Our original plan was to reach out and help the sick in hospital. With many emails exchanged and phone calls made, we still could not get a confirmation to visit the hospital.
This did not stop us from having our Mercy Day. We then decided we’re going to reach out to the poor and the needy people in our own community and God blessed it. Praise God!

Early morning, the disciples came together prayed together, prepared the food and made cards with scriptures of encouragement to handout to the community. We had such a great response from the community and the disciples were encouraged by it.

Johannesburg International Christian Church would like to thank all the disciples who helped make this day a great success.

To God be all the Glory!

[Editor’s Note: In many respects, the planting of the City of Angels International Christian Church (CAICC) on May 6, 2007 was the beginning of God’s new SoldOut Movement! Therefore, the CAICC Bulletin from that first day’s publication became the “Millennial Harbinger” for God’s honor, His great people and His great commission of the evangelization of the nations in this generation. Yet, the Spirit has called Elena & me to serve Him in more of a traveling ministry focusing for a week or two on our key congregations both inside and particularly outside the United States. It is therefore with great joy that I hand over the last of my responsibilities associated with leading the City of Angels Church – the Editorship of the CAICC Bulletin – to the more capable pen of Tim Kernan, the Lead Evangelist of the CAICC and dear son in the Gospel. As Tim & Lianne have already taken Elena’s & my beloved City of Angels Church to unpreceded heights in attendances, baptisms and contributions, I believe the same will hold true of the CAICC Bulletin as Tim will sound this trumpet for God’s glory! Elena & I assisted by our precious sister Karen Maciel will continue to detail the miracles of the movement in the monthly Good News Emails. Please keep us in your prayers. We are family… to the end, Kip McKean]

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 6:18-19

TODAY, AT THE 2016 GLOBAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, RD & APRIL BAKER AND THE DUBAI MISSION TEAM ARE BEING SENT OUT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Jesus came to start a REVOLUTION! Jesus’ radical dream was the ember of a spiritual fire that in one generation consumed the entire world by giving inspiration to men and women in the grip of spiritual destitution. This dream envisioned the poor to become rich in good news; those in dungeons of hopelessness to break free of sin; and the blind to have a vision for the future of God’s people! For Jesus, the very Kingdom of God would expand at such a rate so as to change this dark, putrid world as a light dispels darkness and reveals beauty and as salt gives flavor. He pictured a future for all mankind which “no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him!” (2 Corinthians 2:9)

KOLBY GRAY & REBECCA RICO ARE BEING SENT BY THE SPIRIT TO THE MIGHTY LONDON CHURCH TO AID IN THE EVANGELIZATION OF EUROPE!

Jesus’ church represents the only lasting refuge in a world of sin and pain. Of all the revolutions in history, the true Christian Church was the only one to truly free mankind. Every other effort to “be good without God,” in other words to offer solutions to the world’s problems without Divine direction, has ultimately failed to last. Gamaliel’s words echo in our ears, “If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men!” (Acts 5:38-39)

Every disciple is called to be a leader in this REVOLUTION! We are small in number, but what we lack in numbers we make up for in commitment to our cause. We back up our words with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. (Luke 10:27) As the American Revolutionary Samuel Adams once wrote, “It does not take a majority to prevail… but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.”

Consider what we, as a band of SoldOut Brothers and Sisters empowered by His Spirit have been able to do around the world:

Lagos, Nigeria: This Tenth Crown of Thorns Planting is the pillar church for all of Africa! They celebrated their Inaugural Service just one month ago on June 26, 2016 with 155 in attendance! With a mission team of 11 courageous souls led by the indomitable Andrew & Patrique Smellie, God added to their number the eight in the remnant group and 11 baptisms, 1 restoration and 2 place memberships! So after one short month, the Lagos International Christian Church now numbers 33 sold-out disciples!

ANDREW & PATRIQUE SMELLIE AND KIP & ELENA MCKEAN AT THE LAGOS ICC INAUGURAL SERVICE WHERE GOD BLESSED THEM WITH 155 IN ATTENDANCE AND 3 BAPTISMS!

Manila, Philippines: At the Manila ICC Inaugural Service on June 7, 2015, the Lord blessed them with 306 in attendance! In their first year, God added to this amazing congregation 166 souls – 132 baptisms, 25 restorations and 9 place memberships directly from our former fellowship who were seeking revival! In the calendar year of 2016, so far they have witnessed 102 additions – 82 baptisms, 18 restorations and 2 place memberships from the ICOC! Kyle & Joan Bartholomew have been used so powerfully by God as the Manila ICC is now 189 radical disciples! Another highlight of 2016 for the Manila Church was on Sunday, June 19th at the First Austral Pacific Rim Missions Conference, where the first ICCM Commencement Ceremony was conducted outside of the United States! The ICCM – Manila’s first four graduates were: Gina Dela Pena, Anna Malnegro, John Malnegro and Cathy Manresa!

THE ESTEEMED FIRST GRADUATES OF THE ICCM – MANILA: CATHY MANRESA, JOHN MALNEGRO, ANNA MALNEGRO AND GINA DELA PENA!

Mexico City, Mexico: This congregation – lead powerfully through the Spirit by Carlos & Lucy Mejia – has grown from 59 disciples on January 1, 2016 to now 107 revolutionaries for Christ today! However, their most extraordinary news is the founding of the SoldOut Press International – the new publishing house for our movement! Carlos serves as the President of the Board and Kip McKean is the Vice President. The Editor is the esteemed Hector Gomez and his Associate Editor is Lucy! Today, they will officially unveil their first book: ELEVATE – Jesus’ Global Revolution For Women by Dr. Elena Garcia McKean!

Moscow, Russia: This incredible beacon of light was planted in February 2015 and is the Eighth Crown of Thorns Church! The Moscow ICC is led by a very dear couple to the entire movement – Oleg & Elena Sirotkin! With 17 on the mission team and 33 in the remnant group, in the Moscow Church’s very first year, they recorded 49 baptisms, 27 restorations and 10 place memberships! At their First Eurasian Missions Conference just three months ago, God blessed them with 289 participants! Excitingly, in Russia’s fifth largest city, the Spirit has initiated the Nizhny Novgorod Remnant Group led by Sergey & Elena Lamenkyn!

Bogota, Colombia: In a dark city known for its drug trade, the light of Jesus’ REVOLUTION began to shine in April as the five-person mission team from Mexico City was joined by the 26 in the remnant group initiated by Hector & Adriana Gomez. At the Bogota ICC Inaugural Service, they had an amazing 140 in attendance! So in just three months, God has grown this planting through baptisms and restorations to 49 on fire disciples!

Chennai, India: The Seventh Crown of Thorns Planting had 101 additions their first year – 94 baptisms and 7 restorations! When I think about this sister congregation, so nobly led by Raja & Debs Rajan, I think of our theme Scripture for the movement this year in 1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your FAMILY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD is undergoing the same kind of trials.” Month after month in the Good News Email, heroic accounts of disciples persevering by faith through hardships such as flooding and starvation, as well as horrific persecutions have inspired the entire movement! Lord willing, at the First South Asia Missions Conference in November, the Chennai Church will be sending out their first planting to Bangalore, India!

There are so many miracles around the globe that we only take the time to mention the mighty churches in London, England; Santiago, Chile; and São Paulo, Brazil! In the States, the SoldOut Movement now has thriving congregations in such metropolises as New York City, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco and our newest planting in Seattle! Added to the impact of the churches is that each SoldOut Movement Church is a “branch” of MERCYWORLDWIDE and every disciple is a MERCY Ambassador! Also the IGNITE Teen Program just finished up their 2016 week-long training event entitled, EVEN GREATER THINGS!

ADAM ZEPEDA, THE DYNAMIC YOUNG EVANGELIST, RETURNS TO SÃO PAULO TO WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH RAUL MORENO – HIS FATHER IN THE FAITH!

We also must mention one of the greatest miracles in our generation, the founding of the International College of Christian Ministries! Today, July 31, 2016 at the REVOLUTION Global Leadership Conference, the Fourth Commencement Ceremony of the International College of Christian Ministries (ICCM) will be celebrated! Awarded will be 65 BA Degrees, 5 Master’s Degrees and 1 Doctorate Degree to be given to my dear friend Andrew Smellie! Last year, added to what is now known as ICCM – LA were the extension campuses: ICCM – Manila, ICCM – Portland, and ICCM – São Paulo! This year, new extension campuses will be established in Boston, Massachusetts and so excitingly in Lagos, Nigeria! This “dream become reality” was made possible when the Lord answered our prayers on August 16, 2012 as the California Bureau of Postsecondary Education approved our application for the founding of the ICCM. We received the “Verification of Exempt Status” which allows the ICCM to grant accredited Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate Degrees in Ministry according to “our” Biblical doctrines and standards.

THE FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED BY SOLDOUT PRESS INTERNATIONAL IS DR. ELENA GARCIA MCKEAN’S DOCTORAL DISSERTATION, ELEVATE – “JESUS’ GLOBAL REVOLUTION FOR WOMEN!”

Another highlight today is the sending out of the Tampa and Dubai Mission Teams! The Tampa Mission Team is led by Anthony & Elizabeth Eckels. Remarkably, Tampa will be our third church in the state of Florida! The Dubai, United Arab Emirates ICC will be our Eleventh Crown of Thorns Planting and our pillar church for the evangelization of the Middle East! The valiant couple RD & April Baker will serve as the leaders of this amazing church! So in just nine years, God has multiplied the 42 disciples on the LA Mission Team from Portland into almost 5,000 disciples in 68 churches, in 31 nations on all six populated continents of the world! Indeed, this is not a movement of men, but the modern day movement of God!

MATT & HELEN SULLIVAN (RIGHT) HAVE RAISED UP ANTHONY & ELIZABETH ECKELS, WHO HAVE PLANTED

As we near the end of the Crown of Thorns Project Phase #1, we now have planted eleven of the twelve pillar churches. Just as the last leg of a marathon is the hardest, we must now complete Phase #1 of the Crown of Thorns Project with the same fire and zeal with which we began! So next year, to celebrate the sending out of the Twelfth and Final Crown of Thorns Mission Team – Hong Kong, China – the GLC will be held in Manila, Philippines! Lord willing, August 3-6, 2017 will be the dates for this historic event in the tenth year of the movement!

KAREN MACIEL (LEFT) AND REBECCA RICO CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER IN EACH OF THEIR LIVES!

Like the farmer sowing in tears, we are already beginning to reap with songs of joy! (Psalm 126:4-6) Let us dig deep and draw closer to God than we ever have! I would like to challenge every disciple in all the USA Churches to get out in front of our Thanksgiving Special Missions Contribution and put aside at least $100 towards our personal goals by the end of this August! This is the goal of the City of Angels Church. As the American thinker William James once wrote, “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”

It is an honor to be together with all of you here at the 2016 GLC! Just one question is to be answered by every participant over the next three days: Are you ready to join Jesus’ REVOLUTION?

In His Majesty’s Service,
Dr. Tim C. Kernan

“The Lord added to their number…” Acts 2:47

CAICC HARVEST SUMMARY FOR 2016

(THE FIRST 213 DAYS OF 2016)

THE CROWN OF THORNS PROJECT

THE PLAN FOR WORLD EVANGELISM FOR THE SOLDOUT MOVEMENT

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“JERUSALEM” – LOS ANGELES

“JUDEA AND SAMARIA” – USA & CANADA

JUDEA:
LAS VEGAS, PHOENIX, SACRAMENTO, SAN DIEGO, SAN FRANCISCO, AND SANTA BARBARA

SAMARIA:
BOSTON, CHARLOTTE, CHICAGO, DALLAS-FT. WORTH, DENVER, EUGENE, GAINESVILLE, HILO, HONOLULU, HOUSTON, MIAMI/FT. LAUDERDALE (2017), NEW YORK CITY, ORLANDO, PORTLAND, SEATTLE, SYRACUSE, TAMPA, TORONTO AND WASHINGTON DC

“TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”

PHASE ONE: PLANT THE CROWN OF THORNS CHURCHES

CHENNAI (2014)
MOSCOW (2015)
MANILA (2015)
LAGOS (2016)
DUBAI (2016)
HONG KONG (2017)
SANTIAGO (2009)
LONDON (2010)
SAO PAULO (2011)
MEXICO CITY (2012)
PARIS (2012)
SYDNEY (2013)

PHASE TWO: CROWN OF THORNS CHURCHES TARGET SURROUNDING NATIONS’ CAPITAL CITIES

ABIDJAN, STOCKHOLM, BOGOTÁ, KIEV (2017), KINSHASA (2017), JOHANNESBURG (2018), QUITO (2018), KINGSTON (2020)

PHASE THREE: EACH CAPITAL CITY CHURCH EVANGELIZES THEIR NATION
KOREZOUZOUA, BANGALORE (2016), CEBU (2017), RIO DE JANEIRO (2017), MELBOURNE (2018)

(GREEN – CHURCH PLANTINGS | PURPLE – REMNANT GROUPS | RED – TO BE PLANTED)

CAICC.NET • USD21.ORG • ICCMLA.NET

Sunday Worship Service Location

(CLICK: SEE CALENDAR FOR LOCATION BY DATE)

Sunday service is 10:00 in the morning:
The Mediterranean Conference Centre
72 Concorde E Rd, Bedfordview, Gauteng, 2007

NOTE! The last Sunday of every month will NOT be at the above mentioned address.

House Church Address (Last Sunday of Each Month):
The Meridian, 160 AG De Witt Drive, Flat 242, Block 41, Germiston

Church leader:

Jacques Groenewald – 063 520 6034

Jesus commanded it in Matthew 28:18-20. It is God’s plan to grow His Church and it started with Jesus 2000 years ago.

There are many excellent examples (good and bad) in the Old and New Testaments of this special, God-ordained principle and relationship.

-Adam and Eve (failed to disciple / care!)(marriage)

-Samuel and Eli (good – Eli helped Sam to hear God’s voice)

-Elijah and Elisha (Good – see how Elijah cared for and raised

-Ruth and Naomi (Mother and daughter relationship)

-Samuel and Saul (bad example of independence and the consequences thereof)

-John and Jesus (Embracing their roles and working together in Ministry of truth)

-Jesus and Paul

-Paul and Timothy

Pr 18:24 “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Pr 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Some Discipling 101

How? ! 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” With patience and careful instruction
Know your role 1 Cor 12:18 “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, everyone of them just as he wanted it to be.” All parts in the body arranged as God designed it. Be content and at peace.
Role given to you by God – be faithful to it. 1 Corinthians 4:2 “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
Have the heart of a caring mother – 1 Thessalonians 2:6-12 “We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and
Always use Scripture not personal opinion / pep talks – Heb 2 Tim 3:16-17 .
Be a watch woman – Ezekiel 33:1-6 “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’ It’s not always easy!! But you’ve got to blow the whistle if you see your sister is in sin. Remaining quiet will hold dire consequences for you both spiritually.
An effective Discipling relationship will imitate John 15:16-17 “You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command-Love each other.”
Jesus is teaching (“Discipling”) his disciples in this scripture.

If we imitate Jesus’ heart we will teach the same on the principle

1) Fruit bearing 2) Loving each other 3) Keep the Great Commission ‘spiral’ going as taught in Matt 18:18-20.

The Great Commission commands us to 1) Go and make disciples of all nations 2) To baptise disciples 3) To teach everything (Everything!) and also in reply teach others! Everything – Every Day! Jesus then in turn promise that he will always be with us. As a disciple we a) have a lot to learn and b) In humility and in the authority of Jesus, a lot to teach! God also placed mentors/Discipling partners in our lives to teach us God’s way. It’s imperative we imitate our mentors. They are seasoned and well trained spiritual warriors, skilfully building God’s Kingdom. They imitate Christ. In turn, learning from their flesh and blood example, we will learn to skilfully build God’s Kingdom too. This is the way the first century church built.

8. Discipling helps to protect you from Satan 1 Pet 5:5-9 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” We have to guard our hearts against self righteousness and independence. Our hearts are deceitful (Jer 17:9) and we need each other or else we will die spiritually. We are each other’s keeper! The the lion will not necessarily attack a pride of zebras but single out the lone one who is straying from the group, who thinks the ‘grass is looking greener’ elsewhere. The zebra can independently wander over off / be aloof and wander off to feed his/her own tummy (needs) because he/she doesn’t trust the rest of the group/think the leader of the group is wise enough. This attitude is destructive not only for the zebra but also for the group and can also cause major divisions in the group if others start following him/her. Satan wants nothing more than to use disunity to stop the work of God’s church.

9. Confess your sins. Make time in your weekly “Discipling time” to confess your sins. James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

10. Be in daily contact Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Conclusion:

God will place your Discipling partner in your life for a very specific reason.

Pray and ask God to show what it is you ought to learn from her. God will reveal it.

Satan is already hunting you. You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. You bother Him. Your faith is a threat. Dare we say that as a disciple you have a massive bullseye on your chest. Can you feel him lurking and luring you in with your thoughts of doubt / discouragement (remember the four 4 d’s: Discourage, Doubt, Distance from God and Destruction) Stand firm, resist him! Stay close to God and stay close to the disciples (the church).

