Washington, DC International Christian Church

Downtown Los Angeles Sheraton Hotel
August 2 – 4, 2009

“Go into all the world” was Jesus’ last challenge to the faithful eleven. Before most of them would die for the cause, the Spirit – through Paul – confirms their obedience, “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing… This gospel has been proclaimed to every creature under Heaven.” (Colossians 1:6, 23) The great commission was not only the motivating vision for the first century church, but also it is our dream for the twenty-first century church! Biannually, the SoldOut Movement Churches celebrate a Jubilee where all the disciples in God’s new movement from all over the world strive to come together in Los Angeles. In the alternating years, a Global Leadership Conference convenes in different cities. (Lord willing, in 2011, we will meet in London, England!) This year, we are focusing on campus ministry and have called a special Campus Congress. Prayerfully, our college students worldwide will draw closer to God and to each other, thus forging relationships that will last a lifetime, and knit God’s movement with the bonds of love. For Sunday Worship on August 2, 2009, the Global Leadership Conference and the Campus Congress will meet with the City of Angels Church. In the evening, there will be a delicious banquet for all the participants of the Conference and the Congress. Monday, we will meet in separate seminars. Tuesday morning, we will all be back together for the Men’s and Women’s Programs and the concluding inspirational charge to “go into all the world!”
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“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You shut the Kingdom of heaven in men’s faces.  You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.  Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” Matthew 23:13-15

Matthew 23 is perhaps the most scathing rebuke recorded in the New Testament.  It was given by none other than Jesus, Himself.  In this chapter, He vehemently – and specifically – goes after the leaders of God’s people, who were supposed to be leading the people of God to their God, both by their example and by their doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:16)  It seems – from this severe reprimand – that they were doing neither.  In fact, the very “missionary work” they boasted about was exposed as the work of Satan!

How do you feel about false doctrine, brothers and sisters?  Are you as indignant about it as Jesus was?  Do you hate false doctrine as much as you hate racism or child molestation or cruelty in the treatment of the weak?  In my own life, I have always been a defender of the weak and outcast.  I’m not sure why.  And when I became a disciple, my convictions ran deep about what it meant to be a Christian, according to the Scriptures.  I believed from the Bible – with all my heart – that, to be saved and become a member of God’s church universal, one needed to believe Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, repent of those sins, become a disciple, and then be baptized for the remission of our sins to receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:36-42; Matthew 28:19-20)
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“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30

Our God is awesome! From February 8th to March 5th, the Church in Washington, DC has seen six friends baptized into Christ! To God be the glory! Since returning from an inspiring time with the Central Leadership Group of the International Christian Churches in Los Angeles, California in late January, Patrique and I have been motivated by God’s grace to “give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:3) The evidence of the grace of God has been incredible! It has been a joy to witness the hearts and devotion of the church, relying on our faith in God as we have planted and watered the seeds of the Word in the hearts of those around us! As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” Through humility and faith, God can accomplish miracles! A successful spiritual “planting” will only occur if the foundation is on Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Without the proper nutrients of deep personal Bible study, surrendered hearts in prayer, faithful discipling to become more like Christ, urgent evangelism, and an uncompromising purity of heart and actions, anything that is sown will not survive for long. As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 3:12-14, “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.” With proper planting and watering, God can make even the smallest mustard seed of faith grow! (Matthew 17:20) In addition to the baptisms of Keith Jefferson (February 8th) and Cristella Tolliver (February 15th), four other souls have been added in the last two weeks!
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