Welcome to

Wests ide

a community of faith, love, and hope

Issue 01 Spring ‘09

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A s an art form, mosaics are broken and fragmented pieces fit together in such a way that some-thing truly beautiful emerges.

Yet all too often, we only see the pieces in disarray. We look, but we can’t seem to find the big picture. We know something special is waiting to be formed, but we don’t know where to begin. We struggle to make our lives into something meaningful, something unique, something extraordinary.

Such a thing requires nothing less than the hand of God.

We were never intended to take this journey alone. We were each designed to be a part of a greater whole. Only then can we really find the meaning, purpose, and destiny our hearts long for.

We welcome you to Mosaic

to discover how all the pieces can fit together!

Erwin McManus

G ood day! Whether it’s your first time here or you’re a frequent guest, I want to welcome you to Mosaic! We’re thrilled you could hang out with us today! It is our desire for you to connect with others at Mosaic and for us to come alongside you in your spiritual journey! We hope this day will inspire your life and influence you in ways that will allow you to discover your full potential and value to God and others. Your life and the story of your future, which have yet to be written, matter to God, and most certainly to us. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. You can come by the Connection Hot Spot or the 10 Minute Party after the gathering and find me or folks from our leadership team. Again, we're so honored to have you hang with us today. Live your story!

Goodie GoodloeMosaic Westside Site Pastor

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MOSAIC

www.mosaic.org

1539 E. Howard Street , McGavran Hall, 3rd floor, Pasadena, CA 91104Phone: 626.628.9640 FAX: 626.296.7607

Email: Info@mosaic.org

why connect?To connect is to be joined with people in a commonpassion, cause, and joy as we serve others with others.

By Janice Sakuma veryone can do something to serve our community, our city, and our world! Not because Mosaic needs positions to be filled, but because everyone needs to live fulfilled lives by using our unique personalities, strengths, and gifts to care for and encour-age others.

You might ask: Where do I start to get connected? Goodie Goodloe, Point Catalyst and Connection leader from the Westside Gathering, says, “Connection is a great place to start if you want to discover and use your innermost passions as it relates to your faith journey. Connection is not a team that focuses on giving information, but rather we are a vibrant group of people who thrive on having healthy conversations with people about their hopes and dreams, interests and goals to connect them with others on a team suited to their uniqueness.”

Ways to connect:

- Set-up tents and displays for our lobby and guest areas

- Be a greeter or usher

- Serve coffee and pastries

- Assist with lights or the soundboard

- Connect with our guests at the 10 Minute Party and Hot Spot

- Give your love and assistance to Preschoolers, Kids Mosaic, and Youth groups

- Join a ministry team or small group

- Volunteer to help in the office

- Commit to serve with the Awaken Humanity Projects teams

- Serve L.A.

- Stay after the Gathering to help with breakdown

E

Right: WestsideLobby/Guest Area

People learning howto get involved at theBeverly Hills gathering.

Connection isa great placeto start if youwant todiscover anduse yourinnermostpassions as itrelates to yourfaith journey.

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connect

Would I really make a difference?Sarah connected to our “Soul Cravings” book club and kept looking for ways to connect. She took initiative! As she connected, Chris participated in Highlander and made a decision to follow Jesus. Now they serve together joyfully at the café.

Brian is a sports addict—hiking, surfing, biking, rollerblading! Now he is the heart behind “Recreate”,a monthly Westside experience.

Ingrid, Jenny and Holly use their creative card making talent to encourage those sharing difficult prayer requests by sending out their “Gracenotes”.

This is the beauty of connecting at Mosaic; you can create the space for your special gifts to be used.

I’m ready! Who can I talk to?Go to the Connection Hot Spot or talk to anyone already helping in a particular team or area of interest.Contact lists and Newsletters are also available to let you know what is happening around Mosaic, listing the many opportunities to connect with others. Take that step and get involved, everyone makes a difference!

Would I really make a difference?“ “

Volunteers at theMosaic Westside guest area.

Dave Gerberhelps unload equipment

Mosaic Westside10 Minute Party

Mosaic WestsideConnection Hot Spot

Kids Mosaic

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K yler Hunter remembers his first thoughts when he visited Mosaic. “Is anyone going to try to connect with me?”

He remembers not knowing anyone and being lost in a crowd, having an “emotional disconnect” in his life. “I just sat there for a year and soaked in Mosaic.”

A year passed and although he made some friends, he realized that it wasn’t enough. “Just showing up and shaking hands? There’s no point. It took some time, but I eventually overcame it and accepted connection.”

After Kyler took initiative to get involved at Mosaic, helping and connecting others became his passion.

“I take personal responsibility for the people I meet and I try to connect with them again the next week. I want to hook people up that are from the same city or the same school. If I meet someone and they say that they go to USC, I bring them to my friend who also goes there. We are creating community.”

Kyler won’t even try to describe what he does for a living- he’ll just email you a link to a Wikipedia page. According to the site, a perfusionist is “a trained health professional who operates the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and other surgeries that require cardiopulmonary bypass.”

Translation: he keeps you alive.

During surgery, while the surgeon is operating on your heart, your body still needs to pump blood. Enter Kyler and his skills on the heart/lung machine.

“It’s not something every kid grows up wanting to be.” He admits.

Kyler sometimes feels his job resembles what he does at Mosaic. The Connection team to him is like the machine that keeps things alive and moving in our community. And he loves being a central part of it.

“We’re not just greeting people, but helping create friendships and a larger network of support.”

Kyler doesn’t have “Mosaic people” and then “Work people” in his life. He simply sees everyone as broken and in need of God and healthy community.

“How I serve on the Connection team is how I serve all of my relationships.” he says.

At the Westside Gathering, Kyler meets and serves everyone. He’s looking for that person who is quietly wondering, “Is anyone going to connect with me?”

Yes. Kyler is.

interview:kyler hunter

Meet Kyler. He’s looking for that personwho is quietly wondering, “Is anyone

going to connect with me?”

By Patrick Jones

K

“We are a result of relationships,” Kyler says.

“A result of people influencing individuals through other people.”

When I first reached out to June about her involvement with Mosaic, I was pleas-antly surprised by her response. She had accepted my invite with an invitation of her own—dinner in her home. As I had recently moved to Los Angeles, the transi-tion having been somewhat of a daunting experience, I was quick to realize that opportunities to meet new people were far and few between, let alone those who will invite you over for a meal during an initial first introduction.

As the Mosaic SHE Community Leader on the Westside, June understands the trudg-ing fear and intimidation people often carry with them in their new surroundings. True of any big city, the real challenge newcomers often face when they arrive here is the ability to forge genuine relation-ships. It is for that reason that Mosaic’s SHE Community was created. June works alongside SHE leader Kim McManus invit-ing women to be a part of a nurturing and supportive community. Her small groups in her home allow women to share their lives with each other and learn and grow in their walks with God.

Among the events and activities June helps to create, she also devotes time to Heart-To-Heart, the women’s Mentoring program at Mosaic. Every year for five months, she commits to helping young women find and foster their strength through encourage-ment and support. If all of that wasn’t enough, June still has her full time job during the week working in the Athletics Department at Loyola Marymount.

When I asked her if she ever felt tired, she shook her head feverishly without skipping a beat. “It’s an overwhelming amount of work but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I find such incredible excitement and joy with every new women’s group that starts, every new phone call, every new baptism… it’s exciting to me to see what story is unfolding next.”

Over the years, June has touched upon many lives and made a very meaningful impact at Mosaic. Her grace and her enthusiasm is not only uplifting but infec-tious to the people she meets.

And for those of you who, like myself, often find yourselves lost in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, you can always find solace knowing that there are incredible women at Mosaic, like June, who are waiting to greet you with a warm smile.

To connect with other women at Mosaic through SHE Community, visit the SHE Community table in the lobby, or go to www.shecommunity.org

You can also say hello and contact June D’amour personally at jdamour@lmu.edu to get info on new classes or groups that are starting.

interview:june d’amourBy Joyce Liao

Bottom from left:June D’amour in her

sharing mode andat a beach baptism

It’s exciting to me tosee what story isunfolding next.

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a brief history

© Ron Niebrugge | WildNatureImages.com

Los Angeles Today

eople from about 140 countries speaking nearly 86 different languages comprise the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County today. Some of these popula-tions are substantial. Los Angeles is the second largest Mexican, Armenian, Korean, Filipino, Salvadoran and Guatemalan city in the world, the third largest Canadian city and the largest Japanese, Iranian, Cambodian and Gypsy communities in the United States as well as more Samoans than American Samoa. Our city has been described as a mosaic rather than a melting pot because many ethnic populations maintain their own identity and each has a different way of adjusting to new cultural and social patterns based on their own values, attitudes and customs. Much understanding and many open minds are needed with the myriad of prob-lems, ideas and world views created by the ethnic mix of present-day Los Angeles. Misunderstandings are inevitable and cultural differences must become a part of our education. “Minorities” already comprise a majority of the population.

