Recent Events
April 20, 2008 8:46 pm
A super sunday turning point.
February 3, 2008 7:41 pmNehemiah 2
Nehemiah Goes to Jerusalem
1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan,[a] during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”
Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”
With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
We had amazing Sunday service: great preaching, great food served by chef Tom Dickenson, fun, super bowl, and good friends. Chris Fong preached about turning points in our lives and turning your life into a life that shares God. He shared this scripture in Nehemiah and how Nehemiah’s openness and vulnerablity with the king changed the lives of many and turned into an opportunity to save Israel.
Personally I can relate to Nehemiah. I wear my heart on my sleeve and its hard to hide my sadness sometimes. I’m grateful to God that he has used that to help me develop deeper relationships. I had a hard week but i was so refreshed and encouraged by the fellowship here today. Last week I called my friend Dana in San Fransico and shared my heart and my struggles with her. Even though neither of us had a car God provided a way for her to visit with us this weekend. I’m so encouraged by the love and realness in this group and grateful God is continuing to help us grow. This week has been a turning point for me as I realized how much I need my sisters especially when I’m sad they help me get perspective on what is real.
HAVRAH FASSET
We are so grateful to have Kenne Guillory he has planned lots of fun times to get together and fellowship. We have Bible talks starting this week as well as group QT’sand a movie night. In march we will be starting Ulimate frizbee.
Restored Back To God !!!
January 27, 2008 3:27 pm
What an incredible day for the Sacramento International Christian Church. As Chis Fong preached about God’s rescue plan for our lives, and it was capped off by the restoration of Linda Searcy. Linda has been studying to get restored for quite some time and now God has blessed her perseverance. Of encouragment her 13 year old daughter, Ally has also decided to study the Bible as well.
Linda Searcy has been a very instrumental part of our young church. She met with us on faith when there was only 3 of us and decided to stick it out because God showed her that this is where she needed to be. She opened her house so that we could have a place for service.
Acts16:13-15 “13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us
When I ran into Linda at a disciple’s party, she shared with me her desire to get more in the Bible and have sisters really go after her and love her with the Word of God. We didn’t have many sisters at the time, but I knew on faith God would provide for her. Please rejoice with us as we celebrate our sister being restored back to God’s Kingdom to God be the glory. Amen !!!
He Went on His Way Rejoicing !!!!
January 20, 2008 3:09 pm
What an exciting day in Northern California as we had our first service in Dixon, California with a total of 25 people in attendance. What an amazing service as our 15 year old teen, Christian Casarez shared a communion from Acts of how we need to commit to God no matter what struggles we’re going through and that also we need to decide be okay with our lives being worth nothing again, like Paul talked about.
Acts 20:24″24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me”
As I shared from Matthew 26 about how Jesus struggled to overcome his flesh and go to the cross for the salvation of the world, I realize how trivial and small my problems are, and how important people’s souls are. As we learn from Jesus’s example we realize it was ultimately his radical decision to do the right thing, led by the spirit, that saved so many souls ,including your new brother in Christ, Rod Piercy.
Matthew 26:46:”Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
If you’re struggling today, and you feel alone because there is no one in your life to listen to you, to pray with you and to love you - I wanna challenge you today pray for God’s mercy and to make a decision to be willing to go anywhere and do anything to get right before God.
Jeremiah 29:11-13″For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
The Bible is very clear that if you seek God with all your heart, you will be found. 
Acts 8:36 ”36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.”
It was the Holy Spirit that introduced me and the brothers to Rod a few weeks ago at the workshop for the City of Angels International Christian Church workshop. As we studied the Bible it became very evident that this man was broken before God and ready to do anything and go anywhere for the Kingdom of God. He came to church last Sunday for the first time with us even though he lived in Fresno, California. It was so encouraging, that the single brothers from San Francisco drove all the way to stay the night with him and then drove him to Sacramento for church and then after church, drove him home. This weekend, he took the bus all the way to Oakland to study the Bible Saturday night so that he could get baptized on Sunday. Wow, what an incredible heart for God!!!
Luke 9:23″ If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me”
Let us all rejoice together and recommit ourselves to go anywhere and do anything for the kingdom of God, and to God be the Glory !!!!
Sincerely,
Ryan W. Casarez
Northern California and Reno-Tahoe unified!!!
January 13, 2008 9:46 pmAnd The Lord added to their number.!!!
December 31, 2007 12:45 pm
From Brokeness to Repentance
September 25, 2007 7:22 pmWhat an amazing service on Sunday for the young Sacramento International Christian Church! For 2 members, we had a service of 12 souls, including visitors and kids. The singing was angelic and inspiring. We had 5 teens at service as well. One of whom studied the Bible right on the spot after church. The service was about the need for repentance after God allows us to go through a hard time.
