From “Sin City” To “Saint City”

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – Matt 5:14-16

In one of the “darkest” places spiritually on earth, God has moved and established a church of SoldOut disciples!  Las Vegas Nevada is known by the nickname “Sin City” and it is the ambition of the mission team to “shine” brightly in this darkened place and change it’s moniker to “Saint City!”  It was such a privilege to be there to witness this momentous beginning with several brothers and sisters from Phoenix and a few of their friends!  It was an encouragement to catch up with the Underhills and also to see Pat and Lisa Nebeker’s support of their son & daughter-in-law Jeff and Lucia Eitelbach—members of the Las Vegas team.  In this past week’s “Good News Email” Jason Dimitry highlighted some details from the service in his sharing—and it seemed most fitting to publish that below!  To God be the Glory! JMC

NEWS FLASH – Jason Dimitry of Las Vegas: “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen!” (Ephesians 3:20) It was amazing to see the power of God at work in the disciples as God gave us “immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine” at our Inaugural Service!

 

Even before the service began, there was such an air of excitement! From the very first song, the singing was electrifying as the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully in the room! Kip & Elena kicked things off with a “heart-warming Welcome” that set the stage for the entire service! Immediately following David Jefferson’s powerful “Opening Prayer” were the incredible restorations of Jesse & Melena Stasher, whose daughter was baptized last week!

 

After singing, We Love You With The Love Of The Lord to the Stashers, we took our usual five minute fellowship break. When I looked out over the room, I saw that God had given us a totally packed house! My lesson focused on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount that was entitled, The Sermon That Changed Everything!

A special thanks to Joel & Courtney Parlour, who helped us to focus on the Cross as they shared powerfully for communion; Cory Blackwell who spoke powerfully for a “contribution sermon” that he entitled, Seed Money; Jeremy Ciaramella, who helped with the Song Service; and to all of the visiting sold-out disciples from Los Angeles and Phoenix, who made this miraculous event even more powerful! We love you and we are grateful!
 

At the very end of the service, the now 20 members of the Las Vegas Church (we have had three restorations and one baptism!) signed The Las Vegas Evangelization Proclamation. This is a vow that we are all making to God to evangelize “Sin City.” It reads: On this nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, we the members of the Las Vegas International Christian Church issue this proclamation not as members of a local community church, but as citizens in the Kingdom of God. 

Each of us sixteen disciples came together by the blood of Jesus, the Spirit of God, the truth of the Bible and a mutual conviction that charges each sold-out disciple to complete the evangelization of all nations in this generation. On this day we vow to imitate our ancient brother in the days of Nehemiah to diligently, faithfully and wholeheartedly build our part of the wall in Las Vegas, which for now is known as “Sin City.”
We vow to sacrifice everything, whether it be finances, time, relationships, our personal dreams, and even our very lives, that we may fulfill God’s dream for all people to have the opportunity to be saved through a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)

We sign this vow with the words of our Lord Jesus deep in our hearts. As it was written, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Mathew 5:37) Our answer to this Great Commission is “Yes!”
 

The reaction to the service was amazing as many are set to study the Bible! The LV Mission Team celebrated by going out to see Iron Man 3, and on the way out I was able to share my faith with Phil Ivey, who is the “Tiger Woods of the Poker World!” Truly, God is doing “more than we can ask or imagine,” and Lord willing, one day the city will be known as “Saint City!”

We need to keep the Las Vegas Brothers and sisters in our prayers as they begin building their “section of the wall” in God’s kingdom, even as their example of evangelism and being “sold-out” disciples calls us to focus on our own “section of the wall” in the “Valley of the Son!”

In His Cause,

JMC

From Sin City To Saint City – (Download PDF)