It definitly doesn't feel like fall in Los Angeles, but the Christmas decorations are out and I did notice snow on the peaks of the Los Angeles mountains that make such a nice backdrop on our cityline.
In line with our mission to make disciples, raise up leaders, and plant churches in the city, we are starting the Christmas celebrations here with our neighbors in an exciting way. We are taking 25 people in whom we have invested the most (meeting weekly, studying the Bible, praying and being involved in one another’s lives) for a day-long retreat. On Saturday, December 5, we will all board a bus headed for an annual World Impact tradition, "Christmas at THE OAKS."
We leave at 9:00 a.m. and return to the city by 10:00 p.m. for a whole day of fun, good memories and deepening relationships! There will be special activities for each age group including adventures and challenges like the zip line, high ropes course and numerous team sports; crafts and projects like making Christmas jewelry and gingerbread houses. We will even have a family fun hayride. We will eat a delicious Christmas lunch and dinner, with all the trimmings, together as a growing family, and each family will come away with a family picture to remember the special time they had soaking up God’s love. 
Before we head back for the city, we will all gather and have a special time as a newly-forming church sharing our first Christmas together, looking into the Bible to learn more deeply what Christmas is really all about and how it can affect not only one month of our year, but every day of our lives. We will give everyone the opportunity to accept the gift of salvation and commit to grow in their relationship with God.
Please pray for unity among our group, lasting fruit, good follow-up time on the relationships and memories that are strengthened together.
Rejoicing that God is with us—our Emmanuel,
Chad & Fabiola
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