Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,
Greetings from Charlotte, NC! Thank you very much for your help and support during these very hard financial times. The Work of Christ continues to grow, and our impact is increasing on a monthly basis. Now, we are having increasing numbers of responses to the Tomorrow’s World telecast, sometimes reaching the “more than six thousand a week” level here in America and Canada—plus many responses in Britain, Australia and elsewhere. The number of people acting on the Truth is constantly increasing as well, and we are thankful that God is calling additional hundreds of people to understand where His full Truth is being preached.
However, as many of you already recognize, America’s days as the “leading world power” are numbered! As the latest Kiplinger Letter reports, “If the federal deficit is a runaway train racing, with no brakes, toward the steep precipice… most states have already gone over the cliff” (January 29, 2010). If America is “heading” toward a steep precipice, financially, it is also heading for a similar precipice morally. For increasing numbers of television programs, Internet offerings and other media are definitely going right down into the drain—morally speaking! Sorry, but I can’t put it any better. Many of you recognize this—as even God’s people occasionally have images of vile sex practices, hedonistic violence and the gratuitous taking of God’s name in vain pushed at them as they are “surfing the channels” on television. Frankly, our American and British-descended peoples are morally “sick.” And the Eternal God is not pleased!
Dear friends and brethren, we really are approaching the end of an age. We in this Work really are called to proclaim the Good News of a coming World Government—the “Kingdom of God” under Jesus Christ as King of kings (Revelation 11:15). We all need to catch this vision!
Truly—if we really understand where we are headed—our hearts and our minds, our time and our financial resources ought to be heavily involved in supporting and facilitating the very Work which Christ is doing through His servants at this time! There has never been a time when it is more important to get involved in the Work of Christ than right now! For time truly is short—as I know many of you fully realize. So, I hope and pray that many of you will “dig down deep” to help us financially as best as you are able, plus pouring out your hearts to God in fervent prayer that God will see us through the trying financial times that our nations are experiencing, and that God’s Work is experiencing as well. We do need your help, and ask all who understand to respond generously at this time.
Also in this letter I want to discuss another major undertaking of the Work of God which all of us should pray about and be involved in. This involves the fact that—as we prepare for an entire new society—we need to realize that in the present society our educational system is going down the drain almost as much as our morals are. In fact, our educational system has had a terrible corrupting effect, as a whole, on the many millions of young people coming along in Britain, Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand, etc. In fact, the obvious failure of our college system has resulted in the highest dropout rates ever in this nation. A recent Newser headline proclaims, “Dropout rates turning US colleges into ‘failure factories’” (September 9, 2009). Sadly, many drop out because they have no real purpose in life.
However, dropping out of school can have devastating consequences. Research shows that only one in four college students will actually earn a college degree. Yet, half of all jobs in the next ten years will require education beyond secondary school. At the same time, the cost of attending an American college or university has alarmingly skyrocketed in recent years. The dream of providing a college education for their children is now beyond the reach of many families. Moreover, the downturn in the world economy makes 2010 a poor time for new college graduates to launch viable and successful careers.
Nevertheless, these are not the only issues, nor are they the most important! Students and their families face the reality of a higher education establishment preoccupied with political correctness, training for careers, and progressive secularism—as well as the uncertainties of a debt-burdened international economy. If this is not shocking enough, consider that the failure of colleges and universities to teach God’s way of life will result in devastating, catastrophic personal and societal consequences.
Even though most of the nation’s first and most prominent universities were founded in the name of Christianity, most of today’s educators are ignoring the foundation of truth—God’s Word. Students are taught that there are no absolutes, and that there is no ultimate authority except the self. Students rarely learn about God’s eternal law. Rather, they learn about secular humanism and materialism. The basis of much of today’s higher education is atheistic, anti-Christian, and God-rejecting concepts.
The consequences are clear. The Apostle Paul was inspired by God to write: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Romans 1:28). What is the basic result? Verses 24-25 read: “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”
True education, as Scripture presents it, goes far beyond knowledge production; it must teach the spiritual values without which all the other pursuits will lead to ruin! True education must be based on the Truth of God (Proverbs 1:7). All other foundations are but vanity. Only a Christian with a desire to learn from the Great Teacher, and to follow His example, will build a proper foundation to receive true knowledge. The world is filled with false values, so there is an obvious need to recapture true biblical values. Reliable knowledge of these true values comes from only one source—God’s Word. True education is training in Truth—and the Bible is the starting point for Truth! It reveals how to love God and how to love our neighbors. It teaches the true way of life. As Jesus Christ said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
As you know, all of us involved in this Work labor earnestly to live by and teach God’s way of life and proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the entire world as a witness. And you have a vital and important part in this Work, through your earnest, heartfelt prayers and continued financial support.
An important part of this Work is its higher educational arm, Living University. Our LU students are taught to apply biblical values to every facet of life—including art, literature, science, music and human relations. All courses are based on the foundational principles of a godly education. Our mission is to bring instruction in God’s Way beyond geographical boundaries to all peoples, for “All the World is Our Campus.” We have already served hundreds of students from many different nations who have taken our Living University courses “online!”
Our primary focus is on adult learning through distance education provided over the Internet. This is a highly effective means of teaching God’s Truth. A new U.S. Department of Education study reported that “on average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.” No wonder that adult learners will represent 51% of students in higher education by the end of 2010.
I would especially encourage all of our young people to get involved with Living University. Our courses will not only help you lay a solid foundation for your future life, your family and your career. They may also help quite a number of you prepare for full-time service in the Work of God! As prophetic events continue to impact our entire society, millions are beginning to realize that this world’s society is not going to last in its present form. So, the Work of the living Jesus Christ will grow. We will need not only more ministers, but more educated, dedicated workers helping us in the many departments in God’s Work. So, we are hoping to have an increasing number of young students here at our Charlotte Headquarters as “on-campus” students. A few may be employed here in our offices as the need arises. Others will be assisted in acquiring off-campus employment. But our dedicated ministry and staff will help you and watch over you as best we can. And this will give increasing numbers of our Christian youth the opportunity to enjoy wholesome college activities together, build solid friendships, “date” Christian young people and so build their social skills and their circle of friends in a genuinely wholesome atmosphere.
As a special way to introduce many of you to our Living University classes, I am pleased to announce that beginning with the autumn semester in August 2010, anyone who has successfully completed our 24-lesson Tomorrow’s World Bible Study Course (which is available online, or by writing to us) may audit or complete for credit the Living University course Theology 135—Life and Teachings of Jesus—for free! We want to do this to introduce you to a more in-depth study of God’s Word. I hope you will take advantage of this exciting opportunity to be ready to “give an answer” for the hope that lies within us (1 Peter 3:15) and to prepare to teach God’s way to all human beings in the coming Kingdom of God (Isaiah 30:20-21).
Guys and gals, let us hear from you! As God makes possible, we want to have more of you here and build a real “college atmosphere” for you in addition to the hundreds of others taking our online courses. So come to Charlotte and be a “pioneer” in these early years of Living University. For those of you who are interested, please write or email Dr. Scott Winnail at: [email protected], or call him at: 704-844-1966 option 7. For more information on Living University, please visit our website at www.livinguniv.com.
Dear brethren and co-workers, please remember that the financial needs of the Work of the gospel are great, as there are millions yet to learn of God and His ways—and we need to increase our television coverage, print publications, and Internet initiatives. This world is literally “crying out” for the true message of Jesus Christ and His magnificent world government to be set up on this earth. May God inspire all of you to join us in doing all we can to prepare for the soon-coming Kingdom!
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith