The rapture is a word that you won't find in the Bible, just like the word "Trinity." However, it is an event that is spoken of time and time again in the New Testament! "Rapture" means the removal of the Christian Church; the removal of every believer from the face of this earth, shown above, for example, in Matt. 24:37-42. At SDBC we believe the rapture will happen just prior to the great tribulation that is coming on this earth. The Great Tribulation is a 7 year period of time when God will pour out His wrath on our earth and its inhabitants that is described in great detail in the Book of Revelation.

What an exciting time to be living in. We may actually be the blessed generation who sees the return of Christ Jesus coming for every believer, "like a thief in the night" 1 Th. 5:2-4. Jesus has promised to save us from the wrath of God to come on this earth, and I for one am thankful for the promise of Jesus to remove us from the earth prior to this great tribulation or testing or time of God's wrath. 1Th. 1:9-10 "For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come."

There has never been a time in the history of the world when we have witnessed such a falling away from God and the destruction of Christian values. We once feared the cold war and the destruction of continents. We now fear the destruction of much more, with so many countries armed or soon to be with nuclear weapons of mass destruction. The world now sadly seems committed to the destruction of Israel. Jews after the holocaust of World War II found a welcoming home in the USA and we as a nation who protected them prospered. Only now, after the scattered Jews around the world have returned to their home in Israel, recognized as a nation on May 14th, 1948, do they find themselves targeted for destruction by so many countries. The stage is set and perhaps the fuse is lit.

As we watch so many things unfold before our eyes that all point to a global rebellion against our Lord Jesus, against Christians and their values, against Jews and their nation, we can still be confident and full of hope that everything we are seeing is the evidence that our faith is sure and based on facts - the facts of prophecy God gave us concerning the end times.

This is why we celebrate the coming series starting this Sunday called "Preparing For The Rapture!" Be excited, be strong in your faith (share it with others), be steadfast in your walk (be an example to others) and make the most of the time we have left before the return of our Lord Jesus (be a witness to others). And be sure and join us for this exciting series (bring another).☺

This new series will take us through the Books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians as well as portions of Revelation.

In the joy of His faithfulness,
Pastor Steve Brown

As I lay here recovering from the stomach flu, I am thanking God for His goodness! I am thanking God because He is the biggest thing in the world I cannot live without! This is what prompted David to write Psalm 16:

I am thanking God for His blessing! My temporary sickness pales in comparison to some in our flock who have recently come out of major surgery and are healing nicely. I am ever mindful of those who are facing major surgeries yet to come. My heart goes out to those who have recently released a loved one to Jesus and the loss they struggle through each day. I thank God for His promise of a new body for every believer that will never get sick, die, age, wear out or experience pain again. God's faithfulness and His blessings are new and fresh every day. Blessing by the way is a state of mind. What one might see as "heartbreak hotel," another may press into the challenge and enjoy God's blessing and comfort through His enhanced presence during difficult times!

I thank God for each of you who have made the journey with us to our new home in La Jolla. So some of you might have wondered why we started a Saturday night service when we have more room than ever to grow now during Sundays? Then God shows us on our first Saturday night a couple of hundred folks coming out of the building next to our service who represent what looks to be the largest AA meeting in all of San Diego, that meets every Saturday night at this campus. God gave us a small glimpse of a NEW portion of our mission field!

God has indeed blessed us that we might be a blessing to others, especially the lost and unchurched. I chose Psalm 67 months ago for reasons that escape me now, however, God's hand was at work even then in preparation for our opening weekend of services. The nation Israel's prayer for God to bless them so they could be a blessing to unbelievers who don't know Him was the message chosen by the Holy Spirit for our first Saturday and Sunday services. I sure wasn't smart enough to see it coming and take no credit for the selection. God has surely blessed us for a purpose, a mission to reach the lost and raise them up to become disciples of Jesus.

