Degrees of Lukewarmness

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I'm about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:15-16

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

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

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

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

I Left My Heart In San Francisco

Guest Editorial – Mike Underhill

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

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

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

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

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

The Promise

Report: 2012 Women's Day
Guest Editorial - Helen Sullivan

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

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

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

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