Why They Chose Coast (some thoughts from one of our members)

This is an original post from Brandon & Jamie on their Facebook and it quickly became popular, received hundreds of likes and numerous shares. We felt that since it struck a chord with so many people there, we should share it here for others to read (with permission from the author of course).

Maybe you’ve asked the question, “why would someone go to a new, small church when they could go to a big one that has better music, programs, and is more polished/professional?” We don’t have all the answers to that but here is an answer from one of our members who had the same question.

Hey FB this is Brandon. You know I don’t get on here unless there is a story to be told and this one will be a little long but I believe it’s worth the read. (otherwise I wouldn’t have taken the time to write it... twice) SO let’s just jump right in

Most everyone who knows me knows that I grew up at First Pentecostal Church in Pensacola, FL. FPC is a fairly large church so naturally as the Navy moved Jamie and I around the country we looked for churches that were like what we grew up in. The one thing they all had in common (Besides being UPC).  Size. 

When we got stationed here in California we visited the churches that would typically fit us. We soon found out that search was futile, but I’ll get to that later.  As we went from church to church we just didn’t get the feeling like we belonged anywhere. It wasn’t because the Holy Ghost wasn’t present or that the people were unfriendly, because we went to some really nice places that we thought could be it.  It was more like we got the feeling that GOD was just saying… Nah… This ain’t it. Keep looking.

So keep looking we did and during our search we came across Coast Church.  Sunday comes and we punch in the address, but when we get there it looks like it’s in an abandoned warehouse. I’m getting ready to keep on driving because, let’s be serious I’m not trying to become someone’s blood sacrifice at some cult service in a warehouse. But Jamie, being the ever adventurous one, was like “Well, we drove all the way over here might as well check it out”.  So I huff loudly as I back into a spot close to an exit just in case we have to make a quick escape. Check my CCW pistol… Locked and loaded… Take a deep breath… think to myself remember the details on the way in so you know how to get out!

We walk inside and the music was instantly recognizable as was the worship.  So with that putting me at ease we walked into the sanctuary. It was really nice and the praise was so powerful you could feel it. But we there was a “small” problem.  It was well… Small (pun intended). There were all of 10 adults there including us. So Im thinking to myself kinda telling GOD… You see GOD, Jamie and I just aren’t comfortable in a small church. Both of us have always been part of larger assemblies so “small" just isn’t going to work for us ok? Soooo we are gonna keep looking.  Except during the next week neither one of us could shake the feeling like GOD was saying NOPE… Sorry guys, this is it.  This is where you are supposed to be.  So after a little struggle and a lot of prayer we decided to make Coast our home away from home. 

Some of you may be aware that the cost of living out here in California is a little ridiculous. To put it into perspective. Single wide mobile homes on a lot in a park START OUT at $200K. So it should be no surprise to find out a church with just a few members was sharing a building with another church.  This other church however was Trinitarian and while for the most part they were friendly, we did have things we didn’t really agree on.  One Sunday we came in to all kinds of pictures and art put up all over the sanctuary and it didn’t exactly jive with the Apostolic doctrine. So asking if we could cover it or take it down for our services coupled with a few other small disagreements started a rift that culminated in them asking us to find a new place to worship by the 1st of the year.  The only problem with that is, it was already Thanksgiving which left us basically a month to figure something out. That service we sang a song of faith called Made a Way.  The lyrics say “when our backs were against the wall and it looked as if it was over.  You made a way.”

Well we started looking for other buildings but everything kept falling through. Jan. 1 came and we were basically on the street. Bouncing around from one community center to the next and watching the attendance seemingly drop to nothing. It was honestly starting to look as if it really were over. That’s when a store front opened up. I mean it’s right next to a laundry mat and a liquor store. Not exactly an ideal location for a church but hey it’s a place and it would be our own.

Now that we have our building we run into a new problem.  We have to turn a store into a church.  It requires an entire renovation on the inside that was going to cost almost everything the church had and not only that we would still have to furnish it.  Now I don’t know if I mentioned it or not but we are a small church.  How in the world are we even going to do all this?  Spoiler alert… WE aren’t. We have to let go and let GOD.

Now with the time difference between Pensacola and Ventura I can still live stream most of the FPC services. While watching one night I got to wondering what happened to the chairs that used to be in the choir loft at FPC. So I asked my dad to talk to Pastor Kinsey and see if maybe they had them in a closet or storage somewhere and if so maybe he would be willing donate them. Because just the choir loft chairs would be plenty enough for our church. Pastor Kinsey instead of donating some old used equipment responded a few weeks later with a check that completely covered our renovation costs. Our Coast family was blown away and SO very grateful for the generosity of a church that was 2000 miles away on the complete other side of the country. A church I have been proud to call home since birth. By the grace of GOD, it wasn’t just FPC but people from all over started donating. Some people who were not even Christians but saw what we were doing and said they just felt compelled to give. Words just cannot express how big a move of GOD this was nor how thankful we are to everyone.

Now remember I said I would come back to the folly that is finding a church to fit you? That’s is probably one of the biggest mistakes we run into.  You see, you need to fit where GOD wants you, not the other way around. When you try to do it your way it will only end up in failure.  For us it was an exercise in growth. There is a certain amount of comfort that comes with being part of a large church.  You know when they say "Hey we need a someone to lead the choir” someone else will step up and do it.  Or “We need a Sunday school teacher” someone else will step up. Or “Hey we need to move all this stuff for the church” someone else will DEFINITELY step up for that one.  In a large church I don’t really need to do much of anything and I can be comfortable because someone else will do it. Up until this point I could live with the excuse that someone else will do it. There is this thing with small churches though… Surprise, surprise, there is no one else.  If you don’t help, then there really isn’t anyone else. Almost as if GOD purposely pulled us out of our comfort zone and said “Now if not you then who?”

Easter Sunday was set as the day we wanted to have our first service in our new building. So last Saturday morning we meet down at the church to hand out fliers and invite as many people as possible to the service. Jamie and I spent a couple of hours doing that and I could count on my fingers how many times I have done that before… if I had no fingers. Afterward we stayed until 10pm hanging lights, door knobs, shelves, installing towel holders and soap dispensers. All these things that typically "someone else” would have done. 

We started our first service at our new location in the same manner we ended with at our last location.  Singing “YOU MADE A WAY! When our backs were against the wall and it looked as if it was over, YOU made a way, and we’re standing here only because you made a way!!!” Make a way he did, Easter Sunday was a massive success. We had 40+ people at each service and then again this week we had over 50.  But the thing is most of them were new people who just came for Easter service.  Suddenly it turns out the same spot I thought was far less than ideal to us to put a church…  GOD says… “Nah, see that’s EXACTLY where I wanted it.” The amount of people who walk past then stop and ask about it is amazing.  I’ve never heard so many people say “I’m really glad a church is going in here”. So after all the doubts and reservations I had now I’m really starting to believe that anything is possible.  Now I’m just waiting for the person walking to the Liquor store who is empty inside going to try to fill the void with Fireball liquor to stop here first and get filled instead with the Holy Ghost and fire. I BELIEVE THAT IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN!

I know this was really long (thanks for staying with me!) but I really felt like it needed to be told in its entirety. There are two very important lessons I learned along the way that I would like to impart with everyone.  The first is be ever vigilant of complacency.  It’s the #1 Killer in Naval Aviation. Every day our maintenance control warns us about the dangers of it and to keep your head on a swivel. Complacency KILLS! But wouldn’t you know it the Bible also warns us that it’s just as dangerous in the church house. We are warned by the attitude of the church of Laodicea. Never let complacency set in, otherwise you may find yourself just going through the motions and thus spewed out of his mouth. Or even worse rocks may just cry out in your place.

The second is a message that Pastor Kinsey preached a little while ago about Shamgar and his oxgoad. The lesson is simply to start now where you are, use what you have, do what you can, and with GOD it WILL WITHOUT FAIL be enough. Coast Church is living proof of that.  Pastor Scott (the pastor here at CC) talked about intimacy with GOD and his blessings this morning. Which made me realize every time I turn around he is blessing us, so much so I literally can’t remember all the blessings. So keep the prayers for us, the city of Ventura, and the nation as a whole coming. Because while churches all over the country are closing their doors, I can’t help but believe that Coast Church in Ventura is just getting warmed up.  I know FPC feels the same way!

FINAL THING I said twice in the beginning because I spent a couple of hours typing this up only to have the FB app force close as I tried to post it and erase the whole thing.  But you know what…  as aggravated as it made me I had time to write it again… SO NOT TODAY DEVIL!!!

The Question Every Christian Should Be Asking When it Comes to Injustice

How do you respond to something that is so tragic, so terrible, so littered with injustice that it makes your blood boil?  We see injustices multiple times per day in our social media feeds, on the news, and we talk about it in our circles of friends.  We’ve almost become immune to them.  Am I the only one who has caught themselves scanning past a photo of dead bodies and acting like “that’s normal” when it is really not?  

What in the world is happening?  How do we respond to EVERY injustice with equality?  Do we choose one cause and fight for it or do we spend our lives chasing the wind of every injustice upon this earth?  I believe Jesus gave us answers with His life and teaching that resonate so loudly still today.  Our generation is wanting to make a difference, we want to fight for justice…but we simply can’t find the answer no matter how hard we try.  It could be that the reason for that is because we are asking the wrong question?  

Can I do something to make a change?  So we act in rage.  We cuss.  We destroy things.  We pit race against race.  We make it one-sided.  We fight eye-for-eye.  We face violence with violence, murder with murder.  And in the midst of all of this we overlook what’s really happening…DIVISION.  We are being divided into categories and groups, not united behind causes and purpose.  We are divided into fighting for one injustice that the media makes into a headline while we overlook multiple injustices i.e.. the bloodshed in Chicago’s streets, ISIS rampage in Iraq this past week, political scandals, freedoms being taken away from us left and right, etc. (some of which may even have greater implications than the injustice we are fighting for).

Since the Garden of Eden, the devil’s tactic has always been “divide and conquer.”  Don’t fall into his games.  Know his subtle ways of attack.  He knows and understands that a UNITED group of Christ followers is the most powerful form that he will ever face.  He knows he can’t take our power (1 John 4:4 (KJV) - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.), but if he divides us up into so many little fractions we will become weak.  

Jesus didn’t go to a cross, die a horrible death, rise again after three days, and pour out His Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost for white people.  He didn’t do it for black people either.  He didn’t do it for a single, particular group of people…it was for ALL PEOPLE.  He died for ALL, that ALL might come to find life and purpose in Christ!  When we unite our power becomes synergistic.   

So the question we should be asking is this, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER?  Jesus showed us that when we simply address the “temporary symptom” and not the “eternal cause” we will fail every single time.  If you’re a Christ follower, if you believe your Bible, if you call yourself a Christian then you will understand that violence, hatred, malice, name-calling, keyboard fighting on Facebook, etc. will never address the root cause of injustice.  

Jesus led like this: 

-1 Peter 2:21-25 (NLT)  “21For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 22He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.  23He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.  He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.  24He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  By his wounds you are healed. 25Once you were like sheep who wandered away.  But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls".

Have you ever heard of Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was arrested?  He asked his friends to pray with Him that night (guys like Peter, James, John, etc. who actually wrote books of our Bible) and they fell asleep while Jesus prayed such fervent prayers that He actually began to bleed (this is an actual medical condition called “hematidrosis”).  When they woke up Jesus was arrested and the Roman soldiers took Him away.  As they did so, Peter grabs a sword and chops off the ear of one of the Roman soldiers.  Immediately Jesus goes to the ground, picks up the ear and replaces it with a supernatural healing touch on the guard…just like new.  

What can we learn from this when we flail at our attempts to correct injustice?  Was Jesus perfect?  Yes.  Was Jesus guilty of the charges against Him?  No.  In our society and culture we would be cheering on Peter right?  We would be hailing him as a hero who fought against the racism (yes, that was happening against Jewish people long before the Holocaust) of the Roman Empire, the injustice of the corrupt ruling government, and we would put his name in lights for starting a revolution…except Jesus didn’t do that.  He actually REBUKED Peter and called him “Satan” (the name of the devil).  Wow!  What?  Was Jesus actually on the side of the evil government?  Is this some big conspiracy shrouded beyond the curtain of the Illuminati?  No and no!  

JESUS SHOWED US A BETTER WAY (actually, before the church was called the “church” and before we were called “Christians” we were called “the way”).  Jesus addressed the cause of the injustice: THE CONDITION of the HUMAN SOUL.  Which in turn, was the same reason that Peter acted out of rage against the Roman soldier.  Peter was acting out of insecurity.  Peter knew that he failed miserably by falling asleep in the prayer meeting so he tried to take matters into his own hands.  Jesus rebuked him so hard for this that nobody who reads it forgets His words.  

Christians: stop acting like hatred for hatred, violence for violence, rage for rage, eye for an eye, etc. actually works.  We should know better.  Stop trying to cover up our “PRAYERLESNESS” with an act of “social justice.”  Stop acting like what you’re doing is working.  It’s not.  You’re not making a difference with your outrage on Facebook.  You’re not changing the world when you change your profile photo.  Your hashtags are not changing anything.  Can we just have an honest moment as Christians in 2016?  We are failing miserably at “Christianing” and that is why we are not seeing injustice answered with justice.

Do you really want to know how JUSTICE IS SERVED?  Do you really want to see radical change?  Can we go back to Acts and look at the example that Christ left for us (the original church) to follow in His footsteps?  Because they SAW JUSTICE!  They were actually accused of TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN (Acts 17:6).  Our actions of insecurity that mask our inability to “Christian” are not doing what these humble, powerful people did in the first century.      

How did they do it?  There were TWO THINGS that the Christians were known for that absolutely flew in the face of injustice in their day:  SUPERNATURAL PRAYER and COUNTERCULTURAL LIFESTYLES.

The early church would pray in the name of Jesus and they would see supernatural miracles.  They would pray and sometimes they wouldn’t see miracles (Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8), but they still trusted in God’s WAYS above their ways.  You cannot call yourself a Christian and take things “out of God’s hand” and “into your own hands.”  That is precisely what FAITH is all about.  Even when it doesn’t make sense (Jesus being arrested), even when the party is completely innocent (Jesus on the cross), even when there is no evidence (Jesus being pardoned by Pontius Pilate)…we STILL TRUST IN HIS WAYS above our ways.    

Professional skateboarder Steven Caballero dabbled in Buddhism and even atheism but he found fulfillment in Christ and he said this, “being a Christian is the most punk-rock thing you can do in our modern society, it is totally against the culture.”  Christians in Acts were noticed because they lived counter-culturally.  Is part of our outrage against injustice due to the guilt that we feel from being “too much like everyone else?”  I’m not saying these early Christians were perfect, but they were different.  In a day and age where “anything goes” with Christians are we really making an impact against injustice?  

The Acts church saw babies being deposited in the trash on the streets and they saw those babies being picked up by pimps who turned them into child sex-slaves, so what did they do?  Did they march on Rome?  Did they hashtag until their thumbs were bruised?  No they were led by the Holy Spirt and they adopted these orphans.  What happened next was that people in their community took notice of their LOVE (not hate for hate) and they became Christians.  Then guess what?  They started doing the same thing!  

The early church saw orphans living in the streets (modern day answer for this in America is kids who have two parents working that are never at home) and they saw widows who were starving and couldn’t make ends meet (modern day answer for this is the single mom trying to make it work on one income) and what did the Christians do?  Did they start blaming the tax-collectors who were corrupt?  Did they start campaigning for a particular candidate to become the new emperor?  Did they spew vitriol and hatred from their mouths?  NO, they ACTED in GENEROSITY that could only flow from the Holy Spirit living inside of them.  They gave generously to others, to the cause, to the Way. They actually sold their belongings to give to others.  They trusted in God’s way of doing things above what “made sense.”

I sum things up with some probing questions for those of you who have been impacted by these words:  Does your Christianity resemble that of the early church in Acts or does your Christianity resemble something you’ve made up in your mind, influenced by culture?  Are you doing anything to UNITE or are you saying things to DIVIDE?  I ask all of you who are reading this and call yourselves “CHRISTIANS” or even if you want to start calling yourself a Christian, to take a deep look at the Scripture (our guide) and make sure you’re living a life that mirrors the Word and not the culture.  

My deepest hope is that these words don’t offend you, but that they inspire you to truly see JUSTICE and to fight for something greater than the temporary.  We don’t need another temporary fix, we need an eternal answer and that is only found in God’s justice.  

Practical Application:

I always try to offer some practical things that Christians can do when I speak or write, so here you go:  A Christian response to tragic injustices.  

1. Organize a prayer march (it doesn’t have to be a huge, city-wide campaign, it can be just you and some friends).  Go to neighborhood that has a different ethnic makeup and pray prayers of unity, understanding, hope, faith, and love.  Some of you may be saying, “really, prayer, that’s the answer?”  If you don’t believe int he power of prayer, don’t call yourself a “believer.”  Prayer is more powerful than violence.  Prayer breaks down more strongholds than hatred ever can, even if the hate is warranted.  Prayer is our greatest weapon, use it.  
2. Invest in communities affected by injustice.  Whether it be in Africa, Cambodia, India, in your neighborhood or in a neighboring community you can find ways to invest in areas that are underserved, overlooked and blighted by the system.  Remember, God is greater than the system and He wants to use you to prove it!  Start a Bible club for kids.  Volunteer to coach a little league team.  Organize a park clean-up day. 
3. Build relationships with people who are different than you.  We act in rage against the things/people that we don’t understand.  Intentionally building relationships with others who are not like you (upbringing, skin color, etc.) will help you understand the struggle of being in someone else’s shoes.   

Much love to all, Pastor Scott A. Shoemake, Coast Church Ventura