Greetings from Charlotte,
Fifty-one thousand Syrians have been displaced as a result of the Syrian government's recent offensive on Aleppo. Three hundred thousand more living in Aleppo are under increasingly dire conditions. Representatives from Russia, Iran, the United States and Saudi Arabia are meeting today in Munich to discuss a ceasefire. For those suffering in this five-year nightmare, the agony goes on and on.
But God's Work continues—the only real hope on this earth! Here in the Charlotte office, Dr. Meredith has been busy with meetings and routine communications with the field ministry. Mr. Ames recorded a new telecast this week entitled, "Is There a Real Hell?" Dr. Douglas Winnail will be visiting in the Australian office in Adelaide on Friday, and spending the Sabbath with Mr. and Mrs. Rob Tyler and our brethren in Adelaide (see announcement below). Ninety-three guests attended the successful TWPs in Dublin and Lisburn last weekend. Festival Advisor surveys went out to pastors last week, and other preparations for Festival registration are ongoing (see announcement). A theme for the 2016 Feast film was also approved by Dr. Meredith this week. Thank you for your prayers and support of God's Work all over this earth!—RMc
Church Administration
Dr. Winnail's Trip to South Africa and Australia
The visit to South Africa went very well. We had a Board meeting on Friday to discuss the progress of the work in South Africa. On the Sabbath in Pretoria, we had 125 in attendance, including a number of out-of-town guests. We had 38 leaders from congregations all over South Africa, for the conference on Sunday. On Monday I met with Christo Botha, Louis Bouwer and Lawdi Ferreira for about two hours to answer questions, talk about camps, etc. Lawdi and I spoke with Rees Ellis by phone for about 45 minutes to discuss camps in Africa.
Wednesday night we had a buffet dinner and Bible Study with most of the Perth congregation—about 25 members. A very warm and positive group. Today (Thursday), I fly to Adelaide and plan to see Bruce Tyler in the morning and have lunch with Rod King. I will be at services in Adelaide on the Sabbath and we will conduct an Internet conference with the leaders in the Australian congregations on Sunday. Temperatures in Perth have been in the 90s. Seems just like Arizona!—Douglas Winnail
Dramatic Healing
Mr. Marc Arseneault, area pastor of the Winnipeg, Manitoba congregation, this week sent us this inspiring account of the healing of one of the ladies in the congregation, Mrs. Bertha "Bea" Dionne. We are grateful to our Heavenly Father for this dramatic intervention. As 1 Corinthians 12:26 says, "If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."—RMc
"Two months ago, I discovered a large painless lump under my right arm. I went to the doctor and they tested my blood for a viral or bacterial infection, and the results came back negative for both. That day I requested an anointed cloth for the lump. Shortly after, I began to have extreme fatigue, high fever, chills, loss of appetite and intense pains in my hands and feet. Over the next several weeks I continued these symptoms, and rapidly lost over 23 pounds. Totally exhausted and barely able to eat or walk, I was taken to the emergency hospital. The doctor ordered an ultrasound, bloodwork and urine test, and discovered several enlarged lymph nodes throughout my body. The doctor informed me these telltale symptoms indicated mononucleosis, a type of serious viral infection, or lymphoma, a type of cancer. A mononucleosis spot test was done and came back negative, so the doctor examined me again. He discovered that my spleen had grown twice the size and ordered a CT scan and biopsy.
"Last Wednesday, area pastor Mr. Marc Arsenault came to my house and anointed me. The next day I went in for the CT scan at the hospital. This past Tuesday I got my results from my family doctor. At first he thought the hospital made a mistake and sent him someone else's results, because on the scan my spleen looked completely normal, and he couldn't explain to me how that happened in only a few days. He was perplexed because he didn't see any indication of cancer, which is what he was expecting. At this point he said unfortunately he didn't have a diagnosis for me. The specialist at CancerCare also went over my results, and determined there was no trace of lymphoma on the scans, and that a biopsy was not necessary. He also didn't have a reason or diagnosis for what happened, as all my tests were now normal. I'm starting to eat again, gain my energy, and the enlarged lymph nodes are shrinking. I know of a certainty that this was God who healed me in a very miraculous way. I thank all the brethren for their love, support and prayers throughout this difficult time, but especially to God who is able to do things beyond what we can even imagine."
