w orld r t la story - icoc investigation · 15k attor sunda sent disciples to israel and the w 99...

A Kingdom Pictures Release “PHENOMENON” A KINGDOM NEWS NETWORK PRODUCTION

PRODUCED DIRECTED SCREENPLAY PRODUCTIONBY AL BAIRD BY ROGER LAMB BY MARCIA LAMB, MARYANN ROSE & ROBIN FAWCETT DESIGNER EMILY BRINGARDNER

©1997 BY KINGDOM NEWS NETWORK.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A KINGDOM PICTURES RELEASEKNN

Church of ChristFeaturing: KIP & ELENA MCKEAN • DOUG & JOYCE ARTHUR • AL & GLORIA BAIRD • CORY & MEGAN BLACKWELLMARTY & CHRIS FUQUA • BOB & PAT GEMPEL • SCOTT & LYNNE GREEN • STEVE & LISA JOHNSON

FRANK & ERICA KIM • PHIL & DONNA LAMB • RANDY & KAY MCKEAN

A Kingdom Pictures Release “PHENOMENON” A KINGDOM NEWS NETWORK PRODUCTION

PRODUCED DIRECTED SCREENPLAY PRODUCTIONBY AL BAIRD BY ROGER LAMB BY MARCIA LAMB, MARYANN ROSE & ROBIN FAWCETT DESIGNER EMILY BRINGARDNER

©1997 BY KINGDOM NEWS NETWORK.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A KINGDOM PICTURES RELEASEKNN

Church of ChristFeaturing: KIP & ELENA MCKEAN • DOUG & JOYCE ARTHUR • AL & GLORIA BAIRD • CORY & MEGAN BLACKWELLMARTY & CHRIS FUQUA • BOB & PAT GEMPEL • SCOTT & LYNNE GREEN • STEVE & LISA JOHNSON

FRANK & ERICA KIM • PHIL & DONNA LAMB • RANDY & KAY MCKEAN

L A S T O R YL A S T O R Y

THE KINGDOM SPEEDS TOWARD THE 21ST CENTURYTHE KINGDOM SPEEDS TOWARD THE 21ST CENTURY

1996

WORLDREP

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K I N G D O M M I L E S T O N E SC O U N T R I E S P L A N T E D 1 1 4N U M B E R O F C H U R C H E S 2 8 6S U N D A Y A T T E N D A N C E 13 7 , 7 6 9Editorial by Al BairdEditorial

“Therefore once more I will astound these peoplewith wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of thewise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligentwill vanish.” Isaiah 29:14

phenomenon is defined in the dictionary as a remarkable thing. Phenomena are several remarkable things. A more accurate title for this issue of LA Story would be

Phenomena, because these pages describe manyremarkable things that God accomplished in hisKingdom during 1996. This is a “keeper” issue, onethat you will want to show to your friends, yourwork associates and your family. Itglorifies God– certainly no man orgroup could accomplish so muchin just 12 months.

Space only permits us toinclude a few of the most outstandinghighlights of 1996 in this editorial.But, I want to point out somephenomenal events God has doneamong us.

Three years ago in 1994, theKingdom made a commitment tostart, by the end of the year 2000 AD,a church in every one of the 166nations that have a city of at least100,000 population. At that timedisciples lived in only 49 of thosenations and in five additional smallercountries. Today churches exist in atotal of 114 nations! During these three years, Sundayattendance worldwide has increased from 77,000 tomore than 137,000 – a compounded annual growthrate of more than 21 percent. Last year alone 45 newchurches were planted. Pray for the 57 remainingnations that must be reached in the next three years.

The Moscow Church celebrated its fifthanniversary. In just five years that little team of 17disciples (only one spoke fluent Russian!) has

multiplied to more than 7,000 disciples meetingin 19 different cities spread out over 11 timezones across the old USSR.

The first eldership in a third-world country wasestablished when Elders were appointed in NewDelhi, India. The maturing of families in the Lordso that elders can be appointed is a very encouragingsign of the healthy growth of the movement.

Syria became the 100th nation to have a churchof disciples. Churches now exist in all the nationsmentioned specifically in the Bible. During 1996disciples began meeting in Greece, Turkey, Syria,Iraq and Israel.

Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in theworld, now has churches meeting in six cities.Jakarta, the largest city in Indonesia, has a churchwith a Sunday attendance of more than 1,000.

The Tokyo Church is now the largestJapanese church in the history of this countrywhere less than 1% of the population profess anykind of Christian faith. Their new building, seating1,000, is nearly full every Sunday! God blessed

them with more than daily baptisms in this countrywhich the Wall Street Journal labeled as “the Mt.Everest of mission work.”

The Los Angeles Church, the largest churchamong the International Churches of Christ and thefastest growing church of any kind in North America,has a regular Sunday attendance of nearly 11,000.

The church in Sao Paulo, Brazil held an outdoorconcert in association with a HOPE worldwideblood drive and had a kingdom record-breakingattendance of 32,000.

HOPE worldwide continues to do incrediblethings to help the poor and needy around the world.

More than 1,000,000 childrenacross the United States werecontacted in “HOPE for a MillionKids” immunization project.King Sihanouk Hospital, centerof HOPE, opened in PhnomPenh, Cambodia. While hundredsare receiving free medical care,four doctors and two nurses havebecome disciples in Cambodia.The United Nations granted HOPEworldwide “Special ConsultativeStatus with the Economic andSocial Council.” This will not onlypermit HOPE worldwide to senddelegates to UN conferences, butwill open countless new doorsof opportunity to meet needsaround the world.

That was a phenomenal year! But, it is notour doing. God astounds with wonder upon wonder.Let us more than ever be men and women wholove God and his Kingdom with all of our hearts.Men and women who are committed to expandingthe borders around the world of 5+ billion peopleand our own world of the people that we personallytouch. Someday Jesus will be preached to the wholeworld. May we live to see that PHENOMENON. ■

L A S U N D A Y A T T E N D A N C E

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2 / 2 1 0 , 8 9 4 2 / 2 3 1 0 , 7 6 3

2 / 9 1 0 , 7 3 8

2 LA STORY March 1997

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▲ God is spreading the International Churches of Christ around the world faster and further than any other

ROG

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KIP

MC

KEA

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Christian movement since the 1st century.

A PHENOMENAL YEAR

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March 1997 LA STORY 3

PHENOMENALKINGDOMGROWTH

19791981

19831985

19871989

19911993

25

50

100

150

200

225

250

125

75

19951997

275

1 1 4 6

242

286

19

66

103

137

19791981

19831985

19871989

19911993

10

20

40

60

70

80

90

50

30

19951997

100

110

1 2 312

24

4150

89

114

1

SUNDAY ATTENDANCE

NUMBER OF CHURCHES

NUMBER OF NATIONS

KINGDOM HIGHLIGHTSKINGDOM HIGHLIGHTS■ Record numbers of baptisms and attendance

Kingdom-wide ■ True churches of disciples are in 114 nations

(More nations than McDonalds)■ 45 churches planted in 1996 ■ 1st third-world Eldership appointed

in New Delhi, India■ Nationals appointed to lead most churches■ 32 churches over 1,000 Sunday attendance

in 17 countries■ 19 churches over 2,000 Sunday attendance

in 12 countries■ International Churches of Christ Web Site introduced

http://www.intlcc.com

LA HIGHLIGHTSLA HIGHLIGHTS■ Named fastest growing church of any kind in North

America for the second year in a row■ Sunday attendance over 11,000■ Sent disciples to Israel and the West Bank■ Best retention rate in four years■ Latino Leadership Foundation gave first scholarships■ Hosted:

■ McKean Family Workshop■ AMS World Tour Conference■ HOPE worldwide Health Corps Conference■ Attorneys, Administrators, Accountants Forum

19791981

19831985

19871989

19911993

15K

30K

60K

90K

105K

120K

135K

75K

45K

19951997

70

75,154

118,181

137,769

50,304

26,993

9,8283,8001,558450Kip & Elena McKean, International MissionsEvangelist and International Women’sMinistry Leader, celebrate the baptism of their son Sean on January 21, 1996.

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4 LA STORY March 1997

In February 1994, the WorldSector Leaders issued theEvangelization Proclamation.This document stated that weas the modern-day-movement of God are committed to thegoal of planting a church of disciples by the year 2000 inevery nation with a city of over100,000 people.

The nations with churches of disciples at the time of thesigning of the EvangelizationProclamation are indicated ingreen on the map. The nationsindicated in yellow were waitingfor such a church.

Since the signing of theEvangelization Proclamation in1994, the number of worldwidediscipling churches has nearlydoubled. As a movement, wenow have 286 churches in 114nations. The nations on the mapindicated in purple have beenplanted since the signing of theEvangelization Proclamation.Only 57 nations remain – waitingfor churches to be planted. TheGod of the harvest continues toanswer the faithful prayers of His movement.

“YOUR KINGDOM

NATIONS WITH CHURCHES PLANTED SINCE 1994

NATIONS WITH EXISTING CHURCHES

NATIONS TARGETED FOR FUTURE PLANTINGS

JANUARY 1994: 53 NATIONS, 146 CHURCHES,

75,154 ATTENDANCE

R 100,000. BY THE YEAR 2000, A CHURCH IN EVERY NA

CHURCHES PLANTED SINCE 1994

EXISTING CHURCHES

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March 1997 LA STORY 5

COME…”

JANUARY 1997: 114 NATIONS, 286 CHURCHES,

137,769 ATTENDANCE

COUNTRIES PLANTEDSINCE THEEVANGELIZATIONPROCLAMATION

Austria

Bangladesh

Belarus

Benin

Bolivia

Bulgaria

Burkina

Cameroon

Chad

Congo

Costa Rica

Croatia

Curacao

Czech Republic

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Estonia

Georgia

Guatemala

Guinea

Guyana

Honduras

Iraq

Israel

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Latvia

Lebanon

Lithuania

Mali

Moldova

Mongolia

Morocco

Mozambique

Myanmar

Namibia

Nepal

Niger

Norway

Pakistan

Paraguay

Poland

Portugal

Scotland

Sierra Leone

Sri Lanka

Suriname

Syria

Tanzania

Turkey

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

Vietnam

West Bank

Zaire

Zambia

ON WITH A CITY OF OVER 100,000. BY THE YEAR 2000

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ACES ACES Africa, Caribbean & EasterAfrica, Caribbean & Easter n Seaboarn SeaboarddSunday Attendance: 33,717 Number of Churches: 56

SUNDAYLARGEST CHURCH ATTENDANCE

New York City, New York 7,438Atlanta, Georgia 4,037Lagos, Nigeria 3,673

• 10 churches planted in Africa• Santo Domingo Church doubled in disciples• New York City Church focused on training powerful

young leaders

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICACENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICASunday Attendance: 16,926 Number of Churches: 21


Mexico City, Mexico 3,690Miami, Florida 2,811São Paulo, Brazil 2,374

• Bogota, Colombia Church attendance grew to 792(nearly 50% increase in 1996)

• The Creation Tour by Colour Blind with Phil Lamb preaching• Churches planted in Bolivia and Costa Rica

CHINACHINASunday Attendance: 5,737 Number of Churches: 22


Hong Kong 2,590Denver, Colorado 1,299Taipei, Taiwan 377

• Among first-world churches, the Hong Kong Church finished 1996 with the 3rd largest growth behind Los Angeles and New York City

• Taiwan’s ministry (five churches) grew by 40%; includingthree new plantings

• The size of one of the mainland churches is on the vergeof 100 members

• Rocky Mountain churches were added to this worldsector for a missions base

COMMONWEALCOMMONWEALTHTHSunday Attendance: 16,756 Number of Churches: 52


Washington, D.C. 2,211London, England 2,208Singapore, Singapore 1,107

• 1st third-world Eldership – New Delhi, India• 1,076 Sunday attendance in Jakarta, Indonesia, largest

Muslim country of the world• Jakarta & Singapore were the two fastest growing

churches among those of similar size in the Kingdom• All Commonwealth staff in Ministry Training Program

by Doug Jacoby

MEDIA/LAMEDIA/LAW WORLD SECTORW WORLD SECTOR• ICC Web Site created by San Francisco Church. Edited by KNN• KNN produced 6 regular editions in 15 languages and 4 special editions• 400 attended Attorneys, Administrators & Accountants Forum• Legal and Financial Audits of Kingdom business practices by outside firms

“SO LET US GO INTO THE NATIONS…PHENOMENA IN OUR GENERATION

ACES–Steve & Lisa Johnson CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA– Phil & Donna Lamb

COMMONWEALTH–Douglas & Joyce Arthur

CHINA–Scott & Lynne GreenWORLD SECTOR LEADERS

1996 W

ORLD

SECTO

R HIGHLIGHTS

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NEW ENGLAND & CONTINENTNEW ENGLAND & CONTINENTAL EUROPEAL EUROPESunday Attendance: 9,208 Number of Churches: 26


Boston, Massachusetts 6,284Paris, France 825Berlin, Germany 263

• The Boston Church has now planted 46 other churches• Over 2,000 attend Euro Missions Conference in Paris• Plantings ‘96: Zagreb, Croatia; Lisbon, Portugal;

Sofia, Bulgaria; Geneva, Switzerland• First European Teacher appointed in the Kingdom –

François Faure in Paris• DPI has published 701,792 volumes – 58 titles in

10 languages

HOPEHOPE worldwideworldwide• 32,000 at HOPE worldwide Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil• Russian Sports Festival hosted 2,700 orphans in Moscow• King Sihanouk Hospital, center of HOPE, opened in

Phnom Penh, Cambodia• Immunization drive reaches 1,000,000 kids in April• HOPE worldwide has projects in over 100 cities in 35

countries around the globe. • HOPE worldwide is officially recognized by United Nations• Geographic HOPE worldwide Leaders appointed• 100th Adoption• Mother Teresa receives 1996 Unity Award

PPACIFIC RIMACIFIC RIMSunday Attendance: 11,682 Number of Churches: 30


Manila, Philippines 3,585Seoul, Korea 889Tokyo, Japan 806

• Tokyo Church Building: first year in operation• Phnom Penh Church grew by 71% to a Sunday

attendance of 315• San Francisco Church began Kingdom Technology Group

MEDIA/LAW WORLD SECTOR–Al & Gloria Baird

MIDDLE EAST–Cory & Megan Blackwell

NORTHERN FEDERATION–Marty & Chris Fuqua

NEW ENGLAND &CONTINENTAL EUROPE–Randy & Kay McKean

HOPE worldwide–Bob & Pat Gempel

PACIFIC RIM–Frank & Erica Kim

MIDDLEMIDDLE EASTEASTSunday Attendance: 8,575 Number of Churches: 20


San Diego, California 3,350Middle East Churches combined 276Phoenix, Arizona 1,097

• All of the lands mentioned in the Bible now have churches• Disciples now in Syria, Israel and the West Bank• Middle East Jubilee held in Istanbul, Turkey • Eight new church plantings in the last eight months

NORNORTHERN FEDERATHERN FEDERATIONTIONSunday Attendance: 35,168 Number of Churches: 59


Los Angeles, California 10,542Chicago, Illinois 4,194Moscow, Russia 2,635

• Moscow Church 5th anniversary: 17 disciples grew to7,000 with 19 churches

• 1996 church plantings: Lithuania, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan• Largest multi-ethnic church in Chicago is led by African

American couple, Byron and Laurie Parsons

…LIKE MENWHO DREAM”

Copyright ©1997 by the Kingdom News Network.All rights are reserved. No part of the publication may be

reproduced in any form or by any means without thepermission of the editor and publisher.

Published by the International Churches of Christ.

LA Story and Kingdom News Network are registered trademarks of Kingdom News Network.

International Churches of Christ is a service markof the International Churches of Christ.

HOPE worldwide, ltd. is a registered trademarkof HOPE worldwide, ltd.

