Greetings from Charlotte,
While flooding continues in Southeast Australia and fires burn in Northwestern Spain, we are watching the first signs of Spring—leaves and flowering trees—appear in Charlotte. This week, Mr. Meredith has written a co-worker letter and chaired a profitable Council of Elders phone meeting. Mr. Wayne Pyle reports that two weekends ago, Mr. Ames' Tomorrow's World television program, entitled "The Prophesied Beast," broke all previous U.S.-Canada records for this topic by generating 5,933 responses. Last weekend, the response (2,357) to Mr. King's program, "Is the Rapture Coming Soon?," appears to have been impacted by the changeover to Daylight Saving Time. The Tomorrow's World Special Presentations that I conducted in Barbados and Trinidad last weekend, entitled "The Gathering Storm" were very well attended (see below). Mr. Ames will be in Dallas this Sabbath and Dr. Scott Winnail will be in Barbados to conduct TWSPs. Mr. Hernandez will speak in Brussels, Belgium this Sabbath and return to the U.S.A. on Sunday. We are saddened to report the recent deaths of three older elders, Mr. Evo Walker, Mr. Tom Gossett and Mr. Melecio Chico (see below). Your prayers for the family and friends of these dedicated servants will be appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Passover 2012 (Repeat Announcement)
Important Notice to All Pastors: This year the Passover Service will be observed on Thursday evening, April 5. 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. To ensure timely delivery and to save on shipping costs, please let us know this information right away.
Additionally, 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 to observe it at home. Please direct your requests to Dorothy McNair at the Church Administration Department by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 704-844-1960, ext. 2248, as soon as possible.
Tomorrow's World Special Presentations
Barbados: The Living Church of God in Barbados hosted a Tomorrow's World Special Presentation on Saturday, March 10. The presentation by Dr. Douglas Winnail was held at the Barbados Beach Club and was attended by 187 people, including 109 visitors. Many visitors and brethren stayed for several hours to enjoy refreshments and ask questions. Dr. Scott Winnail will make a follow-up presentation this coming Sabbath in Barbados, entitled "Where Is God's Church Today?"
Trinidad: On Sunday, March 11, nearly 270 people (including 190 guests) gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port-of-Spain in Trinidad to hear Dr. Douglas Winnail make a TWSP entitled "The Gathering Storm." In a warm and friendly atmosphere with a panoramic view of the city and the sea from the top floor of the hotel, Dr. Winnail's riveting presentation held the attention of the audience for the next two hours. Everyone was fascinated by the biblical perspective he gave to world events and what we will expect to see in the future. He listed specific signs to look for and a possible connection between Trinidad and the European Community. Dr. Winnail also gave a graphic description of Babylon the Great—the Mother of Harlots mentioned in the book of Revelation and sounded a clear warning that we should stay clear of her if we are to escape the punishments awaiting her. A number of ministers (who enthusiastically use our materials) and former WCG members attended and indicated they want to return for the follow-up presentation in two weeks. After the presentation, two long lines formed to pick up literature before the attendees enjoyed a snack and the opportunity to ask further questions. We all felt God's inspiration on the whole event.—Fitzroy Greeman
Ministerial Conference Registration Forms
All those invited to the Ministerial Conference are asked to complete and submit their Registration Forms as soon as possible. Although the deadline is not until March 26, it is very helpful, in planning and arranging details such as housing, to get the information earlier.
Church Survey
Attention all U.S. Area Pastors: This is a reminder that the Church Survey results of your congregations are due at Headquarters today. We thank you for your diligent attention to this project, as an up-to-date and accurate database is vital for many different purposes, including timely mailings, festival registration, donation receipts, and for accurate demographic information used in planning.
Song-leading DVD and Instruction Manual (Repeat Announcement)
To all Pastors: Copies of Song Leading Basics, the instructional booklet and DVD produced by the Living Church of God, is available to pastors to use either for group instruction or to give to individuals. Pastors are welcome to order as many copies as you need. To order copies, write to Dorothy McNair at [email protected] to let us know how many copies you need for your entire area.
In Memory
We are saddened to announce that three beloved elders in the Living Church of God have died in the past two weeks. Mr. Thomas Gossett, age 77, of the Knoxville, Tennessee, congregation died on March 7; Mr. Melecio Chico, age 78, serving several congregations in the Philippines died on March 12; and Mr. Evo Walker, age 81, serving several congregations in Mississippi, died on March 13. All three men were dealing with the effects of advancing age and declining health. They will be remembered for their years of service and their dedication to God's Truth. Please remember their wives and families in your prayers.
