Special report by Ron Harding
Greetings from Los Angeles! The prophetic words of Jesus echoed in our hearts and minds throughout the xhistoric 2013 Global Leadership Conference (GLC),“Blessed are the eyes that see what ‘we’ see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what ‘we’ see and did not see it, and to hear what ‘we’ hear but did not hear it!”
The Pre-GLC Events on Wednesday July 31st and Thursday August 1st included the meetings of the SoldOut Movement Central Leadership Council and the Crown of Thorns Council. During these sessions, stirring Bible lessons were delivered calling us to be a leadership that pleases the Lord. There were heartfelt d-groups, where sin was confessed and differences resolved. Also, the SoldOut Movement’s future plans and present challenges were discussed and then prayed over.
On Friday was the Church Builders Workshop where this year the emphasis was Kids Kingdom and the Teen Ministry. Jim & Donna Fenton alongside Luke & Brandyn Speckman gave outstanding lessons for all of our movement’s church leaders!
Then on Friday evening, Nick & Denise Bordieri hosted a special MERCYworldwide Dinner for our MERCY Leaders from every church around the world to celebrate the extraordinary victories of this past year as well as to plan for an even more exciting next year!
Saturday was the very bonding Women’s Ministry Training Session with Elena, the unifying Shepherds Fellowship hosted by the Untalans, and the fun-filled Pure Dance for the Singles and Campus!
Then on Sunday morning, August 4, 2013 almost 2,000 gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center for the official opening of the GLC! From the welcoming video to the closing song (Lou Jack Martinez’s Glory Song), it was a service that all who participated will never forget! The many highlights included Communion by Joe & Kerry Willis, Contribution by Carlos & Lucy Mejia, the sermon –Samuel And Saul by Andrew Smellie, the first GNN (Good News Network) Dramatic Short Film – EYES WIDE OPEN, and of course, the historic and first Graduation Commencement of the International College of Christian Ministries!
At the Graduation, 90 Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Degrees, three Masters in Ministry Degrees, and one Doctorate in Ministry (D.Min.) were conferred! The Explanation of the European Degree System by Tim Kernan was quite informative and concluded with the concept that the ICCM is in essence the “seminary” of the SoldOut Movement.
Three Master’s Degrees were awarded: Chris Adams, Tim Kernan and Elena McKean! Of note, any Evangelist that has earned his Master’s in Ministry Degree will be allowed “to open” an ICCM Extension Campus in his city! So for example, since Tim Kernan received his Master’s Degree he will be able to establish the ICCM – Chennai or the ICCM – Paris depending on which city the Spirit chooses for the Kernan Family to serve long term!
Near the conclusion of the service, we fell to our knees as the Movement Shepherds – Nick Bordieri, Michael Kirchner, Tony Untalan – prayed over all those whom the Spirit was sending off: Tim & 
Lianne Kernan to Chennai; Miriam Rojas, Gina Rutter, James Pak, Joel & Courtney Parlour to Syracuse; Monica Vasquez to Paris; Bryanna Villarreal to Mexico City; Kirill & Leysa Karasov to Moscow, and the Denver Mission Team; ! (Not wanting to forget anyone, we sent off Nate Reed to Hilo by prayer on Sunday night!)
Immediately following the historic four hour service, there were 10 baptisms and three restorations conducted in small groups!
A few days later on Wednesday, Alexis Turgeau was baptized! Alexis came from Haiti where he has served as a fulltime minister in the Mainline Church of Christ since the 90′s. He first reached out to me through our City of Angels Church Website in October 2012. We have dialogued for months back and forth, so I invited Alexis to the GLC and our awesome Lord gave him a visa! So wanting to know more about the amazing multiplication of disciples in the SoldOut Movement, Alexis studied the Scriptures with our French-speaking Evangelists – Blaise Feumba of London, Amadou Sountoura of Abidjan, Tim Kernan of Chennai – and saw that when he was originally baptized, he was not baptized as a disciple! So, much like Apollos who “spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately,” Alexis learned “the way of God more accurately” and was “baptized [as a disciple] for the remission of sins to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!”
His “home congregation” is in Port au Prince but he also ministers to another four congregations in Haiti varying from 25 to 125 in membership! Alexis is returning to Haiti accompanied by Blaise to teach all those that he influences the Biblical truth about salvation! Pray for Alexis and Blaise on their exciting missionary journey that will open up another nation for God’s new movement!
On Sunday evening of the GLC was the “Great Banquet” where the 1,133 paid registrants filled up the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt! A delicious meal was served and the fellowship was rich in depth and spiced with laughter!
Other incredible highlights throughout the GLC were the 21 Kingdom Appointments and Reinstatements! Recognized as Evangelists in the movement are: Alfredo Anuch, Argo Arneson, Jeremiah Clark, Jason Dimitry, Jared McGee, Joel Parlour, Mike Patterson, Sal Velasco and Joe Willis!
And now serving the Lord as Women’s Ministry Leaders are: Alejandra Anuch, Anu Arneson, Joan Bartholomew, Julie Clark, Sarah Dimitry, Megan Mathews, Rachel McGee, Courtney Parlour, Chenelle Patterson, Mandee Rohn, Barb Shelbrack and Kerry Willis!
Surrounding the GLC were three incredible weddings! On the Sunday before the GLC, Cory & Jeraldine Blackwell were married giving hope to many older disciples! Then on Wednesday the day after the GLC officially ended, Kyle & Sam Swann became husband and wife with many in attendance from New York City – the church in which they first met! And then on Saturday, two of our newest ICCM students – Javier & Jessica Ochoa – tied the knot!
During these five days after the GLC, the Lord added another 10 souls to the City of Angels Church – 7 baptisms, 2 restorations and 3 place memberships!
And to God be all the glory!
After stopping off in Houston and starting a new remnant church that baptized an awesome young man in its very first service, exactly half of the DC Church – 48 disciples – attended the most impacting Leadership Conference to date!
More inspired and motivated than ever, each of our five house church services had those who attended share how the conference impacted them and what changed in their life because they went. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how well we build our churches the young Christians never fully understand exactly what they are a part of until attending one of our conferences! The sense of worldwide unity in the preaching, teaching, discipling, singing, fellowship, purpose and mission can only be seen in a movement of churches who all teach EXACTLY the “same thing everywhere in every church.” (1 Corinthians 4:17)
-Ron Harding, Evangelist – Washington D.C. International Christian Church
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