Jessica Gets Baptized

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants, nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

In the first century, the gospel was proclaimed to all nations through the planting of churches in the most influential of cities. (Colossians 1:6, 23) If we as God’s modern day movement are to evangelize the nations in our generation, then we too must plant churches in the most influential cities of the world – thus The Crown of Thorns Project. This requires the tireless training of preachers and women ministry leaders, as well as the finances to support their efforts for the Lord. Therefore, on November 20, 2011, the Central Leadership Council is calling every member in every SoldOut Movement congregation to give AT LEAST 4X THEIR WEEKLY CONTRIBUTION PLEDGE for a Thanksgiving Missions Contribution.

In the 1970’s, I was privileged to befriend Reuel Lemmons (1912-1989), one of the most prominent preachers and significant voices in the Mainline Churches of Christ. Reuel was a minister for 53 years speaking in 79 countries. From 1955 to 1983, he served as the Editor of the Firm Foundation, a publication of the Mainline Churches of Christ. According to The Handbook of Texas Online, Reuel’s weekly editorials were “probably the most widely read single column among members of the [Mainline] Churches of Christ.”

Brother Lemmons was a hero to me. Our friendship developed as we spent “down time” during seminars and workshops at which both of us were guest speakers. I found him to be a soft-spoken man, yet with unwavering deep convictions. The following Firm Foundation editorial from February 9, 1982 entitled Church Planting challenged all of us in the Mainline Churches of Christ. I believe it is still a clarion call to the Mainline Churches of Christ and the International Churches of Christ, as well as prophetic warning to the churches in the SoldOut Movement. Our brother Reuel wrote:

It is a strange and almost sacrilegious thing to say, but we do not look for too much growth in the great majority of our presently existing [Mainline Church of Christ] congregations during the next two decades. True, populations will shift and a few will grow, largely at the expense of others, but our church plans are not now orientated toward church growth. We would not be afraid to prophesy that more of our congregations that exist today will die than will grow in the next 20 years. We mean, really grow, not just swell.

This is not to prophesy that the church as a whole will not grow. We believe it will, but it will grow from church planting rather than church building. We are doing practically nothing to build churches, and seem bent on crucifying the few that are… The church grows from church planting, and we have just about quit planting churches. We are educating our young preachers to fill existing pulpits rather than to plant churches. The number of preachers we have or need is related by the number of existing pulpits rather than by the world’s need for the gospel…

The average church is reducing its interest in “for others” and is proclaiming the doctrine of “for us.” We even heard recently an elder say that the church’s first duty was to itself. We fear for a church with this philosophy. Search the annals of history and you will find that God never let a church grow at home that lost its interest in the great commission. The church’s first duty is to preach the gospel and plant churches – not to satisfy its selfish wants.

Whatever church growth there is in the next twenty years will come from the relatively few congregations that are interested in church planting. When the preaching ministry of the church is centered in professional ministering to people pleasing groups, in job security and fringe benefits, then the church will die. Preachers ought to be taught to create pulpits rather than fill them.

If surveys are correct, the over 18,000 [Mainline Church of Christ] congregations have shrunk to less than 10,000 in the last 20 years or so. If there was an ounce of church planting vision among us, we could turn those 10,000 congregations into 20,000 in the next twenty years. So long as it takes 6,000 members of the church to send one missionary, we probably won’t plant 10,000 churches. This is a problem that every [church leadership] should search their souls over…
There is only one reason in the world, so far as we can see – why churches have quit growing. They have lost their church planting zeal and have taken up housekeeping operations. Jesus cursed a fig tree because it bore nothing but leaves; we have so many barren churches and so little fruit! There is grave danger that the Lord might curse us with jealousy and division until we die out. Then He might raise-up in our place a people who would be the Israel of God – He has done it before. Reuel Lemmons – February 9, 1982

I believe that the SoldOut Movement is “the Israel of God” that Reuel “prophesied” about which God is raising-up out of a jealous, divided and dying-out church. The City of Angels Church planted in May of 2007 with 42 sold-out disciples sent by the Spirit from Portland, now sees 750 on Sunday mornings! Yet, the real impact of the congregation can be seen through the efforts of the 107 disciples that have been sent-out from LA to lead existing churches or to plant churches: Honolulu (2008), New York City (2008), Portland (2009), San Diego (2010), Kiev (2010), London (2010), and Sao Paulo (2011). In just four and-a-half years, the astounding combined total number of disciples in LA and in the churches led by those sent-out from LA is over 1,500 with an amazing combined Sunday attendance nearing 2,500!

In the first century, Jesus said to the faithful Eleven, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Our Crown of Thorns Project adapts Jesus’ vision for the twenty-first century. “Jerusalem” is Los Angeles for God’s modern day movement; “Judea and Samaria” are parallel to the United States; and “the ends of the earth” are “the ends of the earth!” To go to “the ends of the earth,” twelve of the most influential cities outside of the United States have been targeted as Crown of Thorns Cities: Cairo, Chennai, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Hong Kong, Paris, Santiago, Sao Paulo, and Sydney. Excitingly, God’s new movement now has vibrant church plantings in London, Santiago and Sao Paulo!

For 2012, the Central Leadership Council is presently praying over and cementing plans to plant four more churches. Lord willing, following The Samaria Project (church plantings within the United States), the Spirit will send out mission teams from LA to Boston, San Francisco and Orlando at this summer’s 2012 World Missions Jubilee. Also at that time the Holy Spirit will plant the fourth city of The Crown of Thorns Project, as Lord willing, Tim & Lianne Kernan will take a small group of sold-out disciples and plant the Paris International Christian Church! Adding to this excitement, the Central Leadership Council has now begun to consider planting in the summer of 2012 our fifth Crown of Thorns City – Mexico City!

As Reuel Lemmons wrote, “The church grows from church plantings.” He also noted that though there may be some churches that grow individually with a “for us” mentality, the only hope for a lost world is a movement of churches that “preach the gospel and plant churches – not [satisfying their] selfish wants.” Reuel also realized that persecution would come from those who “are doing practically nothing to build churches, and seem bent on crucifying the few that are.” Underlining this principle, Raul & Lynda Moreno and our Sao Paulo Mission Team were recently “sinfully” marked and “wrongly” disfellowshipped by what is left of our former fellowship in Brazil.

Some reject and scorn Jesus’ dream to evangelize the nations in this generation as burdensome and embittering to the families in the church, especially those in leadership. In fact, to attempt to save everyone’s family members requires that we reach the entire world! So encouraging have been the many “Kingdom Kids” that have been baptized this summer, such as Matt & Helen Sullivan’s daughter – Melissa and Chris & Theresa Broom’s son – Austin! Interestingly, both the Sullivans and Brooms serve on the SoldOut Movement’s Central Leadership Council!
Indeed, Reuel was a prophet – “a voice of one calling in the [spiritual] desert.”

However, it is necessary and good that we recognize that there are still some faithful disciples in the Mainline and International Churches of Christ, as these two fellowships comprise our spiritual heritage. Yet as Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” (Matthew 21:43) So by faith, Reuel sensed that out of the Satanic chaos and confusion of modern day Christianity our Gracious Father would raise-up a new “Israel of God,” or as we were named by our persecutors – the SoldOut Movement! And since it is “only God, who makes things grow,” then to God be all the glory!
Kip McKean

Korban Light (center) of Writers Fellowship

During one of my daily times studying the Bible and praying, I was reading one of my favorite books: the book of 1st John. In 1st John 4:1-4, I came across a question I had always had; what does it really mean to acknowledge Jesus? All sorts of people appear to make some sort of acknowledgement about Jesus, yet “the road is narrow, and only a few find it.” There must be something deeper to apply here. Therefore, I searched the scriptures for answers, and here is what I found.

What it means to acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.” 1 John 4:1-4

What does it mean to acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in the flesh? To “acknowledge” by dictionary terms means to accept or admit the existence or truth of. Well, every man that has ever been born on earth since the beginning of time has been born in the flesh. So to acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh is much more than saying he was like every other baby born on earth. But ironically this statement sets him apart from every other man. To be born in the flesh is the most ordinary thing that has ever happened. But to acknowledge that this one man was born in the flesh is extraordinary. It is to say that he was someone not of this world that had been born in the flesh. So one must acknowledge that he was from the heavenly realms and came to earth in human form for a purpose. One must acknowledge that Jesus himself was in fact the very Son of God. Therefore, one must acknowledge his deity and therefore his Lordship. And therefore, one must acknowledge and accept him as their King.

The use of the word acknowledge, or confess, goes much deeper than merely knowing that Christ is the Son of God, or confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart that he is Lord. Consider these verses.

“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.” James 2:19

“In the synagogue, there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God!’” Luke 4:33-34

“When he [the demon possessed man] saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?’” Mark 5:6-7

Scripture show that even the demons, who follow Satan, acknowledged Christ as being the Son of God. They acknowledged that he was here in the flesh. They acknowledged and confessed with their mouth and believed it in their heart. Nevertheless, if they’re not following Jesus, they are lost.

So in 1 John 4:1-4, the word “acknowledge” means something far beyond knowledge. Much more than a confession of words. And much more than believing it in your heart. Then what does it mean? What does it truly mean to acknowledge and believe that Jesus is Lord?

“This is love for God, to obey His commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world…. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:3, 5

“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:3-5

“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim we have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” 1 John 1:5,6

By the standard of the scriptures, it is not enough to merely believe and say you follow Jesus. It is not enough to merely confess that you walk with God. Let’s keep reading…

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…” 1 John 5:1

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:9

“This is how we know we are in him: whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

“…if we walk in the light, as he is in the light…the blood of Jesus… purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

“Go and sin no more” John 8:11

From these scriptural truths, acknowledging Jesus means to follow God and walk as Jesus did. To truly acknowledge Jesus as Lord means to obey his commands, to leave your life of sin, and to dedicate yourself to him wholeheartedly! Anything other than this is no better than a believing demon.

It is important to note in 1 John 3:7, the writer urges disciples to not let anyone lead them astray. Why? Because of our sinful nature, the truth is hard to swallow because it’s hard to follow. That’s why Jesus commands us to deny self in Luke 9. Without faith and self-denial, the truth gets cloudy, and deceit slips in. Consider the following passage.

“For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Jude 1:4

This verse is talking about men who, yes, have intellectual knowledge about Jesus Christ and the “grace of God.” There will be self-proclaimed followers “acknowledging” Christ with their lips, and believing of him on an emotional level. Yet emotions do not get a person to heaven. The Bible calls such people “godless.” Although they may preach about Jesus and God’s grace, they are in fact denying Jesus, his sovereignty, and lordship, for it is a false Jesus they preach. But sadly, even demons can and will preach about “Jesus!” They can stand among the pulpits and influence a twisted form of the truth so it becomes a lie. Even sincere people are led astray, as explained in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, which is why disciples are warned not to put up with false teaching.

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

It is one thing to confess Jesus with your lips, and believe in him with your heart, yet have no life of impact to back it up. It is entirely another concept to truly acknowledge Jesus with a lifestyle of wholehearted obedience and sincere faith. Which way are you following?

The Glory Of The Second Temple
“‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:9

Blaise & Patricia Feumba with their three children!

On May 10, 2011, I, Blaise Feumba, wrote the following email to my dear brother Kip McKean.

Dear Kip,
I remembered those 10 minutes I spent with you in Seattle [at the 2005 ICOC Leadership Conference] wanting to understand what was going on in our family of churches at that moment. You told me you were going to start another movement compelled by the Spirit of God. At that point, I wasn’t sure that was the best thing to do, but after the churches in French Africa went through the same Satanic rebellion in 2007, I understood what you meant in that room at the Seattle Conference. Almost three years have passed since I left the ICOC. Most of what has been said about you and Elena has been said about Patricia and me in a very smaller scale. But the pain and the sufferings we have been through were used by the Lord to draw us closer to His heart through countless nights of tears and grief in His purifying hands.

We survived by God’s grace and kept preaching the gospel for which I have been called. From a church [which I once led] of over 2,000 members in Abidjan, [Ivory Coast], a band of about 20 courageous disciples followed Patricia and me for the start of a new planting. We were all resolved to follow the clouds and not the crowds convinced that the church we have given our youth for was dead with politics and deceit. This was the new game played by the shepherds in the ICOC for power and influence. Without any support from men, we grew from 20 to over a hundred in two years, as well as sending out a new planting to Hiré, Ivory Coast, which now numbers 30 disciples.

I want to use this time to let you know that I am sorry for the letter I have signed against you in 2005, because I was not courageous enough to stand against the crowds. I did this against my conscience, but of this I do not blame anyone other than myself. Please forgive me brother because I have sinned against the Lord with a band of brothers who wanted to kill their “father” to take his position. We did not learn from David who understood that God hated rebellion against Saul no matter how badly Saul had treated him. I have no hatred in my heart against my former friends. In fact, I have resolved to pray for them every day begging the Lord to draw them back to once again be close to His heart.

The Lord has been gracious to my family, as recently He snatched us out of the fire of civil war in Ivory Coast, and brought us to France, our country of citizenship where we are resolved to preach the gospel. At this time, I can’t think of another captain I would like to pursue this with. I have watched you over the past three years. Your deeds speak of God’s mighty hand on you. No matter what you have been through you are still standing stronger than ever for Jesus and for His mission to see this lost world evangelize in one generation. You have proven yourself worthy to be followed as you follow Christ. Here am I in France with a burning desire to save as many souls as possible. I need you in my life. Our love to Elena.

Blaise & Patricia Feumba

After visiting the City of Angels International Christian Church on May 20-27, 2011, and then fellowshipping with the London International Christian Church from May 28-31, 2011, we – motivated only by the honor of our God – wrote the following article on The Glory Of The Second Temple.

“The glory of this present [movement] will be greater than the former [movement].” I, Blaise Feumba, was converted to Christ in 1990 in Lagos, Nigeria and soon joined our French-speaking sister church in Abidjan, Ivory Coast four months later, where my wife Patricia was baptized in 1989. God’s presence was obvious as churches in the Boston Movement (in 1994 named the International Church of Christ) all around the world were all committed to fulfilling the dream “to evangelize the nations in one generation.”

In 1991, my wife and I were called into the full-time ministry. I was appointed Evangelist in 1995 and was called to be the Geographic Sector Leader (GSL) of French West and Central Africa in 1998. The Lord blessed our ministry as in about eight years, we had reached 14 nations and grew to 22 churches with almost 3,600 disciples under our leadership. In Abidjan alone, the campus ministry grew to over 500 disciples!

As I soon found out through our different ministry trips to Africa, America and Europe, each of our churches were a group of totally committed disciples who surrendered their lives to Christ, to the apostles’ teachings, and were growing through discipling, obedience to the Word, and submission to their leaders. It was so amazing to be welcomed in any church around the world by fellow disciples as a family member. In 21 years after the start of this movement from God by Kip McKean and “the 30 would-be-disciples” in Boston, the gospel was taken to 171 nations of the world, including every nation with a city of over 100,000 in population.

As our movement was growing so fast, the leaders were pumped-up by “our” victories and successes. In retrospect, little by little we were being drawn away from God. We started fighting for position and title, became proud and arrogant, and finally led churches in rebellion against the authority and leadership of Kip McKean. Most of us were led astray during this time and a worldwide conspiracy was organized to assassinate Kip’s character and reputation. He was labeled divisive, arrogant and prideful and we were rallied to sign a letter to excommunicate him.

After we turned against our “father in the faith,” the wheel revolved and we had our flocks (congregations) turning against our leadership all over the world. Very soon Scriptural principles of church growth such as discipling, sacrificial giving, house churches, accountability and central leadership were called “unBiblical,” dismantled and replace by the Mainline Churches of Christ theology of congregational autonomy. As in the time of the judges, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” (Judges 17:6)

We soon saw what it was like to become a “group of autonomous churches,” each with a divided mind about world missions. I then had to travel throughout America to beg for finances to support our churches, as there was no longer a central leadership to call the churches to give to missions or to organize the distribution of funds.

Most of the churches turned their back on us, as they had “new priorities” for their money. Cities, such as Atlanta, where we used to meet with one church became over 10 independent churches with different agendas! We did not feel welcomed at certain places and all the congregations became lukewarm and sad. Attendances were dramatically down and rarely did we witness God’s miracle of baptisms.

After resisting for almost four years against the way of the world that had severely hit most of our fellowship around the world, the Abidjan Church finally drank the bitter cup of rebellion against God. I was wrongly accused by my fellow friends and leaders in the church, who were backed up internationally by some of those who have planted churches in Africa from the States. I stood in front of the church and confessed with tears and brokenness the sins I recognized in my leadership and life. I was sorry to have hurt God’s people with my impatience, selfishness, and lack of faith. I had made wrong judgments and bad decisions at times, but never did I “steal” church money, as I have never had a signature on any church or HOPEworldwide account. (I had been the National Director of HOPE for four years.) Any check I received was signed by those on the board and according to our policies and procedures.

At the end of our partnership with what was left of the ICOC, we received death threats from “so-called disciples.” Finally in August 2008, we were abusively fired without any severances after 18 years of full-time ministry. We were kicked-out of our house and left with no support and had to go and live in a one bedroom house with our three children at my mother-in-law’s place, who was dying from cancer. Some elders came down with the results of the audit they had commended. During a meeting with us, they freely admitted that the audit did not show any evidence of us stealing church money. We pleaded in tears for them to tell the church the results of their audit. But this request was to no avail.

The Lord used all that we went through to help us understand Kip and Elena’s situation. My people were doing to me what I had done to them. So after all these years, after I have signed the letter put up by the ICOC leaders against Kip McKean, our father in the faith, my conscience was hurting. In particular, shortly after the 2005 Seattle ICOC Leadership Conference, I saw that my weak character led me to feel pressured, so I cancelled my speaking engagement with the Montreal ICOC Church. This was due to my cowardice since I was told that I would “lose the financial support for my French-speaking churches” if I went to Montreal as they had joined Kip.

Sadly, my not going caused the Montreal Church to waiver. They chose to no longer stand valiantly for the honor of God, and in cowardice left the new movement.

I started watching Kip and Elena on internet through the Portland and later the City of Angels International Christian Church websites. I was excited to see how great they were doing in the Lord and how quickly the churches with them were growing in spite of a fierce persecution. But I took my time to let the Lord confirm if this new movement was from Him. As Gamaliel said, “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail, but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)

The civil war two months ago in the city of Abidjan was so intense as thousands were killed. As a responsible father, I had the grace of having my family rescued from the Ivory Coast’s furnace and was settling in France, when I surrendered to the Holy Spirit. After talking with my wife, I emailed Kip and apologized for signing that letter against him. The response was staggering! Literally, he called me some minutes later with joy, excitement and love!

Kip invited us to LA and what we saw confirmed to us that we have joined, not a movement of men, but the new movement of God! At the airport, we were overwhelmed by the number of leaders and disciples that welcomed us with songs of love. We stayed with different couples that poured out their hearts and loved us sacrificially.

The Sunday service was amazing! Disciples sang with all their hearts with great hymns to God! Kip’s sermon was heart-wrenching, inspiring and visionary! We witnessed eight incredible baptisms! The fellowship after service went on and on; the disciples were not eager to go home. We had tears in our eyes. Our trip to visit with the London International Christian Church confirmed again that the churches should have the same Biblical standards all over the world. Disciples and leaders alike expressed the same faith, love and commitment to evangelize the nations in this generation that we witnessed in Los Angeles.

Solomon’s temple was “baptized in gold!” Yet, the second temple was built quite modestly by a poor remnant, and in comparison to the first temple “looked like nothing.” (Haggai 2:3) Yet, Haggai preached to the remnant that “God will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and fill this house with glory.” The remnant was God’s “desired!” The Lord Almighty went on to promise, “The glory of the present house will be greater than the glory of the former house.” So too, I believe the glory of God’s new movement, though presently very modest in numbers and in finances, will be more glorious than the amazing first movement which reached 171 nations, because “we” – the “desired” of God “shaken from the nations” – have been purified in life and motive! On our way back to France, sitting in that plane, tired with “a holy fatigue,” after 12 days of a reviving faith trip, I looked at my wife and said, “Fasten your seatbelt, cause THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS BACK!” To God be all the glory!
Blaise and Patricia Feumba, 2011

Blaise & Patricia will be moving to London in late June to be full-time in the London International Christian Church! Excitingly, because of the Feumbas’ labors for the Lord in Ivory Coast, two new remnant churches have officially joined God’s new movement – Abidjan and Hiré!
Kip McKean

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Revelation 2:4-5

Cory Blackwell

As I walked into the Downtown LA Sheraton early for church that fateful Sunday morning, I heard and felt “the buzz” of fellowship… And I remembered. I sat up front and everyone lifted their voices to praise God… And I remembered. The preaching was inspirational, but uncompromising of the Scriptures and everyone was taking notes… And I remembered. The baptisms at the end of service brought me to tears… And I remembered. At the last “Amen,” no one bolted for Burger King… And I remembered. I remembered my first time visiting a discipling ministry in Chicago in 1990. I remembered my “first love” so strong at baptism on November 14, 1990. And then, I remembered “the height from which [I had] fallen.”

Cory Blackwell's NBA Star rookie card

In May of 1991, at the request of the church, I moved my family to LA. This was a very difficult decision as Chicago was my birth place, my family was there, and I had a six-figure job with a company car and all the perks. Upon our arrival in Los Angeles, we felt the same love as we had experienced in the Chicago Church. From this, I began to understand that the church of the Bible was a unified movement.

In 1992, with my mentor and friend – Kip – by my side, we started the Cross & Switchblade Ministry. Later, it was renamed the South Central Region and today it is called the Metro Heights Region. At the peak of this ministry, the Spirit had increased our number to almost 1,000 disciples. Sadly today, it has dwindled to a little more than a few hundred.

In 1994, my wife and I were honored to be appointed the Middle East World Sector Leaders. It was then that I understood my Muslim background. (Galatians 1:15) When we began this noble charge – which I believe was from God, there were only three churches in three countries: Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. Within six years, the Middle East World Sector multiplied disciples and expanded into 21 nations, which also included: Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait and Afghanistan! During these exciting days, my entire family was baptized – most moving to me were my mother and sister. Throughout the late 90’s, I saw God deliver an ever-increasing number of souls to the thirsty waters of baptism in the Middle East. However, the price was high. We were arrested, interrogated, our Bibles and passports confiscated, and a few were killed while sharing the gospel. Our suffering and labor were never in vain, for it meant the salvation of the Middle East nations! (1 Corinthians 15:58)

In the year 2000, Megan and I chose to step away from the ministry, because of the sin in our lives. My greatest sins were selfish ambition and the neglect of my family spiritually. I was neither kind nor gentle to Megan – a great sister, who worked side-by-side with me in all of these ministries. My heart was broken as God showed me my sins against the mother of my four incredible children. In 2002, Megan and I divorced.

