SoCal AG News
SoCal School of Ministry
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
For those pursuing a Certified, License or Ordination Credentials, classes are offered on three campuses – Visalia (1st weekend of the month), San Diego (2nd weekend of the month), and the District Office (the 3rd weekend of the month).
The classes convene Friday morning through Saturday afternoon.
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Monday, April 05, 2010
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Ron Brown is the New Southern California Teen Challenge Director
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Good afternoon, friends,
Several months ago, we were all deeply saddened at the sudden passing of SoCal’s Teen Challenge Executive Director Dennis Griffith. Soon after, we began seeking God for wisdom and direction for the future.
A Teen Challenge Executive Director Search Committee was formed, chaired by Assistant Superintendent Gordon Houston, to formulate an appropriate selection process. This committee has received resumes from across the nation, and diligently carried out due process with each candidate. After four months, they unanimously agreed that God had prepared one individual for leading Southern California’s Teen Challenge in the years ahead, and recommended him for selection by the Board of Directors.
It’s my joy to share with you that Ron Brown has been selected by the Southern California Teen Challenge Board of Directors, which includes the District Executive Presbytery and the Teen Challenge Executive Committee, as the new Southern California Teen Challenge Director!
More than 20 years ago, while serving bi-vocationally as a Deputy Sheriff and associate pastor of his local church, God called Ron and his wife, Demetra, to minister to those bound by drugs and alcohol. This led him to LA’s Skid row and ministry to the homeless and addicted, and then, most recently, for the past 8 years, as Director of the Orange County Teen Challenge Center.
Ron will assume his duties immediately and provide direction and leadership for the nine (9) Teen Challenge Centers in Southern California. His extensive experience has equipped him in the areas of leadership development and team building, and his heart and passion is to speak with a compelling vision that will further awaken the enormous potential for Teen Challenge’s future.
May God bless and strengthen Ron’s hand as SoCal’s new Executive Director of Teen Challenge!
Blessings,
Ray Rachels
District Superintendent
Ron Brown
Ron Brown faithfully served our nation for 10 years in the United States Air Force and served his community for 5 years as a Deputy Sheriff. He has served a number of churches as worship leader, youth pastor, assistant pastor and associate pastor. For 8 years he served the Los Angeles Mission as a Chaplain, Program Director of its Long Beach outreach, Director of Urban impact, and as Executive Director.
Ron is an ordained minister who currently serves as Missions Pastor of the 3,000 member Mission Eben-Ezer Family Church in Carson, California, where Dr. Isaac Canales is the Sr. Pastor. This is the fastest growing multicultural church in the South Bay. In his capacity as missions pastor, he oversees 24 missionaries stationed around the world who are supported by the Mission Eben-Ezer Family Church. He also is a worship leader and has recorded 2 CD’s of anointed contemporary Christian music that he wrote and produced. Ron also currently serves as Director of the Orange County headquarters of Southern California Teen Challenge, an international ministry that provides a year long structured Christian discipleship program for those addicted to drugs and alcohol. A main focus of the Orange County ministry he oversees is to provide comprehensive outreach and prevention programs for inner-city youth at risk of gang affiliation and drug abuse. In addition to these current ministry activities, he is a sought after speaker in a number of churches around the Southern California area.
Ron is married to the beautiful Demetra Ann Brown, is the father of 2 daughters and has three grandchildren.
Chile Earthquake Updates from Missionaries Mike & Dodey Files
Saturday, February 27, 2010
March 9th Update:
Good evening!
Tomorrow morning, myself and the group from Convoy of Hope will begin to work our way back to the states.
Follow-up to insulin and chicken story - Sunday morning we visited 2 churches prior to attending the church of the District Superintendent - Pedro Contreras. One of the churches that we visited is where the insulin and chicken was delivered. We asked Sonia, the pastor's wife, if the insulin had arrived in good condition. She said that everything arrived perfect. I asked her about the chicken. She said - "Oh, I cooked that and feed it to some kids."
My last day in Concepcion was full of contrasting imagines. On the one hand we began to see the city of Concepcion returning to some semblance of normalcy. The curfew was changed to start at 9am and end at 9pm. From one day to the next the gas lines disappeared. There are still long food lines as people wait for hours to buy a small bag of basic food items. And, there is a sense of real concern as people begin to understand that it will be at least 2 to 3 months or more before they can go back to work! If food is readily available to buy - how will they put food on the table for their families if there are no jobs and no income? Thank God - that we were able to visit and bless every Assemblies of God church in the affected area around Concepcion with enough food to help most of the families of the church! Thank God - we were able to confirm that all of our pastors and their families are safe! Thank God for his protection - it is so amazing that more of the homes and our churches were not destroyed! The destruction is huge - I can only say thank God that Chile has demanded strong earthquake building codes!
