Dear brethren,
Dr. Winnail has been at the LYC Teen Camp in Ohio this week and he reports that morale is improving as campers come to terms with the tragic death of one of our staff, Morgan Montgomery, in a boating accident. He states that this event has brought the campers and staff together in a remarkable way and focused their attention on God and His promises. We have received numerous e-mails expressing concern and support from parents, friends and other Churches of God as they have learned of this tragic loss. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the Montgomery family at this time. They have been remarkable in how they have handled this very personal trial. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery flew in from Australia and arrived at the camp yesterday. A memorial service will be held this Sunday, August 9, at the camp (see reports below). On Monday, Dr. Meredith sent a very heartfelt and encouraging letter to all LCG members about this tragedy. He traveled up to Ohio yesterday and both he and Mr. Montgomery addressed the campers and staff this morning. Dr. Meredith will also be giving the sermon there this Sabbath.
Work in the Charlotte office presses forward, with Mr. Ames working on a new telecast script this week, as well as edits for the September-October 2015 Tomorrow's World magazine. Also this week, Feast of Tabernacles preparation has been in high gear, with work on speaking schedules and the "Behind the Work" film. Feast financial assistance requests are also being processed. A Tomorrow's World Presentation will be conducted by Dr. Jeff Fall in Reno, Nevada this Sunday. Please be praying for the Montgomery family, for our LYC campers and personnel, and for all of God's people, for encouragement and strength to accomplish His will and finish His Work.—RMc
Church Administration
LYC Teen Camp in Ohio
More than 300 campers and staff from the USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, France and Australia traveled to Delaware, Ohio for the LYC Teen Camp. The session this year was marred by the death of Morgan Montgomery, an assistant counselor from Australia. This was a sobering experience for all concerned, but this unexpected loss has drawn campers and staff together as the ministers focused everyone's attention on trusting God's promise that all things ultimately work to the good for those who love God, are called (Romans 8:28), and look to God for strength. At the beginning of camp, Mr. Monson set a theme of how "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). This experience challenged everyone to grow physically, mentally and spiritually. It has been very encouraging to see how Mr. Monson and the staff have worked together to deal with this trial, how the campers have responded to guidance and how everyone has supported each other. This event was widely reported in the local media and authorities here have been kind, considerate and professional in how they have handled this situation. I sense that the Teen Summer Camp this year will have a profound impact on the lives of the young people and adults who have lived through this experience.—Douglas S. Winnail
Memorial Service for Morgan Montgomery
The Memorial Service for Morgan Montgomery is scheduled to take place at the Lodge on Sunday, August 9, 2015 at 7:00 AM. Due to space and privacy concerns, we request that attendance be limited to family members, family friends, campers, camp staff and members of the Church of God community. The camp staff and the Montgomery family are very appreciative of the consideration and care that responders and media in the Ohio area have shown.--Dexter Wakefield
Tomorrow's World Presents in Sacramento, California
On Sunday, July 26, we had a very positive group of 55 new people attending the Tomorrow's World Presents in Sacramento, along with 28 enthusiastic members, making a total of 83 attendees. The audience seemed quite attentive and responsive to the presentation. The ladies furnished a wide variety of refreshments and the Sacramento members provided a friendly and welcoming setting. A couple of written comments from two of the new attendees included: "It was very informative; I loved it; it was very helpful" and "I am going to try hard to stop sinning and keep the commandments." Eight people expressed an interest in attending Sabbath services. It is an honor for all of us to be a part of "scattering seeds."—Jeffrey Fall
Living Youth Program
Living Youth Camp Ohio 2015 will be livestreaming the Talent Show today, August 6, beginning at 7:15 p.m. Eastern time. Please join us. Archives of the talent show will be available afterwards. To access the stream, follow the links from www.livingyouth.org.—Josh Penman
Living University
Registration for First (Fall) Semester
Living University classes begin in just over a week (August 17), so if you are interested in taking or auditing a class, be sure to register and order your textbooks this week! Those who have never taken a Living University course will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for selected courses. Those age 65 and above are eligible to audit one class each semester tuition-free. Those who are currently in their third-tithe year qualify for a 50 percent tuition reduction. For a complete list of available classes, visit the LU Web site and click on "Fall 2015 Class Schedule." To make application to Living University, to register for courses, and to find out more, please visit the www.livinguniv.com Web site. For additional information, please contact Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or 704-708-2294.
Comments
The Value of Trials: Trials are never pleasant. Yet, when trials come, it is important to maintain a godly perspective (Isaiah 55:8-9). God allows trials to come to accomplish His purposes. Job was a "blameless and upright" man who "feared God and shunned evil" yet he experienced a sudden series of tragic reverses because God was working out a purpose in his life (Job 1). Jesus and John the Baptist did not suffer and die because they sinned. They each had an important role in God's plan, and their lives ended when they had fulfilled God's purpose. We can be confident when trials come when we remember that God cares for each of His children (Matthew 10:29-31) and that God is molding and fashioning each of us for a much bigger purpose (Philippians 1:6). We also need to remember that God has promised that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). This is why James wrote that we can be thankful for trials so we can learn lessons and also see God's purpose for trials (James 1:2-4).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—August 6, 2015
Deadly Asian Flooding: "Monsoon rains have claimed hundreds of lives across Asia, authorities reported Monday, as rescuers scrambled to reach remote areas of India, Pakistan and Myanmar after flash floods and landslides. Authorities in India say more than 120 people have died across the country in recent days, while more than a million have been displaced by rains worsened by a cyclone that barrelled through the Bay of Bengal last week" (L'Agence France-Presse, August 3, 2015). "In neighbouring Myanmar heavy seasonal rains—augmented by Cyclone Komen—have killed 46 people so far and affected more than 200,000, with swathes of the country hit by rooftop-high floods… Thousands of others are already in camps for the displaced including in the Kalay district of Sagaing region, where residents told of unusually powerful floodwaters swamping homes in hours. 'We've lost all that we have. Our house is still under water,' Htay Shein, 62, told AFP from a temporary shelter in Kalay" (ibid.). Although catastrophic flooding is just one of many signs Christ predicted for the end of the age (Luke 21:10, 11, 25), witnessing suffering on such a vast scale should move every professing Christian to pray fervently for God's Kingdom to come quickly (Matthew 6:10)! All human beings are made in God's image no matter their nationality or ethnicity (Genesis 1:26). And one day soon, when Christ returns and sets up His Kingdom on the earth, all human beings will experience the peace, safety and abundance that He brings (read the powerful prophecy of Isaiah 35). For a clearer vision of this awesome future time, read The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?
Homicide Rates and Violent Crimes on the Rise in U.S.: Police chiefs from across the U.S. met recently to address surging homicide rates nationwide. "Some cities, including Baltimore, Houston, and Milwaukee, have seen the number of murders on record in 2015 rise by at least 50% over the past year" (TIME, August 3, 2015). "A total of 191 people have been killed in Baltimore in 2015. Forty-five people were killed in July alone… The violence this year is in some ways unprecedented: No previous year has had two months with more than 40 killings…" (The Baltimore Sun, August 2, 2015). New York and other cities "are showing increases in violence from 2014… the city recorded 196 homicides compared with 178 in the same period a year ago, an increase of 10.1 percent, according to NYPD data… Chicago has reported 252 homicides compared with 209 in 2014, an increase of 21 percent while St. Louis… had 114 homicides, about a 50 percent rise" (Newsday, August 3, 2015). Scripture makes clear that the end of the age will be filled with "perilous [stressful] times" (2 Timothy 3:1) and individuals will lack "self-control" and be "brutal" in their actions (v. 3). Christ connects breaking God's law (1 John 3:4) to love waxing cold (Matthew 24:12, KJV). These scriptures show that the rise in murders and violent crimes is directly linked to the Israelite nations' rejection of God's laws. We can look forward to the return of "The Prince of Peace" who will enforce the commandment "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). Read our booklet, The Ten Commandments, to understand the blessings of keeping this and all of God's commandments.
California Tinder Box: California's prolonged drought is breeding fires! "As firefighters battled a massive Northern California wildfire threatening numerous homes" 13,000 people were urged to move to evacuation shelters (Associated Press, August 4, 2015). "At least 39 homes and 52 outbuildings have now been destroyed by an unruly Northern California wildfire" (San Francisco Gate, August 5, 2015). "Firefighting officials said crews made some progress on Tuesday… Teams were able to build a buffer between the flames and some of the estimated 6,900 homes it threatens" (The Guardian, August 5, 2015). More than twenty wildfires are burning in California (Fox News, August 3, 2015). Jeremiah prophesied that extreme drought will come upon the Israelite-descended nations. "They went to the cisterns and found no water… Because the ground is parched, for there was no rain in the land, the plowmen were ashamed… O LORD… our iniquities testify against us… we have sinned against You" (Jeremiah 14:3-7). Droughts will worsen as the end of the age approaches (Matthew 24:7). But after Christ's return, there will be no more drought on people who obey God as even the deserts "blossom as the rose" (Isaiah 35:1). For more about weather in the end times, read Who Controls the Weather?—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway, and Francine Prater