January 10, 2024
Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ,
Thank you for your part in this Work of the living God over the last year. The year 2023 was another good year as we were able to carry out this Work to a greater degree and set new records. Here are a few bullet points regarding last year:
- Our English-language Tomorrow’s World YouTube channel logged over 6.6 million views and added a record 49,395 new subscribers.
- Our Afrikaans magazine subscriptions rose to 5,353, a record high.
- We sent Tomorrow’s World magazines to 182 countries.
- We fulfilled literature requests (not including TW magazines) to 167 countries in 2023, including our first ever requests from Gibraltar and East Timor.
- We have congregations in 66 countries, with scattered members in 31 additional countries.
- We added 27 new congregations in 2023, including our first congregation in Equatorial Guinea.
There is so much more, such as an average of 550,000 Tomorrow’s World magazines sent six times a year, our booklets and other resources—all sent free of charge. Then there are our television programs going out on hundreds of channels. All of this is accomplished by 12,274 members (as of this letter, including children) and you faithful co-workers! Thank you is not adequate to express our appreciation, but whether you were able to give little, or able to give much, thank you! May God reward you many times over in this life and the life to come!
Back in April 2020, shortly after the beginning of the pandemic when businesses were being closed and workers laid off, it looked to us that we would be in for a rough time financially. In my letter that month, I wrote something that I rarely do, as I think most of you know. Let me quote from that letter as some of you were not members or co-workers at the time:
Many people are looking for answers that we can provide, but with so many of you out of work, doing our Work of preaching the true Gospel and warning this world of what is to come is a challenge. Though it was not unexpected, we already saw a downturn in income over the last two weeks.
However, I want to be totally open with all of you. We did receive the blessing of a large sum of money just as this crisis was beginning. God knew we would need it, and He provided it. He positioned us to be in the best shape financially in many years going into this difficult time. We also have savings in hall rentals and travel expenses as we shift during this crisis to holding Sabbath services online temporarily. This offsets some lost income, but even with these savings, our reserves could be depleted if this lasts very long.
I went on to explain that this Work in other countries that often rely on the United States for support would likely be in greater need as a result of the worldwide disruptions. And then I wrote what I rarely write, an appeal to our members and co-workers who were able to give a little extra:
Because of these reasons, I’m asking that those who are able, those who have regular income and are themselves saving from lower travel costs, to please consider giving a little extra to make up for those who are out of work. It is not reasonable to ask people to do what they cannot do, and we will not employ emotional appeals with sad faces and sentimental music. Instead, I am making an honest and simple appeal: Now is a time for those of us who are still working, or who have much, to make up for those out of work or who have little.
This was written nearly four years ago, and I am NOT writing this to make a similar appeal. That time may well come sometime in the future, but not now. (However, by my saying this, I hope that no one thinks that there are no needs.) The point is that you members and co-workers did respond. In addition, financial blessings came from unexpected sources—none from the government—that put us in the best financial position that any of us could remember. So, when we thought the future looked precarious, our loving Savior took care of this Work of God. And again, I want to thank those of you who received that letter and responded to it, whether financially and/or in your prayers to the Possessor of heaven and earth.
The year 2023 was a good year for us financially. Regular income was up 5 percent and special offerings were higher than the year before. Because we had such good years in 2020 and 2021, we have reserves that we are purposely drawing down with new hires in the ministry and in needed positions here at our worldwide offices in Charlotte. We are not spending it all at once, but as our membership grows, and as more people come onboard as co-workers or donors, we anticipate leveling out in the next year or two.
As we enter another year, it is evident that our world is in trouble. Any kind of miscalculation could draw the superpowers into a world war. How soon, we do not know, but according to the Bible, a world war is coming! Some believe it has already begun. And Jesus said that it will get so bad that all life could be destroyed if it were not for His return to planet Earth and His intervention (Matthew 24:21-22).
But apart from the troubles in the world at large, there is a personal fact that none of us can ignore—we all have an expiration date. That is why we are thankful for, and confident in, the living hope of the resurrection from the dead. It is interesting that at this very time when man is careening ever closer to self-destruction, God has given us the tools we need to explore the very foundations of life. The more we learn about the complexity of life, the more we realize that we are NOT an accident. If, with all our intelligence, we cannot put together the simplest bacteria cell from scratch, how is it possible that chance can do what we cannot do? Throw all the chemicals into a bottle, shake it up, send electric sparks through it, and hocus-pocus, life emerges? No, life is far too complicated for such an accident, no matter how many bottles and how long they are shaken.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is not about going to heaven for eternal retirement. It is the wonderful news that we can be born into the very Family of God, that those who are Christ’s at His coming will be joint heirs with Christ. Think about it!
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8:14-17).
This passage has been in the Bible for the better part of two thousand years. Why is it not being preached and expounded upon, along with other scriptures that point to the very purpose of life? Yes, God’s purpose for you and me is far greater than people imagine and this is why Paul continued:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (vv.18-21).
Dear members and co-workers, the world needs hope, and we in this Work are able to give the only true hope for mankind, the good news that Jesus came to bring. Those of us called now and who respond to that calling, will be born sons and daughters in His world-ruling Kingdom, with the opportunity to solve the problems we see here on earth today (2 Corinthians 6:18; Luke 19:11-19; Revelation 5:10). Who else is going to proclaim this truth of the Gospel to the world? Who else will give the world, not false hope, but living hope?
God has used you to be part of this life-changing Work. For that we are most grateful and thank you. The year 2024 shapes up to be momentous and traumatic. May God be with you individually, and with His Work in this coming year.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston