Monday, December 28, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
2 USC Sophomores Baptized in 11 days
On the cold, rainy night of December 12th, our campus ministry trekked out to the Pacific shores to see Robert baptized, a sophomore at USC. Devin, also an SC 2nd year, shared how Robert was an inspiration to him to get baptized soon. 11 days later, we were at the ocean again, just north of the Santa Monica Pier, for another miracle.
It all began with long time friends. Late night on October 23rd Annette was packing up for CRAVE, the fall campus weekend retreat. She decided to call an old friend to see if he might be interested in coming. They'd stayed in touch since he went off to USC and she to the IE. She'd become a true disciple of Christ and had recently helped another one of her old friends get baptized at UCLA. Even though it was last minute, Annette's faith was strong.
Devin did come to CRAVE...and he loved it. Exactly 2 months after that phone call and a lot of bible study, prayer and repentance, Devin was baptized into Christ on December 23rd.
When praying for male students at USC, we have a special place in our hearts for fraternity guys and athletes to become Christians. While they can easily be consumed with campus prowess and popularity, they also can learn valuable leadership skills that can be amazing assets for the church.
We praise the Lord for these two souls and hope they'll follow in the footsteps of Paul; "...He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength...At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." Acts 9:18-20.
It all began with long time friends. Late night on October 23rd Annette was packing up for CRAVE, the fall campus weekend retreat. She decided to call an old friend to see if he might be interested in coming. They'd stayed in touch since he went off to USC and she to the IE. She'd become a true disciple of Christ and had recently helped another one of her old friends get baptized at UCLA. Even though it was last minute, Annette's faith was strong.
Devin did come to CRAVE...and he loved it. Exactly 2 months after that phone call and a lot of bible study, prayer and repentance, Devin was baptized into Christ on December 23rd.
When praying for male students at USC, we have a special place in our hearts for fraternity guys and athletes to become Christians. While they can easily be consumed with campus prowess and popularity, they also can learn valuable leadership skills that can be amazing assets for the church.
We praise the Lord for these two souls and hope they'll follow in the footsteps of Paul; "...He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength...At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." Acts 9:18-20.
Christmas Worship Service
What an amazing experience to have our hearts melted by the music, stirred by the speaking and inspired by the miracles. We couldn't have asked for anything more to help us get into the true spirit of Christmas.
We tend to highlight the baby Jesus during the holidays....and rightly so. However, I wonder if we're missing out on an even more grand perspective of the miracle of Jesus' birth? That baby did grow up. He died for our sins and He raised on the 3rd day!
Sunday we celebrated 3 parts to the Christmas miracle: BORN. BURIED. BORN AGAIN.
We opened up with a rock-n-roll medley of Angels We Have Heard into Hark the Herald Angels. Then we dug into our African roots with a remixed Hail Hail Lion of Judah with a Congolese breakdown and a transition into Little Drummer Boy.
BORN. Arlene shared vulnerably about her own near-death experience as a newborn. Painting the picture of fear in a mother's heart for her baby boy, Arlene helped us understand what Mary might've gone through to attempt to understand God's perfect plan to deliver the enslaved souls of our world.
We heard a beautiful rendition of Open Thou Mine Eyes from our choral sextet and then a full-band version of O Holy Night.
BURIED. Kevin might've shared the most authentic communion testimony I've ever heard. He shared about the rebellion he staged against his privileged childhood and family, his experience as a Navy Seal, and as a violent thug and drug dealer. After 9 years in prison he was reached out to, by another inmate, was released then studied the bible and was baptized! He came into contact with forgiveness: as Jesus was buried, Kevin could be liberated from the burden of sins he had carried with him all those years. The past was buried. A hopeful future awaited: beautiful wife, adorable children who love the Lord and their family, a good job and a purpose to help others.
As we took the communion, our male, a cappella quartet sang the haunting "Mary Did You Know?"
We sang Joy to the World as we gathered our collection for the week and remembered our vision and obligations to the poor as we prepare for our HOPE DAY ON in January.
BORN AGAIN. Marty preached the gospel news of rebirth, the hope captured in the story Cy came up and told about his friend Robert becoming a Christian at USC. Marty zeroed in on "hesitation." Why wait? "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." Acts 22:16. The seeded soil was listening with baited breath and there have been 3 baptisms in the 3 days after the message.
O Come All Ye Faithful rang through the congregation as the love of Christ, the power of His Word and the Hope of this Holiday resonated deeply within our hearts. Merry Christmas!
We tend to highlight the baby Jesus during the holidays....and rightly so. However, I wonder if we're missing out on an even more grand perspective of the miracle of Jesus' birth? That baby did grow up. He died for our sins and He raised on the 3rd day!
Sunday we celebrated 3 parts to the Christmas miracle: BORN. BURIED. BORN AGAIN.
We opened up with a rock-n-roll medley of Angels We Have Heard into Hark the Herald Angels. Then we dug into our African roots with a remixed Hail Hail Lion of Judah with a Congolese breakdown and a transition into Little Drummer Boy.
BORN. Arlene shared vulnerably about her own near-death experience as a newborn. Painting the picture of fear in a mother's heart for her baby boy, Arlene helped us understand what Mary might've gone through to attempt to understand God's perfect plan to deliver the enslaved souls of our world.
We heard a beautiful rendition of Open Thou Mine Eyes from our choral sextet and then a full-band version of O Holy Night.
BURIED. Kevin might've shared the most authentic communion testimony I've ever heard. He shared about the rebellion he staged against his privileged childhood and family, his experience as a Navy Seal, and as a violent thug and drug dealer. After 9 years in prison he was reached out to, by another inmate, was released then studied the bible and was baptized! He came into contact with forgiveness: as Jesus was buried, Kevin could be liberated from the burden of sins he had carried with him all those years. The past was buried. A hopeful future awaited: beautiful wife, adorable children who love the Lord and their family, a good job and a purpose to help others.
As we took the communion, our male, a cappella quartet sang the haunting "Mary Did You Know?"
We sang Joy to the World as we gathered our collection for the week and remembered our vision and obligations to the poor as we prepare for our HOPE DAY ON in January.
BORN AGAIN. Marty preached the gospel news of rebirth, the hope captured in the story Cy came up and told about his friend Robert becoming a Christian at USC. Marty zeroed in on "hesitation." Why wait? "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." Acts 22:16. The seeded soil was listening with baited breath and there have been 3 baptisms in the 3 days after the message.
O Come All Ye Faithful rang through the congregation as the love of Christ, the power of His Word and the Hope of this Holiday resonated deeply within our hearts. Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
What Happens in Vegas...
Gina transferred to USC from the Inland Empire campus ministry in Riverside 3 years ago. Since her arrival, she has been one of the greatest sources of joy and inspiration of our lives. She excelled academically and spiritually in her time as a Trojan undergrad. Gina became a leader amongst her engineering peers and also raised up to leadership in the ministry. She received her degree in December of last year.
After graduation, Gina was offered an $80k engineering position. After much prayer, advice, fasting and deliberation, she decided instead to take a very low paying internship with the central region campus ministry. Since then her sacrifice has been richly rewarded with a treasure trove of fruit, friendship and maturity.
When the fundraised money for the internship ran out, Gina moved in with us, was hired as a part-time tutor and kept helping with the campus at Cal State LA. Her continual commitment and undying love for this ministry is unparalleled. It is because of that heart that Gina is now being hired by our sister church in Las Vegas to lead the women of the campus ministry at UNLV.
Although we will miss her tremendously and will never be able to replace her, we are proud to send her out. It is, and should be, the nature of campus ministry to convert, train and send out leaders into the church wherever the need may be. It is our biblical mandate and our spiritual legacy to raise up disciples to do even greater things than we could. Gina, go with our love and blessing. May God continue to bless your sacrifice with the desires of your heart.
Trojan Football Winding Down, Ministry Picking Up
Cy was an RA for a freshmen dorm on campus last year. He had 28 brand new, rambunctious, ambitious, lost young men in his influence. They'd come to him for advice, to mediate their conflicts, to talk them off the ledge and to be their big bro. Sometimes they'd come back to the dorm damaged; depressed because of a grade, a broken relationship or drunk from pledging beyond their means on frat row.
One of these young men was Robert, hopeful to blend right in to Troy's milieu. He'd show up at Cy's door looking for someone to talk to. Cy's door was always open and his bible was always out. Robert had many questions about the bible, started studying and coming to our combined campus services with the west at downtown's Art Share LA.
After a few months, Robert slowed down the studies to a crawl as he further invested himself in academics, frat & romantic life. Months went by. Almost a year later, now Robert's sophomore year, Cy felt the Spirit move in his heart to rekindle his friendship with Rob. As soon as they reconnected, Robert asked to start getting together regularly again to study the bible. He shared that he felt more lost and without purpose than ever before. After a few more weeks of intense study, prayer and fasting and some critical decisions even through a grueling final exam schedule, Robert was ready.
Robert was baptized on a cold, dark, rainy & windy night in the rough waves of the Pacific on December 12th.
We praise God for Robert's humility to surrender to the Lord's will and for Cy's faith that even after a year that nothing is impossible with God. Perhaps most significantly, we are impacted by their example of friendship. It is LOVE that separates Jesus-followers from the rest of the religious world. John 13:34-35. To love like Jesus loved, selfless and unconditional, makes an indelible mark on souls; an authentic impact in contrast to an often Hollywoodesque venire here in Los Angeles. THIS LOVE IS REAL. It was this love that Jesus showed 2000 years ago. It is this love that moved in Robert & Cy. It is this love that now inspires us to believe that miracles can and do happen.