Discipling was and still is Jesus’ way to build His church and this should be our way. Humility always triumphs!

Philippians 2:1-11 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himselfby becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest placeand gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Come join us for our Resurrection Sunday Service on the 27th of March 2016.

Luke 26:6-8

6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words,.

Venue: The beautiful Bedfordview City Hall

Time: 10:00 am

Jeremiah 29: 11 “…For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, “ declares the Lord, “I will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile. “

It has been an amazing eight months since my lovely wife Jeanette and I have placed membership in the London International Christian Church. We have seen more baptisms, restorations and place memberships in the past eight months than we have seen in the past five years. It’s been truly incredible. We’ve seen unbelievable spiritual growth in ourselves and the whole church as a result of the regular disciplining and devotional life that is so much part of the church here.

Tim and Lianne truly hit the ground running when they arrived here about six months ago, preaching, disciplining, evangelizing and bringing people back to the Lord. We were about three before they arrived and that small snowball has just grown and grown. Every time we look up from the work we are amazed to see that God has continued to add to our number and our spiritual fruit. They built a mission team that now has achieved a momentum where we are adding a new member almost every week. Things are really picking up steam in a big way!

One thing I have to admit I was concerned about as I visited the London International Christian Church for the first time was that it was a mere “break off” group or an Anti-ICOC group instead of a pro-Jesus group. I had truly given myself in a profound way to the first “five year plan” that that originated in London in 2002 with the “Honest to God” letter from Henry Kriete. I had waited patiently and in great expectation for things to really get better as we were promised. I was not blind to the fact that there was almost no true discipling or evangelism and that the Gospel was not being preached but I truly believed that behind the scenes things were moving and that indeed things would “get better” soon. I listened to countless sermons about how we were now “turning the corner”, “turning around”, “going to improve soon” and I fully endorsed them all.

My dear girlfriend Jeanette Nel became my dear and lovely wife Jeanette Groenewald last year which was one of the best moments of my life. However with the blessings of marriage also come the responsibilities of a husband. A husband must physically and spiritually protect his wife from all harm as Christ protects the church. The truth of the matter is that I was always called to be my brother’s keeper however marriage has a way of bringing that call to protect one another and carry one another’s burdens somewhat more to the forefront.

I have to admit in the back of my mind I started to have some doubts about whether or not the church truly was turning around after all. I started to look more deeply beyond the language of “getting better”, “turning the corner”, “turning around” or “going to improve soon” which were the point of so many sermons. They are awesome hopes however I wanted to see if there was any concrete plan, strategy or goals to achieve these hopes. I had a growing feeling of false hope as I realized that the vast majority of these promises were completely empty and would probably never be materialized. It’s hard to describe how discouraged I was starting to feel…

I now see that it was in fact God who was opening my eyes so that I could see the incredible things he was going to do for me. In the London International Christian Church I saw a standard preached and I saw the leaders lovingly helping people to achieve it. On the other hand I saw a Nehemiah like leadership that insisted that the church only be made up of committed disciples; even if some were weak and needed lots of help. I didn’t hear any promises about the future; I saw a plan, a strategy, goals and action.

In some really poor hospitals in Africa where I am from the staff keep the patients high on morphine instead of actually dealing with the problems that need to be addressed. Whenever the patient feels pain he is given more morphine. This is how I see I was allowing myself to be in the ICOC here in London. I was allowing the morphine of “its getting better” to replace the true disciplining and call to obedience to Christ that I needed. I am now totally rejecting the morphine and I would like to appeal to all my brothers and sisters in the ICOC to do the same. I beg you to come and see what a committed church is like and believe again with me that we can do great things for God.

Even now there are sermons being preached in the ICOC about a new Five Year Plan, again with no actual strategy. As I can imagine hearing people clapping in the audience – that could have been me, I am praying for them. I know they are totally sincere but I really pray for them to come over and get back to the mission.

The passage (Jeremiah 29) is about how God promised the Israelites that He would return to them after being in exile when they pray to him and seek him with all their heart. I can truly say that this promise felt far from coming true for me. But after it became clear to me that God wants obedience rather than promises, I prayed to him and joined a church of sold out disciples and I can now truly say I am seeing that its true for us too more than 2000 years later!

