Greetings from Charlotte,
The stunning vote in Britain to leave the EU has been called "a shot heard around the world." This historic decision, which Bible prophecies anticipated, could trigger major changes in Europe that will lead to even more end-time prophecies being fulfilled in the months ahead. Last weekend, nearly 80 visitors attended Tomorrow's World Presentations in the USA and Canada. So far this year, just over 1,000 visitors have attended TWPs held around the world. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has been involved in a number of meetings, and Festival plans are moving ahead. Mr. Cristian Orrego, Mr. Armando Orrego and Mr. Jake Hall (from TV Department) are in Peru to visit and film segments of our brethren in Cerro de Pasco who are in the process of being relocated to a new and safer part of the country (please read announcement below). The Pre-Teen Camp last week in North Carolina went very well. This coming week will see a Pre-Teen Camp in Missouri and the start of the LYC Adventure Trip in Banff, Canada. Your prayers for good weather and safe travel for all these activities will be appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Emergency Relocation of Church Members from Cerro de Pasco, Peru
Your prayers are requested for our members in Cerro de Pasco, a town at the top of the Andean mountains in Peru and for our efforts to help them relocate to a safer part of the country. Through this project, we hope to move 43 church members comprising ten families from a region that has been devastated through excessive mining and pollution, which is having catastrophic consequences on humans, animals and ecosystems. The town of Cerro de Pasco has been declared a disaster area by the Peruvian government. The situation for our brethren is very serious. Your prayers and assistance will be helpful for our brethren and the entire project. Please visit www.lcg.org/peru for more information.—Cerro de Pasco Relocation Team
Flooding in West Virginia
West Virginia suffered some of the worst flooding in its history last week. Thankfully, the brethren in the area were largely spared from the disaster. One member did suffer some property damage from the amount of rainfall that we received, but everyone else felt protected. God's protection was especially evident, as some of the brethren were very close to areas that had the worst issues. We all appreciate your prayers for our safety and ask for your continued prayers for the brethren and people of West Virginia.—Mark Sandor
Feast of Tabernacles
Hilton Head, South Carolina, Closed to Further Transfers
Our Feast of Tabernacles site in Hilton Head, South Carolina, has reached maximum capacity and can no longer approve further transfer requests. If you have registered to attend the Feast in Hilton Head and have not yet received a transfer approval, please re-register at another site. Other sites closed to further transfers are Montego Bay, Jamaica; Lake Conroe, Texas; St. George, Utah; and Carry-le-Rouet, France.
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon CDs—Repeat Announcement
Attention Pastors: Please send the Church Administration Department at [email protected] the names of those in your congregation(s) who will be unable to attend the Feast and wish to receive a set of the Feast of Tabernacles sermons on CD. (Sermons are available in English, French or Spanish.) The deadline to submit these requests is July 18 for international recipients and September 12 for recipients in the U.S. Note: Feast sermons will also be uploaded (one per day) during the Feast at www.lcg.org, for those who have Internet access.
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only—Repeat Announcement
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to the Church Administration Department is Friday, July 15. All forms should be properly completed by the members requesting second tithe assistance to attend the Feast this year. Then, the Area Pastors should write their recommendations/comments on the forms before submitting them to CAD. Festival Assistance Request forms are available to ministers on the MyLCG Web site (www.cogl.org).—Festival Office
Living Youth Programs
North Carolina Pre-Teen Camp
Despite the hot weather, 108 campers and staff enjoyed a fun-filled week at the North Carolina Pre-Teen Camp. Singletary Lake State Park hosted campers who enthusiastically participated in archery, ultimate Frisbee, swimming, music, paddle boarding, photography and crafts. Each morning began with a Christian Living class, presented by Mr. Jason Fritts (the Camp Director), Mr. Mark Sandor (the Assistant Director), and Mr. Wallace Smith. The Christian Living classes had a "Children's Bible Theater" feel to them as the presenters focused on "Heroes of Faith" and used audience participation to teach lessons from the lives of Abraham, Sarah, Noah, Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. One of the highlights of the camp were the evening activities, which included Capture the Flag and a Fun Show. God's hand was present throughout the week as campers and staff enjoyed a week of fellowship, activity and growth.—Mark Sandor
Comments
Where Is Your Heart? Jesus urged His disciples to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). He also said, "My food [My nourishment, My focus, what motivates Me] is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" (John 4:34). Jesus was a mission-oriented person who challenged His disciples to follow in His footsteps (Matthew 4:18-22). Truly dedicated members of God's Church will be committed to that same mission: preaching the gospel, warning the world, feeding the flock and being Christian lights in a dark world (Matthew 5:14; 24:14; 1 John 2:15-17). Truly focused Christians don't have time to get sidetracked on material pursuits, private agendas or twiggy doctrinal ideas (2 Timothy 2:14-18). They don't let interpersonal differences hinder their spiritual growth (Romans 12:14-18) or their goal of developing the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11). Real Christians focus on what is good and positive and right and true—they don't listen to rumors and they don't dwell on complaints (Philippians 4:8). The Sabbath is a good time to reflect and ponder the questions: What is your focus, and where is your heart?
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 30, 2016
UK Says "No" to EU! After 43 years as a member of the European Economic Community and the European Union, the British people voted last week to leave the EU. In a close vote (roughly 52% for departure, 48% for remaining "in"), Britons cast their vote for national sovereignty and control of their own borders (Deutsche Welle, June 24, 2016). Bible prophecies have long-anticipated this historic vote—which has also been predicted by this Work for decades. While it may take some time for the details of the exit to be worked out, other nations are also talking about making an exit as a result of Britain's departure from the EU. The Bible clearly states that the final end-time European "beast" power will be comprised of ten kingdoms or nations (Revelation 17:12-13). Bible prophecies also indicate that God will use this "beast" power to punish Britain and other Israelite nations for their disobedience to His laws (Deuteronomy 28:15, 36-37, 41-48; Jeremiah 30:3-8; Joel 3:1). For more details about these sobering prophecies, be sure to read our 2012 article "Will Britain Leave the European Union?" and the booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. We need to watch world events as these end-time Bible prophecies come to pass.
Russia and the EU: NATO and Europe distrust Russia because of the situation in Crimea and beyond (AFP, May 19, 2016) and Russia is increasing its military activity in response to NATO's actions (Aljazeera, May 4, 2016; Time, May 4, 2016). Recently, "Canada's PM Justin Trudeau announced a possible commitment of troops to Europe following intelligence suggesting that Moscow is retooling for the possibility of war" (Haaretz, June 15, 2016). In addition, "Europe has [now] unveiled its plans to create an EU army following Thursday's Brexit vote" (YourNewsWire.com, June 24, 2016). European Commission president, Jean-Claude Junker has commented about a future European army, "You would not create a European army to use it immediately… But a common army among the Europeans would convey to Russia that we are serious about defending the values of the European Union" (ibid.). "A draft version of the EU's 'global strategy' seen by the Financial Times casts serious defence integration as 'the norm' that will boost the bloc's defence industry and better project Europe's foreign policy clout in its neighbourhood" (Financial Times, June 27, 2016). Europe may use the current situation with Russia as a catalyst to develop its own army. Bible prophecy warns that the final European "beast" power will have an army that it will ultimately use in the Holy Land, "when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near" (Luke 21:20). God also warns that the King of Assyria (modern Germany) will pass through and overflow Jerusalem (Isaiah 8:1-8). A European army must arise for Bible prophecies to be fulfilled, and we are seeing real actions to bring these prophecies to pass. For more about this emerging European army, read "Coming: A 'United States of Europe'!"
Fires and Floods: "After two weeks of battling a number of out-of-control fires in California, Arizona and New Mexico, state and federal [fire] crews had the upper hand against all but one by Sunday morning—the Erskine Fire in Kern County, north of Los Angeles, which grew from 37,000 acres to 43,360 acres during the day" (ABC News, June 26, 2016). As the U.S. "west" battles wild fires, West Virginia is bailing out after its worst flooding in a century (Reuters, June 26, 2016). More than 30,000 homes and businesses were without power and "President Obama 'ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides'" (BBC, June 26, 2016). This "extreme weather" is reminiscent of Bible prophecies that state extreme weather will strike end-time Israelite-descended nations who reject God and His laws: "I also withheld rain from you, when there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, and where it did not rain the part withered" (Amos 4:7). As Bible prophecy moves forward, we should expect more extreme weather conditions like we now see across the U.S. Weather events are an important tool that God will use to bring about His plan on this Earth. For more about this topic, read or listen to Who Controls the Weather?—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater and Chris Sookdeo