March 26, 2017

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Dear Friend,
Greetings from Mexico City, São Paulo and San Francisco! Five weeks ago on February 9-12th, Elena & I had the privilege to participate in the 2017 Latin American Missions Conference in Mexico City whose exciting theme was EL REINO (THE KINGDOM)! 340 were in attendance with the highlight for me being the compelling Parable of the Sower Play performed by the incredible Mexico City Teen Ministry! The following week, the Spirit took us to São Paulo for the 2017 Brazil Missions Conference where 304 gathered to hear incredible sermons on the theme – REDENCAO (REDEMPTION)! 52 of these sold-out disciples traveled 2,000 miles (3,220 km) all the way from Santiago de Chile to Brazil's largest city of 22 million! During this monumental event, I was in awe of God at the remarkable talent in the Campus Ministry, particularly the 35 students at the University of São Paulo (USP) – the number one academically ranked campus in all of Central and South America! Then last weekend in San Francisco, Elena preached at their spectacular Women's Day, where 200 attended, and then on Sunday, I had the honor to preach for this glorious congregation!
BREAKING NEWS
RD Baker – Lead Evangelist of Dubai: Greetings from the Middle East! What a faith-building "Year of the Impossible" that God has given to us so far in 2017! Thanks to the incredible direction and structure that Kip & Elena provided during their mid-January visit, our young team has responded in a dramatic way! With 3 cranking Bible Talks (22 at tonight's gathering!), a new hotel location for all worship services, April & I being supported full-time by Chicago, and the addition of the talented R.J. Castro from the City of Angels Church in January, God has provided us an abundance of fruit!  
After our most recent service, we simultaneously baptized a married Filipino couple, Andrew & Mitz Torcelino, in the Persian Gulf! They were met while the disciples were out sharing their faith for February's International Day where we had a record 63 in attendance! Andrew & Mitz's adorable daughter Belle and Mitz's parents were also there to witness their rebirth – our first married couple baptism!  
After baptizing the Torcelinoes, later that night, we baptized Betty Bearnod! She lives in Abu Dhabi and must travel by bus 2 hours each way to our services! This "no excuse attitude" has inspired and called the Dubai Family higher!  
In addition to Friday's triplets, God has added this year by conversion: Evangeline, Chandra, Robie and Gladys – bringing us to 10 baptized disciples in the 76 days of 2017 – almost weekly baptisms! Amazingly, our remaining original 6 mission team members (3 left with visa challenges) have now grown into 23 sold-out disciples in less than 6 months since our Inaugural Service!
 
Please keep us in your prayers as we take Jesus up on His offer, "The fields are RIPE for the harvest!" (John 4:35)
 
Kyle Bartholomew – Lead Evangelist of Manila: Mabuhay! (Live long!) The fire has been burning bright here in the Philippines, as the disciples are more zealous than ever before!   
Indeed though Satan has attacked us, we are persevering through Christ because of the many souls that continue to be saved! Three recent additions have given us tremendous joy! The first, Iya – a charismatic sophomore student from the University of the Philippines – was baptized by the North Region Campus Sisters! Iya continues to prove how grateful she is for her salvation, as she has brought visitors to church every single week since she was baptized!   
Lorenz was restored to God and His church yesterday through the help of the brothers in the Warrior Nation Campus Ministry – RTU! In true repentance, Lorenz joined the campus brothers in their Bible studies every single day while going through his restoration studies, and therefore helped our new brother Rafael get baptized on the same day that he was restored! 
Lastly, our brother JP and his family were recently victims of a fire in their neighborhood that burned everything they had. Throughout this trying time, Stella – JP's mom – experienced the love of disciples through their constant visits, donations and prayers. She came to church, studied the Bible with the West Region Married Sisters, and was baptized! There was not a dry eye in church as she and her son JP echoed what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:10, that despite their hardships, they are "always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."  
Also of special encouragement to the church, we held our first ever Regional Sunday Worship Services last week in the cities of Manila, Quezon City, and Makati! With 215 members, we had a combined total attendance of 405 – breaking our previous record of 306!  
The 2017 Global Leadership Conference (GLC) for the first time will be celebrated outside the United States signifying that the SoldOut Movement is truly a worldwide family! This historic event will be on August 3-6, 2017 at the Makati Shangri La Hotel in the heart of Metro Manila, Philippines! We are centering all the lessons on the Book of Revelation. The inspirational theme for the 2017 GLC is VICTORIOUS from Revelation 15:2-4, "Those who had been VICTORIOUS over the beast… held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: 'Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty… All nations will come and worship before you!'"  
During this epic occasion, Saturday, August 5th will be devoted for every MERCY Ambassador to serve in some of the poorest communities of Metro Manila! On Sunday Lord willing, highlights will include the Fifth Commencement of the International College of Christian Ministries and the Spirit sending out three Mission Teams: Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (Florida), Cebu (Philippines), and Hong Kong (China) – the Twelfth (and last) Crown of Thorns City!  
Our Prayer Goals are for 250 Filipino Disciples and 600 International Disciples to participate in the 2017 GLC as this will allow us to financially break-even! The cost for registration will be $225 for those outside the Philippines and $40 for Filipino Disciples. To register go to https://glcvictorious.eventbrite.com.
   