Los Angeles Tomorrow

In the future Los Angeles will continue to be home to more races, religions, cultures, languages and peoples than any other city in the world. The city is expected to grow at the rate of 2.1 percent a year, more than twice the national rate. Los Ange-les, in fact, is the only mega city in the industrial world that is still growing rapidly. If projections are correct, the changing immigration and ethnic patterns will make Los Angeles the first large city to have its aging Anglo population dependent on minori-ties. A new multiracial population is rapidly emerging; there are children in Los Angeles who have African American, Hispanic, Anglo, and Asian grandparents. Whatever the extent of acculturation, we can safely predict that its effects promise to influence many facets of city life, from politics to business to the arts. These are, and will be, among the joys of Los Angeles.

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From Humble Beginnings... Thirty-five charter members of Bethel Baptist Church began meeting on January 3, 1943 in a rented storefront at 5637 E. Whittier Boulevard, Los Angeles. That first gathering seemed to serve as a poetic example of who Mosaic would become decades later as chairs ordered for the occasion failed to arrive, so the families brought chairs from their homes. By 1958, two more gatherings were estab-lished in Baldwin Park and Monterey Park, and weekly attendance was averaging 250 – 300. Yet within ten years, the cultural turbulence of the 1960’s nearly brought the church, and the dream of exhaling the good news of Jesus Christ, to an end. In 1969, God brought Tom Wolf to become the pastor of what had become the First Southern Baptist Church of East Los Angeles. At 24 years of age he brought a youthful hope and enthusiasm to a place that had nearly lost its dreams. Tom led the church through a common mission to “become a spiritual reference point east of downtown Los Angeles and a sending base to the ends of the earth.” In his 25 years as Senior Pastor, the newly renamed Church On Brady saw God take a handful of people and give birth to a vibrant community of 500 in average attendance. During those years, an extraordinary movement of God resulted in The Church on Brady starting churches both in Los Angeles and internationally. In October of 1991, Erwin McManus was invited as the keynote speaker for the Church on Brady’s Spare Not Conference on World Evangelism. Erwin, his wife, Kim, their son Aaron, daughter, Mariah, and their adopted daughter Paty, soon moved from their home in Dallas to Los Angeles. Pastor Erwin brought with him 15 years of experience as an urban church planter, metropolitan consultant on evangelism and church growth, and national confer-ence speaker.

On March 3, 1993 The Church On Brady unanimously invited Erwin to lead the congregation into the 21st century. Erwin, born in El Salvador, became the congregation’s first ethnic minority Lead Pastor.

...Comes a Radical Future Believing that the metaphor matters, Erwin sought a new name for a commu-nity on the forefront of God’s dreams for the future. Mosaic seemed to be the perfect name, encompassing the analogy that many broken pieces can come together to form one beautiful work of art. In 1998, Mosaic became a multi-site church by expanding into the center of the city. In 2003 Mosaic sold its property in East Los Angeles and became entirely mobile, operating out of moving trucks- loading and unloading for gatherings held in rented spaces throughout one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world. Still growing, we are ever more convinced through our experience that the church is people, not the building. We weekly see those searching for life- find hope; the number of cross-cultural workers sent from our community to serve the world continues to grow; and new Mosaic church plants are being started across the globe. This transforma-tion has made us more ethnically diverse, increasingly passionate, and has awak-ened our rich creativity.

We have a long history of various locations, buildings, and even church names, yet our essence remains the same: to live by faith, be known by love, and be a voice of hope throughout Los Angeles and to the ends of the earth.

Photograph by Spencer Leamer

Photograph by Spencer Leamer

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mosaiccore values

1 | Wind (Commission)Mission is why the Church exists.The Church is a movement, not an institution.Every follower of Jesus is commissioned by God.

2 | Water (Community)Love is the context for all mission.The Church is relational, not programmatic.Every follower of Jesus is part of a larger community.

3 | Wood (Connection)Structure must always submit to Spirit.The Church is empowering, not controlling.Every follower of Jesus is called and connected uniquely to serve.

4 | Fire (Communion)Relevance to culture is not optional.The Church is incarnational, not esoteric.Every follower of Jesus celebrates communion with God.

5 | Earth (Character)Creativity is the natural result of spirituality.The Church is transforming, not conforming.Every follower of Jesus grows in Christ-like character.

LIVE ART is produced by artists almost every week at Mosaic Westside to communicate a corrisponding visual representation of the gathering topic or series.

Art by (clockwise from top left) David Kim, Samantha Duke, Kirsten Presher, Kathleen Linehan and Michael Angrisani.

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Can’t come back and visit? Listen online!

AudioThe most recent audio messages are available for play on www.mosaic.org. You can also download recent and archived audio, either through the Mosaic Podcast subscription in iTunes, another RSS Feed program, or use the download links on our website.

How many episodes of the Podcast will be available?Our audio podcast features the last four episodes, sometimes more. Older episodes are also made available in addition to the the four recent episodes. We are not currently adding new videos to the video podcast, but an archive of older video episodes are available. Older messages are also available on CD or DVD through the Awaken Resources page at http://awaken.org/resources.

VideosYou can also view many of the original dance pieces, sketches and short films we’ve created for our gatherings on our official Mosaic YOUTUBE page at www.youtube.com/mosaicla.

mosaic podcast

January 13th – February 24th: INTERSECTIONS: a conversation with the city• Erwin and team engage the billboards around our city during this interactive message series

March 23rd: Easter 2008• Mosaic South Bay - First South Bay event at Gallery “C” in Hermosa Beach – over 300 people express interest in launching a new gathering

• Mosaic Whittier – Whittier officially launches as a Mosaic campus

• Mosaic’s best-attended Sunday ever- over 5,000 people celebrate at 10 gatherings in 7 locations

March 30th – April 27th: VITAL SIGNS• A five week series on spiritual vital signs

April 1 – 3rd: Awaken Conference in Pasadena CA• 800 people from around the world attend the premier leadership conference

April 18th: Scribble performs 2 shows in Hollywood to a sold-out crowds

May 8th: Hope in the City• Fashion Show at Ob(serve) gallery at Hope Park (FIDM) in Downtown LA

June 15th: Mosaic South Bay • New campus launches in Hermosa Beach and later moves to Redondo Beach

Summer 2008 series: PRACTICAL WISDOM | CONTENDERS | FALLING FORWARD• Mosaic continues to move from a community with a voice to a Community of VOICES…with multiple communicators speaking on wisdom from the scriptures

July 21st – 25th: Illuminate 2008 – Boyle Heights, Los Angeles• Our fourth year partnering with Hollenbeck Youth Center to bring Arts to urban youth

Aug 11th – 22nd: Beijing Olympics • 23 people invited through Awaken Humanity Projects to perform and serve at the 2008 Olympics

October 12th – November 30th: WIDE AWAKE • Erwin teaches from the new book while over 250 small groups and book clubs discuss living lives wide awake during our best attended series ever

October 21st: Mosaic Fall Festivals• 10 Fall Festival parties across the city attract over 1200 neighbors and friends

November 8th: Mosaic LA Film Festival and Ob(serve) Art Gallery • Mosaic’s first ever Film Festival inspired by the themes of Wide Awake

December 4th: Project Homeless Connect • Mosaic coordinated volunteers at 3 different sites around the county to serve the homeless

December 6th, 12-13th: Christmas Shows• “Wish: A Christmas Experience” (Mosaic Westside) and “A Christmas Carl” (Mosaic Pasadena) performed simultaneously in two locations

2008 year in review15 | S P R I N G 2 0 0 9

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awaken humnityCreating change in the world seems overwhelming for one person. Our hope isthat we can do it as a team, as a communityengaging the city to join us in support

By Becka DeLaney

A s followers of Christ, we are each called to spread the gospel within our local communities and through-out the world. Since its inception in 2006, Awaken Humanity has served within Los Angeles and all over the world, providing people of faith with the training tools and resources needed to assist struggling communities.

Awaken Humanity branches into two categories:

Awaken Humanity Projects, which serves both locally and abroad, sends short term mission teams to countries in need of training in work such as teach-ing, firefighting, construction, engineering, and more. ServeLA, an extension of Awaken Humanity Projects, helps struggling communities in Los Angeles find beneficial programs like Big Brother/Big Sister and School on Wheels. Both of these organizations mentor kids in need of friendships and/or help in school.

Mosaic Alliance International serves international leaders and cross cultural workers who are overseas on a long term basis. This year alone, Mosaic Alliance International has had a total of 20 teams sacrifice their time and energy to serve in challenging countries such as Burma, Israel, South India, the Middle East and North Korea. We are also expanding our humanitarian projects and working closely with leaders and organi-zations in Asia, Africa, Central America and Mexico. Additionally, we are encouraging development in church leadership and the arts in Europe, Australia, South Africa, Canada and Costa Rica.

Other examples of Awaken Humanity include the Green Team, which will help provide funds to the Breath of Heaven orphanage in Zambia, the Fashion Team, which plans on traveling to South India to open a sewing business for women who have been mistreated and abandoned, and His Loving Hands Blanket Brigade, which makes 20 - 50 blankets twice a month for returning or wounded troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For more info visit Awaken Humanity on Sundays or contact Janice Sakuma at janice@mosaic.org.

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I am Zambia is a local initiative designed to create a better future for the children in Zambia. For more info on the project, purchasing a book or how you can help, please visit iamzambia.org or email us at iamzambia@gmail.com.

In summer 2007, a team of photojournalists from Awaken Humanity traveled to Lusaka, Zambia to document the plight of the children affected by AIDS/HIV and poverty. Their collaborative efforts with local organization Breath of Heaven provided a unique opportunity to merge creativity and a vision to create a positive refuge through housing, educating, and nurturing orphaned children.

Prior to the team’s arrival, Breath of Heaven purchased 10 acres just outside of Lusaka in an effort to create a village setting familiar to the children by replicating surrounding communities. Construction on the village has begun and will include a community school, clinic, church and twelve homes.

Breath of Heaven’s vision for the Lusaka children compelled the Awaken Humanity team to support the village construction through various artistic outlets. The team quickly realized the significance of capturing these stories with integrity and made a commitment to be aggressive in their efforts to increase awareness of the children’s living conditions. With the help of Breath of Heaven, Awaken Humanity has created a 68-page book unfolding the remarkable stories of the children. The proceeds from every book sold will support the construction of the village.

By Krysta Rinke

Photographs by Jess Koehler

how to connect

1. Go to the Connection Hot Spot People are there to greet you and answer questions. There is also an “Opportunities Card” you can fill out to get more involved.

2. Fill out a “Communication Card” We will contact you to help find a place to connect and/or serve as well as keep you informed on upcoming events.

3. Go to a Small Group Get to know people in a smaller setting! Most groups meet once a week in homes all around Los Angeles. Find a list of Small Groups at the Connection Hot Spot or www.mosaic.org/smallgroups.

4. Serve in a Mosaic Ministry Area Visit with ministry leaders at the ministry booths or take one of the “Contacts” sheets at the Connection Hot Spot to email/call them. We have teams helping with Production, Film, Music, Dance, Art, Kids, ServeLA (local efforts for those in need), Awaken Humanity (overseas projects), and so many others.

6. Show up early/later and set up/break down Every week, a large group of incredible people show up hours before the gatherings to help set up. Simply show up two hours before the start of the gathering and ask if you can help!

7. Go out to eat with a group There are designated spots around Los Angeles where many will go to eat after a gathering. Ask anyone at the 10 Minute Party or the Connection Hot Spot where people are planning to meet.

8. Connect through a Mosaic Life in Christ (MLX) Mentor Ask about getting a mentor at the Connection Hot Spot. The MLX mentor will help you grow in your relationship with God and others.

It can be daunting to walk into Mosaic,see so many people and wonder,“How do I get to know someone?”

Here are ideas on how to take that first step!

Take the initiative tosay hello to someone!You’ll be glad you didand so will they!

Top: Chad Lauterbachworking the soundboard

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SERVICE TEAM

CONNECTION

SPECIALIZED

LIVE PRODUCTION

FAMILIES

ARTISANS

___Set up/ Break Down ___Parking/ Security ___Trucks

___Cafe’ Mosaic ___Ushers ___Follow Up With Guests

___Hot Spot/ 10 Minute Party ___Entrance Greeters

___Small Groups___College/ University

___SHE (Women) ___FORGE (Men)___Cross Cultural Workers

___Resources

___Mosaic Alliance

___Preschool ___K- 4th grade ___5th - 6th grade

___Jr. High ___High School

___Mobilize (Prayer)

___Celebrate Recovery

SERVING LOCALY AND INTERNATIONALY___Serve L.A. ___Mosaic Alliance

___ Awaken Humanity Projects

___Green Team

___Sound ___Lights

___Web Design___Video/ Camera

___Multi-Media ___Set Design

___Stage Directing

___Drama ___Dance ___Music ___Film/ Video

___Painting/ Illust. ___Graphic Design/ Photography

Name

Contact Phone

Email

Comments

I would like to serve at the following gathering (s)!

Pasadena ___9:30am ___11:15am

Westside ___11:15am Mayan ___6pm

Inland ___10am

___8pm

Please return this to an usher or to the Connection Hotspot!

South Bay ___6:15pm Whittier ___9am & 11am

MOSAIC

OPPORTUNITIES to serve and get involved!

Artwork by Vinoj Zacharia