A View From Within

Crossing Cultures

Afghan Fellowship Christian Church of Los Angeles Please pray for the Afghan Fellowship Christian Church of Los Angeles. This is one of the few Afghan churches that has chosen to go public throughout the world. A few weeks ago after attending this church, I went with a group of Afghans for lunch. It was encouraging to sit with Afghan believers who were a positive example to the Afghan owner of the restaurant. Pray for this group of believers as they continue to learn what it means to be a living body of believers. It is our prayer that individuals and churches will come forward to strategically partner with this church. Here are some ways you can help: Pray daily for this group of believers, that they will have wisdom and courage in their own lives as well as in engaging Afghans and Muslims In the future, this church is planning to host an open house and invite other Afghans. You support outreach endeavors like this when your church supports CSBC ministries through the Cooperative Program and through giving to the California Mission Offering. Pray for this church as they seek to find a facility that is in a more central location. Thank you for your support and prayer. If you would like to partner with the Afghan Fellowship Christian Church of Los Angeles please send an e-mail at wubba80@yahoo.com.

 

Looking Forward

In a few days, 2011 will become a part of history. It was truly a very challenging year for so many. It was also a year of great blessings in the lives of a great number of people. There is nothing we can do to correct the injustices of yesterday. Often I meet people who were so damaged by the issues of yesterday, they find it extremely difficult to move forward.

2011 can teach us many things, such as families drawing closer together in hard times, friends responding to urgent calls, many extending love and compassion to strangers and untold numbers living out the presence of God with actions.

2012 will be a year of great achievements. There are organizations making decisions which will change the way we minister in California. My desire is to say "thanks for the journey" and call our people to stay focused on our God who is still in control.

 

Ethnic Evangelism

California Southern Baptists have always had a passion for reaching the lost and making disciples. This is a huge state with millions without Christ. The cry of my heart has been “Every man and woman, boy and girl to hear and respond to the gospel of Christ, join a church and being learning to repeat the process over and over. 

Every year I look forward to reports of our ministry leaders. Each report is unique and impacting. Multiethnic evangelism is led by Dr. Richard Vera. 11 regional ethnic evangelism conferences were held in 2011, drawing 3,550 people. There were 19 personal evangelism training events in multiple languages with 1,671 in attendance. An army of language culture saints continuing the task of reaching the lost and making disciples.

 

Faithful

Pastor Luis Quilo and his wife Raquel celebrated 70 years of marriage as well as 80 years in the ministry. The recent celebration was special. Many years have passed since they arrived from Guatemala. I was a young Pastor at Primera Iglesia Bautista del Sur in Pico Rivera, California and hosted them as new immigrants. I reflected on the length of their marriage and service in ministry. The thought kept surfacing "Outstanding faithfulness". It is good to participate in these events and celebrate the sustaining power of our God in the lives of His children. There are many, many others who serve silently and faithfully. Often they are overlooked, ignored and shunned because of their age. Caleb was 85 years old when he asked for the hill country. Difficult assignment, but he was confident in the power of God to achieve victory. Let us not forget to honor and encourage our elder servants as they serve in the sunset period of their lives.

Thanksgiving

Walking recently I was admiring the beauty of the maple and other trees around. We take so much for granted in life. Daily I am thankful for christian parents who sacrificed for us. There were many days in my childhood when Mom and Dad would let us finish our meals before they ate theirs. Sacrificing for their children. One memory has stayed with me.

We were required to wear uniforms to school. Dad earned $0.14 an hour and worked two jobs. Mom would wash our uniforms after school and had them pressed for us to go to school the next morning. Parents dedicated to doing their best for their children. I am writing these memories with a thankful heart to God for His love. Happy Thanksgiving.

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress, knowing those who take refuge in Him."-Nahum 1:7 =Remember these precious words when the clouds of uncertainty about the future closes in on you.

I have been thinking: why do so many who preach about God's power weekly tremble with fear at the uncertainty of tomorrow? Our God has filled His Book with powerful promises. Let's claim them.!

CSBC Nuggets-Evangelism

Evangelism efforts yield 18.5% baptism increase 

In 2010 California Southern Baptists participated in a 10-year, nationwide emphasis called GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing) that encourages very member to share the gospel so every person can hear and respond. More than 500 California churches prayer-walked communities and distributed 1.3 million gospel tracts with an invitation to attend Easter services. 

California Mission Offering gifts were invested to blanket our state with more than 2,100, 30-second commercials urging people to check out FindItHere.com. More Californians visited the Website than any other state’s residents. The evangelistic results indicate that the heightened emphasis on evangelism yielded an evangelistic harvest. In 2010 while the SBC experienced a 5% decrease in baptisms, California Southern Baptists had an 18.5% increase over the previous year!

CSBC Nuggets-Disaster Relief Response

Disaster Relief teams responded to 11 disasters in California, Vermont, Massachusetts, North Dakota, India and Japan, involving a total of 731 volunteer days. More than 120 projects were completed, with 509 ministry contacts made.

The first statewide DRtraining, the California Volunteer Challenge, was held in Fresno in May, drawing many for training as volunteers. These are the silent heroes sharing Christ as they cut clean up fallen trees, mud out homes, feed those affected and serve Christ with all their hearts. We are blessed to be in ministry together.

CSBC annual meeting finished and I am blessed. Great preaching, discussions, music (mariachi, chinese and korean choirs, brazilian worship team, children presentation brought glory to God.)

Tuesday night was the most exciting with the recognition and honoring of 82 church planters. The Great Commission is alive, and we are committed to a stronger effort to reach millions in California.