Electronic Hymnal Available for Download
Many of you enjoy using iPads or other tablets to take notes and look up Bible scriptures during Sabbath services and some have asked for an electronic version of The Bible Hymnal. A version of The Bible Hymnal that may be lawfully published electronically has been uploaded to MyLCG. To download this version, please log in to your MyLCG page.
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 before February 22 for international congregations, and 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. International requests should be received before February 22 and U.S. requests before March 21. Please direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Internet Department
Tomorrow's World App for the New Generation AppleTV
We are happy to announce that we have just launched the latest Tomorrow's World app for the new generation, AppleTV. Many thousands of people have already installed our Tomorrow's World apps for Roku, GoogleTV, AmazonFire and the earlier generation AppleTV. And every week, many new people become Tomorrow's World subscribers by requesting our literature because they find us on these Internet TV platforms. But, as many of you may also know, the new AppleTV is a new Apple device that is a significant change from the earlier AppleTV devices, and seems to be an indication of Apple's increasing interest in gaining market share in the rapidly growing "Internet TV" space. As such, we are very happy we could launch this new app quickly and we pray that God will use this as yet another way to reach the world with the True Gospel message! As Apple CEO Tim Cook announced late last year, "The future of TV is apps." We thank you for your prayers as we do our best to go through these new, "open doors" to preach the Gospel.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Feast of Tabernacles
Feast of Tabernacles Preparations
Plans for Festival registration for 2016 are in full gear! We are planning to have Festival registration around the time of the Spring Holy Days, though a firm date has not yet been set. The Internet Department, in conjunction with the Festival Office, is working very hard on putting all the pieces together for the Festival Web site and online registration system. Your prayers for all the set-up involved in launching Festival registration would be greatly appreciated!
2016 Advisor Survey
Pastors: Last Monday, HQ sent out a survey to pastors worldwide, to select your Festival Advisors from each congregation. The deadline for responding to that e-mail survey is tomorrow, Friday, February 12. If you have not responded to the e-mail survey, please do so as soon as possible—we cannot move forward with registration preparation without your responses. If you did not get the advisor survey in your e-mail, please contact the Festival office at [email protected].
2016 Ministerial Feast Site Preference Survey Coming
All pastors and elders: You will, in the next few days, be receiving an e-mail asking you to select where you would prefer attending the Feast this year. Dr. Meredith and Dr. Winnail approve the final list, making sure we have manpower needs covered. As always, in most cases, pastors will be asked to attend where the bulk of their local congregations are going.
Again—all pastors and elders, please fill out the e-mail form as soon as you can, so we can make ministerial assignments as quickly as possible.
More International Sites
Please note the following International Feast sites, not listed last week in The World Ahead:
Punta Leona, Costa Rica – George Schaubeck - [email protected]
Ukerewe, Tanzania – Simon Muthama – [email protected]
Living Youth Program
Online Teen Bible Study Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, February 19, will be on "Who and What Is God?" 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, "Christianity Is a Way of Life, Part 2," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.
LYC Summer Camps 2016
We're excited to be able to announce the dates and locations for the upcoming LYC summer camps this year in North America and Europe. Registration for the North America camps will open and more detailed information about the camps and preparing to attend camp will be available on camp.livingyouth.org this Sunday, February 14.
Ohio Teen Camp 2016
As those of you who tuned in to the Teen Bible Study last Friday already know, the dates for the Ohio Teen Camp are now scheduled one week later than camp has been held for the past three years. Our dates were unexpectedly bumped back one week by the Boy Scouts administrators. This change affects several of our young people who begin school during the second week of August so we are looking at the possibility of relocating to another camp facility in order to secure our desired dates (the last week of July and the first week of August). Currently we have reserved Camp Lazarus in Delaware, Ohio (July 31–August 14) and registration for this camp will begin this Sunday as planned.
None of the camp facilities we have looked at so far are acceptable and we will continue to search until the end of February. If we have not found another camp by then, we will be back at Camp Lazarus at the dates noted above. We will begin accepting applicants during the first week of March. We are requesting that you please do not purchase airline tickets until you have been accepted.
If anyone has suggestions for camps that might work out for our Teen Camp, please let me know. These are our requirements:
- Camp dates must be acceptable (two weeks, falling between the third week of June and the end of the first week of August).
- It must have housing for 350 people.
- It must be reasonably priced.
- It must have a dining hall that we can run and that will accommodate 350 people.
- It must have a meeting hall large enough to accommodate everyone for Sabbath services, camp dances, and other "all-camp" functions.
If we are unable to secure better dates than July 31–August 14, we will allow campers to attend Camp Lazarus Ohio for the first week of camp at a discounted rate and will rearrange the schedule to accommodate this change. Campers who are affected by this change might also consider applying for the Adventure Camp in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.
Please contact Sheldon Monson at [email protected] or 715-441-6081 (cell) if you have suggestions for another camp.
Adventure Trip 2016—Banff, Alberta, Canada
Banff National Park, one of the most beautiful spots on the planet, is the site of the 2016 Adventure Camp! Located in the Canadian Rockies, this park encompasses 6,641 square kilometers of mountainous terrain, dense coniferous forests, alpine landscapes, and numerous glaciers and ice fields. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, marmots and pikas are widespread in the alpine areas. It is home to 56 mammal species including grizzly and black bears, cougars, lynxes, wolverines, weasels, river otters, wolves, elk, deer, moose and more. Prepare to experience the breathtaking beauty of this incredible backcountry! We will hike up and down challenging mountain passes, walk through lush green valleys, and breathe cool mountain air. We will enjoy relaxing in the famous Upper Hot Springs following this spectacular hike, before whitewater rafting on one of the Rockies' most thrilling whitewater rivers—the Kicking Horse—with grade IV+ rapids! This is sure to be one of the most exciting and challenging Adventure Trips yet! Sign up early for this camp as spots will fill up fast! The cost is an incredible value at $450 per person for campers (ages 13-20) and $350 per staff member (ages 21 and up). All acceptances will be made during the month of February. Camp attendees from outside Canada will need to have a valid passport allowing for travel to Canada, as well as arrange for any applicable travel documentation, such as a Travel visa or Electronic Travel Authorization. See http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp for more information.
Campers and staff should plan to arrive by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, and depart by noon on Thursday, July 14. Registration opens on Sunday, February 14 at camp.livingyouth.org!
Missouri Preteen Camp 2016
Come join the fun at the Missouri Preteen Camp held at Knob Noster State Park. Each year preteens from all over the Midwest and beyond gather to enjoy an action-packed week of fun and fellowship in the beautiful Ozark hills. So come and help make this year's camp an adventure where we meet new friends, renew old acquaintances and expand our knowledge of God and all of His creation.
The arrival date is Sunday, July 3, and the departure date is Friday, July 8. Registration opens on Sunday, February 14 at camp.livingyouth.org.
North Carolina Preteen Camp 2016
This LYP Preteen Camp will be conducted at Singletary Lake State Park, in beautiful eastern North Carolina. This camp facility is complete with numerous cabins, freshwater lake with private access, large dining hall and kitchen area, hiking trails, sand volleyball court and more!
The arrival date is Sunday, June 19, and the departure date is Friday, June 24. Registration opens on Sunday, February 14 at camp.livingyouth.org.
Texas Preteen Camp 2016
Come join us at the 2016 Texas Preteen Camp for fun-filled days in the summer sun, making friends and learning how to have fun doing things God's way. Deep in the heart of the pine woods of East Texas, Lone Star Camp in Athens, Texas, the location of this year's camp, is a beautiful facility with air-conditioned meeting rooms, dormitories, cabins and even family housing—all within close proximity of each other—with plenty of bathrooms and showers in every building, along with basketball and volleyball courts, a 25-acre lake, and a playground for enjoying free time. Hone your archery skills. Enjoy Ga-Ga Ball, gym sports and canoeing. Share your talents in the Variety Show. Enjoy three scrumptious meals a day plus snacks! Make new friends and enjoy friends from camps past. This year's camp promises to be a well-balanced, enjoyable time for all.
The arrival date is Sunday, July 10, and the departure date is Friday, July 15. Registration opens on Sunday, February 14 at camp.livingyouth.org.
LYC Europe 2016—Belgium
The LYC Europe for 2016 will be held at Domaine de Chevetogne, Belgium. Schedule permitting, activities will include hiking/orienteering, water-skiing, leather work, music, Bible and Christian education, volleyball, football, speedminton, basketball, nature discovery, PowerPoint presentation skills, speech and initiative training. We have one Sabbath for relaxation and spiritual instruction, and the week will culminate with a special Sabbath dinner followed by a sing-along.
The arrival date is Sunday, August 7, and the departure date is Sunday, August 14. Application forms can be requested from the UK church office ([email protected]) or from Mr. Rees Ellis ([email protected]).
Lifeguard – CPR – AED – First Aid Training and Certification Clinic—Repeat Announcement
In preparation for our upcoming camps, we are offering lifeguard and other training and certification for those interested. Housing and food will be provided once you arrive but you will be responsible for your own transportation, lodging, and meals to and from this certification course. If you are interested in participating in this training program, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected]. Space is limited so please sign up soon!
Dates: CPR – AED – First Aid: Friday, June 3
Lifeguard: Sunday, June 5 to Monday, June 6
Location: Evergreen Keeter Retreat, 3660 County Road 3600, Hawkins, TX 75765
Meals, accommodations, and local transportation from Thursday night through Monday afternoon will be provided by LYC and local brethren.
Prerequisites:
CPR/First Aid: None
Lifeguard:
- Must be at least 15 years of age on or before the final scheduled session of the course.
- Must be able to swim 300 yards continuously, demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. Candidates may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both, but swimming on the back is not allowed. Swim goggles may be used.
- Must be able to tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs. Candidates should place their hands under the armpits.
- Must be able to complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:
- Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.
- Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
- Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface to be able to breathe. Candidates should not swim the distance under water. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
Cost of Certifications:
- CPR/ First Aid – Free if donating your services to LYC for a minimum of 2 years; $30 for all others.
- Life Guard – Free if donating your services to LYC for a minimum of 2 years; $60 for all others.
Itinerary: TBD
LYC Registration and Ordering Camp Pictorials—Repeat Announcement
Preparations are well underway for the camps that Living Youth Programs will be running this summer. Mark your calendars: we are going to begin registration for the five North America-based camps in just two weeks, on February 14.
Additionally, we will be accepting orders for both the 2014 and 2015 Camp Pictorial albums, starting on February 14. Each album has a suggested donation amount of $35 to help offset some of the costs of production. If you previously ordered a 2014, and haven't received it yet, don't fear: we still have your order, and you don't need to request another copy.—Josh Penman
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
Why Persecution of Professing Christians?
In recent years, news agencies have reported an uptick in persecution against professing Christians, all over the world. Why is this happening? What does it have to do with end-time prophecy? Perhaps a clue can be found in a recent Vatican announcement, about a planned meeting between the pope and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. This meeting is to take place tomorrow (as of this writing), February 12, in Cuba. This is an historic meeting—the "first in history" between a Russian Orthodox patriarch and a pope. It is a "step toward healing a 1,000-year-old rift" between the two churches ("Pope Reaches Out to East," Wall Street Journal, Sat-Sun., February 6-7, 2016).
But why this meeting now? Notice this quote from the top diplomatic representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion: "The situation in the Middle East, in northern and central Africa and in other regions where extremists are perpetrating a genocide of Christians requires immediate action and an even-closer cooperation between Christian churches" (ibid.).
We need to "discern the signs of the times" to understand what is happening and why. We "sigh and cry" for the abominations done in this world (Ezekiel 9:4). And we also yearn for a time when the horrible suffering of so many—including nominal Christians—will end. In the meantime, we must focus on who we are—the true Church, the body of Christ, the pure and chaste woman, commissioned to warn the world of what's happening (Matthew 24:14). Thank God He has opened our eyes to His Truth and is giving us the opportunity to share that Truth with all mankind. Soon this suffering and deceived world will be transformed for good. God speed that day!
Have an inspiring Sabbath,
Rod McNair
News and Prophecy—February 11, 2016
Nuclear EMP Attack Planned? Is North Korea planning a major attack on the United States? "North Korea, which conducted its fourth nuclear test last month and launched a long-range rocket on Saturday, could begin to recover plutonium from a restarted nuclear reactor within weeks…" (Reuters, February 10, 2016). The North Korean bomb test in January was "dismissed as virtually irrelevant by some media experts" but others warned that it could be preparation for a "potential Super-EMP weapon that could easily wipe out the electric grid, cars and electronics over a wide swath of the United States" (Washington Examiner, January 6, 2016). Iran may even use the recent ease of sanctions to help North Korea in their mutual goal. "Contrary to some 'expert' analysis, both the recent North Korean nuclear and the Iranian ballistic missile tests are deadly serious threats to the United States. The danger to the United States is particularly consequential due to the close military cooperation of North Korea and Iran. Their combined capabilities, as demonstrated recently, could very well signal a future nuclear attack of the electromagnetic pulse type, for which the U.S., at the moment, is totally unprepared" (The Gates Institute, January 16, 2016). Numerous prophecies show Israel's demise will happen suddenly and quickly (Deuteronomy 28:20; Isaiah 9:14; Isaiah 30:13). The U.S. and other British-descended nations are warned by God, "Your roads are deserted; no one travels them anymore" (Isaiah 33:8, NLT); and again due to their disobedience, "your highways shall be desolate" (Leviticus 26:22). One way these prophecies could come to pass is through an EMP that shuts down transportation and causes great devastation to nations. Are we spiritually preparing for this type of future? To learn more, read our informative article "Disaster upon Disaster!"
World Hunger Increasing: "The food shortage in Ethiopia is getting worse. Aid agencies say up to 15 million people could suffer because of the El Niño-induced drought. Officials fear donors are neglecting the country in favor of others… New figures released by humanitarian agencies… show that more than 2.5 million children are expected to drop out of school as a result of the drought, whereas 1.7 million children are in need of nutritional support. NGO Save the Children last week warned that 350,000 babies are expected to be born into drought-stricken communities in the coming six months" (Deutsche Welle, January 27, 2016). Christ promised to bless those who "mourn" (Matthew 5:4). God also promised to bless those who "sigh and cry" for abominations they witness (Ezekiel 9:4). Christ also instructed His people to pray for God's Kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10) to bring an end to this current evil world of suffering. When true Christians view the world and see the massive and increasing suffering of human beings made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), we should all "sigh and cry" out to God for His intervention and to allow His Son to return to the earth and set up his Kingdom very soon! For more information on why God allows suffering, be sure to read our short article "Why Intense Suffering?"
Gene Editing Go-Ahead! "UK scientists have been given the go-ahead by the fertility regulator to genetically modify human embryos. It is the first time a country has considered the DNA-altering technique in embryos and approved it… But the field is attracting controversy over concerns it is opening the door to designer—or GM—babies… In a world-first last year, scientists in China announced they had carried out gene editing in human embryos to correct a gene that causes a blood disorder" (BBC, February 1, 2016). "Dr David King, the director of Human Genetics Alert, said: 'This research will allow the scientists to refine the techniques for creating GM babies, and many of the government's scientific advisers have already decided that they are in favour of allowing that. So this is the first step in a well mapped-out process leading to GM babies, and a future of consumer eugenics'" (ibid.). Although many genetic scientists have altruistic motives—they aim to help babies with genetic problems—where will this research lead? Once science can turn off disease genes, they can, theoretically, turn off aging genes and turn on genes for strength, body size and more! In Genesis 11:6-9, God purposefully confused the languages because He knew "nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them." If scientists develop the ability to manipulate genes, they will play God and, in theory, could remove the need for our physical "Healer." God will not allow that to happen! For more on this fascinating subject, read our article "The Miracle of DNA."—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway, Chris Sookdeo and VG Lardé