2 Corintians 7:8 “8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.“
Paul addressed the Corinthians with love, care and compassion after admonishing them in 1st Corinthians about the divisions and immorality going on in the church. I felt compelled to preach on brokeness leading to repentance because of things in my own life as well as things that God has been revealing to me by his spirit. Have you been going through extremely hard times lately ? Are you struggling to find a clear path to God and you can’t seem to get there. Maybe there is no easy solution except struggling through it. Sometimes there is no getting around the fact that things are gonna be hard. The only answer is holding on to God. When Jonah was inside the fish after rejecting God’s plan for his life at that time, this is what he prayed
Jonah 2:1-7″ 1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said: ”In my distress I called to the LORD,and he answered me. From the depths of the grave [a] I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple. 5 The engulfing waters threatened me, [bthe deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God 7 “When my life was ebbing away,I remembered you, LORD,and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.
Sometimes God has to get us “in a corner” so to speak so we can understand his mercy more clearly. It’s been the experience of a life time to be able help start a church with so very few. But it also has revealed my independence and pride. It’s taught me to completely rely on God on a level I did not think I was capable of doing . I’ve learned more on this journey than I ever have as a Christian and I pray that I will stay humble to learn the future lessons God will teach me. Please pray for us here in Sacramento as we attempt to restore God’s Kingdom back to it’s original glory. As I close out, I would like to leave with you something to encourage you.
Acts 3:19″Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord“
If your wrestling with a sin in your life, like immorality, anger, or addiction, know that even after you repent sometimes your gonna through hard times because of the consequences of sin but eventually God will lead you to brokeness, repentance and times of refreshing as long you stay faithful and don’t give up. And to God be the Glory, Amen.
Your Brother in Christ,
Ryan W. Casarez
Labor Day in Monterey Bay, the Lord is with us!!!
September 7, 2007 2:36 pm
Deuteronomy 7:7 “The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.”What an incredible victory this weekend for the Sacramento International Christian Church !!! We had an amazing Labor Day service at Carmel Beach located nearly 200 miles away, despite the long drive and horrendous traffic we had the biggest turnout ever.We added Havrah Fassett as an official member to our growing little group here in Sacramento since her restoration she has collaborated with us to help grow the women’s ministry in Sacramento and the surrounding areas. We are grateful have her on board she has had experience in the past building teen and campus ministry’s. God must have been with us as our newly formed group of 3 members became a diverse group of 19 with people coming from all directions to worship God with us at Ocean.
LABOR DAY SERVICE 2007
The lesson was titled ” You would not Believe even if you were Told” and it was all about what God is doing among us, and how powerful his hand is moving with God’s modern day movement. Taken from the scripture in Haggai 1:5 “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” The fellowship was awe inspiring. In spite of few challenges the Lord moved through only a few in our service this weekend. Over the last month God has blessed us with Christian getting baptized and with his new found faith he has been evangelizing everyday at his high school because he is determined to build a teen ministry in Sacramento. God blessed him this weekend with 2 teen visitors as well. There also has been a few people who have been studying to get restored over the last few weeks. This Sunday was no exception as another woman stepped forward, made a decision to get restored.
Havrah , Christian and Tristan enjoying the Bay.Many are stepping out to join the effort to evangelize Sacramento and the world in this generation. What we have decided to do here in Sacramento is to build a church by preaching and baptizing it into existence, just like Paul did when he ended up in Athens.Acts 17:13-17 “13When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.In Athens 16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.”Please pray for us that our faith will hold firm and we will accomplish what our brothers and sisters did in the first century ant to God be the glory!!In him,Ryan Casarez
2007 World Missions Jubilee
August 30, 2007 12:24 am| Jubilee Report: King of Kings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| by: Kip McKean | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True… He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood… The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean…On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Revelation 19:11-16
Almost 800 from every populated continent in the world attended the World Missions Jubilee held in Portland, Oregon on August 10-12, 2007! During this incredible gathering, five were baptized into Christ: Christian Casarez of Sacramento, Millie La Vine of Phoenix, Bruce Chmiel of Eugene, Gabe Morillo of Los Angeles and Chinedu Udogu also now a disciple in the City of Angels Church. So encouraging was the restoration of Havrah Fassett of Eugene and the engagement announcement of Rob Terry and Jenny Hansberry, baptized in Portland but now dynamic leaders in Phoenix. Not only is God multiplying disciples in the Sold-Out Discipling Movement, but He is beginning to multiply churches! During the Jubilee four more churches were announced or formed: Santiago (Chile) International Christian Church led by longtime friends Raul and Lynda Moreno; the Sacramento International Christian Church led by Ryan Casarez; the Curacao International Christian Church led by Michael and Maria Hart and the Tulsa International Christian Church led by Mike Devault, Ralph Holtsclaw and his son Lance Holtsclaw.
On Sunday, we received the following written responses about the impact of the Jubilee: “The King of Kings Conference moved my heart more than any conference in my 17 years as a disciple!” “This Jubilee reminded me of the first World Missions Seminar in Boston in 1982!” “Elena and Kacie’s class was an upward call for me as a disciple and a mother to do all I can for Jesus.” “Saturday morning I got up early to be with our Father. I repented in tears of my cowardice and lukewarmness.” “I have never been in a room of disciples and seen such complete unity in spirit and purpose.” “I gained a vision to be a role model and shepherdess for the next generation.” “My resolve is to please God and God alone – no matter what the cost.” “I’m praying and believing God will use my weaknesses for His glory!” “I’m so fired-up to be a ‘Table 9’ guy and change the world!” “I share the vision of God’s plan of discipling working through His new movement, because every disciple I fellowshipped had a go anywhere and give-up everything spirit to win the world for Christ in this generation!”
For some of us the Jubilee began on Thursday morning at the Church Builders Workshop. The room was packed with over 100 Evangelists, Elders, Women’s Ministry Leaders and several young people who desired to go into the full-time ministry. The title of my lesson was “A Global Movement.” My three points, all from the Pastorial Epistles, were Pray Into All the World, In The World Not of the World and Preach To Change the World. During my first point, I stressed the importance of each church leader to have an intimate walk with God, so that every time one preached, it was as if one were first coming down the mountain from being with God. Also emphasized was that in this letter to evangelists Paul never mentions local evangelism, but reminds Timothy and Titus to have a vision to evangelize the world. This was clear as we studied and discussed 1 Timothy 1:15,2:1-6,3:16; 2 Timothy 4:16-17; and Titus 2:11.
Our annual Jubilee Basketball Tournament, organized by Michael Williamson, was held that afternoon after the workshop. (At 53, I count it a victory just to “lace-up” and play with all the young prophets!) Then Thursday evening was the Speakers Dinner held in Portland’s beautiful Rose Garden Park. Tony Untalan cooked his famous Guamanian ribs! We were especially encouraged when Joe Willis of Brisbane, Australia arrived in the middle of the dinner coming directly from the landing of his 24 hour flight. What a tremendous reunion as we closed out the dinner in a giant circle singing to each other, “We Love You With The Love Of The Lord.”
This year’s theme “King of Kings” was selected to emphasize that the Sold-Out Discipling Movement’s message is “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) The opening address on Friday night “Behold The Lamb of God” focused all of us on this Biblical imperative. Afterwards was a time of sharing good news from around the world. We were so inspired by the sharing from Tim Kernan now of London, England; Maxim Potapov of Kiev, Ukraine; Kyle Bartholomew of Hilo, Hawaii; Matt Sullivan of Phoenix, Arizona; Chris Broom of Chicago, Illinois; and Dorian Bonilla of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. To close the evening D.J. Comisford announced the New York City planting to be sent out from the City of Angels Church next summer at the Jubilee.
Saturday morning began with a presentation on UpsideDown21 and the City of Angels Church websites, our global internet ministries. Our cyberevangelists Jeremy Ciaramella, Andrew Smellie, Ron Harding and Rob Onekea inspired us by stories and email feedback from around the world. Then D.J. delivered his first Jubilee speech, “An Angel Strengthened Him.” His parallel of the “Table 9” misfits of the movie “The Wedding Singer” to God using the “foolish, weak, lowly and despised” people (us) had us all in stitches, but deeply convicted that we are nothing and can boast only in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:26-30) Two sets of practical classes followed before and after lunch. Also during Saturday, there was a Spanish-speaking program which featured Dorian and Rosa Bonilla, Victor and Sonia Gonzalez Sr., Victor Gonzalez Jr., and Robert Galofre.
Saturday evening Chris Broom spoke on the theme, “The Great Shepherd of the Sheep.” Vivid images from the Old and New Testaments called all of us to be both humble sheep before our heavenly shepherd Jesus and to be like Jesus in shepherding one another in both one-on-one and group discipling relationships. To conclude the evening The Edge gave an inspiring and fun-filled concert. Sunday morning Andrew Smellie of Syracuse, New York gave an incredible Bible exposition on “Jesus In The Order Of Melchizedek.” We learned that Jesus’ role as high priest was not of the fleshly lineage of Aaron, but of divine appointment like Melchizedek. (Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:16) Since we are a kingdom of priests (Revelation 5:10) we, like Jesus, need to be a “bridge” between the lost and God. After a powerful communion during which the Syracuse Quartet and Portland Choir sang moving a capella arrangements, Steve Johnson gave the keynote address “King of Kings.” Steve’s captivating presentation from the Word called us to worship, serve and obey God “the King of the King of Kings.” To close the Jubilee, we sang arm-in-arm “The Glory Song-The International Version” led by Lu Jack Martinez. Fellowship for many of us lasted well past midnight.
For the more than 100 disciples from the City of Angels Church, the Jubilee made us all the more determined to fill Los Angeles with the teachings of Jesus and to evangelize the nations in a generation. We are so excited to host next year’s Jubilee. Lord willing, it will be held at Universal Studios in Los Angeles on Thursday July 31 through Sunday August 3, 2008! As the summer ends and we prepare for a new school year, City of Angels Church, let us remain faithful and true to Jesus, the “King of Kings!” Kip McKean
Streaming Media from this year’s World Missions Jubilee - “King of Kings” |
