| AMS changes name to Turning Point | | Print | |
| July 22, 2007 | |
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\What we read in Scripture is, \'Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point...\'\ Romans 4:3a (Msg.) To our Brothers and Sisters of the LA Church:  In January of 2003 we implemented an eight year plan to help us lay a foundation upon which a healthy church that lasts for generations could be built. Despite the difficult times that were to ensue, God responded to our heart\'s desire. In the past few years especially, He has encouraged us with a remarkable time of discovery, innovation, refreshment, numeric growth, financial generosity and increasing overall spiritual health. We are thankful beyond words to God and believe that our best days of local and international impact are ahead of us! For the past several years the Arts, Media & Sports Ministry has considered changing our name to one that is more inclusive, easy to understand and descriptive of what we\'re about as a church family. As a result, we\'ve chosen to change our name to Turning Point Christian Church in the same spirit as the OC Region is known in its communities as the Orange County Church of Christ and the West Region is known as the Westside Church of Christ. This change was primarily inspired by our desire to establish a clearer identity within our communities. As the face of the LA Church has changed over the years, including the development of arts ministries within other regions, the face of our group has changed as well. We want our name to say \everyone is welcome here\ and that one of our chief values is \changed lives.\ In addition, we are growing up as a church family. We\'re not a one dimensional ministry, but a church family with dozens of ministries. Many of us will miss the name \AMS.\ However, as we have discussed with our members, we are trying to learn not to make decisions based on what is the most comfortable for us or what we would prefer. Instead, we are working to make choices that we believe will help us best fulfill God\'s purposes. Our dream for the entertainment industry and its ability to impact the world has never been stronger. Arts, entertainment and sports are in our DNA and always will be a prominent part of who we are. Approximately 50% of our membership is connected to the entertainment industry, in one way or another. All of our staff members are musicians, singers or have worked in the music industry. Many of our small group leaders and some of our deacons are actors, writers and artists of all types. We have a vibrant arts ministry and an active sports ministry that reach out in our communities each week. As well, we have many professionals, students and homemakers who are not artists. Our hope is to meet the needs in all of these groups. As always, we remain bonded heart and soul with our extended family in the LA Church and our worldwide fellowship of churches. Our partnership within the ministry leadership group and with all the other regions has never been stronger or more cohesive. Thank you for the years of support and encouragement that we have received from so many of you. We will continue to pray for all of you and to work side by side with you, for the strengthening of the LA Church. Please pray for us as we follow God\'s leading into this new phase of our spiritual life. May God enable us all to help as many as possible find their \turning point\ and decide to follow Christ! Please visit our web site @ www.turningpointLA.com. God\'s best to you all, Kevin Holland Evangelist |