Our Emirates Connection

I wanted to check in along the way and let you know our travel progress. We're sitting at the airport in Dubai (in the United Arab Emirates), having concluded our 12+ hour junket from NYC, and looking forward to 5 more wonderful hours in the air in order to reach Nairobi.

We're flying Emirates Airlines this trip, and I have to tell you, except for one kinda crabby flight attendant (she must have hit my shoulder 15 times either walking past or pushing the food carts), we had a tremendous experience. Service was great, everyone (sans the one) was out-of-their-way friendly, and the entertainment system for each seat was almost beyond imagination! You ADD-types would have been satisfied completely with the hundreds (that's right!) of movies offered, music, games, up-to-date news, even the ability to create our own music playlist. Additionally, each seat had the ability to connect mp3 devices, ipods, and computers with power! Needless to say, we enjoyed the longest leg of our flights and are looking forward to the final link.

We're anticipating an extremely positive response from the young church in Masii. Stanley was with them a couple of months ago, teaching about church dynamics, and they were enthusiastic, absorbing everything he shared with great excitement. They've spoken to him more than once about starting other congregations, but he's encouraging them to take a step at a time, making sure they're grounded and firm before they spread themselves out.

Thanks again for the prayers. Pray earnestly as you wrestle on our behalf, will you? And don't forget to bring your umbrellas!

On the Road Again

As I write this, I'm sitting in JFK Airport in the Big Apple with Stanley Mutunga (that's Stanley and me feeding Jeffrey!). It's Tuesday morning, and we just arrived on the red-eye from Los Angeles on our way to Kenya (man, those seats are small!). We'll fly through Dubai this time (a first for me), a 12+ hour trip, then about 5 hours back to Nairobi. It's long, but exciting, as Stanley and I talk much about our opportunities for the next nine days. We'll teach at the new church started at the Tumaini Center. The congregation is averaging about 125 after last September's launch, and they want to know more about what it means to be a non-denominational, New Testament church. And even more exciting is the news that they already want to plant more churches like themselves throughout the area. Our teaching will be foundational to what they will teach and pass on to others as they reproduce themselves among their own people.

Quite honestly, that makes me a more nervous, knowing that what we/I say during these days of teaching and discussion will be carried on to others. My topics this trip include the place of baptism and the Lord's Supper in the Church, and the place and ministry of elders and deacons in the Church. Please pray for us as we share, that we don't simply impart knowledge, but that we pass along the lessons and insights God has given to us through our years of service to Him. Thanks!

on my way to kenya

On April 14, I will be heading to Kenya with Stanley Mutunga of Tumaini Ministries for nine days. During our time there, we'll meet with a new church plant worshipping at the new Tumaini Center. It was established last fall as an effort to begin a church that is simply a New Testament non-denominational congregation, something different than the norm in Kenya.

Stanley and I will lead teaching and discussion times that will focus on the structure, growth and development of the local church. Of particular concern this time will be teaching involving the Lord's Supper and baptism as they relate to the church, and elders, deacons and overall leadership issues.

This new church is currently running about 125 each week and is already looking to reproduce itself in other places. So, we are anticipating the possibility that this might not simply be a new church planted, but a new church planting movement! Therefore, the foundation set now becomes that much more crucial for what lies ahead.

I'll keep you updated about what's going on with this project. Meanwhile, I've included a video that we made from our time with Tumaini the first year we took a team (2006).

Enjoy!

Beyond...

As quickly as it seemed to come, so it has gone. Our time of missions emphasis, Beyond...9 days in March! is now history, but it has left an unmistakable impression in its wake. Our focus this year was that of prayer, real prayer especially on behalf of those with whom we partner throughout the world. And as we talked about prayer, learned about prayer, and had fresh opportunity for prayer, we were challenged to become more of a prayer-urgent people...something not easy for so many of us in our culture.

We had most of our 41 missionaries and missions organizations represented as they shared their stories with us, explained their unique ministries, and encouraged us to deepen our relationships and concern for them. Highlights included: a great breakfast on the 9th with valuable interaction with several missionaries, our Wednesday night Global Gathering (complete with the In-n-Out Burger truck!) and a special time of prayer for our global workers, a Friday Night at the Movies spectacular ("Inn of the Sixth Happiness," the story of China missionary Gladys Aylward) and our concluding weekend, complete with missionaries and their displays. It was especially good to have SP and Joy Daniel (from Hyderabad, India) with us again. They spoke at a number of venues, with Joy having a great chance to connect with our various women's Bible study groups.

We learned again of the needs of our brothers and sisters in so many places, and the privilege of partnership we share with them through prayer. Romans 15:30 is of particular importance to us now, as we read of Paul's challenge to the Roman church to join him in his struggle by praying for him. We may not ever make it to Austria, Kenya, Chile, Indonesia China, or any of the other places we support workers, but we can join these faithful ones in their work, their struggle, by praying for them. This way, we all have a part to play in getting the message of hope in Christ to a world in such desperate need.

The nine days were good, but our hope- really, our need- is to take what God has shown us and go beyond these nine days, allowing Him to shift and shape our lives and actions to reflect His global heart and purpose. Maybe John Piper said it best- "Go, send or disobey."

It's that simple, and we do well not to complicate it.

Beyond...9 Days in March!

It's almost here! That's right, the time of missions emphasis at our church gets set to kick off this weekend. Dubbed, Beyond...9 Days in March! this is a time for us to learn more about what God is doing around the corner and around the world, and just what that means to us. Our theme this year is A House of Prayer for all Nations (Isaiah 56:7), reminding us of our need to seek God in prayer for the fulfillment of His Great Commission.

There will be special events, activities and opportunities for us to become more connected with our growing global perspective. And one of the highlights will be the chance to rub shoulders with many of the 41 missionaries and missions organizations we support as a church. They'll be with us throughout the week, sharing what God is doing in and through them, giving us the bigger picture, and answering our questions.

Here's a thumbnail sketch of some of what will be taking place:

Saturday/Sunday, March 7/8-
- Kick-off weekend with great worship, visuals and message from Pastor Shane;
Monday, March 9-
- "Have a Missionary for Breakfast!"- a free super breakfast prepared and served in our Fellowship Hall (8:00 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.), where our missionaries will join us, share with us and answer questions.
Tuesday, March 10-
- Our Young at Heart (10:00 a.m.), Women's (7:00 p.m.) and Men's (7:15 p.m.) Bible Studies will have missionary guest speakers.
Wednesday, March 11-
- We’ll host our annual All-Church Global Gathering under the pepper tree! At 5:30 pm, the In-N-Out truck will be here to serve a great burger dinner ($3 cost). Our 7:00 p.m. program will include a special performance by the International Children’s Choir of Long Beach, as well as introduction of, and prayer for our missionaries. Special focus will be given to our local workers.
Thursday, March 12-
- A special Women's Ministries meeting/brunch honoring our female missionaries. Begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends by noon. Joy Daniel of Hyderabad, India will be our guest speaker.
Friday, March 13-
- 7:00 p.m. Friday Night at the Movies, a time to share a great movie and snacks with family and friends. And it's all on us! (with childcare!)
Saturday /Sunday, March 14/15-
- Services with our missionaries or representatives present, along with their displays and information. So much to see and do!

In addition to these events:
- The lobby of the auditorium will be open each night from 9:00-11:00 for prayer. We’re encouraging our people to come at least once during the nine days, even for 15 minutes, to offer prayers for missionaries, as well as for the global situation.

Join us if you're in the area (315 S. Knott Ave., Anaheim, CA), and pray for us if you're not. This is a critical time for us as we seek to grow in our understanding of the partnership we have with God's global plan. Pray that God would open our hearts, challenge our lifestyles and bless our efforts. And that we would take what He shows us and go beyond these nine days...to a lifetime of service for those who have yet to know Him as Lord and Savior.

saddle up, cowboy

I got news this morning that I didn't want to hear. A call from the local coroner telling me that Cowboy passed away yesterday. David Hervert, aka Cowboy, was a special man to us. He was a homeless man who had first come to the church for assistance maybe eight years ago. I met him at that time with his wife. They were living in a small trailer a few miles away and needed a little help. Shortly after that time, she passed away and he ended up on the street.

