The Olive Tree Community MAY’S UPDATE: God reminded me last month that He hasn’t abandoned me, but rather chose me. When we came here we said that Brentwood was the least churched area in CA and maybe the US. We determined that no one was coming here because it was so difficult and so expensive and we said that would not deter us. God owns cattle on a thousand hills and we will believe Him to provide for our family because He is the one who called us here.
This is the Picture and Praise Addition of the Newsletter!
Having faith was mission one. As things getter better in ministry and worse financially I began to forget mission one. Satan wasn’t just going to roll over as we shined the light in his favorite dark place. God allowed him to take shots at us and I kept failing the test because I kept forgetting mission one…Have Faith. I hit an all time low last month when we couldn’t afford our health insurance. I felt like I have been burdening friends and I questioned what God was doing. I couldn’t deny how far the OTC has come and the incredible kingdom impact it was having, but was confused by God’s lack of provision for my family. I felt like this last month God has asked me to widen my gaze. In 16 months we didn’t see any spiritual fruit, but in the last two months we have seen 5 people
respond to the gospel and 6 people rededicate their lives to Jesus. Praise God! Between our Sunday gatherings, OTC Open Mic, OTC Golf, OTC College Group, and the other OTC ministries we minister to over 70 people each month. Praise God! God has lowered my income significantly since we moved to LA, but He also lowed my overhead…Praise God! We have NO credit card debt, NO school debt, we OWN both of our cars…God has been good to us! Last year I made $30,000 and our rent was $27,000 and yet we made it. That doesn’t make sense! We don’t understand it, but God has been faithful! Our kids are both healthy, Lisa and I love each other deeply, and we have friends and family that believe in us, believe in our mission, and they show it by being
our strongest supporters. Praise God for them! The OTC has incredible staff and volunteers and has provided great friends for Lisa and I. The OTC has momentum and everyday we see people taking ownership and using their gifts to advance the kingdom of God in Brentwood and LA! The guy who started “Von Dutch” clothing line periodically flies in from New York and attends the OTC because he loves it! We have incredible report with the school, the parents, the park district, the gym, the community, our landlords, and our neighbors! God has given us incredible favor! Praise God!
faith that brought me out on this impossible journey because I believe that all things are possible with God! Today I start fresh. I start with the first things first…I am going to have Faith. That faith will lead me both to depths and heights, but that is OK. I only want to be where God is, and He often leads us into valleys, but then He comforts us with His staff. Thank you for supporting me and my family these last 2 ½ years! You are awesome! God did great things! That was chapter 1: Faith. Now starts Chapter 2: Faith. The titles aren’t very creative, but accurate. I expect even greater things…I am sure of what I hope for, and I am certain in what I can not see!
I don’t have practical solutions, I have foolish ones. I am going to continue to believe God for big things. I am going to have the same kind of
Well known Children’s author, Laura Numeroff visits Jade and Jake’s school
Enjoy these pics from over the last few years.
God asked me to widen my gaze and now I see much more clearly. This fresh vision has reenergized Mission One…Have Faith. God sent a woman to my door and she asked to share a verse with me. She shared Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain in what you can not see. I told God that I got His message.
Lisa’s Tattoo to remind her to trust God. Matthew 6:33
The making of an OTC video
Clippers Game with Joan and Scott Joe coaching Jake’s bball team
Andy and Nicole visiting Cali!
On the beach our first month here
Joe jr. graduated high school and moved out to LA for college.
Jade won cake decorating contest at school festival
Jake labeling water at the Marathon. Santa Monica Promenade.
Remembering Lisa’s dad, Don.
Chris and Josh running in the Marathon. Our first leadership retreat
Remembering Joe’s dad, Vince
Jake at a Lakers game with a friend
Joe coaching Jake’s flag football team
YESHUA THE MOSHIACH!
SUPPORT UPDATE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS 2010 In April 2010 our support was $1595.
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 God Increases my faith…that I will press on as He leads and I will not worry about the finances. 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 Brentwood…soon LA, and next the World.
Our prayer was that God gets the OTC Self Sufficient by the end of 2009, and He Did! Praise God!!! Now, PRAY God gets the OTC stable enough to support a pastor by the end of 2010! He can do it! 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 2010 PRAY that God continues to lower our monthly bills and ups our support. (He did half of this…our monthly bills are lower. Praise God!)
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!
Cards for California
Thank you for all of your support!
Upcoming Events:
MEMORY VERSE: 1
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. GIVE ONLINE? YES! SWBC reference number for paying your support to The Olive Tree Community through online banking: Reference #2057-2-80
Go to our Myspace profile or www.cardsforcalifornia.com to see anther way you can support OTC . Check out Cards For California‌It is an unbelievable effort coming out of Chicago to support us and see God influence LA!
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 easy and it helps us accomplish our mission.
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 $70,000 that my family will need to minister here in Brentwood.
May 1 6 th , 2 4 th , 31 st OTC Sunday MORNI NG Gatherings OTC Li ving: Fri Golf, Saturday Surfing College Group Every Other Wed Night
This Newsletter is also a reminder to send in your Support for May 2010 You can give your support through online banking using the SWBC reference number that goes to The Olive Tree Community: #2057-2-80 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/
This Week’s Celebrity Prayer Focus: Bill Murray
olivetreeCommunity Follow OTC on Twitter or become friends with Joe on Facebook and Join The Olive Tree Community Group
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
When you hear his name mentioned on TV, or Radio this month…please pray a short prayer that God would reveal Himself to his family and friends and they would experience Jesus’ love. 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.
You can contact The Olive Tree Community at: 310-339-4137 theolivetreecommunity@gmail.c om
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
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