Greetings from Charlotte,
Heavy rains have flooded areas in the south central parts of the USA, missile launches by Iran are unsettling the Middle East (see N&P), the UK is debating leaving the EU and American politicians continue to assail each other as our national debt continues to climb. We certainly seem to be living in the "perilous times" that Paul warned would come at the end of the age (2 Timothy 3:1).
Living University students are on a midterm break this week. Mr. Rob Tyler and Mr. Rajan Moses had a very profitable and informative trip to Thailand and Burma, and Mr. Bruce Tyler reports that he is making steady progress after his recent stroke. Last weekend, 163 visitors attended Tomorrow's World presentations in the USA and the UK. We have a TWP scheduled for this coming weekend in Zimbabwe and six more scheduled for the weekend of March 19-20 in Zambia, the USA, Canada and the UK. Please pray that God will continue to work in the hearts and minds of those He is calling at this time.—DSW
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Presents in Atlanta
The Atlanta congregation hosted a successful Tomorrow's World Presentation on the Sabbath of March 5. Eighty-five visitors and 72 members heard Mr. Richard Ames' powerful warning message entitled: Wake Up, America! and a follow-up presentation, The Pathway to Hope, by Regional Pastor Dan Hall. Visitors could be seen taking notes and affirming Mr. Ames' strong rebuke of America's sins. Many availed themselves of a number of our booklets and a few guests and members volunteered to be interviewed by our film crew that was on hand to record the event for this year's "Behind the Work" film. Following the presentations, many stayed to ask questions and enjoyed a variety of finger foods and refreshments. A number of the attendees said they plan to attend Sabbath services this coming Sabbath.—Hugh Stewart
Tomorrow's World Presents in Myrtle Beach and Greenville in the Carolinas
On March 5, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 26 guests and 19 members heard the new Tomorrow's World presentation: Wake Up, America! Mr. Wallace Smith gave the opening message with a stirring oratory on Has God Abandoned Us?, followed by a second presentation titled, The Pathway to Hope given by me. The next day, the same presentations were given in Greenville, North Carolina, to 40 very attentive and responsive visitors and 18 members. This audience showed even more energy and enthusiasm than the one the day before. Mr. Smith's presentation was both informative and chilling, and certainly set the stage nicely for America's future "hope" given in the second presentation. Several expressed a desire for additional presentations and an interest in attending services with us. Your prayers for our potential fellow workers in Jesus Christ and the continuing success of Tomorrow's World Presentations are greatly appreciated.—James Sweat
Report from Myanmar (Burma)
I arrived home yesterday after a very profitable trip to Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). Myanmar was a very interesting experience for me personally and I believe the visit was very profitable for the brethren, as Mr. Moses and I were able to visit their homes in Sakangyi Village. Up until only a few years ago, no foreigner was permitted into this area of the country. It was therefore quite a privilege to be the second Church of God minister and the first European to ever visit Sakangyi Village. Many of the locals had never touched or seen a European in the flesh. The brethren were thrilled to have a minister from the office come to their homes. We discussed many issues of doctrine, Church government and the needs of the individual members.—Rob Tyler
Passover 2016—Repeat Announcement
Important Notice to All Pastors: In 2016, the Passover Service will be observed on Thursday evening, April 21. Please let us know as soon as possible if any of the congregations you serve will need additional Passover Service supplies (bread trays and/or wine trays or glasses) or a copy of the Passover Service recording and letter instructions (available in English, French and Spanish). The Passover Service recording is the 2015 recording given by Mr. Ken Frank. To ensure timely delivery and to save on shipping costs, we need this information by March 21 for U.S. congregations.
Also, please let us know of any scattered members who are unable to keep the Passover with a congregation and who need to receive the Passover Service recording and letter instructions for observing it at home. U.S. requests need to be here by March 21. Please direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Adirondack Family Canoe Trip 2016—Repeat Announcement
It's time to register for the outdoor highlight of our summer in the Northeast Region! Here are the details...
Arrival: You may either arrive in Albany on Tuesday, July 5, or travel directly to Raquette Lake and meet us at the lake at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6. If you wish to fly into Albany, arrangements can be made to pick you up at the airport. Accommodations at members' homes will be provided on the evening of July 5.
Departure: We will arrive back in Albany on the afternoon of Sunday, July 10. If you plan to fly out of Albany on Sunday, you'll need to arrange for a late afternoon or evening flight.
Cost: Cost is $120 per person, with a sliding scale of $20 less for each additional family member. In other words, the first family member is $120, the second is $100, the third is $80, and so on. There is no charge for children ages six and under. Payment is due by April 15.
Physical Requirements: Although we are encouraging people of all ages to come, be prepared for a physically challenging environment. Sleeping will be in open lean-tos. We will be canoeing in whatever weather conditions we face, and we'll be hiking up a mountain. Everyone who comes will be expected to participate in every activity.
Location: The setting for our activity will be the beautiful Adirondack Park. We will canoe from Golden Beach campground to Tioga Point, where we will set up our base of operations. We'll spend one day training and practicing outdoor skills, then one day in a special challenge activity, canoeing across Raquette Lake to West Mountain. We'll hike to the summit of the mountain, then return to the lake, paddling back to our camp to conclude the day. On the Sabbath, we'll fellowship, relax and enjoy God's creation. Sunday, July 10, will be our departure day, arriving back in Albany in the late afternoon.
Expectations: This is an educational experience. It is not a social activity nor is it a competition. It is designed to bring us closer to God and together as brothers and sisters. We will learn to appreciate God's creation, and practice outdoor leadership skills.
To Register: go to https://form.jotform.com/jmcnairny/adirondack-family-canoe-trip-2016 (not an official LCG Web site).
Questions: Call or e-mail me at 516-724-4452 or [email protected].—Jonathan McNair
Internet Department
Tomorrow's World Roku Advertising Campaign
Our Tomorrow's World Roku channel has been very successful over the years, producing results comparable to what we see on many of our better cable and satellite TV stations. It has been installed by tens of thousands of people, has consistently stayed in the top 10 percent of all "Religious" channels on Roku and is currently ranked at around number 47 of 831 religious channels. We are now starting some new advertising with Roku, targeting audiences throughout the English-speaking world. We appreciate your prayers that God will bless these efforts to preach the Gospel. And, if you do own a Roku, please be sure to install the Tomorrow's World app and please be sure to give it a "5 star" rating. That helps with our ranking.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Tomorrow's World Digital Subscription Delivered to Your Inbox!—Repeat Announcement
Would you like to receive the Tomorrow's World magazine days before it is loaded to the Web site and days before the print copy arrives in your mailbox? Receive the full-color digital edition delivered directly to your e-mail inbox and "get it sooner" by signing up at www.tomorrowsworld.org/digital. The digital edition contains all of the articles and graphics of the print edition, but also allows for in-article searching, social sharing, and of course you can read it on your tablet, smart-phone or computer at your convenience. We pray that tens of thousands of additional subscribers will sign-up for the digital edition, and as Dr. Meredith mentioned in his recent "co-worker" letter, we are sure that this will be of interest especially "for the increasing numbers who are 'digital natives'—who do most of their reading on a computer or a tablet or even a smartphone."—Wyatt Ciesielka
Feast of Tabernacles
Festival Web Site Ready March 13
The Feast of Tabernacles Festival Web site will be available for viewing by Sunday, March 13. Each Festival Web site "microsite" is a Web page that is unique to each Feast site, giving all the information needed about that site (general information, recreational activities available, hotel and accommodation details, etc.). Beginning March 13, all brethren and guests for the Feast of Tabernacles 2016 are invited to check out the Festival Web site at fot2016.lcg.org or https://fot2016.lcg.org. Please do not make housing reservations until you have registered and been approved for your choice of site. Festival Registration is not yet open. Festival Registration will begin around the time of the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. Stay tuned to upcoming announcements about Festival registration in The World Ahead!
Ministerial Site Assignments
Ministerial assignments for this year's Feast of Tabernacles have been finalized and approved by Dr. Meredith. We are notifying all pastors and elders of their assignments. Thank you for filling out the preference survey to help this process!
Living Youth Program
Online Teen Bible Study Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, March 18, will be on "The Plain Truth About the Old and New Covenants" presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, we encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The Bible Study runs from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern time) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful opportunity for godly fellowship and learning. For those of you who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's on "Ancient Israel—Why God's 'Chosen People'?," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.
Ohio Teen Camp 2016 – Camp Lazarus, Delaware, Ohio – July 31-August 14—Repeat Announcement
After an extensive five-week search for a new camp facility in which to relocate our Teen Camp in 2016, the decision has been made to hold the Teen Camp in Delaware, Ohio, for one more summer. The dates of camp are as follow:
- Staff arrival – Sunday, July 31
- Camper arrival – Monday, August 1 (not later than 5:00 p.m.)
- Camper and Staff departure – Sunday, August 14
We hope to relocate the Teen Camp for the summer of 2017. More details to come.
LYC Summer Camps Registration
Registration for the North America camps is open and detailed information is available at camp.livingyouth.org. However, the Adventure Camp in Banff, Alberta, is now closed to further applications for both campers and staff.
Finance
Hall Rental Vouchers
A permanent change in the due date for hall rental vouchers is being implemented. Hall vouchers are now due on the 15th of the month. The updated PDF form can be found in the "Finance Forms" section of MyLCG. This earlier due date will allow for extra processing and mailing times.
Living University
Call for On-Campus Students—EXTENDED (U.S. only at this time): For those seeking a unique and exciting learning opportunity, we still have a few open slots for on-campus study in Charlotte beginning in August of this year. On-campus students experience special opportunities beyond online study. Students meet for weekly discussions with many of their professors, including Dr. Germano, Mr. Ames, Drs. Douglas and Scott Winnail, Mr. Ken Frank, Mr. Peter Nathan, and Mr. Jerry Ruddlesden. Weekly Assemblies are presented by many Church leaders based in Charlotte and around the world. Monthly student outings and other social activities are planned and students participate in congregational opportunities unique to the Charlotte congregation and Headquarters, including Spokesman Club, Singles' Bible Studies, Outreach activities, service during Council of Elders and Ministerial conferences, and much more. Quality University housing is available for both male and female students.
Most of our on-campus students also participate in our "work-study" program—working part-time in different departments throughout the Work and Living University. Student work-study helps defray most living costs. Application to the on-campus program can be made online through the university Web site (www.livinguniv.com). Additional details and requirements can also be found online, as can an estimate of costs associated with on-campus study. If you are interested in on-campus LU study and have questions, please contact us. Currently we can only accept on-campus students who are legally able to live and work in the United States. Our hope is to expand this opportunity to international students in future years. Interested students should plan to complete their applications as soon as possible. Those with no previous college should submit college entrance test scores (ACT or SAT) along with other application materials. You can find out more about these exams through a local high school guidance counselor or local community college or university testing service. Home-schooled students are also encouraged to apply. If you have questions about on-campus study or to find out more, please contact Dr. Scott Winnail at 704-708-2292 or [email protected].
Human Resources
Employment Opportunity: Web App Developer—Repeat Announcement
Are you a Web App Developer? Do you have experience with Drupal, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, Java, Android application development, and/or iPhone/iPad application development, and Linux, Apache and MySQL environments? Are you enthusiastic about Web development, social-media, multi-media, and developing next-generation apps? Are you even more enthusiastic about participating in the greatest Work on the earth at this time by directly helping the Internet Department support the Church's efforts to proclaim the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to the entire world!? If so, and if you are a motivated team-player, and a goal-oriented innovator, then we invite you to submit your resume and apply for our Web App Developer opening. We want to add one more position to our team later this year.
The ideal candidate will either: a) have a Bachelor of Science degree and at least one year of professional experience, or will b) have at least five years of related professional experience. The ideal candidate will be able to cooperate effectively with staff in all Headquarters departments. The ideal candidate will also have a positive, "can-do" attitude and will be creative, but able to stay focused and deliver projects without a lot of supervision. Applicants should be truly dedicated to the Church and to the Truth. A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte, and the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. We request that only those applicants who live and can legally work in the United States apply for this position. If you are interested in the Web App Developer position, please send your resume to: Human Resources Department, Living Church of God, P.O. Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227-8010. Fax: 704-844-1973; e-mail: [email protected].
Comments
The Need for Wisdom: Solomon wrote that one of the most important goals in life is to gain wisdom (Proverbs 4:7) and that the value of wisdom is even greater than rubies or gold (Proverbs 8:11; 16:16). Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs to help others gain wisdom (Proverbs 1:1-6) and taught that the most important key to gaining wisdom is developing a proper fear of God—having a sincere desire to follow God's instructions (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Wisdom helps us discern between right and wrong and it also leads to happiness and a longer life (Proverbs 2:10-11; 3:13-16). As Jesus grew up, He "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52), because He obviously followed the instruction in Proverbs 2:1-5 to seek after wisdom, to cry out (in prayer) for discernment and to treasure the commandments of God. The Apostle James urged us to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5). The Apostle Paul admonished us to study the Scriptures "which are able to make you wise" (2 Timothy 3:14-17). Do a word study of "wise" and "wisdom" to gain a better understanding of this vital subject. As you grow in wisdom, you will be developing one of the attributes of God and Jesus Christ (Job 9:4; Romans 16:27).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
Merkel Wants More German Leadership: As the pope pushes Europe to "recover its spiritual roots" (CatholicCulture.org, March 2, 2016), "The German chancellor has refused to back down under mounting pressure to reverse course on the refugee crisis. Campaigning on behalf of her party, she said it's time for Germany to broaden its international role" (Deutsche Welle, March 2, 2016). She insisted that "Germany should play a bigger role in world affairs" and "That means more development aid, that means more common standards on climate protection, that means fair trade and a lot more than one perhaps feels in a closed society" (ibid.). Although Chancellor Merkel is floundering in public opinion polls, she seems to be pushing hard for Germany to take a more prominent leadership role on the world scene. Bible prophecy has long foretold the rise of Germany at the end of the age—which this Work has been mentioning since before the close of WWII when Germany was in ruins. Nearly 2,600 years ago, Daniel was given to understand the meaning of a dream that troubled Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet Daniel recorded that an end-time configuration of European nations (referred to as a "beast") and linked to a revival of the ancient Roman Empire would appear just before the return of Jesus Christ (Daniel 2:41-45; 7:7, 23-27). Daniel was also told that "The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure" (Daniel 2:45). Watch for Germany to lead a group of nations that will emerge in Europe in the days ahead. For more information on Germany's future, read or listen to our article on "Resurgent Germany: A Fourth Reich?"
Iran Threatens Israel Again: "Iran reportedly test-fired two ballistic missiles Wednesday with the phrase 'Israel must be wiped out' written on them, a show of force by the Islamic Republic as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Israel" (Time, March 9, 2016). A leader in Iran's Revolutionary Guard stated, "The 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) range of our missiles is to confront the Zionist regime… Israel is surrounded by Islamic countries and it will not last long in a war. It will collapse even before being hit by these missiles" (ibid.). All this is happening while the U.S.-brokered nuclear deal is apparently underway with Iran. As turmoil continues to grow in the volatile Middle East, Bible prophecy reveals that Jerusalem will be a "cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples… a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut into pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it" (Zechariah 12:2). However, Bible prophecy also reveals that Iran will not destroy Israel and particularly Jerusalem with missiles. Instead, look for a German-led European "beast" power and even the Catholic Church to become deeply involved in protecting and administering the Holy Land in the years to come! For more about the incredible future of Jerusalem, be sure to read or listen to The Middle East in Prophecy.
ISIS Threatens London! "ISIS is planning a 'spectacular' attack on British soil—and unprecedented numbers of women and teenagers are being arrested to stop one, the UK's top anti-terror officer warned today. Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley has said the terror group is 'trying to build bigger attacks' around the world and the UK is one of its top targets. After the devastating series of suicide attacks on Paris last year where 130 died, a similar plot in Britain is a 'natural next step' for the terror group, he said. That could mean a plan to kill during significant national events, such as the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations in April, May and June" (Daily Mail, March 7, 2016). Threats like ISIS cause an air of fear to permeate society, eliminating the desired peace. Long ago God warned His chosen people, "if you do not obey Me… and if you despise My statutes… I will even appoint terror over you" (Leviticus 26:14-16). As we see the increasing threat of terrorist activities that are plaguing modern Israelite nations, we need to remember why God said these tragedies will come—they are the consequence of a blessed people turning their back on God. However, these events are "signs of the end of the age" that indicate the return of Jesus Christ is approaching. For more about the peaceful world that lies ahead when Christ finally does return, read our article "Peace on Earth?"—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater and Chris Sookdeo