A New Beginning
“I pursue….Brothers, I do not account of myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do: Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I pursue toward the goal for the prize to which God in Christ Jesus has called me upward.” (Phil. 3:12-14) At the time Paul wrote this, he was ahead of us in Christian growth, yet he still pursued, he still stretched forward.
The church life in Los Angeles began in 1962. We have been faithful to maintain the church life through 56 years, but we are not here to merely maintain the church life. We seek a new beginning in 2018, an upward advance to greater joy, to more spontaneous churching beyond scheduled meetings, to spread a brightly shining testimony throughout this vast city, and to increase in number with a variety of people of all ages.
A new beginning requires that we give ourselves and pursue, forgetting the things behind (not even lingering in past experiences of Christ – Phil. 3:13, note 2) and stretching forward to the things ahead of us. May we experience and gain the Christ who is so wonderful and surpassingly rich that He causes us to count everything else as trash! (Phil. 3:8) Let us all pray for this new beginning.
Lord, “Draw me; we will run after You.” (Song of Songs 1:4a)
Spanish-Speaking and Young People’s Conferences
The Southern California Spanish-Speaking Conference is January 12 to 14, at the MCC in Anaheim. Messages will be given in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish. Conference details are posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
A Southern California Young People’s Blending Conference will take place at the same time in the MCC’s cafeteria (HS) and a classroom (JH). There is no cost and no meals will be provided, but everyone must register at https://tinyurl.com/YP-Jan2018. Registration deadline is January 7th.
Let us ask the Lord to open the hearts and outward circumstances for everyone He wants at these conferences and to take a step forward with both Spanish-speaking and young people.
FTTA
The spring term application deadline is January 10; the late deadline is January 31. “Lord, bring at least 60 new trainees including 30 brothers to the spring term beginning in February.”
Bibles for America
We’re thankful to the Lord for reaching so many of God’s children in 2017 with free Bibles and books. We look to the Lord for another fruitful year and ask that you pray for many more people to find Bibles for America’s website and order a free Bible, download free books, read our blog, watch a video, or listen to a podcast. May this rich ministry get into the hands of all who seek Him!
Germany
Pray for the Lord to gain 5,000 young Germans in Germany that see the economy of the mystery (Eph. 3:9) and give their whole being to it (Message 9, Fall ITERO 2017)
On weekends in January, there will be video trainings in Germany. Please pray that the saints may be supplied and perfected in life for the building of the Body by the Lord’s present speaking in the ministry.
India
The December newsletter of the churches in India (at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer) has reports and photos from:
1.Training for Full-Time Serving Ones, December 6-9
2.National College Students Training, December 23-26
3.Brief Update on the Practice of the God-Ordained Way
Pray for all 513 young people, college students, and young working saints who joined the National College Students Training, that the Lord can continue to speak in each one of them and to live a life of knowing, seeing, and gaining God in this age of godlessness for the sake of His testimony on the earth.
Turkey
We are now proof-reading “The Basic Revelation in the Holy Scriptures” by brother Witness Lee. Please pray that we can find proper expressions in the local language for helping readers understand the truths in the Bible.
Announcements
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Morning revival: week 2 of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today. Next week we will use week 1 of The Recovery of the Church, but keep Material Offerings for further use later in the year.
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Information about Germany and Europe: see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.