December 14, 2023
Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ,
Several of us returned home from a short trip to Guatemala to visit our members in that beautiful Central American country. Even though the country is small, traffic and winding mountain roads make it time-consuming for our members to meet together, and so we greatly appreciated that some traveled as much as four hours to be with us. There were also several who came across the border from El Salvador.
We arrived Friday evening in Santa Catarina, Guatemala after a traffic-congested trip from Guatemala City and were met by patiently waiting brethren and a Guatemalan-style meal. Sabbath morning, we were greeted by flowering plants, chirping birds, and a view of Lake Atitlán with three towering volcanic mountains across the lake. After a relaxing morning, we returned to the open-air shelter where we were the evening before. It was a wonderful setting and several of the ladies had prepared beautiful floral arrangements for Sabbath services, where we experienced warm fellowship with a lunch that followed. Our Spanish-language Regional Director, Mr. Mario Hernandez, translated my message into Spanish, and we all sang the same hymns—most singing in Spanish, but a few in English.
I met the two young men who are working with our Charlotte Internet Department to build a new Spanish-language website. It was a pleasure meeting these talented young people who are stepping up to the plate to serve in this manner. The website should be rolled out soon and we will announce it when it goes live.
The next day we took a boat ride to the other side of the lake to visit a family before traveling to Antigua. The matriarch of the family died last year but was so well-loved in the community that more than six hundred showed up for her funeral. She also received a public recognition award from the government for her community service as a nurse.
We then traveled to Antigua, which was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. A visit there explains why. The city, which was once the capital of Guatemala has gone by different names over the centuries and has a colorful past. When the crater lake of Volcán de Agua (water volcano) breached on September 11, 1541, a mudflow destroyed the city of La Antigua Guatemala. Antigua was then destroyed in 1773 by a massive earthquake—the ruins of which are seen today amongst its many shops and cobblestone streets. The capital was then moved to Guatemala City.
Mr. Hernandez and I met two men from the United States who were waiting outside a shop while their wives were inside. We exchanged reasons why we were in Guatemala and when we told them we were there to visit our congregation, the conversation turned to religion, as they were quite eager to engage us on the subject. One man was concerned for his family members who had not accepted Christ, and he asked Mr. Hernandez if he would pray for his family right then and there. Mr. Hernandez explained that he would pray for this man’s family, but would do so as Christ taught, and quoted the first half of Matthew 6:6: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place....” Both men immediately understood and appreciated his response.
Since the man seemed sincerely concerned about his family, I thought it might help him if I explained that the popular belief, that God is trying to save the whole world right now, is flawed both logically and biblically. As an example, I asked him, “What would happen to people in the first century living right here in what we now call Guatemala who never heard of Christ—or for that matter, what would happen to people in North and South America, Asia and Africa? If there is only one name under heaven by which one can be saved, what chance did they have? Were they lost forever without a chance for salvation?” Mr. Hernandez then pointed out that if God is trying to save everyone today, the Devil must be stronger than God, as far more have chosen his way than God’s way. Of course, we know that Satan is not stronger than God, so there must be something missing from common understanding, and we referred them to several scriptures.
Both men could freely quote from the Bible, but the younger of the two seemed open-minded to any encouragement regarding his unsaved loved ones. He understood that only God through the Holy Spirit can bring someone to Christ, but it was evident that he did not understand the implications of Christ’s statement that “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44, 65). When I offered to send him our booklet, Is This the Only Day of Salvation?, he gave us his name and address. The booklet is on its way.
Over my five decades in the ministry, I have had a number of these “chance encounters.” Sometimes it is no more than time and chance, but I know of several encounters that were more than happenstance. We may never know in this life whether this was God’s doing or mere chance, and I have learned that even when individuals are confronted with truth, it is hard for them to change—tradition, family and friends, and society in general exert a strong pull that few are willing to go against. That is why Jesus tells us He must come first above everyone and everything in our lives (Luke 14:26-27). Personal wealth caused the young man who came to Christ seeking salvation to walk away from the answer. Only God can open the human heart to understanding, but it takes courage to act on truth once it is given. It is also more difficult to unlearn error than to learn truth apart from error. So, whether this was a mere chance meeting, or whether this was God “arranging” this encounter, remains to be seen.
The next morning, we took the trip back to the airport to return home—a short 25 miles that took two-and-a-quarter hours due to traffic. Mr. Cristian Orrego, our minister who oversees our congregations in Mexico and Guatemala, was thankfully our driver as driving there is a challenge.
Brethren and co-workers, this work of Tomorrow’s World and the Living Church of God, is more than a local North Carolina congregation. We truly are a very small, but worldwide Work, with more than 400 congregations cooperating to send forth the plain truth of God around the world. Wherever I go, no matter which language, the same Spirit of God is evident in our congregations. We sing the same hymns, conduct our services with the same format, teach the same doctrines, observe the same biblical Festivals and Holy Days, and experience the same love of Christ and affection for one another. We also share the same passion to proclaim the true Gospel (good news) of the coming Kingdom of God to the whole world, and to warn the Israelite nations, and the world, of the trouble rapidly descending on rebellious mankind. No, we do not do these things perfectly, but it is remarkable what God is doing through such a small group of members and co-workers.
Thank you for your prayers and financial assistance which make it possible to proclaim the truth of God in print and by electronic media, as well as serve those who respond to God’s calling. We continue to go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them all things that our Lord and Savior commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston