Irreplaceable
 A one night theatrical event 
Tuesday, May 6
 

Every member of the human race has the desire for significance-a desire to belong. And the family is where those deepest longings are fulfilled.

Unfortunately, the word "family" has all but lost its meaning in our modern cultural landscape. And the fallout has been significant. Divorce. Crime. Poverty. Addictions. Abuse. Our attempts to redefine and reimagine the family only make these problems worse, not better. When the family is weakened, society suffers. But strong families make the world a better place!

The Series

Irreplaceable is the first in a series of feature-length documentaries that will approach the concept of the family from a number of different angles. The goal of each documentary is to recover, renew and reclaim the cultural conversation about the family.

 
Heaven Is for Real
 
According to Boxofficemojo, Heaven is for Real, on it's opening weekend, earned an excellent $22.5 million. Add in its Wednesday and Thursday grosses, and the faith-based true story has already grossed $29.6 million. This past weekend just added to its success.

Along with Son of God and God's Not Dead, this is the third faith-based hit in 2014 so far (you could include Noah as well, but that doesn't easily fit in to this paradigm). The success of these movies is a reminder that Christians represent a huge portion of the population in the U.S.: according to a Pew Research survey, around 37 percent of Americans attend a weekly religious service.   

 

Kidnapped !!
A gospel song saved a 10-year-old Atlanta boy from his kidnapper. Willie Myrick said he was in his front yard and bent down to pick up money when somebody grabbed him and threw him in a car.

 "He told me he didn't want to hear a word from me," Myrick said. That's when Myrick began to sing a gospel song called "Every Praise." The kidnapper started cursing and repeatedly told Myrick to shut up, but he wouldn't. He sang the song for about three hours until the kidnapper let him out of the car.

 

 Tony Pezzotta

 
For those who haven't heard, our good friend and former Director of Ethnic Ministries here at Pacific Church Network, Tony Pezzotta, went home to be with the Lord on April 2. Jim Smith had the opportunity to speak at his memorial service which was held in the Denver area at Mission Hills Church in Littleton. Zita, his wife, will be moving to Kentucky to live with her daughter, Angela, and family. Pictures of the memorial can be seen on our facebook page. 

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Autism Friendly
 With 1 in 68 people on the autism spectrum, most churches will encounter a number of people of various ages and backgrounds who are autistic. I am autistic and a Christian, and my faith is a very important part of my life. As a child, I had little use of language and was very "typically autistic." But as an adult, I learned to use language, and now I teach churches worldwide about autism.

I work with leaders from the Church of England, and I wrote their national autism guidelines at the request of the Bishop of Oxford, the Right Reverend John Pritchard, who realized what gifts autistic people bring to God and community. Sometimes, complex gifts. Sometimes, simple ones. But the things that help autistic people in churches also help many others. Our research has found that in England congregation numbers rise four times faster when a church becomes autism friendly.

Here are 10 low-cost, easy steps your church can take to become more autism friendly:

read the rest  

 

 

 Pregnancy Center

 
Debra Tous is a member of Shorelife Church in Huntington Beach and the Executive Director of Horizon Pregnancy Clinic in her community. It is a place where individuals receive non-judgmental and confidential free pregnancy counseling, education and healing. As a non-profit, Horizon Pregnancy Clinic offers a safe environment to individuals in the community, regardless of their situation. She encourages all churches to get involved with the pregnancy  counseling centers in their communities and would be available to speak to your group about how you can help. 

 

 
Good to Remember
mem day

At the end of the month, we celebrate Memorial Day. It wasn't until after WWI that both the North and the South acknowledged the same day for honoring those who died fighting in the Civil War. Then the holiday changed to also include honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. It's a good thing to remember their service. They gave the ultimate sacrifice. And thanks to all who served. It's also good to remember birthdays, anniversaries, accomplishments and sacrifices. It's good to remember.  

 

The Old Testament is filled with verses that say "remember." In the New Testament, Jesus said, "Remember what I told you" (John 14:28 NLT) and "do this to remember me." (Luke 22:19 NLT) We forget easily. I have often walked into a room and forgot why I walked into that room. I could say it is because I'm getting older, and I am, but I've done that all my life. My mother-in-law just called to remind me to get my wife flowers for her birthday, on her behalf. My mother-in-law always reminds me to get Vicki flowers on her behalf. I don't mind getting those reminders. We should appreciate those reminders to remember. Remember when you were just learning something new; remember when you needed some attention, some love, some forgiveness; remember when you wanted others to share your excitement about something; remember when...

Sometimes the present covers the past to a point that even our Christian lives lack the passion for the Lord we once had. Jesus said to the church at Ephesus, "You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. (Rev 2:4-5 NLT) Ephesians is such a great book, but the church failed to remember and soon died. Remember....and do the things you did at first. Got to go now and get some flowers for my wife's birthday.


Jim Smith
Executive Director
Pacific Church Network 

 

 
"Between Sundays" Training 

Another free training event brought to you by Pacific Church Network on Tuesday, May 20. Speakers will be Jeff Vanderstelt, Founding Pastor of Soma Communities in Tacoma, WA; National Director, Soma Communities;  Former Youth Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church - and Shaun Garman, the Founding Pastor of Seed Church in Ventura.

The training will address "doing church during the week," what/how you can be doing to make a significant impact for the Lord.    

