I pray that you and yours enjoyed a very blessed Easter season!  And I also pray that the power of our Lord’s resurrection be manifest in every aspect of your life.

It has been a busy season for Life Connections as we planned for and then facilitated a Pastors & Ministry Leaders Summit at the beautiful Salvation Army Camp in Malibu. Not only was it a refreshing time away from the daily routine of ministry, but it was also an excellent opportunity to connect with key leaders who have a heart for unity in the Body of Christ. Attendees were challenged to consider possible changes in ministry that could help bring about the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer in John 17. They also had the opportunity to hear from others who are being used by the Lord to implement unity in their communities . . . men like Sam Gallucci of Kingdom Center Ministries in Ventura, CA (who addressed the group on the subject of “Unity: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”) and Lynn Cory, founder of Neighborhood Initiative which is based in the San Fernando Valley. Both of these men shared the impact that a united Body of Christ has had upon their respective communities.

The stories we hear of a united Church are pretty amazing. But they don’t need to be abstract stories told by someone else. Those stories could be our stories. All we need to do is step out of our comfort zones and make ourselves available for His use. What a difference it would make upon our neighborhoods if the Body of Christ were to unite as one!  It wouldn’t be easy, but it would be well worth the effort, and more importantly, it would truly bring glory to our Lord!

As I’ve said many times, our constant prayer at LCI is that we could be a catalyst for the unity that Jesus prayed for in the Garden. Thank you so much for supporting that efforts through your faithful donations and prayers. May we truly begin to see unity blossom in the Body of Christ . . . unity that would bring life to the nations!

El Salvador

We are planning our second trip to El Salvador from June 21^st – 28^th.  As in the past, we will be partnering with Aguas de Reposo in their ministry to the elderly pastors living in and around Santa Ana, El Salvador. Our plans include direct interaction with the pastors themselves as well as various work projects associated with the ministry.  In addition, we hope to be joining local evangelistic teams who target young people through both song and skits. It has been a long-standing goal of Aguas de Reposo to establish a bridge between the older and younger generations to “pass the torch” of the gospel message from one to the other, thereby fueling revival throughout their nation. There’s still time to join the team, so let us know if you are interested in coming along!

Japan

In May of 2012, LCI was honored to facilitate a trip to the tsunami-ravaged areas of northern Japan, and ever since the team’s return, we have felt the Lord urging us to plan a second trip.  Unfortunately, however, we lacked the commitment of a seasoned leader familiar with the Japanese culture. So, mindful of the Lord’s urging, but equally mindful of the importance of mature leadership, we began to pray. And I we are pleased to report that He has answered our prayers.  We were recently contacted by one the team leaders from our first trip who has offered to lead another team! Praise the Lord!

Our original plans had scheduled this second team to visit Japan in October of this year, however, we are postponing the trip until March or April of 2014. Please let us know if you are interested in joining our team!

Bring Life – El Salvador June 21st-28th 2013

As in the past, we will be partnering with Aguas de Reposo in their ministry to the elderly pastors living in and around Santa Ana, El Salvador. Our plans include direct interaction with the pastors themselves as well as work projects associated with the ministry. In addition, we will be joining local evangelistic teams who target youth through both song and skits, and it is our hope to end our time in El Salvador with a celebration event during which the youth of that country will be encouraged to not only minister to the needs of their older brothers and sisters, but to join with them in envisioning revival throughout
their nation.

Cost – $1,500.00 – Includes (Airfare, Lodging, Food, IC Transport, Insurance, Ministry Gift, LCI Admin)
For More Details: Please Call or e-mail Tyler Lennon at 310-429-2058 or tyler@lcibringlife.org

Balanced Life- El Salvador December 9th-17th 2013
Come away for a time of refreshment and a time of service to others.
Join us as we experience the magnificent coastline of El Salvador and learn how to surf and stand-up paddle board! Enjoy the luxurious amenities of the world class Las Flores Beach Resort as we explore new opportunities for marketplace and ministry to join together. And in the midst of all our fun and relaxation, we will have the opportunity to serve among some of El Salvador’s poor . . . elderly pastors who need help meeting their day-to-day necessities.
Cost- $2,000.00 (Airfare, Lodging, Food, IC Transport, Insurance, Ministry Gift, LCI Admin)
For More Details: Please Call or e-mail Tyler Lennon 310-429-2058 or tyler@lcibringlife.org

Love your neighbor!
In response to some of those who attended LCI’s Bring Life Event in the fall of 2012, Life Connections and Neighborhood Initiative are providing an opportunity for pastors and leaders to come together for the purpose of dialoguing and praying as to how the united Church of Christ might better demonstrate His love for the lost. A similar effort in the San Fernando Valley has brought together over 20 churches and ministries for the single purpose of demonstrating love to our neighbors. The result has been a mobilized Body of Christ reaching beyond the normal boundaries of church activity, and it is our prayer that similar movements can begin in neighborhoods throughout the Los Angeles area.
Loving the Least in our midst
For those of us who live in urban areas, contact with the homeless is a constant reality. But how does one effectively interact with the poor so as not to enable them further, but rather empower them to overcome their present situation? And how can we share the gospel message in a truly meaningful way? These were just some of the questions posed by pastors in the West Los Angeles area, and as a result of their queries, Life Connections has partnered with Broken Hearts Ministry of Hollywood to conduct a series of four classes to train concerned individuals to effectively engage the poor living on our streets. Imagine the impact of Christians mobilizing in an effort to lovingly connect with the poor of our cities! Countless numbers would no doubt come to know our Lord. With so many living on the streets of WLA, we pray that this is simply a first step towards the fulfillment of that dream.
Bring Life Event – Fall 2013
Plans are well underway for a Bring Life Event this fall that will organize citywide prayer events and focus attention on the need to evangelize the urban poor, especially those residing in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. Life Connections is partnering with Union Rescue Mission, Global Leadership Dynamics, Broken Hearts Ministry and Alpha USA. And we are thrilled to announce that Alpha UK will be sending a team from London for the entire event! Stay tuned for more details.

Trips
Plans are beginning to take shape for a trip to El Salvador in June with a focus on bringing both Hispanic and Anglo youth together for the purpose of serving the elderly pastors of that country. A second Salvadoran trip is in the preliminary stages of being planned for late summer or early fall. And we are also planning a return trip to Japan to continue our service among those whose lives were devastated by the tsunami of March 2011. The spiritual door to that country remains wide open, and we are making ourselves available to be used by God to reach the Japanese people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are interested in joining us on one of these trips, please contact us immediately for more information.