fts-mc500 post for class 11/29/10

Today we discussed many aspects of the present day church including the largest Presbyterian church in the world. Located in Seoul, Korea, Myung Sung Presbyterian Church is lead by Pastor Kim Sam Whan. With its 30 church plants, 10 multi-site (or screen viewing churches), cell churches, etc. it has close to 1,000,000 members. We also learned about one of the larger Methodist churches in the world. Kum Nan Methodist Chuch also located in Seoul, Korea has close to 120,000 members since 1971. Lead by Hung-Do Kim they focus on small groups, cell groups, and church planting as their form spreading the Gospel worldwide. We also spoke about Post-Christendom in the UK and how the Gospel is spread through fresh expressions, alternative forms of worship, base communitites, cafe churches, cell churches, multiple mid-week congregations, network churches, and school based congregations; All new ways to spread the Word that are working presently in the UK.

fts-mc500 post for class 11/24/10

In todays class we discussed the Anglican, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches. We discovered that in most cases the representatives from each denomination that attended church were larger in countries, like Africa, and Asian than in the entire U.S. We discovered that the Presbyterian church which did have about 3 million members has recently dropped down to about 2 million losing about 1000 members/wk. We also learned that in most cases the churches are full of first generation members (70-80 y.o.). The children of the first generationers are often lost and do not return to the church. Thus many churches are attempting to regain their membership through new members from other races, cultures, and ethnicities.

fts-ms500 post for 11/23/10 class

Todays class was very interesting. We watched a class about John Calvin. We also discussed aspects about the protestant church. How the pulpit is above the altar because the spoken Word is considered superior to all else. We spoke about the Eucharist in the reformed church and how in the Presbyterian church Jesus Christ is the host of the ceremony. There is a spiritual presence of HIM but he is not in the actual elements. Also in ceremonies in different countries, the elements can range from tea and biscuits, to fruit juice and crackers. Also Jesus is there in the Word that is spoken; and usually in a private Eucharist session a review of the Sermon is made. 

fts-mc500 post for 11/17/10 class

In class today we discussed issues in regard to the Prostestant Formation. We discussed Martin Luther and his 95 theses, watched a movie that spoke of William Tyndale and his translation of the Bible. We also discussed John Calvin and his efforts to merge the efforts of Church and State. Then we learned about Zwingli and his AntiBaptist movement. We learned about the Puritans and their move to the Americas to have a pure nation where all who were in the nation believed the same.

Book Review: The Bridges of God

Book Report: The Bridges of God by Rameses Sorrell

It is all too well known that the primary goal of missions is evangelism: the proclamation of the Good News and assisting with the emergence of churches with leaders, schools and institutions that will bear witness to the Good News. (xiii) However, with news times and different societies encountered it is necessary to know what makes a good mission and what changes are necessary to implement in order ensure the success of future endeavors.

However, the most important question that the author is probably addressing is “How do people s become Christian?” It is always through a Christward movement. (1) However, some say it is through “People Movements,” where people become Christian as a wave of decision for Christ sweeps through the group mind of a caste, clan, or tribe like a chain reaction of individuals coming to Christ of their own accord but setting one another off to accept Christ like dominoes in a row. (12) Others say it is through the more costly “Mission Station approach,” where schools, hospitals, seminaries, and missionary’s residences are set up to become the institutionalized religious and cultural centers of a people. (75)

But to tell you the truth, though the gathered colony or Mission Station Approach is the universally accepted missionary method of today, it is a mixture of the resources and methods of both movements that enables people to become Christian. (100) For example because the gathered colonies are so well funded, if some of the money invested in these big ventures that hardly convert ten people from a caste were moved over to the less costly People movement type missions to a tribal location two hundred miles away, thousands would literally be converted to Christ and mass amounts of churches would be born because these people are ready and willing to accept Christ. (102)

Statistics state that church growth in the People Movements far exceeds that of the Mission Station Approach, “For example, we read that the Roman Catholic population of China doubled between 1914 and 1939. This means an increase of about 35 percent a decade. For hundreds of congregations to achieve an average growth of 35 percent over two and a half decades, there must have been some growing at much more than 35 percent. This probably occurred in People Movements…” (150)

“Suppose the entire Christian enterprise were to transfer men and money to People Movements as rapidly as was consistent with the welfare of both types of churches, a new era of rapid expansion would occur. It would add hundreds of thousands indeed millions, of new Christians, and thousands of new churches. A multitude of new territories where there is now no church at all would be sown with Christian churches rooted in sturdy peoples.” (145)

What needs to happen is the allotment of funds to the proper missionary ventures based on statistical findings that would allow for the greatest Christward venture per human capita. Via People Movements or Mission Stations, then only can the Great Commission be fulfilled with the greatest abundance and efficiency.

fts-mc500 post for class 11/15/10

Today we closed out the session with the completion of our discussions in regartds to the Catholic Church. We discussed items like the Cursillo movement, Eduardo Bonnin and how he was looking for young men to train to go on pilgrimage. We also discussed the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the Vatican II, the Pope and their theological standard as well as what makes every church a Catholic Church. ie. images of Mary and St. Joseph, display of Sacraments, the ambulatory, and the presence of a Cross with Jesus Christ on it.

Church Visit

Church Report by Rameses Sorrell

Snapshot of Church/Demographics

For the Church in Mission report I visited Los Angeles Christian Presbryterian Church-Hillside Ministry located at

2241 N. Eastern Avenue

, in El Sereno California. It is a small ministry with about 50 members. Hillside ministry, is a predominantly Korean American church with a growing multi-ethnic community including Hispanics, African-Americans and non-asians. It is the English speaking ministry of the Korean Ministry congregation of the main church which only speaks Korean. Comprised of individuals from early 20’s to late 30’s it has been in existence for about 12 years. The Pastor’s name is Pastor Sam Koh. He has been the pastor at the church for about a year prior to the departure of the previous pastor, Sam Lee who left to another church in Sunland about a year ago.

Theology of Church

The church creed is the Lord’s Prayer together with the Apostle’s Creed:

The pastor says that there is a “reformed” tinge, within the church, meaning that there is a focus foundationally on God’s glory and divine Sovereignty as a crucial beginning point   for theological reflection. Many people are Calvinistic in their theological approach, however, Pastor Sam’s background is Wesleyan, balancing justification by faith with an emphasis on the Spirit’s ongoing process of sanctification in the life of the believer.  

Worship,Liturgy, Sacraments

            Pastor Sam tries to hold true to the practices of the Presbyterian church as is set forth in the handbook of bylaws given to him each year by the KM Senior church pastor, while at the same time trying to push the boundaries of practice: For example, holding true to scripture and the meaning of the word “baptism,” the last baptism performed was a full emersion superseding, “sprinkling” which holds true to traditional baptism of Presbyterians.  Sacraments, the Lord’s Supper, which is the reading of scripture, breaking of bread, with one bread and one cup of wine/grape juice representing the elements of Christ’s body is held in the traditional sense. The worship style is the contemporary style of worship, with a Praise team comprised of modern musicians singing contemporary Christian songs openly and freely. There is “Freedom of Expression” and no “house rules,” you can raise your hands, jump up and down, sit in your seat and basically worship how you like as long as you don’t hurt anybody. The Congregation gets into the Word through Expository preaching and afterward there is a call in response to the reading followed by prayer.

Community Formation

            Hillside Ministry has four goals called “Connect Four.” They are 1. Connect to Christ, 2, Connect to Church Community, 3. Connect to El Sereno/Backyard community, 4. Connect to our Great Commission. They want everyone to connect as a family, The pastor encourages new visitors/members to stand up and greet people they have never seen before and give them a handshake or hug and welcome them into the community. They also encourage people to join in on the small groups happening every Thursday in Los Angeles, and Orange County, attend married couples groups once/mth and the Hillside 101 Bible study every Sunday before service.

            In addition, the latest great work done by Hillside Ministry is the joining of forces with King’s Table Ministry, a predominantly Hispanic American Ministry that is comprised of a lot of El Sereno community members as well as ex-gang members, graffiti artists, and ex-prison inmates. With this merging of the ministries comes multi-ethnic worship. The 70%-80% of  Hispanics, etc that reside within the El Sereno community in which Hillside resides are now being reached simply by Hillside reaching into their backyard instead of outward. Pastor Sam would like to look within the Metropolitan context to reach young men and woman who may be of different cultures, and races to develop and open themselves up to ministries that may represent the community in which they reside and worship.

Organization/Leadership            There are leadership meetings every Tuesday with leaders of the KM LACPC from which deacons are picked to become part of ministry.

Mission: Witness, Service, Transformation, Creation, Dialogue, Reconciliation, Inculturation

            There is an outreach done with Pastor Joey of King’s Table Ministry from Sept-Oct in Downtown Los Angeles in which people come out share gospel, fliers, food, give church services. Also “Angel Tree” in December in which food is served during the Holidays is an outreach ministry. There are summer missions trips, to Korea, Mexico, China, Mongolia, etc. that the KM funds. All these situations allow people to witness and share the gospel. However, the bulk of it is done one on one with the Pastor, or through his disciples. As people are counseled there is transformation through the Spirit as specific questions are answered. Dialogue occurs, as people open up and come to know one another as well as the Lord. Reconciling to Christ happens through messages, letting people know that He is not far away. It happens in groups of people where a member of one group may have been hurt by parties of another larger group; Amends need to be made through counseling and empowerment of the Spirit.

Our culture consists of sports, fun, entertainment, and you name it, therefore fellowship is a big part of the Hillside Ministry. There are events held several times a year that encourage togetherness, the love of Christ, teamwork. There is the 3-on-3 Basketball tournament, Bowl-tober, the annual bowling tournament; etc. the church provides scholarships to those that cannot afford the events. There is the Christmas Banquet and Thanksgiving potluck where Ham, Turkey and all the holiday fixin’s will be served. There will be slideshows highlighting all the different events, fun, and retreats experienced by the congregation throughout the year. There is food every Sunday after service encouraging more fellowship and church community and “getting to know one another” under the name of Christ.

“That’s what it’s all about, relationship with the Lord and relationship with people.” Pastor Sam Koh Hillside Ministry

Matthew 6:9–13-Lord's Prayer

Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church uses the same text as is in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, but with the modernized spelling "catholic" and some changes from upper to lowercase letters.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

and born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell.

On the third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of the Father.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.^[21]

fts-mc500 post for class for 11/10/10

Still ill, sorry did not make it to class. Can someone help me with notes?

fts-mc500 post for 11/08/10 class

Fell ill, sorry did not make it to class. Can someone help me with notes?

fts-mc500 post for 11/01/10 class

Today we discussed the different missions of the Jesuits and how they went into different lands in India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, etc. Many of the missionaries learned the cultures and religions of the areas to which they traveled. They were often accused of converting to these religions of these great exotic lands. Often it was necessary to get fully "down" with the indigenious way of doing things in order to communicate with the people. Though this way of doing things was absolutely not approved of by Officials but missionaries went ahead with their pursuits against the will and often order of their superiors.

Ftsmc500 post for 11/01/10 class

In class today we discussed several topics in regard to the Catholic Church including Benedictine rule, Gregory the Great, Charlemagne, how the rich bought and sold churches and appointed their own bishops thus resulting in corruption amongst leadership. We also learned about the crusades, Dominicans, St. Francis, Tomas Aquinas, Jesuits and their missions and the Council of Trent.