Sunday, November 11, 2012

New Church Plant Joins the ARC!


We are excited to announce that a new church plant outside of Tampa, FL – 242 on the Move – has been accepted into membership in The Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC). In July of 2008 at the ARC Southwest Gathering in Huntington Beach, CA, ARC member, Kody Kirchoff, and his wife, Lisa, returned with a freshness of spirit, and a new vision and call for their life. They felt called to begin missional communities and a “new kind” of church and ministry life, giving ownership to all, making it less about church and Sunday, and more about intentional ministry lifestyle and family based upon Acts 2:42-47.
 
However, three years passed as they were serving in another ministry as they were waiting for the time and place where God would lead and have them launch this ministry. As Kody and Lisa felt God releasing them from the present ministry they were involved in, God simultaneously spoke and confirmed their calling on June 17th, 2011 to launch this ministry. Thus began “donthaveaname.com” on July 17th, 2011, meeting under a picnic Pavilion at Alderman Ford Park outside of FishHawk Ranch, FL.

Kody writes the following: “The ministry began with five couples and their children, and celebrated Sundays together at rotating public parks throughout the community and area. We placed high value and importance on Individual lifestyles of ministry.  Reaching neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and friends in the community was “where church is.” With this value, the “donthaveaname.com” family gathered multiple times during the week for fellowship and relational and family building, teaching, worship, prayer, eating, and lots of fun; always inviting and welcoming whomever desired to see and fell this new movement!

We asked the community to help name this ministry movement, and through September and October of 2011, over 1000 name ideas were submitted, finally combining two entries and prayerfully finalizing the name 242 On The Move! As we look back over the last year, 242 On The Move has grown tremendously in our calling, vision, direction, effectiveness, and love for one another! We continue to be lights in the community, living missional community together with a great focus on marriage and family, and celebrating our individual lifestyles of ministry that point and direct all to Christ! We continue to celebrate numerous times throughout the week for teaching, eating, prayer, planning, and lots of fun!

And we continue to be “On the Move”, living out Acts 2:42-47, as we are still meeting in public places, parks, and in the heart of the community on Sundays, and doing prayer walks, assisting community groups, businesses, and schools throughout the week.
The year has been tremendous as we continue to ‘detox’ ourselves and others from some of the barriers we have felt and have know from organized church, and moving all to create a atmosphere of ‘Jesus’ Fellowship, Discipleship, and Family.”

242 On the Move is now nearing launching phase 2, and pray and plan for numerous 242 movements in the next years (Vision 30 in 30, 30 242’s in 30 years). Kody and Lisa have a passion to train and equip others to lead these ministries, and see themselves eventually moving out of their pastoral roles, and overseeing the 242 movement.

We are excited to have Kody, Lisa, and the entire 242 Family as members of the ARC. We look forward to partnering with them in ministry for years to come that souls might be saved, disciples made, and whole and healthy leaders developed! Welcome 242!


Monday, November 5, 2012

SoCal Pastor Joins the ARC!

We are excited to welcome Pastor Stephen Lien to membership in the Alliance of Renewal Churches. Steve is located in Southern California and writes the following:

“I was brought me up in a devout Christian home; my father was an evangelical Lutheran pastor.  But my faith life was upended when we moved from New York City to a small town in Minnesota when I was fourteen years old.  That’s when I was invited to be part of a Youth for Christ ministry and singing group that God used in a wonderful way to call me into a more personal relationship with Him; my faith moved from my head to my heart and consumed my life!  I discovered a new joy and intimacy that has never left.

After High School I attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle, Washington for a year, then traveled with a Youth for Christ International singing team in Southeast Asia.   I graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and from Luther Seminary in St. Paul.  I landed in Watertown, South Dakota for my first call as a Lutheran pastor.  Since then I’ve served congregations in South Dakota, Texas, Iowa and California.  I presently serve Ascension Lutheran Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

I met my wife, Joanne, when I was the pastor’s kid in New York.  The Arthur Hall family, who were serving as medical missionaries in South Africa, were supported by the congregation my father served.  When the Hall’s came to the US on furlough, they visited us in New York.  The Lien and Hall families became friends and, many years later, after getting acquainted as adults at LBI and again at Augsburg College, Joanne and I were married in 1975.

Joanne is a Registered Nurse who has served most of her career in long-term and hospice care.  She is currently the Director of Patient Care Services at Hospice Partners of Southern California, based in Santa Monica. Joanne and I have three grown and married children and are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren, six of whom are four and under!

I’ve chosen to join ARC partly because of the lives and witness of two close friends, Jon Anderson and Nathan Hoff who are both ARC members.  I’ve been drawn to and blessed by these men’s vital faith and witness.  But the more compelling reason for joining is that God is doing something new in my life, calling me to greater boldness and unequivocal witness for Him, a renewal if you will.  Joining ARC feels like I’m coming home to the strong, Biblical, Evangelical roots that have so informed and shaped my life and ministry.  I feel like a rather extended sojourn in the wilderness is ending. I eagerly anticipate the rich fellowship and camaraderie enjoyed among God’s people and look forward to getting acquainted with others of like mind.”

Welcome to the ARC, Stephen!

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