Good News Responses From Our UpSideDown21 Website:
This past weekend I attended the World Missions Jubilee in Portland, Oregon. What I encountered there both greatly encouraged and convicted me. I had no idea how far I had drifted in my walk with God. I spent time talking to and, becoming acquainted with many of the disciples in the Portland Church. Without exception, I found them to be some of the most loving, humble and self sacrificial disciples, I had ever encountered…. Although I have never received any formal biblical training, I do read my Bible everyday. The disciples that I got to know in Portland were as similar to the disciples I read about in the Bible as I’d ever met! Ohio
Hello Jeremy, I’m perfectly fine, I even preached “Mother’s Proverb” (Portland Bulletin September 18, 2005) word-for-word to the crowd on Friday night and people were encouraged by the message! Kiev, Ukraine
Kip, I just listened to your sermon on “Preach the Word.” (from the Jubilee Leadership Workshop) All I can say is woza. It was inspiring to say the least. While on a plane traveling back to Charlotte from Boston (on business), it literally brought tears to my eyes. Massachusetts
It’s a little too late to call you, so I wanted to send you an email to encourage you to keep preaching the word. I know there are a lot of critics in the movement right now who have compromised what they believe. But if no one else encourages you to keep at it, I want to. I have experienced the same things you wrote about recently with in the church. I see too many disciples who have gone back to the mainline ways, Satan’s lies concerning autonomy and the like. In 2002, while still a part of a mainline church in the Guyanas, where I worked as a missionary, I was inspired greatly by what you wrote. Your writings helped me to see how wrong the mainline church was and what God’s true restoration/revolutionary movement was all about. I studied the Bible with the Rangas in Suriname, where I became a disciple of the Suriname church. Sadly, the mainline church which I previously led did not follow my example…We can never be autonomous. Too many people are forgetting how cold and ineffective the evangelism of the mainline church with their autonomy structure was. I remember! It was so hard to keep money coming in, that you could never stay on the mission field long enough in order to get anything done. We only got people wet. We never built true churches for God! I love you bro and you’re a great inspiration to me. Your online ministry has really called me higher! Kentucky
Last Sunday the “MIAMI LETTER” came out and [a friend of mine] said, “Huh, this might not be the whole story.” So he searched for the Portland website (on his own) and read through all the newsletters there and was blown away. He said that his heart burned with many of the answers he’s been asking God for. In one of the newsletters he saw me (USD21) and said, “Hey, I know that brother…I have to talk to him.” When he saw me he asked, “Is Portland for real??? Is it as good as it sounds??? Is everything that is on the website true???” He was so excited! I had to tell him the truth…It is better!!! Florida
The reason I am writing this is that I have also noted much lukewarness in my life and the lives of many disciples around me. Though there are some that seem to still have great hope the majority go very visionless and without much hope. I too have felt the burden of trying to stay motivated and focused on what God wants us to do. I know more and more I hear less of world evangelism and church planting and more about building purchases and foundational local ministries (which I understand). Even the past few years our campus/teen ministry has gotten under 100 disciples for the entire church [it used to be over 500 disciples]…But as for me it gives me hope to read about what you are doing… I have talked to people of visiting the Portland Church but to my efforts have been discouraged to visit. I am writing this on faith hoping that God will lead me to knowing what to do next…. I would like to know more about what is going on in Portland and maybe visiting one weekend, I hope that my efforts to seek the truth will not be in vain. California
We, disciples of Novosibirsk Church of Christ, _____, _____, _______, _______ and _______ are inspired by your serving and devotion to God. We are grateful to Kip McKean for his articles which tell about your acts and teach deep spiritual truths. Despite a defection from true Christianity of almost all congregations in ICOC we share your convictions and purposes. We are in one spirit with you. Novosibirsk, (Siberia) Russia
Please forgive me for using this method but I am trying to get in touch with Chris & Sonia Chloupek as we are in a similar situation to them in Brisbane, Australia. This is the only email address on the Portland website, please can you help, we need help here as our faith is ebbing away too. Brisbane, Australia
The church as a whole I am not happy with. The church has lost so much and all I hear now is a whole lot of whining. I read the letter (03OCT2005) from the churches to you. It does not surprise me at all, I stand behind you 110%. I believe in what you are doing in the Portland Church…I told my wife the other day that I want to be part of your church in Oregon to start, and go wherever God wants us… Connecticut
Don’t be discouraged by the letters form the “leaders.” They do not speak for many of us. Many Christians agree with your assessment of the state of our churches and are struggling from within our local congregations to reclaim our purpose and our zeal. The messages posted to your website are one of our main sources of encouragement. Sadly, many in our congregation have confused timidity, cowardice, and complacently with humility. It’s good to know that if the fight gets to be too much for me, that God has provided a “City of Refuge” to which I can escape. Pray for us, we are praying for you. Illinois
I just wanted to thank you for your website, and the sermons that you have made available. Since becoming a Christian 10 years ago, I have followed the “Boston Movement” with great interest…often saying “that’s just a cult” (repeating what I had heard and read) but with a secret inner desire to learn more and study the materials what you make available. I have always been drawn by the uncompromising stance that you take on sin and what it truly means to become a disciple of Christ…Now as a mother of a young toddler and a baby due in January…I have been once again craving that uncompromising approach to following our Lord and Savior. Although I go to a Calvary Chapel…and I am a lead singer on the worship team…I still want MORE! I want to be fully immersed in that Christ life…that sold out life! I began by reading about some of the “controversy” surrounding the ICOC…and finally just said…“I’m going to go to that Portland Church website and see for myself.” I listened to your message “Philippi, the Unhappy Church”…and I am totally fired up! I can’t wait to listen to more… Thanks again for your website…and I just wanted to encourage you that all things work together for the good of those that love Him…reading material “against” you has brought me to actually reading your message and your mission. Thank you and God bless! New York
This year it has been more obvious to me than ever, that there is only one way to follow Jesus, and this is wholeheartedly! You and the church in Portland have done that, and I long to visit you, although I cannot still. You have been an inspiration to stay humble, close to the Scriptures and speak in love to my brothers and sisters, even when they do not regard it as such! I want to say thank you all, Portland! Keep it up, and stay close to Him that is our head – Jesus Christ!! Stockholm, Sweden
Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you! For your website! The sermons are the only tie we have to a discipling church. I became a disciple in 1987 in Boston. A group of us gather weekly to listen to Kip’s sermons…As I see it you are the hope of America maybe the world. Perhaps out of the Boston Movement is the Portland Movement without the sins and mistakes of the past. We are praying for you to stay strong in God during these days of stupid letters. You may not be perfect but the fruit of changed lives joyfully praising God shows the Spirit is with you! Indiana