“Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…” 1 Chronicles 12:32 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 1:16

Mike Patterson’s baptism at 13 years old in 1998!

Saturday night marked a new beginning for the Teen Ministry of the City of Angels Church! Around 50 teenagers and parents gathered at the Velasco’s house for the kick-off of our Five Region Teen Fellowship. Since we have teens throughout the LA metro area, we are praying that God will raise up powerful teen leaders and establish flourishing ministries of sold-out teen disciples in each region of the City of Angels Church. The “power of the gospel” can change “Kingdom Kids” (“Jews”), as well as “Gentile” converts! Although the gospel does not change, our approach will differ among varying age groups. Like the “men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do,” we must pray to discern “the times” and know what “spiritual Israel” – the church – “should do” to win teenagers for Christ.

My parent’s generation was one of absolutes. Most people in this generation view the Bible as the “holy” Bible, believing that it is the very Word of God. Sadly, most companies that print Bibles now remove the word “Holy” from the front to sell more Bibles to a generation that views the Bible as nothing more than a great literary work. Scholars have called this teenage generation a “post-modern generation.” A denominational magazine pointed out that churches in Africa are now sending mission teams to America, because they view America’s youth as godless. The chart below – from Josh McDowell’s Youth Ministry Handbook: Project 911 Series – helps us to understand the post-modern teen thinking.

"The Word of the Lord spread through the whole region… And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Acts 13:49,52

Kip McKean – Lead Evangelist

Welcome to the City of Angels International Christian Church! Today is an historic occasion as it marks the beginning of a new era – meeting in five regional services: North, South, East, West and Orange County! The City of Angels Church began on May 6, 2007 as a planting from Portland, Oregon with 42 disciples. For the first two and-a-half years, we have met near or in downtown Los Angeles, and our Sunday morning attendance has grown to 350! However, when we have held services by region – greatly reducing the driving distance – we have been able to serve almost 500 in attendance!

We consider ourselves a Bible Church that believes there is one true Creator God, that our Savior Jesus Christ physically resurrected from the dead, that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and that only sold-out baptized disciples compose God’s Church universal. We are affiliated with the three-year-old SoldOut Discipling Movement of churches that are presently in 18 nations around the world: Australia, Chile, Curacao, Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, England, Estonia, Ethiopia, Guam, India, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Suriname, Sweden, Ukraine, as well as 14 congregations within the United States. Our movement’s collective vision is “the evangelization of the nations in this generation.” (Matthew 28:19-20) As a congregation, we are one of the primary training centers for our movement’s mission work. Already, the Spirit has sent out 61 disciples to form four church plantings – New York City, Honolulu, Portland and San Diego. We also support missionaries in Santiago, Chile.

With the recent devastation of the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, many have asked, “What is your congregation’s response to this catastrophe?” In our family of churches, our benevolent arm is called MERCYworldwide. "MERCY" has sent large amounts of money to the families of our members, who were victims in the Haitian quake. We have also received individual donations, which we have applied to help heal the lives of many. MERCY is an acronym for “Maximizing Efforts for Relief, Care and Youth.” By working together as a movement – each Christian in every congregation is called to be a volunteer – MERCY now has projects in 18 nations “to look after orphans and widows in their distress” as well as “the poor and the alien.” (James 1:27; Exodus 23:6-9) The efforts of MERCYworldwide go hand-in-hand with our vision to change the world!

In the record of the early church, the evangelization of a region – province or territory – was accomplished by planting a group of disciples in the most influential city within that area. For example, when the church was planted in city of Pisidian Antioch, “the Word of the Lord spread through the whole region.” (Acts 13:49) Also, as the gospel was preached in Ephesus, in just “two years… all who lived in the province of Asia [today western Turkey] heard the Word of the Lord.” (Acts 19:10) Unique to our fellowship is the role of our evangelists. In the denominational world, a minister – often called a “pastor” or “priest” – is given the charge of overseeing the lives of “his flock,” his congregation.

On Sunday evenings, many of the evangelists and women’s ministry leaders in the SoldOut Movement graciously send me their “good news” for the week. On Monday mornings, I gather the most exciting of the reports and send them out to all of our leaders around the world, accompanied by some heartfelt admonitions for the movement. This keeps us connected and encouraged by the Spirit of God working in our family of churches. The following is this past week’s “Good News Email!” KM

After praying on South Mountain – while overlooking Phoenix – Chris & Sonja Chloupek are fired-up to move to LA and Luke & Brandyn Speckman are humbled to lead our sister church in Phoenix!

Dear All,
Greetings from the City of Angels Church! Given the devastation to the island nation of Haiti by a 7.0 earthquake, the Central Leadership Council is proclaiming Friday, January 22, 2010 as a Day of Prayer & Fasting for all of the congregations of the SoldOut Movement. The BBC estimated 200,000 deaths, and perhaps even more remain trapped alive under the debris, crying out for help. MERCYworldwide is donating funds to the Haitian families of disciples in our movement. Sadly, one of our brothers in DC lost his cousin in the quake. Let us resolve to have an even greater urgency to preach the Word, as this catastrophe parallels the condition of the “spiritual world” that has been shook and devastated by Satan and his demons; many are trapped in their sin and circumstances, and crying out for help. We must rise up and be the answer to their prayers.

DJ Comisford of NYC and Carlos Mejia of Washington DC combine good news from both churches and share, “The DC Church, Empire City Church and the new Charlotte International Christian Church had an amazing Winter Workshop in DC! The theme was I Am With You. Chris and Theresa Broom came down from Chicago and preached powerfully about how God is working in His new movement. Chris challenged the Bible Talk Leaders on Friday night to imitate God’s heart for the lost, the weak and the lukewarm. On Saturday during the Men’s Program, Mike Underhill and Dustin Miller from New York, as well as Ken Chin and Carlos from DC, preached on Righteousness, Humility, Sacrifice and Evangelism. On the women’s side, Theresa Broom, Lucy Mejia and Cheryl Chin from DC, and Kacie Comisford and Amanda Miller from New York, preached on the same subjects. Sunday morning, the fellowship was electric as 135 people gathered to worship! Bill Hamilton, leader of the Charlotte Remnant Group, led a heart-moving communion about his decision to join God’s new movement and DJ preached the message, God is With Us. Afterwards, we celebrated two baptisms from the DC Church, Mackensie – DC’s first teen – and Johweyeh, who studied the Bible in just seven days! The workshop melded the hearts of the disciples from DC, NYC and Charlotte together and we are ready for 2010 because God Is With Us!”

Chris Broom adds, “Theresa and I had an incredible time in DC with the Mejias and McGees. They are incredible couples and I believe they are just what the DC Church needs after losing the Smellies! It was inspiring to see the Comisfords and the NYC crew as well as the Hamiltons and the disciples from North Carolina!