A CHURCH OF DESTINYTHE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOSCOW CHURCH

©2001 BY KINGDOM NEWS NETWORK.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A KNN PRODUCTIONPRODUCED DIRECTED SCREENPLAY

BY AL BAIRD BY ROGER LAMB BY ROBIN FAWCETT AND DECLAN JOYCE

A Kingdom Pictures Release “FIELD OF DREAMS” A KINGDOM NEWS NETWORK PRODUCTION

Featuring: KIP & ELENA MCKEAN • MARTY & CHRIS FUQUA • ANDY & TAMMY FLEMINGSASHA & LOUISA KOSTENKO • MISHA & SASHA RAKOVSHIK • CHRISTIAN & DEBBIE RAY

ROMEO & RESO KAKHELI • JULIUS TURCHINSKY

FIELD OF DREAMSFIELD OF DREAMS

“Paul and his companions traveled throughoutthe region of Phrygia and Galatia, having beenkept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the wordin the province of Asia. When they came to theborder of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia,but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.So they passed by Mysia and went down toTroas. During the night Paul had a vision of aman of Macedonia standing and begging him,‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ AfterPaul had seen the vision, we got ready at onceto leave for Macedonia, concluding that Godhad called us to preach the gospel to them.”

– Acts 16:6-10

few weeks ago, the only thing wedreaded about going to the mailboxwas junk mail. Now it is anthrax. Fear

of this biological weapon has grounded airplanes,closed the US House of Representatives and led tothe arrest of practical jokers who made anthraxthreats. United States President George Bush hasdeclared war on terrorism and on all those whosupport it. We are told that this war may last foryears. And unlike America's previous wars it willbe fought, at least in part, on our own turf. As uglyas the war in Vietnam was, it was fought half wayaround the world, as were World War I and II andthe Korean conflict. Nearly a century and a halfhas passed since war scorched the USA. Now,however, though the US has suffered very fewcasualties in Afghanistan, thousands are dead inNew York City, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania.We are told to expect more terrorist attacksaround the globe in the weeks, months and yearsto come, at times and in ways that we least expect.In addition to the fear of terrorism, we hear of theairlines that face bankruptcy, the massive layoffs,the falling stock market and imminent recession.What will we face next? Security seems to be just apleasant memory in the United States of America.

How are disciples of Jesus Christ supposedto think about all of this? How can good comefrom fear, pain and death? We need to be remindedthat God works in mysterious, often unexpectedways. Our perspective is very limited when we arecaught in the middle of an event. Paul must havebeen perplexed when he was blocked frompreaching in Asia. The Bible says that it was theHoly Spirit who stopped him, but Paul probablydidn’t understand at the time that it was Godwho was doing it. It became clear after the fact,because God closed one door to open an evenbetter one. God is not always the one who causesthings; Satan does his best to thwart God’s plansand dreams. But God always has the last word. AsPaul wrote, “in all things God works for the goodof those who love him . . . ” (Romans 8:28).

The story of the planting of churches inthe former Soviet Union is a prime example ofhow God works in difficult circumstances. Thisissue of LA Story, entitled “Field of Dreams,”tells some of that incredible story. In the early1980s, as the Boston Church began to have avision for planting churches of true disciplesaround the world, one of the ultimate challengeswas getting through the seemingly impenetrableIron Curtain. The ultimate challenge was reachingwhat was then the US's archenemy, the USSR.

Andy Fleming was always a man with amission on his heart. Even before he became atrue disciple, he left his native Canada and livedamong the natives of Papua New Guinea, wherehe suffered a couple of bouts of dysentery andcontracted malaria for life. He later moved to

Boston, became a disciple, fell in love with andmarried Tammy, trained for the ministry andmoved to Scandinavia to spearhead the churchplantings there. Although churches were plantedand disciples were made, the work was difficultand growth was slow. The door seemed to beclosed, but God was simply opening a bigger one.Kip McKean asked Andy and Tammy to come toLos Angeles and put together a team to plant theMoscow Church of Christ. In July 1991, a team of17 disciples flew to Moscow to begin what was tobecome one of the most glorious plantings in thehistory of Christianity. Only three or four of the 17spoke any Russian at all. The only native Russianhad been converted in Scandinavia (the supposed‘closed door’; see Misha Rakovshik’s article onpage 3). God used the coup in August 1991 toproduce an unprecedented openness to God inthe Russian people and a freedom of religion notseen in nearly a century. Incredibly, 850 werebaptized in the first year! Since that small beginning10 years ago, God has multiplied his work from17 to more than 11,500 disciples in 16 countries.There are now 32 churches in the major cities ofthe former Soviet Union. All of them are led bynationals (see photo of these leaders on the cover),most of whom were atheists 10 years ago! Clearlythis has become a great Field of Dreams for God.

The world is a scary place right now.Americans don’t have the security that we thoughtwe had. There may be some dark days ahead.But God is always working his perfect will,which involves saving as many as possible. So,remember that God often does his greatest workin the most difficult times and places. This is notthe time to give in to fear. Rather, by faith we needto dream even greater dreams. Just as the bravedisciples did in the Soviet Union, we need tocultivate our own Field of Dreams, to the Gloryof God. ■

LA STORY November 20012

by Al BairdEditorial

AA

K I N G D O M M I L E S T O N E SC O U N T R I E S P L A N T E D 1 7 1N U M B E R O F C H U R C H E S 4 2 4S U N D A Y A T T E N D A N C E 2 0 9 , 2 0 2

L A S U N D A Y A T T E N D A N C E

1 0 / 1 4 1 4 , 2 0 6

1 0 / 2 1 1 4 , 0 2 0

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. . . God often does hisgreatest work in the mostdifficult times and places.

FIELD OF DREAMS

LA STORY 3November 2001

On him we have set our hope that he willcontinue to deliver us, as you help us by yourprayers. Then many will give thanks on ourbehalf for the gracious favor granted us inanswer to the prayers of many.

– 2 Corinthians 1:10b-11

his last July, the whole Moscow Churchand many disciples from other Inter- national Churches of Christ around the

world gathered at the famous Luzhniki Stadium inMoscow to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of theMoscow Church. As I think back to all the amazingthings that God has accomplished over the last 10years among my own people, I know that we areenjoying “the gracious favor granted us in answerto the prayers of many.”

Even my own life in Christ began from adisciple’s prayer. I was converted in February1991 as a 20-year-old physics student inCopenhagen, Denmark. My conversion was theanswer to a prayer of the then Lead Evangelist ofthe Copenhagen Church, Chris Reed. Some timebefore, God had put the dream in the heart of KipMcKean and Andy Fleming to start a church inMoscow, the capital of the former Soviet Union. Assoon as Chris heard about the plans he beganpraying to meet and convert a Russian who wouldjoin the mission team to help his best friend AndyFleming. The very next day God led him to me.Several months later I was baptized. As with mostpeople in my country, I did not believe in God andhad never read the Bible before, but God openedmy heart through Chris’ prayer and friendship.

Explosion of DisciplesIn July of 1991, I returned to Moscow as part

of the Moscow mission team. I was four monthsold as a Christian. I remember the first several daysas we shared our faith. I remember our prayer forboldness on the bridge near Red Square and howGod reassured us by stretching an amazing rain-bow over the Moscow River. God only knows theexact number of people who prayed for us in thosedays. And God answered in ways we could not askfor or imagine! At the first service he broughtmore than 250 people and we witnessed dailybaptisms from the very first day of theMoscow Church. As I look back I see that God used

hardships and political and historical events forover 70 years to prepare my people for his gospel.

We prayed daily that God would use us tochange the lives of as many as possible. Godanswered by showing his power even throughpolitical events. The coup of August 1991 drovemany denominational missionaries from the countryin fear of persecution. It was a very sobering timefor all of us. We recounted the cost of staying withour new brothers and sisters. God blessed thedecision by drawing us even closer together. Thefirst Scripture the whole church memorized wasJohn 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Loveone another. As I have loved you, so you must loveone another. By this all men will know that youare my disciples, if you love one another.” Nowonder one of the highlights of our first year wasthe Sunday communions when the whole churchgathered at different apartments after Sundayservices to have communion, eat and pray together.

For the original team, Andy and his wifeTammy were a constant source of friendship andencouragement. From how to have a quiet time,share our faith, and study the Bible with othersto how to get along and eat healthy food in oursingles’ apartments, they taught us everything byexample. I believe it was through their visionand faith that 850 disciples were baptizedin the first year of the church in Moscow.

Unprecedented PlantingsA crucial landmark of the past 10 years was

the send-off of three new churches only one yearafter the Moscow Church began. These threeteams needed to imitate the example they saw inthe Moscow mission team and be ready to givetheir hearts and lives to the people of Kiev, St.Petersburg and Novosibirsk. Most remarkably,newlyweds Sasha and Louisa Kostenko, whowere Moscow’s third and fourth baptisms, led theNovosibirsk team. They were not even a year oldas Christians, yet they were the oldest disciples ontheir team! With a team of eight Russians, theNovosibirsk Church had more than 300 people attheir first service. Through his Spirit and hispeople, God multiplied his Kingdom in the Sovietstates. Each of the three plantings had morethan daily baptisms in their first year. Along with

my future wife, Sasha, I led the team to Kiev,capital of the Ukraine. In the first three weeks, wewitnessed 77 baptisms.

