Much has happened in the “southland” in the last five and a half decades of ministry. I can think of at least two prominent Protestant congregations, an urban mission organization based out of downtown Los Angeles, a global mission center, and a seminary that has drastically reconfigured their work to the point of becoming very different than what they used to be in the past. I would say that our Presbytery is undoubtedly engaged in a similar process. As we celebrate and look at the future, I want to begin by highlighting some significant events that help us grow in our appreciation of how God has provided and will provide the courage, wisdom, and abundant resources.

1. Missional Leadership and Disciple-Making:

•  Our Stated Clerk, Dave Wilkinson held an informational meeting with a group of pastoral leaders from the relational circles of Cyclical Los Angeles desiring to begin becoming Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE). Two of them have successfully concluded the Presbyterian Polity course at the International Theological Seminary and are hoping to continue towards the completion of its CRE program. A third of the contributions to the Growing Together in Mission Campaign will provide support to leaders like them.
• At this point, the pastors of 11 out of our 24 established churches (45%) are either part-time or not installed. I am grateful for our congregations’ flexibility in response to the significant regional and national demographic trends.
•  Pastor Jack Irwin continues to work with me to compile and develop materials within our Reformed framework to enhance congregations’ discipleship and leadership development capacity.

2.     More people in Worship:

Over the last two months, I have been overjoyed that Iglesia de Las Americas baptized thirty individuals. Next Generation Church, meeting since July at Glendale Presbyterian Church, plans to have ten more baptized next month.

3.     Engaging our diverse communities:

• Although in the last decade, our Presbytery either dismissed or dissolved three of its seven congregations in the Antelope Valley, we have strengthened our partnership with Iglesia La Pasión in Palmdale during the last few months. Their pastor, Enrique Ruiz reports a regular Sunday attendance of over 30 people. He holds both a Master of Divinity from Fuller Seminary and graduated from the Commissioned Lay Pastor Program that San Francisco Seminary coordinated. Previously a member at Canoga Park and Quartz Hill, he is now a member of Cultivate Church.

La Pasión brings the number of Hispanic ministries to five (Littlerock, Glendale, Santa Clarita and online). Rev. Jaime Lazaro is currently helping develop an additional Spanish-speaking New Worshipping Community that identifies strongly with who we are as Presbyterians.

• We celebrated the first year of existence of a weekly internet radio program called El Fogón that reaches audiences in different communities in our region, country, and internationally. It has served as a space of collaboration among people from various Presbyteries in the area and a place to share our faith. The project has been self-financed since its inception.
• I am deeply grateful that, at this point, three of our churches are hosting New Worshipping Communities in their facilities. They all represent populations with which we could have engaged more effectively in the past.  
• As directed by our Presbytery, our Property & Finance Committee, and Evangelism & Church Growth committees have engaged in substantive conversations with the leadership of the regional Korean Presbyterian Council about creating a fund to support future partnerships in mission.
• I had the privilege of joining Rev. Hendirk Shanazarian, member of our Presbytery and Minister to the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, in the community-wide prayer for Artsakh held on August 16 at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank.