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For
a complete list of the letters and other articles regarding what's been
happening between the ICOC and the new Sold-Out Movement, see the
Timeline page.
02/24/08 - Article - Rapidly Spreading
the Honored Message!
02/24/08 - Sermon - Come, Let
us Adore Him
02/10/08 - Article - Carlos David
Mejia - Reinstated Evangelist Lucy Mejia - Appointed Women's Ministry Leader
02/03/08 - Sermon - Faith,
Hope, and Love
01/20/08 - Article - Declare His Glory
Among the Nations - LA World Missions Jubilee
01/20/08 - Sermon - God Makes
Everything New
01/13/08 - Article - A Remnant Chosen
by Grace - Report: The Winter Workshop of the City of Angels Church
01/13/08 - Sermon - The
Potter and the Clay
01/06/08 - Sermon - A Remnant
For Deliverance
01/06/08 - Article - Prayer Goals for
2008
12/23/07 - Sermon -
Dreaming Of A Light Christmas
12/23/07 - Article - God Scatters
and God Gathers
"Tragically in 2003, the
International Churches of Christ (ICOC) were scattered by the hand of God –
not for one man’s sins or for the sins of the leaders, but for everyones!
This truth has been acknowledged by those who have been healed through
repentance and forgiving those who sinned against them."
..."Sadly for many disciples, most
ICOC churches remain in the Babylon of mainline Church of Christ theology.
Causing confusion, about the Spirit’s new movement as well as the
theological source of lukewarmness in the ICOC, are misleading reports on
“Hot News,” an ICOC website. In a derogatory article (Mike Taliaferro:
November 19, 2007) on Raul Moreno’s heroic decision (City Of Angels
Bulletin: October 21, 2007) to join our new discipling movement, Mike
Taliaferro deceivingly reported – “the ICOC churches have planted nearly 100
churches in the last four years,” “most of our churches have Discipleship
Partners,” and concerning the dream to evangelize the world in a generation,
“I do not know a single evangelist or elder in the ICOC who has renounced
the dream.” For the honor of God, these half-truths and deceiving claims
need to be addressed. Implied in the “100 church plantings” is incredible
numeric growth. Yet, some of the “100 church plantings in the last four
years” are from the dividing of congregations, such as the former Atlanta
International Church of Christ which splintered into nine, yes nine
so-called “new” church plantings! Likewise the Washington D.C. ICOC crumbled
into five so called “new churches.” This deception of growth was refuted
even by the ICOC’s own “Missions Memo” website of August 28, 2007. In their
words, “When the [latest] survey is completed, we expect to show a fourth
consecutive year of losses [in worldwide membership].”
12/16/07 - Article - Declare His
Glory!
12/09/07 - Article - Group
Discipleing? [sic] Yes!
"In our former fellowship it was 12
years before we founded a global charity. Therefore, with prayer – in this
only our second year of the new discipling movement – we are proposing a
“New Hope” organization led by Nick and Denise Bordieri, a shepherding
couple in the City of Angels Church. Prayerfully, when we evangelize the
over 200 countries of the world in this generation, there will be “New Hope”
projects for the poor and needy in every country on earth!"
12/09/07 - Sermon -
Evangelizing the World in a Generation
11/19/07 - Editorial...
A HotNews Response to Raul
Moreno by Mike Taliaferro
"Recently Raul Moreno wrote a ‘guest
editorial’ so filled with half truth and misrepresentation that we felt it
appropriate to share our thoughts on the issue. This editorial is not an
official voice of the ICOC, but rather just our own opinion about
things...."
"Raul Moreno became connected with
Kip McKean and the Portland Movement several years ago. Members of that
movement are called to recruit heavily from the ICOC congregations. When
Raul tried to lead his ICOC church in Santiago, Chile, into Kip’s new
movement, he was disciplined for being divisive. The vast majority (90%) of
the membership stayed in the ICOC when he left. He recently wrote an
editorial to defend his divisive behavior. We take issue with several of
his statements.
For instance, in defense of his
departure, he says that, “I became convinced that the ICOC, for the most
part, that I was affiliated with was no longer a movement, whose dream was
to evangelize the world in our generation.” I’d like to state for the
record that I do not know a single evangelist or elder in the ICOC who has
renounced this dream. In fact, we are still taking up millions of dollars
for mission work around the world. We are still actively building up our
churches in over 150 countries. Africa, for instance, has a 30 year plan
that begins with the cities and ends with the villages. ICOC churches have
planted nearly 100 churches in the last four years. Yes, we hit a very
difficult patch in 2003. It was very challenging. But most of us did not
cut and run during the direst time in our history. While some ran off and
started “new movements” simply so that they could be in charge once again,
most of us stayed with the churches that we began and did not desert “the
army of God” that was still fighting in the field. We are still giving our
lives to evangelize the world, and we want to do it in our generation. If
it takes longer, so be it. The Holy Spirit is in charge. But we all want
to see it happen in our generation."
11/18/07 - Article - "Is It Worth
It?"