In spite of political animosity and the culturaland language barriers that arose as the Soviet Unionbroke into 15 different countries, God continuedopening the doors and smashing obstacles. In 1993,we started the church in Vladivostok, eight timezones from Moscow. In 1994, churches in Byelo-russia and Estonia held their first services. At theend of that year the first disciple of Jesus was bap-tized in one of the Islamic former Soviet republics.

Led by NationalsIn 1999, Andy and Tammy were called to

leave the work in Eurasia to become World SectorLeaders of Administration and Teaching. Sasha andLouisa took over the responsibility of leading allof the Eurasian churches. Marty and Chris Fuquahelp guide the Russian work with great convictionand love. We are grateful to both the Kostenkosand the Fuquas for their constant vision, hard workand spirituality, keeping our focus on the reasonfor the miracle we are all witness to: restoring andliving out all that we read in the Scriptures.

Ten years have passed since the missionteam of 17 people arrived in Moscow with thegood news about Jesus and his church. And,in exactly the same way as 2,000 years ago, Godfulfilled his promise and brought salvation to anation. He multiplied us from 17 to 11,500disciples of Jesus Christ in 16 countrieswith 32 churches in the major cities of theformer Soviet Union. All of them are nowled by nationals.

Before us stretch the next 10 years. Throughprayer and fasting we have determined to startchurches in 49 cities of Eurasia with a populationof more than 400,000. We realize that in order toachieve this, God expects from us a new level ofsacrifice and devotion. Please continue to pray forus as we strive to serve our awesome God. ■

TT▲ Misha and Sasha Rakovshik prepare to tape the Russian version

of KNN inside Moscow’s Kremlin.

From Dreamto Reality

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by Misha Rakovshik, Eurasian Geographic Sector Leader, Shepherding and Teaching

Going National

On July 10th, 1991, as they sat in a park besideMoscow’s newly-opened McDonald’s franchise,Sasha Kostenko and Louisa Ebrihamovawere approached by John Hafer and RonalynHeeks, two Moscow mission team members.Sasha and Louisa were bemused, but nonethelessintrigued, when John and Ronalyn invited them toa church service. “They called us up half an hour

later,” laughs Sasha, “and told us how much theymissed us. And we’d only just met!” Sasha andLouisa came to the Moscow Church’s inauguralservice, and were deeply impressed by the loveand commitment of the team as well as amazed bythe truth presented to them from the Bible. Withindays, they became the third and fourth baptismsof the Moscow Church. In the coming months,they helped baptize over 30 students from theschool they were attending.

In 1992, the now-married couple led thefirst all-Russian-national mission team fromMoscow to plant a church in Novosibirsk, Russia.Shortly after arriving, Sasha and Louisa wereappointed Evangelist and Women’s MinistryLeader by Andy and Tammy Fleming. Sashawas the first Russian converted in the Soviet Unionto be appointed an Evangelist. Recalls Andy:“Sasha and Louisa truly became the models ofleadership for the Russian churches that Godwas looking for.”

After one year, during which the NovosibirskChurch grew from 8 to 350 members, theKostenkos moved back to Moscow to helpstrengthen both the Moscow and St. Petersburgchurches. They currently lead the 3,200-memberMoscow congregation and serve as GeographicSector Leaders for the 32 congregations of theInternational Churches of Christ in Eurasia. These

churches have a combined membership of11,500 disciples, and a regular Sunday attendanceof over 14,000.

The ChurchThat Never Was

It is the church that was never supposed tohappen. Not, at least, according to man’s plans.Romeo Kakheli and his brother Reso wereconverted to Christ in the Georgian city of Tblisi,and subsequently moved back to their homevillage of Kakhi, Azerbaijan. There, in the tinyhamlet of 400 souls, they converted 13 of theirfamily members over the next two years (see thestory “Every Corner of the Earth” in the KNN NewsArchives at www.kingdomnewsnet.org).

The region is so poor that disciples givetheir weekly contribution in potatoes and othervegetables. Some of this is used for a weeklycommunal meal for the disciples. The rest is soldto pay for the church leader to travel to Tblisionce a month for further ministry training.