One of these young men was Robert, hopeful to blend right in to Troy's milieu. He'd show up at Cy's door looking for someone to talk to. Cy's door was always open and his bible was always out. Robert had many questions about the bible, started studying and coming to our combined campus services with the west at downtown's Art Share LA.
After a few months, Robert slowed down the studies to a crawl as he further invested himself in academics, frat & romantic life. Months went by. Almost a year later, now Robert's sophomore year, Cy felt the Spirit move in his heart to rekindle his friendship with Rob. As soon as they reconnected, Robert asked to start getting together regularly again to study the bible. He shared that he felt more lost and without purpose than ever before. After a few more weeks of intense study, prayer and fasting and some critical decisions even through a grueling final exam schedule, Robert was ready.
Robert was baptized on a cold, dark, rainy & windy night in the rough waves of the Pacific on December 12th.
We praise God for Robert's humility to surrender to the Lord's will and for Cy's faith that even after a year that nothing is impossible with God. Perhaps most significantly, we are impacted by their example of friendship. It is LOVE that separates Jesus-followers from the rest of the religious world. John 13:34-35. To love like Jesus loved, selfless and unconditional, makes an indelible mark on souls; an authentic impact in contrast to an often Hollywoodesque venire here in Los Angeles. THIS LOVE IS REAL. It was this love that Jesus showed 2000 years ago. It is this love that moved in Robert & Cy. It is this love that now inspires us to believe that miracles can and do happen.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Москва
Privet (Hi)! Moscow is clasne (awesome)! It's like Manhattan (crowds, fast life, urban, expensive) & Los Angeles (traffic, spread out, major suburban commuting). There's a mix of old, historical, tall, stone-cold, communist-era buildings and then brand new state-of-the-art towers & centers of business & entertainment. Its people are impressive: tall, beautiful and confident like their buildings. It's really dark here....the sun barely shows its face around 9am and then hides behind clouds in a foggy stupor all day until 4pm when it disappears again. It's a continual cloudiness with chance of rain/snow.We arrived late Tuesday night and then went to Wed. morning staff meeting with all the church leaders. Marty preached to about 30 bros/sisters in a little church office in the southeastern corner of the city. The disciples here are amazing. Their hearts are soft, their arms embrace with warmth, their ears are perked for learning and their faces show the light of Christ. They showered Marty, Nathan and us with gifts of Russian chocolates, matrushka dolls and other goodies. Most of them don't speak english but it's fun trying and LOVE is a pretty easy vocabulary to get the hang of.
After discipling times & borsht (Russian red soup) Arlene and I spoke to the campus leaders from Daniel 12:3; what it means to be a spiritual star. We did a case study on John the Baptist with the an emphasis on how he became less for Jesus to become more. The students seemed inspired and challenged to have vision for other students in Moscow. When I asked why should you love others in their city, they were baffled. One brother responded, "Why?" They described city life here as an isolated dirge without smiles or compassion. We discovered the truth of the statement as we rode the subway with angry passengers or drove through traffic with cut-throat car-mongers. HOWEVER, we retorted with the concept that stars always shine brighter in a dark sky. The subway smiles on a disciple's face can break a bone and soften a heart. According to your faith...!!!
Got to spend time with more locals today, praying on the shores of the icy-cold Moscow River and walking the cobble-stone Kremlin edge in Red Square. Rounded Moscow State University by foot today also....home to over 100,000 students and as impressive as the main physical sciences tower is high.
Arlene and I spoke again tonight at the student midweek service. Luke recounts perhaps the greatest version of Jesus' call to talmadim/discipleship in chapter 5. Seemingly preoccupied Simon-Peter is cleaning seaweed from his nets when J is preaching to the crowds. In a flash, SP finds himself lending his boat as a pulpit. Then, in an amazing feat of radical faith, J asks the disappointed-fisher-loser to go out into deeper water to fish. Net fishing in deep water? During the day? This ridiculous rabbi?!! This crazy carpenter's son!!?? Well, you know the rest. The Russians were inspired by Jesus' willingness to have vision for someone who didn't seem interested, to never give up and to teach others the same and to share the blessings with our friends and family rather than hogging the glory. Deep into the night we fellowshipped in broken Russglish and then rolled out into the dark city traffic for the ride back.
The church in this great city is 1600 members today. It's been through a lot but it's fighting the good fight, united with us in the battle for faith and courage as it sheds light on its shadowed streets. 22 years after Perestroika, the dust of this nation may still not yet be settled....politically as well as spiritually. Natives kneel and pray on the streets 10 yards from others who throw kopecks for a change in their luck. As the seeds of the Spirit are sewn by the brave brothers and sisters here, may we do our duty and pray that God finds soft soil to plant in.
Pakah for now.
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