Greetings from Charlotte,
Last week's Charlotte Family Weekend was a resounding success, with 329 brethren taking part. We had Sabbath services and a dinner/dance on Saturday, and family activities on Sunday. We were excited to welcome several dozen of our guests in tours here at the office, as they got to meet everyone and see the Headquarters operations. And an uncharacteristic snowfall Saturday night and Sunday made our northern visitors feel even more at home! In his sermon on the Sabbath, Mr. Meredith encouraged all of us, including our youth, to persevere in spite of the challenges that lie before us, concluding positively, "We Are Winners!" This week in the office, Mr. Meredith has been conducting meetings and Mr. Richard Ames has been writing the next co-worker letter. And as 2010 winds up, we are encouraged as the Work continues to press on! Currently, we have received 35,965 responses to the semi-annual DVD offer, "End-Time Prophecy and You." Mr. Gaylyn Bonjour reports that we sent out 5,695 brochures this week for the first Tomorrow's World Special Presentations that will take place in 2011, in Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on January 22 and 29, and 23 and 30, respectively. Mr. Sheldon Monson and his family have been in the process of moving this week, relocating to the Washington D.C. area. This week, Dr. Douglas Winnail has been out of town travelling and will be in Kansas City for Sabbath services and the weekend of special activities. With the severe weather in recent weeks, please pray for all of God's people travelling to and from Sabbath services and the weekend's activities.–RMcN
Church Administration
Healing
Mr. Rod Reynolds reports: Greetings. Prayers were recently requested at Baton Rouge combined service with New Orleans for Alice Bivin of the New Orleans congregation. A pulmonary examination had discovered fluid build-up in tissues around her left lung and heart area, and also a CT scan had revealed several small nodules in the lower part of her left lung.
After receiving an anointed cloth Mrs. Bivin reports, "I placed [the] cloth on my chest and prayed that God would heal me. A few minutes later, I began coughing and coughed off and on all afternoon and during the night. I had not coughed before that. I went through the bronchoscopy procedure Wednesday, and the doctor told my daughter, Cindy Wheelahan, that they found 'nothing abnormal' about my left lung."
Mrs. Bivin will receive further results from the recent examination later, but she says, "I feel much better and have more strength than I had the past few weeks. I believe God has honored our prayers and the anointing."
Mrs. Bivin asked me to convey her thanks for your prayers for her healing.
Thanks and praise to God for his merciful intervention for Mrs. Bivin.
The Charlotte Family Weekend
The Charlotte Winter Weekend was a rousing success. Sabbath services at the Hilton University Hotel with attendance of 239 people was a joyous occasion as visitors from around the country and some international visitors enjoyed the fellowship in a Feast-like atmosphere. The large crowd enjoyed special music performed by the Charlotte choir. The sermonette by Dr. Scott Winnail and the sermon by Dr. Meredith were very encouraging and very well received. Many who braved winter weather including snow and ice to get there commented that it was certainly worth the effort.
The dinner and dance that evening were well attended by 280 people who enjoyed a sumptuous meal together. The band was excellent and played a wide variety of music from the "Big Band Era." The dance floor was full of happy people for the whole evening.
On Sunday, family activities were held at a local gymnasium with games for the young children and basketball and volleyball for the teens and adults. There were 120 people in attendance. A silent auction of delicious baked goods prepared by the local brethren was a big hit and raised money to defray the expense of renting the gym. The "blind mule" race for "mules" of all ages was lots of fun for the participants and the spectators.
As it all ended, tired but happy folks headed home with good memories of this year's winter activity in Charlotte.
Living Youth Camp and Live On-Line Bible Study
Attention all teens! Don't miss our first "Live On-line Bible Study" this Sunday evening from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm Eastern Standard Time. In order to attend, just go to our web page, www.livingyouth.org, for simple instructions explaining how to log on. The meeting room will be open 30 minutes before the start of the Bible study for chatting and working out any connection problems. It is recommended that you log on at least 15 minutes before the start of the study in order to make sure you're all set to go at 7:30 pm EST. Mr. Jonathan McNair will begin with the book of Genesis as we take a live, interactive journey together through God's Word. As an added bonus, all those who attend the study will be the first to learn of the new site for our 2011 Living Youth Camp! For those who are not able to attend the study, just go to www.livingyouth.org next week for an announcement about camp as well as the latest podcast interview and other news and information geared toward the youth in God's Church.–Jonathan McNair, Living Youth Director
Chilean Youth Camp
Seven children ages ranging from 9 months to 12 years old enjoyed a children's camp in Quisco, a beautiful beach town located some 80 miles from Santiago. The teachings were the Ten Commandments, Daniel's story, biblical numbers, respect and obedience, and the power of prayer. The children enjoyed swimming in the ocean, games and making sand castles. Everything was done decently and in order and well supervised by everyone. I thank God for the opportunity He gave us to do this unforgettable camp and it was profitable for the children and everyone.–Sergio Carvajal
News & Prophecy E-Zine (Repeat Announcement)
Subscribe today to the Tomorrow's World News & Prophecy e-mail magazine (e-Zine), a brief summary of several news stories with great prophetic significance. This is a must-read for any student of Bible prophecy. To subscribe, go to the Tomorrow's World website, www.tomorrowsworld.org, and click on the News & Prophecy E-Zine advertisement at the top of the screen. Then select the TW News & Prophecy option on the left. The News & Prophecy e-zine will be sent once a week to your e-mail address.
Living University
Registration and On-Campus Student Applications
There are only 1 ½ weeks remaining before the start of our next semester. Classes begin on Wednesday, January 12. Students planning to take classes next semester should register as soon as possible and order their text books immediately, so as to be prepared for the first day of class. A complete list of course offerings is available on the Living University website.
Living University is currently accepting applications for a limited number of on-campus students who desire the exciting opportunity to study and work at the Church's international headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina! Applications for the 2011-2012 academic year should be initiated online via the university website. Additional details and requirements for on-campus applications can be found online, as can an estimate of expected costs. Because space is limited, interested students should complete and submit all application materials by March 1, 2011. Those with no previous college should submit college entrance test scores (GRE or SAT) as a part of their application. You can find out more about these exams through a local high school guidance office or local college testing service. Homeschooled students are welcome to apply (see website guidelines for details). With our on-campus students, we are also looking for students who have skills that they may be able to contribute to the Work or University in some way, through a student work study position. At this time we can only accept on-campus students from the U.S.A. Our hope is to expand this opportunity to international students in future years. Interested students are encouraged to contact Dr. Scott Winnail.
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 or questions, please contact Dr. Scott Winnail at [email protected] or 704-708-2292.
Finance Department
As we close the calendar year for 2010, we want to extend a hearty thank you to all our members and co-workers for your generous financial support, and for your prayers for every aspect of the Work. The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few, but collectively we are able to accomplish much. Please continue to pray for God's guidance in everything that we do at Headquarters, and in the local congregations around the world as we begin 2011.—Davy Crockett
Comments
Where Is Your Heart? We are told in the Scriptures that God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and that He examines and tests our hearts and minds (Psalm 7:9) because "a man's heart reveals the man" (Proverbs 27:19). Our goals and priorities and how we use our time reveal what is truly in our heart. This is why we are urged to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33) and to do whatever we do with all our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10). We see these principles in action when we look at the life of Jesus Christ. He was a mission-oriented person. He told His disciples, "My food [nourishment, motivation] is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" (John 4:34). Jesus was totally focused on His mission of preaching the Gospel, warning the world and preparing a people to reign with Him in the Kingdom of God. Regarding priorities, Jesus taught, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). Jesus' time, talents, and energies were totally committed to His mission—His heart was in the Work of God. Let's regularly examine our priorities and ask ourselves, Where is our heart?
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—December 30, 2010
Political Union in Europe in 10 Years? Speaking in a high-profile interview with the newspaper Bild am Sonntag recently, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble commented, "In 10 years we will have a structure that corresponds much stronger to what one describes as political union." French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel commented similarly at a recent meeting, "eurozone leaders must draw a fundamental lesson from the ongoing debt crisis and take steps towards political integration, including the harmonization of tax policies or labor law." Chancellor Merkel emphasized that this harmonization would "show this is not just about currency issues but also about political co-operation, which has to be deepened" (EUObserver.com, December 13, 2010). Although the actual nations involved in European integration could change in the future, a politically unified Europe is prophesied to happen. The Scriptures clearly state that a final "European Union" will consist of 10 kingdoms that will "give their power" over to a central authority (Revelation 17:12-13). This union will be an unstable mixture of "iron and clay" that will only last for a short time (Daniel 2:41-43). The Bible indicates that Germany/Assyria will play a pivotal role in this final European Union. For additional information on this exciting topic, see our reprint article, Resurgent Germany: A Fourth Reich?
Will Canada Legalize Polygamy? The Supreme Court in British Columbia is considering a landmark case that seeks to overturn Canada's century-old anti-polygamy law. Proponents cite religious discrimination as the primary reason for overturning the current law against polygamy. The current law is said to discriminate against Mormons and immigrants whose religions and cultures allow polygamy. Those against the overturn cite the risk of poor treatment of women and increased risk of incest as reasons for maintaining the current law. A judgment on the case is expected sometime in early 2011 (Edmontonsun.com, November 22, 2010). As the end of this age approaches, Canada, in line with many other Israelite-descended nations, is rejecting long-standing moral laws in favor of "religious freedom" and human rights. The Bible clearly teaches that husbands are to have one wife (1 Timothy 3:2), a practice that God put into place at the very beginning (Genesis 2:22)! This true understanding of the definition of marriage is consistent with the spiritual analogy that Jesus Christ has one wife or bride—the Church—not many wives or brides (Revelation 19:7; Ephesians 5:21-33). Today we are witnessing nations that God has blessed, arrogantly turning the laws of God upside down, in spite of the prophetic warning, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20). The God of the Bible promises difficult times ahead for these Israelite nations "Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel" (v. 24).
Scientist Not Hired Because of Religious Beliefs? Dr. Martin Gaskell has claimed that religious discrimination prevented him from being hired for a university position in 2007 for which he was uniquely qualified. Gaskell was considered by the University of Kentucky search committee as the top candidate for a director of a new student observatory. Court records note that one university search committee member commented that Gaskell was "breathtakingly above the other applicants." Court records further disclose the internal debate that university faculty members had about the potential impact of Dr. Gaskell's Christian leanings and his belief that evolution is a theory with "significant scientific problems"—a decision-making discussion that was against university and federal hiring policy. Last month a U.S. district judge rejected the University of Kentucky's motion and moved the case to trial, noting "There is no dispute that based on his application, Gaskell was a leading candidate for the position" (Associated Press, December 17, 2010). Jesus prophesied that at the end of the age, Christians would be persecuted for their beliefs (Matthew 24:9). However, the Bible also warns there will be serious consequences for those who "take away justice from the righteous man" (Isaiah 5:23).–Daniel Bennett and Scott Winnail