Dodgers, Fans Switch Focus From Slump To Faith During Post Game Event

LOS ANGELES — Several Los Angeles Dodger players and thousands of fans were able to switch focus from a nasty slump to a time of worship and testimonies during Christian Faith Day, an annual post game event at Dodger Stadium held earlier this month.

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“You’re going to spend more time with your faith than you are playing baseball,” three-time Cy Young Awards winner Clayton Kershaw told TogetherLA.net and K-Wave 107.9 prior to the event held September 10. “You can’t treat (life, a player’s life) like a pie chart — have Jesus in one part and then baseball in the other part because baseball is going to take over.“You just need to find a way to put Jesus into every part of your life. I try to do that with baseball, with a bigger picture in mind, and a bigger perspective in mind,” Kershaw continued. “It’s not always easy coming to the field every single day, especially the way it has been going for us now, but we just have to remember on a consistent basis that we are doing it for a bigger purpose.”While the Crowder band was setting up the stage and preparing to play before fans who gathered after the game (an 8-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies) on the 3rd-base side of the stadium, a panel of players, including Kershaw and Adrian Gonzalez, were interviewed by the team’s chaplain, Brandon Cash, on top of the Dodger dugout.As a pastor at Oceanside Christian Fellowship in El Segundo, Cash came to the Dodgers by way of the Baseball Chapel ministry that learned about his work with the L.A. Kings. He has helped host Christian Faith Day at Dodger Stadium for the last seven years.When asked by TLA about the importance of the event and sports ministry in general, he said, “In the culture we live in, sports and entertainment may be two of the biggest industries in cultural influences that we have and so to have guys that follow Jesus in either of those worlds is really a good thing. It’s encouraging to the faith of those who may be wavering and it’s a great voice for the gospel for people that don’t know Jesus.”Cash, an alumnus of Biola’s Talbot School of Theology, said that he is excited to serve as a chaplain and Christian leader in Los Angeles.“We have some 10 million people in the L.A. area so just the population — it’s huge, it’s diverse, the world comes to L.A. so if you reach L.A. [new believers] will go back out and reach the world,” he said. “I just think the opportunities in L.A. are incredible.”Cash said his hope for the annual event is that Christians are encouraged and that unbelievers would discover the truth about the gospel.“I think of when Apollos came to town (as described) in the book of Acts. He was more eloquent and he defended the faith. He was an encouragement to those that lived in the city,” he said. “Sometimes when they hear someone like a Clayton or an Adrian encouraging them in their faith then I would hope they leave encouraged. I would hope that people who don’t know Jesus would hear the gospel and see the truth.”Kershaw also described the importance of the event.“This is just a great way to maybe reach people who have never heard the Word before, never heard testimonies,” he said. “I know baseball is a great platform to be able to use that for Jesus. That’s why we do the faith day — maybe our stories can help a little bit.”Gonzalez, who has been on the injured list, appeared to enjoy the event not only as one of the players giving their testimony, but as a Crowder fan relishing the time of worship with his family by his side.“If we can be a blessing to one person in the stands, it made it all worth it,” Gonzalez said.

READ: Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Return To Mound Includes His Best For God and Fans

Men's Pastor Aces Matthew McConaughey Lincoln Commercials in Retreat Promos

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. — As a way to promote an upcoming men’s retreat, Men’s Leadership Pastor Kenny Luck teamed with his church’s creatives to knock out stellar video spoofs of a couple of the ethereal Matthew McConaughey Lincoln car commercials.

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Complete with his impersonation of McConaughey as the introspective dreamer driving a Lincoln into the city night and also stalled on a 2-lane highway in front of a bull, Luck performs both a voiceover in thoughts and speech in the actor’s typical Southern drawl.“Sometimes, you gotta go to the mountain, get through the valleys,” Luck (in full McConaughey mode) says in the nighttime video produced by his Crossline Community Church team. “Not talkin’ about reminiscing or chasing ghosts. You stop making excuses. Dive in. Go to the men’s retreat. Can’t lead a family without God’s tools, God’s word, God’s spirit… that’s what we need. Get your questions answered. Who is God? Does He care? Does He hold the universe between His fingers?“Some say, ‘Can’t go to the men’s retreat.’ Yes, you can. I went to the men’s retreat long before they sold t-shirts. Not to be cool or to make a statement. I just like it.”Kenny Luck is the Men’s Leadership Pastor at Crossline Community Church. Prior to Crossline he built and led the Men’s Ministry at Saddleback Church. He is an ECPA Platinum Award Winning author who has authored and co-authored 20 books for men which include RISK, DREAM, FIGHT, & SOAR and his latest men’s movement book Sleeping Giant. As Founder and President of Every Man Ministries, Kenny personally reached millions of men and is spearheading the Sleeping Giant movement which is revolutionizing men’s ministry in the local church, freeing men spiritually, and empowering family health worldwide.

Passion to Ignite Spiritual Health – Every Man Show on Drive-Time

'Because of Grácia' True To Teen Life; Moriah Peters Shines Light

It's been a long time since I've been a teenager.However, while watching an advanced screening of Because of Grácia (film released this weekend) I was transported back to my high school days rather seamlessly in this engaging movie that challenges the commonly accepted focus of teens and offers up the truth in the form of one student in particular who is living out their faith in God.In its promotion, Because of Grácia may try too hard to avoid being tagged a Christian film. I root for efforts like these often, but mostly pray for a good film irregardless of its label.Chase Morgan would love to live up to his own name and pursue something great. It's his senior year and he’s still as insecure as ever but Eastglenn High's newest student is about to turn that around. Grácia is a girl with charisma, intelligence and conviction but she’s not as “put together” as Chase and his best friend OB might think. A dark past gives her a unique connection with Bobbi, a misunderstood classmate with a pushy boyfriend and disconnected father. As Bobbi struggles with a life-and-death decision and Chase risks rejection, Grácia challenges her friends, teachers and even herself to step outside the status quo. Because of Grácia’s inspiring strength, those around her are finding it easier to speak up and fall in love.In the end, it's not about how the film is packaged, but the fact that it is well made, funny, real, and carries an important message about life.Writer/director/producer Tom Sines, who teaches film in Canada, said he originally wrote the story as a stage play. When interviewed by the 700 Club, Sines said, "There is a demographic that I don't see in films that I see in my classroom every day and that's Christian young people trying to live out their faith. So, I started writing out a story about a kid named Chase Morgan and all I started with was the premise was that he was in his bedroom trying to get up the courage to call a girl and ask her out."Because of Grácia stars former American Idol contestant, Moriah Peters, who says her appearance on the show mirrors the experience of her character in the film.The Hollywood Reporter stated that Peters, then 16, tried out for American Idol and told judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Avril Lavigne that she was a Christian who was saving her first kiss for marriage.Peters said the celebrity judges praised her looks and her singing, but belittled her chaste lifestyle. One judge told her, "You're trying to be too perfect," while another told her, "Go out, kiss a guy, come back," she says.Peters' character is similarly saving herself for marriage. She also sings and is called “perfect” in the movie, just like on American Idol seven years ago."I honestly thought the director built Gracia’s character around my high school experiences," she said. “I was allowed to simply be myself, and it wasn’t difficult to dive into the controversial and tense circumstances."There is more than one hot button topic brought to the surface in Because of Grácia and that makes the film very gratifying to after-movie discussion lovers. Go see and discuss amongst yourselves.