Dave split time between the streets and area motels, doing odd jobs for cash. He gave his life to Christ and became a part of the family at Knott Avenue. His edges were rough and he had issues (don't we all), but he had found his home. A couple of years ago he became ill and fell into a coma, having to have both legs amputated. Dave was comatose more than three months and I was asked by the hospital's board of ethics to sit on a panel evaluating his situation. I shared with a group of doctors about Dave's contribution to the community and to our church. It was ultimately decided to remove life support and prepare him for the death that was already near. Two days later, I received a call from the hospital. Dave had awakened and asked two things: "Where am I?" and "Where's Mike?!" The nurse said, "I think we need to take him out of hospice and place him in convalescence!"

The time that followed was not easy for him. His recovery was slow and incomplete, and his inability to get healthy meant he returned to a convalescent home, where he ultimately died. But he was a fighter. He struggled, he tried with all he had and knew. We'll always remember him as the one who wrote out nametags at each the Community Supper. The one who shared a large, toothless (mostly) grin so easily. The one who was writing his own Bible, patiently transcribing the Scriptures day after day onto a pad. He had finished a lot of it, by the way.

I miss Cowboy already. And I'll sure miss him when we gather for our Community Supper Friday night, the 27th. We'll put together a memorial service for him that night, because even though our society as a whole won't miss him, we will. Those on the street, and his church family as well. Dave made an imprint on a bunch of us, and we're the better for it. The good news is that his new body has legs- and teeth too, I suppose. And he's resting in the presence of the God that he'd come to know. No more pain. No more sorrow. No more tears. Only rejoicing, praise and gratitude for who God is and what He's done.

Hold the gate open, Cowboy. We'll be there soon enough and will dance together. That'll be a good time- I can hardly wait. And I know you'll be good at it.

Even with those boots I'm sure you'll be wearing.

GO! Teams '09 Revving Up

So many places, so little time and opportunity.

That's what it feels like at times as we make our plans for destinations of our Global Outreach (GO!) Teams at KACC. There are lots of places we could travel, lots of people to meet and things to do. There are so many chances to make an impact for God's Kingdom...and yet we are bound by time and means. So how do we determine just where we will invest our time, resources and energy?

More than anything, it comes down to relationships. While we could make trips to so many locations, we look at the connections we have with those we desire to serve. First, we try to direct our efforts to those people and projects that we actively support as a church. It makes sense to channel our time into places where we already channel our resources. This helps to deepen that relationship, and gives us a greater understanding and appreciation for those to whom we are committed. Secondly, we look for places where we can return in order to invest our lives deeply. We don't want to do "hit-and-run" missions, because we believe the greater blessing comes with greater investment...for us and for those we serve. And since we only spend from a few days to a few weeks in any location, it takes many times on site to develop the trust and camaraderie that allows us to speak deeply into lives.

With this kind of criteria in mind, we have our trips ready for 2009:

• San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona- April 23-26; November 5-8
• Atascadero, CA- May 14-17; October 1-4
• Tecate, Mexico- May 15-17; December 11-13
• Brisbane, Australia- June 28- July 13
• Baguio City, Philippines- July 8-22

You may notice that we are adding shorter, closer, more affordable trips, while dropping some of our longer ones (for this year). Our hope is that more people will be willing to "wade into the shallow end" of missions, tasting and seeing just how rich the experience is by taking a smaller step. Our ultimate goals? Among others, to understand more fully what God is doing outside our own neighborhoods, to connect with others in life-changing ways (for us and them), and to discover what God might be saying to us about our role in getting His message of life and hope to ALL peoples. Interested in knowing more? Contact us at church and find out what part God may want you to play in His bigger picture in 2009.

We're ready to GO! Are you?