11/18/07 - Sermon - Turning
the World Upside Down
11/4/07 - Article - "Report - The
Gathering"
11/4/07 - Sermon -
Forcefully Advancing the Kingdom
10/30/07 - Article -
"The Gathering" - The 1st European Missions Conference by Kip McKean
10/28/07 - Sermon -
Building a
Great Church
10/28/07 - Article - Prayer Grows the
Church!
10/21/07 - Raul Moreno
responds with his comments about
what happened in Santiago, Chile
"The
three Florida evangelists proceeded to mark me and another ministry leader
couple as divisive, thus disfellowshipping us. They also gave advice to those
they had swayed to avoid the disciples that had continued to follow our lead.
Indeed, there is a new congregation in Santiago, Chile. That church is the one
that decided not to follow their leaders. They even named one of their own as
their “new” leader. The congregation that I now lead is practicing exactly what
I have been teaching during my entire tenure in Santiago. We have embraced the
original ICOC teachings. The name of the congregation I still lead is the
Santiago International Christian Church. The new church is called the Santiago
ICOC only because the fourth and only dissenting couple of the leadership group
was the administrator, who as president of the board, carried with him the legal
rights and name of the church. Now, a month after this separation, the Santiago
International Christian Church is once again thriving and starting to baptize!"
10/14/07 - Sermon -
The Dream
10/14/07 - Article - Movement or
Fellowship? - Reprint from 12/06
10/7/07 - Article - Welcome To
Campus Day!
09/30/07 - Sermon - Spread
Thy Wings
09/23/07 - Article - For the Honor of
God
09/23/07 - Sermon - Under
His Wings
09/16/07 - Article -
Jabesh Gilead – Neutral in Moral
Crisis
9/9/07 - Sermon -
Asleep in the Light
9/9/07 - Article -
Fishermen – A Modern Day Parable
"To make the transition from mission
team to self-supporting congregation as well as supporting the Hernandez’s
part – time and the Moreno’s in Santiago, Chile, (who recently lost their
support because of aligning themselves with the Sold – Out Discipling
Movement), our new budget will become $10,000 per week"
9/2/07 - Sermon -
Have it Your Way Religion
9/2/07 - Article -
Do I Have To Go To Church?
"To be devoted, “sold-out” to
Christ, one must be devoted to the church,
His body. Consider this analogy,
if one’s arm or leg is severed, it is extremely painful to one’s entire
body. However, if the limb is not quickly reattached, the limb will surely
die. As many of us can testify, when a disciple misses church, “the body of
Christ” hurts. If the struggling Christian does not get “reattached” with
the church, he eventually dies spiritually – he falls away."
...."God is clear: daily involvement
with fellow disciples is explicitly commanded in Hebrews 3:12-13. Therefore,
“anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
(James 4:17) Today in “Christendom” people are not only lacking meaningful
daily discipling friendships, but they are “habitually” missing the formal
“meetings of the body.” This sin of omission of missing church perpetually
is alarming! For some it is a heart issue of wrong priorities. For others
they are deceived to believe that the call to attend “all” worship services
is legalistic. Too often congregational leaders, where only half the
membership attends midweek services, have confused “love and patience” for
the toleration of sin. (Revelation 2:20-23) From other pulpits, there is a
cowardly silence on “church attendance” because of the fear of losing
members and thus contribution, if they challenge people as Jesus did the
rich young ruler. (Mark 10:17-29) Jeremiah’s words ring true, “A horrible
and shocking thing has happened in the land; the prophets prophesy lies, the
priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way!” Sadly,
in some cases where there is lukewarm church attendance, the minister simply
lacks the training and skill to motivate disciples’ hearts through the
Word."
08/27/07 - Santiago ICOC Church splits when
local leaders join Kip's new movement.
Local Leaders marked.
"On Sunday the
Morenos met with a group of about 30 in their apartment building, while the
rest of us (about 250) had a great worship in the regular facility. John
Hoyt gave a meaningful communion service, his first in Spanish, and John
Reus preached an inspiring sermon. We met, again, at 4:00 with the church
and at 6:00 with the Bible talk leaders. At this time, both Raul Moreno and
Kip McKean were marked for their divisiveness (Romans 16:17 and Titus 3:10).
On Monday morning we had an inspiring congregational devotional and prayer
time. Between, before and after these meetings the staff in Chile
(unfortunately minus Raul and Lynda) and the group from Florida met to
study, pray and organize. "
...."In that same
devotional, it was necessary for us to mark Alfredo and Alejandra Anuch,
Raul's right hand couple, for their divisiveness. It feels contradictory to
mark church members, because we try so hard to keep them saved. But, we
understand that the scriptures leave us no alternative, in order that the
larger flock might be protected. The 250 disciples who remain in the
original church have high standards of unity, love, faithfulness and
devotion. This church has a great desire to reach Chile and beyond with the
gospel. They are an example and an inspiration to us all."
8/26/07 - Sermon -
Samson's Strength
08/26/07 - Article -Shibboleth
"I admonished those
in attendance that our message is “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” and our
response to this grace is to be “sold-out disciples,” whose motivating
vision is the evangelization of the nations in a generation. At this time, I
know of no other Christian organization that has this vision. Sadly our
former fellowship has repeatedly renounced this compelling dream and
disfellowshipped many of those who still embrace it. In contrast in the
“Sold-Out Discipling Movement” (a name given to us by our detractors),our
message is not to be against any one group or any particular doctrine. Our
message is a positive affirmation that Jesus died for the sins of the
world."
8/19/07 - Sermon -
Jephthah's Life Of Tears
8/18/07 - Article -
Report: King of Kings - 2007 World Missions Jubilee
8/13/07 - Sermon -
King of Kings - 2007 World Missions Jubilee
8/12/07 - Article -
The God of Second Chances
8/5/07 - Sermon -
The Curse on King Abimelech
8/8/07 - Article -
Lu Jack & Cathi Martinez Reinstated As Evangelist And Women’s Ministry Leader!
07/29/07 - Sermon -
Go in the Strength you Have
07/22/07 - Article -
Love Never Fails
07/22/07 - Sermon -
A Song for the Ages
07/08/07 - Sermon -
The Flickering Light of the Lord
07/01/07 - Sermon -
The General's Last Charge
06/24/07 - Sermon -The
Allotment of the Promised Land
06/17/07 - Article -
The Promise Land of Dreams
06/10/07 - Sermon -
The Promise Land of Dreams
06/03/07- Sermon -
Saga of the
Gibeonites - from Chicago
06/02/07 - Sermon -
The History of
Evangelism in our Generation - from Chicago
06/02/07 - Sermon -
Building the Kingdom of God - from Chicago
05/27/07 - Article -
Sold-Out Disciples
"When Jesus’ call to be sold-out is
preached in a lukewarm or dead church, the message will appear “divisive”
and “harsh” as many will choose to turn back and not follow Him. In some
cases, two churches will be created; one that is composed of only sold-out
disciples and the other church will be those who love the status quo."
"Yes, the term, “sold-out disciple”
is redundant. So, why do we use it? In 1980 shortly after the Lord started
the Boston Movement, I met a student at Harvard who said, “The only
difference between your conviction and my conviction on salvation is that
you believe you have to be baptized to be saved.” I said no and showed her
several of the passages about being a disciple. (A short time later, I made
“discipleship” one of the studies in our new study series.) In the world
back then and presently, so many people have so many definitions for
“Christian.” Yet in 1980 the term “disciple” was quite distinct. Sadly today
the term “disciple” has been watered-down. Therefore, since so many have
cheapened the word “disciple”, in order to draw a Biblical distinction, we
call those who follow Jesus, “sold-out” disciples, because as in the two
parables of Matthew 13:44-46, the individuals “sold everything” they had to
have the treasure of God, salvation."
05/20/07 - Article -
Tear Down This Wall!
"Today, I beg all true disciples of
our Savior Jesus to tear down all walls of hostility. I am especially
praying for those Christians who have gone to the unimaginable and
unbiblical extreme of disfellowshipping a movement of disciples who are
passionately pursuing Jesus’ dream to evangelize the nations in a
generation. I plead with you, tear down this wall of hostility and worship
with us!
Let us consider that God has “one
kingdom,” perhaps with more than one movement. And when by His grace we
dwell with God in heaven, I sincerely doubt that God will be okay with true
disciples neither talking with each other nor worshipping Him on autonomous
clouds! City of Angels Church, lets have the faith of Joshua. God has the
power to tear down any obstacle to the truth…no matter how high or how
wide."
05/13/07 - Article
-
This Is The Church I Was Baptized In!
05/13/07 - Sermon -
The Conquest of Jericho
05/06/07 - Sermon -
Restoration
05/06/07 - Article -
Welcome Home!
"Our historical roots can be traced
from the Reformation Movement of Martin Luther in the 1500’s, to the
Restoration Movement (mainline Churches of Christ) of Alexander Campbell and
Barton Stone in the 1800’s, to the Crossroads Campus Movement (Total
Commitment Movement) of Chuck Lucas in the 1960’s and 70’s, and finally to
the Boston Movement initiated in 1979, of which many would consider me the
“founder.” In 1994 the Boston Movement officially became known as the
International Churches of Christ (ICOC). Then this past year after most ICOC
leaders rejected and opposed our efforts to call out a remnant to revive the
ICOC, God put on the hearts of my dear brother Steve Johnson and many others
to urge me to begin again. So last fall we officially initiated the new
Portland Discipling Movement or as some would call us, the “Sold-out
Movement."
..."In the past few years, it has
deeply saddened Elena’s and my heart to see many leaders of the ICOC return
to a more mainline Church of Christ theology. This was signaled by most ICOC
congregations in the United States dropping the “International” from their
name, so as not to be distinctive from the mainline Churches of Christ. As
in the mainline Churches of Christ, the ICOC in their “Unity Letter” states
their church government is “hyper-autonomy,” where all final decisions rest
with the local congregation. This doctrine effectively ends a sense of
movement and the joy of traveling from one ICOC congregation to another and
finding the same spirit and commitment. Also officially rejected was the
dream to evangelize the world in a generation. These decisions to depart
from the core convictions of the early days of the Boston Movement proved
the proverb true, “Without vision the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)"
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