The Olive Tree Community DECEMBER’S UPDATE:
It feels like I have sent 3 of these in the last month. Thank you to all of you who sacrificed sooo much to help us last month! It was very humbling to receive money from people who I know are not very wealthy and could have used that money themselves. Thank you. It was very emotional for me then and now to see such love and sacrifice for God’s work to continue here in LA and an incredible effort to see my family taken care of. Thank you!
David, Scrooge, Christmas Sing, Thank You, and Much, Much More…
(This is from our David Series in November)
November was our best month of ministry to date! With the money situation so bad it would be easy to pack things in and be done, but we can’t ignore what God is doing here. In the beginning of the month we realized that we were averaging 33 people a week. That number won’t mean a lot to you but it is very significant. When you launch a church the goal is to be running half of your launch number by the one year mark. We had 65 people at our launch and we realized that by month 2 we were averaging half of our launch number! Praise God! Numbers aren’t everything, and I always say that they don’t tell the whole story, but they tell a story. Our story is that the community is starting to trust us and that we are having people invite others to come see what God is doing at the OTC. We have a fourth generation invite right now. Chris invited Sandy, Sandy invited
Maya, Maya invited Alaina, Alaina invited Dan, and Dan invited Nathan who is planning to visit on the th 27 …I have already talked to Nathan some. Praise God! We were doing this really cool series on David in November where we were looking at how David is a man after God’s own heart…that says something about David, but it also says something about God. During this series we realized that each week in November the attendance was growing. We were like wow, that is really cool! But Thanksgiving was approaching. When you start a church, holidays tend to be your lowest day until about year three. Everybody goes home to their established church on the holidays in the beginning, but after a while they start to bring people to your church on the holidays…it takes about three years. So we were prepared for low numbers. Thanksgiving Sunday we had 39 people! Our biggest number since the launch! Praise God! So much has gone into that great turnout. For instance, OTC Sunday football is growing like mad! We watch the Bears and the best NFL games every Sunday at my place.
People love OTC NFL Sundays and it is packed every week. They literally stay until after Lisa and I go to bed. They lock up behind themselves. Last week there were so many people over that I had to make my way through the crowd to get to my bathroom…seriously. This is affecting our numbers as people see us outside of church and know we are the real deal. Also, we have special holiday events that reach out to people who don’t have family in LA. This is the second year that the OTC and the Lubberts have combined to provide a Thanksgiving meal for those without family here.
(They were trying to decide how to distinguish between me and Joey)
MEMORY VERSE: 3
Phil 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
(Joe and Jake playing chess after the meal) Joan made a fancy 8 course meal for 30 people and we had a coed flag football game afterwards.
(Lisa’s mom Becky came out for Thanksgiving and got in on the game.)
(I was rockin’ the Jay Cutler Jersey…I threw 1 pick and four touchdowns…my passer rating was over 100) That entire event was huge and people felt very loved! The Luebberts are amazing people and their whole family
worked very hard to make that event great for a lot of people. This is such a beautiful picture of what the OTC is all about and it is affecting our numbers.
huge. I coached flag football this season and it went great!
Also impacting our growth is Lisa’s Kids Christmas Sing. (These are the Patriots…the only time I have loved the Patriots.)
Some of the parents that have been bringing their kids to the Christmas sing were school parents, but they were also football parents. God is using us to have an impact in Brentwood and it is awesome! Lisa invited families from the school and our football team to bring their kids to be a part of our children’s Christmas event and many families took her up on it. It has been two years of building that kind of trust and respect, and it is paying off. The parents of the children have been attending the gatherings while their kids get bible lessons and learn Christmas songs for the event. It has been awesome! Our involvement in the community through sports has also been
Last week we had 40 people come out to our Christmas Series gathering on Scrooge!
group of people and it seems like everyone that he has been adding is cut from the same mold: Hardworking, loving people, who are gracious and fun to be around. God is working through them in mighty ways to reveal Himself to Brentwood, and the surrounding area. Hopefully, soon, all of LA and the world. These people are so awesome that I almost feel guilty getting money to serve as the lead pastor at the OTC because it is so much fun…almost. I haven’t even told you about our free food we are getting to feed the homeless or our chance to use the cool place next to us to do a coffee house open mic night for FREE. That will have to wait until next month. Your prayers and financial support are having a huge impact for God’s kingdom, and it is cool that we are getting to see that impact in tangible ways. I thank you sooo much!
People have loved our gatherings, and God is moving! Praise God! The final and biggest reason we are seeing God move so mightily at the OTC is the people. God has given us an incredible
OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION I didn’t want to start this Newsletter with bad news and I have been through some seriously tough times with God recently and the bottom line is that I have
resolved to follow Him wherever that leads me. I have talked with God about what is my rock bottom, and what I really don’t want to do and I have determined to love Him and follow Him even if He wants to take me to my rock bottom. I posted that I had given my everything to God and someone warned me against such big commitments because they can’t be kept. I told them that this wasn’t a new commitment, but an old one. God wants my everything…that is what He asked for when I trusted in His Son Jesus…He demands nothing less. We are staying here and serving God until they force us to leave! We will continue to serve here because that is what God wants of us. I don’t have a game plan on how we are going to pay our bills other than I know God wants us here and He will provide somehow. I told God that I really don’t want to keep asking you guys for more money every month. It is the most humbling and emasculating thing I have ever done. But if this is what God wants me to do each month until He is finished with me or until you are sick of me, then I will do it to serve Him and be used by Him here in Brentwood.
A lot of people are willing to be respectable for God, but He is looking for fools. I will be his fool. THE BOTTOM LINE With that said, $2322 has come in this month and that will pay our rent for December, but that is it. Between Health Ins, Car Ins, and general living like electricity, phone and such we are $1865 short and that doesn’t include gas or food, which would make it more like $2500 short. Even now as Lisa and I crunch the numbers I don’t even know how we have made it this long. We are not in debt, Praise God!. God has really been providing and I am thankful to Him!
know how to move toward asking you to give. I am going to keep it simple…If you are feeling led to give please send a check immediately with “Basile Immediate Needs” in the memo so the SWBC knows that it is separate from my support for January and I will tell them to send the funds right away. Make your Check out to Southwest Baptist Conference with “Basile Immediate Needs” in the memo.
I have been so worried about not guilting anyone, and so I have been holding back all of our needs, so not to be a burden on any of you who support us and pray for us.
Send your Check to SWBC 14255 Danielson Street Poway, CA. 92064
I felt like God was telling me not to hold back, so I am going to be totally vulnerable.
Our OTC Missionaries in Israel, Sterling and Talia will be home in December and we will have an update from them next month…KEEP Praying for them! :)
It is Christmas time, and I really don’t know how I can even give my kids and my family Christmas gifts right now. I don’t care if I get anything, but it is hard thinking about being at all these Christmas events and not having anything to give. I know gifts aren’t what Christmas is about, but it is still a part of how we celebrate the birth of our Lord here in the states and in both mine and Lisa’s families. Even now I know some family are going to read this and I am embarrassed and humbled…not easy to write knowing they are going to read this. As I tell you my needs I don’t even
OTC MISSIONS
YESHUA THE MOSHIACH!
SUPPORT UPDATE PRAY - BELIEVE 2009
Pray for our continued partnership with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Jews for Jesus and Tikkun Olam. OTC FILMS The OTC has purchased it's first TV quality Camera and Editing software to begin filming videos, dramas, short films, and webisodes. We determined that God has given us a lot of people in the entertainment industry and we are responsible to steward their gifts wisely. We felt God leading us to create media that will encourage and teach believers and or cause the world to consider Jesus as their Messiah. Sweet! We will post them on Facebook, Myspace, Youtube and Godtube. I will send emails so you can check them out. :)
PRAY for favor, a good reputation, and opportunity in the Jewish community in Brentwood. THE OTC BABY! Vision: To Love People, See them Transformed, and Help them Change the World. We are rolling! Your prayers are being answered and we see God’s mission being accomplished in Brentwood‌soon LA, and next the World.
