San Jose Win, & LDS Speaking Op
When you fly to San Jose Airport all passengers are greeted with these flags. Two are offensive.
When I'm asked how I spend my day as a pastor, my response is something like this, "Pastor relationships, donor development, networking, and making things happen!" Most of what I do is unseen, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit moving through Church United is evident. Here's a behind-the-scenes snapshot from the past two weeks:
San Jose City Council Win
When the San Jose City Council proposed a resolution condemning parental consent, Church United began organizing a media conference for local pastors to respond, but the resolution was pulled- a win for the children of San Jose. The media conference had been planned for Tuesday, October 17, at San Jose City Hall because two city council members were proposing a resolution condemning two family organizations for informing parents of sexual perversion, explicit content, and pornographic material being shown to their children in San Jose public schools. The family groups had only alerted parents to the obscenity their children would be exposed to and informed them they could “opt out” their children from the teachings. Two Church United Senior Pastors, Mike McClure and Larry Ihrig, were scheduled to speak. In a surprising, yet positive turn of events, the two members pulled their resolution.
Latter Day Saints
This Sunday morning, I’ve been invited to speak at an LDS church! This is a first. I had lunch with a leader in the LDS church, and as we got acquainted, he shared, “You haven’t told me I’m going to hell. Any pastor I’ve ever met with has told me I’m going to hell." As our conversation deepened and became more personal, I shared that I had never been invited to an LDS church. My new friend inquired if I would be willing to come and share my story and my newest book, “Breaking Sin’s Grasp, Your Temptation Doesn’t Define You.” I accepted his offer! Would you pray for this unique opportunity this weekend? I’m reminded of a hero of mine and what he lived and wrote: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Romans 10:14 NIV)
Latino Pastors Finding Their Voice
I’ll be in downtown Los Angeles meeting with Spanish-speaking Church United Pastors of Regional Influence on Monday, November 13, helping them find their voice in California. I believe when they do, California will be transformed.