January 9, 2022

Not a lot is know about Stephen. As a matter of fact everything known about Stephen is in the book of Acts. And only a few chapters and a couple of verses.

But from what we can gather, Stephen was a great man of character and as recorded in Acts was the first martyr for Christ in the early church.

And believe it or not, today people are still killed for believing in Christ.
As a matter of fact this weekend is the sixty-fifth anniversary of a terrible tragedy that God used for His glory to promote His kingdom and bring love and reconciliation to a lost group of people in the jungles of Ecuador.

Watch the YouTube video links below to get the full story!

We pray that you will invite Jesus into your life and make Him Lord of your life, if you haven't already.  
And if you need to take care of this please call Pastor Harvey at 323-316-7131 and he will be glad to pray with you.

Here is a reminder of our church building Sunday schedule..

9 am - Highland Park Christian Church adult and children's Sunday School
10 am - Highland Park Christian Church main worship service
12 noon - Iglesia Evangélica Génesis main worship service
2:30 pm -  Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal M.I. main worship service

Let us pray for you.  Just send an email to us and we will add you to our online prayer list.

We will continue to prepare these online worship pages for you. 

We will continue to keep uploading the sermon and providing the YouTube versions of the songs that we sang during worship. Even if you cannot join us, we'd still like to pray for you.

Again, We'd Love to Pray with and for You!

Give us a call or email Pastor Harvey at harvey.hpcc@gmail.com to request prayer or just chat/connect.  

Please comment down below and we will respond.  Let us know how we can help and if we have blessed you with this on-line worship.  Thanks!

This weekend we have prepared a worship page for you that includes...

Great YouTube versions of the Christian Hymns and contemporary songs that we sang today...

Pastor Harvey continued our sermon series Portraits of Bible Characters with a message about Stephen: A Martyr for Christ and Modern Day Martyrs.

We hope this continues to bless YOU and draws you closer to God.

Remember, Denise and Harvey are a phone call away if you want to pray together or just chat.  
(Also remember that God is NOT far away, He has promised that He would never leave us - can I get an "Amen"!)

And don't forget you can comment below about anything that we can help you with or send us a Facebook message on the Facebook message app.

You can also use the "comments below to start any conversation with us.

Thanks for all of your support!
For Him and His Kingdom,
Pastors Harvey & Denise

Pastor Denise is still meeting LIVE with the children - come join her in Sunday school every Sunday at 9:00 am.  Sing, Pray and learn about God.

Also we are meeting LIVE for Adult Sunday School every Sunday at 9:00 am
right now we are studying the writings of John.  Please join us!

          And Now It's Time to Worship Christ

Prayer Requests from Sunday, January 9, 2021

Marlene - Pray for Tammy for health issue.
Pray for Debbie for health issues.
Pray for Pam for her stroke recovery in rehab.
Pray also for Marlene, she is having trouble with her hips and back.
Pray for members of Torrance 1st Baptist Church that came down with COVID.

Albert - Pray for an unspoken request.

Bryan - Pray for his father Kent who is traveling for his job that he would have traveling mercies.
Pray for an unspoken request.

Harvey/Denise - 
Pray for Harvey's parents, Harvey Sr. and Barbara and their caretaker, Ron. 
Pray for his friends Jason and Jim who have cancer.
Pray for his friend Eric, who has been in the hospital with COVID for the last 2 weeks.
Pray for Marcos and his son, Noah, who are not feeling well.

Karen - Pray for the family of Stan Moore, who has recently passed away.
Pray for Michelle who has COVID.

Mark - Pray for the folks in the Colorado fire.

Kelly - Pray for an unspoken request.

Ray - Pray for his mother and his family including his uncle Manny.
Pray for continued healing of his foot.
Pray for Laura, who has breast cancer will be starting treatment soon.
Pray also for his other uncle that came down with COVID.

Larry - Pray for a safe return of his wife from El Salvador.

Dorothy - Pray for a special unspoken request
Pray for Francisca's family.
Pray for blessings for the new year. 

Cindy - Pray for Margarito.
Pray for us to stay faithful and to strengthen our faith.
Pray for our government.

Al - Pray for continued healing of his eye and general health.
Pray for Sandra and her family, she is now home and in hospice care.

Mel - Pray for her sister, Kelly, who has COVID.
Pray for her grandmother who has stopped eating and drinking.

          And Now It's Time to Worship Christ

Are You Washed in the Blood
artist: Joey & Rory

We've a Story to Tell to the Nations
Artist: Blue Rock Mennonite Youth

After singing a few songs, then as a congregation we read together aloud the following scripture...

Acts 6:1-8
Stephen is Chosen to Be a Deacon

1 Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

3 Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 The announcement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

6 And they brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

7 The word of God kept spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go
Artist: The Kaufmann Family

Here is the text from the sermon...
Today's text is from the entire book of Esther.  It is too much to copy/paste here.
Please read the Book of Esther for yourself and/or listen to the audio version above.

Acts 6:5 & 8
5 The announcement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 7:55, 56 & 60
55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Artist: Matt Redman

Again, Denise and I are available for prayer.

In Christ,

Pastor Harvey