Carolina Singles Weekend
The Charlotte singles would like to welcome you to our third annual Carolina Singles Weekend! This year it falls over the weekend of Pentecost, adding to the great spiritual atmosphere. The dates for the weekend are May 25 to May 28. We will be having lots of wonderful messages, great fellowship and delicious food. For more information, please visit our local website www.charlottelcg.org (not an official Church website).
Registration is now open. We have set up the option for you to register online this year and you may also pay online. If you would rather mail your payment, you may do so. The cost for the weekend will be the same as it was last year, $20. Your registration will not be complete until we receive your payment.
We are working with a few motels around the area for discounted rates. That information will be provided shortly. Housing with brethren is available as well. Please let us know if you would like help arranging transportation when you come to Charlotte. More detailed information and a schedule can be found on the website. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Darren Brinson at [email protected].
We hope to see y'all there!
Living Youth Programs
The Church of God History Project… Calling for LCG Youth Participation! (Repeat Announcement)
LCG parents and youth, go to www.lcg.org/historyproject to learn how you can win a LYC Teen, Pre-Teen or Adventure Camp Scholarship and a $100 gift certificate! Get assistance from your parents and your local pastor, and video an older, long-time LCG member in your local congregation. The person you record should give a brief account (three-to-five-minutes max) of how God called him or her into the Truth. You can record this interview on a smart phone or video camera. More details are available at www.lcg.org/historyproject. Submission deadline is April 20.—Wyatt Ciesielka and Sheldon Monson
LYC Adventure Camp 2012—Glacier Park, Montana
This camp is now full and we are no longer accepting applications. We had a huge response with more than 50 people hoping to come on this trip. Unfortunately we were able to accept only a total of 32 campers and staff. All acceptance and denial letters will be mailed out by Monday, March 19. Regretfully, we could not take every qualified individual who applied. If you were not accepted we hope that you will apply again next year.
Teen Camp—LYC Ohio 2012
More than 120 people have already applied to the Teen Camp in Ohio, and this camp is also filling up fast! If you have not yet applied, please do so ASAP. We are already mailing out acceptance letters for this camp.
Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening
The response to the Teen Bible Studies has been very good! This Sunday evening the topic is "Manasseh: Wicked King of Judah," presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. The chat room is open at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern time) and the Bible Study runs from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Texas Pre-Teen Camp (Repeat Announcement)
Plans are being made to hold this year's Texas Pre-Teen Camp June 10-15 in Bellville, Texas. We are still finalizing the details and hope to be able to begin taking applications soon. Keep checking www.livingyouth.org for more details.—Phil Sena, Texas Pre-Teen Camp Director
Living University
Call for On-Site Study Applications—still room for a couple more students (Repeat Announcement—U.S. only)
For those seeking a unique and exciting learning opportunity, we still have room for a couple more applicants for our on-site program in Charlotte, beginning in August 2012. We hope to have several new male and female students this fall! Applications can be initiated online through the university website, www.livinguniv.com. Additional details and requirements can be found online, including a rough estimate of costs associated with on-site study. We plan to have housing available for on-site students this fall.
Work Study Opportunities Available
With our on-site students, we are also looking for individuals who might have skills they can contribute to the Work or University through part-time work study. We have work study opportunities in several areas of God's Work, but are in greatest need of students with skills and interest in the areas of writing and editorial and "web content" design. If you are interested in on-site LU study and also have interests and/or skills in these or other areas, please contact us as soon as possible. At this time we can only accept on-campus students from the U.S. Our hope is to expand this opportunity to international students in future years. Because space is limited, students interested should plan to have their applications completed and submitted as soon as possible. Those with no previous college will need to submit college entrance test scores (GRE or SAT) along with the application. You can find out more about these exams through a local high school guidance office or local college testing service.
If you have any questions at all about on-site study, please call Dr. Scott Winnail at 704-708-2292 or send e-mail to [email protected].
Comments
Pride vs. Humility: Bible prophecies reveal that in the last days people will be proud, boastful, haughty, headstrong and presumptuously promote their own ideas (2 Timothy 2:14-18; 3:1-5; 2 Peter 2:10), and that scoffers will ridicule the idea that a real God inspired the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:3-5). Such scoffers and false teachers are largely unaware of what God reveals about pride and humility in the Scriptures. The Bible states that "pride goes before… a fall" (Proverbs 16:18), and that humility is a prerequisite for honor in God's sight (Proverbs 15:33; 29:23). God says that He looks on the humble (Isaiah 66:2), that He dwells with the humble (Isaiah 57:15), that He raises up the humble (Psalm 147:6) and that He gives grace (unmerited pardon) to the humble (Proverbs 3:34). Jesus said "blessed" are the humble (Matthew 5:3-5). Peter urged Christians to "be clothed with humility" (1 Peter 5:5). The Scriptures reveal that God used Moses because he was humble (Numbers 12:3), and that Jesus was exalted because He humbled Himself by dying "the death of the cross" for our sins (Philippians 2:8-9). While many doubt and act like God does not exist, or wonder what His will is, the Bible explains what God is looking for in each of us—"to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—March 15, 2012
Once in a Century Flooding in Australia: At a time of year when dry weather usually prevails, "Exceptionally heavy rain over the course of a week has smashed records in a number of places across southeast Australia and caused widespread flooding in NSW and Victoria in particular." Some locations received 525 mm/20.7 inches of rain in a 7-day period, due to a slow-moving low pressure system. One town received "nearly a year's worth of rain" in just one week. As of last Tuesday, 75% of New South Wales was "either under water, or affected by or at risk of floods." Forecasters expect the very rainy weather pattern to persist well into March (Australian Associated Press, March 6, 2012). In recent years, Australia has experienced extreme weather—from searing droughts to extreme flooding—that is beginning to resemble end-time prophecies. The prophet Amos warned that due to the manifold sins of the Israelite nations (Amos 3:14), God would punish them. "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). Verse 9 also talks about the mildew that will set in because of prolonged wet conditions. As the end of the age draws closer, we will see more extreme weather patterns around the globe, especially in Israelite nations like Australia. For more information about the modern-day Israelite nations, please see our free booklet, The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Sunday—a NO WORK Day in Europe: "Everyone in the square says 'no' to working on Sunday. On Sunday, 4 March, thirteen European countries joined with the European Sunday Alliance, made up of various types of unions, associations of civil society, together with Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox communities, all together to confirm the special and fundamental characteristic of Sunday." The peaceful demonstration held in cities throughout Europe involved thousands of people. "The Commission for Justice and Peace of the Croatian Bishops' Conference" posted a document stating, "It is necessary respect Sunday as a day of rest for everyone," and that Sunday is a day for both families and the Lord (www.osservatoreromano.va, March 6, 2012). What many do not realize is that Sunday worship is a non-biblical adaptation of the Sabbath, anciently promoted by the Catholic Church to facilitate the conversion of Sun-worshiping pagans. It may also become the "mark" or identifying sign of those who will be permitted to function in the coming European Beast power (Revelation 13:16-18). As the end-time configuration of Europe emerges, we will probably see Sunday as the "day of rest" take a more prominent role in worship and politics. For more information on this topic, see our free booklet on The Beast of Revelation.
Benefits of Fasting: Thousands of years ago, God commanded His people to "afflict your soul" or "fast," at least annually on the Day of Atonement (known as Yom Kippur by Jews—Leviticus 23:27). Both Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul understood the spiritual reasons for fasting (Mark 9:29; Acts 27:9). Although God intended fasting (going without food and water) to be a spiritual tool to draw closer to Him, He—the Designer of the human body—knew there would also be significant health benefits. According to a recent report, "there's now emerging evidence to show occasional fasting… also carries benefits." Those benefits include "a drop in levels of growth-factor, a hormone linked with cancer and diabetes, as well as a reduction in 'bad' LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) in the blood." Other benefits are "free radicals—the damaging molecules linked to disease—are dampened down. Studies also suggest that levels of inflammation can fall. And now there is the suggestion that fasting protects the brain, too," reducing the risk of degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's (Mail Online, February 27, 2012). Fasting is one of four powerful tools for spiritual growth (along with regular prayer, Bible study, and meditation)—and when done periodically, there are also important health benefits.—Scott Winnail, Dwain Crisman and Annette Wright