The Angel (Kacie Comisford) comforting a discouraged tree (Madison Hernandez).

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Acts 10:39

Sunday December 10 was our annual Christmas Service. Steve Johnson gave an incredibly inspirational sermon entitled, “Putting Christ Back in Christmas.” The 4-7 year-olds Kids Kingdom Chorus sang “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Then our 8-12 year-olds performed the musical “The Tale of Three Trees.” Amelia Pleyte, Grant Bogart and Madison Hernandez were amazing as the Three Trees, Noa Adams and Kali Dimitry sparkled as Dreamer Tree and Happy Tree, and equally awesome were Kory Joshua as Woodsworth and Didier Duval as Stump! Also, Kacie Comisford and Mike Mathis Sr. touched our hearts and brought the house down as the Angel and Woody the Woodcutter. Special thanks to Bob Bertalot and Kacie for directing the play, Alan Hess for building the set, Jason Lehne on the sound and especially Angelica Robles for designing and making the costumes!

Ray Fritz (center) was baptized at our last Men’s Night Out! With him are the brothers from the West Region who studied with him. His wife Eliza was baptized last Sunday!

“The Tale of Three Trees” is about three trees in a forest that had special dreams. The first tree dreamed to be a treasure chest filled with gold, silver and precious gems. The second tree’s dream was to become a mighty ship that takes kings and queens across the waters to all the corners of the world. Finally, the third tree desired to become the tallest and straightest tree in the forest, set on a hill, pointing people to God and His greatness. As time passed the trees were cut down, but seemingly their dreams were not realized. The first was made into a feed box for animals, placed in a farm and filled with hay. The second was made into a small fishing boat. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by and all the trees forgot their dreams.

Alan Anderson (third from left) was baptized in the Columbia River last Sunday! With him are the brothers from Vancouver who walked with him to become a disciple.

Then one day, a man and woman came to a barn and she gave birth to a baby who was placed into the feedbox, a manger. The first tree’s dream had indeed come true because the manger held the greatest treasure of all, the baby Jesus. Years later, the small fishing boat was used to carry a group of men across the Sea of Galilee. In the midst of a storm, the boat was strong and one of the passengers stood and said to the storm, “Peace! Be still!” At that moment, the tree knew his dream of carrying kings had more than come true. He was carrying the King of Kings! The last tree’s dream came true when a man carried a cross made out of his wood. As the cross was planted on Golgotha’s hill, all men were drawn to the greatness of God, as Jesus died on “a tree” for our sins. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

The moral of the musical was clear to us all. When your dreams seem to be farther and farther away, be faithful, because God is working out His plan for your life. And most likely your dreams will be fulfilled beyond “anything you ask or imagine,” just not in the way you imagined!

The first of the Three Trees that dreamed (Amelia Pleyte), sees her dream fulfilled as Mary (Isabelle Hernandez) and Joseph (Kolby Johsua) tend to the baby Jesus.

Before the presentation of the musical, I had never heard of “The Tale of the Three Trees,” yet the story spoke to my heart. Though God has placed on my heart the dream to evangelize the entire world in this generation, I never thought He would send Elena and me to the relatively small and isolated city of Portland, Oregon. Yet here God healed us through the Portland disciples’ mercy and love. Here God has taught us so much of what was right in the Boston Movement (the ICOC) and what needed to be changed. Here God has begun a new movement of sold-out disciples. A little over three years ago at my first midweek service in July 2003, 25 chairs were set up! Amazingly today on Sundays, we have well over 500 at services! Also of special note, last Wednesday at Men’s Night out, Ray Fritz was baptized. (Ray is the husband of Eliza who was baptized just three days before.) Though the Portland Church started 2006 with 300 disciples, through God’s power and grace, Ray was the 100th baptism for the year! Then Sunday before our Christmas Service our 101st person was baptized, Alan Anderson of Vancouver. Truly, God has blessed our congregation way beyond “anything we could ask or imagine.”

Pictured is Mike Mathis Sr. as Woody the Woodcutter surrounded by a forest of trees.

Last month was very challenging for Elena and me as we are striving to build a new movement of sold-out disciples with the common motivating vision of evangelizing the world in a generation. We were informed by the Santiago, Chile Church leadership that they no longer wanted our discipling. They did not want to be a part of our new movement, calling our new movement “sinfully divisive” in starting “new churches” and fearing the loss of relationships in the ICOC. Though we tried to assure them we have never drawn any lines of fellowship, the decision was made to separate themselves from us. This made us incredibly sad because of our love for all the Chilean disciples. Yet we will continue to pray for them and wish them well. Then in the midst of our sadness, the Lord encouraged us with two more new churches joining this young movement – one in Tallinn, Estonia led by Argo and Anu Lips and the other in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo led by Lola Lof!

After this good news, the Lord continued to encourage me through an email that reminded me of how special all of our relationships are in Portland. This email was from George Deal in Wildomar, California.

I have heard a lot of things over the past three years. I have read some things on the Internet. And I just listened to Kip's sermon from August 2006. That sermon inspired me and reminded me of the early 1980's. My heart was moved. But that is NOT why I am writing this email. With out knowing all and with out passing judgment one way or the other... Hands down, Steve Johnson has to be one of the greatest friends alive on this planet today. I was thinking that after I saw Steve's name on the Portland Church web page and before I listened to the streaming video. Kip is right, when everyone else left, Steve was still there by his side. By the way it made me think of that Katmandu poem. Anyway. With all the lack of true friendships in this world, no matter where you stand on the issues, love speaks for itself. I stand in total admiration of Steven Johnson for his boldness and his love for Kip to stand by him in his darkest hour. I want to be that kind of a friend. May God bless you and your church and every righteous thing you are doing. You are in my heart and my prayers. Sincerely, George Deal Cornerstone Community Church - Wildomar California - 11/30/2006

Then of greatest encouragement to me personally, on December 11, Elena and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary! Truly God has blessed me way beyond what I deserve. Elena is indeed my closest friend, an incredible and beautiful wife, my lover and my most loyal partner in the gospel!

Let us all be thankful during this holiday season. Perhaps our dreams for this year or even our lives have not yet come true, but be prayerful and faithful. As in “The Tale of Three Trees” God is working His plan His way to bless you “beyond all you ask or imagine.”

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Kip McKean