Dear Church
Tonight is the last service of our Missions Revival, and it is a bittersweet time. Our family has been getting home close to 10:00 p.m. each night, but our kids keep saying, “This has been a really fun Missions Revival.”
Not only has it been fun, but it has been good. Helpful. Spiritually enriching, and a great challenge for us.
The Scriptures make it very easy to talk about money, and sacrifice, and the work of the Lord, because in the end, it is all about God’s glory and OUR good. The money we commit to missions is not padding our pockets; it’s going outside our church to further the Gospel around the world.
On Sunday, Pastor Eddie Garza preached that our greatest mission is the Great Commission—to see souls saved, baptized, and discipled. Bro. Harrill then preached on the miracle of multiplication—what GOD can do with our offerings. In the evening potluck banquet, we looked at the cycle of giving—I’m enriched by God, I give of that abundance, others are thankful to God and glorify Him, God blesses me in return, so I give more—and it’s a great cycle to get in on!
On Monday night, Pastor Garza preached that we either GIVE or GO, and shared his testimony of how God brought him from an orphanage to now dream of starting his own orphanage. The Gospel’s work has come full circle.
Last night, we heard from the parable of the unjust steward that our mammon (money) can turn into eternal rewards when we use it on missions.
Tonight, we highlight our great state of CALIFORNIA. With so many millions of people, our state is the least-churched state per capita. It is no wonder our politics are Godless, because people have shoved Truth aside for greed, self, pride, and other vices that exalt themselves against the King of kings and governors.
The answer has never been in politicians, although I am thankful for anyone who is making a difference in politics. The answer has never been in school boards, although I support those in our school district who are standing up against Newsom. The answer has never been in conservatism or Republicanism or individualism or patriotism or traditionalism!
The answer for leftism is not “rightism.” It’s Jesus!
I know that sounds basic, but it’s true. Your friend on the opposite end of the political spectrum doesn’t need your political view, they need to be saved from their sin! God will give them a biblical worldview, which disagrees with Trump AND Biden! The Bible simultaneously makes us get along better with everybody (because we love them), but also get along worse with everybody (because we believe absolute truth).
The answer to California’s great need is Jesus Christ, and we will NEVER improve on God’s plan to turn the world upside down—by people being saved and churches being planted. How arrogant to think that God’s way is worse than our ideas.
Bro. Clint Minnick is pastoring in 29 Palms, and every Marine that gets saved is part of God’s PRIMARY plan; the Great Commission is the greatest good we can bring to this state.
As he plants the church there outside the Marine base, he represents our church’s desire to support church planting all over our state.
Bro. Russo told me last night about a pastor (Jon Packard’s dad) who knows of 14 churches that need a pastor! We not only need new churches, but we need to keep the existing churches going.
We helped do some outreach in Big Bear for Bro. Jackie Elwart last year, and Bro. James Kim just presented his burden for Irvine a few weeks ago. In January, we will get to hear from a pastor starting a church in Hawthorne, CA, and at the Church Planters Conference, we always give toward California churches. I just heard about a church that has already started in Wrightwood, and another one starting soon in Anaheim. Praise the Lord!
So when you hear about the Minnick’s struggles and burden for 29 Palms, imagine the same struggles going on in every church in San Diego, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and everywhere up and down this great state. Pray for the Minnicks in 29 Palms. Pray for California. —Pastor Ryan