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Hope
Henry Ford once said,
"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right."
There is always hope. God is builiding his church, God gives us purpose, meaning and value. |
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A recent survey found that 41% of those who have left the church would come back if someone just invited them back. Younger adults (18-34) are even more likely to return to church (60%) if someone would invite them. Unfortunately, only 2% of church going Americans invite someone to church on a yearly basis.
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Support Your
Association
Many churches may be thinking about their financial support of various organizations. As you read this newsletter, you can see that we are doing much to encourage, equip and establish churches. We would strongly encourage each CB church to support CB Southern California with at least 1% of your annual budget. With the sale of Pine Summit, we are even more dependent on your support.
We appreciate you investing in your fellow churches. |
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Family and Friends
 | | Smith's Thanksgiving table. |
I love my family. They are not perfect, and neither am I, but we are all saved people, by God's grace, and I love getting together with them. I love when they arrive at our house. I can't imagine how fantastic heaven's reunion will be, with no more goodbyes. I've often heard that we should enjoy our children at all ages, because soon they will be grown and gone. Yet we still have times to get together, and Thanksgiving and Christmas provide the opportunity to do so. Our Thanksgiving table was filled with family and friends, 23 in all. Then, on Saturday, we celebrated an early Christmas with each other, since we will be at different locations on Christmas day. We were sore from playing football with the whole family. We were full of turkey and cookies. We enjoyed playing games and watching TV together. We recalled memories and talked about plans and dreams. It was good. Jesus talks about his family when he said, "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) Paul writes, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Gal. 6:10). Family is a big deal to God. So, make family a priority this Christmas. Practice your Christianity with forgiveness, servanthood, giving, encouragement and love.
 Merry Christmas,
Jim Smith
Executive Director
CB Southern California
PS: Speaking of family, vote for my son-in-law Nick's Pepsi grant. See article below! |
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Christmas Celebrations at CB Churches
Many of our churches have a variety of events this Christmas season that you may want to experience. You can check their web sites for dates and information: http://www.cbasc.com/find_a_church.htm. Here are three churches that have special events that might be of interest to you:
Christmas Musical "Jonah's Light"
December 4, 5, 11 &12
3:30 pm and 7:00 pm each day
Bethany Church, Long Beach
Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 12
6:30 pm
Sunrise Church, Rialto
Walk Thru Bethlehem
December 10-12
6 pm - 9 pm
Grace Church of Glendora
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Sunrise Starts Another Campus Church
On October 10, Sunrise Mission had their grand opening with English and Spanish services at 11:00 am with over 100 in attendance. Sunrise Mission is located just minutes south of the main Sunrise Campus in Rialto. This former independent church contacted Sunrise to see if they would be interested in acquiring their church as another campus of Sunrise. Sunrise now has moved their food and clothing ministry to this location and started distribution on November 21. Food and clothing are distributed on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Sundays of each month from 1:30 -2:30 pm. Mitch Cariaga is the Campus Pastor. |
Transitional Pastor Appointed in Commerce
Joseph Vegas has accepted the position of Transitional Pastor at First Baptist Church in Commerce. Previously, Joseph ministered at First Baptist Church in Fallbrook in numerous ways, including in a growing Men's Bible Study. Joseph has desired to be a Pastor for some time, and after Eric Durso mentioned his name to CBSC's Executive Director Jim Smith, he was contacted, interviewed, scheduled to preach in Commerce and then hired by CBSC to serve in Commerce. FBC gave CB Southern California the authority to find their Transitional Pastor. A Transitional Pastor is hired by and is on the staff of CBSC while working at the church for one year. At the end of the year, he may continue as Pastor if the church so desires. Joseph will be installed on Sunday, December 5, at 11:00 am. |
| New Song Assists Inland Hills During Transition
Inland Hills Community Church's Pastor Mike Fleischmann has accepted a call from another CB church in the Portland area to be their Senior Pastor. His last Sunday at Inland Hills will be December 5. Inland Hills is a young church plant, so Jim Smith contacted Hal Seed at nearby New Song Community Church to see if they would be willing to help with pulpit supply and other leadership needs. Hal willing said, "Yes." Jim and Hal met with the Inland Hills leadership team several times this past month to help ensure the church continues to succeed and grow after Mike's departure. The value of Association churches helping one another has been very evident. |
| Tom Mercer speaking at our CB Annual Meeting
Pastor and author, Tom Mercer, will be the main session speaker at our 2011 Annual Meeting. Tom is the Pastor of High Desert Church, which according to Outreach Magazine, is one of the 100 fastest growing churches in the country. Pastor Tom attributes a good part of HDC's growth to the "Oikos" mentality of his church. Come this March to hear him explain what "Oikoscentricism" is all about. The meeting will be on Sunday, March 6 at Grace Church of Glendora from 3:45 - 8:30 pm, including informative afternoon sessions, a free meal provided by Brotherhood Mutual agent Bill Petty, and our main session with Tom Mercer. All churches of all ethnicities are invitied. Spanish interpretation will be provided. |
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Gene Wood Resigns
Pastor Gene Wood resigned on November 11 from his position as the senior pastor. His letter of resignation was read to the church on November 14. He had served there for just under 20 years. Please pray for Gene and Carol Wood, the church leadership team and the congregation as they process through this time of loss and transition. |
Grace Church of Glendora's Ministry in Asia
Although saddened by Pastor Gene's resignation, Grace for Asia, (GFA) a ministry of Grace Church, has distributed 478,000 Bibles to various churches and individuals throughout China this year alone! Over 60 people participated in three trips in 2010 to China. GFA also has developed a micro-financing network to help farmers in the Philippines, as well as built a health clinic and held children's outreaches in the Philippines. Pray for the GFA staff as they seek guidance and provision for the year ahead.
