The Angelus Temple 2002 Rebirth
This remarkable shift occurred with the cooperation of the highest leadership in both denominations. The effort to bring the two ministries together was not allowed to bog down. Instead, there was a focus on how best to seek and save the Lost. The Temple’s now displaced pastoral couple was able to return to the Northwest, and begin their ministry afresh at another of Foursquare’s leading churches.
When repairs in the Temple are complete, the size of the congregation will immediately exceed the 3,100 seats available. This means that the Temple will again be filled over and over each week. For many years prophecies have rung out about the restoration of this great old church to its beginnings. Now we stand at the threshold and will soon see them fulfilled.
As I write this article, the refurbishing of Angelus Temple still needs several months before her new pastor can stand on her reconstructed platform and call his congregation to worship in the main auditorium. Hopes, dreams and visions in many hearts already abound as the reality of a rejuvenated Temple approaches. That reality will require confronting known and unknown problems and the enemy of our souls in realms that we cannot anticipate. This is the first time that such change has taken place at this scale in either denomination.
When Foursquare’s convention in Denver came together, there was the tension I described earlier. Many unanswered questions were being asked, “Couldn’t you find someone in Foursquare to pastor the Temple? Why have we done this?” Most of the attendees live far from LA, and thus knew little if anything about the Dream Center. Foursquare leadership asked Pastor Matthew to address the convention body on the second night. Pastor Matt shared his vision and his struggles and breakthroughs over the past eight years – since he had left Phoenix for the inner city of Los Angeles. When he was done, all contention and its questions had disappeared. The only questions left were “How can I help?” and “Can my church come out to LA and learn how to do inner city ministry like you do?”
I have continually sensed the Spirit of God hovering throughout the Angelus Temple complex on all the visits I have made to the site for the past 15 months. I mentioned earlier that the same Spirit is ever present each time I go to the Dream Center. This same Spirit hovered over the waters before God said “Let there be light” and His so-great creation followed. All of us connected with Angelus Temple and the Dream Center believe that God is poised to light up Los Angeles and beyond as our newly rebuilt church and its new pastor come on line. Exciting days of ministry are ahead. Souls beyond number will be saved, people will be baptized in water, healed, lives restored and many will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Surrounding and far-off communities will be impacted and invaded by the glory of God, and you and I will soon be asking “What can I do to help? Can I come and learn how to do what you are doing?” And won’t that be marvelous for all of us!
PR
Category: Church History
Followers
Fans