One Voice Student Missions Hosts Vision Casting Valley Summit

One Voice Student Missions is inviting pastors, youth leaders, business partners and anyone who has a heart for sowing into the next generation to Together: The Valley Summit, a vision casting gathering planned for Saturday (9/16).Organizers say those in attendance will hear how high schools are being impacted and be given a chance to "be a part of the history making.""By the grace of God, One Voice Student Missions has existed in Los Angeles for the last four years, impacting the high schools and working closely with the local church here in the city where so much culture and influence flow in and out of," Valley Summit organizers said.In a Together LA interview with founder Brian Barcelona earlier this year (See video below), he explained how One Voice Student Missions has successfully established lunchtime Bible studies at more than 70 high schools in Los Angeles, other areas of California, and in other states.“This generation faces a unique hurdle that no other generation has faced and that is social media,” Barcelona said. “Adding to their own problems, people are now going through other people’s feeds and seeing what’s going on in their lives. Studies have shown that this is the ‘loneliest generation’ ever but no one feels lonely because everyone is connected...If that makes sense. The relationships are not really that deep. That’s what I see going on at schools.”When asked by TLA how he approaches high schools for the first time, considering that the current political climate includes a large adversarial component, he said, “I don’t think that there is as much hostility towards the gospel as there is towards religion. I think defining those two (gospel and religion) and separating them from the beginning and realizing that a religious agenda is not the same as living out the gospel.“What we find in going into a campus is that we bring the Good News of the Kingdom,” he continued. “The Good News at its core is that we don’t have to be bound and linked the same as we once did. There is freedom in Christ. That’s not just modeled in a sermon or ‘Let me do worship in your school’ or ‘Let me go preach to all your kids.’ That’s modeled first in my response to how I will serve an administrator or my willingness to obey even some of the laws that already exist.“Sometimes, it’s not even [about] laws, but confusion about what separation of church and state really means. When we go into a campus we are there to serve… whether they let me preach the first week or let me preach in 5 months, I’ll do whatever I can to serve that campus and to bring the love of Jesus onto that school.”For more information, go to One Voice Student Missions' page about Together: The Valley Summit.

Disaster Relief Revelation In USA TODAY: Churches Don't Just Hold Bake Sales

"It is impossible to keep your faith to yourself. What you believe impacts what you do," Tim Keller shared on Twitter with a link to a USA TODAY revelation that churches provide the bulk of disaster relief in coordination with FEMA.I've got news for USA TODAY: the enormous disaster relief efforts we've seen recently, and at most times in general, are provided by Christians, whether in churches, organizations, mission teams, or individually, and have gone way beyond the scope of "coordination with FEMA," but by working together with many.Be sure to watch video on "In Jesus Name" ministry below!

In a disaster, churches don’t just hold bake sales to raise money or collect clothes to send to victims; faith-based organizations are integral partners in state and federal disaster relief efforts. They have specific roles and a sophisticated communication and coordination network to make sure their efforts don’t overlap or get in each others’ way. - USA Today

The USA Today article serves as a critical piece of information to the world that mistakenly believes that the media is the problem. No it's not. We learn many factoids about Christians and disaster relief efforts, including this one:

"About 80% of all recovery happens because of non-profits, and the majority of them are faith-based," said Greg Forrester, CEO of the national VOAD. The money is "all raised by the individuals who go and serve, raised through corporate connections, raised through church connections," and amounts to billions of dollars worth of disaster recovery assistance, he said.

Below are five Christian relief organizations (along with contact information) that are most always at the top of disaster relief efforts in the U.S. and in many cases, internationally.Samaritan’s PurseFounded in 1970 by Bob Pierce, this evangelist and journalist traveled throughout Asia in the years following WWII. During a trip to China, he met a group of brave women who lived among the lepers and orphans in order to help them and share the love of Jesus Christ through selfless service. Pierce was so moved by these women that he dedicated his life to finding other Christians who were willing to care for the poor and suffering around the world. After seeing children suffering on the island of Kojedo, Korea, he created Samaritan’s Purse to meet emergency needs through evangelical missions. After his death in 1978, Franklin Graham took the reins and expanded the ministry for the next 30 years to help those suffering from earthquakes, hurricanes, famine, and wars, following the Biblical example of being the Good Samaritan.West Coast Regional (Operation Christmas Child) contact: 714-432-7030 or occwestcoast@samaritan.org Website: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/Salvation ArmyWe are all familiar with The Salvation Army’s bell ringers that pop up at every retail store around the holidays each year. However, have you thought about where your spare change is going and whom it is helping? The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Their mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ while meeting global human needs through service and the love of God. With your donations, The Salvation Army provides hunger relief, housing assistance, homeless services, Christmas assistance, and after school programs for children and families throughout the country. They also support a variety of unique adult programs, such as substance abuse rehabilitation, veterans affairs, prison ministries, elderly care, anti-human trafficking programs, and missing person services.Southern California contact: 562-264-3679 or infosocal@usw.salvationarmy.org Website: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/Convoy of HopeAs a faith-based, nonprofit organization Convoy of Hope has helped more than 85 million people throughout the world by sharing food, water, emergency supplies, agricultural know-how, and opportunities that empower people to live independent lives, free from poverty, disease and hunger. Convoy of Hope does this through the following: mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers each year, partnering with churches, businesses, individuals and other humanitarian organizations who are intent on doing good work among the impoverished and suffering.In the past 20 years, Convoy of Hope has been active in 48 states and providing disaster response, conducting community outreach events, and directing nutritional programs and sustainability projects. Since Convoy of Hope was established it has brought help and hope to 114 countries and counting. This has been made possible, in part, thanks to Convoy of Hope Europe.Los Angeles contact: 562-412-8788 or convoyofhopela@gmail.com Website: https://www.cityofhope.org/Compassion InternationalIn 1952, the Rev. Everett Swanson went to South Korea to minister to the American troops who were fighting in the Korean War. While, in Seoul, he witnessed hundreds of war orphans living and dying in the streets, abandoned by society, he vowed to find a way to help them. Starting with a single orphanage, he created a program that provided food, clothing, medical care, shelter, and a Bible-based education to these unwanted children. Within two years, the mission grew into a sponsorship program where American individuals, groups, and churches could care for these children with small monthly donations. Today, with the support of 14 sponsor countries around the world, nearly 2 million babies, children, and young adults are released from spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty through Compassion International’s Christ-centered, child-focused, church-based programs.Main Office (Colorado Springs): 800-336-7676 Website: https://www.compassion.com/Operation Blessing InternationalOperation Blessing was founded in 1978 by Pat Robertson as a way to help people in need receive the clothing, appliances, vehicles, and other items that were donated by the viewers of The 700 Club. As the need grew, the organization expanded to include a fleet of refrigerated tractor-trailer trucks to distribute disaster supplies across the U.S., and an L-1011 airplane named the Flying Hospital that was used to fly medical missions to other countries in need. Today, faith-based programs have been developed to provide disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water, and orphan/vulnerable child care to suffering communities around the world.Main Office (Virginia Beach, Virginia) 757-226-3401 Website: https://www.ob.org/

Who Are The Key Players In The Lives Of Prisoners' Kids?

When teachers receive their roster each school year, they are handed more than a list of names—they receive an opportunity to invest in lives.

By Bethany McIlrath

It's likely that some of these lives are impacted by crime and incarceration. 2.7 million children in the United States have a parent behind bars.Teachers and school administrators play a significant role in creating a positive or negative experience for all of their students, but particularly those who come from more vulnerable backgrounds.Several strategies can help educators support prisoners' children in school:

TREAT STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS, NOT PRODUCTS

As an article in Education Week points out, students who have an incarcerated parent are statistically more likely to be incarcerated themselves one day. Students with incarcerated parents are often and unfortunately stigmatized as criminals (or on the path to becoming one) themselves. Sadly, bullying is common for children who have a parent in prison. Teachers should be on the lookout for this behavior and intervene.Other ways that educators can come alongside students with a parent in prison are highlighted by Project Avary, a program that supports children of prisoners:

• Addressing students' feelings about incarceration without focusing on the crimes of the parent
• Offering one-on-one attention and validation
• Praising and helping students grow in their talents and natural positive qualities
• Collaborating with caregivers positively to support students
• Avoiding generalizations that highlight the student's challenging situation

VALIDATE AND ENCOURAGE EMOTIONAL PROCESSING

Most children react with strong emotions to the incarceration of a parent. The emotions can be confusing, especially for younger children. Youth.gov explains that having a parent incarcerated is classified as an "adverse childhood experience" (ACE), just as abuse and other traumatic experiences are.School staff can help students with incarcerated parents by encouraging them to express their emotions in healthy ways. Behaviors should be corrected, but emotions should't be punished. Validating that a student has a right to experience their own feelings and develop their own opinions can help students take personal responsibility while also healing from the trauma.

MAINTAIN EXPECTATIONS WITH GRACIOUS FLEXIBILITY

School psychologist Eric Rossen outlines several elements of supporting students with incarcerated parents. One is that students need to be given flexibility without lowering expectations. He explains that teacher expectations influence student performance.When teachers maintain high expectations, students are challenged in a positive way to live up to these expectations. Due to lifestyle changes and hardship that may affect students' ability to focus or complete homework as quickly, some flexibility, such as extra academic support or understanding of the emotions behind a problematic behavior, is also important.ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIESSince the incarceration of a parent can be isolating for a child and negatively affect a student's social relationships, educators can support students by encouraging participation in extracurricular activities. Before- and after- school activities give students:

• Personal interaction with adults and mentors
• Something in common to share with peers
• A space to relax and develop skills they desire
• Oversight that may be lacking at home during those hours

Students often benefit from involvement in activities and events outside of school as well. For instance, children with incarcerated parents may be especially blessed by attending summer camp such as Angel Tree Camping®. Educators can discover opportunities like these and share them with students. Some even choose to use their skills in education to support students at camps throughout the summer.RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONOne of the main reasons that an educator has an amplified effect on the lives of students with incarcerated parents is because these children often face a variety of significant obstacles. They lack not only the presence of a parent, but also may face instability at home, financial insecurity, little oversight or structure outside of school, inconsistency, and much more.For many students living with challenges like the incarceration of a parent, school is one of the only places that is stable and consistent. Educators have the opportunity to make that inherent structure safe and positive so that children who may not have support elsewhere have the opportunity to shape their lives for good.An important note: Children may not be aware that their parent is in prison. If a caregiver discloses this information, the educator should hold that information in confidence unless given permission to share it.ABOUT BETHANYA learner at heart, Bethany McIlrath loves to share about her Savior and ways to lovingly serve others whom God has so loved. You can find Bethany's writing on her blog: FirstandSecondBlog.com. She is a guest blogger for Prison Fellowship®.This article was originally published on the Prison Fellowship website and republished with permission.

DACA: Rev Samuel Rodriguez, Hispanic Christians Call For 'Unrelenting Pressure' On Congress

In reaction to today's decision by the White House to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) led by Rev. Samuel Rodriguez posted the following on its website:

Hispanic Christians to Launch National 60-Day Campaign in Support of DREAMers,

Will Put 'Unrelenting Pressure' on Members of Congress Until 'Every DREAMer can Dream Again'

“We do not intend on letting a single member of Congress have a good night’s rest until they guarantee our young people can rest easy.” — Rev. Samuel RodriguezSACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, in light of the White House’s decision on DACA, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and its affiliate churches and organizations, announces a national campaign intent on putting “unrelenting pressure” on “every” member of Congress until a permanent, legislative solution is provided for “DREAMers.”“Hundreds-of-thousands of Hispanic young people will be overcome with fear and grief today. Simultaneously, a multi-ethnic coalition of tens-of-millions of law abiding, U.S. citizens will begin to put unrelenting pressure on members of Congress to provide a permanent solution for DREAMers, whose fate is in question by no fault of their own,” said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.“For far too long in this country, Hispanic young people have been the political bargaining chips of our powerful politicians. This is an affront to the sanctity of life, it is inhumane, and the Hispanic community will stand for it no longer. Our elected members of Congress have time and again, professed concern for the Hispanic community and yet, have chosen to do nothing. We will not distinguish between Republicans and Democrats but between those who stand for righteousness and justice and those who do not.”Among other actions, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference will be temporarily relocating additional staff to Washington, D.C., launching a national media campaign, rallying tens-of-thousands of the nation’s spiritual leaders, coordinating weekly meetings on Capitol Hill and in State Capitols. Additionally, the NHCLC will be organizing a “fly-in” of hundreds of prominent Hispanic leaders from throughout North America for a prayer meeting on the evening of Oct. 30, followed by a series of Congressional visits on Oct. 31.Of President Donald J. Trump’s decision to phaseout DACA, the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez says the following:“I am disappointed that these protections are ending and I’ve expressed that disappointment to the White House directly. I also understand why they chose this course of action. If the fate of DACA is any indication, then it was only a matter of time before DACA would face a similar fate in the courts and, in fact, the entire program could be ceased immediately by a court order rather than being phased out. Thankfully, it is the job of Congress to make laws, and now the President has provided Congress a six month window to legislate a more permanent and legally defensible solution for DREAMers. Six months is too long, we will demand action from Congress within 60 days. We do not intend on letting a single member of Congress have a good night’s rest until they guarantee our young people can rest easy. We will not be silent until every DREAMer can dream again.”The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference is a non-partisan organization that has long been numbered among the nation’s foremost advocates for comprehensive immigration reform. It is the organization’s official position that it is primarily the responsibility of Congress to address the nation’s longstanding challenges with immigration policy. In that capacity Rev. Samuel Rodriguez has worked with Democrat and Republican majorities in Congress as well as with Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald J. Trump in advocating for comprehensive immigration reform.NHCLC's statement originally published here.

