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October 2014
Pacific Church Network
Newsletter 

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TOGETHER WE'RE BETTER
I had a chance to eat dinner with Stan and Carol Ponz this month. Stan is the pastor of International Baptist Church in Honolulu. Stan also runs a ministry called "Make it Clear" and is helping start a Bible college in Florida. International Baptist Church is excited to be part of Pacific Church Network. If you are a former CB Southern California member church and haven't signed up to join Pacific Church Network, you have a few more months to join and be involved in our free workshops, free couples' retreat, training events, coaching communities, church planting, church health and revitalization, and more. All you have to do is sign the membership covenant. We are asking each church to contribute, financially, something significant toward our church planting efforts and network. Already, we have more churches contributing financially and more income than we have had in the past, with a quarter of the year still left. Obviously, with our church planting efforts we need your support. Together, we can reach our goal of 76 new churches by 2026, 76 by 26!! So far we have helped seven churches get started, with four more next year. Join us has we plant more churches and help strengthen existing ones. PCN Membership. 


Jim Smith
Executive Director
Pacific Church Network 

Church Planting Worldwide
CBGlobal Meetings

Pacific Church Network is an active member of CBGlobal, a worldwide church network. New members from Bangladesh and Myanmar attended this year's meetings. They each have planted six new churches in the past couple of years. The CBGlobal meetings were held Sendai, Japan. Representatives from Japan and the Philippines told stories from churches affected by the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and the 2013 Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. Through the devastation, churches have doubled and some tripled in size in the Philippines. One church just recently baptized 174 people on one day! In Japan, some people are still in temporary housing, and churches are trying to offer hope and encouragement to them. In Taiwan, 2 new churches were planted last year by the WaSung Church in Kaoshung, Taiwan--a 2,400-member church, the largest CB church in Taiwan. Japan has a goal of increasing their numbers soon to 100 churches, and the Philippines currently have 700 churches, hoping to have 2,025 churches by the year 2025!

Well Attended Training
Calvary Baptist, Whittier

On Saturday, September 20, close to 50 leaders from Spanish-language congregations around Southern California came to hear Dr. Octavio Esqueda, a professor at Biola, share about finding, training and empowering volunteers in their churches. Participating Churches from Santa Barbara, Bellflower, San Clemente, Los Angeles and more were there to benefit from Octavio's experience. Pastor Emilio Nuņez, our PCN Spanish Ministries Director, said it was a beneficial and helpful day of training and networking. More Spanish-language events are coming up this month: Men's Retreat (October 3-5) and Women's Retreat (October 10-12). Both are almost sold out: Retiro de DamasRetiro de Hombres.

Awesome Time With God
Women's Retreat in Big Bear Lake

On the surprisingly cool last weekend in September, 185 women gathered at the English PCN Women's Retreat in Big Bear for, as one lady said, "an awesome time with God." The retreat is more of a women's conference, this year featuring Cindi McMenamin as the keynote speaker, along with a host of seminars on a variety of subjects throughout the weekend. Music was again led by Ruth Hooper and the praise and dance team from Sunrise Church in Rialto. Thank you to Vicki Smith and her retreat team for all their hard work.  

On October 10-12, our Spanish-language Women's Retreat will be held at Pine Summit as well. They are SOLD OUT, although we could squeeze a few more in if necessary. Thanks to Mali Reguerin and Patsy Mazariegos for leading this year. Well done.

Growing In Kailua
Trade Wind Communities Church Plant

Pastor Sean Palmer in Kailua is excited about his church. Trade Wind Communities church is one of Pacific Church Network's church plants this year. Recently they were able to rent facilities from Faith Baptist Church in Kailua, which allows them to meet earlier on Sundays at 11:30 a.m, which has helped attendance. So far this year, they have baptized 10 people and are reaching into their community for Christ. In 2015, PCN will plant 4 more churches.

Pastor Dikran Shanlian
Reaching the Armenian Community

Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church 


Next year, the Armenian community will remember the horrors that happened 100 years ago. In 1914, during the First World War, events happened which shook the world. The Armenians were uprooted from their homes and lands, and experienced the First Genocide of the 20th Century perpetrated by the Turks. Out of three million Armenians, a million and half were annihilated. The survivors took refuge in some countries of Europe, others in Russia, in the Arab countries and some in North and South America. Since 1925, the Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church has been ministering to the Armenian community in the LA area. Pastor Dikran Shanlian has been the senior pastor of this church since 1986, and has helped them plant a church in Salt Lake City and move their current church to the Glendale area. This year they have signed their membership covenant with Pacific Church Network to continue their involvement with our church planting, church revitalization and church health endeavors.

One of the Best Workshops
Revitalizing Your Church
 
On Tuesday, September 23, approximately 50 church leaders came to hear Dr. Rick Koole and Pastor Brian Howard share about growing a healthy church. Several said this was one of the best workshops they've been to this year. Rick's notes can be found on our webpage. Brian Howard's main points about finding and keeping people in your church were: No one even knows you exist, You have 10 minutes on a Sunday morning to make a good impression, Have only one simple first step for newcomers, Make a clear path after the first step and work toward full integration. Some of Brian's notes can be found on his blog.

Jim Smith with Kevin last month
Ministry in Guam
Bayview Church

Bayview Church is now regularly seeing 350 people attend their church on Sundays. Pastor Kevin Elwell has hired his brother-in-law to be their children's pastor, helping them in their growing Sunday-morning ministry. Over 60 kids regularly come to the "Children's Theatre" to hear and see great productions from the Bible every Sunday. It is a strong family affair at the church, with Kevin's brother serving as the youth director as well. Together they make a great team and are reaching people for Christ. 

"Epic" Youth Camp
2014 Hispanic Youth Camp

On September 5-7, 89 people drove up to Big Bear Lake Christian Camp and Conference Center for the 2nd Annual PCN Hispanic Youth Camp! Eight people rededicated their lives to the Lord and two people accepted Jesus as their savior during the beautiful weekend of worship and outdoor fun. Thanks go to Josh Davalos and his brother, James; guest speaker, Bobby Umana; and all who helped put on this great event. Check out more photos on facebook. If you want to be a part of the camp next year, contact Josh at joshua3d2000@yahoo.com and check our website for details in the coming months. 

Reaching People in Harm's Way
CB Chaplaincy
 
Ten CBAmerica Chaplains took part in the CBNorthwest Men's Roundup in early September. They were privileged to join some 1,500 other men for a wonderful weekend. The attendance at their four workshops was great, and each chaplain had the opportunity to share stories from their ministries about ways they were able to bring healing and hope to hurting people. CB chaplaincy has a variety of ministries represented, including Law Enforcement, Hospital, Hospice, Reserves, Active Duty, FBI and more. We still have several military chaplains deployed to Afghanistan, one in Turkey, one in Germany and two in other Middle Eastern Countries. Pray for their families during this time of separation and for the chaplains' safety. Chapel attendance is good, and there are numerous hours spent in counseling. This fall we are opening up a new area of ministry as one of our chaplains retires from active duty Army and will represent us as a chaplain on the Appalachian Trail. There are so many opportunities for our chaplains. Tom Pouche is in Africa training chaplains and teaching at Bible Schools and Colleges there. Scott Noyes just returned from Ghana where he worked with chaplains in the Ghana military. Andy Meverden met with the Crown Prince of Jordan this week in Colorado. Pray for us as we walk through open doors that the Lord provides for us. People are coming to faith in Jesus Christ and having their lives renewed. To learn more about chaplaincy, contact Al Russell at 218-776-2813 or chapruss@cbamerica.org

25th Anniversary
Fil-Am Christian Fellowship Church, Long Beach

On Sunday, October 19, Fil-Am Church will be celebrating their 25th year of preaching the gospel since they were first planted in Long Beach in 1989. Pastor Pol Pili is inviting all those interested in celebrating with them to come at 4:00 p.m. to 3190 Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach, CA (562-492-9616). Special music, guest speaker Jim Smith, and some great food will all be part of the celebration.
  
Redemption Hill Church Launch Weekend 
New Campus

On Sunday, September 7th, Whittier Hills Baptist Church officially launched their new name, Redemption Hill Church. With three campuses in Whittier, Downtown Whittier and now La Habra, the name change made sense. They had 250 in attendance at their newest campus in La Habra with 3 salvations, and 2 salvations at Uptown. A total of 1,000 people attended over the 5 services and 3 campuses. The new campus in La Habra has continued to maintain a strong base of 200+ attenders for the whole month.

Burbank Transition
Pastor Jon Barta Moving On

On Sunday, August 31, Pastor Jon Barta announced that he will be stepping down as pastor at the end of September to pursue other interests that God may bring his way. For now, the church has given him some time to rest, renew and recharge. Jon has been working at Valley Baptist Church for 20 years, and we have appreciated his support and involvement with our network. The church voted to have Pacific Church Network place a transition pastor at their church for six months, and then allow Pacific Church Network to find their next pastor. PCN will place Brian Howard as their transitional pastor starting October 5, 2014. Thank you, Jon, for your ministry at Valley Baptist.

Left Behind
The movie Opens October 3

The latest version of the Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye book Left Behind opens on Friday, October 3. This films stars Nicolas Cage as Raymond Steele and Duck Dynasty reality star Willie Robertson is an executive producer. The original "Left Behind: The Movie" starred Kirk Cameron and took in $4.2 million in 2000. Paul Lalonde, who also produced that trilogy, said that the new film covers a far shorter time span than the original - perhaps the first five minutes. The entertainment industry press has dubbed 2014 as the "Year of the Bible" in Hollywood, and it's no wonder: The faith-filled movie year began with Mark Burnett and Roma Downey's release of Son of God in late February, which grossed $60 million domestically. Next came Noah featuring Russell Crowe; this big-budget epic grossed $43 million. In the spring came Greg Kinnear's Heaven Is for Real, the smaller-billed Mom's Night Out with Patricia Heaton and Trace Adkins, and the popular God's Not Dead, which itself spurned a lifetime gross of $60.7 million. Coming up in 2014 is The Song, a music-driven romantic drama opening September 26. Left Behind, an apocalyptic action-thriller starring Nicolas Cage, will open on October 3, and December will see Exodus: Gods and Kings, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Christian Bale and Sigourney Weaver. Next year will not be short of bible-based features, either, with the Passion of the Christ prequel titled simply Mary, starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Julia Ormond, said to be expected in April 2015. 

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