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CB Marriage Conference
 On February 11-13, conveniently scheduled just before Valentines Day, CBSC will be sponsoring a Marriage Conference at the newly renovated Wyndham Hotel in Costa Mesa. All guestrooms have been updated and offer classic touches, including hardwood floors and granite bathrooms. The Wyndham Orange County hotel features a smoke-free environment. Flat-screen TVs, high-speed Internet and rooms fitted with luxurious bedding will make your stay comfortable and productive. Jim and Vicki, who have been married for 32 years, with four children, 2 sons-in-law and 2 grandchildren, will be the guest speakers for the conference. You will receive marriage enriching principles that will strengthen your marriage. Whether you are newly married or have been married for 50 years, you will enjoy this time away with each other in this beautiful hotel, centrally located next to South Coast Plaza and within easy driving distance to Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and more.Cost is $265 for the weekend, which includes two nights, two breakfasts, free parking, and all the marriage conference materials. Can't beat it! Call the CBSC Office now to make your reservations at 909-944-5900 or go online: CBSC Event Registration.
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RYFO needs Your Vote
 CB chaplain Nick Greenwood is the only CB Chaplain working in the Music Industry. Nick founded RYFO, an organization that cares for the unique physical, emotional and spiritual needs of touring musicians. Financial support is always difficult to find, but an opportunity to raise some needed funds has become available. An application for a large Pepsi Refresh grant has recently been submitted by someone on behalf of Ryfo. Pepsi has accepted the application, but now the voting starts. If granted, the money received would build and operate a new web-software platform that will re-envision how bands tour. We are calling it RYFO 2.0. It will facilitate much needed Christ-centered community within the touring artist world, foster deep care-oriented relationships, provide personal accountability to musicians, and save bands thousands of dollars.
They need your help. Whatever approved organization gets the most votes is awarded the grant money. It's that simple.You can VOTE DAILY online at www.refresheverything.com/ryfo and by texting 104873 to PEPSI (73774) for Ryfo's Pepsi Refresh Project during the month of December! Please spread the word within your church. Vote, vote, vote!!! Thanks. RYFO.ORG Nick Greenwood, CBA Chaplain to the Music Industry |
Spanish Language Christmas Banquet
Our CB Southern California HIspanic Committee is inviting all Spanish-speaking CB church attenders to their Annual Christmas Banquet in San Juan Capistrano on December 11 at the Ricardo Resturant. Cost is $20 per person. Please contact Pastor Walter Reguerin at (949) 365-8543 or Pastor Jesus Rubio at (562) 355-0989 or email hitmanrubio@aol.com
for reservations. To print a poster in Spanish, click here. Plan to attend this dinner and reconnect with other members of Spanish-speaking CB churches in Southern Calfornia. |
Lausanne Congress Concludes in Cape Town
The Congress on World Evangelization was first held in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1974. The conference was called by a committee headed by Billy Graham and brought together 3,000 leaders from 150 nations. A second Lausanne Conference was held in 1989 in the Philippines with 3,000 in attendance. This October 2010, the Third Lausanne Conference on World Evangelization was held in Cape Town and was limiited to 4,000 delegates, with tens of thousand watching over the internet. Virus attacks affected the connections at first, but they were dealt with by a team of prepared technicians. 200 delegates from China were prevented from attending by the Chinese authorites, but that helped focus prayer for the Christians in China. For more information, pictures and messages from John Piper and others who were at this event, visit http://www.lausanne.org/cape-town-2010.
