Say Goodbye To Hollywood. Guest Editorial: DJ Comisford
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
The New York City Mission Team: Chris, Zak, Mikey, Alex, Dustin, DJ, Alan, Vic, Jared, Michaela, Kacie, Amanda, Sarah and Erin! (Missing are: Rachel Bond, Tenesha Carothers, Daniel Hoerner, Wes Hardin and George & Sharman Grima).
In March of last year, Kacie and I in our 1999 Ford Taurus led a handful of disciples down the 101 from Portland, Oregon, finishing our journey in Los Angeles. We were greeted by a smiling, waving Zak Najor on the corner of Yucca and Franklin in front of the “luxurious” Lido Apartments. He ushered us up the so-called “elevator” to his newly rented apartment. On the door was a home-made sign creatively made from a refrigerator box and broken crayons that misread, “Welcome to Hollwood!” Thus, the Hollywood Ministry was born.
Starting with that handful of derelictal, bad-spelling, “table niners,” who were completely sold-out for Jesus, the Hollywood Ministry now has well over 100 in attendance at our house church services. Beginning with one Bible Talk in the heart of Hollywood, God has multiplied us into eight that meet throughout Hollywood, Central LA and the San Fernando, San Gabriel and Antelope Valleys. We also initiated an “Open Mic” on Hollywood Boulevard that packs the house with artists and musicians every Friday night. In just 15 short months, in one of the most sinful of places, God has chosen some “fools” to shame this stronghold of the world. Surely, we can boast in no one but our Lord!
DJ & Kacie in New York City!
In our short stay in LA, Kacie and I have been so blessed to be a part of God’s amazing work. We have seen scores of people baptized into and restored to Christ. Through God’s providence, we have made best friends with couples like Carlos and Lucy Mejia and Rob and Burgundie Onekea, who will remain lifelong “partners in the gospel.” Also, equally dear to us are Nick and Denise Bordieri, who have always been there for Kacie and me in discipling our marriage. And under the tutelage of Kip and Elena McKean, the couple who has done more for the cause of Christianity than perhaps any other in the last century, is much more than we could have ever asked for. In LA, we have had our share of hard times, financial difficulties, struggles with sin and marital “bumps,” but “thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphant procession in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
The incredible Hollywood Ministry as built by the Comisfords over the past year!
In looking back on this past year, two lessons have been continually pounded into my head: “nothing is impossible with God” and His “power is made perfect in weakness.” God is able to do whatever He wants and He often uses the most unlikely of people in the most unlikely of situations to accomplish what He wants. For example, since becoming a disciple, I have had a struggle (maybe even more than a struggle) with loving and believing in “Kingdom Kids,” the children of disciples who have grown up in or around the church. In my view, in large part, they were unspiritual, worldly and a burden to their respective campus and teen ministries. Yes, you too my “hardline” brother, Vic Jr.! Yet, God has worked on my heart to understand and sympathize with the challenges and struggles common to those growing up in the Kingdom. And in the Hollywood Ministry, God has led Kacie and me to baptize, restore and/or disciple many of these kids (now adults) who are as sold-out and committed as any “Gentile” convert in our ministry. Among these precious “fools for Christ” are: Rachel Bond, Erin Corbin, Michaela Foley, Kenny Jones, Mikey Mathis, Jared McGee, Derion Onekea, Kyle Swann, Cassie Swann, Mike Underhill and Gary Woolfolk. And to this point, not one of them has fallen away! In fact, several of these were Kacie and my first choices for the New York Mission Team, and the quintessential Kingdom Kids, Vic Jr. and Mike Underhill, have become two of my closest confidantes. I’m sure I have much more to learn, but I am in awe of God that my weakness is being turned into a strength!
The inspirational “Kingdom Kids”!
I have also seen the unlimited possibilities with God in regards to sacrifice. In Luke 14, Jesus called anyone who would be a disciple of Him to “give up everything he has” or he simply could not be a disciple. But in Luke 18, when Jesus calls the rich ruler to sell everything, he goes away sad, because he was unwilling to make that sacrifice. As disciples grow older in the faith and begin to have families and buy homes, they can easily drift into the “third soil heart” that Jesus talks about in the parable of the sower. Many of the “remnant disciples,” mostly those from our former fellowship, have come limping back to the Kingdom stuck in this soil – having traded the riches of the Kingdom for the riches of this world. Initially, many are sad much like the rich ruler. But it has been so inspiring to see God work through loving discipling. Now, many of these older disciples have given up everything and are seeing their joy restored! Our dear friends, Michael and Sharon Kirchner, gave up a vice president position at General Mills in Minneapolis and the promise of millions upon millions of dollars to move to LA, joining our young movement. Couples like Ken and Liliana Zindler, Ace and Pamela McClinton, Lance and Connie Underhill, and Jack and Jeanne McGee have likewise moved across the country, given up all this world has to offer, rediscovering the joy that can only be found in God’s Kingdom!
But by far the most amazing thing for us in Los Angeles is being able to sit down with men and women and help make them into disciples. To walk with them, challenge their hearts and observe their change. To see them cross from darkness into light, from the power of Satan to the power of God – there is no other more fulfilling thing. There is no other more amazing sight than seeing a man or woman get baptized into Christ, putting off their old self and putting on the new. It never gets old to witness this profound mystery and miracle again and again and again and again! For this very reason do we bid a sad farewell to LA’s golden beaches, where many of these profound miracles have occurred, to reside in the congested, concrete jungle called “Zoo” York City!
Leaving after the Jubilee will create a giant hole in Kacie and my hearts. We will miss this city and the church that God has grown here. But at this time, we are more convinced than ever that the world can be evangelized in our generation starting now with New York City. If Kingdom Kids are coming back to the Lord, if the remnant is once again making the commitment to “give up everything” while being gathered from far away places into a new movement, if a handful of “table niners” from Portland, Oregon can change “Hollwood,” then surely the evangelization of the world is within our reach for for “nothing is impossible with God” …Nothing.
DJ Comisford
