CENTRAL CAMPUS MINISTRY

NOVEMBER CALENDAR

2010-11-18T14:57:00.000-08:00

FIRE Fall Retreat

2010-10-11T22:43:00.001-07:00

October Calendar

2010-10-02T12:06:00.001-07:00

September Calendar

2010-09-07T17:01:00.000-07:00

August Calendar

2010-08-04T18:28:00.001-07:00

Correction: Friday devotionals are at 8pm.

James Our New Brother in Christ

2010-07-25T20:27:00.001-07:00

On July 23rd, James became our brother in Christ. He attends Cal State LA, and we are so excited to have a new Golden Eagle among us- who is also known for his golden heart. Welcome to the family James!

Psalm 23 carried a lot of impact for him:

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Park Services

2010-07-25T20:26:00.004-07:00

How I love nature- it really helps me connect with God by worshiping him amongst the sound of trees and the smell of flowers, and having a communion potluck! Marty did a great lesson on friendship- so who are your friends? Because we can't always chose family, but we can choose our friends! It's not easy though, Jesus had twelve close friends and still lost one, so lets not expect ourselves to be better than Jesus. Let's be wise in choosing our friendships! Scriptures used: Prov 13:20, 14:7, 22:24-25, & 1Cor 15:33.

Brittany Baptized!

2010-07-25T20:26:00.003-07:00

On June 16th, Brittany became our sister in Christ! She had been studying the bible and decided to go through the studies again to make sure her convictions were solid before committing the rest of her life to God. Now she is excited for what lies ahead! She has just graduated from High School and will be attending PCC- welcome to our new sister and Lancer!

Beach Devotional

2010-07-25T20:26:00.001-07:00

Summer fun at the beach can be both memorable and spiritual! Many of us joined together with disciples from Santa Clarita and other areas to make smores and play sports under the sunset. We also had a great lesson about God's promise, telling Abraham "I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore..." (Genesis 22:17) How long would it take you to count the grains in even a handful of sand? Probably all day, but the whole seashore? Abraham was still willing obey God's command to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, and God stopped him right before he brought the knife down. In the same way, sometimes God gives us his blessings only after we show we are willing to sacrifice them for him. And in the same way, how much more are we grateful when we truly see things as a gift from God, rather than an expectation we're entitled to? God really knows how to ensure that we will find joy in our blessings- and the gifts of beautiful beaches and summer sunsets were definitely enjoyed this summer!

Happy Fourth of July

2010-07-25T20:24:00.001-07:00

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." -Galatians 6:1

Chelsea's Baptism

2010-07-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Chelsea! On June 27th, many friends and family came out to witness the rebirth a young woman who many of us have watched grow up- into a disciple of Jesus Christ! Chelsea has made many sacrifices to reach this point- and we are so proud of her and excited to see what God has in store for her at Citrus College this fall :)

Luther Baptized!

2010-06-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

Luther had been visiting the church for a few months and carefully giving God more and more of his heart. Many men sat down with him to show him God's word and will for his life, including John M., Marcel, Marty, Brian, Nick, Robert, and Josh... they and many others celebrated a victory as Luther was baptized, committing his whole heart and life to God on Sunday, June 6th in a pool a few blocks from church! Luther will be transferring to Marist College in in NY this fall as a sophomore. Say hi to the Markowskis for us Luther, and to God be the glory!

June Calendar

2010-05-24T20:27:00.001-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!

2010-05-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our recent graduates Shenay, Yaminah, Marie, and Cy!
We had one CSULA graduate: Shenay with a M.S. in Nutrition, and three USC graduates: Yaminah with a Master's in Chemical Engineering, Marie with a B.A. in Theatre & Communication, and Cy with a B.A. in Business Entrepreneurship.
We all gathered together for a cookout to celebrate the perseverance and hard work of our academic leaders- whom have attained what we all aspire to attain one day! They received gift bibles to say congratulations and thank you for your fine examples and inspiration.

CJ's Visit

2010-05-11T13:15:00.003-07:00

Our brother CJ was called to serve in the Korean army for a mandatory 2 years halfway through his junior year at USC. He recently was given a few days of vacation, and was able to visit his spiritual family here in the United States! A huge group of people went to celebrate his Welcome & Farewell Party at the all-american Pink's hot dog stand! We received great news that he is ranked #1 on his base, and will be returning permenantly this December! To God be the glory CJ!

FAREWELL MARKOWSKIS!

2010-05-11T13:15:00.001-07:00

On May 8th, a Farewell Party was held in honor of our Campus Leaders John and Arlene Markowski. People gathered from near and far celebrate and bid their final farewells to our dear friends! The Central Campus Ministry was able to give them t-shirts with a group picture printed on them, & compact note cards filled with designs, scriptures & and encouraging words to remember us by! There were more gifts, slideshows, videos and sharing to appreciate the impact their love, zeal and passion for the Kingdom has had over the past years. And, we knew they would accept as much encouragement as possible before embarking on a big, new mission field: New York City!

You can visit their Manhattan blog to read their personal farewell:
http://markowskisinmanhattan.blogspot.com/

Your much zeal and passion is an inspiration for us! Farewell Markowskis! We love you!

Melina & Marie Our New Sisters in Christ!

2010-05-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

On April 30th, 19-year-old Melina washed all her sins away in a fountain at USC after a Friday devotional. She had been studying the bible with P'lar and Erika for a couple months. Hopping with excitement, they witnessed her Good Confession that Jesus is Lord and her adding to God's Kingdom!

May 8th was USC Junior Marie's 21st birthday! But even more glorious was her decision to make it the day of her rebirth into a new life as a Woman of God and our sister in Christ! Congratulations to both of our new sisters!

REFUGE

2010-05-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

On Friday April 16th the North, Orange County and Central Campus ministries packed their sleeping bags and tents and headed to Castaic Lake for a three day REFUGE from the business and chaos of the city life. We all pitched our tents on a grassy plateau overlooking a lake that mirrored the sunset. We spent our evenings singing and praying around a bonfire, and our days in pure fellowship with God and one another, all the while surrounded by the beauty and love in
God's nature.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" -Psalm 91:1-2

May Calendar

2010-04-28T12:39:00.001-07:00

EASTER: All About the Bunny

2010-04-07T16:11:00.000-07:00

What does the general public believe Easter is all about anyway? Let this be an inspiration to share with people what it is Easter is REALLY ABOUT! We all gathered together in Glendale at 10am to Celebrate the good news of Easter starting with this teaser, making us even more grateful to know the truth.

April Calendar

2010-03-31T16:25:00.001-07:00

SHRINE SERVICE

2010-03-13T21:16:00.000-08:00

Opened in 1910, this Los Angeles landmark for huge events has hosted Oscars, Grammies, Emmies and the like. For several years now, the historic Shrine Auditorium has also been home to a Sunday church service a couple times a year for the LA Church of Christ. Next Sunday on March 21st at 2pm we'll be home again, literally across the street from USC, to worship God together. We look forward to seeing you there.

MARCH 2010 calendar

2010-03-03T22:18:00.000-08:00

DODGEBALL DEVOTIONAL

2010-02-20T21:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the IE for inviting us for a great time of prayer, dodgeball & fellowship!

VALENTINE'S DAY ENCOURAGEMENT

2010-02-14T16:50:00.000-08:00

It was the sisters turn this year after the brothers had raised the bar last year doing a week-long, gift-packed extravaganza of encouragement. The sisters went above & beyond & raised the bar even higher for the bros next year. We were served appetizers in the foyer, escorted in to the refurnished, fully decorated youth room of the Glendale church building, served a beautiful Caribbean-inspired meal, were entertained with a skit, video and a re-written version of MY GUY! On behalf of the brothers of the campus ministry, you reminded us of how deep and wide is God's love for us.

BJay Baptized

2010-02-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

By the time BJay had been to Robert's, Devin's & Vero's baptisms, he was ready himself! Devin's close friend of 8 years was cleansed in the angry tide of the Pacific last night in stormy weather. I guess some force was needed to wash all that sin away? 25 students wouldn't miss it...they came in an army of umbrella herds huddled together escaping as many rain pellets as possible. We are so proud of BJay & his decision to honor God for the rest of his life!

OCCIDENTAL MISSION TEAM

2010-02-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Erika, the army of one, came down from U-DUB country to follow greats like Barack Obama to Occidental College. Mission focused, she fasted, prayed & shared her faith to find her first compadre. After months of reaching out all over the campus, God revealed something amazing right under Erika's nose; her own dorm mate, Vero, would be the one; or, I should say, two. Friday night, Vero was accompanied by 20 students & both sides of her family as she was baptized just north of the Santa Monica Pier. Now, a team of 2, we pray many blessings on Erika & Vero.

February Calendar

2010-02-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY

2009-12-28T10:21:00.000-08:00

2 USC Sophomores Baptized in 11 days

2009-12-24T18:08:00.001-08:00

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.

Christmas Worship Service

2009-12-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

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!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-20T23:37:00.000-08:00

What Happens in Vegas...

2009-12-20T21:37:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-20T20:19:00.000-08:00

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.

Москва

2009-12-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

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.
мы вас любим.

December Calendar

2009-11-29T21:33:00.000-08:00

In the Eagles Nest

2009-11-03T22:34:00.000-08:00

We welcome a strong, smart & sacrificial woman into our fellowship today. Sheney declared "Jesus is Lord" & was baptized tonight after studying the bible diligently for the last 5 months. During that time, she would drive an hour & a half just to make it to midweek services & church sometimes. CONGRATS & WELCOME!!

So Why Are Spiritual Relationships So Awesome!?

2009-11-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

All throughout the New Testament, we read about the lives of the disciples who followed Christ, and we notice, they were never alone! Why is that? Because it is part of God’s plan, and it just makes sense!

So why are spiritual relationships so important?

- It is Jesus’ command for us and what defines a Christian, to love one another with the standard that Jesus loved us (John 13:34-35)
- So that we can get open with our lives through confession and prayer (James 5:16)
- For accountability (Colossians 1:28, Ephesians 4:25)
- Gaining a heart of giving and denying ourselves (Luke 9:23-25)
- Because together we get closer to God (1 John 1:3)
- Spiritual counseling and training (2 Timothy 3:16)
- So we can pray for each other (Philemon 4-5, Ephesians 6:18)
- Others see your relationships and it can “speak to them” (1 Timothy 4:16)
- Getting advice (Proverbs 15:22, 12:15)
- Convenience when you need a helping hand (Acts 2:42-45)
- Because we have a common bond in Christ (Acts 2:44, Philemon 6)

What else can you come up with?
- To learn new things and skills
- For pure enjoyment and fun, doing the things you love with others
- Building friendships for life- even finding that “other half!”

November Calendar

2009-10-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

FOOD in NOVEMBER

2009-10-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

Jesus said "I have food you know nothing about..." Whether it was a wedding feast, a parable about fruit, or a mass miracle for a bunch of hungry people, our Lord seems to constantly be talking about FOOD. Traditionally, November is a month that America seems to center around that theme as well. For the first 3 fridays of the month leading up to the Thanksgiving the Central Campus will be doing its own mini-series on food. Nov. 6th: FOOD 4THE SOUL: Brian Tan leads us in an investigation of spiritual eating. Nov. 13th: FOOD 4THE BODY: NIck Garcia puts his Nutrition degree to use as he teaches us about how to properly care for our temples. Nov.20th: FOOD 4 OTHERS: Yaminah Jackson & her Community Outreach team will set us up to prepare meals for the homeless to be delivered the next morning.

FALL CAMPUS RETREAT: "CRAVE"

2009-10-29T00:15:00.000-07:00

450 campus disciples & 150 friends met at the intersection of whole-hearted searching & Holy Spirit in Magic Mountain country this past weekend. The campus band rocked the Hyatt ballroom with worship from a variety of musical genres: rock, reggae, R&B, rap, old spirituals & even older hymns. Gainesville's Troy & Kim Chris came loaded with faith and Spirit-led messages that cut straight to the heart. 2 students gave their lives to Christ & were baptized in the Hyatt pool and many more are on their way. In the Central we were amazed at what God did in our women's ministry: our 16 bold sisters had 18 guests at the retreat!

OCTOBER calendar

2009-10-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

MACHO NACHOS: Campus Fundraiser

2009-09-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

The Campus Ministry was amazed by the support & generosity of the Central Region. We raised $850 for our Fall Retreat coming up in October. Everyone was warm & well-fed with Macho Nachos, drinks & cupcakes. THANK U!

SEPT 2009

2009-08-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Please remember our big fundraiser on the 27th!

FRIDAY @ THE BEACH

2009-08-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:6

RUN THE RACE

2009-08-22T01:10:00.000-07:00

The life of a disciple of Jesus is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires the same discipline, commitment, purpose and grit that an Olympian would train with in preparation for the games. Paul reminds the church in Corinth, and us, of this truth.

Chris is a disciple who runs track at his university. He also plays football. Doctors told him he tore his MCL at practice on Tuesday afternoon in what looked like a career-ending injury. Wednesday night the whole campus ministry prayed for healing in Chris' knee and that God would reveal HIs will to Chris through this situation. At the same time about 20 miles east of the prayer Chris was getting a second opinion from a specialist. After a thorough examination, this doctor said his MCL was only sprained and that it looked like he would run again. God is good.As a young man, Leve spent a lot of time running from things. When he got away, he started running towards other things. Leve runs on the track team at his university now. More importantly, he's been spending this last year running towards God...and he's found what was waiting for him. He made the decision to make Jesus Lord of his life and was baptized August 21 in the waters of the Pacific.

What are you running from?

What are you running towards?

Our prayer is that we can make it to the finish line of this amazing spiritual race we're running. We may cross bloodied, bruised and beat-up, but we'll finish. We hope you'll join us as we run.

IF THE SPIRIT MOVES YOU

2009-08-20T23:11:00.000-07:00

John studied the bible to become a Christian for months. He decided there were things in his life he just couldn't say "good bye" to and he vanished. A couple months later he shows up on our doorstep, ready to do whatever it takes. God had prepared his heart. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. Mark 4:27

SPORTSDAY

2009-08-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

Come join in the fun, food & fellowship on AUGUST 30th!

HOPE Play Day

2009-08-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hey Brothers and Sisters!

We have an awesome opportunity to serve and have fun this weekend! This Saturday from 10:00am - 1:00pm at Shadow Oak Park in West Covina, HOPE worldwide is going to be hosting a fun day for kids from ages 5 - 14. Everything will be included for the kids, even lunch. All they have to do is show up and have fun! Activities will include kickball and a water war. This is an awesome event to bring out families that you know of who just need a day off and to spend time with their kids. It is also an awesome way for us to serve and be a role model or big brother/sister to the younger kids. (Maybe even help us recapture a childlike heart!) Hope to see you all there!

The address for the park is:

2121 Shadow Oak Dr.
West Covina, CA 91792

If you have any questions feel free to contact me!
Brian Tan
Central Region HOPE Coordinator
(626) 476-6309

check out footage of recent HOPE work: CLICK HERE

I C M C | Here Am I. Send Me! "SO THE WHOLE WORLD WILL KNOW"

2009-08-09T22:59:00.000-07:00

There are hardly words to express what kind of life-changing weekend those of us who have attended the International Campus Ministry Conference just had. We lift our hands to our Lord and thank Him for blessing us with opportunities like these to change, to grow and to take the message of Christ out so THE WHOLE WORLD WILL KNOW.

CHECK OUT LIVE STREAMING MEDIA FROM THE CONFERENCE! CLICK HERE

Talents for God!

2009-07-30T08:57:00.001-07:00

Hey Central Campus!

Last Friday's devo was in fact a spiritual movie set- no kidding! Yep, it was our second day of shooting, but it perfectly worked out as a night to hang, eat some food, and play games. We turned our normal meeting place into a cafe (in this picture Tia is a waitress helping the main character Joey (Roden) pick something to drink).

I want to thank everyone one for coming out last night and helping in different areas. I was again so thrilled to see this little campus ministry film about "sharing your faith" come together, and only because everyone played a role. Whether you helped by setting up, bringing food or music, using your artistic talents or serving in other ways, it couldn't have been such a fun success without you. And of course, thank you to the actors (yes even the extras) for providing their talent too- you guys were so natural in the roles you played. : )

So far, we have had the help of three cameramen- Ray, Erik, and Daniel. Thanks guys for your expertise! It was great too to see all our friends come out and even participate- some on such short notice too! I hope everyone enjoyed themselves.

Well, I'll talk to you soon and thanks again!- Marie

P.S. I looked at the scenes and they are pretty good! We got some great bloopers too didn't we... I can't wait until we are done- we likely only have one day left of filming, and those details are TBA. We can probably post the finished product right here on the blog sometime next month...

AUGUST

2009-07-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

1 John 2:15-17

2009-07-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

JULY Calenader

2009-07-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

Free Summer Fun in the City of Angels

2009-06-05T21:13:00.000-07:00

The summertime can be a time of unwise spending, both of time and money. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to be good stewards of that which God so generously gives (our daily hours and bread) so that there will be a profit to our labor (Luke 12:41-48). So let's not squander our summer brothers and sisters on selfish couch-warming or expensive outings. Instead there's a lot to choose from in L.A. that could open doors to meet new people, build memories with our spiritual family and keep the cash in the pocket!

So here's a few ideas for free/next to free activities/events for the summer:
(also, feel FREE to use this list to plan fun dates)

http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx?state=CA (free family movies)

http://www.amctheatres.com/smc/movies.html ($1 only family movies)

http://www.lacountyarts.org/free_June09.html (tons of free music/performances)

http://www.musiccenter.org/events/aa_frintsing.html (free sing-a-longs)

http://www.musiccenter.org/events/aa_dancedowntown.html (dance lessons)

http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/summersounds.cfm (check out the rightside of the site FREE REHEARSALS)

http://www.experiencela.com/Spotlight/current_freemuseumdays.htm (check the respective websites for parking fees)

http://www.experiencela.com/Adventures/MA_AllFarmersMarkets_0.asp (you'll need to bring some $ to the markets)

http://www.rgcshows.com/RoseBowlFleaMarket/tabid/52/Default.aspx (you can always window shop the flea market)

PCC Courier News: Profile of a Disciple

2009-06-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

Courier

May Calendar

2009-05-14T12:33:00.001-07:00

Spirit(s) In Action

2009-04-27T09:49:00.001-07:00

USC sponsors an annual program on campus called "Spirits in Action." Similar to the Special Olympics, over 300 athletes with physical and mental disabilities are invited to compete and enjoy games, sports and activities alongside a volunteer "buddy," usually an SC student, who's only job is to encourage their athlete. Several of our students became buddies on Saturday and spent the day guiding, helping and cheering on their athletes. In the midst of hundreds in attendance, these disciples seem to glow with contentment doing what they do best. Clearly, it was the Spirit in Action, the one and only Holy Spirit, on campus this past weekend at USC working to spread Christ's selfless love to a hurting world.

PSALMS made PERSONAL

2009-04-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

going through Fee & Stuart's "How to Read the Bible for All its Worth" every wednesday with the campus has become a spiritually rich, deep quality and sacred time we all look forward to each week. this last week we did psalms and learned all the different literary techniques/genres used to express emotion to the Lord. This friday we wrote our own. We picked a few, turned off the lights, pulled out the guitar/bass/bongos and expressed our hearts to God on the altar of humility. What an inspirational night!pic by Alex D.

April Calendar

2009-04-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

CJ UPDATE: our USC brother completes 2 months in Korean Army

2009-03-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!!! Finally I got enough time to write something to youguys!!!
well I don't know where to start lol and it's very difficult to write in english ......my english is getting worse lol nah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I started my army service on Feb 3.(I have to make sure of this, i didn't cry when i went in... okokok?lol)
I went to boot camp for 5weeks... !!
It was very intense.... very very.. lol I will tell you guys more details about this later... it's very very interesting lol
Interesting thing is they had the chruch in boot camp. and I got to go there twice a week! and they gave us delicious chocolate.... well I didnt' go there for that but you know.... why not lol. and their lesson was good!!
so right after boot camp, I moved to this base. S. korea and N korea boarder is only one hour far from my base.!!!! but it's not that dangerous..thanks God!
For next 2 years I will be working as an engineer who makes bridge well i don't actually make it, i just connect the big iron thingy... lol I don't know how I got this job, but it seems very interesting.
I'm learing so many things here!!!! I would like to share with youguys, but i'll keep those for my next notes!
I'm doing great here,but i still need youguys' prayer!! so please pray for my health and my faith !!!
I lost some weights here but i'm eating a lot!!! A lOT A LOT lol so i guess i'll gain weight anytime soon.
I miss you guys so much!!! some times i imagine youguys having midweek, bibletalk and church service. i can't wait to see youguys!!
oh and if youguys want to send me some latters or something delicious..(let me make sure i eat a lot lol)
this is my add

경기도 연천군 전곡읍 전곡리 전곡 우체국 사서함 5호 9558부대 906 도하중대 486-903
이병 정유성 (Seoul, Korea)

you don't need to put the add in english but make sure to put Seoul Korea in english.~~~

I miss youguyys sososososo much!! I love youguys and I'll pray for youguys!!!!

WATER

2009-03-17T08:38:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Justin & Yaminah!! Justin had grown up in the church and then, at age 14, decided to take another path than the one laid out for him. After a journey unparalleled by most, Justin decided he could no longer live without Jesus as Lord of his life. Just before his parents baptized him he's quoted as saying "hold me down a long time, hold me down." He wanted to be sure that the old was gone and the new is come. Yaminah is a 1st year chemical engineering masters student at USC. Alejandra (Alex) is a 1st year undergrad straight out of the teen ministry. Alex & Gina were sharing their faith on campus when Alex met Yaminah, out of breath because she had to run to catch up, Alex invited her to a bible study. 5 weeks later Yaminah said "it's time to change."

Night of Praise: Campus & Singles

2009-03-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

March Calendar

2009-03-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day: Special Brothers Dance for the Sisters

2009-02-21T20:14:00.000-08:00

Brothaz from Anotha Motha

2009-02-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

Derick, Nick & Andrew rolled in last week in the middle of an 8 month spiritual college road trip visiting campus ministries across the nation. We had an incredible fellowship with them and appreciated how giving they were to us here in the central. We missed Nick at midweek as he was the victim of a dog attack....but the stitches were healing by Saturday and he looked great at the Valentine's dance. They're headed north from here and will be in Utah by the middle of March. Maybe we'll see them again at the University of Utah during Cal State's Spring Break. Check out immanuelbymile.com to find out all the details.

09Valentine's

2009-02-14T12:26:00.000-08:00

This has been a week of encouragement: every day this week the brothers have doused our beloved sisters with roses, letters of
encouragement, music, candles, chocolates and now an invitation to a special Valentine's engagement this Sunday afternoon.

SOLDIER 4 CHRIST

2009-02-03T17:44:00.001-08:00

Campus-Teen Ministry Annual Football Tournament

2009-02-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

Warriors walked onto the wet turf of Cal Poly Pomona last Saturday as the sun rose to embark upon an annual journey that only the bravest of souls will take. We were a little smaller than the competition. But like David, with the bear or the lion or a giant, we overcame the odds and fought with every last ounce of strength. If it wasn't for a close loss to the South region in our first game we would've protected a perfect record. With wins over the West, the Inland Empire and Metro LA, your Central Region Campus & Teen Ministry Flag Football team fared well in this annual competition. As champions of the consolation bracket, just a touchdown off the leaders, we thank our faithful fans for their endless support and give God our gratitude for no major injuries and an unforgettable day of memories.

The Walls of USC!

2009-01-30T02:28:00.000-08:00

In the narrative of the "Fall of Jericho" in Joshua 6, it talks about how Joshua and the people marched around the city of Jericho everyday for six days until the seventh day when they walked around seven times and then shouted causing the walls to collapse, giving the city over to the people. What must they have thought doing this and thinking that the hard, stone walls of this city would fall simply from such things as walking as shouting. It was all beautiful faith...

So last week (Jan. 20th-26th), Cy, Gina, Alex R. and I walked around USC everyday at 6:30 and prayed. (It takes 40 minutes to walk around the campus). It was a great time of bonding, of getting close to God, of sacrifice (who needs sleep), and putting our faith into action- praying for those on campus who are open and seeking God.

Here are some of the things we prayed about on our walks:

What we are grateful for
The people we've met who are learning about the Bible and God
Overcoming our distractions
What we are tempted with
What we need to work on and confess
Our relationships with one another
Our whole ministry family (yeah everyone!)
Those who give us direction and guidance in our walks with God
Each other
And our visions for the ministry at USC!

It was an awesome experience, and though we forgot to SHOUT after the seventh walk (Ahhhhhhh!... There we go...), God is still working and doing amazing things at USC.

Amen and Fight On!

LA Campus Valentine's Day Party

2009-01-24T10:14:00.000-08:00

ICMC / 2009 / LOS ANGELES

2009-01-21T14:43:00.000-08:00

The Justins

2009-01-16T20:38:00.000-08:00

Felix & Jill will be moving up to Santa Clarita next week. They have been hired by the North region to lead the teen ministry there. We are so proud of what God has done with them over the years of spiritual growth they've had here in the Central. This last year presented the deepest pain and most severe obstacles they've ever faced in their journeys as disciples. However hard Satan tried, they stood firm and refined by trial and pain. Like Job, they've gone the gamut emotionally but have held on to the promises of the Word. We send them off with the confidence of God's will, the joy of our friendship and the hope of much fruit in the years to come!

Join us for the Jill & Felix Farewell Shindig at the Markowskis. info in flyer below

.

2009-01-16T20:36:00.000-08:00

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

2009-01-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

Cal State Adds Kraig to the Campus Ministry

2009-01-05T09:51:00.000-08:00

Faith That Overcomes

2009-01-04T22:22:00.000-08:00

Gina Erazo

Faith is fundamental and highly valued in our daily walk with God. But not just any kind of faith, God requires us to have faith that trusts completely since he is in control of every aspect of our lives.

Genesis 15:1-6
It is easy to jump to conclusions and “think” that we know what God is trying to do in our lives. Most of the time we are wrong and find ourselves humbled by God because his plans are much greater than ours. Abram thought that a servant in his household was going to be his heir. God’s plan was much greater! God promised him something outrageous and impossible. Without asking questions, Abram trusted and believed. God directed his life from then on.

Proverbs 3:5-6
So many times we fail to think that the decisions we make are right. Let’s not try to take things into our hands but let God work powerfully instead. If we trust him wholeheartedly, God will direct us in the way we should go. Let us simply focus on following his Words!

Romans 4: 18-21
Let’s imitate Abraham’s faith!

Hebrews 11:1-2
Faith is to believe in something that seems impossible. God will call us to do things that make no sense and seem “sometimes” ridiculous. He does this to show his presence and power. He is the one that works to make things happen. Nothing is impossible with God (Ephesians 3:20).

A year and a half ago, I was searching for a summer internship to get experience in my field. All my classmates would spend so much time online looking for opportunities and I felt I had to do the same causing me to become very anxious. I was tempted to always fill up my free time hunting for internship opportunities. As I was praying one day, I decided to stop searching and instead just spend my time sharing my faith and helping the women in my ministry. Two weeks later I found Engineers Without Borders (EWB), an organization on campus in which students work to restore communities in developing countries. I was able to help my native country Honduras and got a lot of engineering experience too! One month later, my professor gave me a flyer with a summer internship opportunity that described exactly what I wanted to do. Without much effort, I applied and got it! God is amazing!! All I needed was FAITH!

What kind of faith do you have?
Do you trust God will works things out or do you rush to make decisions based on your own thinking?

God will direct you through prayer, scriptures and advice from wise people. Seek God’s will and be faithful.

Challenge: Search your heart and find out in what areas of your life you are not trusting God. Devote yourself to pray about it everyday and let God work—at his own timing.

“Flood” by Jars of Clay is a song about God lifting us up through the rough times in life. Follow the link to see the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grJR-7FkoWc&feature=related.

~~ And like Bon Jovi said: “Keep the Faith!”

January Calendar

2009-01-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

NEW YEAR's EVE

2008-12-27T15:49:00.000-08:00

Xmas Party with the West Region

2008-12-27T15:46:00.000-08:00

VENTURA BEACH BAPTISMS

2008-10-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

ENDLESS: Campus Retreat

2008-10-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

Join us for a weekend you'll never forget. Stretch Saturday and Sunday (Oct 25-26) into an endless time of spiritual rest and fellowship as over 400 college students gather at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in beautiful, coastal Ventura.

Another Golden Eagle Converted at Cal State LA

2008-10-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

Brian and Roden were in high school drama club together in GUAM! They lost touch over time. Brian moved to the states and attended school at CSULA. A year later, Roden moved to LA and started going to CSULA. Danny met Roden and brought him to one of our on-campus bible talks and there Brian and Roden were reunited in a moment of shock. Our God is a powerful God!!!

October: Calendar of Ministry Events

2008-10-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

JADEN's VERSION of the USC FIGHT SONG

2008-10-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

Great Dates: PURE, PROTECTED & PLANNED

2008-09-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

2 Corinthians 5:16-17
What’s the purpose of examining our dating lives? We no longer look at things from a worldly point of view. We must train ourselves to look at male-female relationships from a Godly perspective.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35
What’s our job as an unmarried Christian? To be devoted 100% to God. Take advantage (v.40)

PURE (with each other)
Married to God—“…he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1 Cor.6:17)
Your body belongs to Him
Treat your body the way he would treat it
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Rev. 21:2)
God’s example of absolute & heavenly purity is a Beautiful, Unstained Bride
“Nothing impure will ever enter it…” (Rev.21:27)
Standards of Purity--“How can one born of woman be pure?” Bildad to Job (25:4)
The World Doesn’t Believe it’s possible—let’s share our faith by showing that it CAN
Flirting—needs to be a line of respect b/w bros. & sisters
Boundaries/Too Comfortable

PROTECTED (from the world)
What’s our ultimate goal in relationships?--“…that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” (Col 1:28)
Brothers…
“Treat [the] younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” (1Tim.5:2)
Sisters getting hit on/given attention—(now, don’t give in)
Sisters…
Brothers being tempted—(now don’t give in)
Dress—Be sure to find out what you’ll be doing on the date & dress appropriately, get advice!
Attitude—It is an honor to date in the Kingdom. You must have an attitude of gratitude.
After the Date—Write a card. You should use this time to show gratitude.
Don’t forget, you might be training to be a great wife one day—don’t give yourself a bad Rep. (Prv.22:1)
“A good name is more desirable than great riches”

PLANNED
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” (Col.3:17,23)
before you ask ...
Majority of “asking” should be the brothers job//but sisters can ask too
Pray...
Be prepared... (have it planned b4 you ask her—don’t say it’s a surprise just to cover up bad planning!
Have her in mind when you ask…not what you want to do—do your research (flower she likes, food)
Budget whole date (make sure you can pay for it)
Work on Appearance, be sharp—get advice!
Work out transportation (offer gas $ or wash/vacuum car if you don’t drive)

"Word" – ‘asking for a date’
Communicate excitement to be able to spend time w/ bro/sis in Christ
Ask her in a creative way—(card, singing telegram, candygram, note in fortune cookie)
Don’t wait till 2 days b4, give at least 5-6 days notice
when you ask her out, let her know…
when and where you’re going—when she can expect to be home
who your double will be
how they should dress
Write down the info on your calendar to make sure and remember
Call during the week to confirm & encourage

"Deed" – ‘on the date’
“Work at it with all your heart”
General Advice:
This is a time of encouragement—leave your negative attitude at home
If you decide you’re going to be open about your struggles…try to get advice 1st, & tame your tongue,
(gossip, slander, crude remarks, sarcasm & venting in anger are still wrong) (speak well of others)
Remember: say only what is helpful and builds each other up—
Demonstrate Courtesy: open doors, pull out chairs, eat with mouth closed, don’t be loud and overbearing or quiet and selfish)
Encourage, praise and build up your date

Also, if something bad happens on the date—pray and be mature
So what if the restaurant was closed even though you had reservations, Big deal if you spill a little soda on your new pants
You’re a Disciple! Have a good time and roll with the punches
It’ll be a great memory—and who knows – maybe you’ll be laughing about it with the person you went out with 10 yrs from now, who just happens to be your HUSBAND OR WIFE!
Most married couples met each other in college—who knows, you might be sitting next to your future spouse?!

"In Jesus’ Name"
not for men (not even for him/her or because of him/her)
God will reward you

HELPFUL HINTS
Local newspaper (Friday’s issue), LA Times (Calendar Section)
Entertainment Book, Coupons in Paper
Do more creative & active things rather than movie/video dates (if you do, use kidsinmind.com)

Inexpensive Date Ideas...
Hiking (Mt. Hollywood, Eaton Canyon, Sleepy Hollow)
Beach Dates (Volleyball, Cook Fish, Bon Fire, Rollerblading, Bike Rentals, Frisbee)
Paddleboat/Canoeing in city or county lakes
Karaoke
Kingdom Wedding
Doubles Tennis or Pool (although be careful with worldly pool halls)
Active Indoor Games (Taboo, Cranium, Pictionary, Gestures, Charades, Nertz) Make up a game
Walk on local pier, enjoy surroundings, ice cream
Quiet parks (Lacy, Griffith), Gardens, Observatories, Arboretums (San Anita, Descanso, Huntington)
LA hole in the wall coffee shops, bookstores (Xian Section), bistros, cafes
(Sweet Lady Jane’s, Busters, Anastasia’s Asylum) Look for Free Live Music too
(Finding places where disciples are working is encouraging for both—leave big tip)
Pizza Party—brothers bring dough, sauce & cheese & sisters supply toppings
Museums (Pasadena, Downtown, Getty)
Window Shopping (3rd Street, Old Town, The Grove, Fashion Is., Spectrum, Balboa Is.)
College Sports Events (Volleyball, Basketball, Football, Soccer)
Make your own cards
Take train or bus (during daytime is probably better)
Try Theme Dates: Beatles, Cowboy, French, Game Show (Millionaire), Bible Characters

CAMPUS RETAINS DANCE-A-THON CROWN

2008-09-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Cosmo & P'lar!

SEPT Calendar

2008-09-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

Tia Baptized

2008-09-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

God works in wild ways sometimes. Marie met Tia on campus at PCC over the summer. Only after she started studying the bible did Marie realize that Tia was P'lar's cousin! The baptism was a true miracle as we witnessed the whole extended Miller family coming together in unity to support Tia's decision.

7 WOES / part 1 / AUG 31

2008-09-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/678049

August Calendar

2008-08-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

When Eagles Fly

2008-07-24T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Cal State LA Golden Eagles have witnessed two miracles this past week as Salote and Nick made Jesus their Lord.

We remind all of our young Christians what Paul reminded Timothy: "...continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from INFANCY you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

LET'S GO TO FRESNO

2008-06-30T23:55:00.000-07:00

Acts 2:42 [ The Fellowship of the Believers ] They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

About 30 of us packed up Friday morning to make the 3-hour tour up to Bulldog country. Made up of mostly campus interns, our crew was young, zealous and ready to give our hearts to this church and this city.

Danny couldn't wait to share his faith at Fresno State. I was still trying to figure out campus parking when he had met a 3rd year, advertising major named Miguel. Miguel had already started his car to leave campus for the day when we invited him to come back to campus and study the bible. He said yes, turned off his car and trekked back to the middle of campus, studied the bible for an hour and decided he wanted to hook up with disciples in Fresno to continue studying to become a true Christian.

Robbie and I did the same with 2 sophomores. They were on their way off campus but were willing to walk back to learn about Jesus. Alvin and Everett were locked in as we studied about the calling of the first disciples. When we asked if they were ready to jump out of the boat, Alvin said "yes, I'm ready!" Many other on-the-spot bible studies were happening all weekend and several of those seekers will continue on in the coming weeks.

After sharing Friday, we had a rockin' devotional with the Central Valley Church of Christ. Three LA interns preached and the Fresno disciples swept us off our feet with their hearts and soulful singing. All of us stayed in Christian homes. Needless to say, we were grateful for the families that housed our college boys. One of the Fresno dads that hosted 6 of our brothers said everything was fine, except for the smell.

Saturday morning we had a devotional together at the visually stunning Woodward Park. Tears fell as we sang songs and prayed together; realizing how special our church fellowship is. Saturday was themed "divide and conquer" as 5 different special ops' mission teams went out to different parts of the city to share our faith and invite Fresno natives to our big worship service the next day.

Cosmo jumped on the team going to a spanish-speaking neighborhood. A man and woman stood in the doorway of one particular home as Cosmo asked if there was anything they would like for him to pray for. Before the woman could say anything, the man answered "no" for the both of them. Cosmo felt uneasy because it looked as though she really wanted to speak, but couldn't. When Sunday service rolled around the next morning, Cosmo was in awe of God to see the woman who stood silent at the door come to church, by herself. She'll be studying the bible with the sisters there.

If that wasn't enough already we had a family-style BBQ and game night with the church a the Ostrum's apartment complex Saturday night. After volleyball, basketball, swimming and frisbee we gorged on grilled chicken and hot dogs and extended this 1st-century style fellowship well into the night. In those moments in between laughs and song verses, I paused to soak in what must have been the exact same feeling our 1st century brothers and sisters felt when they devoted themselves to God, His word and one-another.

The next morning we gathered at 1009 South Hazelwood for one of the most encouraging worship services we've been apart of in a long time. About 30 of us, 50 local disciples and dozens of friends shook the foundations of that church with song, prayer and powerful preaching by Steve Stevenson. Several bible studies were set up after service, including one with Clinton, a Fresno St. fraternity house manager. Also, the sisters hosted their annual women's day event after church with special guest speaker Shonda Stevenson.

This trip was nothing short of miraculous. We pray for the Fresno church. We thank them for their outstanding hospitality. We pray for God to grow the many seeds that were planted. We pray for more church connections like the one solidified between Fresno and Los Angeles. We ask God to continue catalyzing revival in His churches around the globe.

"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us."
1 John 1:3

fresnochurch.org

laicc.net

USC GRADUATES

2008-05-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

A more racially diverse and brilliantly talented group you will be hard-pressed to find. Congrats to the grads and their families!

THIRST trailer added on sermonspice.com

2008-05-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

Disciple-made video aired first at THIRST retreat in San Diego in October 2007. CLICK HERE

You or God? Tube I Mean...

2008-04-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

So everyone has heard of YouTube, but have you ever heard of GodTube? Mind you there are videos on almost every religion claiming to believe in God or God and other Gods, and there's material from every perspective around. But there are also some great music videos if you want to learn songs and some inspirational stories. Check it out HERE!

Here are some of my favorite videos...
~ Psalm 23 (That's right! Learn that Bible verse... too cute)
~ Rapture (This one is just in your face... it's short. Watch it.)
~ Strong Tower by Kutless (Awesome worship song)
~ Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle (Beautiful song about that Cross)
~ Lifehouse Everything Skit (Probably one of the most moving and meaningful performances you will ever see... Central pulled out a version of this in March)

Now it's not close to beating that other Tube place of course... but it's worth checking out!

Central Region Women's Day

2008-04-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Almansor Court hosted hundreds of disciples and friends for our annual women's day. Special guest speaker Kay McKean from Virginia spoke on the this year's theme "The Missing Peace."

DANCING DEVOTIONAL

2008-04-26T18:49:00.001-07:00

The Campus was invited by the Latin Ministry this past Friday for a time of fellowship and SALSA DANCING! The students were pumped to have another opportunity for FUN without REGRET in the Kingdom of God!

Richard Yang Funeral (Tan Family)

2008-04-24T21:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday 3pm April 27, 2008 at Universal Chug Wah Funeral Home. 255 N. Garfield Ave, Alhambra, CA 91801. Cross Street is: Woodward and Garfield. The service will be in Chinese. Everyone is welcome. Kindly do not wear bright colors. Thank you for your prayers and support. Love, Tricia & Brian.

HERE WE COME NEW ORLEANS!

2008-04-23T22:53:00.001-07:00

Let's start saving some $$ for this!! Alex found tix for $430 and Cy is trying to organize a caravan! Anyone have any fundraiser ideas?
REGISTER HERE!