User:Mspi007si/Church of the Living God

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Also known as The Church of the Living God, Church of the Living God, Perris, CA Inc., and Church of the Living God International Ministries.

ABOUT THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD:

The Church of the Living God is an international, multi-cultural, Spirit-filled, non-denominational Christian ministry that was founded and established in July 2007. It is birthed out of a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit that, although existing since the time of the first Christians in Antioch, first occurred in mass within the United States in the early 1900s, and is known as the Pentecostal movement. The home church is located in Perris, California. New church plants are continually being established throughout the United States and abroad. The founder is Joshua Meyers, who presides in apostolic oversight of all of the established churches under the Church of the Living God ministries and he is assisted by others within the 5-fold ministry described in Ephesians 4, as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Pastor Mischa S. Safdie' is a co-founder of this movement and assists Joshua Meyers in establishment of an international bishopric to oversee all churches within the movement. The Church of the Living God was raised up according to the pattern and guidelines of the original New Testament Church in order to fulfill the Great Commission, as described in Matthew 28:16-20 and Mark 16:14-18.  The Church of the Living God – Who We Are, Where We Came From & What We Believe:

I TIMOTHY 3:14-15 “These things I write unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly; but if I tarry long that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

Since believers were first called Christians in Antioch about 2,000 years ago, the church of the living God has simply always existed. Throughout history depraved and ungodly men and women have tried without success to eradicate it from the face of the earth. But God’s church will stand strong and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. This powerful church still exists today in a balanced but radical form, as 21st century disciples of Jesus Christ, full of the Holy Spirit, and committed to His work of service are alive and well. The church is multicultural and represented by men, women and children from throughout the world. Yet the church is not merely a building or a place to gather and fellowship but rather, it is the “people” or true followers of Jesus Christ. So while many churches have chosen a variety of names to represent themselves and forge an identity for what they may believe, the Church of the Living God – Perris, California has chosen to embrace the original phrase or name referencing the New Testament church of Jesus Christ as a commitment to, as the scripture states, continue a legacy of being “the pillar and ground for the truth”. To better understand and comprehend the foundations of the Church of the Living God we reference the words and message of Jesus Christ Himself, taking a journey back in time, traversing some 2,000 plus years ago. We see Jesus standing on a mount and He had just concluded delivering one of the most powerful, awe inspiring messages in the history of the world to the multitudes of onlookers there. He then perhaps looked about, fixing his gaze first on the horizon, and then upon the eager crowd as He began another message. Men, women and children, the young and the old alike sat in breathless anticipation. They listened carefully to every word that He spoke. And among them were those disciples and future apostles who, little known to them at the time, would soon become the pillars, the progenitors and very founders of the Church, as it should be today. Indeed, these would become the very first Christians. And it was both on the words and life of Jesus Christ, the very Rock of our foundation that the first church and the patterns for all true churches of Jesus Christ would be laid henceforth. Jesus resumes speaking and in the Book of Matthew, chapter 7, verses 13 and 14, his following words are recorded: “Enter ye by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.” - Jesus Christ

We believe that in times past as well as today, the above scripture and admonition by Jesus did not apply just to our own salvation experience but to the very heart of the matter whereupon a true, biblical Christian church should be founded and then should function. Today, we see more now than ever before many religious groups and even errant “professed” Christians that seem to be proclaiming their own way to salvation, to heaven and among them, those who are replacing the Bible with their own rules and interpretations of how a true believer in Jesus Christ should live. Yet they are preaching “another gospel” and not the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Theirs is a way full of error, compromise and deception. Unfortunately in the last days we are living in, the broad way that leads to destruction has sadly become the most popular and easy way for many. The Bible says that in the last days men would hold to a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. It also says that there would be an actual “famine” for the hearing of the Word of the Lord…the true Word that is. Yet Jesus has told us in His Word that we must enter through the narrow gate. The narrow gate is a simple way but it is also a very narrow and precise way in which we must walk. And that way is one of obediently walking according to Holy Scripture in the love of Christ without compromise. It is a highway of holiness. It is the “Biblical way”. It is not a broad way of selfish compromise but rather, a narrow way of love, holiness, servitude, obedience, sacrifice and discipleship. It is a way in which Jesus Christ is not only our Savior but also where He also truly is the Lord over our lives. It is a way of great joy and fulfillment of our purpose and destiny in this life. This is what the Church of the Living God desires to represent in the earth today and it is who we as its members really are. The Church of the Living God is a true New Testament church that is patterned after New Testament church guidelines and principles, as explained in Ephesians chapter 4; being equipped with a functioning 5-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the perfecting or maturing of the saints and building up of the Body of Christ. Therefore at the Church of the Living God, we strive to walk humbly before our Lord, giving preference to Him and to one another in ministry and service. We desire to worship and love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, fulfilling the “Great Commission” of going out into the world and making disciples of the nations, baptizing all in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Church of the Living God is a biblical church where we believe the whole Bible as being the absolute, inerrant, infallible Word of God and we strive to live by it. The Church of the Living God is a way of life. The Church of the Living God –Perris, was planted in July 2007 through much prayer and fasting. Yet, long before the planting of the church began, God began His work through the intercession and prayers of the Apostolic founder, Joshua Meyers. Much like Nazareth in the biblical days of Jesus, the city of Perris once fared not much better. It was a dry, dusty transient community in many ways, consisting mostly of laborers in various fields. However, one of the treasures of this community has always been that it is resilient, multicultural and very diverse. To the more affluent, like Nazareth, there were perhaps more desirable places to live. Yet over time, just like Nazareth, the City of Perris has changed dramatically. It has grown and has now become a wonderful place to reside. In 1996 God began to place a burden of prayer on Joshua Meyers for the city of Perris. While ministering God’s Word in other places and evangelizing elsewhere too, he began to hear that still and quiet voice of the Master telling him that he would one day begin or plant a new work in Perris. Much like a conversation that Jesus once had with Peter, the Lord Jehovah spoke to the eye of the pastor’s heart, telling him that if he really loved Him then he must “feed His sheep”. Brother Meyers responded by saying, “Lord, I thought I was feeding your sheep and am doing all I know how to do.” Then the Lord replied in a way so clear to his heart that it could have been audible, “In the years to come you will plant a church in this city.” Brother Meyers, in telling the story said, “I remember saying to the Lord at that time that we really didn’t have much available to start such a work but that we did have a Word from the Lord.” And that, along with much prayer, fasting and intercession was all that it took. Thus a few years later in remarkable and supernaturally miraculous ways, the planting and establishing of God’s church began. Other committed disciples of Jesus Christ began to catch the vision for a mighty work of God that would take place in Perris and spread throughout other communities, the state and eventually the world. Men and women of many nations and diversity walk hand in hand under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit as we continue to building, ministration and mission of the Church of the Living God-Perris. As Apostle Meyers once said, “I would never claim to be the original founder of this work or church because since Jesus Christ was resurrected, it has always existed. We are just privileged to be a part of His work.” And so The Church of the Living God exists today and the legacy continues.

 Meet the Founding and Co-Founding Ministries of the Church of the Living God With Biographies:

APOSTLE/BISHOP AND FOUNDING PASTOR, JOSHUA MEYERS:

At the time COLG was established, the founder, Joshua Meyers, had already served in Christian ministry for over twelve years. He began Christian ministry with a passion for evangelism, including ministry for troubled youth. He then pursued other evangelical aspects of the ministry and traveled as an assistant to a worldwide evangelistic Christian movement for over five years, conducting Bible conferences, revivals, and many other meetings. He went on to complete his evangelistic studies with the Reinhard Bonnke School of Fire, where he developed a strong relationship with the ministry team there. He has since completed his training in counseling with Light Learning Institute. This institute is endorsed by the American Association of Christian Counselors. Joshua Meyers subsequently developed a burden and vision for church planting/establishment throughout the world and was greatly influenced by other church planters from organizations such as the Foursquare Church, the Assemblies of God of America, R.T.V. International Ministries, Vineyard Ministries and the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies. He has been greatly influenced by such men as Bill Jackson of the Vineyard Ministries, Dr. Paul Klahr, who is a former Missionary Director with the Assemblies of God and who has established numerous churches throughout the Philippines and Asia; and Professor Dan Fick of Southwest Bible College. Joshua Meyers has held credentials with several major ministries throughout the United States. He is a graduate of Southwest Bible College, Moreno Valley, California, where he received a Bachelors of Biblical Studies degree with a Major in Ministry degree. He has also received a Master’s Degree in Theology from another Christian university. Joshua Meyers also continues part time studies with the Trinity Learning Community. Since founding the Church of the Living God, Joshua Meyers has stepped into an Apostolic ministry with a role of now overseeing newly developed churches that are continually being established under the ministry of the Church of the Living God. Besides overseeing the Church of the Living God ministries, Joshua Meyers is involved in radio and television evangelism, as well as other media outreach programs. He continues to travel throughout the world in Christian ministry, fulling the "Great Commission" in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Joshua Meyers is married to Venus Meyers, and at the time of this writing has three children. He resides in Perris, California.

PASTOR MISCHA S. SAFDIE’ - HEAD ASSISTANT PASTOR, CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, PERRIS, CA

A Messianic Jewish believer in Yeshua, with roots among both Jews in the Middle-East and in Europe, Reverend Mischa Stuhler-Safdie’ began his Christian walk at age 12 when he made his decision for Christ at an Oral Roberts Crusade in Dallas, Texas. Years later, while serving our country in the U.S. Army in an Intelligence related capacity, Mischa simultaneously served the Lord as both a military Chaplain’s Assistant and as the Assistant Pastor of the Patton Barracks Church of God in Christ, located in Heidelberg, Germany. In 1975, Mischa was honorably discharged from active military duty as a Vietnam veteran and moved to Southern California where he was involved in Christian ministry in the Los Angeles area. In 1983 he felt a calling from the Lord to concentrate his ministry in the judicial field where he was also working at the time. He then spent several years ministering as a speaking evangelist in churches throughout Southern California while also speaking as a subversive terrorism consultant and expert, as well as other aspects of civil and criminal investigation to audiences in many colleges and universities. He continued his education and obtained his M.A. in Administration of Justice while also attending various Bible Schools and colleges throughout the United States and Europe in order to pursue his interests in biblical studies. In 1991 Mischa received ordination into Christian ministry with the former Full Gospel organization of “Motivation Unlimited”, which was a ministry dealing in recovery and healing for those involved in various abuse situations such a drugs, alcohol, domestic violence and occult practices. In 2004 Mischa began an Internet ministry with the sole purpose of reaching relatives and friends that involved authoring and then emailing his own Christian articles. That email ministry had grown substantially over the years and as of this writing Mischa Safdie’ Ministries has an international following, as his articles are distributed and read worldwide. In July 2007 the Lord called Mischa Safdie’ into his current ministry position as Head Assistant Pastor of Church of the Living God, located in Perris, California. At the writing of this biography and profile, Mischa Safdie' has taken on a co-founding and leadership role in the establishment of churches under the Church of the Living God ministries. He is involved in the formation of Church of the Living God International Ministries, designed to establish new churches throughout the United States and internationally. Mischa Safdie' is also involved in radio and other media related ministry.