Washington, DC International Christian Church

“Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, ‘You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’” Joshua 14:6-8

Here we see an incredible chapter in an epic story.  Joshua and Caleb were two of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the Promised Land.  They found the land to be exceedingly good and yet 10 of the 12 most prominent leaders of the tribes of Israel, the vast majority, gave a faithless report.  They did not believe that God would bring them victory and therefore led the Israelite community into grumbling against their leader Moses, and thus God Himself (Numbers 14:2, 27, 36).

Though in the minority, I write this article for the honor of God and for the defense of my friend and brother, Kip McKean and the Sold-out Discipling Movement.  A few weeks ago, an article by Douglas Arthur featured on “ICOC (International Church of Christ) Hot News” brought up charges about Kip’s supposed slander, unwholesome talk and lack of repentance, which have led to a weakened church condition in Portland, Oregon.  I have watched the Portland situation develop during the past 12 months, and would like to offer a different perspective “according to my convictions.”  After all, “The first to present his case seems right until another comes forward and questions him.” (Proverbs 18:17)  The following questions must be answered in order to present an accurate and balanced account of the events that have taken place in Portland.
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“This is what the Lord says:  Stand at the cross road and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16

On Sunday, September 14, 2008, God worked powerfully as we celebrated the Inaugural Service for the Washington, DC International Christian Church!  Despite a triathlon that closed some of the city streets and a fire alarm that went off during service, we had 134 in attendance and four were added to our number!  Two placed membership - Conset Jefferson and Christian Carroll; one restoration - Herbert Johnson; and a University of DC student, Jeheifa Elliot, was baptized after studying for only six days!  To God Be the Glory!  Since arriving in late July, our 18-member mission team has grown to 24!  It was encouraging to see some of our dearly missed brothers and sisters from the Central NY Church of Christ and Chicago International Christian Church join us, as well as to see our brother Earl Jones, our first baptism in DC, return from his senior year at Cornell University to celebrate with us!  God is blessing the work at my former alma mater, as we also saw Hope Gbarayor, another Cornell senior, state that “Jesus is Lord” and be baptized!  How awesome to see God bless the faith of CNYCOC as they financially supported the mission team to DC, only for our first baptism to be sent back and help another to be baptized!  Most encouraging was to have my Dad, Karl Smellie, join us for service.  Despite the emotional heartache of burying my mother the previous Saturday, he traveled five hours on a bus from Long Island, NY to be with us.  He walked with me all day Saturday and watched as we shared our faith boldly throughout downtown DC.   After service on Sunday he commented in tears, “You’re doing something very special here.  I am very proud of you.”   I wept.
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“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16

Welcome to the Washington, DC International Christian Church!  Sent out by the Spirit from the Central New York Church of Christ, along with members from churches in Chicago, IL and Corvallis, OR, our 18 member mission team arrived in Washington, DC in late July of this year.  To gain a vision for this lost city with a metropolitan population of 5.8 million, we traveled to the Lincoln Memorial, which overlooks the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol, to pray for the entire metropolitan area of DC to be won for God!  Despite the chaotic weeks of finding jobs and dealing with steep housing prices, the Lord has already blessed us with a baptism and 2 placed memberships!  God willing, 4 more will be added today at our Inaugural service!

Perhaps you have asked the question, “Why another church in Washington, DC when there are churches seemingly on every street corner?” Our collective convictions are unique; we believe our Savior Jesus is the Son of God risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4); the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16); “sold-out” baptized disciples compose God’s church universal, of which we are striving to be a part (Acts 2:41-42); every member is called by God to participate in daily discipling relationships, thus creating family (Hebrews 3:12-13); the mission of each disciple is to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20); and we believe wholeheartedly in building a movement of “like-minded” congregations (1 Corinthians 4:17) whose motivating vision is the evangelization of the nations in this generation (Romans 16:25-27).
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