We are encouraging every Church Leader Couple, every Shepherding Couple and every LA Region Leader Couple to stay at the Shangri La Hotel as we have agreed in our contract to have at least 400 room nights. The cost of a room (which includes an incredible breakfast) is $110/night plus tax.
There are many considerably less expensive hotels in the area that others may select online. If you choose to do so, strive to find an option that is in or close to Makati as the traffic in Metro Manila is considered by some to be the worst in the world! To register at the Makati Shangri La Hotel go to http://www.shangri-la.com/reservations/booking/en/index.aspx?hid=SLM&group_code=INT310717&check_in=20170731&check_out=20170809.
A unique highlight of the GLC's is the Kingdom's Got Talent Show! This year is the fifth such occasion! If you are interested in performing, please message the Director of KGT5 – Princeton George – ASAP on Facebook or via email at kingdomtalent2@gmail.com!
Please be making your plans to participate in the 2017 GLC as this is a once-in-a-lifetime event!
 
Andrew Smellie – Lead Evangelist of Lagos: "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21) Greetings from the heart of Africa where "a great light has dawned!" (Isaiah 9:2) After several twists and turns, the Lord has brought the Smellie Family safely back from the USA to our incredible church family here in Nigeria on Wednesday, March 15th! Although our STR Visa process should only have taken approximately two weeks, it ended up taking almost two months, so that we were forced to stay in Washington DC while we waited! However, we now rejoice that through these high-level visas we have been approved for a 3 year clergy position that allows us to remain in Nigeria for the work of saving souls as well as to oversee the work on the African continent! God's timing and purpose is perfect!  
Patrique & I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those who were so helpful and hospitable to us during this time! Of special note is the valiant Washington DC Church led by Richie & Elizabeth McDonnell! It warmed our hearts to return as African missionaries to encourage the church which we planted back in 2008! The DC Church's love and support was evident as they playfully joked with us to place membership as we waited for our visas to arrive!    
Today in Lagos the church cheered not only for our return but for three incredible events: First, the appointment of Kate Awara as the new Campus Ministry Intern; the arrival of Paul & Bernice Ede – a former ICOC ministry couple from Nigeria's capital city of Abuja – as they came to place membership in God's new movement; and the baptism of Olatunde Oludahunsi, a single professional actor who proclaimed that Jesus is Lord! It was truly a day of miracles and rejoicing!
Please pray for us as we now prepare for our Lagos Enrichment Workshop from April 21-23, 2017 entitled, LIVING THE DREAM! Instead of having our African Missions Conference this year – which is a very costly event due to paying for the flights and accommodations for leaders throughout the African continent – we will be focusing on raising up workers to strengthen the Lagos Church! Another focus is gathering the remnant and to help us with this, Kip & Elena McKean will return to Lagos that weekend! Therefore, we will also be extending an open invitation to the leadership and membership of the Lagos ICOC to come and get their questions answered! It is going to be a time where Jesus' standard of discipleship will be proclaimed boldly from the "Jerusalem" of Africa!  
As always, thank you for all your love, prayers and support! We are honored to serve the Lord through your financial sacrifice and the power unleashed through your daily prayers!
 
Seán Hurditt – Lead Evangelist of Birmingham (England): Greetings from the first church planting of the London Church in the UK! We had our Inaugural Service on February 19th! With just 8 sold-out disciples here in Birmingham and the support of Michael & Michele Williamson, we had 55 in attendance! On March 12th, we saw the miracle of our very first baptism – Josie! Josie is originally from Ghana and studies Audiology at Aston University! She was met by my fiancé Mary-Jane, and like Cornelius, Josie had a reverent fear of God that led her to respond with humility to the repentance to which God was calling her!  
Please pray for Birmingham as we start to build the church through the campus ministry! And to God be all the glory!  Sharmayne Viscichini – NYC's Woman Region Leader-in-Training: God has been doing great things in New York City! Last Sunday, March 12th, we had our monthly All Congregational Sunday Service at the prestigious Marriott Marquis Times Square! We met on the 9th floor in the amazing Marquis Ballroom which has an entrance with a 40-story atrium overhead, and has access to the common area with a 180 degree view of Times Square! There is simply nothing like it! We had 263 in attendance, including our special guests, Dave & Jill Swann, their son Jordan, and their daughter Bella!
 
It was a very special time for the New York City Church to meet them as, Lord willing, the Swanns will be moving here this summer to plant the New Jersey Region – giving us 5 regions! Our plan is for Dave to go full-time! We are super grateful for the continual sacrifice of the City of Angels Church as they simply keep giving and giving disciples to churches like NYC to forcefully advance the Kingdom around the world!  
Lastly, Aaron & I are very honored and humbled to be serving in Brooklyn as "Region Leaders-in-Training" under Luke & Brandyn Speckmen's leadership! These past two weeks, God has added three incredible women to the Brooklyn Ministry through baptism: Elizabeth, Charnell and Yeisa!
Please continue to pray for us as the plan is for the Brooklyn Region, and us as their Region Leaders, to be officially sent out at our All Congregational Service on May 7th! After that service, we will be having our own weekly Sunday Worship Services in Brooklyn! We are family... to do the impossible!
 
Chenelle Patterson – Women's Ministry Leader of Boston: "Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you." (2 Thessalonians 3:1) Greetings from the "Athens of America!"  
After our Winter Workshop, the Spirit led us to implement Jesus' method of focusing on the few! We divided the congregation into house churches under the leadership of Sal & Jen DiFusco in the North, Frank Hines and Skyla Eastman in the South, and Peter Markarian & Jessica soon-to-be Markarian over the Downtown Campuses! From this single decision, we have seen an unprecedented multiplication of disciples! All year up to this time, additions have been a steady one or two a week, but last Sunday, God gave us a burst of 5 baptisms! Incredibly, the weekend before that, God blessed us with 6 baptisms as well as 2 restorations from the Mainline Church of Christ! All of this while breaking our attendance record with 127 on a non-push Sunday!  
Baptisms were from Boston University, Berklee College of Music, Bunker Hill Community College, single professionals, and the mother of one of our beloved brothers in the church!  
God has been so gracious to us here in the "Cradle of Liberty" gathering from far beyond our borders! Of the 14 additions in the past 3 weeks, there have been disciples added to our number from Manchester, New Hampshire; Worcester; and Fall River! The sold-out disciples in these cities drive over an hour to come and worship with us! Pray for us to continue to reap the harvest and bear fruit that will last!
 
Cesar Limon – Lead Evangelist of Portland: Truly it has been a refreshing time in the church as the Lord has given us 13 additions in the first 13 weeks of 2017 – 2 restorations, 1 place membership and 10 baptisms! It was incredible to have 9 Portland Disciples attend the Latin American Missions Conference in February as we came back inspired by the Mexico City Teen Ministry to take our Teen Ministry to greater heights! Our creative Teen Ministry Leaders, Arro & Valeria, are in negotiations for our Teen Ministry to become clubs on all the 5 high schools where they have been holding discussions! These Bible Talks have been very fruitful as our Teen Ministry now numbers 10 disciples!  
Also, God is moving in our Campus Ministry, as we are at 31 disciples on three different campuses with a plan to send out ministries to Lewis and Clark College, as well as to the University of Portland this year!
We also had the opportunity to send out Chris Green, who has served tirelessly for ten years in Portland, to strengthen the Orlando Church as they send out the Miami Mission Team this summer!  
Great news as well is that our brother Jorge Castillo is now dating Monique Carrasco, who we were able to hire on as our second full-time intern!
Despite the trials that we underwent when we first arrived, we have seen God prune us and now grow us in the past six months from 76 to 94 disciples! We are faithful that we will see God double the church this year! Pray for us as we are praying for you! 
 
Michael Williamson – Lead Evangelist of London: Greetings from the United Kingdom where love is springing up everywhere!  
Between the 12th and 17th centuries, the custom of "hand fasting" became increasingly popular in England. The etymology behind hand fasting stems from the ancient British and Irish custom of shaking hands to solidify a partnership for life or "engagement!" Last month as Michele & I celebrated our 14th Wedding Anniversary, Kolbe Gray (who is part Irish) took his fair maiden Rebecca Rico and asked for her hand in marriage against the spectacular backdrop of the iconic Tower Bridge of London!  
I've been so very proud of Kolbe & Rebecca, who valiantly lead our East Region! They were both fruitful the Sunday before their engagement with a five-talent single professional Haven, and Sam our first campus student at the prestigious Queen Mary University, who was met and studied with by Rebecca! 
God has been moving in all of our regions this year! In the North, God gathered an incredible remnant brother, who moved to be with the church from Manchester! Stewart Brown – who was originally baptized in 1987 and is a licensed football coach – gave up his job at the world famous Manchester United Football Club to be restored to God's Kingdom!
We also baptized Natasha, a five-talent masters student studying Positive Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge!
   
Church history supports Oxford Brooke University as the birthplace for "Methodism," and it was at this University that the West Region celebrated our first campus student, Steven, baptized in Oxford! The London Church is so inspired by Paul Busari (who leads our AMS) and Coral McNichols (a single mother with four kids) who have 8-10 guests attend their Oxford Bible Talk consistently!  
God has been moving in the South Region which has become a "Little Holland" as most of our Amsterdam Mission Team has moved there to train under Michael & Maria Hart, who will Lord willing plant the Amsterdam Church in November! Maria and the sisters were able to study with Rachel (Dutch born) who was just baptized and then added to the Amsterdam Team!  
Lastly, please pray for my son Michael Adrian who consistently shares his faith with schoolteachers and friends. It brought me to tears seeing him as Team Captain leading his team undefeated to the Division Basketball Championship for seventh graders! Truly this is the "Year of the Impossible" and the "Year of VICTORY!"  
Mark Garrido – Overseeing Evangelist of the Hawaiian Islands: Aloha from your sister congregations in Honolulu, Hilo and Kona! "Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim His praise in the Islands!" (Isaiah 42:12) The beautiful Hawaiian Islands are proclaiming God's praise as five people were added to God's Kingdom this past month! On February 12th, we celebrated the Kona Inaugural Service! Excitingly with just 14 disciples, God gave to us an attendance of 90 people! Since the planting of Kona, Kona has had three baptisms, one wedding and finally secured a location for their worship service at a historic landmark – the Aloha Theatre!  
Of note in Kona, Richie was reached out to about a year ago but never studied the Bible. Then God gave him a job at Target with Gretchen! Gretchen recognized him from over a year ago and invited him to Bible Talk! Richie not only came but brought his girlfriend along with their baby. The two of them started to study the Bible and realized that they were living a life together that was unpleasing to God. Richie & Miko were encouraged by the Scriptures presented by our dearest brother and sister Dave & Beth Kelly to live a life worthy of the calling! In obedience, Richie & Miko Albert were unified in marriage on March 7th and immediately after were baptized into God's merciful Kingdom!
Eight days later on March 15th, 16 year old Joscelyn was baptized! She is the first teen baptism in the Kona International Christian Church!  
In Honolulu, it has been incredible as on February 17th, Ebony was baptized after studying the Bible for about a month! Ebony is a University of Hawaii (UH) student and just arrived this semester. Ebony is currently living in the dorms at UH and was unsure if she would be able to stay in the dorms due to finances. She was looking for a job and after she made Jesus Lord of her life, God blessed Ebony with an incredible job offer which has allowed us to start a Women's Bible Talk in her dorm!  
Last July, an incredible brother Kainalu – a fire/science student – was baptized in Hilo by Nate Carr! When Keri & I left Hilo to advance God's Kingdom in Honolulu, we asked our Campus Leaders to join us and then asked Kainalu to fill the gap in Hilo. Kainalu stepped up and baptized his classmate Jacob on February 26th!  
Please be praying for our Special Missions efforts to blow out this year's calling and for the many who are close to being baptized! Mahalo!
 
Dustin Miller – Lead Evangelist of Denver: Greetings from the Rocky Mountains! It's been 2 weeks since the majority of the Supplemental Mission Team from San Francisco (SF) arrived in Denver and God is already working powerfully in the church here!
As soon as we landed, we were able to witness the miracle of marriage as Jeff & Casey Tuason were joined in holy matrimony that Saturday! The ceremony was incredible as our very own Shepherd Jason Bond officiated the wedding! It was amazing to have so many disciples visiting from other congregations including many disciples from the Los Angeles AMS Region!  
This weekend was one for the books as we held our Third Annual Marriage Retreat in Mantiou Springs! We were honored to have Gary & Cyndee Ochs lead our retreat simply entitled, A Love Story. The theme comes from the 1950's pop song entitled, The Book of Love. The Ochs have one of the best marriages that I have ever seen and everyone was delighted to hear their insights into keeping their marriage A Love Story! Gary related his life before becoming a disciple to the likes of the rich young ruler and Cyndee to the sinful woman. Amazingly, Gary & Cyndee were baptized in 1990 on the same day and in the same ocean only 400 miles apart! Gary was baptized in SF and Cyndee in LA! They shared that only in God's incredible Kingdom could the rich young ruler and the sinful woman get married! Sunday was amazing as all 16 couples in the church renewed their vows with their spouses!  
Lastly, Sunday night was exceptionally remarkable as Kennedy a student at our Metropolitan State University (MSU) Campus was baptized into Christ! Kennedy was reached out to by our dear sister Ariel Schram who "just happened" to be the professor of one of Kennedy's classes that semester! Ariel shared her faith with Kennedy, as she does with all her students! After months of wrestling with the truth, Kennedy made the decision to give up everything, make Jesus Lord of her life, and be baptized into Christ!  
Please keep us in your prayers as we are making forceful advancement on our campuses here with many who are close to making Jesus Lord!  
Micky Ngungu – Lead Evangelist of Kinshasa: Greetings from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)! Last week in Kinshasa, Sergine was baptized after more than six months of Bible study! Now, her husband Pitshou is studying the Bible because of the radical changes he has seen in his dear wife!  
In our sister church in the DRC – the Mbuji Mayi Church – 8 people were baptized last week: Alice, Cynthia, Anna, Sarah, Rosine, Pontient, Barthélémy and Chérubin! The Mbuji Mayi Church now has 38 sold-out members!
   
Debs Rajan – Women's Ministry Leader of Chennai: Greetings from the Tamilians! "And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.'" (Hebrews 12:5-6)  
The month of January was a time of discipline for the Chennai Church as Satan sifted many souls that in turn fell away. As a church, Raja called us at the first of February to do a lot of searching of our hearts. There was fasting and a lot of sleepless nights. We took the Lord's discipline and made radical changes in loving God and loving people. The Lord encouraged us in the month of February by letting us have daily additions! In 28 days, we had 24 baptisms and 4 restorations!
Each of the 28 souls were special, but among them was Thomas & Shirly's son Rhys and Prathap & Maheshwari's daughter Priya!  
Also Khandaswamy & Sarita from our former fellowship were restored and they saw their daughter Sarika and son Ayush get baptized!  
Of special note was Soumiya, who studied the Bible 6 years ago, but did not want to give up everything and left to Baharain in the Middle East to make considerably more money! Raja my husband kept sending her the sermons for all these years! In time, she was married but without the Lord like many she divorced. Soumiya was devastated that she did not obey God and came back to Chennai, studied the Bible again, and not only was baptized, but has decided to give up her lucrative job and join the New Delhi Mission Team! To God be all the glory!  
HEADLINE NEWS
THE LATIN AMERICAN MISSIONS CONFERENCE REPORT
The 2017 Latin American Missions Conference (LAMC) began on Thursday morning, February 9th with the Church Builders Workshop! Cory Blackwell of Chicago preached the message A THRONE ESTABLISHED FOREVER! During this inspiring lesson, Cory shared about the Chicago Church's amazing January where God blessed them with 13 additions and no fall aways! As well this zealous congregation of 168 disciples raised their weekly contribution pledge by over $1,000!  
Following, there were Men's and Women's Sessions led respectively by Carlos & Lucy Mejia! The theme of these sessions was A MOUNTAIN THAT WOULD FILL THE EARTH – What Will It Take To Plant Churches In Every Nation? For the men, the speakers included Jose Otero of Bogotá, Jared McGee of LA, Jason Dimitry of San Francisco, Rafael Jerez of Boston, Hector Gomez of Mexico City, and Raul Moreno of São Paulo!  
The sisters in their session heard amazing messages from Daniela Otero, Lianne Kernan of LA, Sarah Dimitry, Melissa Jerez, Adriana Gomez, Lynda Moreno and Elena McKean!
In the afternoon, we boarded buses and headed to the Pyramids at Teotihuacán about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Mexico City! This was very interesting as these two pyramids – the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon – were built around 100 AD. The city of Teotihuacán at that time "was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas with a population estimated at 125,000… making it the sixth largest city in the world" according to Wikipedia! We climbed the larger of the two pyramids – the Pyramid of the Sun – where archeologists and later eye witness accounts reported human sacrifices at its peak! There, the 120 that made it to the top were led by Jared McGee in singing the beautiful song Dios Tu Pueblo Canta / Lord The People Praise You (in both Spanish and English) that glorified Jesus' sacrifice for all human kind! We were told that the singing could be heard throughout what once was Teotihuacán City! Following the ascent and descent from the Pyramid of the Sun, we once again boarded the buses and headed for a Mexican Restaurant! Most of us were quite thirsty and famished!
 
Friday evening, was the First General Session of the LAMC! Highlights of the evening included a stirring Opening Video, an International Prayer, GOOD NEWS FROM ALL AROUND THE KINGDOM, and the Reinstatement as Evangelist and Women's Ministry Leader of Leonel & Cristina Torres!  
Then came the Special Presentations By The Mexico City Teen Ministry! This included the Parable of the Sower Play by the Teen Brothers and Kayla Torres as well as a lively Modern Dance by the Teen Sisters that included the Flag Ceremony by the Teen Brothers! What made the Parable of the Sower Play so powerful was that after the "Fourth Soil Teen" was baptized (Andrew Mejia), he then restored the fallen away "Third Soil Teen" (Carlitos Mejia), who then helped to restore the fallen away "Second Soil Teen" (Jaume Salvatella), who in turn baptized the "First Soil Teen" (Sebastian Negrin)!  
To close out this amazing first night, Carlos Mejia enthusiastically preached the sermon, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT A MATTER OF TALK BUT OF POWER!
   
Saturday morning was MERCY T-Shirt Day! Tim Kernan – the City of Angels Church Evangelist – delivered in my opinion his best sermon yet which was entitled, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY!
 
Then we broke up into three sessions on Lessons From The Sermon On The Mount! The sessions included: Zero to Five Years In The Kingdom, Five To Fifteen Years In The Kingdom, and Fifteen Plus Years In The Kingdom!
Following, we came back for another General Session! Most moving was the Kingdom Appointment by the Oteroes of Salvador & Martita De Luque to become the Bogotá (Colombia) Shepherding Couple!  
Afterward, a remarkable presentation was given by Travis & Cecy Frazier – a Congregational Shepherding Couple in LA – on THE SHEPHERDS OF THE FLOCK! Then Nick & Denise Bordieri – the World Sector Leaders of MERCYWORLDWIDE – delivered a passionate plea about MERCY Projects Around The World.  
To close the afternoon, Raul Moreno and Carlos Mejia shared about the Crown Of Thorns Project For Latin America!
That evening was the much anticipated Kingdom Banquet! And what a feast it was! To cap off the night, Raul delivered the 24 minute lesson appropriately titled, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A WEDDING BANQUET! Afterward, there was a fun-filled Kingdom Family Dance And Fellowship!  
On Sunday, February 12th was the spectacular Congregational Worship Service! The singing was phenomenal as the almost 90 Americans in attendance were "getting the hang" of the Spanish songs! Following was the Kingdom Appointments of Anthony & Alejandra Rodriguez, the Monterrey Mission Team Leaders! As well the Rodriguezes vulnerably shared for Communion and Jared & Rachel McGee vivaciously preached for Contribution!  
The Morning Session continued with the lesson, THE SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM which was a textual study of Jesus' seven parables in Matthew 13 on the Kingdom!  
Late that night, one of Lucy Mejia's impossible prayers was answered! Graciela - her Mom - was baptized into Christ!
Though not officially a part of the weekend's festivities, on Sunday evening almost the entire LAMC participants came back together to celebrate the magnificent wedding of Miguel Limon & Myrna Lopez – the dynamic Mexico City Teen Ministry Leaders!
   
