WE EXIST TO BRING
JESUS TO PEOPLE,
AND PEOPLE TO
JESUS
DEAR CHURCH FAMILY
2020 has surely been a year when many have felt hard-pressed, perplexed, and knocked down at times. Yet in the midst of the difficulties around us, WACC has continued to preach the gospel in both word and deed. We celebrate that God continues to change lives and make disciples all over the world. People from 39 different countries around the world worshipped online with us. Almost 2,000 people have continued growing in small groups. And God’s generosity continues to be expressed across our community and the world.
Each of the following numbers in this Annual Report represents lives changed by the gospel through your prayers, service, and sacrifice. Thank you again for your faithful commitment to fulfill our vision to bring Jesus to people and people to Jesus.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going… We continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, and so I speak.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9,13
GATHER IN WORSHIP
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GOD AT WORK!
Eastman Holloway started watching Church Online all the way from Oklahoma in March, and he traveled all the way to Whittier to be baptized at Church On Campus. Eastman shared, ‘I kind of was a prodigal son. I left and went on my own. With COVID, my girlfriend is from BIOLA, so when she came home to Oklahoma, we started watching WACC. I hadn’t watched church in a really long time, probably four or five years. I haven’t missed a service with WACC since March 15th when we shut down. I felt like I finally was able to come back and this was my rededication to Christ and really falling into his arms.’
- Eastman Holloway
GROW IN GROUPS
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GOD AT WORK!
Ozzie Rodriguez has been in a Community Group at WACC for many years. He has learned in this challenging season that God’s love is often most clearly shown through the love of other people! Ozzie’s story is one of over 1800 other people who have been in groups at WACC during 2020, and there are countless stories to be celebrated! Ozzie is a physician at a local hospital, and has worked with many Covid-19 patients throughout this year. The early months of the Coronavirus Pandemic were especially isolating for him. In the many unanswered questions about the Coronavirus early on, he made the difficult decision to quarantine himself in his RV for 2 months to protect his family. In those months, he struggled with feelings of despair, but often found that when he neared the end of his rope, one of his group members would reach out in a tangible way. They would text him, call him, drop off snacks and encouraging notes, and pray for him. Here’s what he said of that season: “Truly God was leading them at the right times to do just what I needed. I’d be down in the dumps, and then God would come through by one of these guys reaching out in a tangible way.” We celebrate the ways that God works through small groups, and know deep in our bones that we were never made to live alone!
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GO AND SERVE
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GOD AT WORK!
Earlier this year, Carole welcomed 3 teenagers into her home for 5 months as she became a first-time foster parent. Carole says she would not have made it through the challenges of fostering without the support of her Care Community. Her wrap-around community was a group made up of different people at WACC who brought weekly meals, prayed for Carole, and spent time with the kids that all added up to having a huge impact! Living close by, Mark and Patti served as surrogate grandparents and had the kids over to their home for game nights, studying, and casual hanging out while also offering Carole and her biological children time together. This team has been an expression of God’s love to the 3 kids hosted during a rough transition and also to Carole and her biological family.
Ministry continues at WACC even during these challenging times. WACC has continued to preach the gospel in both word and deed, and we celebrate the ways that God has worked during this past year. We couldn’t have continued the work that we do in our church, our community and around the world if it wasn’t for your courageous generosity!