Perry Noble Apologizes to Gay Community, Says Nashville Statement Did More Harm Than Good

Sandwiched in between Hurricane Harvey and Labor Day Weekend, Desiring God founder and teacher John Piper released his commentary on the Nashville Statement, authored and approved recently by many leading evangelicals “in the hope of providing a biblically faithful standard in our day” in regards to the “new ethical landscape” of sexual ethics.TogetherLA.net published some of Piper’s piece, including links to the full commentary and statement, not necessarily as a point of editorial agreement, but to provide a platform for conversation. As stated in that post, we strive to be a platform that encourages unity, especially within the Church.In tracking the subsequent wave of reaction I found a Facebook Live post, "My Thoughts on the Nashville Statement," by Perry Noble, founder of The Growth Company and author of Unleash! Noble said he views the Nashville Statement as a wall builder, not representative of the Christian faith, and delivered an apology to the gay community as someone from the evangelical community.“Let me say just for the record and right up front that I am a solid believer in Christian marriage, a man and a woman,” he said. “I believe that with all my heart, however, I believe that the Nashville Statement actually did more harm in regards to Christianity. I believe it did more harm than good because it was a demonstration of how Christians are interested in building walls and not bridges.”After describing how a gay friend said to him after the Nashville Statement was released that he appreciated Noble’s stance on the issue of sexual ethics, but also appreciates that Noble speaks out “on behalf of people like me.”“And he went on to say, ‘I’m thankful for guys like you who are way [more] interested in preserving a relationship over winning the argument,’” Noble explained. “I think that’s one of the problems in Christianity today is that we are way too obsessed with being right and in our obsession with being right we have isolated ourselves from a group of people that we were not called to condemn but rather have a conversation with.“I believe we will reach way more people today if we enter into a conversation rather than condemnation.”Noble said the subject is one that definitely should be talked about in the Church, but it should be preached in compassion, grace, and love “rather than condemning people and saying, ‘You’re evil and shouldn’t be doing that.’”“Why in the world should we be drawing a line in the sand when we should be having a conversation,” he said. “Because, guess what, if someone is gay or someone is transgender they have a story and instead of trying to tell them our story, what if we actually sat down at a table and were willing to listen to theirs?”Addressing people that are gay or transgender, he said, “I want to offer you an apology on behalf of an evangelical Christian (points to himself), who does not believe what those people… I do not adhere to what they said for the most part. I do adhere to Christian marriage, marriage between a man and a woman, but you know what, if you don’t agree with that I can still be your friend. I can still see eye-to-eye with you … I can still sit down and have a conversation with you. You know why? Because Jesus said, ‘Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone’ and I don’t have any rocks in my pocket.“I want to tell you that I am sorry for the way you were treated, but I wanted to tell you that I truly do believe that the gospel is Jesus Christ, crucified on a cross, buried, [and] rose from the dead. That’s the gospel. Period.”

Is Hollywood Against Christians? Depends on What You Believe, Says DeVon Franklin

DeVon Franklin, President/CEO of Franklin Entertainment, wants Christians to know that Hollywood is not a bad place.In fact, striving for a successful career within the entertainment industry can lead to a fruitful life, says Franklin, whose book, The Hollywood Commandments — A Spiritual Guide to Secular Success, comes out later this month.“Too often we say Hollywood is against Christians or Hollywood is against that,” said Franklin during a session at Proclaim 17, the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) International Christian Media Convention in Orlando earlier this year. “Let me tell you something, if you believe that, that’s what’s going to be the reality. I don’t believe that. I believe that if God has already gone before me he’s going to make a way.”Franklin, who has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, said his desire to work in entertainment came early in his life, but words of discouragement from others, including friends and relatives were common.“You can’t go into Hollywood. Are you crazy? This is the devil’s playground,” he said, referring to what he was told. “It’s Sodom and Gomorrah. In fact, get the anointing oil, we are going to pass the demon out of this boy."In his message at NRB (below), he said, “What I really want people to understand is that if God is for us who can be against us, and we have to begin to shift our mentality and know that if God gave us this ambition and this dream that we have to live it out in the authenticity in which he gave it to us as an honor to him because he is the one who gave us the desire and the gift to begin with.”

About The Hollywood Commandments

Publicity about the book reads:You can be wildly successful without losing your faith. In fact, your secular success will strengthen your faith if you allow it. Too often we believe that success in secular environments contradicts the core principles of faith, but the opposite is true: Your faith was designed to thrive in the secular world and to transform it as a result. You may never experience the true fulfillment you were created for until you pursue the secular ambitions in your heart.New York Times bestselling author DeVon Franklin knows this to be true. In The Hollywood Commandments, the prominent Hollywood producer and spiritual success coach reveals 10 life-changing lessons picked-up from his over-twenty-year career in the entertainment business. You won’t learn these lessons in the church yet they will help you achieve an amazing life and thriving career that glorifies God. The Hollywood Commandments will help you:

• Identify how to use what makes you unique to propel your career.
• Overcome fear and build the courage to pursue new opportunities waiting for you.
• Gain the confidence to make important life decisions with greater peace and clarity.
• Negotiate the life and career advancement you deserve.
• No, you don’t have to work in Hollywood for this book to work for you, these "commandments" apply to every walk of life! If you are stuck, looking for the secrets to advance your career, or have a feeling there’s more to life, this book is for you.

On the Web: devonfranklin.com

Is Planting More Small Churches Greater Than Building Megachurches?

How did the church of Jesus grow for the first 1900+ years of its existence without any megachurches around?That’s how long it took for the first megachurches to appear on the landscape. They’re the new kid on the church block. Until the middle of the 20th century, the relentless growth of the church moved forward, not through growing bigger churches, but almost exclusively through the multiplication of smaller congregations. And that’s where most of the growth of the church still happens today.[ictt-tweet-inline hashtags="" via=""]Planting more small churches may be a greater tool for growing the church than building larger congregations.[/ictt-tweet-inline]In spite of this truth, there are those who insist that a healthy congregation will always increase numerically and that there’s something inherently wrong with a church that stays small – no matter what the reason.Indeed, many in the church growth movement focus almost entirely on growing individual congregations bigger. Supporting and strengthening healthy smaller congregations has taken a distant second place – if it’s considered at all.But there have been many church movements throughout history – and many today – that foster smaller congregations, including house churches. They channel their growth with great skill and intentionality through the multiplication of more congregations, rather than bigger ones.There are some strong stats showing that planting more small churches may be a greater tool for growing the church than building larger congregations.

Celebrate The Success, Support The Hurting

I’m glad for the recent appearance of megachurches and the church growth movement. The church growth movement has introduced or reinvigorated some much-needed principles that much of the church had all but forgotten, including the reminder that we must never settle for less.But it’s ignorant, hurtful and counterproductive to say that if a church is staying small, there must necessarily be something wrong with it. Just as it’s wrong to criticize bigger and megachurches merely because they’re big.Instead, let’s encourage, support and resource healthy churches of all sizes. The ones being planted, the ones that have existed for generations, and the ones that are hanging on for dear life.It’s hard to say we love the church when we ignore, discourage or belittle its weakest members.Real church growth doesn’t just support and celebrate our big, recent, but rare success stories – as great as those may be. Real church growth helps hurting churches, restores broken communities and celebrates the vast array small successes, too.This article first appeared on ChristianityToday.com. Used in its entirety by permission of author to republish.

READ Backyard BBQ Evangelism: True Story Of Outside-The-Church-Walls Ministry

Passion to Ignite Spiritual Health - Every Man Show on Drive-Time

LOS ANGELES — Every Man Ministries’ founder Kenny Luck is excited to share with you that his message and passion to ignite men to spiritual and relational health is now available on the Every Man Show during afternoon drive time (3 pm) on KKLA 99.5 FM Monday-Friday.As both a local and national men’s ministry leader, and expert author who has fine-tuned his teaching on Biblical principles for two decades, Pastor Kenny said that a “spiritual blast zone of good” has been increased not only by the use of radio broadcasts, but by Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn."When I was commuting from Torrance back to Orange County on the 405, I remember how the programming on 99.5 preserved my sanity and connected me to God,” he said. “It was a lifeline. That's why it is both humbling and exciting for The Every Man Show team to have that same opportunity in our new 3pm slot.“I know that lives will be changed forever, men will be activated, and Spirit empowered transformations will take place.”Pastor Kenny adds, “So many new relationships with Southern Californians are now underway and the feedback has been so positive already. The greatest gift we can give communities across the southland is a spiritually and relationally healthy man. That is the spiritual blast zone of good that God wants us to bring in our new slot.”The Every Man Show, produced and co-hosted by Anthony Dever and One Ten Pictures, is also available online through KKLA’s website and app.“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19, NIV).“Two men. Two choices. Two blast zones. Two outcomes: life or death,” Luck says, referencing the verse from the book of Romans.“Our mission is to create a movement of God’s men who are empowered to lead others on a meaningful journey into personal character and leadership, ultimately having a positive impact on generations of women, children and families,” he stated.Luck recently told TogetherLA.net that “our nation is finally ready to address the chaos and dysfunction happening in our cities and communities. But the root of that chaos and dysfunction is not political, it’s not ethnic, it’s not even cultural. It is a spiritual breakdown of the family and the vacuum of spiritually and relationally healthy men leading those families.”In addition to listening and praying, would you like to make a charitable contribution to further our radio ministry right now? Please do so by going to https://www.everymanministries.com/donate.Thank you!