While we press forward taking care of numerous details that will complete our move, please continue to lift up and pray for Torrey Pines Christian Church, who has been a large part of God's blessing to us and therefore, to others we have yet to meet and share the gospel with. We are truly one "Church" in Christ and the fields are ripe for harvest! (John 4:35)

Praying that each of you has a blessed day and that you might be a blessing to others!

Pastor Steve


I have prepared a special message for this Saturday and Sunday on "How to Make Sure God is Your First Priority" and I can't wait to start our NEW SERIES the following week - "Preparing for the Rapture!"

We will be studying 1 and 2 Thessalonians along with some of the Book of Revelation to help make sense of so many things that are happening before our eyes. AND, be sure to invite a friend or a stranger that God places in your path this week ☺!

WE DIDN'T GET RAPTURED (YET!) Although you might think so if you show up Sunday at the wrong time or at the old place :)

Psalm 67:1 God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us.
Psalm 67:2 That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.
Psalm 67:3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.
Psalm 67:4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth.
Psalm 67:5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.
Psalm 67:6 The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.
Psalm 67:7 God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

May God bless us to use His blessing of our new church home to be a light to others.
May He bless Torrey Pines Christian Church for their gracious hospitality.
May He bless us each one of us that we might bless others.
May He bless us so that EACH ONE MAY REACH ONE - one at a time we reach the unsaved for Christ.
May He bless you as you pray for His blessing so that all will come to know of the goodness of God and come to salvation!

Please come to our new services at our new location this week at least 30 minutes early to learn your way around the campus and parking. All of our pastors will be there to help you and greet you along with many volunteers.NEW Saturday night service at 7:00 PM
NEW Sunday morning services at 8:45 AM and 10:30 AM - WITH A POTLUCK AFTER THE SECOND SERVICE (12PM)

With all my love and grace,

Pastor Steve

It is almost scary to read the morning newspaper - headlines about the instability of the Middle East, the defiance of Iran, the threats from North Korea, the bankruptcy of many countries of Europe. This is not even to consider the moral corruption of America evidenced by the challenge to the definition of marriage, the acceptance of homosexuality, abortion on demand, and the growing belief in the disbelief of the Bible by many "Christians."

In today's world, it is easy to feel that life is like a crap shoot. It often feels that there is no rhyme or reason to life. This can leave us feeling scared and experience a sense of disequilibrium, and despair. H.D. Thoreau felt that "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." We as believers in Jesus Christ do not need to feel this, and should not feel this, for it is not true. What is true is that He is there and He is not silent. The proof of this is a little word that carries a big punch - It is the word Providence.

The word providence comes from the Latin, "to see at a distance, to care for...to take precaution." The English seem to include the ideas of - provide, seeing ahead. Theologically it is understood "by the providence of God we mean His control or direction of the universe toward the end which He has chosen." (E.Y. Mullins)

"The creator is also everlasting governor and preserver - not only in that He derives the celestial frame as well as its several parts by a universal motion, but also in that He sustains, nourishes, and cares for everything He has made, even to the least sparrow." (John Calvin)

"Providence is normally defined in Christian theology as the unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill (Ps. 145:9 cf; Mt. 5:45-48), He upholds his creatures in ordered existence (Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3), guides and governs all events, circumstances and free acts of angels and men (cf. Ps. 107; Jb. 1:12; 2:6; Gn. 45:5-8), and directs everything to its appointed goal, for His own glory" (cf. Eph. 1:9-12).

God through His providence has provided a new home for us and has a great plan for SDBC. I am excited for each of us as we have been chosen to fulfill Jesus' call to grow His Church on earth by reaching the lost and unchurched in an ever expanding community. As one local church located in San Diego, we get the privilege of helping Him reach the lost and grow them up to become His disciples.

Consider the providence of God in the life of Moses. First, the providence of God is seen in the overall structure or the phases of the life of Moses. He began as a scholar in Egypt for 40 years (Acts 7:23,30). He then was a shepherd in Midian for 40 years (Acts 7:30). And finally, he was the savior of Israel for 40 years (Acts 7:36). That is the macro picture. But let's focus on the micro event on one very important day in the life of Moses. The context is Pharaoh's pronouncement that all first born children were to be killed in the Nile. (Exodus 1:22) But God's providential protection is actually accomplished by Pharaoh's daughter (Ex. 2:6) and Moses is delivered by being "drawn out" of the Nile. The word for "drawn out" is Mashah from which his name, Moses, is derived. (Ex. 2:10)

The life of Moses is permeated with the providential fingerprints of God
- Moses is born at a specific time and to a specific family
- Hidden on particular day from being killed
- Pharaoh's daughter is at the river on the day
- Miriam is down river to watch the divine act
- The Nile crocodiles are controlled
- Pharaoh's daughter disobeys her father and keeps the child alive
- The true mother, Jochebed, is hired to nurse the baby Moses

We know the rest of the story and the rest of his life.

The powerful and providential hand of God is still in control. Scripture clearly teaches God's providential government and control:

- over the universe at large (Ps. 103:19; Eph. 1:11)
- over the physical world (Ps. 104:14; Mt. 5:45)
- over the brute creation (Ps. 104:21, 28; Mt. 6:26)
- over the affairs of nations (Job 12:23; Acts 17:6)
- over man's birth and lot in life (Ps. 139:16; Gal. 1:15, 16)
- over things seemingly accidental or insignificant (Prov. 16:33; Mt. 10:30)
- in the protection of the righteous (Ps. 4:8; 121:3; Rom. 8:28)
- in supplying the wants of God's people (Deut. 8:3; Phil. 4:19)
- in giving answers to prayer (Ps. 65:2; Mt. 7:7),
- in the exposure and punishment of the wicked (Ps. 7:12, 13; 11:6)
(Berkhof, Manual of Christian Doctrine, pp. 112-113)

God is sovereign. His power is not provisional, but providential. (Eph. 1:11)
He has no rivals and His plans are never frustrated or thwarted. The sovereign story is exhibited from Genesis 1-2 through Revelation 21-22. His plans and purposes will be accomplished and achieve their appointed ends. And He desires to use each and every circumstance in our lives to see His plan come about. There are no accidents in life, only divine incidents. Now that is a providential perspective!


JOIN US THIS SUNDAY AT OUR LAST SERVICE FOR SAN DIEGO BIBLE CHURCH ON TREENA STREET!
The day to move has finally come! We will be moving all of our essential things from the school Sunday after the second service. If you would like to help (especially if you have a pick up or a big trunk in your car), we would love to have you join us. Estimated time is 1-2 hours as our main sound and lighting will already be at our new home.

Please consider helping out in various little odds and ends to help the services go smoothly on our FIRST SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE AT 7PM OR OUR NEW SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES AT 8:45 AND 10:30 starting NEXT week at 8320 La Jolla Scenic Dr. We could sure use some floaters for last minute things that come up where an extra hand is needed. AND WHATEVER YOU DO PLEASE COME AT LEAST 20 MINUTES EARLY on your first service at SDBC so you can get acquainted with the campus, get your kids checked in, get good parking, find the restrooms and MOST IMPORTANT BE READY FOR AN AMAZING WORSHIP EXPERIENCE!

I would encourage you to see Rob Lindner in the Board Room on Sunday and share a few memories for the video he is making to capture a few of our memories from this campus. He will be recording during first and second services, stop and see him anytime on Sunday

MOST OF ALL, THANKS TO EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND PRAYERS FOR THIS MOVE. GOD GAVE US ONE OPTION AND EVERY OTHER DOOR HAS STILL REMAINED CLOSED, EXACTLY WHAT WE PRAYED FOR , "GOD, IF IT IS NOT YOUR WILL, CLOSE THE DOOR. PLEASE SHOW US YOUR WILL AND ONE OPEN DOOR." PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING JESUS FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS IN SUCH A SPECIFIC MANNER SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE AND KNOW FOR SURE THIS IS HIS PROVIDENTIAL WILL.

Life is good and life is hard. These simple words are not really profound, just true. And sometimes truth is very profound. For the Christian, life is good because we have hope in an eternal future, living with Jesus on a new earth in a new heaven that He has promised to recreate. We will have new bodies that never hurt or sin or age or wear out.

For the Christian, life is good because our identity is to be found in Jesus Christ. This is a profound truth for it includes the fact that I am a new person having been born again. I am a new creation.

"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come". (2 Cor. 5:17) For the Christian, life is good because God created us for a purpose. You and I have a job to do for God that He custom tailored for the gifts, talents and skills He gave and built in you.

Eph. 2:10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)

So what did God plan for you? As God's masterpiece, you have been created to help Him expand His Kingdom on earth by helping others to come into a personal relationship with Jesus as you grow in that relationship yourself. This is the Good Life, doing what God has created us to do before we go meet Him face to face for eternity; living according to our purpose on earth so we can hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant," from the mouth of Jesus!

San Diego Bible Church is going to move, that's God's plan for us as a local church, which is a part of THE Church Jesus is building on this earth. All of our pastors are committed to SDBC's vision to reach the lost and unchurched! You have an opportunity to personally help others come to know Jesus and grow in this new facility God has provided.

Most non-believers and unchurched people, in fact, over 90% have said in polls, they would go to church if someone simply invited them. AND surveys also say, these folks want to go to a church that looks like a church, not a concert hall or a gym.

Our lease is signed for our new home, God provided one door and one door only to open (per our very specific prayer requests) and go figure, it's made to order for reaching the lost and unchurched! In addition, we are making some eye-popping additions to our worship experience in our new home as well, which we will unveil soon! (Make sure you go online and see the amazing changes Thanh Coss has made already to our website for the church).

There can be no doubt that this is God's will for SDBC. So here's the question? Would you like to be part of something bigger than yourself, something really God Big, something He created you to do before He even made the world? If your answer is yes, simply invite folks to join you for our first ever Saturday night service in our new home April 27th or for our new Sunday morning services April 28th at 8:45AM or 10:30AM. Yes, those are new times for service and you will want to be early to get a good seat!

Because this is a special day in the life of SDBC, we are looking forward to a time of amazing fellowship together, so we are having a POTLUCK immediately following the second service at 12PM in the Rose Garden spilling out into a tailgate party with an ocean view, all at our new home. Yes, God is Good!

Life is Good! See you all this Sunday for a special message on "Temptation."

Celebrating His answered prayer, abundant grace and blessing,

Pastor Steve

Psalm 150:1
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heaven!

Psalm 150:2
Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!

Psalm 150:3
Praise him with a blast of the ram's horn;
praise him with the lyre and harp!

Psalm 150:4
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with strings and flutes!

Psalm 150:5
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD!
Praise the LORD!

Finally, God has brought us home to a new location, which we should be able to move into the latter part of April, or about 3-4 weeks from now!

Our new home will be at the entrance to La Jolla on La Jolla Scenic Drive at Torrey Pines Christian Church. So, when's the last time you heard of two Christian churches both being on the same campus at the same time? What a witness to our community of San Diego and what a witness to those who don't know Christ. Imagine that, two churches that have torn down the invisible walls that separate each other. Two churches that both believe in the universal Church that Jesus said He would build. While we may have some theological differences, both churches know we serve the same God! And both churches are committed to reaching the lost and unchurched, helping them grow in the faith, beginning with baptism and maturing in an environment of grace!

The vote from TPCC elder board was unanimous and our vote this past Sunday was unanimous as well. We know God's timing and plans are perfect and any concerns any of you might have, we trust will all work out in ways we cannot see yet, but our faith in God's provision will always come with answers and solutions to any challenges we might face.

Please pray for the leaders and flock of TPCC and for the leaders and flock of SDBC as we move through God's open door into the home He has provided for us at this time!

Gratefully in the love, grace and appreciation for all that Christ Jesus is doing in and through each of you!

Pastor Steve


The Lord is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed!

It's Easter Sunday this week and I look forward to worshipping with each of you and the guests you or God will be bringing this Sunday. Please be sure to intentionally look for and personally greet any new person you may not know. Be sure and ask them, "How long have you been coming to SDBC?" Especially since they may not be new and just someone you haven't met yet! ☺ If they say, "This is my first week," please make sure they get introduced to a pastor and get hooked up with a gift bag. Don't be shy; invite them out for coffee this week. This Easter be sure and share the love of Christ with any guests that worship with us at 9 or 11AM and especially introduce any guests you personally bring to all the family of SDBC.

When the enemy attacks your MIND,
When the enemy attacks your THOUGHTS,
When the enemy attacks your EMOTIONS,
you need to make sure you have God's Armor on,
you need to make sure you have your HELMET OF SALVATION strapped on, because Satan attacks with LIVE AMMO or should I say LIVE PEOPLE!

Satan and his demons are masters of using unwitting Christians to attack another believer, This is why the apostle Paul warns us to be on the alert!

Read what the apostle Paul has to say about how we are to respond to spiritual attacks against our character and especially our mind - attacks that can come from other believers.

2 Timothy 2:22-26 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

Remember, believers cannot be possessed by Satan or a demon, because they are possessed or indwelt by the Holy Spirit. However, believers can be used by the enemy unwittingly to accomplish his will. Satan and his demons love to get Christians to attack each other for the purpose of destroying relationships.

Now let me be the first to tell you, ANYONE can be used by Satan, especially myself unwittingly. It's not about how bad we are, it's about how good the enemy is at getting us to do his dirty work. If we don't have God's HELMET OF SALVATION on at all times, he can place thoughts in our mind that cause us to attack others and we won't even know we are doing it until after the deed is done.

I can't tell you how many times I have looked back at something I said or did to another person, (in total innocence) only to regret my words and actions with tears later. I'm not saying Satan is responsible for every bad thing I've said or done, (he doesn't need my help for me to be a jerk sometimes) However, I have reflected back on damage done to others by myself enough times to see his ugly face, time and time again because of my failure to keep God's armor on!

God have given you 6 pieces of armor to wear and the Helmet of Salvation is every bit as important as the other 5 pieces. Is you Helmet on today?

Last week I challenged each of you to consider the Great Commission. At SDBC we are committed as a church to the Great Commission, to make disciples of Jesus one at a time, by reaching out to the unchurched and the unsaved. My prayer is that you will take this Commission of Christ seriously in your own life and seek after one person you can invest a little love and time into.

It appears that the world is becoming a more hostile place to live. Will this have an impact on Christians? To ask the question is to answer it. Simply consider the church in China, Russia, Egypt, Iran and Syria, where we know that Christians are persecuted both physically and psychologically for their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. But it seems that this may become true for those of us who live in America as Atheism, paganism, and Islam are on the rise. We have an opportunity, but the time may be growing short and the urgency is upon us!

Both today and in the coming months and years until Jesus comes back, we need to reframe our thinking. We need a new perspective of our world. We need to fix our gaze on the future world of tomorrow, which will allow us to live in a focused way today. As always, Jesus is our example. The writer of Hebrews, as he sought to educate, encourage, and exhort his people to faithfulness in the midst of persecution in his day, challenges us today:

The race that is set before us is to allow God to use us to reach out to those who don't know Him. Since each of us will be meeting King Jesus much sooner than later, it might be a good idea to stay focused on our task here on this earth while there is still time. Where is your focus? What are you gazing at as you live and invest your life for the Lord? I pray God has placed upon your heart an insatiable desire to reach a lost person for Christ and stay along side of them until they are mature enough to evangelize and disciple someone else! Remember this only requires that you engage someone who is not saved or unchurched in a simple conversation about eternal things, what they believe or don't believe. Don't worry about not having all the answers that any person might ask. You won't have to have or need all the answers; you are simply engaging them in a conversation, you are not trying to sell them anything. Their answers can come over time and all of our pastors are here to help you at any time.

We cannot escape the danger and dilemmas of today or the dangers that may be coming tomorrow, but we can experience the depth of God and His protection every day, along with the joy of serving Christ by seeking to expand His Kingdom, as each one reaches one.

Moving Update
God has continued to open the door at Torrey Pines Christian Church campus and I only ask that my final meeting with their board this Sunday at 1:30 PM will be a time of creative thinking and possibilities that both churches can embrace, God protecting us and their leaders from the schemes of the enemy so we can get final approval for our move. All is quiet on every other option as there are no other doors that have opened. In my heart I truly believe this is where God is calling us. May His will be done! If we get final approval this Sunday we would be looking to move on the third Sunday of April.

In the love and power of His unlimited grace, 
Pastor Steve

ANSWER - When God shuts all others! Well I wish it were always that simple. People often ask me, "How do you know what God wants you to do."  Sometimes that's a simple answer. If the Bible says don't do something then don't do it and if the Bible says to do something then do it. A much bigger challenge faces us when seeking God's direction and His guidance. I often use the open door/closed door method of discerning God's direction. Keep in mind, that Satan loves to muddy up the water and does his best to keep you from following God's will at all times, so prayer will be our first item we need to talk about.

If you are not prayed up, the voice you think is God may just be the enemy faking you out. I listen to a lot of Christians tell me what God told them, but often in direct conflict with His written Word (The Bible) and in contradiction to His character! God's voice will always be in harmony with His written Word. His voice will be always be in concert with His character! His voice encourages you to trust Him as you walk through doors of obedience. He encourages you to heal and restore relationships, to walk though doors of reconciliation, to walk through doors that provide opportunities to exhibit more of His love and grace. He will challenge you to walk though doors that expand His Kingdom, selflessly serving others, where your faith will be challenged to grow, sharing the gospel with others and helping young believers grow in their faith.

These are the types of doors God would have you pray for and delights in opening. As we continue down the path of relocating SDBC into a new church location, please join us in prayer for God to open the door for our new church home exactly where He wants us and to close all others. As time is quickly running out, God is closing doors and still opening one door in particular. However this could change in a heartbeat - only God knows at this point. Lord willing we will have a choice perhaps by Monday. There is no better time to be praying non-stop then right now!

Sometimes God provides a choice of open doors and we get to decide which is the better of two options. Sometimes God offers one clear choice and His blessing is waiting for those who respond in faith. I encourage you to read Numbers 13 and 14 this week in preparation for a special sermon this Sunday, which I pray will bring clarity on faith in Christ and how the enemy seeks to rob God's children of blessing when faced with a big decision.

Until then remember, Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Remember these words when looking for an open door. Often His purpose stands in opposition to our own wants and desires. Please remember to pray as Jesus did, "Not my will, but thine be done." We will be looking at any and all options for moving to a new location this Sunday as I share our unique vision and God's purpose for SDBC along with a study from Numbers.

I thank the Lord daily for each or you, keeping you in my heart; praying Jesus brings each of you back this Sunday early (remember daylight savings time). 

In and with the love of Christ Jesus, 

Pastor Steve

8320 La Jolla Scenic Drive North, La Jolla, CA 92037

I WANT TO PERSONALLY INVITE YOU THIS SUNDAY RIGHT AFTER THE SECOND SERVICE TO GO WITH ME ON A FIELD TRIP TO ANOTHER FACILITY (In your own car or car-pooling with others)!

God has opened a very big door for a new home in a world-class facility, should we decide this is to be our new home. Some of you love Jesus so much, you could worship Him in a hallway and some of you have been praying for a new venue. We know we are going to have to move, because our lease is up in June, not leaving us much time to relocate. We drew a boundary around our location now, with the goal of not exceeding a reasonable limit and this property is at that limit.

We have engaged multiple brokers, knocking on any and all doors, meeting with other pastors of other churches, working with investors who specialize in helping churches look for creative ways to move, all the while seeking to stay good stewards of God's resources! We are not done looking and praying and networking and praying, and I hope you are all praying for God to show us His will and where our new home might be located, which leads me to what we have found so far. Only one place has come up at this point that actually might work (We are keeping all options on the table). This option has come up and the doors God has opened on this property blew me away.

As with any NEW LOCATION, there are good points and bad points. I have considered as many sides to this property as possible while keeping an open mind. Remember, we are keeping ALL OPTIONS on the table as we discussed last week. We on a month-to-month lease, at our present location, so we can leave as soon as we find a property, all the while certain that June is coming very quickly!

We talked last week at our potluck about God taking Israel to their promised land, when the Lord set them free from Egypt, however God didn't take them via the shortest distance (from point A to B). God took His children on a journey through the desert in a zig zag path as He was protecting them from danger. Of course His children, the Nation Israel were afraid to trust God and take possession of the land God showed them and it cost them another 40 years wandering in the wilderness.

We never want to miss what God leads us to, lagging behind and we never want to get in front of God making choices that rob us of His great blessing, settling for anything less. THIS IS WHY I IMPLORE YOU TO PRAY ALONG WITH YOUR PASTORS FOR GOD'S CLEAR DIRECTION IN REGARD TO OUR MOVE!

I am asking you each to search your heart and God's guidance as we consider this option, knowing that something else might come up and then again, something else might not! We have strived to keep SDBC as close to Scripps/Mira Mesa as possible and the options have been reduced to near zero from a purchase option. We are still working any possible options from a lease standpoint ☺

POSSIBLE PROS AND CONS TO THIS FACILITYS

CONS
This location is not in the Scripps/Mira Mesa, Rancho P. and Poway neighborhoods. I still believe God has called us to reach these neighborhoods and it can be hard or harder to do if your church is not right in the hood! An option may be to purchase a van, especially for our youth, to continue reaching kids and others who may not be able to make the drive (approx. 13-14 minutes from the church on Treena St.).

This location can be a bear with traffic. However, we are only using the church on off peak times and the property sits above the traffic nightmare of La Jolla proper. On the multiple occasions I have visited the property traffic was not an issue.

The campus is a Disciples of Christ Church, which can be very legalist. However each Disciples of Christ Congregation is freethinking in their theology and the folks who attend here come from all denominations. In discussions with the senior pastor and those who attend the church, they mesh with most of our theology at SDBC. The majors we agree on and the minors stay just that - minor!

PROS
I want to be careful NOT to oversell the pros, (so as to come off as selling the idea). I want the Holy Spirit to guide each of you. Let me simply share the facility is world class and has anything and everything we might dream of in a facility including two commercial kitchens, with NO set up and take down - certainly reducing any to a minimum!

The campus could be used for anything we can dream of and has a senior pastor who likes to dream along with us! Two churches on one campus with ample parking for both! I permanent CUP or license for a church at this location, which has been our worst nightmare thus far! They have many events and kids programs we could simply plug into and support or do on our own? AND, here is the big one, at little increase to our current rent we are paying!

As part of our goal in meshing with other churches, this opens up endless possibilities and leaves open the option of a "reverse" church plant back north in our target area when and if something comes available as we continue to grow with purpose!

NOTE: For those of you who come from the south or the east there is NO additional drive time. For some of you in west Mira Mesa, there are surface streets and multiple options to drive to this facility from the north.

In short, I would like you to tour the property with me this Sunday at 1PM and then pray about where God is leading us, so we can make a decision TOGETHER!!!!!!!

I love each of you with the love of Christ Jesus and send hugs from our King,

Pastor Steve