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Santa Rosa, CA
A medium-sized city in Sonoma County, Santa Rosa is an hour’s drive from San Francisco. The spiritual leaders of Santa Rosa have a 12-year history of connecting with God and one another in prayer summits, and they still carry on a monthly, interchurch Friday-night prayer gathering called “CitiReach.” In recent years the leadership team there has established rapport and credibility with city and county governments, involving churches to help with local problems with gangs and also with mobilizing several congregations to participate in the annual “Spring Clean,” where they literally clean up the city. I’ve been invited back soon to prepare them to launch their citywide effort. Read more
Coachella, CA
As Coachella Valley enters a new ministry year of the LOV movement, we are all immensely encouraged and blessed by what the Lord is doing. Coachella is actively engaged in Pray-Care-Share, as participants in the LC2C initiative.
Pray: Another Go to the Wall Sunday was held in November, when thousands of Christians committed themselves to pray for lost people by name, to care for them, and to share the gospel with them at an appropriate time.
Care: A strong Care Committee has been prayerfully working to lead the 38 LOV churches in a Week of Caring, January 14-20, 2007.
Share: The Share Committee is preparing for their first Week of Sharing in spring of 2007, which will include a number of small affinity-harvest events. I recently talked to pastors in Coachella Valley regarding how to keep this culture of evangelism alive and fresh. A wonderful new thing—they have now brought in to the pastoral group a large number of younger pastors and youth pastors. Read more
San Bernardino, CA
Pastor Josh Beckley of San Bernardino is being used by God in an amazing way. With a God-given vision and with permission from school authorities, Pastor Josh gathered a group of pastors to prayer-walk junior high and high school campuses in their city—which is known for gang violence and inner-city issues—with dramatic results. Pastors on the Premises go not to preach but just to pray with kids and encourage them. Kids run up to the pastors and ask what they are doing there, and the kids ask for counsel or for prayer for tests or for family issues. Within two years of praying on campuses, the student-expulsion rate has gone from 70-80 percent down to 20 percent, and in some schools to no expulsions. Violence on campus is also significantly reduced and, with such dramatic changes, Pastors on the Premises now have the approval of the superintendent of schools to minister in some 40 schools in that area. Read more
Fresno, CA
Church leaders reported that the city of Fresno allowed a Christian rock concert to be held, with 10,000 young adults attending. This was very encouraging and was viewed as a very significant outreach to a younger generation and ethnic mix.
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