply “to win as many as possible.” (1 Corinthians 9:19) However, people developed wrong motivations and stumbled because of my overemphasis on numeric goals and accountability, though I still believe in accountability if it is used wisely as Jesus did. (Mark 6:30) In retrospect, I see that many leaders did not imitate Christ in me, but my ungodly leadership traits, and they are now being hurt by those they hurt. I confessed these sins while sharing my sabbatical journey at the Unity Meeting in LA [specifically Long Beach] in November 2002.

One evangelist called the Cape Fear Psalm, “Kip’s Psalm 51.” As for his shortcomings in his family, Kip humbly shared, “Though Elena and I believe that we raised our precious children in the Lord as each was baptized and remained faithful during their teen years, my biggest regret was that I put my children on a pedestal in front of the movement. This put too much pressure on them and hurt them spiritually as sometimes they felt that they could not measure-up. I have apologized to each of them for this. They have forgiven me, and we remain a very close family. I pray daily and believe with all of my heart that because of the godly training each received that one day ‘when they are [older]’ they will return to the Lord.”

God taught one last invaluable lesson to Kip about his sins in his leadership concerning the weak. He wrote, “God has a sense of ironic justice. To rid Jacob of his deceitful nature, God placed Jacob under Laban, a worse deceiver. To show me how insensitive and in fact merciless at times I had been to the weak, God placed me “under” upset and – from my point of view – unforgiving brothers who would not give me any mercy or the benefit of the doubt, though I felt I had done so much for them through the years. I felt humiliated through shame and exasperated to the point of considering leaving the Lord. I learned that mercy expressed through kindness, forgiveness and gentleness – was not only God’s way to encourage and strengthen the weak, but the only path to keep a movement together. In all of these trials, my dear wife exemplified how one should love the weak by staying at my side with unconditional love.”

These lessons were painfully learned through the discipline of suffering that God allowed Kip “as a son” to endure. (Hebrews 12:5-11) However by July 2003, Kip – though severely weakened by these many trials – was a “changed man.” He was refreshed by repentance, and so the Spirit sent him to Portland to build again with these lessons freshly etched on his heart. (Acts 3:19)

** The Destruction Of A Global Movement
————————————————————

At the onset of the sabba

Good News Email – Special Edition – KipMcKean.com Update

All content within this email is for the intended recipient only. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution and/or copy is a violation of applicable laws.
————————————————————
http://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=4079b9aedce8dac0c97a6d22d&id=ea69cf3522&e=[UNIQID]

** November 24, 2014
————————————————————
UPDATED SPECIAL EDITION
The History Of The Spread Of Christianity In Modern Times
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.
Dear &lt;&lt;First Name>>,
Greetings in the Lord from Washington DC! If you have read this article in the past year, perhaps you will simply want to scroll down to the newest chapter: 2014 – The Year Of Prayer. Otherwise enjoy the entire narrative or go to KipMcKean.com (http://www.kipmckean.com) .
In His service,
Ron Harding

A HISTORY OF THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY IN MODERN TIMES
By Ron Harding*

The primary purposes of this exciting narration are to honor God with the truth and to encourage those who have never had the dream – or perhaps have lost it – to share in Jesus’ dream of the “evangelization of all nations in this generation.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) Since we live in an age in which the proliferation of information is often distorted, I have sought to carefully investigate and document with first-hand accounts – including my own – the incredible story of the spread of true Christianity from the 1970’s to this very day. Much of this rich history is intertwined with the life of my “partner in the gospel” Kip McKean – known as a preacher, missionary, reformer, theologian and humanitarian. Therefore, using many of his experiences as a timeline – his faith, his faults and his rekindled fire – allows a detailed rendering for this “orderly [historical] account.” (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1)
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/manila-final.jpg
Kip McKean at Smokey Mountain outside
of Manila in 1989!

** Overview
————————————————————

Dr. Thomas Wayne McKean II (May 31, 1954 – present) was named after his ancestor Thomas McKean, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. (His mother nicknamed him “Kip.”) In 2003, Kip became the Evangelist for the Portland International Church of Christ. In October 2006, after a valiant three-year effort to bring reform to the crumbling International Churches of Christ, the Holy Spirit used Kip, soon joined by other valiant disciples on every continent, to initiate the new Portland / SoldOut Discipling Movement!

In May 2007, Kip and Elena McKean alongside 40 other disciples from Portland planted the City of Angels International Christian Church, which now has 1,200 at their Sunday Services! While leading the City of Angels Church, Kip serves as the “World Missions Evangelist” for the now fastest spreading Christian movement in the world! Another milestone was achieved in 2012, as decades of dreams and prayers were fulfilled with the founding of the International College of Christian Ministries where Kip serves as the President.

Of note in 1979, Kip and Elena were invited to lead the Lexington Church of Christ (later renamed the Boston Church of Christ). From these “30 would-be-disciples,” the Spirit ignited a movement of churches known as the Boston Movement and in 1994 renamed the International Churches of Christ. Kip’s tenacious embrace of Jesus’ radical dream “to evangelize the nations in a generation,” his bold theological reforms, his personal warmth coupled with his charismatic and uncompromising Bible preaching, allowed the Spirit to take the gospel from one small dying church in Boston to become almost 400 churches in 171 of the 196 nations of the world by the year 2000! Then as this noble effort was being tragically decimated in 2001, 2002 and 2003, God sent Kip on a rocky path of suffering and redemption. For two years, he wandered in a lonely, spiritual wilderness, which greatly humbled him. Yet, those dark days ultimately strengthened Kip’s resolve to fulfill “the dream.” Therefore in
2014, it is so amazing that in just seven years, God’s new SoldOut Movement has almost 60 congregations in 26 nations… and counting! From a historical perspective, no other preacher in the past century has been directly responsible for the planting of so many congregations around the world!

Concerning “the evangelization of the nations in this generation,” some have asked, “What is going to be different this ‘second time’ around?” This presupposes the question, “Can it be different this second time?” The answer in the Scriptures is a resounding yes! The first time the Israelites approached the Promised Land, their lack of faith led them to the dreadful desires to choose a different leader than the one God had chosen and to return to their lives of slavery in Egypt. This unbelief ultimately resulted in their death in the desert. The second time the Spirit led the Israelites to the border of the Promised Land, the Hebrew people – having learned to rely on God in their wanderings in the desert – now succeeded to make God’s dream and promise a reality. This same learning from the past prayerfully will be true for God’s new SoldOut Movement. As Kip preached at the 2010 Jubilee on the theme of The Promised Land on the Second Try, “Second is best because God rewards
the quest.”
Table of Contents
Overview (#_Toc185591988)
Early Life And Family (#_Toc185599045)
Marriage And Children (#_Toc185599046)
High School And College Years (#_Toc184522613)
God’s Preparation And Education (#_Toc185599048)
Revolutionary Theology (#_Toc185599049)
The Boston Movement Begins (#_Toc185599050)
Unprecedented Growth And Impact (#_Toc185599051)
The Boston Movement Plantings (#_Toc185599052)
Central Leadership – The World Sector Leaders (#_Toc185599053)
World Missions Evangelist – Sabbatical (#_Toc184522618)
The Cape Fear Psalm (#_Toc185599054)
The Destruction Of A Global Movement (#_Toc185599055) .
Fired By Men – Approved By God (#_Toc185599056)
The Spirit Moves The McKeans To Portland (#_Toc185599057)
The Portland Song (#_Toc185599058)
The Global Internet Ministry is Initiated (#_Toc185599059)
The Portland Controversy (#_Toc185599060)
The Birth Of The SoldOut Movement (#_Toc185599061)
The Spirit Takes The McKeans To Los Angeles (#_Toc185599062)
The Portland Church Is Led Astray (#_Toc185599063)
The Crown Of Thorns Project (#_Toc185599064)
God Gathers From The Farthest Horizon (#_Toc185599065)
The New Movement Multiplies (#_Toc185599066)
The Founding of the International College of Christian Ministries (#_Toc185599066)
2014 – The Year of Prayer (#_Toc185591111)
Faithful To The End (#_Toc185599067)

** Early Life And Family
————————————————————

Kip McKean was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 31, 1954. Like many young men of the 1960’s, he was inspired by those who refused to compromise and were willing to sacrifice everything for a worthy cause. This temperament is also deep in the McKean family heritage, as they are called higher by the courage of one of their ancestors, Thomas McKean. As with all of the “Signers of the Declaration of Independence,” death threats were common. Interestingly, Thomas McKean not only was a “Signer” for Delaware, but also was “the President” of the Congress of Confederation – the highest office in the new United States of America – when news arrived from General Washington that the British had surrendered!

Kip’s father, serving as an admiral in the U.S. Navy, became a strong influence and an early role model for leadership and excellence. His mother, a very talented artist, nurtured in him a warmth as well as a character of resilience. Between the ages of seven and 16, every summer Kip alongside his beloved younger brother Randy and dear younger sister Dana spent one month with each set of grandparents – “Grampy and Grammy” and “Grandpa and Grandma.” Those days with his grandparents in Michigan and Indiana respectively heightened his sense of adventure and deepened his love and appreciation of family.
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Both of Kip’s parents – Tom & Kim – celebrate their 80th
Birthdays in the summer of 2008!

During his high school years – in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Winter Park, Florida; and Libertyville, Illinois – Kip was active in athletics, was selected to be a member of the National Honor Society, and also obtained the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts. During these formative years, Kip’s heroes became John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, in time, Kip’s greatest hero became Jesus.

**
————————————————————
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Kip & Elena are married on December 11, 1976!