In a tragic coda to this story, Romeowas killed in an auto accident last April (seethe story “Taken Away” in the KNN NewsArchives at www.kingdomnewsnet.org). Whathe built in Kakhi, however, continues to growand thrive.

The Dream of

▲ Sasha and Louisa Kostenko, Geographic SectorLeaders for Eurasia, in the park outside theMcDonald’s franchise in Moscow where theywere invited to church.

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Fall 1984

• 3rd Boston World MissionSeminar – the first appealfor Soviet missions

November 1987

• 1st Soviet Missions Conferencein Stockholm – Andy Flemingshares dream to evangelizeformer Soviet Union

November 1990

• Kip McKean presentsplan to plant Moscowfrom Los Angeles

July 1991

• Mission team of 17 is sent off from Los Angeles ledby Kip & Elena McKean and Andy & Tammy Fleming• Team arrives in Red Square – the prayer for boldness• 268 people attend first service five days after arrival

August 1991

• Gorbachev's governmentoverthrown – disciples remainin Moscow as many “Christian”missionaries flee country

June-July 1992

• Moscow Church plants Kiev,St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk• All have daily baptisms the first year(Kiev has 77 in first three weeks)

Pentecost RevisitedIt was a landmark moment even

for what had become the fastest-growing church in the world. Lessthan a year after the MoscowChurch began, 57 people gatheredby a lake in a city park to professtheir faith in Jesus and be baptized.As the new converts came forwardone by one, someone in the crowd commented that he couldnow imagine how 3,000 baptisms had taken place inJerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

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A Dream Realized– 53 Years Later

In 1945, Julius Turchinsky was a youngRussian naval lieutenant stationed on board a USship that was under temporary Russian commandduring World War II. While on board, he found anEnglish-language Bible that was left behind byan American serviceman. Julius began reading,and found himself drawn to the words and lifeof Jesus. Owning a Bible, however, was a riskyproposition during the Stalinist era and Julius wasobliged to keep his find well hidden.

There it remained for over half a century.Then, in 1998, Julius’ son Andrei began attendingservices with the Moscow Church. When his fatherwitnessed the profound changes in his son’s life,specifically the restoration of his devastatedmarriage, Julius began to realize he had finallyfound people who were living out the message he

had kept hiddenfor so many years.One month afterAndrei’s baptism,Julius himself wasbaptized into Christ.“I am 84 yearsold,” he says. “I amthankful that atthe end of my lifeGod brought meto his church, andthat I can under-stand his Word.

That is what I was looking for all my life.”Since his conversion, Julius’ wife has becomea disciple, as have many other close friendsand relatives.

Ray of Hope

One of Moscow mission team leader AndyFleming’s last acts before leaving Moscow in1999 was to appoint Christian Ray anEvangelist. One of the former Soviet Union’s mostpopular rock stars, Christian began attendingchurch, he says, because “although I was at the

peak of fame in the public’s eye, I had hit rockbottom in my personal life.”

At his first Sunday service, Christian sat inthe last row, sporting the obligatory rock star’s darkglasses. After service, he and Andy met and a closefriendship was born. “I was skeptical at first,” recallsChristian, “but I couldn’t escape from the fact thatI really wanted what Andy had. In spite of all thesuccess in my career I didn’t know how to live.”

Christian (32) was born in Moscow andlived for four years in Chile, a year in Germanyand seven years in Mozambique before returningto Moscow in 1983. Fluent in Spanish,Portuguese, English and Russian, he serves as theRussian-language anchor for KNN news videos.He also holds a Master’s Degree in Economics.

In 1997, Christian began leading theMoscow Church’s Arts, Media & Sports (AMS)region, which has since become the fastest-grow-ing region of the church. Under his leadership,AMS ministries were also started in Kiev, Ukraine

and St. Petersburg, Russia. Says Andy, “Christian’sconversion was a direct answer to our prayer thatGod would allow us to baptize the future leader ofthe AMS ministry within the first month of itsinception – Christian came to his first serviceabout six weeks later and was present for the firstAMS service. He is a spiritual man who loves God,his wife and his ministry, and provides great inspi-ration for the entertainers and sportsmenthroughout the Kingdom.”

Changed Lives

First BaptismWith only 17 disciples, the

newly-planted Moscow Church ofChrist had daily baptisms in its firstmonth. Pictured above is AndyFleming taking Ira’s confession.Ira was baptized just days afterthe first service in July 1991.

Mission Teams From MoscowIn an unprecedented move

just 11 months after the planting,three mission teams were sent outfrom the Moscow Church. AndyFleming (at microphone, right)sends off mission teams to plantchurches in Novosibirsk, St.Petersburg, and Kiev. All threechurches had daily baptisms intheir first year.

▲ Julius Turchinsky during WWII.

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▲ Moscow AMS Leader Christian Ray with wife Debbie.

July 1992

• Moscow has 850baptisms the first year

August 1992

• Sasha & Lousia Kostenko appointed Evangelist & Women’sMinistry Leader of newly-formedNovosibirsk Christian Church

January 1995

• All Americans on original teamleave Eurasia except Andy & TammyFleming and Sasha Gray Rakovshik(who married a Russian national)

December 1997

• Churches plantedin every formerSoviet Republic

April 1999

• Christian Rayappointed Evangelist ofMoscow's AMS Region

June 1999

• Andy & Tammy Fleming are appointed World Sector Leaders for Administration and Teaching and leave Moscow• All churches in Eurasia led by nationals

September 2001

• 11,500 disciplesin 32 churches in16 nations

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Multiplying Churches

The dream of planting multiplying churches that began in 1979 in Boston has become a reality throughout the Eurasian Region.Ten years after its first service in 1991, the Moscow Church of Christ has grown into 32 churches in 16 different countries of the former

Soviet Union. In this unprecedented growth is the first seventh-generation church planting of God’s modern-day movement.

BOSTON LOS ANGELES MOSCOW NOVOSIBIRSK UZBEKISTAN ALMA-ATA BISHKEK

14,000+ Sunday Attendance

11,500 Disciples

32 Churches

16 Countries

*Sunday attendance as of September 2001

LA STORYNovember 2001 7

Current ReleasesOVERFLOW IN BERLIN – On October 7th theBerlin Church celebrated its 10th Anniversary.Grant Henley, who helped to plant the church,was in attendance, as were New England/EuropeWorld Sector Leaders Randy and Kay McKean.As the service was about to begin, ushers hadto turn people away and send them to anoverflow tent equipped with a video screen andspeaker system. Some of the church’s long-timedisciples were in tears as they looked around thehuge auditorium and saw not a single place leftto sit. In all, the 351 brothers and sisters ofthe Berlin Church had a total attendance of1,306 people.

GRASS ROOTS CONFERENCING – On July19th, 4,000 disciples gathered for a four-dayconference on Viliki Island, one hour by boatfrom Kiev, Ukraine and completely devoid ofamenities. Attendees came from as far away asBelorussia and Moldova, with many travelingover 12 hours by train. The conference was

complete with morning devotionals, campfires,food made from scratch, a worship service ledby Moscow AMS Region Leader Christian Ray,three new disciples baptized in the nearbyriver and the sending-off of six disciples toplant a church in Donetsk, a Ukrainian city of 1.5million people.

THE LEAST BECOMES A THOUSAND – Morethen 1,000 disciples from six Japanese Churchesof Christ gathered on August 26th for the 2001Japan Christian Jubilee. The highlight of the three-day conference was the appointment of four newelder couples for the Tokyo Church: Ryouichiand Mayumi Miyao, Yasuyuki and SachikoNorioka, Jim and Karen Baisch and Prestonand Sandie Shepherd.

FIRST WOMEN’S MINISTRY LEADEREMERITUS APPOINTED – On August 4th,Irene Gurganus, wife of the late GeorgeGurganus, was appointed the InternationalChurches of Christ’s first Women’s Ministry LeaderEmeritus. Irene, whoturned 83 in October, hasreluctantly agreed thatshe can no longer sustainthe burden of leadinga ministry. Despite herretirement, however, Ireneis determined to remainactive. “I don’t reallyplan on taking muchextra time,” she says.“I have the freedom notto go to staff meetingsif I don’t want to. ButI’m going anyway.” She laughs: “They say it’sbecause I’m nosey.” For more information onGeorge and Irene, see the related story onwww.kingdomnewsnet.org.

PASSING THE TORCH – August 16-19, 2001,marked the joint meeting of the annual YouthMinistry Conference (YMC) and InternationalCampus Ministry Conference (ICMC), which thisyear was held in Toronto, Canada. Over 3,000delegates attended. On Friday evening, the teensand students were joined by several hundredCanadian disciples attending a one-day confer-ence for the Canadian churches. For details onmessages, speakers and highlights please read thedaily reports on www.kingdomnewsnet.com.

THE BBC GOES TO CHURCH – On Sunday,August 26th, a team of journalists from the BritishBroadcasting Corporation (BBC) attended aservice of the Pretoria Church of Christ in SouthAfrica to see first-hand how effective the discipleshave been in dealing with racism in their city. Aspart of their segment, the BBC interviewed tworacially-mixed couples, as well as John Muir,Evangelist of the Pretoria Church. The documentary,which concluded that the church has been veryeffective in breaking down entrenched racialbarriers, aired on the BBC World Service August31st. Please visit www.ACESonline.org for moreon this story.

Where Are They Now?Ten years after they first set foot in Red

Square, 14 of the 17 Moscow team membersreturned to the city to see the results of the workthey started. Here is where “the original 17”are today. From left:

• John Hafer– Region Leader, San Francisco Church

• Sandra (Pacheco) Benvenedes– Veterinary student; LA Church

• Ronalyn (Heeks) Garvey– Sales Representative; United Airlines

• Ina Clarmont– Russian art importer/exporter;Chicago Church

• Aivars Terauds– Hotel manager; Riga Church

• Misha & Sasha (Gray) Rakovshik– Geographic Sector Leaders, Eurasia

• Pete & Val (Moon) Colfield– Attorney/Accountant; LA Church

• Derek & Leigh Ann (Hooper) Vett– Regional Teen Leaders, LA Church

• Elke (Nelson) Turner– Mission team leader, Springfield, Missouri

• Andy & Tammy Fleming– World Sector Leaders, Administrationand Teaching (daughter Britain picturedfront right)

• Kip & Elena McKean– World Sector Leaders(not pictured)

• Tomi Kukta– Website designer; LA Church(not pictured)

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Kingdom News Network ▲ 3731 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 850 ▲ Los Angeles, CA 90010 ▲ Phone (213) 351-2355 ▲ Fax (213) 351-2365

Lead EvangelistKip McKean

Elders & TeachersDr. Albert W. BairdAndy FlemingBruce WilliamsDr. Doug WebberDr. Martin Wooten

Leader of Women’s MinistryElena Garcia-McKean

Women’s Ministry LeadersGloria BairdTammy FlemingChris FuquaJoanne WebberRobyn Williams

Single/Young Adult MinistryJohn & Emma Causey(310) 645-3442

Campus MinistryMarty & Chris Fuqua(626) 799-8386

Spiritual Recovery MinistryAl & Gloria Baird(310) 395-9223

Youth MinistryJonathan & Karla Perkins(310) 207-7981

Education DirectorsJohn & Nancy Mannel(818) 366-9883

Congregational ServantsJohn & Emily BringardnerRoger & Marcia LambTom & Etta McCurryMike & Janice MinesKeith & Maryann RoseJeff & Debi SabotinJohn & Frances ThorneCecil & Helen Wooten

MissionsCanadaCommonwealth of Independent

States (CIS)ScandinaviaMiddle East

HOPE worldwide – LADr. Doug & Joanne Webber(310) 665-0888

LA Story StaffDr. Albert W. Baird: Editor(310) 395-9223Roger Lamb: Managing Editor(213) 385-5434Robin Fawcett: Assistant EditorDeclan Joyce: Associate EditorMarcia Lamb: Senior WriterJanet Dixon: Distribution Manager

LA Church Office ........(213) 385-5434LA Church Fax ...........(213) 385-5854Upside Down Club......(323) 957-9993 Upside DownBookstore ..................(323) 957-0751

Copyright ©2001 by the Kingdom News Network.All rights are reserved. No part of the publication may bereproduced in any form or by any means without thepermission of the editor and publisher. Published by theInternational Churches of Christ. LA Story and KingdomNews Network are registered trademarks of KingdomNews Network. International Churches of Christ is a servicemark of the International Churches of Christ. HOPE worldwide,ltd. is a registered trademark of HOPE worldwide, ltd.

▲ www.icoc.org▲ www.kingdomnewsnet.org▲ www.upcyberdown.org

Cover Photo: Barbara KraftArt Design: Stephen Kamifuji

Vol. 8 Issue 6, November 2001

ARTS, MEDIA, SPORTS REGIONKevin & Tracena Holland................................(818) 559-8702Brad & Sharon Lomax, Administrator ...............(323) 957-9993Greg & Shelley Metten, Elder & WML..............(818) 848-3077Michael & Kristen Lamb, Teen Ministry .............(818) 760-8020

Arts, Music & Culture DistrictCarlos & Lucy Mejia ......................................(818) 841-9250

Family Ministry East DistrictJay & Traci Minor ..........................................(818) 907-7876

Family Ministry West DistrictChris & Sonja Chloupek .................................(818) 591-3089

Media DistrictJames & Lisa Sulewski ....................................(818) 504-4005