Even if you have doubts come to the Gathering conference later this year in October and find out for yourself where you can hear from Kip and other leaders themselves and get a chance to ask some unanswered questions in person.

Your brother,

Jacques

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Editors Note: use this lesson for a powerful Bible Talk group discussion. Duration: the leader should keep this discussion under 25 minutes

OQ: What is the best car in the world?

Imagine you owned this car and on the first day you find out there’s something wrong with engine. At that moment will that still be your best car in the world?

Illustration: BREASTFEEDING INCIDENT! (To the pure all things are pure – Titus 1:15).

Breastfeeding mum sent out of restaurant

by JAYA NARAIN, Daily Mail

A farewell meal with friends ended abruptly when a mother decided to breastfeed her daughter in public.

Tina Wilson and husband John, who are leaving Britain for their native South Carolina, were ejected from the restaurant after staff claimed other diners were offended by her behaviour.

Mrs Wilson said: ‘We were all absolutely dumbfounded and furious.

‘At no point did I show any flesh. I was very discreet.’

The Wilsons and their two friends were in the middle of the first course at The Thyme and Plaice restaurant in Coppull, near Chorley, Lancashire, when two-month-old Isabelle, who was in a car seat carrier, woke up.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-202456/Breastfeeding-mum-sent-restaurant.html#ixzz42b45VXcX
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

OPEN: What does the Bible say about judging people? It is commanded!

1 Corinthians 5

‘12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”’

REASONS PEOPLE SAY: YOUR JUDGING ME!

1. They don’t have an example

Luke 7

‘37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”’

Q: Does the B say – don’t judge at all? NO

Q: What type of judgement does the B condemn? Hypocritical

Q: Why? Because God wants us to have an example. Equality.

Q: What are the most  basic things Christians should do? Read the Bible. Go to church, Share their faith.

2. Judge by appearances

John 7

24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”

Q: What does it mean to judge by mere appearances? You don’t don’t have the full story!

Q: Is it only those who do bad that can get judged by mere appearances? NO. Jesus had people spend time with him so they could see his life.

3. Don’t judge using the word of God

John 12

47“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.

Q: Are judged based on God’s feelings? NO -on his words.

Q: What does Jesus want for everyone? To be saved. If someone points out where you need to change it is not to offend you but so you won’t be offended on judgement day.

Q: What do we need to do when we feel defensive when confronted with the truth? Don’t be defensive but look for the lesson. You need to be able to look your worst in order to be your best. See distrust like God does – sin.

CONCLUSION: The Bible says we are to judge others and ourself using the Bible. If you don’t want to judge others – do you have an example? Tonight if you don’t have judgement from friends in your life using the Bible you should be scared. God wants the best for you and to do what the Bible says.

Challenge: Ask the person who brought you or disciples you what you need to change and have a Bible study

This week International Women’s Day was celebrated around the world. However in the Kingdom of God spiritual women internationally celebrated as a prominent woman came to be baptised in the Johannesburg International Christian Church.

Fired up disciples celebrate Anita’s baptism.

Anita Yeboah-Mensah, a former winner of miss Pretoria beauty contest started studying the Bible just a few weeks ago!

Through the supernatural work of God the team that was sent to start the church here in Johannesburg came from London where Anita’s siblings – twin brother and sister Jeanette and Ridge are disciples in the church.

Jeanette who has been reaching out to her sister Anita asked the sisters in the Johannesburg church to meet up with Anita to study the Bible. A series of events in Anita’s life up to this point prepared her heart to be ready to receive the scriptures and become a true disciple of Jesus. Anita, a naturally joyful personality dug deep to take personal responsibility for mistakes she made in the past and to boldly confront obstacles to wholehearted commitment for God in her life.

Two sisters in Jeanette and Anita (and their brother Ridge), in different international places of residence celebrated now not simply being physical siblings but being brothers and sisters in Christ when Anita made Jesus Lord and got baptized into Christ this past Sunday!

On another note, very encouragingly a dear brother from London serving here as missionary for a few months – Heshgood Clarke-Ejuren preached his first full sermon at Bible Talk Leaders Meeting. An exemplary hygiene conscious single convicted us with a lesson entitled Daily Spiritual Hygiene to Crank Weekly Bible Talks!

Heshgood Clarke-Ejuren (Clark for short) powerfully preaches the Word at BT Leader’s Meeting.

We are excited for the fast approaching Easter service we are going to have in a special location. Details will be announced soon!

To God be all the Glory!