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Hope Again Receives Large Financial Gift
Hope Again, a Christian organization helping the disenfranchised in Hollywood with spiritual, emotional and physical assistance, is located on Sunset Boulevard in the center of Hollywood. Sunset Boulevard is about as well known for the glitz and glamor of the Strip as it is for the homeless population. Ross Lokken, Hope Again's Director, received word that a faithful donor of many years had left a portion of her inheritance to Hope Again. The hand delivered first check was over $100,000, with more to follow. The total amount was more than half a million dollars! This gift, along with a $25,000 grant received recently, comes in the midst of these tough economic times. Ross Lokken is thankful for God's perfect timing and bountiful blessings. Read more . |
| Farewell Christmas Party at Pine Summit
On Tuesday, December 7, CB Southern California will hold a farewell Christmas Party for the staff of Pine Summit. The close of escrow is scheduled for December 12. Pine Summit was purchased by CB Southern California in January 1961. Dr. George Vouga was the CB Director at the time and had first found a 250 acre lot in Running Springs, but it was sold to Enchanted Village. More searching found the 36 acre lot in Big Bear that became Pine Summit. Some churches that helped in the bond program to purchase Pine Summit were Pasadena Baptist Tabernacle, Women's Missionary Fellowship, Calvary Baptist in Whittier and churches in Anaheim, Compton, West Covina, Hollywood, Burbank, Ontario, Perris, Glendora, Hawthore, Fallbrook, La Mirada, Long Beach, Montclair, Perris, Rialto, Montebello, Santa Barbara, Torrance, West LA, and Manhattan Beach, along with several individuals. In 1964 and 1965, construction volunteers from CB churches built the 12 A-frame cabins and the Ponderosa Dining room for $150,000! Pine Summit became a center of CB camping activity over the next 5 decades. Times changed, and now 90% of the groups using Pine Summit come from outside CB Southern California. Improvements to the camp and the economic downturn increased the debt load to an unmanageable $9M. A Christian organization has now purchased the camp and will continue to operate Pine Summit with some major improvements, including much deferred maintenance and a continuation of the master plan. |
Conference at Saddleback / Feb 22-25
We recommend this conference for your consideration. This is actually 14 conferences in one. Six tracks on various topics like: Church Planting, Preaching, Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Missions, Pastor's Wife, Worship, Small Groups and more. General Sessions include speakers: Rick Warren, Dave Gibbons, Sergio de la Mora, Stephen Furtick and more. This Tuesday through Friday event may give you some helpful ministry information and inspiration. Early bird special price of $199 ends December 1. Learn more.
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Southwestern College in Phoenix Appoints President
Len Munsil has an accomplished record as a public policy expert, a conservative organizational entrepreneur, a lawyer, a journalist, an educator and a writer. And now he embarks on a new endeavor, serving as the 6th President in the 50-year history of Southwestern College. President Munsil has been involved with Southwestern for 15 years as an adjunct professor. He has served on the board of trustees for seven years. Southwestern College is a CB college in Phoenix, and our Men's Retreat speaker this year, Brent Garrison, was the President for many years.Visit the Southwestern College website to read the rest of Len Munsil's biographical information and much more. www.swcaz.edu |
Opportunity to Teach in Budapest, Hungary
 A visit from a good friend who lives in a foreign country is always a welcome sight in our home. Dave Hodges, Admissions Director, Guidance Counselor and all around Director of Details at the International Christian School of Budapest, stayed at our home just before Thanksgiving. He was at the ACSI conference in Anaheim looking for future missionary teachers for ICSB which is a biblically based 1-12th grade school with 200 students in Budapest, Hungary. If you are interested or know of someone interested in teaching at ICSB, please contact Dave Hodges and tell him you read about this opportunity from his good friend Jim Smith.
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Missionary Support Opportunity
 Tony and Laura Macias are looking for support as Missionary Aviation
Fellowship (MAF) missionaries. They will specialize in Learning Technologies, helping to train national church leaders the special techniques of presenting the gospel to non-literate, verbal learners. Both have been in the educational field for almost two decades. Laura grew up attending Journey of Faith (Community Baptist in Manhattan Beach) and they are currently supported by Whittier Hills Baptist Church. If you are interested in supporting them or just learning more, please visit their blogspot or website.
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