One Sunday they had 40, the next Sunday they had 150 people!  Our revitalized church in Burbank, now called Cross of Christ Church, will officially welcome Mike Brown as their new pastor on Easter. However, the first Sunday he started preaching, they had over 100 guests as two churches became one. They now have an instant need for nursery space, children's ministries and other new outreaches. Cross of Christ Church is one of our new church plants. Although the church building has been around for years, the church now has new life and vitality. Keep them in prayer as they strive to reach the Burbank area with the gospel.

Dr. Voddie Baucham

"Why God's Word is Essential in the Lives of Men"  
 

The focus of this conference is to understand the vital role the Bible plays in a man's life. God's words carry the weight of eternity and the power to transform lives, but what are you currently doing with the Word of God? Come and hear keynote speaker, Dr. Voddie Baucham, and Pastor Joel Sanchez of Sunrise, state their case why they choose to believe and obey the Word of God. 

Sunrise Church, 2759 N. Ayala Drive, Rialto, CA 92377
909.875.5566
Cost: $15 ($25 after 5/15). Lunch Included.

Every day of the work week is pretty miserable if you're driving in L.A. According to a newly released data from GPS maker TomTom, Los Angeles ranked No. 10 for most congested cites in world last year. The company found that a 30-minute commute in the evening took 54 minutes because of congestion, for a total of 92 hours of extra driving annually.

But Angelenos should consider themselves lucky they're not in Istanbul or Mexico City. TomTom's annual Traffic Index explores traffic congestion in over 200 cities around the world and ranks a total of 146 cities. The data revealed that the average commuter last year traveled an extra 100 hours during the evening rush hour alone.

Here's TomTom's top ten:

Even in Hawaii, the weather is not always perfect. In February, our PCN church in Honolulu, International Baptist Church, held their annual family camp at a beach on the island. During the retreat, they experienced 60 mph winds and pounding surf--all but two tents were shredded, including the huge tent used for meals and meetings. Many headed home, but a few braved the storm. When the skies cleared, many returned to worship together on the beach. They also had the opportunity to witness the baptism of two young men. IBC is increasing in attendance, training the leaders and reaching out into the community.

Here are a few Did You Know's concerning church offerings (courtesy of Mike Holmes of Tithe(H)acker: 

• DYK?  10 - 25% of the average congregation tithe.
• DYK?  Those who tithe give 50 - 80% of a church's funding.  (This is known as the Pareto principle.)
• DYK?  Of churches with an attendance over a thousand, 78% accept donations online, 36% accept donations via mobile phone,  and 18% have giving kiosks onsite.
• DYK? The average online donation is $120. The average plate donation is $80.
• DYK?  A rapidly decreasing percentage of people carry cash or use checks.

Here's a straight-up fact: We are quickly moving towards a cashless economy. If your ministry continues to depend on the offering plate (cash or checks) as your sole source of funding, you will be way behind the giving curve. Mike Holmes says, "The numbers don't lie: digital giving is outpacing offline giving. Those who embrace this will be light years ahead of their traditional counterparts."