Kip married Elena Garcia-Bengochea on December 11, 1976. Elena was born in Havana, Cuba on September 2, 1955 and fled with her family to the United States in a boat in 1959. Growing up in Gainesville, Florida, Elena attended P. K. Yonge High School. She distinguished herself as an honor student, Student Body Treasurer, Captain of the Tennis Team, Captain of the Varsity Cheerleaders, and Homecoming Queen.

At 17, Elena was baptized into Christ the summer before her freshman year at the University of Florida on August 8, 1973. Kip and Elena met at the Crossroads Church of Christ and were married there. In 1981, they welcomed their first child – Olivia. Then in 1982 and 1984 respectively, Sean and Eric were born. Their strong characters of the McKeans’ children as well as their godly upbringing are illustrated by the fact that Olivia and Sean graduated from Harvard and Eric, though accepted at Harvard, chose to attend and then graduated from Stanford, where he served as Captain of the renowned Stanford Tennis Team. (Their educations were funded through the combination of the McKeans’ small savings, Kip’s parents, close friends of the McKeans, and scholarships – both academic and athletic, as well as financial aid.)
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The McKeans’ children in 1990 in Los Angeles!

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Eric, Olivia and Sean in 2008!

Through the years, through all their individual trials, the McKeans remain an extremely happy and tight-knit family. All three children have married and have very successful careers. Kip and Elena are now tremendously excited to be grandparents!
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“Abuelo Kip” and one of his beloved
granddaughters Scarlett!

** High School And College Years
————————————————————

Prior to high school, Kip was not religious. However, at the end of Kip’s sophomore year in high school, he became very involved in a dynamic fundamental Christian congregation in Maitland, Florida – the Asbury United Methodist Church. Here he came to a deep personal faith in Christ and in the divine inspiration of the Bible.
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The Asbury United Methodist Church of Maitland, Florida
where Kip wasfirst influenced to study the Bible!

At the end of his freshman year at the University of Florida, he was invited to a college devotional sponsored by the 14th Street Church of Christ. (A year later, this congregation adopted the name of the Crossroads Church of Christ.) This congregation in Gainesville had begun a pilot program for campus ministry for the Mainline Churches of Christ just five years earlier. Some of the more progressive Mainline Churches of Christ desired to impact the secular college campus and initially modeled their efforts after Campus Crusade. They called this new program – led by Chuck Lucas – Campus Advance. Here Kip was taught to give up everything for Christ and be baptized for the remission of sins to become a Christian. As a 17 year old freshman, Kip made this commitment and was baptized at 1:30AM on April 11, 1972.

For summer vacation in 1972, Kip returned home to Chicago. He became very sick; boils covered the entire upper part of his body. Bandages were wrapped around his body for the next three months. He believes that at this time God was testing and humbling him, particularly through the scarring on his face. Of note, the members of the Mainline Church of Christ that he attended in the Chicago area never came to visit him while he was sick. This incident in his life sensitized him to meeting people’s needs, particularly visiting the sick. Later that summer, even though the doctors strongly advised him otherwise because of his weakened health, he returned to Gainesville so that he could once again participate in a strong fellowship of college Christians.

During his sophomore year in college, though involved in the High Honors Chemistry Pre-med Program at the University of Florida, Kip began to dream about becoming a campus minister. God reinforced this dream when his brother Randy was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 1973. Kip baptized his brother six months later. (His sister Dana was baptized 15 years later.) Kip’s Christianity also led to conflict where he lived in the Sigma Chi Fraternity House. That same year, his stand for purity almost led to his dismissal from the fraternity. However, many of his fellow fraternity brothers rallied around him electing him “Tribune.” Also, during his three years of living in the fraternity house, he hosted a weekly Bible Study in his room, through which eight of his fraternity brothers were baptized into Christ. These events solidified Kip’s sense that God was calling him into the full-time ministry, thus sacrificing the much more lucrative lifestyle of a doctor.
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In 1973, Kip hears the voice of God and
decides to go into the ministry!

During his college years while attending the Crossroads Church of Christ, the vision of dynamic campus ministries throughout America was put on Kip’s heart. He was inspired by the powerful preaching of Chuck Lucas and his associate Sam Laing, as well as in their innovations derived from Biblical principles: “prayer partners” – based on the “one another” Scriptures, “counting the cost” with each individual before baptism from Luke 14:25-33, and evangelistic small group Bible studies called “Soul Talks.” At this point, the seeds of discipling were placed in his life as he personally saw how one man could affect another’s daily lifestyle and eternal destiny for God. During these early years of the “Crossroads Movement” – also known as the “Total Commitment Movement” – the Crossroads Church and the young ministers they sent out became more and more controversial within the Mainline Churches of Christ, because of these innovations. In some cases, these “Crossroads Ministry Chur
ches” were “disfellowshipped” or “marked” by the “other” Mainline Churches of Christ.

** God’s Preparation And Education
————————————————————
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Kip first served in the fulltime ministry as the Campus
Minister to Northeastern Christian College
beginning in 1975!

In June 1975, Kip graduated from the University of Florida with High Honors as well as being selected to the most well-known of all scholastic honorary fraternities – Phi Beta Kappa. Shortly afterward, the Spirit guided Kip to Philadelphia where he was hired as the Campus Minister for Northeastern Christian College (NCC), a Mainline Church of Christ school. Here he saw first-hand how uncommitted many of the so-called “Christian students” were: drugs, drunkenness, prejudice, impurity and immorality were prevalent. He came to a deep conviction that being religious is not the same as being a righteous and true follower of Jesus.

While Kip was serving as the Campus Minister at NCC, the King of Prussia Church of Christ gave him a scholarship to attend Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. There he was challenged by one of his professors, the Dean of Academics, that the Bible is not the “only” inspired Word of God. Shocked, yet sure in his faith, Kip zealously responded to the Dean’s challenge, “If there are any other holy writings beside the Bible, then Christianity is reduced to simply another philosophy like Confucianism, Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism. To me, Christ and His Word are the only way, the only truth and the only life.” This core conviction has guided Kip during his 39 years of full-time ministry. As with Jesus, the Apostles and all of God’s prophets, Kip has been persecuted with several death threats, as well as publically chastised in TV shows, on the internet, and in magazines and newspapers for his “narrow view” of the Bible and salvation. (Matthew 7:13-14, Acts 4:12) Yet, he has never
wavered in his convictions about Jesus as the Christ and the inspiration of the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

In the fall of 1976, Kip began to serve the Lord at the Heritage Chapel Church of Christ in Charleston, Illinois where he was asked to initiate a campus ministry at Eastern Illinois University, a small college of 9,300 students. During his three years there – starting with just seven college students – God blessed his ministry with 300 campus baptisms!
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Kip and Elena during their second year in Illinois,
visiting Elena’s extended family – the
Garcia-Bengochea Familia!

Interestingly, Illinois was considered a “mission field” of the Mainline Churches of Christ, as the Mainline Churches are largely concentrated in America’s Southern States – the “Bible Belt.” Kip was supported “as a missionary” by the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. After nine months, some of the elders of the Memorial Church visited the Heritage Chapel Church. Instead of rejoicing at the large number of converts, they were “appalled” by the clapping during the singing of devotional songs, women praying in mixed groups, and the overall fervor of the worship service. Accused of “Pentecostalism,” “brain-washing,” and “cult-like practices,” Kip was fired by the Memorial Church two weeks later. Yet inside of the Heritage Chapel Church, the members were very appreciative and loyal. God blessed the church’s Biblical convictions from Kip’s preaching as financial support was quickly found from the Union Avenue Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee. The Union Avenue C
hurch generously gave Kip not only financial support, but also a full scholarship to Harding Graduate School of Religion, a “Mainline Church of Christ seminary.”

** Revolutionary Theology
————————————————————

Continuing his quest of a Masters in Theology which he began at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kip attended Harding Graduate School for two summers. He concluded that though helpful in scholastic pursuits, a formal seminary where future ministers were consumed with their academics and so were “removed” from being immersed in the lives of people was not the way to train evangelists. Rather, it is one minster walking with another like Jesus with His Twelve, or Paul training Timothy and Titus.

Well documented at this time was that an “average” Mainline Church of Christ congregation had 150 members and only eight baptisms per year. Six of these baptisms were children of the members and the others were baptized from the world. A majority of the member’s children left the church, and over 90% of the other baptisms fell away. This stagnation remains in the Mainline Churches to this day.

Flavil Yeakley, in his book Why Churches Grow, reported that Mac Lynn’s first accurate survey of the Mainline Churches of Christ revealed only 965,439 actual members as opposed to the 2.5 million that had been claimed. He discovered that instead of an estimated 15,000 congregations, there were actually only 10,165 Mainline Churches of Christ in America. Lynn recorded, “The Churches of Christ have only 24 churches with a membership of 1,000 or more, only four with a membership of 2,000 or more, and only one with a membership of more than 3,000.” The largest Mainline Church of Christ outside the borders of the United States was only 500 in attendance. Yeakley also wrote, “In 1980, the Church of Christ in the United States did stop increasing and started decreasing in total membership [through fall aways and an escalating death rate in an aging membership]. It is clear that if the 1965-1980 trend were to continue unchanged, the Church of Christ would cease to exist in this
nation in just a few years.”

Since the senior minister of the Heritage Chapel Church was only able to baptize a few adults, the adult membership remained lukewarm. So during Kip’s time in Charleston, he realized that no matter how dynamic a campus ministry was, unless a whole church is “totally committed,” the campus ministry’s impact will be limited. From Kip’s experience and travels, he observed that many Mainline Churches of Christ with campus ministers from Crossroads split and several of these young campus ministers in turn quit the ministry. In time, Kip would preach, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.” (Luke 5:37-38) Thus, Kip concluded through prayer and Bible study that the best way to build churches where every member is “totally committed” is to start new churches – for “new wine [zealous young ministers] must be poured into new
wineskins [new churches].”

