Bent On Conquest - Day 1 ^Featured

Can I be honest? I flew in from Boston to Los Angeles late Wednesday night to make it to the ICMC West. I woke up this morning around 5 am, and my heart and eyes were not ready for the day. The thing that got me going was a simple thought: that I neither created nor could change the time I have been given. It was not my own to waste. I got up, and about two hours and half a gas tank later I was in San Diego.

I did not really know exactly where to go, but there is always evidence of disciples if you are looking for it. I followed a brother who had a bible tucked under his arm as he was chatting up a girl using phrases like ‘bible talk’ and ‘fired up.’ I knew I was in the right place. I found seats for the opening lesson, sang in the way only 1100 strong disciples could, and waited for our speaker Stuart Mains from the Orange County ministry. In his lesson, ‘Alpha amend Omega’ we looked at scriptures like (Matthew 8: 23) as we were reminded of the power Jesus had. He reminded us how Jesus has become many things today: the man cradling a lamb, the long haired hippy figure who walked on water or the contemplative figure staring heavenward, but people do not know the Jesus of power. I left convicted, but also remembering as (1 John 3: 20) says God is greater than my heart, and wants to give me anything I ask in his name.

I stayed in the same room as 10:45 am hit, and we went right into the first men’s class lead by Jermaine Peacock from San Diego. To me Jermaine has the ability to speak to people like a spiritual coach. What he says is usually tough to hear, but you know there is purpose to his words, and refinement to be seen upon following them. I watched two new veins emerged in his neck as he pleaded with the men not to have a reputation of being alive when in reality we may be spiritually dead. Jermaine shared vulnerably about having to watch both of his parents die, and how it lead him to the firm conviction that he would never again be passive when it comes to sharing his faith. It was a call to action I felt I had no choice but to try and answer.

I ate lunch in a park a block from the hotel excited to be surrounded by disciples, and equally encouraged to see my friend Gavin. I took the opportunity to share with him late last semester, and now here he was working through the studies and attending his first ICMC. It is hard to feel tired when you are eating lunch with a product of the mission God has called you to.


I came back to a lesson on discipline from Steve Lounsbury and Nick Solavato from Los Angeles with the theme scripture being Titus 2:11. I learned that self-disciplined men live by their word; it is their bond.  I then walked a room over to here a lesson from Jeremy Melcher and Evan Grimes from San Diego on discipling relationships. I came away with new convictions on being open, but also a need for discipling to happen
around my peers as well. 

The lessons for the day were closed out by Rob Skinner of Arizona as he preached a lesson entitled ‘A War broke out in Heaven.” I can be simplistic in my thoughts on the battle with Satan sometimes. I expect him to be working against me open and honest, the same way I do with him. Rob reminded us that Satan’s lie comes in (2 Thessalonians 2: 9-10) and it is to keep us placid and domesticated. He challenged us not to buy the lie, and therefore let go of God’s truth. 

Numbers can sometimes hide individual impact and effort, but I want to close in the same way the night closed for all of us here at ICMC West - with some encouragement from the World Report. In 2012 alone, we saw 9500 baptisms and restorations in our churches. In the last five years, we have planted 122 new churches. ICMC attendance in 2005 was 300 people. In 2012, it was 2800 college students from across the world! There is a long way to go, but I write these words feeling like a man of (Proverbs 22: 29) -- standing in the presence of kings.’