Dear Brethren and Co-workers:
I have some wonderful news to share with you! But first I want to give you an update on Dr. Meredith, our much-loved human leader under Jesus Christ, the true Head of the Church. As many of you are aware, Dr. Meredith is 86 and suffering from cancer. On Wednesday, I visited him at his home where we had a productive meeting. His body grows weaker, but his mind is strong and his dedication to Jesus Christ is rock solid. He would love to have more time in this life to contribute to the Work in a productive manner, but he accepts God’s will and prefers to go to sleep and await the resurrection if God does not give him that added strength.
Now for that wonderful news. Mr. Mario Hernandez, our Spanish Regional Director, and Mr. George Schaubeck from Costa Rica recently visited Cuba, where God is beginning to do a work in an area that was once closed to us. How exciting it is to reach out to people who have not previously been introduced to original Christianity and all that this means! Messrs. Hernandez and Schaubeck visited with about 50 people in total, people who had come in contact with us via the Internet or personal acquaintances and requested we contact them. Some 30 people were already committed enough to attend a Sabbath service conducted by Mr. Hernandez. One man was baptized, but we expect many more will take that step in the near future, and we are now making preparations to hold the Feast of Tabernacles on the island for what we believe will be the first time ever!
These truth-seekers are what the Bible refers to as firstfruits (James 1:18). They are stepping out in faith to join with others whom God is calling to do a Work at the end of the age. In a real sense, they are pioneers of the age to come, the time that we refer to as Tomorrow’s World, when Jesus Christ returns to this troubled planet to set up His Kingdom. They are the called of God, and if they respond to that call and are chosen and remain faithful to the end (Revelation 17:14), God will resurrect them to be king-priests to teach these same truths to others (Revelation 5:9-10; 20:4).
Right now they are beginning to learn about the true Sabbath and biblical Holy Days, but in a few short years when Christ returns, they will be resurrected spirit beings, teaching these wonderful truths to those human beings who survive the coming Great Tribulation. They will explain that Jesus Christ is our true Passover Lamb, that the Feast of Unleavened Bread points to our responsibility to respond to Christ’s sacrifice by repenting of our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). And just as God poured out the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, so we need Christ to live in us through that same power. They will also be able to explain the meaning of the other festivals and Holy Days, especially why the Day of the Lord, pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, had to come. Humans who live into that time will not be so hostile toward God because—as they will be taught—on the Day of Atonement Satan will have been removed from influencing them and will not be released for a thousand years. This thousand year period will be known as the Millennium, and they will all be taught to remember this by keeping an annual festival known as the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:1-4, 9,16-19). And then they will be taught about the Last Great Day, a wonderful truth in God’s Plan for mankind! If you would like to learn more about these special days, be sure to write or call for our free booklet, The Holy Days: God’s Master Plan.
Dear Co-workers, the world does not want to change, but God is calling a small group of people from all nations to teach the whole world after Christ’s return. We will never be a large “mainstream” Church during this age. Jesus described His followers in Luke 12:32 as a “little flock.” That was true in Jesus’ day, and it is true today. But what a job this little flock is doing and will do! Do you realize that there are single congregation mega-churches in some major American cities with larger numbers than our worldwide baptized membership? Yet, we are spreading the knowledge of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations, and warning them of what is to come. To highlight how little we are and how great a work in which you are participating, let me share with you a few facts about the Living Church of God which sponsors Tomorrow’s World as it relates to one country.
Our Canadian office has both a print shop and a full-sized television studio. Our printing operations last year sent out over 60,700 pieces of literature free of charge within Canada, and another 68,000 to regional offices in other countries for distribution. These were the high-quality booklets and Bible Study Courses you are familiar with, and were printed in English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Afrikaans. And this year we are adding booklets in Portuguese!
The Canadian television studio produces an English-language Tomorrow’s World program for select stations in Canada, as well as two stations in India. The program also aired for four years in Hong Kong until the station closed down. In addition to an English-language program, the Canadian studio produces the French counterpart, Le Monde de Demain, which is aired in Quebec and Guadeloupe. The studio more recently began producing Tomorrow’s World Viewpoint for the Internet, which I invite you to check out at www.lcgcanada.org/viewpoint-archive.php.
Canada also pays the postage to send Tomorrow’s World magazines to many countries around the world. Then there are the Tomorrow’s World Presentations, and other tasks and projects handled at our Regional Office in Mississauga. One would think that we have tens of thousands of members and co-workers, given the herculean job being accomplished by our friends in the sometimes “frozen north,” but not so! Each month this letter is sent out to approximately 530 Canadian co-workers, and 800 members (this includes children) who attend one of 40 small congregations served by 16 ministers! The tithes and offerings of fewer than 1400 men, women, and children are doing all of this described above, and much more! They also pay the bills to air the telecast 28 times each week!
The point is that while each country and regional office is different, as you can see, a few people are doing a remarkable Work! I certainly want to express my deep appreciation to all members and co-workers around the world. We are a little flock which has a “little strength” (Revelation 3:8), and we are about our Father’s business. But infinitely more important than any expression I, or this Work in general, can offer, is the pleasure God has for those who do His will. And you can be certain Jesus Christ and God the Father are well aware of your efforts. As it tells us in John 4:34-36: “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest”? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.’”
Thank you for your prayers and your monetary support. Together, with the help of God, we can do amazing things!
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston