December 4, 2016 – A Completion & A Commendation!

So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. (2 Corinthians 8:6-8)

Amy and I are so encouraged by the Phoenix church! This past month, we came to a close with our missions contribution almost $2,000 over our goal of $40,975! It was such a joy for all of us in the Phoenix church family to bring our offering “to completion!” We had started off initially over 10,000 short – and it is in this repentance as a church where we recognize the hand of God. We needed faith, encouragement, and admonishment to realize how significant the support of ALL the USA churches matters throughout our global movement of churches!

It was such a joy to have Tim Kernan, Nick Bordieri, Ricky Challinor, and Tony Untalan visit us here in Phoenix. They built our faith, trained us, gave us practical direction, and challenged us all to “excel in this grace of giving!” Many disciples gave far over and above their goals to make sure as a whole, through the grace of God, the Phoenix church would be victorious. It was indeed God’s grace, as 33 of
our dear disciples did not make their missions goal this year. Some missed their goal because of the sins of greed and a lack of discipline, some because of real hardships and life challenges. Whatever the reasons, God has worked through the disciples to share the load collectively, and many rose to the occasion and “I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” 2 Cor 8:3

The call for all of us is to grow together in “this grace of giving!” To do so, we need to start right away in preparation for May 2017’s missions contribution. We should take the Apostle Paul’s advice to the “Galatian churches:”

“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)

Additionally, the word of God calls us to “watch [our] life and doctrine closely” and to “persevere in them” so that we may save “[our]selves and [our] hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16). This year we are not only focusing on starting saving and fundraising in January but also ensuring our Shepherds and House Church Leaders are diligent in helping our brothers and sisters all grow in their “life” skills. We are inspired by God’s standard to do everything as if we were serving the LORD Christ himself and not men!

It is to God’s glory that we’ve seen nine souls added to God’s family the past 9 weeks. As we exceeded our Fall Harvest Missions, let us pray we will continue this path of God’s miracles in the upcoming Special Missions for 2017! It is to our Father’s glory that we can celebrate with the USA family of churches and share in the Commendation below from our brother Kip McKean.

In Christ’s Cause,

The Commendation of the USA Churches

Dear SoldOut Movement Church Family,

Greetings from Los Angeles! Paul wrote to his beloved Philippian Church these words of encouragement, “In the early days of your acquaintance with the Gospel, [you] shared with me in the matter of giving and of receiving… aid again and again when I was in need… The gifts you sent… are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever! Amen!” (Philippians 4:15-20)

Like Paul, I am so grateful for your financial sacrifice for World Missions “again and again!” Your sacrifice in 2016 has allowed the Spirit to plant Bogota, Colombia; Seattle, Washington; Lagos, Nigeria; Tampa, Florida; Birmingham, England; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and today, Bangalore, India! In the Middle East, Dubai started with nine on the Mission Team – and with only Elena & me as visiting disciples – God gave us 56 at the Inaugural Service in September! The Dubai Church has already grown by five disciples! Equally encouraging are the miracles of Lagos, Nigeria! The Inaugural Service was in late June and the Spirit has used the 11 on this Mission Team and the 8 in the Remnant Group since that time to have 45 baptisms, 5 restorations and 4 place memberships from our former fellowship who were seeking revival! Amazingly, there are now 68 sold-out disciples in Lagos! Not only has your “giving aid” allowed the planting of these seven churches, but your ongoing financial sacrifice has also allowed the already established churches of the third world to continue to multiply! Of special note is Manila, Philippines – planted only a year and a half ago – has been blessed by God in 2016 with 135 baptisms, 27 restorations and is now 215 disciples! Also encouraging is Chennai, India which just three weeks ago hosted their First South Asia Missions Conference where 12 were baptized on Sunday as well as sending out their first church planting to Bangalore, India! Excitingly, Chennai also numbers 200 disciples!

In particular, the USA Churches are to be commended for your Thanksgiving Missions Contribution! Our goal was $1,100,000, yet you gave over $1,200,000! So amazingly this year for missions from the USA Churches alone you have given almost $3,000,000! Astoundingly, in 2016, the City of Angels Church in Los Angeles has given over $1,000,000! Yes, we are supporting courageous men and women like RD & April Baker in Dubai, Andrew & Patrique Smellie in Lagos, Kyle & Joan Bartholomew in Manila, and Raja & Debs Rajan in Chennai! Yet Paul reminded the Philippian Church that their support of him – as is your support of these valiant couples – was indeed a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God!” Indeed, as with the fishes and the loaves, God is multiplying your financial offerings to Him to evangelize the nations in this generation! And to God be all the glory!

We are family… into eternity,
Kip McKean