THE BRAZIL MISSION CONFERENCE REPORT
After the terrific LAMC, Elena & I traveled to beautiful São Paulo for the much anticipated Brazil Missions Conference (BMC)!
On Thursday evening, February 16th, the Speakers Dinner was held at a local Churrascaria – a delicious Brazilian Steakhouse! Since only Raul & Lynda Moreno were able to attend the LAMC from São Paulo, and only three – Alfredo & Alejandra Anuch and Dr. Ana Flores – came to the LAMC from Chile, it was incredible for Elena & I to be immersed in almost an entirely new group of equally fired up Disciple Leaders on another continent!  
The Brazil Missions Conference (BMC) officially began on Friday morning with the Congregational Workshop! We were given an incredible Welcome by the heroic remnant couple, Renato & Maria José Tria!
Following incredible singing, Raul Moreno delivered a sermon of sermons entitled, THE HOPE OF REDEMPTION!
 
Afterward, we were privileged to hear inspirational charges on THE REDEMPTION OF: ZACCHAEUS by Michael Kirchner; THE THIEF ON THE CROSS by Adam Zepeda; THE SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN by Maria José Tria, THE WOMAN AT THE WELL by Alejandra Anuch; THE LEPER WHO RETURNED by Alfredo Anuch; and THE BLIND MAN FROM BIRTH by Jose Andres Vargas!  
To end the Congregational Workshop, Renato Tria spoke in Portuguese on THE REDEMPTION OF SINS!  
Friday evening, Raul & Lynda Moreno – the Central and South America World Sector Leaders and São Paulo Church Leaders – gave a joyful Welcome to all the BMC delegates!
Then came a powerful Video over-viewing the SoldOut Movement Churches of Central and South America! Following was the presentation of the GOOD NEWS AROUND THE WORLD! Elena & I announced at that time that we were changing the name of the conference from the Brazil Missions Conference to the South American Missions Conference! We will rotate the hosting of this amazing unifying event between the two Crown of Thorns Cities of São Paulo and Santiago de Chile! All the disciples – especially the 52 from Santiago – were so encouraged!  
Then came the beautiful Cultural Dance Performances all performed by disciples!  
After the dances, Caio Costa – the Rio Mission Team Leader – was appointed an Evangelist in the Kingdom of God! He is the first of our many Brazilian Converts in the new Movement to be appointed an Evangelist!  
After a lengthy fellowship break and then great singing, Michael Kirchner of LA delivered his first Missions Conference sermon entitled, ETERNAL REDEMPTION! As he passionately preached on the cross, he wept over the sacrifice that Jesus made for him, causing us all to do the same! It was absolutely unforgettable!  
Saturday morning was the Men's Program from 9:00AM – 11:30AM. Caio gave his first Missions Conference sermon, THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION!
Then we heard tremendous admonitions by Vini Rodrigues – an USP Student, Manuel Palma – a Santiago Intern, Tulio Amaral – another USP Student, Nicolas Estay – a Santiago Single, and Augusto Rodrigues – Vini's Dad! Indeed, the Rodriguezes are a remarkable family! Vini reminds me of the zealous Phinehas of Numbers 25, and his father delivered a passionate charge on REDEEMED MARRIAGES! Augusto gave a tremendous analogy as he held up a single rose where he compared our wives to the beautiful flower and the thorns on the stem to challenges in marriage that a husband's spiritual leadership can overcome! Following these messages were powerful d-groups!  
In the afternoon from 2:00PM – 4:30PM was the Women's Program! The speech THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION was given by Elena, and after a break, short charges were delivered by Pilar Vargas of Santiago, Bia Hida – an USP Student, Carol Bataglin – a December graduate of USP, Dr. Ana Flores – a Single Physician from Santiago, and Sharon Kirchner of LA! As with the men, the sisters likewise had life-changing d-groups!  
Saturday evening, we gathered for our Second General Session, which was MERCY Night where every participant wore their green MERCY t-shirts!