Love Out Loud!

2009 Women’s Day Report – Elena Garcia McKean

The amazing sisters that helped make our 2009 Women’s Day a huge success! (Elena McKean, Vicki James, Michele Williamson, Ashley Woody, Summer Reneau, Jeanne McGee, Tracy Harding and Therese Untalan)

Hear the cry, tearful eyes.
Can’t deny and wish it all away.
Will the pain ever change?
Love out loud!
Let your loving be your voice.
Love out loud!
Together we can make some noise.
Love out loud! Without fear.
Sing a song and let the whole world hear.
Love out loud!
Be His hands, be His feet,
be the people we are called to be.
Take His love to the streets.
Show compassion to a soul in need.
This is the time to break the silence and,
Love out loud!
       Jaci Velasquez

Gil is baptized by the brothers of the North Region!

The 2009 Women’s Day and our Latin (Spanish-speaking) Women’s Night were amazing! With the 100 sisters of the City of Angels Church, the Lord blessed us with 250 in attendance! The following are only a few of the heartfelt words on the response cards from both visitors and members: “Very touching! Great fellowship! God was in our presence!” “A wonderful heart-opener! Feels like sisters I can trust through the love of God.” “This has been a great experience listening to other women’s trials and how they were able to overcome and stay motivated. I hope that I can be the same way soon.” “The speakers were fabulous! Thanks so much for the honesty and the glory to God.” “I loved it! Thanks Elena – I am sobbing silently and want to study the Bible with other women.” “I could really connect with all the women. I definitely would like a personal Bible study!” “Great experience! I really believed I was here because God is calling me back home.” “Wonderful! Elena did an amazing job on the lesson! I loved her vulnerability and how she shared her life. I can’t wait to live the rest of my life for God!” “I loved it very, very, very much!” “I am praying that our dream as a movement to plant churches in every nation will be fulfilled so that all the women of the world can share moments like this!”

The Lord blessed the City of Angels Church with six baptisms this past Sunday! (left) Visiting from our sister church in Curacao are Claudette and Denise! (right)

Jaci Velasquez’s spiritual song – Love Out Loud – was the inspiration for the theme of this year’s Women’s Day. Special thanks to our very own Tracy Harding – who is leading our sister church in Portland with her husband Ron – for traveling all the way down to LA to sing this song for us! Also, thanks to Bety Garcia – who leads the Latin Ministry in Chicago alongside her husband Juan Carlos – for singing incredibly at our Latin Women’s Night! I would also like to express my gratitude to Therese Untalan for emceeing the entire program! Finally, thanks to all the brothers: Kip, Victor Sr., Victor Jr., Johnny, Gabe, Michael, Fred and especially Rob Onekea, who designed our invitations and recorded the keynote message and the sharing.(www.caicc.net)

Our 2009 Women’s Day had an incredible attendance of over 250 women!

Our 2009 Women’s Day had an incredible attendance of over 250 women! (above)

After coffee, orange juice and some tasty pastries, the English program began with the Taylor Swift song – Change – sung by Ashley Woody. Immediately following, there was not a dry eye as we watched the KNN video, The Prodigal Daughter. Adding to the moment were the powerful testimonies by Michele Williamson, Vicki James, Summer Reneau and Jeanne McGee! Then after a short fellowship break, we were moved by Tracy passionately singing the theme song. Having been touched by the words of the song, we heard the speech – Love Out Loud. I had three points: Cry Out Loud, Sobbing Silently, and “LOL.” In the first point, I shared several dark moments before I was a disciple, where I “cried out loud.” Then at 17, I was confronted with the true Jesus, who “cried out loud during His days on earth.” (Hebrews 5:7) Most impactful for my conversion were His very last words on the cross, when He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and “It is finished.” (Matthew 27:46; John 19:30) On the second point, I preached about the sinful woman of Luke 7, who silently sobbed as her tears fell on Jesus’ feet. After drying Jesus’ feet with her hair, Jesus commended her in front of all the dinner guests, “Her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much.” Truly, when we realize how much we have been forgiven, we will love much and remain faithful to God – no matter what happens!

Visiting from our sister church in Curacao are Claudette and Denise!

On the last point, I shared that since I am “technologically challenged,” I am still slowly learning how to text! However, I have learned that one abbreviation used commonly in texting is “LOL,” which means “Laugh Out Loud.” As Jesus’ disciples, I encouraged the sisters to change the meaning of “LOL” to “Love Out Loud!” Jaci Velasquez’s words expressed “LOL” so beautifully, “Be His hands, be His feet… Take His love to the streets.” I challenged both fall aways and non-Christians to seek a Bible church, where the life matches the doctrine. Only in a church where discipling – spiritual life training and mentoring – is taking place on a daily basis will the standard of Jesus’ life be sustained. God’s plan is for women to disciple the women in a congregation. (Titus 2:3-5) Having a dynamic women’s ministry in our church has helped me through many challenges in my life! In tears, I then shared that the greatest pain in my life over the past five years has been seeing Jesus’ warning of Matthew 24:9-14 become a harsh reality, “The love of most will grow cold.” I pleaded with everyone to turn to Jesus and once again, “Take His love to the streets.”

To close my lesson, I read, “Together we can make some noise. Love out loud! Without fear, let the whole world hear!” Dear sisters of the City of Angels Church, God has brought us together through all our prayers, preparations and hard work to make this Women’s Day such a special one! Now let us believe that the City of Angels Church, this deceivingly dark city of Los Angeles, and the “whole world” will be a different place, when we, as women “without fear,” “LOL” – Love Out Loud! To God be the glory!