On the other hand, we visited what is left of the city of "Dichato". What was once a thriving fishing village with some of the best fish restaurants in the country is now totally gone (please see picture). Every church except one has been destroyed and even that church was totally destroyed inside. This city will not be rebuilt in a couple of months and there will be no jobs here for a very long time. Please pray for this city and the people!
We have been blessed to see our pastors and their congregations that in moments of great tragedy put aside their own self needs and did everything they could to assist everyone that needed help. But, we have also seen the worst in the heart of man! People with no immediate need for food or new appliances - looted and then destroyed grocery stores by setting them on fire. Instead of taking a short time to restore the city to some form of normalcy - the very same looters caused the city to be set back days and weeks. The looters weren't just gangs or thugs, they were regular middle class people that allowed themselves to be taken in by the mob mentality.
I am reminded of Joseph's words in Genesis 50:20 - "...you meant to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.". Please pray that what has harmed so many, will be turned to good and the saving of many lives. Please pray for our pastors - they are going to need God's grace, wisdom and strength to walk through these next months with the church and community! Thank you for praying and for your support!
God bless,
Mike
March 6th Update:
Good evening!
Thank you so much for praying! I can't tell you how much we have sensed your prayers and appreciated every note of support.
Praise God! - Every day around 11am we begin to see cars lining up at the gas stations. Today we passed at least 2 or 3 lines for gas that were over 2 miles long. We had been out to visit three churches where we had heard that people were living in tents. As we came back into the center of Concepcion on our way to reload our truck with more food we noticed that a gas station had 1 car - yes, I said 1 car getting gas. We immediately turned into the station and asked if they would sell us diesel and gas. They said "yes" and told us we could buy as much as we wanted. Within seconds the line started behind us and just kept getting longer and longer. We filled up and left to go the food. Within 1 block we ran into another gas station that had a line of at least 1 mile. Can you imagine that people had been waiting for hours - not knowing that just 1 block away was all the gas they wanted and no line!!
Today was our hardest day since arriving. We were able to visit a total of 5 Assemblies of God churches. All of the pastors and their families are safe and their churches are intact. Yes, there is damage, but it is not so severe that they will have to rebuild. Praise God!
What was hard was to arrive in the ocean front town of Arauco and find that at least 2 thousand people are living in tents up in the hills. At first it was a little hard to understand why they were still up there. But, as they started telling us their stories of how they have heard so many false tsunami warnings and time after time had to run to the hills to escape the waves, I began to understand their fear. One family told us that when the warning starts to sound people start running like cattle with no care about running over someone or even a child. As we spoke with the pastor and his family at the encampment they just felt is was better to stay in the hills then to risk getting run over with a new tsunami warning.
One final story: The first day as we were driving towards Concepcion we received an urgent call to go to a pharmacy and purchase insulin for one of the pastors wives. She was totally out and there were no pharmacies open in the city. We stopped at the next town and found the first pharmacy available. They would only talk to us from a tiny steel window because of fear of people looting and destroying the store. They refused to sell us the insulin because we did not have any way to keep it cold. We looked for ice - and no one had any. We hurried to a restaurant - thinking that they might have some ice. The girl very kindly told me no. And, then she invited me to come to the back of the restaurant and look in the freezers to see what might work. All that I could see was 2 chicken legs and thighs. I asked if I could buy the chicken. She was so surprised she didn't know what to say. Then her mother walked in and said yes - in fact she gave it to me free. We walked to the pharmacy and they approved the purchase. We placed the insulin between 2 pieces of frozen chicken and were on our way. The insulin was delivered to the pastor's wife with no problem - all thanks to frozen chicken!!
Tomorrow we will be visiting another 3 churches in the Concepcion area. Please keep praying!!
Have a great Sunday and remember - Jesus is Lord of all! Even when in the midst of tragedy - He is still Lord!
Mike
March 5th Update:
Good evening from Concepcion, Chile!
Answers to Prayer:
1. With so many gas stations closed – we praise God that we found the diesel and gas that we needed to fill up our trucks before entering Concepcion.
2. We entered the city looking for a special pass for free passage throughout the region at all times of the day. Without knowing how to find the military base, within seconds of entering the city we were 2 blocks from the base. After waiting over an hour in line we received passes for 3 vehicles for 1 week each.
With our new passes we started towards the first Assemblies of God church where we were going to distribute food. Pastor Victor Burgos, was standing at the front of the gate almost as if he was waiting for us. Due to no phone service and lack of transportation - he had not been able to speak to the majority of his church members or anyone from the Assemblies of God since the earthquake.
Through donations from Convoy of Hope and the Assemblies of God, we were able give him cases of cooking oil, rice, noodles, beans and tea – he said, “Brother Mike we literally had nothing more to eat. My wife had sent me to search for food and I had come home with nothing. We had no more cooking oil and almost no food and we didn’t know what we were going to do. “ All of this food would be given out to the people in his community. The reality is that every single grocery store that we passed on the way to this church had been totally looted and most had been destroyed by fire. With tears he said “thank you so much for being here with us and for this help.”
We then visited the church of Pastor Daniel Reinoso in the center of Concepcion. Next to the church we found his home totally destroyed (see attached picture). The church is in good shape. At least 4 families from the church had their homes destroyed and are now living in the church.
Please pray for God’s mercy, provision, and grace for Chile. Please pray for our safety today as we deliver food and a word of hope to 2 more churches. These churches are located in 2 of the most affected areas.
Finally, please pray for our safety & for the people of Chile! To buy a small amount of basic food the people are waiting in lines that at times are over 3 blocks long. Today, as people were leaving the grocery store with what they had just bought there were several cases of thieves waiting outside and stealing their food. Please pray for the safety of our Chilean brethren that are helping us by driving 6 hours one way to bring us large quantities of basic foods.
Thank you for praying!
Mike
March 3rd Update:
Good evening from Temuco, Chile!
This will be a short update, but, I hope will clearly give you an idea of how you can pray for tomorrow.
Let me start with a praise report - We have been looking everywhere to buy empty paint buckets. That sounds like such a non-important thing. However, they are critical to setting up water filters and providing the people with fresh, drinkable water. Usually you can buy them for almost nothing. We looked and looked for the buckets and could not find them anywhere. After finally arriving in Temuco, Chile - we made one final stop at a hardware store. Everyone kept telling us that nothing was available. Then, we see one of the first young store clerks that we had spoken with climbing down a large ladder with 8 clean empty paint buckets for us. I then took a chance and asked them if they would be willing to drill a special size hole that we need to make the water filters work. They did it (you have no idea of what a miracle that was)!! And, then they brought out 10 more buckets and gave them to us free! The Convoy reps and I just kept looking at each other and saying it has to be God! Praise God for all of his provisions.
How can you pray for tomorrow. Please pray that the Lord will supply every need that we have for gasoline and diesel fuel. Today, almost every-time we passed by a gas station we had to stop and top off the gas tanks. At some locations we are only allowed to purchase about $5 of gas. Please pray that the Lord will protect us tomorrow - we will be taking in a large amount of food and supplies. Please pray that we are able to obtain a "free-passage" letter from the military that will give us permission to move around and work during the curfew hours. Please pray for our people in Concepcion - while I was on the phone talking to one of our pastors, they had an aftershock of 6.5! I could hear the panic in his voice and tonight they need our prayers.
Thank you for praying and for your notes of encouragement,
Mike
March 2nd Update:
Good evening!
Early tomorrow morning our team of 5, including 2 members of the Convoy of Hope assessment team, Steve & Rhonda Wilson, missionaries in Chile, plus myself will start from Bariloche, Argentina and cross the Andes Mountains to begin our trip north to Concepcion. Please keep us in your prayers.
Good News - We received word today that all of our Assemblies of God pastors in the primary earthquake area are all safe - including their families. We want to be able to assess as quickly as possible the damage to any of our churches.
If you have not seen the news today, you may not be aware that the situation in Concepcion has reached a level of desperation that the government has been forced to declare a curfew from 9pm at night to 12 noon the next day. No one is allowed out without a special pass. And, once the curfew is lifted, the people begin to leave their homes looking for stores and places where they can take whatever they find available. There is very little food and no water. The police are trying their best to keep control - but, until the government manages to begin to regularly deliver clean water and food - it will be very difficult to regain control of the city. Our hope is to arrive as quickly as possible to the city with a truck full of food and water filters to begin to provide clean drinking water.
Would you please pray that the Lord will give us favor with local government officials, especially the Mayor of Concepcion, to obtain permission to move about the city and to give us security as we move about the city. There is a very serious shortage of gas and diesel - please pray that the Lord will give us favor to find fuel for the 2 vehicles that we will be taking into Concepcion. Please pray that the Lord will give us favor to find the quickest and best route to arrive safely in Concepcion. And, please pray for the safety of each of our pastors as they are working to do everything that they can to provide for their communities and please pray that the Lord will guide us to locate each of our pastors.
Thank you for praying!
Mike
February 28th Update:
Hi everyone;
I wanted to update you and let you know that I am leaving early tomorrow morning (Monday) to travel to Chile. I will accompany the Convoy of Hope assessment team to look over the devastation and the find the best way to help the people. Due to the fact that there is still no food source or water in Concepcion, we are going in "self-sustained", taking our own food and water filters.
We hope to arrive in Osorno in the southern part of Chile by Wednesday afternoon. We will be joined there by missionaries Steve & Rhonda Wilson and then will head north towards Concepcion. Please pray for our safety! And, please pray that the Lord will guide us, give us wisdom, and will lead us to the exact roads to get us in to Concepcion. We are consulting with several people on the ground about the best routes to get in, but, we need the Lord's help and your prayers.
As I can I will try to send some updates. Thanks for praying!
Mike
February 27th Update:
URGENT UPDATE: - Earthquake Chile:
First, we want to assure each of our friends & family that we are safe. We had come to the U.S. to attend some meetings and are currently in Southern California visiting with Mike's parents. At this moment Mike is talking with Convoy of Hope about leaving early Monday morning, possibly traveling through Argentina, then crossing over the Andes Mountains to get to the south of Chile. Several have asked what they can do to help. First and foremost please pray for Chile, the Pastors, the Latin America ChildCare Schools, and members of our churches that have been affected, plus those that are injured or missing. Please pray specifically that the phone lines will begin to function correctly. And, please pray that we can find a safe and secure way to get into the Concepcion area.
We want to quickly explain that Chile is famous for it's huge earthquakes. When we first arrived in late 1984, just a few months later - we had an 8.2 quake centered near Santiago. Chile averages a major earthquake every 20 years. Yes, they are prepared better than most countries, with earthquake codes that match anything in the U.S. But, the devastation of an 8.8 quake is beyond what anyone could have imagined. The latest death toll is now over 300 and will probably continue to rise. Plus, many of the older parts of both Concepcion and Santiago were made of adobe and the news is showing a lot of devastation in these areas. Up until just a few minutes ago during a brief contact through "Facebook", we learned that the national church leadership in Chile has not been able to make contact with anyone in the southern part of the country. The Chilean church is going to need a lot of help and prayers.
We have spoken with several people at our church in Santiago through "Facebook" and all of our church people are safe. Actually "Facebook" has been our only way to contact people in Chile. Our church was not damaged at all. And, it appears that from an initial drive-by look, our apartment building is ok. But, we do not know what the inside looks like or if our STL vehicle was damaged.
In addition, please pray for all of our Latin America ChildCare Schools in Chile. We have been unable to reach any of our schools or pastors at the schools. School is currently out for the final couple of weeks of summer vacation. Please pray that we will be able to reach our school leadership.
We are thankful for the protection of the Lord for us and our missionary family. All of our missionaries are safe. And, we know that our National Superintendent, Roberto Ruz is safe. But, we want to be there as soon as possible to help our friends, colleagues and brethren!
Thank you for praying! And, thank you for your many notes, prayers and letters of concern! Keep praying!
Mike & Dodey
Disaster in Haiti (updated)
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - Update from Convoy of Hope
According to CNN, about three million people — one-third of Haiti’s population — have been affected by the quake.
- 170,000 are confirmed dead, and that number continues to rise.
- 1.2 million have been left homeless — many of these are children, now without parents.
The media coverage will soon be cut back... but the desperate needs of the people won’t go away.
Your online donation today can make an important difference.
Someone like you already made a difference for a little girl named Gamaelle...
She dashed out of her house when the earthquake began, but the neighboring house fell on top of her - her dad dug through the rubble for hours as she called out, “I’m here! I’m alive!“
She had a severely broken leg. Our medical team arrived, administered pain medication, and helped to set her leg... right there amid the ruins of her neighborhood.
Convoy of Hope was in Haiti before the quake, and we’re committed to remaining there for the long haul.
We must immediately ship enough food to continue providing up to 100,000 meals per day for earthquake victims, for all of this month - in addition we need to send water filters, tents, medical supplies, tarps, fuel and vehicles.
Thanks for stepping up again today, to be a hero for Gamaelle and thousands like her. Your generosity is making a difference!
As I write this, the House of Representatives has passed a resolution making your cash donation for Haiti tax-deductible on your 2009 taxes. Your generosity will be a blessing, and could also provide a benefit to you and your family.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - From Superintendent Ray Rachels
Friends,
This email was received from Missionaries Bill and Dorothy Smith after receiving the email appeal sent to our Southern California family for prayers and financial gifts:
Thank you, Ray, for this wonderful appeal. Kevin [Kevin Rose, Convoy of Hope's Country Director for Haiti] was at our house during the earthquake. The destruction is more than anyone could imagine and the needs greater than we can meet. The Haitian people are courageous, strong and resilient. They have covered our neighborhood with prayers and hymns. While everyone ran during a strong aftershock, a large group were heard singing, 'On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand.'
Your prayers and support during this time means more than you can imagine.
Blessings,
Bill & Dorothy Smith
Continue to pray for Bill and Dorothy, our other missionaries, the Convoy of Hope teams, and all others assisting during these critical days.
Blessings,
Ray Rachels
Friday January 15, 2010 - Convoy of Hope Update
Dear Friends,
You’ve heard the news. You’ve seen the images and the reports coming from Haiti. It’s a very sober time for all of us.
Our Haiti Director for Convoy of Hope was already there when the earthquake hit. And because we had a warehouse filled with food outside Port au Prince, we have been able to respond on the ground almost immediately.
We have begun distributing 50,000 meals, but more food, water purification units, tents, and medicines are needed. One load of supplies is being airlifted in today. Other containers are being readied for immediate shipment.
Through friends like you, two additional Convoy of Hope teams will be on the ground in Haiti IN JUST HOURS — actively engaged in the urgent relief effort.
We know this is not one of those disasters that will last days or weeks ... this is a disaster that will last for months and years.
I promise to stretch every single dollar as far as we can to meet the needs of as many people as possible. Our people on the ground cannot do this without your help.
I will be joining our teams early next week. Thank you for understanding the urgency of this situation and for giving sacrificially today.
God bless you,
Hal Donaldson
President
Update from Convoy of Hope
Meeting needs in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
Untold numbers of people have died. Tens of thousands have been injured or left homeless. Tuesday’s 7.0 earthquake in Haiti decimated the country.
“I heard screams for help from everywhere,” said Kevin Rose, Convoy of Hope’s country director for Haiti, describing the hours after the earthquake hit. “I am seeing many dead and injured people. The need is beyond description.”
On Tuesday night dozens of injured people made it to the medical clinic at the mission where Convoy of Hope has its warehouse. By morning four of those injured were dead.
As the world looks on and aid teams are deployed to the island nation, Convoy of Hope is already setting up an emergency command center just outside Port-au-Prince where food, water and supplies are being distributed to victims of the earthquake.
‘This is a major disaster that will affect the lives of countless families for years to come,” says Hal Donaldson, founder and president of Convoy of Hope. “Thankfully, our warehouse in Haiti was full so we could begin responding immediately. More containers are being staged for shipment and filled with more food, water and supplies in our world distribution center in Springfield, Mo.”
According to Rose, besides food and water there is an urgent need for tarps, tents, medical supplies and medicine too.
“Timing is critical,” says Greg Venturella, senior director international operations for Convoy of Hope. “Food, medical supplies and water are scarce.”
Tomorrow, Venturella and Kary Kingsland, vice president disaster response, will lead teams into the region. Venturella will pick up medical supplies from a partner organization in the Dominican Republic then continue on into Haiti where the relief supplies will be distributed at Convoy of Hope’s distribution point.
Because of the extent of damage and estimated loss of life, Convoy of Hope has already committed to long-term relief efforts in Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Many of its nearly 10 million residents live in abject poverty.
Already, Convoy of Hope feeds more than 7,000 Haitian children each day.
“We need the help of our friends and supporters to meet short and the long-term needs in Haiti,” says Donaldson. ‘Convoy of Hope is committed to helping hurting families rebuild their lives.”/p>
Donate online now to help a family in Haiti
My heart is so heavy today with the disaster that struck the island nation of Haiti last evening. The Assemblies of God has 2 missionary families on the ground there. Reports are that they are safe. However, we have 273 churches with over 66,000 adherents and we do not know the fate of any of these. Most assuredly there is an unbelievable loss of life among the 3 million population here. The capital city, Port-Au-Prince for all purposes has been leveled. I am appealing to our churches and leaders to give sacrificially for relief efforts for Haiti. You can view a video I made this morning at www.ag.org appealing for prayer and for funds. I am especially appealing to our 12,300 churches to take an offering this Sunday for Haiti relief and send these funds to us so we can immediately respond with help. We partner with Convoy of Hope in these efforts and will be doing everything we can to assist. I have asked the AG Fellowship around the world to give and to pray for this nation which is among the poorest on earth.
Please pray that the proclamation of the gospel will be advanced during this time of suffering and that God will take this disaster and bring great good to the Haitian people and churches. We will provide updates as they are available but I am asking for your help today for relief funds. You can give online at www.ag.org and click the Haitian Relief button or by sending your donations to headquarters at 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802 marked for Haiti relief.
May God bless you and make you a blessing.
George O. Wood
General Superintendent
Update from the Superintendent Ray Rachels...
We received a phone call today from Missionaries Dale & Patti Coad. Dale will be leaving for Haiti tomorrow to help with assessing the damage and needed relief. The following is some of the information from Haiti at this time:
- AGWM has 2 missionary couples in Haiti. All AGWM missionaries are okay.
- Bill & Dorothy Smith, SoCal missionaries there, are okay but their home was severely damaged and is unlivable.
- Cell phone communication is slowly coming back. The limited communication up to this point has been through internet and facebook.
- There are 273 churches and over 66,000 adherents in Haiti. The damage is massive, but at this time they do not know who is alive, death counts, and the extent of the damage to our churches.
- Dale Coad will be going with a team tomorrow (via the Dominican Republic) and one of their tasks is to go with GPS systems to try and find their churches to see which are still standing and who is still living.
- * Relief Funds: Funds can be sent to help with the relief in Haiti through the Convoy of Hope. Funds should be sent to:
- AGWM/COH Disaster Relief (stands for AGWM Convoy of Hope)
- 1445 Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65802
- Account: 410946-8 class 70
- * Prayer Requests:
- Pray for those who are injured and missing. Pray for those who have lost loved ones.
- Pray for the medical and sanitary conditions for all the people there right now. (Need of medical supplies, water, food...)
- Pray for the missionaries: protection, encouragement, wisdom
- Pray for the 1,000's of displaced people
- Pray for our churches and our people
Dale and Patti are both posting updates regarding Haiti on their facebook. You are welcome you as friends, if you are not already. (Facebook: DaleCoad and PattiCoad)
Update From Convoy of Hope
From schools to shacks — 3.5 million Haitians in Port-au-Prince are reeling from the 7.0 earthquake that struck late yesterday afternoon.
But as you read these words, Convoy of Hope is responding to this urgent disaster.
Your immediate online donation will help provide critically needed items for the earthquake victims.
Our teams are already setting up an emergency command center just outside Port-au-Prince. Containers are being filled with more food, water, and supplies in our world distribution center in Springfield. Emergency shipments are scheduled to be sent.
Due to the extent of the damage, Convoy of Hope has already committed to long-term relief efforts there. We need your help to meet immediate needs NOW ... and to continue meeting needs in the coming months, as countless families try to rebuild their lives.
Today, I urge you to stand with us in compassionate giving.
Please share this need with friends, neighbors, schools, churches and businesses. This is a movement of compassion.
Your generosity today will make an incredible difference. Thank you!
God bless you,
Hal Donaldson
President
Secretary-Treasurer Larry Chapman to Retire
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friends,
A few days ago, my friend and yours, Larry Chapman, gave me his letter of resignation, effective June 1, 2010.
For the past 17 years, Larry has served with distinction as Secretary-Treasurer as a great steward of the finances of this District. In lean times as well as good times, Larry has, with a careful eye and wonderful heart for ministry opportunities, guided us faithfully. We have been blessed to have Larry in this important position! I have deeply appreciated Larry's friendship, as I know you have.
Let me share Larry's resignation letter with you:
Dear Ray,
It was a surprise and great honor to be elected as Secretary-Treasurer at the 1993 District Council. At the upcoming District Council in April of this year, I will have served 17 years. It has been my joy during those 17 years to see our District continue to grow and prosper and retain a leading edge in the national Assemblies of God fellowship.
The Southern California District is currently in a good financial position, enjoys the ownership of many properties, and has a solid, effective cohort program in place to train pastors and lay-leaders in church development. The future for the District is bright and consequently paves the way for me to retire during 2010. In order to facilitate adequate time for contemplation and planning, this letter will serve as my official resignation as of June 1, 2010.
My services will continue to be available for consulting and assisting to further the ministries of the District if the need arises. I pray God's direction and blessing will rest on the future leadershop of the Southern California District.
Sincerely,
Larry Chapman
Secretary/Treasurer
The Executive Presbytery has designated the Monday noon luncheon, April 5, at District Council as a time to say farewell to Larry and Jean. Tickets for this luncheon will be available on your District Council registration form or online at www.socalag.org.
Please join us on April 5th to thank Larry and Jean for their friendship and dedication to our SoCal family.
Blessings,
Ray Rachels
District Superintendent
A January & February Call to Prayer
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Friends,
Let Us Pray!
How often have we spoken those three simple words to preface an invocation or benediction at an important event. No more vital words could be expressed at this time as we begin our 2010 series of Sectional Councils across our District. They are words that echo the biblical call – "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray... I will hear from heaven." 2 Chronicles 7:14 Peterson’s more contemporary expression of this Scripture says, "If...my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I'll be there ready for you: I'll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health. From now on I'm alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place."
Paul’s injunction to us is: “Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” Philippians 4:6
Let Us Pray offers an imperative for all of us to place ourselves in God's presence, actively seeking His direction and favor. This year is significant as we will elect 10 new presbyters, 30 sectional leadership team members, and of course, a new District Superintendent at District Council.
Jesus instructs us to pray, "your kingdom come, your will be done," which should be our underlying motivation as we pray on behalf of these significant times we face. Richard Foster underscores our need in his best-seller, Prayer, in this way:
There is a religious word for what I have been describing: supplication.
Supplication means to ask with earnestness, with intensity, with perseverance.
It is a declaration that we are deadly serious about this prayer business. We
are going to keep at it and not give up. John Calvin writes, “We must repeat
the same supplications not twice or three times only, but as often as we have
need, a hundred and a thousand times….We must never be weary in waiting
for God’s help.”
So with the approaching days of decision ahead, I would simply yet earnestly urge us all as pastors, church leaders and servants of Christ— Let Us Pray!
May God be honored in our lives and ministry,
Ray Rachels
District Superintendent
Southern California Assemblies of God
A message from the Superintendent
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Dear Friends,
I was reading the wisdom of Ecclesiastes recently and that wise man said to me:
"There's an opportune time to do things,
a right time for everything...
"A time to hold on and another to let go..."
- Ecclesiastes 3, The Message
I've had the incredible privilege, since September, 1985, of serving our Southern California Assemblies of God family, first as District Assistant Superintendent, then for the past 22 years, as Superintendent.
This is an opportune time for me to let go!
These years, all of them, have been filled with the pleasures of serving, as best as I'm capable, the finest people on earth.
Thank you for the privilege you've given to Judy and me of being part of your lives and ministry. It will continue, I hope and pray, but in other, more informal ways.
This week I informed the District Presbytery of my decision to resign from the Office of Southern California's District Superintendent, effective June 1, 2010.
We will vote on a new Superintendent at the April 5-7, 2010, District Council, to be held at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel, to find our Lord's direction for the years ahead.
You are a wonderful family of friends. I love you and am believing for a tremendous future, with fresh vision from new leadership.
May the Lord watch over us as His servants.
Ray Rachels
District Superintendent
Southern California Assemblies of God
Dennis Griffith, Executive Director of Teen Challenge International, passed away Sunday, October 25
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Dennis Griffith will be held at 10 AM on Monday, November 2, at the Grove Community Church, 19900 Grove Community Drive, Riverside, CA 92508. A light reception will follow immediately after the service. Please continue to remember Kim and the family in your prayers.
Dennis Griffith (1953 - 2009)
Dennis Griffith is the Executive Director of Teen Challenge International, Southern California and has served the organization for 33 years. Under Griffith’s leadership the Southern California organization has grown to include a network of 10 centers, providing youth, adults and families with effective and comprehensive drug prevention services, including a residential discipleship program for 500 adults seeking freedom from their addiction.
Dennis Griffith has also served the world wide Teen Challenge organization in various capacities over the years. Currently he serves as an Officer on the Board of Directors for Global Teen Challenge, networking with Teen Challenge centers in other countries. He also serves Teen Challenge International, USA as the Teen Challenge Representative to Washington, DC. In March of 2003, Dennis received a special honor, President George W. Bush appointed him to serve as a Commissioner with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Free Communities Program, giving the White House advice on drug related issues. “I deeply appreciate and I am honored by the President’s appointment,” Griffith says. “This is a wonderful opportunity for me to serve in a way that is vital to our country’s future and contribute to the nation which gave me a second chance.”
Dennis also serves on the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Advisory Board and is also an Expert Faith Based Panelist for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). Both centers are part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA).
Don’t miss Vanguard’s Lewis Wilson Institute for Pentecostal Student Annual Lectureship
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Don't miss Vanguard's Lewis Wilson Institute for Pentecostal Student annual lectureship featuring Dr. David Reed speaking on "The History and Beliefs of Oneness Pentecostals." Seminar is Friday, Oct. 23, 2-4 pm in Heath 109.
Senior Adult Ministries Campmeeting
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Only a few spaces left -- make your reservation today!
Leadershift 2009: In Review
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
All of the evening services from Leadershift: 2009 District Council can be downloaded from our downloads section, as well as viewed on our videos section.
Fine Arts Festival
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Fine Arts Festival is a discipleship tool of National Youth Ministries designed to "help students discover, develop and deploy their ministry gifts."
District Competition - May 15 & 16 - Orange County First Assembly
Spiritual Formation Meetings
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Spiritual formation is a journey.
It's about equipping leaders.
It starts with you ... It ends with Him.
Want to begin this new kind of journey?
Seasons Greetings from SoCal AG
Monday, December 01, 2008
May the season bring you . . .
The beauty of friendship,
The joy of good health,
The comfort of peace,
And the blessings of Christ as we celebrate His birth.
SoCal District Leadership Team and Resource Staff
Will you cast your vote on November 4th?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Politics create instant camaraderie between two strangers when they agree. But politics can also produce an awkward silence, or it can be the lit match in a gas filled room. Hopefully people remain friends, though it may only be possible at the cost of any political discourse.We’ve all experienced elation when our candidate won, and disappointment when our candidate lost. When this happens, we feel we ourselves lost, our whole country lost. The genius of democracy is grass roots participation in the political process, but with results there are winners and losers – a reality that will hit home on November 5th in families, friendships, congregations, and communities.
Christians, including evangelicals and pentecostals, are in more than one political party, and there are independents who feel shunned because they don’t tow the party line of either political base, and their concerns are represented in more than one political platform.
Regardless of party affiliation, Christian values should inform our political decisions. In each election, we have an opportunity to cast our one vote that represents our convictions in a broad array of issues – family values, ethic of life, racial reconciliation, human rights, poverty, compassion for children and disenfranchised, and environmental stewardship, to name a few.
While Americans would not surrender their right to vote, many will not exercise this right on November 4th. Some are disenchanted with the slate of candidates, many are cynical, and others question how their one vote will make a difference. One can only remember the ink-stained fingers of Iraqi citizens in their first election this century. Whether the right to vote is taken away or is given, then we realize its power and privilege.
Embracing the privilege of being United States citizens, we also belong to another “citizenship” that transcends country of origin, geography, socio-political, and cultural differences. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes:
… remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God (Eph 2:12-22).
Our earthly citizenships and kingdom values will always be in tension; therefore we continue to pray in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one (Matt 6:9b-13).
On November 4th each single vote – however insignificant it seems – will be cast to represent values that are significant to our future and our children’s future.
November 4th Election
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Two important initiatives, Protect Marriage (Prop. 8) and Sarah's Law (Prop. 4), will be on the California ballot. The passage of these two initiatives is vital.
Be a part in protecting California families by:
- Voter registration - in registration drives in local churches or community
- Voter education - flyer distribution explaining these initiatives
- Get out the vote - according to your faith and values
For more information:
- Protect Marriage Initiative (Prop.8) - ProtectMarriage.com
- Sarah's Law (Prop. 4) - FriendsofSarah.com
New Directors of Hispanic Ministries
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Larry & Melodee Gruetzmacher began as Directors of Hispanic Ministries on August 1, 2008. Dick and Jann Larson will continue as Area / Field Directors for Hispanic Churches.Larry earned his BA at North Central University, Minneapolis, MN in 1979. He completed a Masters program in Organizational Leadership from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN in 2002. Melodee is also a graduate of North Central University, as well as earning a master’s degree in elementary education from University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Larry and Melodee were youth pastors for the first ten years of their ministry. In 1988, their focus and passion turned towards the Hispanic world, and they were appointed as world missionaries with the Assemblies of God. They have worked in Mexico City, Mexico for almost 20 years, starting three new churches and working to develop a church planting movement across Latin America.
Click here to read more about Larry & Melodee Gruetzmacher
Former Superintendant with the Lord
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Dear Friends,We have received the devastating news this morning that our dear friend and co-laborer Fred Cottriel passed away sometime during the night. He went to sleep as usual, but Lucile was unable to awaken him this morning.
Fred had set his alarm for 6 a.m to go to Los Angeles to continue negotiation on a piece of property for a church. When he did not awaken, Lucile called 911, but they were unable to revive him. Fred was also planning another trip to Honduras soon.
At this time, we have no final information regarding funeral arrangements.
Please be in prayer for Lucile and their family as they face this tremendous loss.
With great sorrow,
Phone: 949-252-8400
Fax: 949-252-8435
Email: