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Mission Valley Christian Fellowship

August 5th, 2004

Website: http://www.mvcf.com

Church Review
Scriptural View: 2/5 (Depends on the issue.)
Beliefs: 3/5
Community: 2/5

Website Review
Site Usabilility: 3/5
Site Design: 3/5
Site Content: 3/5

Summary: Mission Valley Christian Fellowship is affiliated with the Calvary system. (I’d encourage you to read: The Calvary Stance on God) I have had the chance of attending this church and meeting Leo Giovinetti. Leo, the preaching pastor came from a life of performing at casinos of Reno, Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. Their worship style reflects some of this background.

MVCF make the politics in Israel part of their concern. They have an Israel Bless God campaign. They frequently fly over and deliver checks (it most be in the $ millions by now) to atheists to use at their own discretion. This is something we do not find scripture! They take a number of verses out of context to create a whole sub-sect of the Christian faith centered around Israel. Leo has called non-believers who are Jewish his brothers, like we worship the same God. (Read John 8:44 to see how Jesus talks to religious Jews.) Anyway, certainly MVCF is a Christian church but there are too many holes in their teaching for us to recommend this church.

I would encourage you to read a few of the comments that have been posted by MVCF people.

There are good things and people being saved at MVCF, but there are too many things that disagree with scripture for me to recommend this church.

15 Responses to “Mission Valley Christian Fellowship”

  1. Anonymous Says:

    This is the church that has the “America Bless God” campaign, which is another example of how they have missed the mark of what it is to be a church of God’s kingdom. We as believers should spend more time communicating God’s reign & rule over the world than taking on political tasks and desires of perpetuating the lie that America is a Christian nation. Another reason to look elsewhere for a church to attend.

  2. Lanny L. Johnson, M.D. Says:

    8/5/2004
    Mission Valley Christian Fellowship

    I appeciate your commentary. It is difficult to do such a service to the church and not be judgmental. It is challenge for a person to make such judgements and possibly be all knowing.

    Your Comments: MVCF make the politics in Israel part of their concern. They have an Israel Bless God campaign. They frequently fly over and deliver checks (it most be in the $ millions by now) to atheists to use at their own discretion. This is something we do not find scripture!

    I read this criticism and would like to help you find a Bible verse that supports MVCF Israel mission.

    Galatians 6:10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open to us, let us do good to all people…. I think all means all and would include unbelievers, including Israel.

    May the Lord God of Israel give you discernment.

    In Christ,

    Lanny L. Johnson, M.D.

  3. SiteAdmin Says:

    Lanny,

    Thanks for your comments. I agree with you, we should do good to all people. Do you think Galatians 6:10 implies we should deliver large checks to atheists without the message of the gospel? I could also look at certain texts when it comes to handing money to a godless people:

    “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”–Mark 8:36
    “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”–Luke 9:25

    I guess the important question is what is ‘do good’? Instead of funding a wall to be built in Israel wouldn’t it be better to send missionaries? To buy and deliver Bibles? Or what about funding Church plants here in San Diego area? With 1 million dollars how many churches could be planted, missionaries sent and people won to Christ?

    I guess I see those things as far better than providing earthly things to a people who do not know Christ.

  4. Alex Says:

    First off a christian is just a jew who believes that Jesus is our lord and savior. Secondly JESUS WAS A JEW! What was he talking to himself like that in John 8:44. And last but not least I happen to love jesus and i Rock out to jesus. Leo is a great man who is trying to show isreal the truth. We do several trips a year and we talk to the same people in the hopes to bring them over to the full truth. God said to them that he was going to make a new covenat and that is jesus. Jews are far from athiest and infact they are your brothers and sisters..they just dont know it yet. Get your facts straight before you go around talking about things you dont understand..and i would advise you go over John again before you pretend to know what your talking about. Come to Mission valley one day and look me up we can rock out to jesus together.

  5. SiteAdmin Says:

    Yes, Jesus was a Jew. You ask a good question, “what was he talking to himself like that in John 8:44?” I would examine this a bit further. Here is the passage:

    John 8
    44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

    Jesus is talking to the Pharisee’s, the religious Jews of his day. He is saying their father is the DEVIL. Powerful words. Jews were only saved people IF they had faith in the promise of Jesus Christ.

    Galatians 3
    26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

    Romans 9
    6It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.

    In these verses, Paul denied that physical descent from Abraham and physical circumcision would save anyone, and stated that the true descendants of Abraham were those who “are Christ’s” via spiritual regeneration. Consequently, we must reject the concept promoted by Dispensationalism that there are two separate people of God– the Christian Church and the nation of Israel.

    Gal 2:16
    Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

    The Jews are NOT our “brothers and sisters” that don’t know it yet. To believe this is to reject Scripture. It is by faith, through Christ, drawn by the Holy Spirit that we are saved. Everyone else will not be saved.

    I would encourage you to not believe the lies you are being taught. This will be difficult but look to scripture, not to Leo to learn the Bible. I have met Leo on a number of occasions and I don’t deny he is a nice guy. But when it comes to preaching another gospel I have to reject his false teachings.

    I have been to Mission Valley before and it is because of these experiences I would recommend those who attend, begin to look for another church to attend.

    “i would advise you go over John again before you pretend to know what your talking about.”

    Alex, I would suggest you re-read Romans, John, Galatians to understand that dispensationalism is a false teaching. I recognize it is going to be a difficult road for you to accept the Bible on these areas, because to do so will be recognizing the errors of Mission Valley, which is your family. I know many people who choose to believe the lies because the cost is too high for them to leave the people they love.

  6. Alex Says:

    well i will still continue to go to mission valley cause i believe that what we are doing there is gods work. But thanks for your concern. If you still wish to talk to me please Email me.

  7. SiteAdmin Says:

    Alex,

    I understand you believe this. I would encourage you to re-consider though. (I’m sure Mormons believe they are doing gods work too.) I am confident the more you study God’s word the more this will make sense. The consequence of not understanding (Israel, how salvation works, etc.) is people are left with a Bible where the preaching (like at MVCF) never quite matches with the text. This can confuse a lot of people and causes doubt. Trust me I know churches filled with ex-MVCF people who recognized the many errors of Leo’s preaching. But I trust if God wants to open your eyes by His Spirit, it will happen.

    The good news is you and I are on the same team. We both believe Jesus Christ is Lord and we both are called to spread the good news of what He has done for us. In this you and I are brothers in Christ. For that I am thankful.

  8. Mars Hillbilly Says:

    I think MVCF is a good church to attend if you’re starting out, but like all Calvary Chapels/affiliates membership revolves around cliques. People usually leave because they don’t fit into these cliques. I loved my time at Mission Valley, but it was just time to move on. There are several good churches in town that came out of this ministry: East Valley Christian Fellowship, Kaleo (David Fairchild) and The Way (former worship leader Art Murillo.) So there are good things that come out of there.

  9. Derek Smythe Says:

    As for the several church plants that came, I think there is another from MVCF called Oasis Blast up in Temecula by Sean Nelson. From my understanding at least 3 of these were not done “with the blessing of MVCF” and as such they aren’t church plants, more the people left on convictions. I could be wrong.

  10. Mars Hillbilly Says:

    I never called them church plants, but people have left for various reasons. Calling them plants would be like calling MVCF a plant of Horizon. Suffice to say, it’s taken Mike MacIntosh 10 years to get over Leo leaving, he even said it one night at Chapter & Verse. People have gotten good teaching and sound doctrine at both churches, and just moved on to do what God’s called them to do.

  11. Celena Mesa Says:

    Would someone PLEASE make a suggestion for a sound church in LAs Vegas. I have friends looking but are quite leary as they just left CLV. A mega mega church which my friends felt was being running like a “corporation.” Also felt uncomfortable with the many friendly references towards Benny Hin. Please help guide us to a church. Preferably not a mega one. Hows that Legacy Vineyard?
    My email is [email protected]

  12. stan Says:

    You are right regarding Leo and MVCF. I have friends in a pro-life ministry who tried to get that church to provide sidewalk counselors in front of an abortion mill not very far from the church. My friends were roughed up and told by the police that they could press charges. They declined. One of their pastors agreed to discuss the issue further and provide some help. When held to his word in a phone conversation, he said he had no obligation to keep his word.
    A church that will send millions to a country, whose occupants have not repented of crucifying their Savior, and stay silent and inactive in our present holocaust is a church being blindly and ignorantly led by a hypocrite and self-promoter.
    His current effort to counter the homosexual festival scheduled this summer in Jerusalem completely ignores the fact that it is Jewish homosexuals in Israel who march every year in Jerusalem. It is Jewish homosexuals in Israel who invited this festival in. There will be thousands of Jewish homosexuals coming from around the world to celebrate. It was not for nothing that someone told John in Rev. 11:8 that the mystical name for Jerusalem was “Sodom.” But you will NEVER hear Leo point this out.

  13. Mars Hillbilly Says:

    I find it highly ironic that Leo, having a homosexual stepson, won’t even do anything about homosexuality in his own backyard!

  14. Bob Says:

    I am a now reformed individual who left MVCF for doctrinal issues. I feel that Calvery Chapels’ are good for beginning Christians but after a time a child of God needs a church who actually digs into the Word. Leo has openly stated that he abhors the Doctrines of Grace and Calvinist thought. He supports the pagan greek philosophic concept of “freewill” which ne never bothers to define. He also publicly stated in one of his sermons that he believes it is possible for a child of God to become unsaved. These are grave errors that musn’t be ignored.

    Yes, MVCF’s actions toward atheistic Israel is Biblically wrong. I reject dispensationalism. But some of you have crossed the line. Shame on you for bringing Leo’s son into this! That was far below the belt and has nothing to do with his doctrine. Your comment sickens me. We are discussing DOCTRINE - not personal issues for which Leo (our brother in Christ I might add) has no control over.

  15. susan lyarber Says:

    we each must do what we believe God is saying to us and if we are wrong He is able to show us truth. some of us are slow learners and after all only He can judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. there will be a day there will be no “churches” as we know them and it will be then, at that point, the we will find if we are the dwelling IN HIM or not. we must seek Him now while we can. there will be a day when we will see the ground work that has been layed. may we all learn to abide now in that secret place.

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