SP.com has noticed a trend happening in the Sold Out Movement and the ICOC Coop Churches.

Both groups have equated numerical growth with proving that God is with them, church leaders never miss an opportunity in articles, sermons, and especially conferences  to mention their membership numbers and excitedly proclaim the number of churches in their movement.

The SODM conducted their Jubilee at the beginning of August 2010 and the ICOC Coop Churches just concluded their International Leadership Conference at the end of September 2010.   Both groups spent a lot of time boasting about their numbers during their conferences.

Both groups point to their stats as some sort of proof of God’s blessing. Both groups proclaim to teach the truth.  Both groups learned their doctrine from Kip McKean.

Looking at the SODM this week, we noticed that they boast of an Inaugural Service on September 19, 2010 of the London International Christian Church.  But wait, we remembered the London International Christian Church being planted back in October 2007, lead by Tim Kernan and 19 others.

“Great news from Europe and Africa! The London International Christian Church was planted by the Kernans in late October [2007] with 19 financially poor disciples.”

Then in 2008 in an article published on Upsidedown21 the London International Christian Church was called the London Remnant Group.

“More good news from abroad: The London Remnant Group, led by Tim and Lianne Kernan, hosted the second European Missions Conference on Ocrober 17-19, 2008.”

Why the change in name?  Not growing?  Was the membership numbers dwindling?

Now in September 2010, they conduct another inaugural service and claim they have “counted the cost” with the “Remnant Group” and now they are all ready to start the church.  The phrase “counting the cost” means that leaders meet with each member of the church and typically go through an accounting of that members sins.  The member is challenged about all areas of his life and expected to be broken about their lack of “sold-outed-ness” and then called to be more committed than ever before.   Once again the members are then challenged to get busy evangelizing.   With the sting of rebukes fresh in their hearts, the church holds another inaugural service.  Does anybody in the SODM ever stop to think about what is happening here?  Don’t they see how McKean is using the hype of an inaugural service to fire them all up without mentioning they’ve tried this before and apparently it failed?

“Now illuminating this dark world covered with “the shadow of death,” the Spirit of the “Light of Israel” has ignited a glorious bonfire called the London International Christian Church! Again it can be said, “A great light has dawned!” McKean, September 2010

A glorious Bonfire? Will this one last?  Why the need to “count the cost” with members who are already supposed to be sold-out?  The article mentions 27 members counted the cost?  They were planted back in 2007 with 20 members.  Only a growth of 7 members in 3 years?  Not a very good showing to prove God is with you.

We’d like to ask, “Is the SODM growing at all?”

Over the past 4 years, we’ve monitored the list of SODM churches.  Did you know that at least 18 churches were on their list and are no longer listed?

  1. Reno-Taho International Christian Church
  2. San Francisco International Christian Church – on/off several times
  3. Bangalore Christian Church
  4. Berlin International Christian Church, Germany
  5. Iglesias Cristiana Internacional de San Salvador, El Salvador
  6. Iglesias Cristiana Internacional de Guatemala City, Guatemala
  7. Toronto International Christian Church
  8. Iglesia Cristiana Internacional de San Pedro Sula
  9. Tulsa International Christian Church
  10. Sacramento International Christian Church
  11. Salt Lake Christian
  12. Corvalis Church
  13. Honduras
  14. Portland Oregon Church
  15. Siberia
  16. Northern Ireland International Christian Church
  17. Savannah Church of Christ
  18. Several churches listed in Chile

And we’ve recently noted that New Delhi International Christian Church was removed from the directory.

Why would a church of sold-out disciples who have to be 100% committed to even be baptized and are committed to evangelizing the world in one generation not be carrying out their mission? How in the world could they become lukewarm with McKean leading the way?

McKean claims,

“God’s modern day movement is moving with an ever-increasing momentum!”

Is it really?