Prayer, Week of September 5
The Church Being the Pillar and Base of the Truth
"...I write that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15)
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth." (2 Tim. 2:15)
The supporting pillar and holding base of the truth are the entire church, including all the saints; every member of the church is part of the pillar and base that uphold the truth. The church being the pillar and base of the truth implies that every member of the church should know the truth; thus, we should make a decision to learn the truth.
The kind of church that we build up depends on the kind of truth that we teach; thus, there is the desperate need of the living truth to produce the church, to help the church to exist, and to build up the church. The greatest need that we must meet is to bring the saints into the truth; all the saints should be trained in the divine revelation. (Knowing the Truth, Message 5, II.A-B, I.F-G)
Let us pray for all the saints to make a decision to get into the truth and be trained in the divine revelation in order to uphold the truth and testify to the truth.
Renewed Burden for the Church in Oakland, CA
The church in Oakland was first established in 1994 with over 20 Chinese-speaking saints. In 2013, these saints began to meet as the church in Alameda with the purchase of the current meeting hall in Alameda. In December 2020, brothers in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area began to coordinate for the Lord's move in Oakland, and in 2021, a weekly prayer time was started. There are currently 30 to 50 saints from the surrounding churches who live in the greater Oakland area.
Oakland has a population of over 440,000 and is the 8th most populated city in California. It is the largest city in California without a lampstand and the only one without a lampstand in California's top 20 cities. Within the last decade, it has been ranked the most socio-culturally diverse city in America.
Please pray that the Lord would regain a lampstand in this key city for His up-to-date move and for a shining testimony of the one new man!
The saints can read more about the burden for Oakland at http://bit.ly/burdenforoakland and saints interested in participating can sign up at http://bit.ly/burdenforoaklandsurveyform.
Bibles for America Volunteers
The BfA distribution center in Anaheim is now accepting applications from local volunteers who would like to help package Bibles. We've developed an application process and health and sanitation protocols to make the environment as safe as possible. So far, two volunteers have been able to come once a week to assist BfA staff members in fulfilling orders.
Please pray for the Lord's protection and covering of the health and safety of all the staff and volunteers as we continue to ship out Bibles. Pray also for the Lord to add more volunteers in order to meet the growing demand for Bibles.
European University Training
"And they said, Let us rise up and build; and they strengthened their hands for the good work" (Neh. 2:18b). The European University Training will be in person at five locations in Europe, four to six days long, with dates between September 12 and October 3. The topic is "Rise Up and Build!" The goal of this training is to supply university students with a vision, equip them with truth, help them in their experience of life, perfect them in the preaching of the gospel, and develop their character so they can become useful vessels for the building up of the Body of Christ.
Ask the Lord to accomplish these goals in each person attending the training. May many students be enlivened and encouraged to rise up and have a burden for their universities and classmates, and would consecrate to be the builders in this age to meet His special need at this special time.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 5 of Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age. On September 20, we begin Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth (July Semiannual Training).
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- SCYP Parents and Serving Ones' Fellowship Time: September 25 from 9:30 to 11:45 am. Translation into Spanish, Chinese, and Korean will be provided.
- Thanksgiving Conference will be November 25 to 28. Due to the pandemic, Living Stream Ministry will again host this conference completely online. More details will be provided in the coming weeks.
- Living Stream Ministry has a monthly online newsletter called "Having This Ministry…" The August 2021 issue contains an encouraging report from the Cairo International Book Fair and a detailed introduction to LSM's recent digital distribution endeavors. Go to http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry/index.html.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of August 22
Being Constituted with the Truth
"Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom and instruction and understanding." (Prov. 23:23)
"Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
For the consummation of the divine economy, we need to be constituted with the truth. To be constituted with the truth is to have the intrinsic element of the divine revelation wrought into us to become our constituent, our intrinsic being, our organic constitution.
We have to pay the price to learn the truths. We need to enter into the intrinsic significance of the Holy Scriptures to find out what the Lord says and what He wants. We have no right to invent anything; rather, we discover what is in the Bible. After we have learned the truth, we still have to experience Christ so that He may become our reality; in this way, when we speak to people, we will not give them knowledge or doctrine, but we will minister Christ to them.
We need to be delivered from skating on the surface of the divine truth and cooperate with the Lord by laboring together with Him to dive into the depths of the truth of His marvelous New Testament economy. Those who are constituted with the truth are a great blessing to the church. (Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age, msg. 3, II, A, G-I)
Southern California Special Training on the Eldership
A new term of the special training on the eldership for elders and responsible brothers in Southern California begins this Saturday, August 28 on Zoom. Through regular corporate gatherings, group times, and personal study, the burden is to strengthen the present eldership and responsible brothers in the churches, to perfect and raise up the next generation of leading brothers, and to gradually bring more younger brothers into a functioning role in an organic way. Please pray:
- For the Lord to abundantly grace and strengthen all the participants—both new and returning ones—and become their perseverance and faithfulness to present themselves absolutely to this training.
- That an unprecedented one accord among the churches in Southern California will be ushered in as all the brothers are attuned in the same mind and in the same opinion.
- That the Lord will bless this ongoing training so that all participants will be perfected further for the Lord's testimony in Southern California and for the building up of the church, the Body of Christ.
University of Southern California
USC began in-person classes on Monday, August 23. Many students are back in LA for the first time in a while. Please pray that the Lord would:
- Greatly supply and strengthen all the students in the church life as they begin this semester in-person.
- Reach lost ones, new ones, and classmates at USC as the light of life.
- Gain a testimony of oneness and the one new man on this campus.
Cal State Northridge
The Fall semester at CSUN starts on Monday, August 30 with in-person and online classes. A group of student brothers will take a trip together from August 26 to 28. Please pray that Lord would:
- Cover the trip and companionize and build the brothers up together.
- Release a core group of students at CSUN this semester to pray and co-labor with the community saints to spread the gospel.
- Raise up the shepherds and the homes to care for the students.
- Gain some new ones and remaining fruit through the club this year.
Bibles for America
BfA has released a new gospel tract called "How Can I Know God Exists?" This tract helps a person know God exists by pointing them to their human spirit. It has also been turned into a video titled "Does God Exist? How Can I Know?"
The digital version of the tract and the video are available at http://gospel.biblesforamerica.org and can be shared via text message, email, or social media. Physical copies of this tract, along with all our other tracts, can be purchased in packs of 100 on http://materials.bfa.org.
Please pray that these gospel materials would reach many more people, causing them to open their hearts and receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Pray that our Savior God's desire would be fulfilled for all men to be saved and come to the full knowledge of the truth.
Kenya
As a way to propagate the gospel in Kenya, the brothers registered a company called High Peak Truths Publishers Kenya to spearhead the work of receiving and distributing ministry materials. Realizing that we have a commission to reach sinners, we plan to distribute 3,000 gospel tracts per month. We have also begun to translate our hymns into Swahili. We have already translated 95 hymns, which are currently being edited. By the end of 2021, our target is to have 200 hymns translated. These hymns will be used in our meetings, especially in the countryside where the saints love to sing and fellowship in Swahili.
To read more about Kenya as well as the campus and literature work in Ethiopia, download the July 2021 newsletter of the Lord's Move to Africa in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 3 of Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age (Memorial Day Conference).
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday 7:30 pm in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese at http://lsm.org/live.
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, Life's Purpose—To Build the House of God. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/lifes-purpose.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of August 8
Being Renewed to Testify to the Truth
"For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I would testify to the truth…" (John 18:37b)
The Lord's recovery is the recovery of the divine truths as revealed in the Word of God. Many truths in the Word have been lost, misunderstood, and wrongly applied; thus, there is the need of the Lord's recovery. We need to know the truth and be absolute for the truth, for upholding the absoluteness of the truth, and for testifying to the truth in the present evil age.
If we want to testify to the truth in the present age, we must obey Paul's command in Romans 12:2: "Do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind." We should not be assimilated by the world to the extent that we who have been separated from the world unto God have the same image as this age. We need to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, allowing the mingled spirit to spread into our mind, thus becoming the spirit of the mind and causing our mind, emotion, and will to be renewed by a new element being wrought into our inner being. (Knowing the Truth, msg. 1, I, B, Key Statement 1, IV.E, E.2-3)
Let us pray for all the saints, including our young people, to be renewed in the spirit of our mind in order to meet the Lord's need in this age to testify to the truth.
FTTA
Hebrews 6:1 says, "Let us be brought on to maturity." In the experience of our spiritual life, there is always the Lord's doing, on the one side, and our pursuing in cooperation with Him, on the other side. The Lord wants to bring us on to maturity, but we still need to cooperate with Him by being brought on to perfection, to maturity. The Lord wants to bring us on, but we must let Him do it. This is our willing cooperation with His gracious work. (Footnote 3 on Heb. 6:1)
Pray for the beginning of the new term of the FTTA, that the trainees would be built up in Christ in the growth of His life unto maturity and would have a solid pursuit and progress in life.
South Africa
Full-time Training in Pretoria
FTTP is back in session with pre-training from August 9 to 15. The training is in-person for those who are able to come and online for those who could not get visas; many community saints are also joining online. This term, the Lord has blessed us with 17 trainees, including four first-termers.
Please pray for the release of the Lord's speaking this week to all trainees and saints in attendance. Also ask the Lord, according to His will, if He would release more saints to enroll as trainees for this term, even at the last minute.
Update on Durban and the Recent Unrest
We thank the Lord that daily activities in Durban and the rest of South Africa are returning to normal. May the Lord continue to stabilize the situation in South Africa for His interest. May He preserve the saints in His up-to-date calling and move, and may He protect them from the wearing-out tactics of the enemy.
Please see the Appendix below for the full update.
Bibles for Canada
Last month, Bibles for Canada (BfC) sent two brothers to participate in an internship with Bibles for America (BfA) with a view toward maintaining the fellowship and healthy circulation between BfA and its affiliates. Both the BfA staff and the BfC interns thoroughly enjoyed this time of mutual encouragement and felt refreshed in the burden to spread God's Word to the hungry seekers.
Please pray for the Word of God to continue spreading throughout the Canadian provinces in both the English- and French-speaking communities. Pray that many more people would order a free NT Recovery Version from BfC and come to the full knowledge of the truth.
Vietnam
Pray for the distribution of seven Rhema e-books, that the gospel of the kingdom can be spread to all Vietnamese-speaking people and the word of the ministry can be supplied to the seeking Christians.
European Young People's Conferences
The last of the European Young People's Conferences will be carried out in Norway from August 12 to 15. Please pray for the Lord's continued blessing on the YP conferences in Europe, especially that the Lord will gain a group of young people who will be one with Him to consummate His eternal economy by building up His organic Body for His coming back.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 1 of Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age (Memorial Day Conference).
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, Life's Purpose—To Build the House of God. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/lifes-purpose.
- Bibles for America has easy-to-use resources for telling people about God's salvation. Visit http://gospel.bfa.org (English) or http://gospel.bfa.org/es (Español).
Appendix
AN UPDATE ON THE RECENT UNREST IN SOUTH AFRICA
Thank you very much for your concern and prayer during the unrest and looting which impacted South Africa, particularly the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. All the saints in South Africa have received much supply and encouragement from the prayers of the Body, even though the greatest need was in the church in Durban. We wish to give you the following update:
The South African government has been trying to ensure that peace and stability are maintained throughout the country and that there are no further incidents of violence. The President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has said that the riots were a “coordinated and well-planned attack” and “those behind these acts have sought to provoke a popular insurrection.” Thankfully the attempted insurrection has failed and the situation has calmed down. Daily activities in Durban and all of South Africa are returning back to normal. It has, however, affected both poor and middle-class areas. Private and government property have been damaged and destroyed. People have been injured and lives have been lost. Many South Africans have been so disturbed by these events, which unfolded in such a rapid and uncontrolled manner, that they are making plans to emigrate.
It was a traumatic experience, especially for the saints in Durban. However, it was measured and there was much grace. Thankfully, no lives or livelihoods of the saints were directly affected because of this satanic chaos. Therefore, there are no direct financial needs among the saints and churches due to this unrest.
We really appreciate being in the fellowship of the Body. The prayers of the churches in this regard are much needed. May the Lord continue to stabilize the situation in South Africa for His interest. May He keep using and blessing South Africa for the carrying out of His will and continue to use this country for the accomplishment of His economy on earth. May the Lord preserve the saints in His up-to-date calling and move, and may He protect them from the wearing-out tactics of the enemy.
On another note: the saints in South Africa also need much prayer regarding the COVID-19 pandemic at this time. South Africa was just emerging from a third wave driven by the Delta variant and was in the throes of it when the unrest began. During this third wave many more saints have been directly affected with a number contracting the disease and having hard battles to recover. Currently (beginning of August) more than 20 saints who are in the church life in different parts of South Africa are suffering from the illness. Others have also lost family members. This has resulted in much grief and many difficult changes in their living. May the Lord head up this situation in Himself and protect the saints during this time. May the Lord strengthen and advance His move in Africa!
Prayer, Week of July 25
Blending for the Reality of the Body of Christ
"…But God has blended the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member that lacked, that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same care for one another." (1 Cor. 12:24-25)
The word blended means "adjusted," "harmonized," "tempered," and "mingled," implying the losing of distinctions. In order to be blended for the reality of the Body of Christ, we have to go through the cross and be by the Spirit to dispense Christ to others for the building up of the Body of Christ. Such a blending is not social but the blending of the very Christ whom the individual members, the district churches, the co-workers, and the elders enjoy, experience, and partake of.
The purpose of the blending is to usher us all into the reality of the Body of Christ. We need to be in the local churches as the procedure to be brought into the reality of the Body of Christ as the goal. The blending is for the building up of the universal Body of Christ to consummate the New Jerusalem as the final goal of God's economy according to His good pleasure. (Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life, msg. 7, IV, IV.A, D, E.1, 5)
North America College Training
Thank you, saints, for all of you prayers for the College Training! We had more than 90 saints from LA participate. The Lord truly blessed this training and spoke some special and timely words to us. Please pray that the students would begin right away to enter into the reality of what the Lord spoke to them.
During the training, we were also able to spend time with some of our incoming UCLA freshmen. Please pray that they would continue to be built in with us during these summer months.
Lastly, pray that our brand new Southern California College Students podcast, Discovering Christ, would be a source of nourishment to many students this summer, including new incoming freshmen.
North America Chinese-speaking Saints Perfecting Training
The 2021 North America Chinese-speaking Saints Perfecting Training is currently taking place from July 24 to 31. The main burden is based on the ministry book The Ten Great Critical 'Ones' for the Building Up of the Body of Christ. Please continue to pray for:
- All the trainees to open their whole being to the Lord for the burden to be released and received.
- The trainees to be perfected in truth, life, gospel, and service unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ.
Bibles for America
In the fall of 2020, BfA purchased a new shipment of Bibles. The first installment of this order, which included 125,000 copies of the NT Recovery Version—100,000 in English and 25,000 in Spanish—arrived at our distribution center in Anaheim at the end of June.
Please pray for the thousands of people who will be ordering these English and Spanish Bibles. Pray that once they receive a Bible, they would read it with an open heart and be enlightened, encouraged, and nourished by the riches in God's Word.
European YP Conference
This year's European Young People's Conference is being carried out regionally, in person and remotely, and at different times between July 26 and August 15. The topic is "Patterns of Living an Overcoming Life." Please pray for the Lord's continued blessing on the YP conferences in Europe, especially that the Lord will gain a group of young people who will be one with Him to consummate His eternal economy by building up His organic Body for His coming back.
Lord's Move to Europe
A recent report on the Lord's move in Europe in video and written form was made available during the July Semiannual Training. This report can be found at http://amanatrust.org.uk/page/reports. An earlier report from different areas across Europe written in May 2021 is available on the same web page. Please do not download the video report.
Please continue to pray that the Lord will gain a prevailing testimony of the one new man, His Body, in every major city in Europe for His coming back.
Bangladesh
Pray for the translation of the NT Recovery Version into Bengali to be completed in five years and for the translators to be strengthened to have a proper understanding for translation.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 7 of Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO). After next week, starting August 9, we begin Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age (Memorial Day Conference).
- FTTA Middle-Age Training: The FTTA-MA 2021 fall semester will begin on August 30. Registration is open. The application deadline is August 10. For details, visit http://fttamidage.org.
- A Timely Speaking of Supply: Each week Living Stream Ministry posts a free video from messages given by Brother Lee at http://lsm.org/timely-speaking.html.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of July 11
Praying Together in One Accord
"Again, truly I say to you that if two of you are in harmony on earth concerning any matter for which they ask, it will be done for them from My Father who is in the heavens." (Matt. 18:19)
"These all continued steadfastly with one accord in prayer…" (Acts 1:14a)
In Matt. 18:19 the Lord spoke of two praying together on earth in harmony, in one accord. That was His leading, His training, and His directing us to pray in one accord. As a test of whether we are practicing the oneness or not, we may check to see whether there is one accord in our prayer meeting.
To say Amen in response to others' prayer is a practice taught by Paul in 1 Corinthians. In 14:16 Paul says that we need to pray in such a way that others can say Amen. If there are no Amens to indicate our one accord, we should not expect that our prayer will be heard. If only two on earth pray in one accord, their prayer will be answered. The one accord is the practice, the application, of the oneness, and the oneness is the basis on which we practice the one accord. (CWWL, 1989, vol. 4, "Elders' Training, Book 10: The Eldership and the God-ordained Way (2)," pp. 371-372)
Gaining, Possessing, and Experiencing More of Christ for Christ
"…Now then arise, and cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the children of Israel." (Josh. 1:2)
Our need today is to gain more of Christ, to possess more of Christ, and to experience more of Christ. Our gaining, possessing, and experiencing Christ will make Him real to us. This is not only for our enjoyment but also for Christ to be what He should be. At present, the Christ among us is much less than the Christ in the heavens. The Christ among us is different from the Christ in the heavens. This means that among us Christ is not yet what He should be.
We today need to take and possess the land for Christ. We need to gain Christ for Christ. If we do this, we will do Christ a favor. However, if we go on living a routine Christian life and church life, we will not be able to gain the land for Christ. For this, God needs some overcomers. (Life-study of Joshua, msg. 6)
Pray that the Lord's speaking in the recent Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth would operate in us through our musing and laboring on the Word. Pray that through this training the Lord will gain a people in His recovery who are one with Him to possess Him as their God-promised good land and who are the proper persons to bring Him forth to meet today's need of both God and men.
FTTL
Starting from this upcoming term of the Full-time Training in London, non-UK residents will be attending the training via a two-year visa designed for people attending a residential Christian community. Over the coming two weeks young people from different countries will be making their applications. Please pray that the Lord's hand would be with each application and that each trainee would successfully receive their visa for the sake of the Lord's move in Europe.
Indonesia
Indonesia, the world's fourth-most populous country, is currently experiencing a devastating wave of coronavirus cases. More than 850 of our saints have been infected, 8 of whom have passed away, and over 150 have recovered. We have also witnessed the churches fellowshipping and praying more fervently in one accord, and the saints have been offering themselves selflessly to care for the sick saints.
We hope that the churches all over the earth can stand one with us in prayer. Pray for the safety of all our saints who have been infected, for the spread of the virus to be contained, for the saints to be strengthened into their inner man, and for the Lord to gain what He is after.
Please refer to the Appendix below for the full letter of fellowship from the brothers in Jakarta on behalf of the churches in Indonesia regarding the current situation there.
Lord's Move to Africa
The June 2021 newsletter of the Lord's Move to Africa reports on how the Lord is strengthening His testimony in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. We thank the Lord that the restrictions from the pandemic have gradually been lifted, and the Lord is now able to move unhindered.
This issue is available to download in English and Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 5 of Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO).
- FTTA and FTTA-XB virtual graduation videos may be viewed for a limited time at http://www.ftta.org.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Appendix
A LETTER OF FELLOWSHIP FROM THE CHURCHES IN INDONESIA
Dear saints in churches in the US,
The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the frailty and the uncertainty of our human existence, while at the same time it has afforded us the opportunity to enter into the practical application of the reality of the Body of Christ.
As of July 10, 2021, the number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Indonesia is 2,491,006, with an increase of 35,094 new cases from the previous day. With the rest of the nation and the region, we have been reeling in the past two months with the swift turn of events as we assist hundreds of saints who have been infected with the virus to have access to limited medicines, hospital beds, and timely medical treatment.
As for today, more than 850 of our saints, their families, and their gospel contacts, mostly in Jakarta, have been infected, and 8 saints have passed away, while more than 150 saints have recovered. As we are feeling the sorrow of those who have lost a loved one and the worry of those who are currently sick, we have also witnessed the churches fellowshipping and praying more fervently in one accord, and the saints have been offering themselves selflessly to care for the sick saints.
On the practical side, the serving ones are daily coordinating with the saints in all localities to assist the infected ones in finding resources for medicines and treatment. The leading brothers in the churches are also calling all the saints to rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, and persevere in prayer through shepherding one another. We believe that through this pandemic we can practice to love one another, to allow Christ to make His home our hearts, and to have a substantial expression of the Body in the church for the spreading of the gospel and the truth.
Although we are many, we are one Body in Christ, and the sufferings of the members of the Body is our suffering. With this pandemic, we are reminded that no one is safe unless everyone is safe, and the same holds true for our church life. We hope that the churches all over the earth can stand one with us in prayer. Please pray for the safety of all our saints who have been infected with the virus, for the spread of the virus to be contained, for the saints to be strengthened into their inner man, and for the Lord to gain what He is after.
Your brothers in the church in Jakarta
On behalf of the churches in Indonesia
Prayer, Week of June 27
The Divine Authority in the Church
"Immediately I was in spirit; and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne there was One sitting." (Rev. 4:2)
"And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street." (Rev. 22:1)
There is a divine government in the church life today, and this government comes from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The divine authority in the church is for God to dispense Himself into us as life, as the life supply, and as the all-sufficient grace. Only by submitting to the throne can we share in His all-sufficient source of the flowing grace.
We should never separate authority from grace or grace from authority. Grace and authority are one. Today the Lord Jesus does not reign merely with authority. He is reigning in the church, among the churches, and over all the churches through the flowing of His life as grace. (Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life, msg. 4, V, V.A, B.2.a, B.3)
Semiannual Training
The July Semiannual Training will be held online beginning next Monday, July 5. The books to be crystallized in this training are Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.
Ask the Lord to prepare all who have registered to be good listeners and absorbers of the word, and to participate as much as possible in study times. Pray that through this training the Lord will gain a people in His recovery who are one with Him to possess Him as their God-promised good land and who are the proper persons to bring Him forth to meet today's need of both God and men.
SoCal Chinese-speaking Gospel Meeting
The Southern California Chinese-speaking Gospel Meeting was held online last Saturday evening. The fellowship was on "An Unknown God" from Acts 17:23. At least 850 people attended, and we got immediate feedback from 17 gospel friends, 3 of whom expressed the desire to be baptized. Praise the Lord! Please pray for all the follow-ups.
FTTA
"Because out from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36). The virtual graduation for the FTTA Spring Class of 2021 is this Saturday, July 3 at 10:00 am, followed by a recognition of the FTTA-XB (Boston Extension) at 12:00 pm. The video links will be at http://www.ftta.org. Please pray for:
- The Lord's leading of all 90 FTTA trainees and 16 FTTA-XB trainees who are graduating to follow the Lamb wherever He may go.
- The Lord to increase our number by sending 120 first-term FTTA trainees to Anaheim and 20 FTTA-XB trainees to Boston for the Fall term.
FTTL
The graduation of the Full-time Training in London is also on Saturday, July 3. Praise the Lord that despite the pandemic, the training has been able to continue, and this term 22 trainees are graduating. Please pray for these ones to be useful, living functioning members of the body and at least 20 new first term trainees from the UK and Europe to begin next term.
Furthermore, Amana Trust is in the process of applying to become a sponsor for a new two-year, multi-trip visa which will be ideal for those from outside the UK and Ireland who would like to attend the FTTL. Please pray that Amana Trust would be granted this sponsorship status and that this could be processed in a timely way so the trainees can begin to use it for the coming term. Also pray that each individual trainee would be covered throughout their visa application process.
European YP Conference
This year's European Young People's Conference in late July and early August will cover "Patterns of Living an Overcoming Life." It will be held regionally in person if the situation allows, or online where it is not possible to meet in person. Please pray for the Lord to release the registrations and bless all the fellowship and practical coordination related to this conference.
Bangladesh
Please pray for:
- The translation work and more translators to be raised up to cooperate with the Lord to release His riches; also pray for the saints to redeem the time to enter into His riches and experience Him.
- The saints to establish a life of morning revival, prayer, Bible-reading and gospel preaching and become vital members in the church life.
- The spiritual atmosphere of the online perfecting meetings to be strengthened and for more saints to join this meeting and be perfected in truth.
- The release of visas for the overseas saints.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 4 of Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO).
- North America Chinese-speaking Perfecting Training is online from July 24 to 31. Any interested saints from Los Angeles may register until July 11 at http://tinyurl.com/bd3ny3fc.
- Summer School of Truth concluded last weekend. Videos are posted at http://scyp.com/ssot2021.
- Holy Bible Recovery Version App is the official app from Living Stream Ministry that contains the Recovery Version of the Holy Bible in English with its enlightening footnotes, valuable cross-references, and useful charts and maps. For more information, go to http://www.lsm.org/rvapp.html.
- Living Stream Ministry has launched a digital newsletter called "Having This Ministry…" To learn more and subscribe, go to http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry/index.html.
- FTTA Middle-Age Training is pleased to announce that the 2021 Fall semester begins on August 30. For details, visit http://fttamidage.org.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of June 13
Closely Following the Completed Vision of the Age
"Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision." (Acts 26:19)
"And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Rev. 21:2)
The vision that the Lord has given to us in His present recovery is the all-inclusive vision of God's eternal economy with its ultimate consummation—the vision of the New Jerusalem. The totality of what the Bible reveals to us is the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is the total composition of the entire revelation of the Bible.
Our living out the New Jerusalem is for us to become the New Jerusalem, and our working out the New Jerusalem is for us to build the New Jerusalem by the flowing Triune God. Every local church should be a miniature of the New Jerusalem, and every believer should be "a little New Jerusalem." Whatever is ascribed to the New Jerusalem should be both our corporate and personal experience.
The New Jerusalem is the embodiment of God's complete salvation with its judicial and organic aspects. As we experience each section of God's organic salvation, we go up level by level until we become beings in the New Jerusalem. (Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life, msg. 2, II.A-E)
Semiannual Video Training Registration
Saints in LA and Santa Clarita will participate in the 2021 July Semiannual Training by video training. The schedule is July 5 to 10 for English, Chinese, and Korean, and July 5 to 14 for Spanish. The firm registration deadline is Tuesday, June 15. Details are at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla.
This training will be a Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. Please pray:
- For the Lord to motivate many saints to register so that God would gain a people according to His heart who would possess the good land and produce the divine inheritance for His return.
- For the saints to prepare themselves and exercise to maintain a high training atmosphere to receive the Lord's timely speaking.
- For the brothers who are pre-recording the messages that the Lord's burden will be fully released.
California Summer School of Truth
This year's SSOT from June 12 to 26 is currently being held online for all of the saints in the state of California. The young people are covering the following topics: "The Triune God" (7-8th Grades), "Life" (9-10th Grades), and "The Bible" (11-12th Grades). We are grateful to the Lord for this opportunity that our YP could be educated in and develop a taste for the truths we have inherited in the Lord's recovery.
In Los Angeles, we have a few in-person activities to gather and be encouraged together. These gatherings are being announced and coordinated by the serving saints in the various halls.
Please pray that:
- The hearts of the young people would be good ground for the Lord's word;
- The group fellowship times would be cherishing and nourishing to minister life, practical help, and experiential impressions to the young ones;
- The Lord would supply the serving ones as they shepherd the YP and coordinate various activities.
Bibles for America
BfA offers free copies of the NT Recovery Version in Spanish, along with 7 free e-books in Spanish available to download from our site.
We recently had a phone call with a Spanish-speaking Bible recipient. She was overjoyed with the NT Recovery Version and all the e-books, which she had already downloaded. She described the Recovery Version as "a jewel" and spoke at length about how easy it is to understand. She also particularly appreciated the application of God's Word found in the ministry books. She was so excited about the free offers from BfA that she is sharing them with her website subscribers and Facebook followers.
Please pray that many more Spanish-speaking believers would be led to the free materials available from BfA and be richly fed with the ministry of the age.
GTCA Cities – St. Louis, MO
A GTCA mini-conference this Saturday, June 19 will be held with the church in St. Louis, Missouri. The conference will cover the Lord's present move in the United States. Go to http://gtca.us for Zoom information as well as recordings of the previous two mini-conferences with Memphis and Cincinnati.
Bulgaria
We thank the Lord for His faithfulness and the provision in His Body that despite the pandemic, the saints were able to purchase a meeting hall near Sofia University and the saints' homes. Since then, the saints have been meeting almost daily via Zoom and in person at the meeting hall. The church in Sofia has also been participating in the seven annual feasts and other online events.
Last November, the ministry books distributed by Rhema became available in Bulgarian and were advertised online. Since then, the ministry of the age has reached hundreds of seeking ones. In addition to the seven Bulgarian LSM publications, which the local saints have been enjoying, there will be another 15 titles printed by the end of this summer.
Please pray for all the saints to be constituted with the ministry of the age and receive a governing vision of God's economy unto the organic building up of the church in Sofia and the Lord's testimony in Bulgaria. Pray for the Lord to build them together as the local expression of His universal Body through the corporate God-man living and the God-ordained way carried out by the vital groups for the accomplishment of His New Testament economy.
For more recent reports from Central and Eastern Europe, visit http://churchesceeb.org/2021-reports-en.
Myanmar
Please continue to pray for the saints to be covered, protected and preserved during this time of social unrest and pandemic.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO).
- European Parents Conference will be a series of five online messages for parents and burdened saints, plus a special family meeting, June 25 to 27. For more information, visit http://epcconference.eu.
- Holy Bible Recovery Version App is the official app from Living Stream Ministry that contains the Recovery Version of the Holy Bible in English with its enlightening footnotes, valuable cross-references, and useful charts and maps. For more information, go to http://www.lsm.org/rvapp.html.
- Living Stream Ministry has launched a digital newsletter called "Having This Ministry…" To learn more and subscribe, go to http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry/index.html.
- FTTA Middle-Age Training is pleased to announce that the 2021 Fall semester begins on August 30. For details, visit http://fttamidage.org.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of May 30
Living and Active for the Spread of the Truth
"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we might know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." (1 John 5:20)
"For I rejoiced greatly at the brothers' coming and testifying to your steadfastness in the truth, even as you walk in truth." (3 John 3)
"Fight the good fight of the faith." (1 Tim. 6:12a)
To stand one with the victorious Christ in fighting against the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44), and for the consummation of the divine economy, we need to learn the divine truth, know the truth, love the truth, be constituted with the truth, apply the truth (firstly to ourselves), walk in the truth, testify the truth, fight for the truth, and be absolute for the way of the truth and for the propagation of the truth.
Lord, we are open to You and ready to pursue and absorb Your truth. Be merciful to us that our self would not hinder us. Impart more of Your truth into us, and be our boldness to speak Your truth and to be living and active for the spread of Your truth.
SSOT Teachers' Training
The California-wide Summer School of Truth from June 12 to 26 is a crucial time for our young people to be educated in and to develop a taste for the rich truths that we have inherited in the Lord's recovery. This Saturday, June 5, 10:00 to 11:30 am, we will have a corporate Teachers' Training for all the participating parents, serving ones, and college students.
Please pray for all those who attend this time to be filled with a fresh burden for the young people they are shepherding and for this year's SSOT.
National College Training
This year's National College Training for the US and Canada will be held July 21 to 25 as a hybrid online and in-person training. The schedule is designed so that those interning, working, or taking summer classes can still fully participate. The registration deadline is June 7.
Please pray that the Lord would lead many students, including newly-graduated high school seniors, to consecrate their summer to Him. May this generation respond to the Lord's call to rise up, bring wood, and build God's house today!
FTTA Middle-Age Training
The FTTA Middle-Age Training is pleased to announce that the 2021 Fall semester will begin on August 30. After a long recess due to the pandemic, we are looking to the Lord for a new beginning in the spirit of a fresh consecration and a renewed sense of the Lord's imminent return. We pray that the Lord will stir in the hearts of many saints to rise up to redeem the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25) and seize the opportunity to be trained. In the Middle-age Training, saints of different races, nationalities, and languages, come together to be perfected in an atmosphere of blending to usher in the reality of the Body of Christ for the one new man.
Please pray that many saints in the Lord's recovery between the ages of 35 and 65 will seize this opportunity to be perfected. The application deadline is August 10. For more details, visit http://fttamidage.org.
Bibles for America
BfA has fulfilled over 50,000 Bible orders so far in 2021. This is the largest number of orders we've ever shipped out during the period of January to May. Despite the many restrictions resulting from the pandemic, by the Lord's mercy we've been able to meet this growing demand for Bibles.
As we look to the Lord regarding reopening the distribution center to volunteers, please pray that He would cover all the packaging and shipping processes so that the orders would be fulfilled in a smooth and efficient way. Pray also that these Bibles would be read by God's seekers all over this country.
GTCA Cities – Cincinnati
The second of four GTCA mini-conferences is this Saturday, June 5 at 9:00 am and 4:00 pm PDT (12:00 pm and 7:00 pm EDT). This conference will be with the church in Cincinnati, Ohio. It will cover the Lord's present move in the United States. Zoom information will be posted at http://gtca.us.
Albania
The Rhema literature in Albanian is now available in both electronic format and as printed books. In Tirana, two small groups meet during the week to enjoy the books, which have enriched our fellowship and provided the necessary food to care for the new ones. We noticed the importance of having the proper atmosphere and relationships in the church life to lead the saints to waters of rest. Practically this means we need to love and consider the saints and care and pray for them. The ministry of the age is not a set of doctrines but a ministry of life that brings us into the genuine church life.
As the church life in Tirana is still quite young, we need much prayer and blending. We need patterns of those who enjoy the Lord through His word and follow the Lamb wherever He goes. We praise the Lord for what He is doing in this city and what He will do throughout Albania!
For more recent reports from Central and Eastern Europe, visit http://churchesceeb.org/2021-reports-en.
Announcements
-
Morning Revival: Week 12 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 2.
Next week, on June 7, we will begin Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO). - FTTA Information Session: Saturday, June 5, 2:00 to 3:00 pm. This webinar includes a word of fellowship, current exceptions for the Fall term, testimonies, and Q&A. Please register by June 3.
- Holy Bible Recovery Version App is the official app from Living Stream Ministry that contains the Recovery Version of the Holy Bible with its numerous study aids, including the subject and background of each book; detailed, interpretive outlines; enlightening footnotes, valuable cross-references, and a variety of useful charts and maps. Available in the App Store and Google Play.
- Living Stream Ministry has launched a digital newsletter called "Having This Ministry…" To learn more and subscribe, go to http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry/index.html.
- July Semiannual Video Training Registration: LA's video training begins July 5. See our church app or http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla. Registration must be completed by June 15.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of May 16
Fearing the Lord in the Economy of God
"The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, that one may turn aside from the snares of death." (Prov. 14:27)
"And the Spirit of Jehovah will rest upon Him…the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of Jehovah." (Isa. 11:2)
The first principle for man to live a proper human life is for him to fear the Lord, to revere the Lord. To fear the Lord is to be in fear of offending Him, of losing His presence, and of not receiving Him as our reward in the next age. We should be in fear of missing the Lord's smile in this age and His reward in the next.
In His human living, Jesus was filled with the Spirit of the reverential, obedient fear of the Lord. He also delighted in the fear of the Lord. In His resurrection he is now the all-inclusive, bountifully supplying Spirit of Jesus Christ as the Spirit of the fear of Jehovah. Day by day we need to completely and absolutely open to the Father and ask Him to fill us with the resurrected Christ as the all-inclusive Spirit which is also the Spirit of the fear of the Lord that includes the human living and ministry of the Lord Jesus. (CS Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, msg. 11, I, II.B, B.3)
Church in Los Angeles Joint Meeting
The whole church in Los Angeles—all halls, districts, and languages—will meet together on Zoom this Lord's Day, May 23, starting at 10:00 am. This time will include the Lord's Table, ministry and encouraging fellowship, and the annual business meeting of the church. There will be translation to Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. The Zoom link is http://tinyurl.com/churchinla. Groups or districts are welcome to gather, with the usual safeguards, to participate in this meeting. Please pray for a healthy attendance and participation, and for much blending and mutual encouragement to all!
In one section of this meeting, the church will hold its annual business meeting. During this time, there will be a review of the church finances, the annual election of the board of directors, and related governance updates. We will also be asking the members of the church to approve updated articles of incorporation in the form set forth below (see Appendix).
These articles have been prepared for us by an outside law firm that has expertise in non-profit corporations. The church in Los Angeles was incorporated in the 1960s and has not had its articles of incorporation updated since then. We are overdue for an update to comport with current law.
Summer School of Truth
This Lord's Day, May 23, is the firm registration deadline for next month's California-wide Summer School of Truth, June 12 to 26. This is a crucial time for our young people to be educated in and to develop a taste for the rich truths that we have inherited in the Lord's recovery.
Please pray for as many of our young people as possible to register on time and that their hearts would be good ground for the Lord's word.
UCLA
Despite the limitations for in-person contact with college students, the Lord still desires that all men be saved and come to the full knowledge of the truth! This past school year, the Lord has led us into uncharted territories on the Internet to reach the sons of peace. At present, there are more than 100 incoming freshman who have indicated some interest in our club, Christian Students at UCLA.
This Thursday, we are hosting a High School Seniors' Night to welcome them and introduce them to the club. Please pray that:
- at least 10 incoming students would join;
- each student would be inspired to pursue the Lord while in college; and
- we would have a positive contact with each student over the summer.
National College Training
The 2021 National College Training for the US and Canada will be held July 21 to 25 as a hybrid online and in-person training. The schedule is designed so that those interning, working, or taking summer classes can still fully participate. The early registration deadline is this Lord's Day, May 23. Please pray that the Lord would lead many students, including newly-graduated high school seniors, to consecrate their summer to Him!
Bibles for America
Throughout the pandemic, members of the BfA staff have been commuting to our Distribution Center in Anaheim every week to package and ship Bibles. With an increasing number of people being vaccinated, the brothers are considering the best way to gradually reopen the opportunity for local volunteers to participate in this service. This would allow us to significantly increase the number of Bibles sent out.
Please pray for the Lord's wisdom and covering as we establish safety protocols and determine when to begin this transition. Pray also that Bibles could continue to be shipped out in the best way to meet the need of God's seekers throughout this country.
Germany, Austria, Switzerland
This year May 24 is Pentecost Monday, a holiday in most European nations. The recovery in the German-speaking nations normally has a conference this weekend. The topic of this year's conference is "Let us Exhibit Christ!" It will be held online for the saints in every locality to exhibit Christ and to share their enjoyment and His blessings even during pandemics.
Please ask the Lord to bring many saints and families together and to richly release the sharing!
Israel
"Jehovah said to Abram… I will bless those who bless you, and he who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (Gen. 12:1, 3)
Petition the Lord to uphold the land of Israel in this current deadly conflict. We petition Him that the killing will be restricted, the saints protected, and the gospel released.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 11 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 2.
May 24: REPEAT Week 11 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
May 31: Week 12 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
June 7: Week 1 of Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO). - July Semiannual Training Registration: LA's Semiannual Video Training will begin on July 5. For schedule and registration, please see our church app or visit http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla and follow instructions carefully. Registration must be completed by June 15.
- Memorial Day Conference Webcast: May 28 to 31. No registration needed; all are welcome!
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, Life's Principle—To Change Death into Life. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/lifes-principle.
- A Timely Speaking of Supply: Each week Living Stream Ministry posts a free video from messages given by Brother Lee at http://lsm.org/timely-speaking.html. This week's video is "The First God-man's Living—from the Manger to the Cross (2)" from The God-man Living, ch. 4.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Appendix – Amended Articles of Incorporation
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this corporation is The Church in Los Angeles.
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE PURPOSE
This corporation is a religious corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the Nonprofit Religious Corporation Law exclusively for religious purposes. The corporation is organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and section 23701(d) of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.
The specific and primary purpose for which this corporation is formed is to establish and maintain a church for religious worship.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this corporation shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of this corporation, and the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law.
No substantial part of the activities of this corporation shall consist of lobbying or propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except as provided in Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law, and this corporation shall not participate in or intervene in (including publishing or distributing statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office, except as provided in Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law.
ARTICLE III
IRREVOCABLE DEDICATION AND DISSOLUTION
The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to religious purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person. On the winding up and dissolution of this corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts, obligations, and liabilities of the corporation, the remaining assets of this corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation that is organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes and that has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law.
ARTICLE IV
GOVERNED BY NONPROFIT CORPORATION LAW
The corporation elects to be governed by all of the provisions of the Nonprofit Corporation Law effective January 1, 1980, not otherwise applicable to it under Part 5 thereof.
Prayer, Week of May 2
Nuggets and Gems to Build Up Our New Man
"And I will lift up my hand to Your commandments, which I love…" (Psa. 119:48)
"All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
"It is the Spirit who gives life;…the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." (John 6:63)
To lift up our hand unto the word of God is to indicate that we receive it warmly and gladly and that we say Amen to it. (Psa. 119:48, footnote 1)
According to God's economy, the big proverbs, like nuggets, and the small ones, like gems, are not for us to build up our old man; rather, they are for us to build up our new man to strengthen our life of pursuing Christ for the fulfillment of God's economy in producing and building up the Body of Christ, which consummates the New Jerusalem as God's heart's desire and ultimate goal.
Apart from pray-reading, the book of Proverbs is merely a collection of proverbs, but when we read Proverbs prayerfully, that is, when we pray-read Proverbs, our pray-reading causes all the proverbs to become words of spirit and life to us.
We should not come to Proverbs as a letter-keeper but as a God-seeker; we should be those who seek God with all our heart, who seek God's favor by entreating His countenance, who ask God to cause His face to shine upon us, and who walk in God's presence. (CS Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, msg. 9, III.A, A.5, B)
Being Desperate to Be Made Vital
To be vital means to be living and active. If a group of people are meeting together and are a real vital group—living and active—whoever comes in and sees this will be convinced. If we are so vital, and some seeking ones come in among us, they will be caught by the Lord. Vitality is the most convincing factor… (Fellowship concerning the Urgent Need of the Vital Groups, ch. 25)
Pray that the saints would become desperate to be made vital—living and active—to produce believers who are Christ's increase and who live in His Body, the church. (Beseeching.org, Day 316)
GTCA
Let us continue to intercede for the Lord's move in this country. The burden to "gospelize, truthize, churchize" America, including the need for 300 saints to migrate to 10 cities, has not diminished. For short videos and updates from the 2020 GTCA cities, including Orlando, Richmond, Pittsburgh, Lexington, and Minneapolis, visit http://gtca.us/updates.
Bibles for America
BfA is active on social media in order to reach people with our free offers in a widespread way. Over the years, our audience has grown tremendously on Facebook, and now we're applying to have our Instagram profile become "verified." This will lend credibility to our account and give us access to new features. Once we're verified, people will be able to easily order a Bible from within the Instagram app.
Please pray that BfA would find favor with Instagram as our profile and application for verification are reviewed, and that we would be verified in a timely way. Pray also that the Lord would continue to use our social media channels to reach many hungry seekers with God's Word.
Italy
There will be an online conference in Italy this weekend, May 8 to 9, which will cover messages on "The All-inclusive, Extensive Christ Replacing Culture for the One New Man." Please pray for the Lord to release many Italian-speaking saints and invitees to participate so that they may become lovers of Christ and His return to prepare His bride for the consummation of this age.
India
The second wave of pandemic is much more severe in India than the first. The country was not prepared but had begun to open up and have large gatherings. Now there is an immense shortage of oxygen and hospital beds. The situation is grim and is expected to peak by the second week of May.
This time more saints have been affected. We have lost six brothers and one sister (all above 50 years old). Others have recovered or are recovering with mild to moderate symptoms. The saints are still coming together on Skype, Google Meet or Zoom.
In this situation the Lord is gaining His saints and churches through the Lord's speaking in the ministry. Also, through the supply and prayer of the Body the saints are strengthened in the midst of the difficult situation. We are encouraged by the Lord to continue praying persistently, to spread the gospel and the ministry, and to strengthen the mutual care and shepherding for the building up of the churches.
We need much prayer at this critical time. Please pray for:
- The second wave of COVID to be under control without further spreading, that the Lord of all can come in to withstand the work of the enemy and to control the worsening situation;
- God's sovereign arrangement in the environment as the Leader, that many people can be open to Him as the Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins;
- The rising up of the spirit and the burden for the spreading of the gospel to friends, relatives, and neighbors so that many more can be brought unto salvation;
- Those who are in high position to have the wisdom to handle the current outbreak properly;
- The strengthening of all the saints in India (192 churches; 8,000 saints), and for the strengthening of the church life with mutual love, mutual care, mutual shepherding for the building up.
Lord's Move to Asia
The April 2021 newsletter of the Lord's Move to Asia contains reports on Azerbaijan and Bangladesh:
- http://lmasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/E-2021-04.pdf (English)
- http://lmasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Asia-2021-04.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 9 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 2.
- FTTA Short-term: The final session this term for college students and young working saints to visit the FTTA is May 17 to 19. Application deadline is May 10.
- LA Joint Meeting: Lord's Day, May 23, we will have a meeting on Zoom of the whole church in LA.
- Memorial Day Conference Webcast: May 28 to 31. No registration needed; all are welcome!
- Summer School of Truth: June 12 to 26 on Zoom for junior high and high school students.
- Words of Fellowship to the Church in LA: The most recent video entitled Meeting Together is posted on YouTube and in our church app, with translations in Chinese, Korean and Spanish.
- Bibles for America continues to produce impactful videos, both to spread the good news of the gospel and to convey the truths in the Bible. Watch and share at http://www.youtube.com/biblesforamerica.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.