Tuesday, May 20, 10am to 2pm (Lunch provided):

San Antonio Heights Community Church
2520 North Euclid Avenue
Upland, CA 91784

909.944.5900

 
Right Team, Right Place
Training Volunteers (this training event is in Spanish) 
Dr. Octavio Esqueda
On Saturday, May 17, Biola Professor, Dr. Octavio Esqueda, will be sharing how to find, train and empower volunteers in your church. Often, the pastor has too many jobs to do that could be better delegated to others, freeing the pastor to do what only he can do. An increase in volunteer activation also helps the church to grow, become healthier and provide opportunity for Christians to use their gifts. This is another free training event provided by Pacific Church Network. Lunch is included but please register so we can order enough food. This seminar is in Spanish.
 
Saturday, May 17, 10am to 2pm
Calvary Baptist Church
6548 S Newlin Avenue
Whittier, CA 90601-4009
562-698-8058  
 
7 New Rules of Email

Brian Howard Brian Howard, our PCN Church Multiplication Director, wrote an interesting blog on email. "Email blesses (haunts) us day and night, at home and at work, on weekdays and weekends, and even on vacation. Sometimes it feels like I spend my entire life reading, responding to, forwarding, and deleting email. I often think fondly of the pre-email era. These days I get 100+ email messages every single day. Over the years I have tried dozens of different email strategies including:

  • Not looking at email in the morning
  • Not keeping my email Inbox open throughout the day
  • Having multiple email boxes - personal, work, etc.
  • Having my assistant screen and respond to my email and forwarding me only what I must see
  • Experimenting with different email clients
  • Setting up multiple email folders
  • Creating rules for routing incoming mail

I have had varying levels of success with each of these email strategies. No matter what strategy I am using, I am always fighting to get in the elusive Inbox Zero. After trying dozens of email strategies, here are my 7 New Rules of Email. 
Encouraging Women's Retreat  
On Palm Sunday weekend,
 56 women were inspired and encouraged by the teaching of Noe'l Robbins and Vicki Smith. Pacific Church Network held a spring women's retreat at Calvary Chapel's Conference Center in Murrieta Hot Springs. The ladies really enjoyed the relaxing hot springs, the teaching and the location. Another one is planned for next spring.
From Rushed to Rested
soul care day for pastors 

Cornerstone Pastors Network is hosting a one-day spiritual tune-up for pastors at the Gilead Retreat Center at ECCU in Brea on Wednesday, June 18 from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Join Facilitators Steve Macchia and Rick Anderson from Leadership Transformations for a day of renewal and refreshment. Take some time for yourself. Your soul may be the most neglected aspect of your life!
 

$49 in advance; $59 at the door - Includes lunch and all materials 
Church Plant in San Marcos
sam
We are always excited about all our churches, especially our recent church plants. Mission 316 launched on Easter in 2012 and continues to grow. On their third Easter weekend, M316 had 89 attend their special Good Friday Service and 142 attend their Easter service! Two people accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, several others expressed interest and 14 signed up for their "Next Steps" Class. They are currently meeting in the Community Center but are searching for a larger facility to meet their growing needs. Keep praying for our church plants. 
Church Plant Growing in Ventura
Seed Church just celebrated its 1st Year Birthday (March 31)! Here are a few of the highlights they have experienced: As of 
this Sunday, they will have baptized over 20 people! They are enjoying seeing a diverse group of people from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, de-churched and unbelievers, join Jesus and this new church family. They are currently reaching into the communities of Ventura, Camarillo, Newbury Park and Oxnard. Sanctuary space was recently rented for Sundays that will hold 250-300 attenders.Previously, they were unable to hold 100 comfortably and noticed visitors not returning--additionally their kids' ministry was cramped. The church is grateful that leaders and a servant culture are being formed. Their future plans include finding a Spanish-speaking pastor, embedding a Church Planter and forming youth and art communities. Pastor Shaun Garman writes, "We are so very grateful to be a part of Pacific Network! Please pray for us as we want to steward this next phase of growth with Godly wisdom." 
Seminary Moving to SoCal
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in the San Francisco Bay Area has reached a sale agreement for all its campus property in Mill Valley, California, and has initiated relocation of its primary campus to Southern California. The decision to build a new primary campus in Southern California reflects church and population demographic projections for that region. The new seminary campus will be in the center of the largest area of projected population growth in the American West -- also meaning the center of church planting and ministry development in the region.  read more

 
Marriage Conference in Spanish
backlit-beach-family.jpg A evening marriage conference is being held on the campus of Pacific Coast Church (Iglesia El Camino) in San Clemente on Saturday, May 24 from 5:30 - 10:00 pm. Guest speakers will be Pastor Ismael Mejia Silva, from LaSalle University and Alejandra Mora Viveros. Cost is $40 per couple or $25 a person. Childcare is available for $10 per child. If interested, please contact Mali Reguerin at (949) 973-2926 or email: mali@pccsc.org.
Marriage flyer with information

 
Questions on Insurance Issues

reaching_hands.jpg You've heard it said that there is never a stupid question, right? The reason is because every time someone asks a question, there are a number of people that had that same question, but didn't ask it. The Cutler Group has been tracking some of the trending questions that the nearly 3,000 churches they serve have asked. They've created pages for each and put together some resources that you might really find useful in your ministry.

Also, Medi-share is an option you might want to look at from a different angle regarding Health Insurance.
white-cross-sm.jpg Hi, thanks for reading our newsletter. I'm encouraging churches to sign your Pacific Church Network Covenant and send it in to our office. Already 31 churches have committed to support the Network and our church planting efforts. We are currently supporting six churches every month at $14K a month. We hope you will join us in helping support our church plants. Put us on your monthly giving calendar or for those individuals who would like to give, one-time or monthly, donate here.
 
Sincerely,
Jim Smith
Pacific Church Network
909-944-5900
info@pacificchurchnetwork.com
pacificchurchnetwork.com