Our God-given privilege — to be fishers of men!

Now it came to pass that a group existed that called themselves fishermen. There were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry. Week after week, month after month and year after year those that called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and techniques of fishing. Year after year they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is to be the primary task of the fisherman. These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings for local fishing headquarters. The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and that everyone should fish. However, one thing they did not do… They did not fish!

In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. A board was formed by those who had great vision and courage to speak about fishing and to promote fishing in far away streams and lakes, where many fish of different colors lived. Also, the board hired staff, appointed committees, and held many meetings to decide what new streams should be considered. But the board, the staff and committee members did not fish. Large, elaborate and expensive training centers were built, whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years, courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, the psychological reaction of fish, as well as how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology, but the teachers did not fish, they only taught fishing. Furthermore, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. Presses were kept busy day and night to produce materials solely devoted to fishing methods, equipment and programs to arrange and encourage meetings to talk about fishing. Seminars, conferences and jubilees were also established to schedule special speakers on the subject of fishing.

After one stirring seminar on the “Necessity of Fishing,” two young fellows left the meeting and went fishing. The next day, the first fellow reported he had caught a hundred fish! It turned out to be just a “fish story.” The other young man actually did catch two outstanding fish! He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. So he quit fishing in order to have time to tell the experiences to all other fishermen. He was also placed on the fishermen’s board as a person having considerable experience.

Now it is true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their call to fish and their fishermen’s clubs. They even wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend meetings and talk about fishing. After all, were they not following the Master who said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men?” Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who don’t fish were not really fishermen, no matter how much they claim to be. Yet it did sound correct. Is a person a fisherman, if year after year he never catches a fish? Is one following, if he is not fishing?*

Shay and Lynda are so excited after baptizing Vanessa Castro!

This modern parable, though at times humorous, should be a sobering reminder not to be “fishers of men” in name only. I am so encouraged by all the church plantings and remnant churches of the SoldOut Movement, and how being very serious about Jesus’ charge unites us! Every week I send out a “Good News Email” to all the leaders in the movement around the world. The following email is the good news from this week:

Greetings in the Lord! Ron Harding in Oregon reports, “127 disciples from Eugene and Portland had 212 at church for the largest joint service to date! We had one couple place membership in our Latin Ministry. Portland and Eugene were completely united as each church had one baptism, each church had several visitors, and each church had one couple there from the ICOC, who are making their decisions to join us!”

From Chris & Kerri-Sue in Syracuse, “A Syracuse University junior, Chasity, was baptized today and God blessed our prayer goal as 17 men had 14 visitors at church today! Our ‘Save the Males’ Campaign is gaining momentum!”

Andrew in Washington DC shares, “On Sunday, we had four place memberships! Pray as we begin a three-week Apologetics Series next week to move our studies to decisions on God, Jesus and the Bible!”

Olympia and Zulma – mother and daughter – rejoice after their baptisms!

DJ reports from NYC, “We had 70 at church and one came to be baptized! (Also, Derion Onekea was welcomed from the City of Angels Church in LA!) Polo was baptized in the ‘sparkling’ waters of the Hudson River after service! He is a Spanish/English speaker. We had only one Spanish speaker on the mission team (Victor Gonzalez – ‘Ventura Vic’), but now we have multiplied to 10! Nine of them are fluent in English and Spanish, so we started our first Spanish-speaking Bible Talk in Queens. We also started a Russian-speaking Bible Talk in Brooklyn with Max and Natasha, who recently moved here from Kiev, Ukraine. This coming Sunday, we will be breaking the church into four house churches: Manhattan/Bronx led by DJ and Kacie, Queens/Long Island led by Steve and Kithy Ranga, Brooklyn led by Mike Underhill and NJ/Staten Island led by George and Sharman Grima. We now have 10 Bible Talks, that meet in all the boroughs except the Bronx!

Good news from Chicago, Chris reports another man was baptized Sunday!

In LA, we had our House Church Sunday with an attendance of 445! A college woman, Vanessa, was baptized in Orange County and Son and Tanya Tran – the former leaders of our remnant group in San Francisco – placed membership in the West Region. Their 13 year old daughter, Zoe, has decided to study the Bible with Aurora!

Jesus, Crystie and the Rios family join us from Eugene, Oregon!

On the international front, Raja writes about his return to India from the Global Leadership Conference and a week with the Chicago Church, “I have been reflecting about my life and it is true that I lost my… well let’s put it this way – Kip, just like you said, I had become Scrooge! (As in the movie ‘A Christmas Carol,’ which I watched with Chris.) Afterwards, as I repented , I could feel myself being relieved of a burden. I had totally stopped enjoying life and worse, started to make others also burdened. I not only saw pride, but I was also able to see deep-rooted selfishness in me.

When I came back to Chennai, I started to have regular d-times with my son on Saturdays. The sisters had a hang out time on one of the evenings, while the brothers took care of the kids. We are also having games before the Devos. We also had a Teens Party at my home last Saturday. My prayers have changed. I had talks with my leaders and apologized to them for my sins. Thank you Kip and Elena for coming to Chennai in May and encouraging Debbie and me to start out again with only sold-out disciples. After your visit, we officially launched the church with 10 sold-out disciples on May 31st. In the last three months, we have been able to reach to a total of 20 disciples! This month we had three baptisms, and I also became personally fruitful! Last Sunday, we had our highest in attendance – 53! Please be praying for me to stay humble, work hard and care for people. I am enjoying life! Jesus Rocks!”

From Moscow, Russia, Sasha and Luiza report that two brothers were restored at their last midweek – Slava and Lieva! From Tallinn, Estonia, Argo writes, “I would love to share with you about our dear brother, Kaspar Tambaur. He was baptized in Tallinn as a 19 years old student in January 2008. Already as a few months old disciple, he is showing great convictions and faith making great sacrifices and became a real Timothy to me. Despite his studies and work, he became my right hand guy and when I’m out of town, he leads the Tallinn Church! Already in 2009, Kaspar has been personally fruitful (meeting, converting and baptizing somebody) three times! One of them was Kristjan – from Tallinn Music College and the National Piano Competition Winner – whom he baptized in January this year! Kristjan, a young man with great convictions, was imitating Kaspar’s faith and has become a real Timothy to him.

The Spirit sends Derion Onekea to the Empire City Church!

A few weeks ago, Kristjan met a very powerful and fired up student Artur in the street. Artur was baptized on Tuesday last week and the disciples are already studying the Bible with Artur’s old friend Arved and his ex-girlfriend Kelly. Both of them have made the decision to become disciples of Jesus Christ!”

Truly, our God is moving among the nations! Pray for me as this week, I should complete a modified new version of “The Church Study” and a five study “Follow-up Series” – the last study being “Persecution,” which can be used at anytime during our study with non-Christians… such as after “Discipleship” or “Light and Darkness.” I will send them to everyone by the end of the week. Until next week!

On the Sunday that the Trans placed membership, most of the West Region helps to move them in after church! (Son, Tanya, Zoe and Sydney are standing on the back of the moving van!)

As we enter into a new school year, let us consider some of Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4) Therefore, as the Spirit leads us into “deep water” challenges that seem “over our heads” both here in Los Angeles and around the world, let us be assured that God will more than fill our nets with fish. (Luke 5:7) And to God be the glory!

Kip McKean