A Real Life Fairytale: Actor/Producers Jim and Jenn (Gotzon) Chandler Tell Their Story

Ask a young girl what love looks like and most likely the answer will reflect something like a beautiful girl who can talk to animals, sing phenomenally, and who has overcome a large hardship...flawlessly — we call them princesses.Along with the girl you will also have a boy who is strong, handsome, and can fix just about any situation with a kiss — we call this a fairytale. But this image is not real because love is not a fairytale. It is so much more than that.Love is a word filled with so much meaning that it contains every emotion within it that seems to hit you all at once. It is something everyone strives for and something people will do anything to get. But we keep setting ourselves up for failure trying to obtain this idea of love, for love cannot be achieved without Jesus.For we must establish a relationship with Him to know what true love feels like. This is why looking for love just simply will not work. You see love is something that can’t be found because it is something that can only be given. And sometimes we have to fall completely apart in order to see that God is the only one who can give it to us.In a world filled with lies and temptations about love, you could imagine my surprise when I found out that a movie is being made going completely against every fairytale ever made. You see the difference between this movie’s love story and others is, it’s real. The movie is based on a real life love story where the main characters learn that worldly love isn’t what you want; what you want is an everlasting love. A love that makes you laugh louder, cry harder, and will overwhelm you in every way possible.The Farmer and The Belle not only shows us how to obtain the same romance and love found in made up fairytales, but also shows us how it is not possible without putting The Lord first. It’s honestly a breath of fresh air. The Farmer and The Belle, to be released in fall of 2018, it is jammed pack with comedy, romance, inspiration, and REAL FOOTAGE, this film is like none seen before.Yes, you heard me right, the movie holds real footage from the couples’ actual wedding — meaning you will see the real kiss from the wedding day!Finally, there is a love story we can all look up to, a real life fairytale.I had the chance to talk to Jim and Jenn (Gotzon) Chandler, whose love story is what inspired this film, all about their walk with Jesus and what it is like to film your wedding for a movie.Q: How did y’all two meet?We met on a movie set where we were cast as love interest.Q: So, why do you guys want to share your story?Jim: I want to share our story because I want to entertain people while, at the same time, show our viewers how to form a healthy relationship.Jenn: I want to help others realize what real love is and how to find it. I want people to know not to settle for just anyone.Q: How would you describe yourself before you found God? And how would you describe yourself now, after you found him?Jim: Before God, I was lost trying to do things my own way, only concerned with myself. I always knew God was still there because I grew up in a Christian household, but I abandoned him.Returning to him was shifting the focus off of myself, pouring into others and into my work, allowing God to be the thing that moved me forward in my career and in my relationships. If I am in control, then I experience misery, destruction, isolation and defeat. With him I can conquer all.Jenn: I grew up in a Christian household going to Catholic Church. I accepted Jesus at the age of 17 at a summer retreat in Stubenville, OH at St. Franciscan Center. This changed my life look and allowed me a childlike faith where I pursued my dream as an actor. My walk with Jesus became real and is my friend, provider, savior.Q: How long has this spiritual journey been for you? And what do you do now?The spiritual journey with God doesn't ever end, doesn't have a time stamp. We are committed to each other and our calling as actors to be lights in the entertainment industry to impact and inspire audiences.Q: Okay, one last question before you go. What is it like to have your wedding filmed? Did it add any extra stress? Did you have to film anything twice?Jim: We didn't have any added stress because we didn't want the focus of the filming to take away from the focus of our wedding. We were in agreement that whatever we shot and captured is what we got, no reshoots.Jenn: It was lots more stress (for me). There was one hour before the ‘I do’s that I turned into Bridezilla… because we were behind schedule for the magazine photo shoot I added during the wedding photography, in addition to the wedding and movie we were filming. We commissioned makeup artists (Celebrity makeup artist Brother Zhen from China, Cosmetic line owner Vicki Odeneal and her daughter Leah who we worked on “Saving Faith”) and designers. Everyone was excited to be part of the movie, magazine and wedding. Jeanette from The Bride’s Tailor custom made fairytale bell dress for the ceremony and Dalia MacPhee provided the reception dress. (yes, I wore 2 gowns). LaRae Mychel custom made the yellow bridesmaid dresses and my maid-of-honor (my sissy Shelly) wore a coordinating Dalia MacPhee in green, along with my sister-in-law Amiee. My sister in-law Shannon custom made the sunflower girls dresses and my mother-in-law Jennie did all the alterations. Leah Marie Photography and Stationery captured all the family festive fun, including Jim and my baptism the day before after our rehearsal. God is good! We were married by our friend and pastor David Burris from Freedom Counseling.We had 7 cameras set up for the wedding: JD brought GoPros that were hidden in hail bales, small consumer video cameras on tripods, a drone operated by Rich Goodwyn, my sneaky bridesmaid, Lisa Miosi Martin (filmmaker for Billy Graham Ministries) used her iPhone hidden in her dress jacket pocket (sneaky) and our Director of Photography (DP) Kacper Skowron had a steady cam rig that circled us for our actual wedding kiss. Sheila Munger producer of “The Princess Cut” managed the film production on site. It was a team effort by everyone. Our wedding coordinator was Jim’s mom Jennie. We were married on her century owned historical farm property Camp New Dawn with sunflowers and romantic haywagon pull, it was a day to remember!!! And all the funny moments will roll during our end credits.The newlyweds are offering a promotional code for the DVD release of their Family, Christmas Comedy Movie, "The Farmer and The Belle" by signing up on their website www.ChristmasComedyMovie.comGet the latest from “The Farmer and The Belle” by following them on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheFarmerandTheBelle.ChristmasComedyMovie.

John Piper: Precious Clarity on Human Sexuality - The Nashville Statement

It is with the strongest conviction that I want people to know that TogetherLA.net is about providing a platform that encourages unity, especially within the church. We are to learn from each other and when it comes to today's hot button topics we want to have a civil conversation about them. This is the place for that.The subject of sexual ethics today has already divided our country, but most alarmingly, our churches and fellowships. It is not without a bit of trepidation that I share John Piper's post published at desiringGod.org below today. However, Piper is one of the most respected Christian leaders and theologians of our time.That said, yes, the truth found in the gospel is about love, but the Bible can be a sharp sword and it can cut and divide quickly and precisely.The first paragraph of the Preamble in the Nashville Statement reads:

Evangelical Christians at the dawn of the twenty-first century find themselves living in a period of historic transition. As Western culture has become increasingly post-Christian, it has embarked upon a massive revision of what it means to be a human being. By and large the spirit of our age no longer discerns or delights in the beauty of God’s design for human life. Many deny that God created human beings for his glory, and that his good purposes for us include our personal and physical design as male and female. It is common to think that human identity as male and female is not part of God’s beautiful plan, but is, rather, an expression of an individual’s autonomous preferences. The pathway to full and lasting joy through God’s good design for his creatures is thus replaced by the path of shortsighted alternatives that, sooner or later, ruin human life and dishonor God.