Ministry of Creative Arts DistrictCasey & Diane Lynch .....................................(310) 390-3491

CENTRAL REGIONJon & Lori Augustine ......................................(323) 732-3262Reese & Mary Kay Neyland, Elder & WML ......(818) 790-6864Bruce Teague, Administrator ...........................(213) 220-3200Marty & Cathy Wooten, Spiritual Recovery.......(818) 790-0182John & Arlene Markowski, Teen Ministry ..........(626) 796-0620

Alhambra SectorRich & Renee Ruegsegger ...............................(626) 614-8621

Glendale SectorBarry & Tawanna Baker .................................(818) 637-2442

Latin SectorRafael & Griselda Lua ....................................(626) 289-3346

Montebello LatinVictor & Sonia Gonzalez................................(323) 887-4270

Pasadena SectorLarry & Shelly Anthis......................................(626) 791-7077

San Gabriel CitiesRick & Heather Mckemson ..............................(626) 458-0911

USC SectorJon & Lori Augustine ......................................(323) 732-3262

EAST REGIONRob & Connie Kosberg...................................(909) 624-9455Ken & Robin Heskett, Administrators ................(909) 620-1004Javier & Kelly Amaya, Spiritual Recovery .........(909) 447-4567Benoni & Jennifer Pantoja, Teen Ministry ..........(909) 305-1858East Region Facility........................................(909) 592-5600

Cal Poly SectorWard & Ellen Herbert ....................................(909) 399-0580

The EdgeTony & Jocelyn Sagginario..............................(909) 599-8984

Foothill Cities SectorKip & Bethany Harms.....................................(909) 305-0670

Latin SectorCarlos & Marisol La Costa..............................(909) 612-0909

South Hills SectorRob & Connie Kosberg...................................(909) 624-9455

INLAND EMPIRE REGIONAnthony & Saun Galang ................................(909) 483-1958Eric & Yuriko Stallworth, Administrators ............(909) 980-1152Mike & Janice Mines, Spiritual Recovery ..........(909) 484-7390James & Courtney Williams, Teen Ministry ........(909) 873-9159Inland Empire Administrative Office .................(909) 481-2796

Desert CitiesSteve & Kelly May .........................................(760) 360-4272

Empire Campus MinistriesSteve & Carie Lounsbury ................................(909) 684-8884

Riverside SectorTim & Linda Montoya.....................................(909) 781-7851

San Bernardino SectorSteve & Kelli Saindon ....................................(909) 945-9689

Temecula SectorTim & Linda Montoya.....................................(909) 481-2796

Upland MontclairAnthony Galang............................................(909) 483-1958

NORTH REGIONMark & Connie Mancini.................................(661) 290-2499Brian Aurell, Administrator..............................(818) 718-6788John & Nancy Mannel, Spiritual Recovery ........(818) 366-9883Dr. Jerry & Erlyn Sugarman, Elder & WML........(818) 831-2171Mike & Robin Hammer, Teen Ministry ..............(661) 263-1882North Region Facility .....................................(818) 718-6788

Antelope Valley SectorBob & Barb Harpole ......................................(661) 943-4244

CSUN SectorDewitte Stewart .............................................(818) 341-2178

Deaf MinistryTDD (Ron & Cheryl Hammer) ..........................(818) 885-7770

East Valley SectorLuis & Annalisa Cervantes ..............................(818) 998-6084

Highland Teen/Campus SectorTim & Brooke Kidwell.....................................(661) 943-3581

Mountain View SectorSteve & Keri Hiddleson ..................................(661) 718-3472

North Valley SectorRon & Renee Quint ........................................(818) 347-5039

North Valley Teen/Campus SectorBenjamin Beavers ..........................................(818) 887-2706Faith Evans ...................................................(818) 346-3344

Santa Clarita SectorKen & Joyce Guidroz .....................................(661) 298-4411

South Valley SectorRon & Cheryl Hammer ...................................(818) 885-7770

Valley Cities SectorFrank & Julie Williams....................................(818) 886-5674

West Valley SectorJoe & Lynnette Collins ....................................(818) 883-9966

ORANGE COUNTY REGIONPeter & Laura García-Bengochea .....................(949) 857-9100Jake & Nancy Jensen, Administrators ...............(949) 733-0100Bruce & Robyn Williams, Spiritual Recovery .....(949) 551-8400Matt & Enid Tchir, Teen Ministry ......................(949) 654-4269Orange County Region Facility........................(949) 477-0600

Anaheim SectorJohn & Josefin Kennedy..................................(714) 279-9968

Cal State Fullerton SectorDan Roditi ....................................................(714) 579-3536Viviana Escobar ............................................(714) 690-3929

Irvine SectorEd & Karen Townsend ....................................(949) 451-5818

Irvine Spectrum SectorJeff & Kristi Hickman ......................................(949) 733-3191

Lake Forest SectorJoshua & Stacy Peterson .................................(949) 552-3293

Laguna SectorJoel & Julie Landi...........................................(949) 362-3341

Newport SectorDanny & M.J. Saltz........................................(714) 593-6326

Santa Ana SectorRudy & Maria Navarette ................................(714) 703-0077

UC Irvine Campus MinistrySteve Pavlovski..............................................(949) 683-9936Candice Stanton............................................(949) 733-8097

SIERRA MADRE REGIONSteve & Jacqueline Gansert ............................(805) 492-6041Chris & Jennifer Solee, Administrators ..............(805) 241-6390Jeff & Debi Sabotin, Spiritual Recovery ............(805) 241-6380Derik & Leigh Anne Vett, Teen Ministry .............(805) 553-0105

Bakersfield SectorDarius & Erin Garvida ...................................(661) 832-6345

Channel Islands SectorJohn & Karen Unzueta ...................................(805) 987-6890

Conejo Valley SectorSteve & Jacqueline Gansert ............................(805) 492-6041

San Luis Obispo SectorGeorge & Deborah Violante ...........................(805) 481-4188

Santa Barbara SectorLarry & Laurie Head ......................................(805) 562-1434

Shoreline SectorGeovanny & Karen Garces.............................(805) 278-0020

UCSB SectorSteve & Andrea Burns ....................................(805) 961-4973

SOUTH REGIONKevin & Mary Mains......................................(310) 265-8371Marty Chavez, Administrator ..........................(310) 381-0919Dr. Henry & Lanna Cramer, Spiritual Recovery ....(310) 373-8406Mike Messina, Teen Ministry ...........................(310) 544-7166Christy Cholakis, Teen Ministry........................(310) 373-8406

Cal State Long BeachMarco & Michelle Pellizzeri ............................(562) 431-1463

Cerritos SectorMatt & Terri Wirgler ......................................(562) 229-1519

Long Beach SectorHugo & Angelica Casillas ..............................(562) 404-8183

Redondo Beach SectorMike Gross...................................................(310) 515-5274Marge Miller ................................................(310) 540-1866

South Bay SectorBrian & Dessa Craig ......................................(310) 221-0181

Sector Latino AmericanoSebastian & Sarai Serra .................................(562) 422-2220

South RimMike Glenn ..................................................(562) 498-8195Debbie Allen.................................................(562) 439-6016

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONJohn & Emma Causey ....................................(310) 645-3442Andy Segerson, Administrator .........................(310) 214-2497Dr. Doug & Joanne Webber, Spiritual Recovery ...(323) 295-9430

Singles SectorJohn & Emma Causey ....................................(310) 645-3442

East Gate SectorWill & Rose Ashley ........................................(562) 806-1650

LAX SectorTony & Adrienne Newsom ..............................(310) 219-0011

Metro LATim & Samenthur Blake ..................................(323) 937-5996

Mid-Cities SectorAnton & Sharon Ivy, Elder & WML...................(562) 863-4863

Northern Heights SectorAli & Neisha Ellington....................................(323) 298-1154

Rim Cities SectorDave & Robyn Kim ........................................(310) 532-3894

Sector de las AmericasSalvador & Patricia Velasco ............................(310) 644-2438

Sector USARuben & Rosemarie Rubalcava ........................(562) 622-8440

South Cities SectorPaul & Kim Hammond ....................................(310) 324-7794

WEST REGIONTom & Kelly Brown ........................................(310) 376-1690Andy & Karina Winje, Administrators ..............(310) 376-1804Andy & Tammy Fleming, Spiritual Recovery ......(310) 313-9256Dr. Al & Gloria Baird, Elder & WML................(310) 395-9223

Coastal SectorTom & Kelly Brown ........................................(310) 376-1690

Culver City SectorDoug & Angella Wens ...................................(310) 446-9148

Marina Beach SectorBruce & Laura Matthews.................................(310) 215-9190

Miracle Mile SectorChris & Terri Bryant .......................................(323) 571-3711

Santa Monica SectorTony & Aimee Kettering ..................................(310) 399-1773

UCLA Campus SectorTodd & Tanya Spath.......................................(310) 475-7532

Westwood SectorDevon & Shelley Smith ...................................(310) 441-5048