In Kip’s years at Charleston and Memphis, he devoted himself to studying the Old Testament. This became a major turning point in Kip’s revolutionary theology. First of all, he came to a deep conviction that unlike the Mainline Church of Christ whose plea was to be a “New Testament Church,” a better understanding of God’s eternal plan and His Word would create a “Bible Church.” He fully realized that the Law – “the written code, with its regulations” from the Old Testament, were “nailed to the cross” thus nullifying it. (Colossians 2:14-15) However, Kip taught from 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” The word “Scripture” in the context of this passage refers only to the Old Testament; therefore, the intent by Paul was to call Timothy – and all disciples – to use the Old Testament “Scriptures” in their preaching, in their discipling, and in their lives. (City of Angels Interna
tional Christian Church Bulletin – May 22, 2011: The Biblical Significance Of The Old Testament In New Testament Times)

Secondly, Kip came to differ with the Mainline Church of Christ on Bible interpretation. In the early 1800’s, Thomas Campbell – one of the founders of the Restoration Movement, which is the heritage of the Mainline Church of Christ – gave the Mainline Church of Christ the following creed: “Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent.” This creed dictated that one must have specific authorization by command, example or necessary inference only from the New Testament in order to implement a teaching or practice. However, Kip – believing that both the New Testament and Old Testament should be the foundation of the church – coined a phrase in sharp contrast to the Mainline’s approach to interpretation. Kip taught churches should be: “Silent where the Bible speaks, and speak where the Bible is silent.” In other words, a Christian should simply obey where the Bible speaks, and speak (have opinions) where the Bible is silent. Theologically, Christians are
free to implement any practice or apply any name that is not prohibited in the Bible.

These two revolutionary concepts about the Scriptures were the fundamental reasons that many Mainline Churches of Christ opposed Kip. Ironically, though he is regarded by most as the “Founder of the International Churches of Christ,” when in the early 2000’s after the ICOC had returned to a more Mainline Church of Christ theological stance, because Kip continued to hold these same convictions, these revolutionary views of Scripture were the underlying causes for most of the leaders of the ICOC to vehemently oppose Kip and God’s new SoldOut Discipling Movement.

** The Boston Movement Begins
————————————————————

In 1979, during the McKeans’ last year in Charleston, the Elders of the Lexington Church of Christ in Massachusetts contacted Kip to be both their pulpit and campus minister. At that time, this Mainline Church of Christ was desperate for a new direction as they were considering closing their doors, because their number had shrunk to about 60 members. When the McKeans interviewed for the position, Kip expressed to the leaders in the Lexington congregation that in order for Elena and him to come, the leaders would need to support him in calling “every member” – adults, singles, campus and teens – to be “totally committed.” After five long months of deliberation, they believed that God had not given them any other alternative, so they unanimously invited the young 25 year old preacher to lead them!

Driving all night from Charleston to Boston, the McKeans arrived in the morning of Friday, June 1, 1979. So in this small dying congregation, history was made that fateful evening, as “30 would-be disciples” gathered with enormous expectations in the living-room of members Bob and Pat Gempel to hear Kip’s first lesson! At this point, the Lexington Church was simply viewed as another congregation of the “Crossroads” or “Total Commitment Movement.” The profound difference between the Lexington Church and the other “Crossroads Ministries” would soon become apparent as Kip’s revolutionary call from the Bible was for every member of the church to be “totally committed,” not just the campus students.
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Kip & Elena in 2012 in front of what was the Lexington
Church of Christ building in 1979!

In 1980, to help his congregation to grow spiritually and numerically, Kip developed a Bible Study Series called First Principles. (Hebrews 5:12; 6:1-3 WEV) The members of the church were asked to memorize these studies and then use the First Principles Studies so that each Christian could be trained to teach non-Christians the original standards that God has for individuals to become disciples of Christ. Perhaps the most radical and impacting study of the series was called “Discipleship.” In this study, Kip taught that in Acts 11:26: SAVED = CHRISTIAN = DISCIPLE. Simply meaning that you cannot be saved and one is not a true Christian without being a baptized disciple. (John 4:1-2; Acts 2:38-42) Kip developed the “Discipleship Study” not only to convert non-Christians, but to bring to light the sharp Biblical distinction between the Lexington (later renamed Boston) Church of Christ, and all “other churches,” including the “Crossroads Ministries.” As a result of the call to
“total commitment” to God and the practice of the Biblical concept of discipleship from everyone in the congregation, the Boston Church of Christ multiplied disciples at an unprecedented rate!

Another of Kip’s radical Biblical restorations was the role of an evangelist. He believed that the evangelist’s charge was not simply to shepherd his congregation, but to evangelize that church’s region of influence. (2 Corinthians 10:13-16) Thus in Boston, he divided the city into four geographical “regions.” An evangelist was placed over the disciples that lived in this “territory” for the purpose of evangelizing the entire “field.” In each region there were a number of “house churches,” and in each house church there were a number of Bible Talks. This “pyramidal structure” was Kip’s innovative application of Exodus 18:13-26.

To have the church appreciate the incredible training and sacrifice to become an Evangelist or Women’s Ministry Leader, Kip and Elena began to appoint qualified individuals in front of the congregation. During this powerful ceremony, Kip (or Elena if appointing a Women’s Ministry Leader) would share personally about the deserving disciple and then close out with the “ancient charge” of 2 Timothy 4:1-2 and the presentation of a Bible. This practice was imitated “everywhere in every church” in the Boston Movement, thus further unifying the churches. (1 Corinthians 4:14-17) So amazing is that every congregation in the Boston Movement “recognized” the appointed Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders throughout the other churches in the movement!

** Unprecedented Growth And Impact
————————————————————

During the ten years that the McKeans served the Boston Church of Christ, the Spirit produced exponential growth! The original Lexington Church of Christ had witnessed only two baptisms in the previous three years before June 1979. Through the restoration of the radical call and practice that every member of the congregation is “totally committed,” the Boston Church of Christ had 103 baptisms the first year! The most dynamic Mainline Church of Christ for decades had only baptized 200 to 300 each year. In fact, during the 80’s, every year a list of Mainline Churches of Christ baptizing 100 or more was published which usually had only 15 Mainline Churches listed. With God’s Spirit working through the McKeans, the Boston Church of Christ saw 200 baptisms their second year; 256 their third; 368 in the fourth; 457 in the fifth; 679 in the sixth; 735 in the seventh; 947 in the eighth; 1424 in the ninth; and in the churches tenth year 1621 were baptized into Christ. By this time
also, the Sunday attendance in Boston was approaching 4,000 as the church met in the famed Boston Garden, “home” of the Boston Celtics professional basketball team. Not only was this the largest single congregation in the history of New England, but it also became the largest “Church of Christ” in the entire world!
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The Lexington Church of Christ out-grew its building
after just one year of the McKeans’ ministry. Their
second location was the beautiful First Baptist
Church of Arlington. (Pictured above) Then in
1982 after filling up this building, they
moved into the Boston Opera House,
which is located within the city
limits of Boston. It was at that
juncture that the Lexington
Church of Christ legally
changed its name to the
“Boston Church of
Christ.”

Perhaps unappreciated by the casual observer was the challenge to meet the needs and keep faithful the unprecedented number of new Christians – over 2,000 in the first six years in Boston! In the 60’s and 70’s in the denominational world, there had been much discussion and writing on the “body life of the church” and “shepherding one another.” Thus, in the Crossroads Movement, “one another Christianity” was expressed in a buddy system called “prayer partners,” where each person chose their own “buddy” or “buddies.” Many chose Christians even of the opposite sex!

With so many new Christians in the Boston Church of Christ, Kip felt that the “buddy system” approach was not effective. Building upon the concepts of “shepherding” and “prayer partners,” he came up with “discipleship partners.” In these relationships, the evangelists, elders and women’s ministry leaders – after discussion and prayer – arranged for an older or stronger Christian of the same sex to give direction to each of the younger or weaker ones. (This principle of mentoring is clearly seen in Jesus’ relationship with the Twelve, Paul’s relationship to Timothy, as well as in Titus 2:3-5 where the older women are commanded to train the younger women.) Each pair was expected to meet weekly and have daily contact. This “one-over-one” discipling paradigm was also applied to marriages; thus came the innovation of “marriage discipling” – a mature married couple mentoring a younger married couple. Also honoring marriage, another of Kip’s creative innovations was to replace
“Bachelor Parties” (often accompanied with worldly overtones) with “Groom Honoring Parties.”

** The Boston Movement Plantings
————————————————————

In 1981, the Lord put a vision on Kip’s heart: “The evangelization of the nations in a generation.” This passion was ignited as he was influenced by former missionaries and the mission efforts especially of the Sunset School of Preaching – a Mainline Church of Christ school to train preachers – located in Lubbock, Texas. Kip’s plan was a simple one: if the Boston Church of Christ could place a small group of disciples (a mission team) in each of the key metropolitan centers of the world, they in turn – by the multiplication of leaders and disciples – could send church plantings to each of the capital cities of the surrounding nations that were under their influence. Then these “capital city churches” could send out church plantings throughout that nation. Therefore, collectively, these capital city churches would evangelize the nations in one generation just as in the first century. (Acts 19:8-10; Colossians 1:6, 23)

The key churches planted in the major metropolitan centers were called “pillar churches” – for a world brotherhood was envisioned to be built on them. Dr. Donald McGavran, the “Father of Modern Church Growth” (in the broadest definition of Christianity), saw the Boston Movement as unique in that it had a plan to evangelize the entire world from one congregation. Almost everyone in the Boston Movement saw the uniqueness of this simple plan as God revealing “His plan” to “evangelize the nations in a generation.”

Kip zealously pursued this vision, as he trained ministers in Boston. Women were also trained in “women’s ministry” by Elena and Pat Gempel. These trained ministry couples were sent to the “pillar cities.” In 1982, Chicago, Illinois and London, England, were the first two plantings of the Boston Movement. By 2000, the Chicago Church attendance was 5,000 and the London Church attendance was 3,000.

In 1983, the New York City Church of Christ was planted. Though this city had a population of 18 million, only 18 disciples were sent from Boston. Kip deeply believed that only one church of “totally committed” disciples – no matter how small – would be necessary to evangelize an entire metropolitan area – no matter how large. At its zenith in 2001, the New York City Church had 7,000 in attendance.

In 1985, Toronto, Canada became the Boston Movement’s second foreign planting. The Lord blessed this congregation with over 100 baptisms in their very first year!

In 1986, Johannesburg, South Africa was planted. God used this planting in a powerful way to glorify His name among the nations, as the “black” and “white” disciples did not merely coexist, but in honor to God, for the first time hugged one another as “one church” in the midst of apartheid and under the threat of extremists. Paris and Stockholm were also planted in 1986, which proved language as an inconsequential barrier for the mission work of the Boston Movement.

In 1987 came the plantings of Mexico City, Mexico; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Hong Kong, China. Also of special note – as detailed in the LA Story’s entitled Revolution (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=831&call=1) , Multiplicity (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=869&call=1) , and From Here to Eternity (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=893&call=1) – 1987 marked the milestone of the then disparate churches abandoning autonomy to form one ‘world brotherhood’ which would have a central leadership. It was written in multiple articles that autonomy was the evil which would insure the world would never be evangelized, let alone in our generation.
* 1987 – Friends are Friends Forever (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=636&call=1)
* 1988 – Disposition Diseases (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=668&call=1)

* 1988 – World Brotherhood (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=648&call=1)
* 1992 – Year of the Bible (http://www.upsidedown21.org/1.1/inc/services/iframed/archives_service.php?langID=1&artID=799&call=1)

In 1988, Bombay, India; Cairo, Egypt; and Tokyo, Japan were planted. The Tokyo planting was built on the Mainline Yoyogi-Hachiman Church of Christ foundation of the 1950’s built by George and Irene Gurganus – whom Kip affectionately called his “Spiritual Grandparents.”

In 1989, there were seven plantings whose mission teams were collectively composed of 120 Bible Talk Leaders sent out from Boston: Honolulu, Hawaii; Los Angeles, California; Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Seattle, Washington; Washington DC; Manila, Philippines; and Bangkok, Thailand.

In 1990, the McKeans moved from Boston to Los Angeles to inspire the other church leaders of the movement by leading a smaller church which was “more relatable in size” to the other Boston Movement congregations – thus more easily imitated. (It was from Los Angeles in 1991 that Moscow, Russia was planted.) Valiantly, Kip and Elena personally led the mission teams to Manila, Bangkok and Moscow! In the first year in Manila, 400 were baptized into Christ! In Moscow’s first year, 850 were baptized!
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Kip’s photo of the Moscow Mission Team on July 9, 1991
– the day they landed in Moscow! (Elena is
pictured on the far right.)

Of note, in the summer of 1989 after planting Manila, Kip courageously moved his family to Cairo after seven of the original eight mission team members – who were Americans – were deported by the government. This was a daring decision for Kip, Elena and their three young children. Kip felt that if he was to call others to preach in such life-threatening places as the Middle East, he himself must set an example to demonstrate this radical level of faith and sacrifice. Not only in Cairo, but throughout all of his years in ministry to this present day, there have been several death threats against Kip and even a few against his whole family, as preaching the truth always earns Satan’s wrath. (Revelation 2:13, 12:17)
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In 2011, the Egyptian lawyer John Beshai – a hero of the
evangelization of the Middle East – joined the
SoldOut Movement! John went home to
the Father on September 1, 2013.

Unique to the Boston Movement, not only did disciples make disciples, but churches planted churches. The Boston Church planted each of the “pillar churches,” which planted other churches, which planted still others. By 2001, at the time of his sabbatical, there were almost 400 churches in 171 nations and a combined Sunday morning attendance of about 200,000! 42 churches had more than 1,000 in attendance and 15 churches had more than 3,000 in attendance! The largest international congregation was the Manila Church at 6,000 in attendance! These numbers were staggering when compared with the Mainline Churches of Christ or any denominational group. Never in history has any church growth movement ever spread as quickly and to so many nations!

From 1981 on through the 80’s greatly aiding this expansion was the coming into the movement of about 2,000 mostly young people from the various elements of the Mainline Churches of Christ, especially the “Crossroads Campus Ministry Churches.” They moved to Boston or to one of the Boston Church of Christ plantings to become disciples or be strengthened as disciples, and to train to be on mission teams. These people – many of whom were leaders – were in awe of God and the unprecedented growth that the Holy Spirit produced in Boston and her daughter churches. They were often referred to as “remnant disciples.” (Isaiah 10:20-22) Kip documents this exciting Biblical phenomenon of God gathering His remnant in both Revolution Through Restoration Part 1 and Part 2.

In retrospect, one amazing aspect of this young movement was that many of these “remnant disciples” who were leaders had several philosophical and doctrinal conflicts with each other. However, Kip made every effort to forge a bond of unity between all of these leaders from the Scriptures by calling them to work side-by-side for one purpose. (Philippians 1:27; 2:1-4) Over time being “partners in the gospel” helped them to “surrender” their personal perspectives and be united in pursuing “the dream!”

On a sad note in 1987, when the Atlanta Church of the Boston Movement was “planted” through a split in a “Crossroads Ministry Congregation,” at this historic moment, the Crossroads Church of Christ sinfully “disfellowshipped” the McKeans, the Boston Church of Christ, and all of its affiliated plantings. Without debate, this made a clear distinction between the Boston Movement and the Crossroads Movement, which was in sharp decline in 1985 after the departure from the full-time ministry of their leader Chuck Lucas for personal reasons.

** Central Leadership – The World Sector Leaders
————————————————————
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/World_Sector_Leaders.jpg
The World Sector Leaders in 1992 – Front Row: Bob
Gempel, Kip McKean, Phil Lamb and Al Baird.
Second Row: Marty Fuqua, Scott Green,
Doug Arthur, Randy McKean, Steve
Johnson and Frank Kim.

In 1988, because of the rapid expanse of the churches, several brothers encouraged Kip to focus on a few “capable… and trustworthy men.” (Exodus 18:13-26) After six months of prayerful consideration and several discussions, Kip and Elena chose nine couples: Doug and Joyce Arthur, Al and Gloria Baird, Tom and Kelly Brown, Bob and Pat Gempel, Scott and Lynne Green, Steve and Lisa Johnson, Frank and Erica Kim, Phil and Donna Lamb, Randy and Kay McKean. These leaders – whom the McKeans had personally trained for the ministry – became known as the “World Sector Leaders.”

This was extremely significant, because the Mainline Church of Christ believes in autonomy – the independence of each congregation. Practically autonomy means that all final decisions about that local congregation are made by the local leadership. They believe that conferring with leadership from other congregations is good, but there is no overseeing authority, which can give directives on matters such as: dealing with difficult situations, raising and sending money for mission efforts, or calling for certain disciples for mission teams to complete an overall plan. Yet in the Scriptures, Paul writes the “overseeing evangelist” Titus (who Paul himself oversees), “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you… for there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers… They must be silenced… Therefore, encourage and rebuke with all authority.” (Titus 1:5, 10-11; 2:15) So Kip
and Elena, because of their vision and convictions from Scriptures, forged a “leadership family,” where each couple would “oversee” the evangelization of “their region” of the world – which collectively covered the globe! (Of note, during the first few years of the World Sector Leaders, the McKeans alongside the Bairds and the Gempels – as Shepherding Couples – would make the major decisions for the movement. Later, the Arthurs, the Kims and the Johnsons were added to this decision-making group.)
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/McKeans_Gempels_Gethsemane.jpg
Kip & Elena and Bob & Pat Gempel stroll together
through the Garden of Gethsemane just outside
of Jerusalem in 1994.

On January 1, 1990, the McKeans went to fortify the Los Angeles Church, which was planted in August 1989 by Tom and Kelly Brown. In turn, the Browns were sent back to Boston for strengthening, and Marty and Chris Fuqua replaced them as World Sector Leaders. When the McKeans arrived, the Los Angeles Church had 154 members. By March 1993 when I was baptized, church services were incredible celebrations of God’s glory. At that time, the LA Church was having 3,000 in attendance! Amazingly in 2001, the last year that the McKeans led the congregation, there were 10,000 members with about 15,000 in attendance regularly every Sunday morning, and 2,500 were baptized that year! Of special note, one of my most memorable worship services of the LA Church was when 17,000 of us gathered on a warm Saturday evening in November 1997 in one of America’s largest stadiums – the Rose Bowl! At this glorious occasion, Kip’s visionary sermon was simply entitled, The Purposes Of God.

As well in 1991, the McKeans asked Bob and Pat Gempel to become the Directors of the newly founded HOPEworldwide as their charge as World Sector Leaders. HOPEworldwide was the benevolent arm of the Boston Movement Churches. Its uniqueness from all other charity organizations was that the World Sector Leaders could mobilize every member of every church in every country for a focused volunteer effort to help the poor and needy around the world. In 1994, the World Sector Leaders of the Boston Movement officially adopted the name International Church of Christ (ICOC). This name was first given to the Boston Movement by John Vaughn, a denominational church growth expert. He surmised that the vast majority of the Mainline Churches of Christ were located in the “Bible Belt” of America, but the Boston Movement (to him with a similar plan of salvation) had an equal number of congregations internationally as they did nationally. So in his articles from his research, he distinguished
between the Mainline Churches of Christ and the Boston Movement Churches, thus birthing the name: “International” Church of Christ!

Also in 1994, Kip wrote and laid out his most visionary project to date – The Evangelization Proclamation! Signed by the McKeans and all the World Sector Leaders, they vowed before God to plant a discipling church in every nation of the world that had a city with at least a population of 100,000 by the year 2000! It became more commonly known as The Six Year Plan. At its signing, we were in “just” 53 countries. Through the power of God, this monumental task was accomplished by July 2000! Unprecedented in the history of Christianity, in just 21 years, God had multiplied the “30 would-be disciples” in the Boston Church to almost 400 churches, 135,000 disciples in 171 nations with a combined Sunday attendance of 200,000!
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/World_Sector_Leader_Couples-India.jpg
The World Sector Leaders in the fall of 1994. By this time,
Cory & Megan Blackwell had been added to the group
to spearhead the evangelization of the Middle East!
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/WSL-Women1.jpg
The Women World Sector Leaders in 1998 – First Row:
Chris Fuqua, Megan Blackwell, Gloria Baird, Elena
McKean, Pat Gempel and Kay McKean.
Second Row: Donna Lamb, Erika Kim,
Lisa Johnson, Joyce Arthur
and Lynne Green.

Very encouraging to the movement were the following leadership appointments. In the late 80’s, Kip asked Cecil Wooten – a two-time recipient of the Purple Heart in World War II and the former Vice President of Chicago Bridge and Iron – to become the Administrator of the Boston Movement Churches. Each World Sector Leader had a World Sector Administrator. Cecil oversaw and coordinated this group. In 1993, the McKeans asked Al and Gloria Baird to oversee a new world sector called the “Media and Law World Sector.” Also at that time, the McKeans trained Cory Blackwell – a former NBA basketball player – and his wife Megan for the ministry, while building the “Cross and Switchblade Ministry” in the dangerous neighborhoods of South Central LA. Since Cory’s single mother was a devote Muslim, the Blackwells were asked by the McKeans to become the World Sector Leaders for the Middle East. (Cory’s mom – Wazirah – was later baptized in 1999!)
http://www.kipmckean.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Cory_Mother.jpg
Fellowshipping together in 2013, Wazirah, Cory
Blackwell’s mother, and Elena, whom Cory
affectionately calls his “spiritual mom.”

Another replacement among the World Sector Leaders was made when the Lambs, because of “family and health issues,” were asked to step aside in order to receive strengthening. (Sadly, the Lambs later divorced; Phil fell away, yet Donna remained faithful till her death by cancer in December 2007.) To replace the Lambs, who oversaw the Central and South America World Sector, Peter and Laura Garcia – the trusted brother and sister-in-law of Elena – were asked to serve in this role. In 1999, Cecil was in his 70’s and wanted to take a step back from the rigorous demands of administration. Consequently, Andy and Tammy Fleming were selected to assume his role as the leaders of all the administrators throughout the ICOC. The McKeans made this into the “Administration World Sector.” The last World Sector Leaders selected were Russ and Gail Ewell. They led the “NET World Sector” – New media, Exceptional children, and Technology. The leadership structure of the International Churches of
Christ was as simple as it was creative and unique! Of the original World Sector Leaders – except the Gempels and the Bairds whose role was to shepherd the group – each was given a geographic charge. There evolved eight geographic World Sectors: British Commonwealth – Great Britain, India, Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia (Arthurs); ACES – Africa, Caribbean, Eastern States (Johnsons); Europe (the Randy McKeans); Pac Rim (Kims); Central and South America (Lambs); Northern Federation – former Soviet Union nations; Scandinavia, Canada and the Western US (Fuquas); China (Greens); and later the Middle East (Blackwells). Each World Sector Leader Couple’s discipling group was composed of 10-12 other couples: a World Sector Administrator, a World Sector Elder, a World Sector Teacher, and Geographic Sector Leaders (Evangelists and Women’s Ministry Leaders). Also, in most world sectors, there was a World Sector Media and Law Couple. The World Sector Elders were collectively called
the “Kingdom Elders.” They were overseen by the Bairds. The World Sector Teachers were collectively known as the “Kingdom Teachers,” and eventually led by Andy Fleming. The Geographic Sector Leaders (GSL) oversaw the evangelism of a region of that World Sector. For example, in the ACES, Mike and Anne-Brigitte Taliaferro were the “GSL Couple” for Africa, and in the Northern Federation, Sasha and Louisa Kostenko served as the “GSL Couple” for the 15 nations in the former Soviet Union – the Commonwealth of Independent States. In time, each GSL Couple built their own discipleship group, which was composed of essentially an evangelist and women’s ministry leader for each nation or group of nations, which was in their geographic charge.

** World Missions Evangelist – Sabbatical
————————————————————

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.

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 hear
t,” David – yet they continued to victoriously lead “all Israel.”

Kip was profoundly affected by his beloved daughter leaving the faith, the “stripping away” of his leadership, and the public condemnation of his “leadership style” and the Biblical teachings that propelled the movement to almost all nations. Most of all, he was brokenhearted at the decimation of the churches that came in early 2003. I remember quite vividly those dark days of the McKeans’ sabbatical. After working on Elena’s computer in 2002, I came downstairs to see my devastated friend and leader, distraught by the condition of God’s family and hurting from the lost relationships of those who abandoned him in his time of need. The only words I could muster were, “Kip, I don’t know what to say to you. But, I do know that the whole Kingdom world-wide is falling apart around us and you need to ‘get back on the horse’.” Through God’s strength found in weakness, this he did.

In the past 10 years in both sermons and his writings, Kip is quite vulnerable about wrestling with bitterness, being depressed and unmotivated, as well as drifting and becoming quite distant in his walk with God for about a year of this one-and-a-half year sabbatical. Kip has openly confessed that these are all signs of one of the rarely acknowledged “seven deadly sins” – “acedia,” from which many other remnant disciples have suffered the consequences. (2 Corinthians 7:10; Hebrews 12:3, 15)

Read Kip’s Article on Acedia (http://www.caicc.net/2014/06/16/acedia-the-forgotten-sin/)

In the summer of 2002, the McKeans were invited to Bald Head Island, North Carolina, which is located near where the Cape Fear River empties into the Atlantic. Kip writes the following in Revolution Through Restoration Part 3:

“In the waters off the beach known as Cape Fear, there were huge, raging waves as the currents of the Atlantic Ocean collided with the currents of the Cape Fear River. Historically, this tumult resulted in many shipwrecks. I went to spend time with God at Cape Fear. I soon noticed that where there should have been a lighthouse, there was only a weathered foundation. This is what I wrote that day:”

** The Cape Fear Psalm
————————————————————

The rage of the opposing currents
Has shipwrecked my faith.
The lighthouse has gone
And I have no direction.
I am alone for I feel your anger Lord
From your Word and from people who feel like foes,
That used to call me friend and leader.
I gloried in your victories
Which I foolishly called my own.

And now your hand is pushing me under the currents
For I exalted myself, and not your grace.
I am weary through unceasing pain
From morning until night,
In sleep there is a peace when I close my eyes.
But my dreams are full of anguish and darkness.
Because your lighthouse has been destroyed.

I am drowning in self-pity and bitterness engulfs me.
You know that I cannot bear much more.
I fear for your movement.
I fear for my family.
And I fear most for my soul.
I have thoughts of dying.
But realize there would await me
Only an unrelenting, malicious presence,
To be eternally away from you.

My daily tears have been for me,
Yet now they are because I have disappointed you
And have hurt so many through my sins.
Please forgive my arrogance.
I became confused in my pride
And I turned from your wisdom to mine.
I stopped consulting your Word and my brother prophets.

Let my heart return to that simple eternal moment
Where I first saw your lighthouse.
Through the calm sea of baptism
I responded to your Word.
I first felt your Fatherly embrace
Just 30 short years ago.

I was indignant at your enemies of false prophets
Those hypocritical leaders of your people
For they led me and the whole world astray.
I was damaged by their arrogance and sin.

But by your Mighty Hand, even that first day
You gave me the strength to confront them.
Now I am them. I find no fellowship.
Only angry confrontations.
The prophets I trained are furious
At the damage I have caused your movement.
Few remember my deeds, fewer my zeal,
Only you know my heart.

Father, lead me to rebuild that lighthouse.
If your mercy allows, I will help to rebuild it.
Today I promise you I will stop drifting out to sea.
Today I promise I will swim till I reach the other shore.
I will not quit.
I realize my sacrifice only brought you ever-lessening pleasure
As my heart became dull.
For you desire only a broken and contrite heart.
Only these prayers are the incense of heaven.

Today I promise to strive to be only a disciple.
I surrender my ambition to lead till you refine it in the fires of criticism.
I will no longer care what the media, my enemies and even my friends say.
Because this brought me to Cape Fear.
Only your approval will I seek.

My most heartfelt prayer is
Let me and my family make it through the raging currents.
Let your lighthouse shine mightily
So we can make it to the other side.

Kip continues in Revolution Through Restoration Part 3 reflecting on how his sins affected the movement:

During the sabbatical, God taught me to take responsibility for my leadership in the Kingdom, the decisions of the World Sector Leaders, and for the spiritual condition of each person in my family. My sins are clear and grievous. I have been arrogant, almost always thinking I was right. I did not listen. I did not actively seek discipling for me and my family. I was only partially open and deceit came into my life. This led to the sin of anger towards those who disagreed with me. Too often, I viewed these individuals as critical. I did not draw people out. I built an atmosphere in which people were afraid to speak up. There were times when I corrected people that I was mean, cruel and I even humiliated them. I was too controlling. For this I apologize. I am truly sorry…

Ultimately, my most devastating sin was claiming God’s victories as mine. In pride, I boasted in “my” accomplishments. I allowed people to give me glory; I did not refocus them to God. Though some have charged “growth was god,” this was never true. My goal was, and still is, simply “to win as many as possible.” (1 Corinthians 9:19) However, people developed wrong motivations and stumbled because of my overemphasis on numeric goals and accountability, though I still believe in accountability if it is used wisely as Jesus did. (Mark 6:30) In retrospect, I see that many leaders did not imitate Christ in me, but my ungodly leadership traits, and they are now being hurt by those they hurt. I confessed these sins while sharing my sabbatical journey at the Unity Meeting in LA [specifically Long Beach] in November 2002.

One evangelist called the Cape Fear Psalm, “Kip’s Psalm 51.” As for his shortcomings in his family, Kip humbly shared, “Though Elena and I believe that we raised our precious children in the Lord as each was baptized and remained faithful during their teen years, my biggest regret was that I put my children on a pedestal in front of the movement. This put too much pressure on them and hurt them spiritually as sometimes they felt that they could not measure-up. I have apologized to each of them for this. They have forgiven me, and we remain a very close family. I pray daily and believe with all of my heart that because of the godly training each received that one day ‘when they are [older]’ they will return to the Lord.”

God taught one last invaluable lesson to Kip about his sins in his leadership concerning the weak. He wrote, “God has a sense of ironic justice. To rid Jacob of his deceitful nature, God placed Jacob under Laban, a worse deceiver. To show me how insensitive and in fact merciless at times I had been to the weak, God placed me “under” upset and – from my point of view – unforgiving brothers who would not give me any mercy or the benefit of the doubt, though I felt I had done so much for them through the years. I felt humiliated through shame and exasperated to the point of considering leaving the Lord. I learned that mercy expressed through kindness, forgiveness and gentleness – was not only God’s way to encourage and strengthen the weak, but the only path to keep a movement together. In all of these trials, my dear wife exemplified how one should love the weak by staying at my side with unconditional love.”

These lessons were painfully learned through the discipline of suffering that God allowed Kip “as a son” to endure. (Hebrews 12:5-11) However by July 2003, Kip – though severely weakened by these many trials – was a “changed man.” He was refreshed by repentance, and so the Spirit sent him to Portland to build again with these lessons freshly etched on his heart. (Acts 3:19)

** The Destruction Of A Global Movement
————————————————————

At the onset of the sabba

Just testin’

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————————————————————
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** March 3, 2013
————————————————————
Good News Email
ATTN: If the pictures in this article are distorted, then click on the “view it in your browser” link located at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Dear &lt;&lt;First Name>>,
Greetings from Los Angeles! Since the Lord has raised-up so many dynamic, gifted and mature Women’s Ministry Leaders in the City of Angels Church, Elena and the sisters decided to have four separate Women’s Days in 2013! All four of these momentous events shared the same heartfelt theme of Priceless from Psalm 36:7, “How priceless is your unfailing love!”
“Priceless” was Carol Castillo’s presence at the
Sheraton Hotel Women’s Day – her first church
meeting after our prayers healed her from
only having hours to live from
cancer complications!

On Saturday, February 23rd, the OC and IE Regions – led by Theresa Broom – saw God move, as the combined 80 women disciples witnessed 240 in attendance! Then this past weekend, on Saturday, March 2nd, Sonja Chloupek led the AMS, North and Ventura Regions to a great victory, as their 68 disciples had exactly 200 in attendance! Then, the next day on Sunday, March 3rd at the Downtown LA Sheraton Hotel, the Central, East, South, South Central and West sisters were inspired by Kacie Comisford, as the 172 sisters gathered had 420 in attendance with four baptisms! So with the Spanish-speaking Women’s Day yet to come on Saturday, March 16th, already 322 sisters have glorified God with a collective attendance of 860! Elena spoke at the Downtown LA Sheraton on the incredible theme – Priceless! In my opinion, this lesson was one of Elena’s very best! It can be heard in its entirety at CAICC.net!
Some of the highlights of yesterday’s Women’s Day
were Elena’s dynamic preaching, Kacie’s
organization, and Adrianna’s singing!

Also, this week, the Lord added a total of eight to our number – seven baptisms and one restoration! And to God be the glory!

Now more detailed reports from around LA…

Lou Jack Martinez of the Central Region’s Antelope Valley Sector: IT WAS A BAD EIGHT DAYS FOR THE DEVIL IN THE AV, AS FERNANDO LOPEZ LARA and KAROL URIBE WERE BAPTIZED LAST SUNDAY, AND ELEANOR SOLORZANO WAS BAPTIZED TODAY!!! Our sister ROSE CHASE, wife of PETER CHASE, is an amazing woman of God who loves sharing the gospel of God almost as much as she loves God Himself!!! She was shopping at Ross (so she could “dress for less” and save more for Special) and asked Fernando and Karol if they’d like to come to church. Their eyes lit up, because they were looking for a church! Once they came through the doors of the Lancaster City Park Indoor Activity Center, they never looked back!!! In fact, in one week, they attended THREE Bible Talks, a midweek Service and a Sunday Service!

Everybody was involved in their studies, and it was during a talk with EDDIE AGUIRRE that they confessed they were not married, but engaged and living together in sin, along with their beautiful daughter and Karol’s little brother Angel. They were challenged to either get married immediately (if they planned to stay together forever) or move-out from each other until they decided on what they wanted to do. Both of them wanted to be together; but they wanted to be born-again even more!!! So, despite some opposition from his religious parents, Fernando moved-in with them and was baptized!!! Immediately after Fernando’s baptism, he baptized his fiancée, Karol!!! They will soon be joined together in HOLY Matrimony this April!!!
Fernando, Karol and their families!

Eleanor Solorzano’s is an amazing story of disappointment, false religion, trial and tribulation, and a new-found faith that saves!!! Eleanor was having major challenges with her children, and in her desperation she cried out to God, but God didn’t answer her the way she was hoping. Instead of persevering in her faith, she became a Buddhist for 16 years! When her health began to deteriorate – to the point of needing TWO heart transplants – she finally was humbled enough to try God… AGAIN!

At this very same time, Moni Bhalla – who originally reached out to Eleanor – got back in touch, and invited her to church and a Bible study afterwards. Eleanor became urgent when she realized that she had never become a disciple and needed to be baptized! So she asked Moni, Lona and Lola to help her get baptized as soon as possible. These sisters studied diligently with her, and today Eleanor was baptized into Christ!!! Now one of her sons is studying the Bible and she invited the other son to come visit as well!!! Our God is FAITHFUL, no matter how FAITHLESS we get!

Chris Chloupek: Grace, peace and “How ya do’in” from the AMS Region! First of all, I am so proud of my wife, Sonja, who pulled off an amazing Women’s Day Event on Saturday with the help of Brandyn Speckman and Shay Sears from the Ventura and North Regions respectively. Also, what a great experience for our friends visiting the Women’s Day to see a godly dating relationship begin!!! Joe Brown asked Morgan Martin to be his girlfriend in front of everyone at the Women’s Day!
Saturday’s Women’s Day closed with the song
Golden, spontaneously pulling every one
out of their seats to dance!

All of these events led to an astonishing Sunday service today! Excitingly, a young man named Anthony, who is studying at the Theatre of Arts Academy in Hollywood, was baptized into Christ!

This is the year we are taking our Music Ministry higher! Jason & Susan Bond are doing an amazing job pulling in various artists with creative ways to improve our song worship. But the highlight for me was my Mom (Judy), who is 72 years old, and Ginny, who is 87 years old, and both sold-out disciples in our Phoenix Church came to LA this weekend to attend our Women’s Day and church service on Sunday. My Mom shared a very humble, powerful communion that had us all laughing and very moved. It is so encouraging to see the older, (mature) people becoming disciples “more and more!” (2 Corinthians 4:15) They bring such a rich wealth of wisdom and gentleness to our fellowships. Life is good; God is good, and the party is in Heaven! But it is still a lot of fun down here!
Close partners in the gospel, Ginny and Judy
are zealous for God, His church
and His mission!

Theresa Broom of the OC Region: “Do you not say, ‘Four more months and then the harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even NOW the reaper draws his wages, even NOW he harvests the crop for eternal life!” (John 4:35-36) NOW we rejoice in the great victories God is giving the Women’s Ministries throughout the City of Angels Church! On Saturday, I was privileged to be a part of the “Great North” Women’s Day in Hollywood led by my best friend Sonja Chloupek! Many women used their talents to dance and sing. Of special note, Brandyn Speckman moved our hearts as she performed a powerful “one woman monologue!”

One woman, who traveled all the way from Orange County to celebrate her birthday by bringing her mother to Women’s Day, was Lesa Jacks! Lesa first contacted my husband Chris just three weeks ago, after getting our number off our church website! She had been baptized in the ICOC in the 1990’s, but had fallen away several years ago. She knew she needed to return to God but when she went back to our former fellowship, she did not find the same call to God’s standard that she had received when she was baptized. When she read our website, she was once again drawn to the sold-out commitment that Jesus demands of everyone that would follow Him! (Luke 14:33) Lesa loved how the women who shared their testimonies at the Great North Women’s Day humbly took full responsibility for their sins and showed a clear path of repentance, just as she witnessed at last week’s OC/IE Women’s Day, which Lesa had attended as well! These examples helped Lesa to be restored today in our OC Region!

NOW we also rejoice with our OC Spanish Sector as Jessica Zepeda baptized her best friend Gabriela today! Although Gabriela had studied a year ago, she recently came back with a soberness and seriousness that she did not have before! NOW God is continuing to use women powerfully as during today’s church service Brianna Rodriguez (Teen Ministry) and Jennifer Habib (Campus Ministry) shared humbly and with tears about their lives for our communion and contribution messages! Truly NOW with so many studies set-up from our Women’s Days, so many are “ripe for harvest!”

The Women’s Day of the IE and OC Regions
moved many women to become disciples!
David Jefferson – South Region Intern: Today we celebrated as Kierra was added to our number at our Annual Women’s Day! Kierra is a very soft-hearted, young woman who from her first study was determined “to seek God with all her heart.” Also, it was great the week before to see our dear sister Miriah come back and get restored to the Lord and His church.
The South Sisters surround Kierra
after her awesome baptism!

I’m so grateful to be in the South Region, as they are such an amazing group of disciples, who are working tirelessly to not only raise money for Special Missions, but at the same time forcefully advance the gospel – even during this time of great transition! We are all fired-up, as Oleg & Aliona Sirotkin on Sunday, March 10th, will become the official South Region Leaders! This “hand-over” will enable Jason & Sarah to focus completely on the Las Vegas Mission Team, which will be sent-out from LA on April 14th! Please keep the Las Vegas Team in your prayers, as the weekend of March 14-17 will be our “spying out the land” weekend, appropriately titled, Oasis Not Mirage! Much love to all!
The Las Vegas Church logo was creatively
designed reminding all of the famous
“Welcome to Las Vegas Sign!”

DJ Comisford: It was an incredible week for the West Region and for me personally! On Sunday, my wife “emceed” the Women’s Day for the West, Central, South Central, East and South Regions. I was there to hear her do the welcome and she “stole my heart” again with her grace, confidence and beauty! (Song of Songs 4:9-10) Also, at Women’s Day, our West LA Bible Talk was fruitful yet again with a young woman named Kalicia! Congratulations to all the women for putting together such a life-changing event!

Then later on in the evening, Kacie & I took Nathalie Moningka and Mason Fetelika out to eat at the Chart House in Malibu for his “birthday.” At least that is what we told Nathalie, which was true but… Secretly, after dinner I was able to sneak Mason’s guitar down to the beach so when they went on a prayer walk to Nathalie’s surprise there was Mason’s guitar! He picked it up and sang “their song!” Then Mason got down on one knee and asked Nathalie to be his wife! And with no hesitation, Nathalie said yes!!! Congratulations to Mase & Nat who mean so much to me & Kacie! We will be infinitely sad to have them “torn away” from us to go on the Sydney Mission Team in December… but the world must be evangelized!
Mason & Nathalie immediately after she said, “Yes!”

Now more reports from around the globe…

Alvin Panlilio and Gina Dela Peña of Manila: God is so awesome, as Melvin De Leon & Rose Sobrino were baptized in the Lord and added to His awesome advancing movement here on Earth! Melvin was our very first visitor when we began our Bible Talk, and he is one of Jason’s employees. Rose is one of Kim’s friends! Rose was very active in her Baptist Church, and in fact, she was leading the youth ministry in her former church! She was in tears when she shared how grateful she is to have finally found the true church! Her stated dream is to be a part of a mission team someday!
The Metro Manila Church gathers after the baptisms
of Melvin and Rose and gives them a sign that says,
“Melvin & Rose – Welcome into God’s Family!”

We are in awe of how GOD has been bringing people to HIS KINGDOM! Right now with 12 sold-out members of the Metro Manila International Christian Church, we have 34 people studying the Bible and four of these want to get restored as soon as possible! Truly, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!” (Matthew 9:37)

Andrew Smellie of New York City: “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some are for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21) Greetings from NYC! Today, we concluded our series entitled On The Anvil, as the Word was preached on becoming “an instrument of noble purposes” for the Lord!

The analogy of being on an anvil is based on God being the blacksmith and us being His tools in His shop… The state of where we are in the shop is up to us! We can either sit in the cobwebbed corner, oblivious to our calling and useless to God, or we can lie on the anvil, and accept the pounding as He shapes and refines us to be useful to Him and then be placed in the blacksmith’s tool chest, ready and available to His calling! Today two more souls decided to be used as God’s “instruments for noble purposes” as Shauna, a single mom in the Bronx, and Enrique, a campus student in Manhattan, were joyfully baptized into Christ! It was inspiring to see the joy on the faces of Enrique’s mom and step-dad as they joined us for service, as well as the gratitude of Chris Bryant, a remnant disciple (and now a great friend) from Los Angeles who was in town for work in NYC and is now even more eager to join our SoldOut Movement!
The NYC Brothers are stoked
after Enrique’s baptism!

As we prepare for a month of “Spiritual March Madness” for the Lord, God is helping us to blow-out our Prayer Goals, both in bearing the fruit of souls and in raising funds to bring the hope of salvation to more cities! Please pray for us as we close in on our Prayer Goal of 120 disciples, as the Lord has blessed us with nine baptisms in the past three weeks! Also, I have been consistently encouraged to hear the good news of the disciples who have already reached and surpassed their 15X Missions Goals! Lastly, we are pleased to host our first AMS Talent Showcase and our Second Annual “Run for Missions” on the George Washington Bridge to help achieve this goal! May God continue to bless all of our plans in all of God’s churches, as we humbly stay focused on pleasing Him! We love you!

Raul Moreno of Sao Paulo: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12) The good news this week is our “Kingdom Kid teenager” Lucas Cruz. Lucas was baptized about a year ago and this week God used him to baptize his high school friend Flavia! Also, his mother, who fell away, has been coming out for weeks after seeing him change so much, and now she has made the decision to be restored to Christ! Teens can do so much in God’s Kingdom!

Ricky Challinor of Portland: Greetings from the City of Bridges!!! This week was incredible as we saw a young campus man baptized who is a student at Mount Hood Community College – Warren!!! He was met by our fruitful and zealous young leader Daniel, who has known him since middle school! Warren is an incredible young man who is full of potential to do great things! Excitingly, this now puts us at three different campuses: PSU which is led by Aaron Turner; PCC Sylvania led by Daniel, which had 14 visitors at Bible Talk; and now Mount Hood CC!
Daniel Morales, Dan Upshaw and all the disciples
applaud Warren’s decision for Christ!

Also, during the week our South Marrieds Bible Talk, which is led by Richard & Khanni Coaile, had a blow-out Bible Talk with 19 visitors!!! This Bible Talk has already been very fruitful and prayerfully will be able to duplicate soon! Please continue to pray for us as we are reaping the fruits of our Bring Your Neighbor Day Service!

Lola Lof of Kinshasa: Warm greetings from your dear brothers and sisters in the Democratic Republic of Congo! Our Sunday worship was exceptionally phenomenal even though “it rained dogs and cats” all the day long! The transportation was “inferno,” and brothers and sisters had to walk in deep mud to come to church! Despite the obstacles, the Congolese disciples of Jesus overcame it as 230 attended the service!

We opened the service with the inspirational song of the Kingdom, I AM THE LORD’S SOLDIER – in French version: JE SUIS UN SOLDAT DU SOLDAT DU SEIGNEUR! The rest of the songs were even more enthusiastically sung! And at the end of service, the waters of baptism were stirred as two more were added by God to our group: Prospère and Guelor! To God be all the glory!

Steve Ranga: Greetings from Syracuse! God has been moving powerfully in Syracuse, as Nicole and Reyla were restored today! They both shared powerfully how they searched for the Kingdom for the past nine years. They sought the help of our former fellowship, but there was no response from anyone. They shared how they felt lost and desperately searched for God and His Kingdom, but did not know where to go!

A sister named Vonetta “happened to be at the right place at the right time” and invited Nicole to church. (Acts 17:26-27) As she started speaking, Nicole stopped her and asked if she was a disciple. They exchanged phone numbers… And Nicole called her just five minutes later! Nicole then came to church that Sunday and brought her friend Reyla, who was also desperately looking for the Kingdom! These two soldiers of Christ had the entire congregation in tears, as they proclaimed that each disciple has to just open their mouth and share their faith with the lost… That is all it takes, as God is giving the ones Satan has captive a chance to be free!

Matt Sullivan of Orlando: “Paul took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord.” (Acts 19:9-10) The Lord continues to blow it out in our amazing Campus Ministry led by Mike & Chenelle Patterson! Almost daily, we have Bible Talks on campus at UCF, and just a few weeks ago, we began a new Bible Talk at the Valencia East Campus led by Johnny Cortez! Excitingly, this past week, they had 15 in attendance! On Thursday, we were fired-up to see Clayton – another UCF student – baptized into Christ! God has given us our own “halls of Tyrannus,” right here in Florida on two incredible campuses. God is awesome!
Mike Patterson’s secret weapon for
getting people to Bible Talk!

George Grima: There is a lot of great momentum here in the Paris Church right now! Our Women’s Day is fast approaching this Saturday! The women and men are working to get visitors out for this awesome event. The brothers are also getting closer to each other. At the admonishment of our incredible leader – Philippe Scheidecker – brothers gathered together for prayer and singing last Wednesday for several hours. Every country in the world was prayed for during this intense time of prayer at Philippe’s home.

In addition to listening to current lessons from the LA Staff Meetings from Kip, we have also added another exciting learning opportunity, as we have expanded our Wednesday Staff Meeting to include a lesson on Skype with Tim Kernan! All of us enjoyed a great lesson by Tim and welcomed the challenge this week from 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 on greater imitation and trust. We were all excited “to see” Tim and catch his wisdom!

Today was a House Church Sunday which provided a great opportunity for Anthony Olmos to preach to the Campus and Phil McCallum to the Singles and Marrieds! Both Anthony’s and Phil’s French have really improved in the first two months of 2013! Lastly, the Paris Church continues to love each other, as we celebrated Phil McCallum’s and Prisca Scheidecker’s birthdays this last week!
The Paris Sisters celebrate Prisca’s birthday!

Maria Franklin of Chicago: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1) This week has been inspiring as the Campus has led the charge! To start off, on Thursday, Umberto from the mighty West Campus Ministry at Morton College was baptized! He persevered through intense persecution from his family, who even set up an intervention to stop him from making the decision to follow God! He shared today at service about his incredible gratitude for God and his new spiritual family!
Umberto endured severe persecutions
to enter the Kingdom of God!
On Friday night, we kicked-off our Campus Weekend where six of our zealous brothers preached powerfully! Then the fun continued on Saturday where the ministry broke-up into teams and went throughout the Chicagoland Campuses on an adventurous scavenger hunt! Sunday morning, through the creative leadership of the Millers, the Campus Ministry held a free pancake breakfast inviting hungry college students! Then these same students flocked to church, as we had an attendance of 338! The sermon was divided into three sections: Nana Ofosu Budu preached on Purity; William Hunt on Love; and Dustin Miller on Passion! Encouragingly to my soul was to see our dear brother Joel restored to his “first love.” He humbly apologized to the congregation for breaking his commitment to God and leaving God’s Kingdom! Then to close the service, our hearts were torn as we sent-off our dear sister, Luz Vazquez. She will be moving to be with her family in Orlando and join our sister church there.

Last but not least, during our Leaders Meeting, we witnessed a third and great miracle! The first of many teen boys was added to the Teen Ministry, encouragingly led by my awesome husband – Anthony! King, a 16 year old who attends Chicago Talent Development High School, was reached-out to on the streets of Chicago by Daijon! At his baptism, King enthusiastically shared Ecclesiastes 12:1 along with his new conviction to not only “remember [his] Creator on the days of his youth,” but to live for Him for the rest of his life! Please keep the Chicago Teen Ministry in your prayers!
King embraces his mom after his baptism!

Michael Williamson: “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message…” (Colossians 4:3) Greetings from London, England! The Apostle Paul prized his Roman citizenship as it proved to be valuable to him several times in his missionary adventures! In a similar way, I too rejoice, because after several long months of prayers, God has moved the British Government to approve my application for “Indefinite Leave to Remain,” which is equivalent to “Permanent Residency” in England!

Also, this Friday night’s Open Mic Night was spectacular attracting many talented young artists from all over London. One gentleman whose music is on iTunes, wrote a song entitled “OMV” – “Open Mic Veteran” dedicated to this Kingdom inspired event!

We closed out Sunday with the baptism of CJ, an incredibly humble University of East London Campus student! Before he was baptized, he powerfully shared that he would not have become a disciple if it wasn’t for the church’s love! Additionally, we’ve secured a Five Star Hotel for the 2013 European Missions Conference! The Marriott is offering us discounted rates of £125 ($188) including breakfast and tax, or £115 ($173) room and tax alone! Save the dates: Thursday evening, November 7 for the Speaker’s Dinner; Friday morning, November 8 for the Church Builder’s Workshop; and November 8-10, 2013 for the actual European Missions Conference!

Coltin Rohn: Greetings from Boston known as “the spirit of America!” “There will be a highway for the remnant of His people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt.” (Isaiah 11:16) I believe that our God is building that “highway” in Boston! Today was an electric service as we are now “packing into” the room we meet for church and will have to soon find a new venue! To God be the glory!

One of the reasons the room was so “packed” today was because of all our faithful brothers and sisters visiting us from our former fellowship! In fact, we counted six out of the fifty two people that gathered to worship our Heavenly Father were faithful remnant (veteran) disciples! One of the remnant visitors said to me, “I loved service! I felt like a kid again listening to the Word of God!” Another shared, “Service was great! I want to study this week to become a member!” And still another said, “I may be 65, but I want to do something for God!” All were encouraged by the “angelic singing” and of course the “spirited” fellowship. Pray as many are on their way to the waters of baptism, as we strive to put the “Spirit” back into the great city of Boston! To God be all our praise and glory!

Evan Bartholomew of San Diego: Greetings from the “other city” in Southern California! God has been moving in a variety of ways here in the church, and it is so very encouraging to see the momentum building! First, God blessed us with the baptism of Sheng! She works in an administrative position for one of the hospitals in San Diego, and is a wife and the mother of two amazing kids.

Several years ago, she saw that her life was in constant turmoil and knew she needed God to fix it. Not knowing where to go, she turned to the largest church in all of San Diego – a church which boasts an attendance of 16,000. Ironically, she tried to sign-up to be baptized several times because something was telling her that she needed to be baptized in order to be closer to God. Yet every time she tried to get on “The List,” she was too late or something came up. It was at that time that her husband was invited to one of our Marrieds Bible Talks! Sheng is an awesome woman, and a great addition to the San Diego Church!
Sheng is so grateful for finding God’s church!

Secondly, the church was encouraged by the third disciple of the “San Diego Six” – Kensey Perkins – who moved down from the City of Angels Church this past week. Thank you so much DJ & Kacie, and the entire West Region of LA, for your generosity in giving us such an amazing disciple! Lastly, the church has been on an “evangelistic rampage” as every campus disciple has taken the challenge of sharing with 30 people a day, and every single disciple is sharing with 10 people a day! This has produced a plethora of studies, as there are more studies than there are disciples in the church! (A good problem to have!) “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” (Psalm 73:1)

Carlos Mejia: Greetings from the saints in Santiago! Today was an awesome day as a young man by the name of Marcos was baptized into Christ! Marcos was met just three weeks ago and has studied the Bible vigorously since that time! It was so encouraging to see his convictions, as he left a promising job, and also the false teachings of his religious past, to seek the Kingdom and the righteousness of God first!
Marcos joyfully gave up everything to
enter into the Kingdom!

We were also privileged this week to share sweet fellowship with our brother and sister George & Maru Schweizer, disciples from the Mighty Ventura Region of the LA Church! Having already been married in the United States, the Schweizers held a ceremony here in Chile for both families, with Maru’s side traveling from our neighboring country of Argentina! I was so honored to be asked to perform the wedding!

The ceremony, which took place in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, was very inspiring! As George & Maru exchanged vows, a fiery orange-reddish sun was setting over all of the seven million lost souls of Santiago! We were reminded of what the Scriptures declare as “[God’s] name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets!” (Malachi 1:11) God’s name is truly being glorified here in Chile! We are also so excited about the Fall Semester which kicks-off this week! Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to “forcefully advance” the Kingdom of Light in Latin America!!!

Sharmayne Villarino – Intern in the SF Bay ICC: “To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'” (John 8:31-32) Greetings from the San Francisco Bay Church! Today, a new soul was added to God’s Kingdom when Ingrid, a student from San Francisco State University, was baptized into Christ!

Ingrid started studying the Bible a few weeks ago and after doing the first three First Principles Bible studies, she encountered some difficulties in her heart. That was because she had already made up her mind that if what the studies taught was not the same as the teachings of her previous church, then she would stop studying. She went back and forth on this conviction… but she wrestled with the Scriptures and was challenged to “hold to [Jesus’] teaching” in order to “know the truth” and be “set… free” from her sin! After much personal Bible study and prayer, Ingrid firmly decided to make the Word of God her standard over everything else. Since then, the whole church has been amazed at Ingrid’s joyful and exuberant heart because of her surrender to God and His Word! To God be all the glory!!!
The glory of God’s creation shouts for
joy over Ingrid’s salvation!
Ron Harding: Greetings from the Mighty DC Church! “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33-34) Imitating our first century brothers and sisters, we continue to see the forceful advancement of God’s Kingdom here in the Capital City of the United States! On Sunday, Jeremiah Clark delivered a “conference level lesson” entitled, Titanic. He charged everyone to pursue the incredible victories that come from simply allowing the Scriptures to be our standard, as he explained the “Titanic” perils of living life by worldly and religious theories (Sinner’s prayer, Being a good person, etc.) Most were moved to make life-changing decisions.

In the answer to so many prayers for the DC Church to have “100 for the Lord,” two were baptized earlier this week and Craig placed membership on Sunday, thus allowing us to power past our prayer goal as we reached 102 disciples! So inspiring was the baptism of Jose on Wednesday after midweek service. He was met by our incredible Singles Intern Jason Reali. Shortly after his own baptism, Jason began reaching out to Jose in 2009 and has stayed faithful to their friendship and committed to be there when Jose’s heart became open. A few weeks ago, Jose’s heart was softened… And on Wednesday night – after over three years since he was met – Jose proclaimed “Jesus is Lord” and was baptized!
Jose shares in the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus in baptism!

Dearest Brothers and Sisters, Let us continue to “focus our eyes on Jesus” as for most SoldOut Movement Congregations, April is our 15X Missions Contribution! Though LA’s 20X Missions Contribution is in June, this month is LA’s “Pledge Drive” to increase our weekly pledge from $28,300/week to $32,000/week. Therefore, let us all collectively pray to “bring to completion” this sacrifice for missions that will allow our international efforts in London, Paris, Chennai, Manila, Mexico City, Santiago and Sao Paulo to be financially sustained, as well as for Las Vegas (April), Denver (August), Dallas (December) and Sydney (December) to be planted! (2 Corinthians 8:1-9) “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Much love,
Kip

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