To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Church of Southland actually focused on something outside of itself: global missions.
Church of Southland, a church located in Anaheim consisting of some 1,000 congregants, had a weekend full of activities to celebrate its 15th anniversary, including a Friday night full of performances by members of many departments within the church. An "SNL' -- "Southland Night Live' -- performance, and performances by the children's ministry, junior high, and high schoolers, were some of them.
But a bulk of the weekend's festivities revolved around missions, as a full day on Saturday was dedicated to a missions conference, and missionaries were also invited and joined the services on Sunday. The church usually dedicates the month of February to focus on missions, according to Church of Southland staff, and decided that taking time to do so during the anniversary weekend would be fitting.
About 15 missionaries from various parts of Southeast Asia supported by Church of Southland and/or by Acts Ministires International -- which Southland is affiliated with -- were invited and shared their testimonies throughout the day on Saturday.
Many shared stories of the growths of their church plants, and the people that were reached with the gospel.
"I am amazed at what God is doing here at Southland and I anticipate what He will continue to do through this church to reach the world," said one missionary.
"Normal Christianity requires us to be witnesses for Christ," Pastor Keith Park, the lead pastor and founder of Church of Southland, said on Saturday, addressing the congregation.
"When we don't fulfill our mission as witnesses, we miss our purpose," Park continued. "As a church, we are a gathering of witnesses."
Church of Southland began in February of 2001 with some 75 to 80 people, and today, the church consists of some 650 adult members and about 380 children and youth.