Over the next eight years, I “drifted” further from God and His Word. (Hebrews 2:1-3) With the destructive return of our former fellowship to Mainline Church of Christ theology at the 2002 Long Beach “Unity” Meeting (which included the dissolution of the Central Leadership of World Sector Leaders) and the ensuing “Kriete Letter” in 2003, I watched helplessly as the church I loved crumbled and the faith of so many I cared for was “shipwrecked.” (1Timothy 1:19) At this historical juncture, the ICOC was no longer “moving” geographically or numerically. Therefore, the ICOC was no longer a unified movement, but merely a fellowship of autonomous congregations, who for the most part had abandoned the once distinguishing Biblical practice of discipling. (Matthew 28:20)

However, I will be forever thankful for my brothers Steve Gooch, Bill Burke, Everett Darby and Thomas Rooks for striving to keep me faithful. Even so, sin and hopelessness began to engulf my life. Going to church was so painful because I was often treated with a disdain that I did not understand. I became a nomad wandering in a spiritual desert, whose grains of sand were churches. I longed for “the living water.” (John 4:10-15)

In 2005, I met an incredible God-fearing, loving and generous woman – Charlotte. She had three tremendous sons, whom I tried to love as my own. The Lord allowed me to baptize Charlotte in one of our former fellowship’s churches in Atlanta. However, in my zeal to be married, I failed to be honest and straight forward about my radical beliefs concerning the Kingdom of God and the “narrow road” of the true doctrine of salvation. (Matthew 7:14) Sadly because of these failings, we are now in the process of divorce. Through this heart-wrenching experience, God has taught me to never shrink back from Biblical convictions and to be completely honest and completely open. We must surrender – be “sold-out” – to God’s control. For if we attempt to take it from Him, our life will be in disarray, hurting those so dear to our hearts.

That Sunday October 17, 2010, will forever be in my memory, as with the day of my baptism! I not only saw the love that only sold-out disciples have, but I felt the very grace of God. I was fully welcomed and embraced as a hurting brother, yet this joy paled in comparison to the miracle of seeing the effect on my precious 13 year old daughter. I have rarely seen her so happy. That same day during the sharing time at the Bible Talk Leaders Meeting, she actually stood up and thanked everyone for their love and the awesome message at church! She felt so pulled-in by the campus and teen sisters.

A week later, I attended the Sunday Service of the Campus and Teen Retreat in Palm Springs. Chris Broom spoke and I will forever remember his statement, “There must be a distinguishable difference between God’s Church and a lost world.” In only two services, I witnessed four baptisms. I had not seen that many in the last eight years. I cried, because God had let me see His power once again.

Cory, as the World Sector Leader for the Middle East, preaching in the Garden of Gethsemane just outside of the walls of Jerusalem in 1997!

The ultimate purpose of this open letter is to invite everyone that has ever served side-by-side with me in the Lord’s work to be a Berean and to “check out” for yourselves God’s new movement – the SoldOut Discipling Movement! Since God’s will in every generation is for “all men to be saved, and to come to a knowledge of the truth,” then for me and for you, the dream never dies! Join me, as I so look forward to serving in the new South Central Region of the City of Angels Church, and if the Lord wills, the Middle East again! And to God be the glory!

Cory Blackwell

Raja and Debs, who lead the church in India, will be visiting the Chicago church in May 2010. Please enjoy the following good news from their ministry and consider donating to our world missions collection April 25th, which will support the church in India.

Thomas, a disciple from our sister church in India, had decided to go on a fast and it was the second day of his fasting, which was a Saturday. He took another brother, Johnson, along with him to evangelize. They decided not to go to the usual place but to go to a park nearby. As they entered the park, they saw a guy jogging. They stopped him and invited him to the church. He said ”I’m perfect, I’m from the RSS and I’m not interested,” and he continued to jog. The RSS is a Hindu organization, which is strongly against Christianity and conversions.

They went further inside and Johnson noticed a person sitting on a bench. They invited him and shared their faith. They also shared how they were sinful in the past and how God had changed their lives. This person’s name was Rajesh. Rajesh had just completed his engineering degree and was doing his Industrial Automation Course. He was interested to know about God when all of a sudden, they saw the same RSS person approaching them, along with four other people. When Thomas saw them coming, he was scared and thought they were going to get beaten up by these people. They inquired of Rajesh what the conversation was about. Rajesh told them that it was just a regular, normal talk. Then they asked Thomas and Johnson, what were they talking about. They told them that they were inviting Rajesh to church. On hearing this they started shouting and warning the brothers not to invite anybody inside the park. Immediately Rajesh told Thomas, ”Come, let us go out to discuss more.”

So they went out of the park and started talking. Rajesh wanted to know which denomination they belonged to because there are so many churches. They shared about their life style as a Christian and how they now live life 100% committed to God. They also told him that when they met the RSS person, they could have given up inviting people inside the park and gone somewhere else to invite. This made Rajesh think.

The next day, Rajesh came to church. Bible studies were done with him and in two weeks he got baptized into Christ.

The brothers encourage Rajesh before his baptism.

Thomas, Rajesh (centre) and Priyan rejoice after the baptism.

That Saturday, when the brothers had met Rajesh, it was the first time ever they had gone to the park. Amazingly it was also the first time Rajesh had come to the park. Rajesh was into smoking, drinking and sexual sins. He came and sat down thinking about what was going to happen to his future! Our God was at work and his life changed.

Later, when Thomas asked Rajesh whether he saw any difference in them , Rajesh told them that the invitation card impressed him as it had no pastor’s name on it. Rather he was pleasantly surprised that it had Jesus name printed on it.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” Psalm 73:1-2.

Marc Hill Decides to Act on Jesus' Great Commission

I want to renew my purpose as a disciple and a worker for God, giving people God’s Word. Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20 have commissioned me to go into the world, make disciples, baptize them, and to teach them to obey everything that Jesus commanded. My purpose is not to make graphic design. My purpose is to fulfill this Great Commission!

Being in Cincinnati for the weekend I had the opportunity to watch the sermons that were held at the global leadership conference in LA (through the Internet). I was inspired by Chris Broom’s message. I was reignited with the fire to live out the Great Commission and make things happen in our movement. I want to focus forward and make disciples and bring others into life-changing Bible studies.

I’m sick of dreaming of being a graphic designer; I want to be a full-time worker for the Lord. How am I going to do this? I’m going to take myself out of the picture. What do I mean by this? I’m going to seek lots of advice. I’m going to take ownership of things that matter, like helping my friend at school who I’m studying the Bible with and see that he becomes a disciple. What I want to do differently is to keep on eating the food of God.

Frankly, I have made some disciples but have fallen short in teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded. It’s about me keeping the commitment. The two disciples that God allowed me to make this past year are still faithful, but I have used the excuse of having different schedules as justification for hardly being involved in their lives anymore. I know that such thinking is wrong, and I plan to change! I may not see them every day, but I can still encourage and disciple them on issues as needed. If this friend of mine from school makes it into the kingdom, I plan to make it my purpose (as the scripture commands) to teach him to obey Jesus as well as make him a disciple.

One of the greatest calls we have is to make disciples. There is no more meaningful purpose for man: not being a designer, a writer, a social worker, etc. Nothing is more important than loving God and making disciples.

Having had a great trip to Cincinnati, I was able to study the Bible with my sister and mother. Love being the goal, I must keep up with them and encourage them to make the decision to become disciples of Christ.

For me, this is a step higher, because in the past, I had focused on simply sharing my faith in hopes that someone will come out to some spiritual activity in the church. What if we have the whole Matthew 28:18-20 scripture in mind, planning to teach someone to obey as well, once we have led him to the waters of baptism? I think for me, teaching to obey needs to be included more in my understanding of Jesus’ Great Commission, and I thank God for such a wonderful and fulfilling plan.