Volume 4, Issue 2, March 1997

Metro Super Region Marty & Chris Fuqua..............................(818) 799-8386CENTRAL REGION

Rafael & Griselda Lua ........................(818) 289-3346Central Los Angeles Sector

Steve & Kelly Saindon........................(818) 247-5596Kevin & Mary Mains..........................(818) 241-7540

Latin SectorRafael & Griselda Lua ........................(818) 289-3346

San Gabriel Valley SectorReese & Mary Kay Neyland ...............(213) 256-2963 Mike & Shauna Ostrom......................(213) 550-1495Rich & Renee Ruegsegger ...................(818) 458-8873Marty & Cathy Wooten ......................(818) 248-9801James & Jennifer Becknell ...................(818) 795-5546

Administrator/Deacon/DeaconessDan & Julie Schroeder

NORTH REGIONMark & Connie Mancini .....................(805) 290-2499

Antelope Valley SectorBob & Barb Harpole ..........................(805) 943-4244Joe & Nancy King .............................(805) 723-7579

North Valley SectorRon & Renee Quint ............................(818) 347-5039

South Valley SectorMark & Connie Mancini .....................(805) 290-2499Ron & Cheryl Hammer .......................(818) 347-6763

Deaf MinistryTBD (Ron Hammer) ............................(818) 347-4575

Administrator/Deacon/DeaconessEric & Susan Hauck; Lathan & Erin; Collins; Doug & Nancy Domel; Ken & Joyce Guidroz; Dr. Jerry & Erlyn Sugarman; Dean & Debi Wilson;Darrell & Kathy Priddy

WEST REGIONGregg & Cathy Marutzky ...................(310) 274-5229

UCLA SectorGregg & Cathy Marutzky ...................(310) 274-5229Greg & Shelley Metten (Elder) .............(310) 474-7929Jon & Lori Augustine ..........................(310) 444-0995

West LA SectorTodd & Tonya Spath...........................(310) 645-0272Chad & Kasey Reynolds .....................(310) 645-0272

Santa Monica SectorTim & Gerri Bernitt.............................(310) 441-0800Chris & Rebekah Tang........................(310) 395-1189

Administrator/Deacon/DeaconessAndy & Karina Winje; John & Frances Thorne;Lawrence & Sherry Williamson

Southland Super RegionBruce & Robyn Williams .........................(714) 551-8400AMS REGION

David & Coleen Graham....................(818) 558-7070Arts/Entertainment District

David & Coleen Graham....................(818) 558-7070Kai & B.J. Foster................................(818) 786-8782

Media DistrictJeff & Lane Morrell ............................(213) 936-2399Jock & Jynnifer Washington ................(213) 469-8272

Sports/Entertainment DistrictJess & Cindy Asper............................(310) 376-2285Al & Gloria Baird ..............................(310) 335-0112 Steve & Carie Lounsbury ....................(310) 306-5910

Studio DistrictKevin & Tracena Holland....................(818) 559-8702Matt & Sunny Knox............................(818) 985-3132

Administrator/Deacon/DeaconessJohn & Gretchen Snyder; Mike & Kim Upton; Roy & Gwen Smith; Roger & Marcia Lamb

Upside Down Club ....................(213) 957-9993 Upside Down Bookstore .............(213) 957-0751

EAST REGIONSteve & Jacqueline Gansert ................(909) 861-0585

Latin SectorJoe & Gloria Rodriguez......................(818) 810-9981H. Martin & Nora de’Campo..............(800) 730-2032

Diamond Bar SectorSteve & Jacqueline Gansert ................(909) 861-0585Jim & Jenni Hornbuckle ......................(909) 622-2121

Arcadia SectorSteve & Shelly Berger.........................(818) 445-2469

Administrator/Deacon/DeaconessKen & Robin Heskett; Humberto & Sylvia Castillero;Luis & Eunice Catougno; Dan & Susan Stroebel

ORANGE COUNTY REGIONWillie and Tonya Flores......................(714) 551-2600

Anaheim SectorHugo & Angelica Casillas ..................(714) 282-7864Mike and Libby Rock .........................(714) 256-9400Delano & Nadine Stewart ..................(714) 524-1927

Irvine SectorWillie and Tonya Flores......................(714) 551-2600Joel & Julie Landi...............................(714) 552-3633

Laguna SectorDave and Kathy Eastman....................(714) 699-0120Chris & Sonja Chloupek .....................(714) 675-1720

Administrator/Deacon/DeaconessJake & Nancy Jensen; Jeff & Debi Sabotin;Lee & Jackie Spath; Joel & Teresa Vink

VENTURA REGIONEd & Karen Townsend ........................(805) 373-5184

Santa Barbara SectorKip & Bethany Harms.........................(805) 692-9108

Ventura SectorEd & Karen Townsend ........................(805) 532-9200John & Karen Unzueta .......................(805) 988-3777

Administrator/Deacon/DeaconessDebbie Carpenter; Keith & Robin Bauer; John & AndraWalsh; Jim & Beth Beiermann; Ken & Sara Maupin

Tri-County Super RegionCory & Megan Blackwell........................(310) 672-7300

INLAND EMPIRE REGIONAnthony & Saun Galang ....................(909) 484-9055

Palm Springs SectorRandy & Donna Haragan ...................(619) 360-6777

Riverside SectorTim & Linda Montoya .........................(909) 485-2453

San Bernardino SectorAnthony & Saun Galang ....................(909) 484-9055

AdministratorEric Stallworth

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION Chuck & Carol Bray...........................(310) 673-4500

Inglewood SectorChuck & Carol Bray...........................(310) 673-4500

Mid-Cities SectorBill & Lisa Hamilton............................(310) 904-0466

Dominguez Hills SectorDoug & Angella Wens .......................(310) 515-4882

Prime Time SectorAnton & Sharon Ivy ...........................(310) 643-9736

AdministratorBrian Beceiro

SOUTH REGIONJeff & Mary Wadstrom .......................(562) 433-4813

Lakewood SectorDon & Jennifer Splitt ..........................(562) 962-9897

Long Beach SectorJeff & Mary Wadstrom .......................(562) 433-4813

Peninsula SectorJay & Carol Kelly ..............................(310) 373-4739

Administrator/Deacon/DeaconessTed & Kathy Ott; Brian & Karen Plymell

Kingdom News Network ▲ 3530 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1750 ▲ Los Angeles, CA 90010 ▲ Phone (213) 385-5434 ▲ Fax (213) 251-4123

Elders & TeachersDr. Albert W. BairdDr. Gregory MettenBruce WilliamsDr. Martin Wooten

Lead EvangelistKip McKean

Super Region LeadersCory BlackwellMarty FuquaBruce Williams

Leader of Women’s MinistryElena Garcia-McKean

Women’s Ministry LeadersGloria BairdMegan BlackwellChris FuquaRobyn Williams

Educational DirectorsChris & Christy Miller(310) 376-2786

Congregational Deacons& Deaconesses

John & Emily BringardnerTom & Etta McCurryMike & Janice MinesKeith & Maryann RoseJeff & Debi SabotinJohn & Frances ThorneDr. Doug & Joanne WebberCecil & Helen Wooten

MissionsCopenhagen, DenmarkMoscow, RussiaOdessa, UkraineHelsinki, FinlandNovosibirsk, RussiaVladivostok, RussiaStockholm, SwedenSt. Petersburg, RussiaTblisi, GeorgiaKiev, UkraineOslo, NorwayMinsk, BelarusTallinn, EstoniaKharkov, UkraineYekaterinburg, RussiaTashkent, UzbekistanNizhny-Novgorod, RussiaRiga, LatviaAlma-Ata, KazakhstanAshkhabad, TurkmenistanKishinev, MoldovaVilnius, Lithuania

HOPE worldwide – LADr. Doug and Joanne Webber(310) 665-0888

EditorDr. Albert W. Baird (310) 335-0112

Managing EditorRoger Lamb (818) 760-4553

LA Story StaffEmily BringardnerCurtis CompocRobin FawcettMarcia LambLisa MortimerMaryann D. Rose

CoverWestlight Internet ▲ http://www.intlcc.com

LA Church ▲ Fax (213) 385-5854

w orld r t la story - icoc investigation · 15k attor sunda sent disciples to israel and the w 99...

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