Dear Friends,
Happy New Year!
This past Christmas, Christy and I took a little break in our routine and spent some time in the Desert. I always enjoy these times . . . times of solitude, seeking the Lord as to what He may have in store for us over the upcoming year. This was especially true after finishing a year that was good, yet challenging in many ways.
During our time away, I spent time in Scripture, and one of the passages that really stood out to me can be found in Zechariah. God sent an angel to speak a word of encouragement to Zerubbabel , the man whose mission was to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem after a long period of exile for the children of Israel.
So [the angel] said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerrubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’, says the Lord Almighty. What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerrubabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of God Bless it! God Bless it!’” Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerrubbabel have laid a foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. Who despises the day of small things?” – Zech. 4:6-10
In our efforts to walk out LCI’s calling as a catalyst for unity within the Church (please read the section below entitled “LCI Vision/Mission”) we spent a lot of time this past year building foundations of relationship with many different pastors and ministry leaders. These efforts may appear small and insignificant, but these relationships will be crucial to what I believe the Lord wants to do in the Church of Los Angeles . . . and the world! And I am encouraged by the Lord’s word to Zerrubabbel, “Who despises the day of small things?”
As we continue to build upon those relationships, and as we begin to see the fruit of our efforts, we covet your partnership this upcoming year, both your prayers and your financial support. If you would like to receive a list of our monthly prayer needs, please send us your e-mail address. Of course, you can always check our website for updates.
As always, thank you for joining with us as we strive to Bring Life to the Nations!
LCI Vision/Mission
Over this past year, we sought the counsel of Bob Ray, President of The Institute For Achievement & Results, who helped us refine the vision and mission of Life Connections International. It was a time of deep reflection and carefully listening for the Lord’s voice. After a lot of hard work (and it was work!), here’s what we came up with:
Our Vision is Unity within the Body of Christ.
At LCI, we envision a united Body of Christ, in all of its marvelous diversity, each part working in harmony with one another, whether locally or abroad, that the kingdom of God might be advanced, and that life – life in Christ Jesus our Lord – might freely flow to the nations.
Our Mission
The Mission of LCI is to be a catalyst for Unity within the Body of Christ, nurturing connections among leaders and ministry organizations in order to create lasting partnerships that will prepare God’s people for works of service, promote outreach to surrounding communities, and to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We achieve this through the following three areas of emphasis:
• Communicate – At every opportunity LCI communicates God’s heart for unity among His Children.
• Cultivate – LCI cultivates relationships that foster transformation, both individually and corporately.
• Connect – LCI serves to connect churches, organizations and individuals, thereby forming partnerships or networks that individually and collectively further the cause of unity.
So there you have it! In everything we do, LCI is a catalyst for unity, whether working with the church down the street (maybe yours!) or taking a team to a city half way around the world. Come join us in our effort to unite the Body of Christ as one!
2010 Mission Trip Opportunities
And speaking of taking a team to another city, here’s a list of our mission opportunities for 2010. Come join us as we Bring Life to the Nations!
Trip Date Application Deadline
Mexico
Mar 12-14, 2010 Feb 26, 2010
Costa Rica
Jun 1-10, 2010 April 30, 2010
Spain
Jun 27 – Jul 4, 2010 May 27, 2010
Mexico
Aug 6-8, 2010 Jul 23, 2010
Uganda
Sep 20 – Oct 3. 2010 Aug 21, 2010
India
Oct 25 – Nov 8, 2010 Sep 26, 2010