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.

 

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.

A Passion For Souls

He is a chaplain at one of California’s prestigious medical centers. Semi-retired, he looks invigorated. We met for lunch after church recently and I was blessed by his testimony. As he shared about his ministry, I was proud to be in the presence of this passionate evangelist. I wondered if his story would ever be told. He shares Christ with many, some on their deathbeds, who accept Christ as their Savior. Families and medical personnel impacted by the soft voice of a Christian worker, tirelessly holding hands, softly speaking words of comfort, as a patient makes the journey to meet God.

Chaplains, their ministries affect lives daily, yet are never known. They serve in some of the most difficult areas while impacting the lives of many. Listening to this chaplain's ministry brought great joy to my heart. All around us, men and women are on mission for Christ. Because we do not hear the results of God's transforming power in the lives around us, many feel that Christianity has lost it's power and focus. I do not believe that to be true!

Web sites, blogs, tweets, innovative presentations tell the stories of transformed lives. Churches are re-energized, pastors are refocused, church members experiencing unexpected adventures in sharing Christ bring a sense of refreshment to my soul. Let me encourage you to spend time with God and listen to him instead of the distracting noise our world has to offer.

I encourage you to tell your story (testimony) this week. You will be amazed at the impact the Gospel will have on those around you!

Family Bible Fellowship

Recently Pastor Horacio and First Lady Forence Jones celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Church and 26th anniversary of their years in ministry. It was quite a celebration. Listening to the history of this congregation and the emphasis on spiritual transformation, as well as the struggles to arrive at this occasion, I marveled at God's grace.

Ray Jones is an outstanding communicator. He is also a loving and caring pastor. Over the years the congregation has had to move a number of time to keep up with the growth. Evangelism outreach has been a strong emphasis. Looking over the crowd at the celebration, I saw a "tsunami of love" showered on the pastor, his wife and family. It was an amazing event. I pray each of our congregation will take time to express a wave of love for their pastor, especially in these turbulent times.

Transitions

January 2009 was a month of transitions for two friends who went to be with their Lord-Oscar I. Romo and Minnie Burrell.

Dr. Romo, a strategic Southern Baptist leader, will be remembered for his innovative approaches in reaching ethnic America. He was a true pioneer and many souls have been reached for Christ through the churches and ninistries he helped start. He was a missionary at heart.

Mrs. Burrell, born in Jamaica, West Indies, spoke Hindi and had a passion for reaching the lost. I met her in September 1964 while attending California Baptist College in Riverside. At the celebration service, her grandchildren and great grandchildren spoke of her intensity to share the gospel of Christ. I was amazed and blessed by their testimonies.

These two friends had a close relationship with Christ and their lives reflected His goodness, truth and love.

Statistics about reaching the unchurched reveal that many are open to hearing the gospel. Recently I spoke to a few friends and encouraged them to openly share their faith. The number of followers of Jesus who do not take the time to share God's love for a hurting world astounds me. There is an urgency to tell the good news of Jesus Christ. There needs to be a movement of Christians who are committed to intentionally sharing Christ. We have experienced an amazing transition because of Christ, and it is important to lead others to him.

Transitions to a new spiritual experience is the most exciting reality many need today. The testimonies of Dr. Romo and Mrs. Burrell's will live forever in the lives of those they touched for Christ. I encourage you to make your testimony live forever by taking the time to tell someone of Jesus and what He has done for you and can do for them.

Nevada Baptist Convention

This was an exciting week. I was a guest speaker at the 30th anniversary of the Nevada Baptist Convention . It is not often that I have the opportunity to attend a sister State Convention, as many meet during the same date as the annual meeting of the California Southern Baptist Convention. There were many highlights. Years ago I served as the Regional Coordinator from the Home Mission Board for Nevada and I am thrilled to see the progress made over these years.

Monday night I enjoyed dinner with the Church Planters. You should have heard their testimonies. Amazing life changing encounters impacting the unchurched for Christ. I sensed an excitement among the group to do whatever is necessary to reach the lost and make disciples in Nevada. The pioneer spirit continue to break down barriers. I have always said, we need to hear the stories of God amazing grace and what He is doing in our communities. So often all I hear are the problems, yet, in the midst of difficulties, you see the hand of God move in a mighty way. These young couples are a gift from God to NBC. I will be praying for their continued success. I commend Dr. Thane Barnes and the leadership of our sister convention on the fine work they are doing.

The Cry of His children

The phone rang as I was beginning to fall asleep. It was my son, Carlos, asking prayer for the daughter in law of a dear friend who is in surgery for a brain tumor. Hours before I spoke with one of my sisters. Her husband has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer and has a short time to live. Earlier in the day I heard of a dear pastor friend with serious lung problems. It seems like the day has gone swiftly with the night hiding the full moon of last night. The stars are hardly visible, yet I had this urge to write.

Where do you go when the river seems to be overflowing its banks? I go to my Heavenly Father. "Call unto me...", He says. "...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." It is really in moments like these when I find the presence of God very close. So tonight, late as it is, I prayed for healing, strength, comfort and His presence in our lives.

Chinese Baptist Fellowship

The 15th bi-annual conference of the Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the United States and Canada was an event I will not forget. This week this event brought many from Canada and the USA. The mosaic of America is clearly evident in God's love for every person, regardless of national origin. Dr. Simon Tsoi, Executive Director of the CBF guided this event with passion and commitment.

Often I am asked if I understand the many languages spoken in California. No, I do not, yet I am blessed to be in the presence of so many from over the world. Our commitment, assist our churches to reach every lost person in California for Christ. We do not have to speak the language of our friends, but we do need to express the language of love and acceptance, for that is what God expects of us.

The CBF has a mission in Mexicali, just across the border from Calexico in Southern California. It is wonderful to see ethnic congregations crossing cultural/ethnic barriers to share Christ. The results have been incredible. We are all on mission for Christ. This is what makes our ministry so exciting.

New Pastors

Recently I had the opportunity to speak at our pastors orientation. It was an exciting event. Every pastor and wife in the room represented changed lives. Each arrived with a deep sense of God's calling on their lives. Their testimonies filled the evening with stories of transformed lives.

Many of these men and women serve in difficult areas of our state and in situations where change is almost impossible. It is difficult to hear of congregations inviting new pastors to assume the leadership, then refuse and block every step presented to move forward. I felt the pain of some who are filled with disappointment, yet willing to keep running the race. I am encouraged by the faithfulness of these men and women. Their desire is to serve their Lord and Savior. My heart was blessed and soul refreshed as we prayed and fellowship together.