I pray that you seek Jesus as you navigate in and outside your community. Please feel free to comment below. Let's keep the conversation going... together!

Precious Clarity on Human Sexuality - Introducing the Nashville Statement

By John Piper

In recent years, the celebration of attempts to transform oneself from male to female, or female to male, and the normalization of same-sex attraction, including so-called “same-sex marriage,” have reconfigured the global landscape of sexual ethics. It is timely and hopeful, therefore, that the Nashville Statement has appeared at this time. With a focus on this new ethical landscape, the statement aims to help clarify Christian convictions.

Compassionate Conviction

Last Friday, August 25, the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) jointly hosted a gathering of Christian leaders in Nashville. The purpose of the meeting was to finalize and approve the Nashville Statement in the hope of providing a biblically faithful standard in our day on these particular issues of human sexuality. I read the statement with a kind of sorrowful joy, which seems inevitable when beautiful light is spoken into tragic darkness. I wrote the following endorsement when I received a copy of the final draft:

The Nashville Statement is a Christian manifesto concerning issues of human sexuality. It speaks with forthright clarity, biblical conviction, gospel compassion, cultural relevance, and practical helpfulness. There is no effort to equivocate for the sake of wider, but muddled, acceptance.It is built on the persuasion that the Christian Scriptures speak with clarity and authority for the good of humankind. It is permeated by the awareness that we are all sinners in need of divine grace through Jesus Christ. It affirms with joy that no form of sexual sin is beyond forgiveness and healing. It touches the most fundamental and urgent questions of the hour, without presuming to be a blueprint for political action. And it will prove to be, I believe, enormously helpful for thousands of pastors and leaders hoping to give wise, biblical, and gracious guidance to their people.

To read Piper's full post and the Nashville Statement go to desiringGod.org.

Child Service Agencies and Churches Unite to Find a Family For Every Child in OC

ANAHEIM, Calif. — An ambitious plan to eliminate the number of vulnerable children without a caring family in Orange County by 2020 using a church-to-church partnership with the county was presented at Vision Night For OC earlier this week.More than 100 people, some representing more than 30 churches, met to discuss the best ways to activate the plan, one that was successfully implemented in the entire nation of Rwanda, organizers said. The presentation of the initiative to help vulnerable children was held at Saddleback Church Anaheim on Tuesday and included six representatives of different areas of child care within the County of Orange program.“Find a family for every child in OC by 2020 and equip the Church to care for them,” Max McGhee, who is a pastor within the Orphan Care ministry at Saddleback Church, said towards the end of the evening presentation. “It’s that simple,” he said, as he pointed to the initiative’s goal projected on a screen which included “#ZEROby2020.”Michael Donaldson, who is the Director of Pastoral Care for Families at the Diocese of Orange, has committed to being a big part of the “Zero by 2020 Vision.” He said, “Whether people become resource families, organize fellowships or form opportunities for families, or even create prayer chains, each of us can make a difference in the lives of children needing a family of their own.”Scott Burdick, MFT Deputy DirectorDepartment of Children and Family Services, said that the county’s child welfare program recognizes the importance of partnering with churches and the initiative will help make vulnerable children and hurting families a “community issue.”“Churches have been such a foundational support to meet not just some of the physical needs but to meet some of the mentoring [needs],” said Burdick during a videotaped interview. “This has been something, that in my over 20 years with the county, that really has become such a passion: how we can begin to try to make this a community issue?”Child abuse is an innermost secret for families suffering from the problem, he said, and while they are in their most vulnerable moments it becomes “so important for these churches to really make connections with these families.”“It’s (the initiative) an amazing opportunity for us as a county and I really believe it’s an amazing opportunity for those churches and community members to really make a positive impact and to make a difference,” Burdick said. “If it’s just one life, it’s all worth it because it multiplies. Now we are looking at an opportunity to impact the county as a whole. My hope is that this is something that continues to grow and blossom, that it happens not just in Orange County, but Orange County becomes a model for us to do this across the state, across the country, and really, across the world.”Organizers said the “God-size goal” can be accomplished with the help of local government and a church-to-church strategy.“As long as just one vulnerable child is waiting for a loving family to take them home, we should not rest,” leaders behind the initiative said.To learn more, contact initiative leaders at 949.609.8555 or orphans@saddleback.com.

10,000 at SoCal Harvest Ask Jesus Into Their Life at Angel Stadium and Online

ANAHEIM, Calif. — More than 10,000 people made professions of faith in Jesus Christ over the 3-night (Aug. 18-20) SoCal Harvest evangelistic event held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim with more than 138,000 watching in attendance and online.The follow-up to the throng of new believers began each night when those walking onto the outfield grass first prayed to receive Jesus, were met by a volunteer field counselor, and asked to give their contact information, including the church that may have invited them to the event.Richard Garcia, of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, is the lead pastor over the follow-up team for Harvest events and at the church just east of Orange County.Garcia said he enjoys his job so much that it’s hard for him to think of what he does as work. He’s been at every Harvest event since the first one held 27 years ago, first attending, then the next one as a follow-up worker. “I never stopped. I just kept going on,” he said.When asked by TogetherLA.net what he finds most exciting about leading Harvest’s follow-up team, he said, “It has to be hanging around new believers because they have new believers zeal. It’s kind of like that new car smell, but I think of it as times (multiplied by) a billion, that zeal that they have when they first accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. They are on fire.“As much as they need me as the mature Christian, I need them as well because they are on fire and so it’s contagious. I’m contagious to them and they are contagious to me because I get reminded of ‘going back to your first love’ (Rev 2:4). I see them cry (in joy) and raise up their hands during worship, and I’m excited. My passion comes from them.”

This year’s SoCal Harvest came on the heels of the chaos in Charlottesville and high political tension in the nation. Greg Laurie kicked off the outreach on the first night with his message, “A Second Chance for America.”“The solution for America is not a political one, it's a spiritual one,” Laurie told the crowd on Friday. “We need God.”Harvest’s executive pastor, John Collins, told TLA that current events such as the tragedy in Charlottesville coming right before SoCal Harvest often serve as a catalyst for the message of hope delivered by Laurie and musical guests.“Those kind of things provide a great platform from which you can present the Gospel,” Collins said. “The answer isn’t cutting off free speech or protesting. The best option that we have is to simply present the Gospel. This provides a backdrop from which the Gospel can be shared.”He added, “In the Church we all come together under the banner of Christ and there’s no barriers. All those barriers were knocked down according to Ephesians. The Lord did away with those through the sacrifice of Jesus. Even though it seems to be a bad week for the nation, it’s a great rally time for the Church.”