In November 09 our support was $2322. PRAY God crushes us financially if that is what He needs to do to cause us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (I have said this a lot, but it is still true!). PRAY God allows us to get into a place that will increase our effectiveness for the kingdom, and lower our rent. We want to steward all of your support and God's resources wisely. PRAY God gets the OTC self sufficient by the end of 2009! PRAY for my Family too. That God would use the kids in the lives of their friends and at their school. That Lisa will be a light to the parents and in this community! In 2009 PRAY that God lowers our monthly bills and ups our support.
PRAYER TEAM If you are interested in being a part of my personal prayer team please reply to this email with Prayer Team in the memo and I will add you to my team.
Money has kept ministers and churches out of this area for years, but we refuse to let it stand in the way of the gospel. PRAY God provides for us. Please consider forwarding this newsletter to all the people in your contacts list at least one time, explaining our
mission and need, and maybe God will move in someone's heart to support God's mission to LA! Please have courage and faith no matter what you do!
easy and it helps us accomplish our mission.
Cards for California
This Week’s Celebrity Prayer Focus: Kristen Stewart
Thank you for all of your support! GIVE ONLINE? YES! SWBC reference number for paying your support to The Olive Tree Community through online banking: Reference #2057-2-80
When you hear her name mentioned on TV, or Radio this month…please pray a short prayer that God would reveal Himself to her family and friends and they would experience Jesus’ love.
This Newsletter is also a reminder to send in your Support for December 2009
Pray that God moves others to join the mission of reaching a community that has the ability to impact the world. Pray God provides the remainder $50,000 that my family will need to minister here in Brentwood.
GOODSEARCH Hey, I heard of an easy way to support OTC. Go to goodsearch.com and put The Olive Tree Community as your charity and then set it as your homepage. Every time you search using good search or purchase online using goodshop we receive money. It is
Go to our Myspace profile or www.cardsforcalifornia.co m to see anther way you can support OTC . Check out Cards For California…It is an unbelievable effort coming out of Chicago to support us and see God influence LA!
You can give your support through online banking using the SWBC reference number that goes to The Olive Tree Community: #2057-2-80
Upcoming Events:
Dec 1 3 th Christmas Sing, 20 th Christ mas Hanukkah, 27 th OTC Sunday MO RNI NG Gatherings OTC Li ving: Thurs Golf, Saturday Surfing College Group Every Other Wed Night
Or The Commitment Card is attached to this Newsletter. You can simply print it off, fill it out, and send it in with your monthly support, and/or special gift. Payment and mailing instructions are on the commitment card. Thank you for your support.
Find out more about The Olive Tree Community at: myspace.com/ olivetreeCommunity Follow OTC on Twitter or become friends with Joe on Facebook and Join The Olive Tree Community Group
Check out The Olive Tree Community’s Videos: The Daily D, Heath Ledger Tribute Video, and more at… Youtube.com and Godtube.com Myspace Facebook Twitter Simply Search Olive Tree Community Email them to your friends, neighbors, and co-workers as conversation pieces that can lead to discussions about Jesus.
The Big Commitments † Read your Bible for a ½ hour every day. Pray for a ½ half hour every day. † Bring your Bible with you to work or school. † Invite 5 people to OTC parties a week. † Fast once a month for 24 hrs for God to bring our friends, co-workers, and neighbors to Christ.
Prayers for the Mission to LA/Brentwood Pray God Provides for the Basile’s Pray God Blesses the Pics on LA Ink and Joe’s opportunities to Share Jesus on TV Pray OTC sees 1000 people come to Messiah Jesus! Pray God Protects Joe and Gives Him Vision Pray God Blesses our efforts this messianic leader Pray the Brentwood Community and Surrounding Area will experience revival o General Population o Jewish Community o Celebrity Community
OTC The Olive Tree Community is a Church/Synagogue plant in Brentwood/LA. Our purpose is to reach out to Celebrities/Jews/The Wealthy/The Common Person with the love of Jesus. If you have any Questions send us a message and we'll reply promptly.
Blessings! Joe and Lisa Basile
You can contact The Olive Tree Community at: 310-339-4137 theolivetreecommunity@gmail.c om UN-SUBSCRIBE If you do not wish to receive the weekly email from me please respond to theolivetreecommunity@gmail.com with "no email please" in the heading.