The leaders of the San Diego Mission Team – Vic & Aurora Gonzalez – at San Diego State University!
“Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 1:7-8
Luke records Jesus’ Great Commission as, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Interesting parallels can be made between God’s movement in the first century and His movement in the 21st century. In God’s new movement, Los Angeles – a city of 20 million and planted with sold-out disciples from Portland in 2007 – corresponds to “Jerusalem,” the center of leadership for the churches. Let’s not forget that Jesus ministered in the little towns of Galilee for three years – about the same amount of time Elena and I served the Lord in the smaller municipality of Portland! After gathering His disciples in Galilee, the Spirit began the church with these same disciples in “Jerusalem,” the population center of Israel – “all Judea and Samaria.” Therefore, “Judea” could be likened to Southern California. “Samaria” might be compared to the United States and “the ends of the earth” are “the ends of the earth!” Our plan for “the ends of the earth” is The Crown of Thorns Project, where – Lord willing – we will establish discipling churches in the next five years in Cairo, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Paris, Santiago, Sao Paulo and Sydney! The evangelization of “Samaria” – the United States – is well underway with dynamic discipling churches in America’s four most influential cities – New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington DC – as well as having awesome congregations in Eugene, Hilo, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, and Syracuse. (more…)