Urban Ministry, Church Planting Leaders Answer the ‘What Can I Do?’ Question

Simply discussing the problems and issues facing America today, even from a Christian perspective, is not enough, said the leaders of two national organizations that recently announced a partnership to plant churches in Los Angeles, New York, and everywhere in between.“We really don’t have to look much farther than social media and news outlets [to see] everything going on in our culture — the racism, the injustice…,” said Jeff Bennett, who is a Stadia executive for its U.S. Church Planting and South Region divisions. “We can talk about the injustices, we can talk about the discouragement we feel, or we could do something.”Stadia, a church planting resource that has helped “hundreds of great leaders start new churches,” and World Impact, a ministry that “empowers the urban poor and incarcerated” recently held a “vision trip” in Los Angeles where Bennett along with World Impact National Director Bob Engel spoke to TogetherLA.net about the partnership.They said that church planting, urban outreach and discipleship are action steps and answers to the questions many people in America are now asking in a tension filled, politically charged country. Prayer is an essential part, but not the only part, they said.Bennett said he believes that currently many people are often asking, “What can I do? How can we impact culture? How can we change some of the things that just disgust us that are going on today? Is there something our churches can do?”He followed the list of questions by saying that almost every American church is within 20 minutes of an urban, under-resourced community.“There are people living in those communities who maybe your church isn’t going to reach, but that doesn’t take away the responsibility off of you to get the gospel out there,” Bennett said. “You’ve got great organizations like World Impact who are training up leaders who live in these communities, to go go back to these communities and reach their neighbors but they need our help. There are very practical things we can do, the church can do to make an impact in these communities. When we start to do that, that’s when we see culture change and communities change.”When asked about the significance of the partnership, Engel said, “Souls. That’s always the first thing I think about. Souls are eternal, and yes, there are a lot of needs in the city. We do believe, first of all, that the church of the living God comes together and they’ve been given a steward of the gospel.“The gospel becomes a power to transform someone from the inside,” he explained. “That transformation then brings them into community — we plant churches — that community then has been given the keys of the kingdom of God. Then, ultimately I believe, Stadia believes [that] true transformation is going to come when people are changed from the inside, gathered together as God’s people and then begin to use their gifts to transform their community around them.”Engel said the partnership between Stadia and World Impact is “very critical if you just think about the kingdom of God.”“The kingdom is churches, God’s people coming together to advance and expand His kingdom — can’t do it separately, you need to do it together — and so Stadia is so committed to God’s kingdom, planting churches, people coming to Christ, being discipled…,” he said. “That’s who we are amongst the urban poor and under-resourced communities and so it’s a beautiful marriage.“When we think of LA together we also think of Stadia and World Impact together. We need to come together to move God’s kingdom forward.”

Churches To Rally Together To Bridge Gaps In Orphan Care System

Founders of an orphan care initiative said they want to implement a plan that would protect all children in or outside the Foster Care system from being left without a caring family.Their goal to eliminate the number of children without a caring family to zero can be met by using a church-to-church strategy alongside local government agencies, a plan successfully implemented in the entire nation of Rwanda, they said. Organizers plan to activate the initiative in Orange County and are rallying churches to meet for Vision Night For OC - New Hope For Vulnerable Children scheduled to be held in Anaheim on August 22 at 6:30 PM.One of the top priorities of the initiative is to completely eliminate the 85 percent failure rate of connecting the 300 to 500 youth who “age out” of the Foster Care system in the county every year.“This night represents a beautiful and extremely significant partnership and relationship between churches in Orange County and our local government and community,” said Erin Kim, who is a foster parent trainer through Social Services and Saddleback Community College and enjoys supporting the foster care community as a volunteer through Mariners Church in Irvine. “As the light of the world, the local church should be loving and serving the families and children in our community and no one church can do it alone.“We need to work together, we need unity and a common vision to love and serve the vulnerable among us.”Vision Night For OC organizers said that each night there are nearly 2,700 children in Orange County's Foster Care System that “go to bed with their heart's crying and silently wishing they had their own permanent loving family.”“As long as one of these vulnerable children is waiting for that loving, permanent family to take them home, we will not rest,” leaders of the initiative group stated. “With the help of our local government this can be accomplished through a church-to-church strategy working together for a united goal.”Organizers are asking churches of any denomination or non-denomination to join them for “a night that will go down in history” as the result of churches partnering together to find families for every vulnerable child in the system.Representatives from the County of Orange are scheduled to attend along with dozens of churches in Orange County to launch this vision.“This event has been years in the making and it will be a night you don't want to miss,” organizers said.

Statistics

• About 40,000 abuse phone calls a year to the County Abuse Hotline and 1,200 enter the system each year as legally qualified abuse cases
• 3,000 Youth in Foster Care including 300 aged out Youths
• 70% of Foster Children are being cared for by Relatives
• Need 150 Resource Families right now since group homes such as Orangewood are being closed
• Biggest need is for sibling sets, older children over 6 years old and medically challenged Foster kids
• About 300 to 500 youth age out of the system each year with an 85% failure rate

Sources: Various sources provided by initiative organizers

When asked how churches can work together, Ernie Casarez, who is a Volunteer Ambassador for the Orphan Care Initiative at Saddleback Church, listed the following:1. Develop a spiritual heart for the orphan (a child not under care by their biological parents)2. Have a monthly meeting at their church to explore becoming a Foster or adoptive parent and to pass on those candidates to the County or contract agencies3. Support Foster and adoptive families by becoming trauma trained4. Remain in contact with each other to refine our three systems so they are applicable to all denominations.Organizers quoted the following Bible verse in support of their initiative:“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)This event will provide the vision, case studies, trainers to train the church trainers and core resource materials already tested and proven effective in Rwanda, Casarez said.Organizers said space is limited and are asking for those interested in attending to RSVP. For registration on Eventbrite click here. For any other questions, call (949) 609-8555.

Fuller Theological Seminary Sends Message on Charlottesville Events

President Mark Labberton and Associate Dean Clifton Clarke sent out this message earlier this week on recent events in Charlottesville.Dr. Clarke and I joined many in our extended networks in immediately denouncing on social media the violent racism on display last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. I am aware that, for many in Fuller's extended network, Facebook is not a primary form of communication, and I wanted to extend to you as well a distillation of our shared perspectives on this critically important issue.The evil of racism so vividly unveiled in Charlottesville last weekend is tragically intertwined with American church history. But it needs to be said that nothing about white nationalism flows from the heart of God. May white—and all—followers of Jesus say and live a resounding NO to any form of white nationalism. As urgent as it is and must be for all Christians to condemn white nationalism, it is also urgent and necessary for white Christians like me to grasp, to repent of, and to turn from the long history by which our Christian faith has been used to accrue to us personal and systemic power and privilege simply because we are white.Events of last weekend in Charlottesville cry out for the need of white Christians to look at this pervasive and insidious evil that subverts the Jesus we claim and profess. By our racial sin, the name of Jesus is scandalized. We recently welcomed Clifton Clarke to Fuller to partner with us in leadership of the Pannell Center for African American Church Studies, and I personally am committed to standing together with Dr. Clarke in this, our shared mission.Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.Mark LabbertonPresident___We need to unequivocally speak in plain terms stating that white supremacist neo-fascist Nazi groups are an evil scourge in this country. White nationalism, white supremacy, white privilege, white silence, and racial fragility all drink from the same pot—the maintenance of white privilege.Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” What we saw in Charlottesville on August 11 and 12 was the hate that hate produces. In the hours immediately after the Charlottesville riots, I called for white evangelical leaders to swiftly respond and for white people of conscience to speak out about white privilege. I thank my brother Mark for his leadership and courage in having already joined me in denouncing the extreme, white supremacist, male-dominated groups in America who are heirs of those hate groups emboldened by the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.The chilling images of hate-filled protesters in 2017 America carrying torches, chanting slogans steeped in the history of bigotry, racism, and anti-Semitism is an affront to our faith in Jesus Christ and the biblical teachings we hold dear. We, the Fuller community, reaffirm our unshakable commitment to diversity, equality, and the value of all people created in the image of God.This partnership is why I came to Fuller, and I am committed to standing together with Dr. Labberton in this, our shared mission.Committed to the love that love produces,Clifton ClarkeAssociate Dean of the William Pannell Center for African American Church Studies and Associate Professor of Black Church Studies and World Christianity

Tim Keller: Race, the Gospel, and the Moment

How should Christians, and especially those with an Anglo-white background, respond to last weekend’s alt-right gathering in Charlottesville and its tragic aftermath?

