Corvallis International Church of Christ

“The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet… over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.’ The Word of the Lord came to me: ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ ‘I see the branch of an almond tree,’ I replied. The Lord said to me, ‘You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my Word is fulfilled.’” Jeremiah 1:4-5, 9-12

What a weekend! From Friday to Sunday, March 14 -16, the 21 disciples of the “DC Mission Team” met at the Days Inn on Connecticut Avenue in Northwest DC. This gathering of disciples from Syracuse, New York; Corvallis, Oregon; and Chicago, Illinois experienced an incredible time of inspiration and fellowship as the team was also joined by Kip & Elena McKean of the City of Angels International Christian Church (Los Angeles) and Chris & Theresa Broom of the Chicago International Christian Church!

The Lord brought us together to “explore the land” (Numbers 13:2) and to restore the vision of building a metropolitan church of sold-out disciples in DC who would be “perfectly united in mind and thought” with God’s new movement of discipling churches around the world! Some have asked the question, “Why plant a new church?” In order to appreciate the necessity of this undertaking, it is imperative to understand the history of the former Washington DC International Church of Christ. In June of 1989, the Boston Church of Christ led by the McKeans, sent out Russ & Gail Ewell accompanied by a mission team of 14 disciples to plant the Washington DC Church of Christ. The church grew quickly. By March of 2000 this dynamic congregation had reached an attendance nearing 3,000, with disciples meeting in four regional groups: Baltimore, Northern Virginia, Montgomery County – Maryland and the District of Columbia (DC). Sadly, corresponding with the Absalomic rise in influence of some prominent Evangelists and most Kingdom Teachers and Kingdom Elders, the worldwide continuity of our beloved fellowship began to dissolve in late 2002 from the decisions reached at the Long Beach Unity Meeting in Los Angeles. A “leader of the movement” and central leadership were declared “unbiblical” and replaced with a church government of autonomy as most ICOC leaders agreed to return to a more mainline theology. From these changes, rebellion was sparked with the Kriete letter of early 2003. By the summer of 2003, the Baltimore Region of the former DC Church split off and became an autonomous congregation, and by the fall of 2003, the other three regions in Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia did the same. Later, the Northern Virginia group again divided into two more autonomous churches.
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“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’” Nehemiah 1:8-9

Nehemiah’s prayer reveals a solemn yet awe-inspiring eternal truth. It is our Sovereign God who “scatters” His people because of their unrighteousness. Then those few, who repent by seeking Him with all their hearts, our gracious Father “gathers” this remnant from the “farthest horizons” to carry out His purposes. On the weekend of October 19-21, God gathered in London, England more than a hundred souls from as far away as Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Poland, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United States and of course England! Most excitingly, “The Gathering” on Sunday was the inaugural service for the London International Christian Church! Many thanks will someday surely be given in heaven from the now untold millions who would have died untold if not for the courageous proclamation of the 19 sold-out disciples of the London Church and especially their beloved leaders, Tim and Lianne Kernan. So encouraging was that through the Spirit working powerfully at the conference, God’s new movement of sold-out disciples is rapidly spreading (2 Thessalonians 3:1), as disciples from Paris have decided to join us and start a Bible Talk this week in the heart of continental Europe!

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The first time I drove into Corvallis was in the fall of 1987. I was a college student about to enter my third year of school. It was a beautiful sunny September day and as I drove through the Oregon State University campus, college students walking around with excitement for the new school year to begin. I found my destination at the far end of campus as I pulled into the fraternity parking lot. My new home was bustling with activity and welcoming brothers. I was filled with excitement, and a little fear not knowing exactly what to expect. There would be many great memories along with some dark times over the next few years as I finished my college career and headed to Portland, Oregon in June of 1990.

The last time I drove into Corvallis Oregon it was a beautiful summer day in late August. I had a similar feeling when driving through the streets of the sleepy college town. (Sleepy, because school was still a few weeks away and not many college students were in town). My destination and purpose for visiting this time was different. Rather than being greeted by fraternity brothers, we were greeted by the loving brothers and sisters of the Corvallis International Church of Christ. One of my long time dreams was fulfilled on this beautiful August day. To sit and worship God and see the gospel spread in Corvallis by true disciples of Jesus.

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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

Steve Johnson preaches the keynote address

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.
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