Inside the ICC's 20th Anniversary Magazine*

“If you merely glance through the LA Story's 20th anniversary issue once more -- you also might see, like I do, we were a cult, plain and simple.” -- Henry Kriete, "Still Honest To God," September 2005.

November 2005

Illustrating former ICC evangelist Henry Kriete's point that this publication shows the ICC was a cult, here are graphics and highlights from the August 1999 LA Story*.

Cover

LA Story 20th anniversary issue

Cover: “From Here to Eternity: Episode I – The First 20 Years of God’s Modern-Day Movement”

Pages 2 & 3

LA Story 20th anniversary issue

Page 2 Al Baird Editorial: From Here to Eternity

“We thank God for raising up Kip and Elena McKean to lead us.”

Page 3 Roger Lamb Article: God’s Man, Message and Movement

“Out of this darkness, God called a young man to start another movement for this generation.”

“THE RIGHT MAN: God raised up Kip McKean and gave him a radical message that would start a revolution in the lives of people all over the world in our era.”

“God placed a revolutionary plan on Kip’s heart.”

“…God has used Kip and Elena McKean to lead his movement over the last 20 years…”

“And in our lifetime, God has raised up a couple to lead his people to reach the world again in one generation.” (see Kip McKean: God’s Man)

Pages 4 & 5

LA Story 20th anniversary issue

Page 4 & 5 maps: Scope of Prominent Christian Movements Since the 1^st Century

“God’s Modern-Day Movement: International Church of Christ (1979-Present)”

Map shows ICC reaching more nations than Luther’s Reformation Movement, Wesley’s Methodist Movement, and Alexander Campbell’s Restoration Movement. (see When Publicity Becomes Propaganda)

Pages 6 & 7

LA Story 20th anniversary issue

Page 6 & 7 Chronological history of ICC: Revolution thru Restoration I & II

“God’s revolution – his modern-day movement – is only 20 years old.”

Picture of Kip McKean preaching; McKean’s 1972 baptism shown on the world history timeline (previous spread showed other historical events like "Guttenberg invents the priting press", "Columbus discovers America", and "Dead Sea Scrolls Discovered in Palestine.")

"God initiates his modern-day movement as Kip McKean preaches to the 30 'would-be' disciples in the Gempel's living room in Boston." Photograph shows Gempel’s living room, site of the "historic devotional." (see Fallacies of the Past: Thirty would-be disciples in Boston)

“World Sector Leaders appointed by Kip McKean”

Pages 8 & 9

LA Story 20th anniversary issue

Pages 8 & 9 Chronological history of ICC (continued): Revolution thru Restoration I & II

“On November 7, 1998, God fulfilled the dream of Kip McKean and the entire LA Church as Kip preached to over 17,000 who gathered to worship at the historic Rose Bowl stadium.”

”1994: The Evangelization Proclamation…The Goal: By the end of the year 2000, to plant a church of disciples in every nation with a city with a population of at least 100,000. The Six Year Plan…” (see Timeline: A Six-Year Plan?)

“Corey & Megan Blackwell are forcefully advancing the gospel in the Middle East.” (see Forceful People)

Hope timeline makes world-famous humanitarians unkowning endorsements for the ICC: Nelson Mandela pictured in HOPE baseball cap, Bob Gempel shakes hands with Mother Theresa. (see H.O.P.E.: Helping Our Publicity Efforts)

“Yearly missions funds remain in the World Sector in which they are collected, except for a small central fund paying for the World Sector Leadership and to provide for Kingdom cash reserves.” As Kriete points out, most ICC churches have not truly opened the past books. World Sector Leader severances are unknown. And what became of the “Kingdom cash reserves” mentioned in LA Story?

Pages 10 & 11

LA Story 20th anniversary issue

Pages 10 & 11 Defining Christianity for the Nations

The title speaks volumes.

HOPE Timeline shows Kip McKean and Bob Gempel giving an award to former US President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter (see Does the ICC use HOPE as a Front Group?).

Pages 12 & 13

LA Story 20th anniversary issue

Pages 12 & 13: Photo Album: Family All Around the World

Picture of McKeans and Gempels in the Garden of Gethsamane, where Jesus is traditionally said to have prayed before his crucifixion.

Reunion picture of the “30 Would-be Disciples” that started the Boston Movement.

Pictures of Kip McKean’s three children, some or all of whom have since left the movement.

Picture of McKean with several children on a HOPE relief project.

Picture of former World Sector Leaders Steve Johnson & Doug Arthur posing at the Taj Mahal in India.

[To read the entire issue from the LA Story Archive at ICOCInvestigation.com in a PDF, click here.]

Sources:

Henry Kriete, "Still Honest To God" a.k.a.Response to a Friend (PDF), September, 2005.

*LA Story, August 1999. Kingdom News Network (KNN) has dissolved and ceased to publish LA Story. KNN's successor Disciples Today offers an online news service readers can subscribe to for $40 (US) per year.

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