By Tim Keller

Three brief things need to be said.First, Christians should look at the energized and emboldened white nationalism movement, and at its fascist slogans, and condemn it—full stop. No, “But on the other hand.” The main way most people are responding across the political spectrum is by saying, “See? This is what I have been saying all along! This just proves my point.” The conservatives are using the events to prove that liberal identity politics is wrong, and liberals are using it to prove that conservatism is inherently racist. We should not do that.Second, this is a time to present the Bible’s strong and clear teachings about the sin of racism and of the idolatry of blood and country—again, full stop. In Acts 17:26, in the midst of an evangelistic lecture to secular, pagan philosophers, Paul makes the case that God created all the races “from one man.” Paul’s Greek listeners saw other races as barbarian, but against such views of racial superiority Paul makes the case that all races have the same Creator and are of one stock. Since all are made in God’s image, every human life is of infinite and equal value (Gen. 9:5–6). When Jonah puts the national interests of Israel ahead of the spiritual good of the racially “other” pagan city of Nineveh, he is roundly condemned by God (Jonah 4:1–11). One main effect of the gospel is to shatter the racial barriers that separate people (Gal. 3:28; Eph. 2:14–18), so it is an egregious sin to do anything to support those barriers. When Peter sought to do so, Paul reprimanded him for losing his grasp on the gospel (Gal. 2:14).Racism should not be only brought up at moments such as we witnessed in Charlottesville this past weekend. The evil of racism is a biblical theme—a sin the gospel reveals and heals—so we should be teaching about it routinely in the course of regular preaching. Which brings me to a final point.[ictt-tweet-inline hashtags="" via=""]It is absolutely crucial to speak up about the biblical teaching on racism—not just now, but routinely. - Tim Keller[/ictt-tweet-inline]Twentieth-century fascist movements that made absolute values out of “Blut und Boden” (“Blood and Soil”)­—putting one race and one nation’s good above the good of all—also claimed to champion traditional family values and moral virtues over against the decadence of relativistic modern culture. Even though they were no friends of orthodox Christianity (see Adolf Hitler’s heretical “Positive Christianity” movement), they could and can still appeal to people within our own circles. Internet outreach from white nationalist organizations can radicalize people who are disaffected by moral decline in society. So it is absolutely crucial to speak up about the biblical teaching on racism—not just now, but routinely. We need to make those in our circles impervious to this toxic teaching.Note: This post was originally published at The Gospel Coalition.

‘There Is No Neutral Ground Here,’ Erwin McManus Says to The Church [Interview]

'There Is No Neutral Ground Here,' Erwin McManus Says to The Church [Interview]

On Saturday (Aug. 12, 2017), in the middle of the chaos in Charlottesville, Virginia, that began the night before, Erwin Raphael McManus, author and pastor at Mosaic in Los Angeles tweeted, “We cannot unite with hate. We must stand against it. You cannot reason with racism. You must condemn it. The church must lead the way. NOW!”His post came after a relatively long thread of tweets that condemned the evil and called out the church in America to unite in “peace, justice, and hope.”Below is McManus’ answers to seven questions asked by TogetherLA while the nation was and still is processing what happened in Charlottesville and the ongoing reactions across the US.TogetherLA: Describe your initial reaction to the events that transpired in Charlottesville.Erwin Raphael McManus: It was probably a combination of disgust, disappointment, and hopefulness.Disgust because there should be no room for movements of hate such as white supremacy and Nazism. It's astonishing that people can be so ignorant, fearful, and filled with hate.Disappointed because I love this country and expect better from us. The undercurrent and subculture of racism and white supremacy have always been here but now they have been emboldened to go public as they feel their views have been validated and normalized.Hopeful in that this is not a new problem in our society and it has been allowed to thrive in the darkness of denial and silence by the white majority and unjust legal system. Their boldness to go public has brought them to the light and the darkness cannot prevail over the light. I am convinced most Americans- yes even white Americans- are committed to justice and equality for all people. I am convinced that most Americans are disgusted and even ashamed that Nazism is alive and well in this country that fought to defeat its evil ideology.TLA: Your call for the church to respond “NOW!” as you posted on Twitter obviously reflects urgency. Why?McManus: It is inescapable that the Evangelical church is seen as married to the present administration in Washington. Silence in this moment would be perceived as agreement and adherence to white supremacist ideologies.There is no neutral ground here. You either speak against racism or you add credence to their views. I am convinced the Church is the greatest hope for humanity and for creating a new world where everyone is valued and embraced regardless of differences.This is a critical moment in history and I want the church on record and on the right side of history.TLA: How should the church respond?McManus: As they have all weekend after Charlottesville. They must openly, emphatically, and clearly denounce White Supremacy and any ideology associated with Nazism.Then we need to advocate for social justice and reform so that all minorities are protected not only under the law but more importantly by our cultural values and ethic. The law cannot change the human heart. Government is limited in its ability to effect culture. This is the role and responsibility of the Church. Only Jesus can move us from hate to love.TLA: What do you see happening in Los Angeles in regards to church unity? Are they getting together? How?McManus: The Church is not segregated by region or cities. That's an antiquated view of the world. We are united with churches all over the world working towards common goals based on shared values. Mosaic is one of the most racially diverse churches on the planet. Our community and extended church family is global and completely integrated.TLA: What are the ramifications of Charlottesville for the church as you see it?McManus: Perhaps the most significant ramification for many churches is that if your church is racially homogenous it will be essentially irrelevant. The future belongs to those who have the courage to create it. We need a new humanity. We need a new expression of community. We need the Church to bring the world together. This makes me excited. There is so much opportunity here. I'm grateful that Mosaic began creating the new expression of the Church over twenty years ago. We are not reacting to a crisis. We are acting on a conviction and a calling.TLA: Is there something in your new book, The Last Arrow, that ties into how you feel today about current events?McManus: The Last Arrow transcends a moment or an issue. It is a call to move beyond self-indulgence to a life of sacrificial service. In The Last Arrow I address a broad spectrum of issues from the Syrian refugee crisis to the cultural epidemic of depression to the personal struggle of insignificance. The Last Arrow is a clarion call to make a difference in the world rather than a self-help book for personal self-improvement.TLA: Is there anything else you would like to add?McManus: Racists are not born they are raised. Isolation is the breeding ground for racism. The more you come to know the world around you and people different than you the less likely you will become an extremist. The church needs to bring the world together.As a speaker, I can inspire people to change but as a writer I can guide people to change. That's why books are so important. As a pastor, though, I can be a part of creating the change the world so desperately needs.For me that change the world so desperately needs is called Mosaic.

Yesterday the most powerful force in the world for the advancement of peace, justice and hope, came together.Fueled By Love:#TheChurch

— Erwin McManus (@erwinmcmanus) August 14, 2017