Greetings from Charlotte,
We had very positive results from the three Bible lectures that were held last weekend. Mr. Ames presented one in Houston, Texas, that drew 82 new people. Mr. Rick Stafford's lecture in Little Rock, Arkansas, drew 37 new people, while Mr. Karl Beyersdorfer's lecture in Harrison, Arkansas, drew 24 responses (see more below). Last Sabbath, Mr. Meredith gave the sermon here in Charlotte entitled "Preparing to Rule," which discussed the practical application of laws and statutes found in the Scriptures. This week, Dr. Germano has been in Charlotte working with the Living University registration process for classes that will be offered this fall. As we see problems mounting in the world and the growing need for the government of God, we need to take advantage of the opportunity to prepare to rule with Jesus Christ, which God is providing for His people through the resources of His Church and Living University.
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Presentations
Harrison, Arkansas
Mr. Karl Beyersdorfer reports: We are very happy to report the exceptional turnout for our Bible Lecture in Harrison, Arkansas, on Sunday, June 14. Four hundred and forty invitations were sent. Fourteen members and two children welcomed 19 new people. In addition, five called saying they could not attend the study, but requested a CD of the message. This total of 24 gives us a 5.5% response! Arrangements are being made for a monthly study group. We are hoping this enthusiastic little group will soon become another Living Church of God congregation.
Houston, Texas
Mr. Phil Sena reports: Last Sabbath's Tomorrow's World Bible Lecture in Houston was a success in every sense of the word. A total of 82 visitors, along with our enthusiastic Houston brethren, filled the room to hear evangelist Mr. Richard Ames' powerful messages entitled "2010 in Prophecy" and "Hope for the Future." Mr. Ames pulled no punches in pointing out the evil of common sins such as adultery and abortion, to which many visitors gave hearty agreement! But he also showed that there is hope for those who repent and give their lives over to God's service, making the overall message extremely positive. We feel God blessed the lecture with good weather, motivated visitors and an electric atmosphere. It will be interesting to see if those who were intrigued come back to hear more of God's Truth during regular Sabbath services in the coming weeks.
Mr. Ames also had an opportunity to guest direct the Houston Spokesman Club for Ladies' Night the next evening. The brethren demonstrated appreciation and love to Mr. and Mrs. Ames during their visit, and look forward to seeing them again in Texas this fall, during the Feast in New Braunfels.
Thank you all for your prayers for the Houston Bible Lecture! Please remember the upcoming one in Temple on June 27.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Mr. Rick Stafford reports: After weeks of preparation, we completed our Little Rock Tomorrow's World Bible Study on Sunday, June 14. Everything was greatly blessed, as was our Study in Memphis the week before. In Little Rock, we had nearly 90 attendees, including 37 guests. The rented motel room was standing room only. However, the enthusiasm and warmth of the fellowship was every bit as encouraging as it had been in Memphis. The total number of new guests, adding these two Studies together, was 89!
Encouraging Answer to Prayer
Last week, an incarcerated Church member in Oklahoma was ill with dizziness and nausea. An anointed cloth was sent to him and prayers were requested for God to heal him. At one point, our member thought he was dying. He got on his knees and when the Deputy Warden and medical staff found him, they asked him what he was doing. He answered that he was praying. The Deputy told the medical staff to find out the problem right away for his illness. It turned out it was an ear problem that was easily treated, and he has completely recovered. We can see God's mercy in his case, and thank Him for having moved the prison staff to aid our member speedily.
Philippines Update
Mr. Basilio Osillos reports: On May 22, we travelled from Manila to Bani, Pangasinan… recently, a typhoon, named "Emong," passed through the area…. According to one of the Barangay (neighborhood) officials, 90% of the houses in their district were totally destroyed. The home of our video host has no damage, except for a hole in the roof created by a flying galvanized iron sheet…. Our 20 brethren are very thankful that they were protected and are grateful they can still conduct Sabbath services. The highlight of our visit was the return of a family who had not attended for some time. It is wonderful to have them back with us.
Mr. Gideon Benitez reports: May is the harvest season for the irrigated rice fields in Maranding. Here, rice farming is the only source of livelihood for the Church brethren…. One of our members, Grace Bulaybulay, harvested her one hectare rice field and yielded only three bags weighing 50 kgs/bag. This is very poor in comparison to previous harvests which were 85-95 bags. Tungro Disease in the rice crop is the reason for this…. [It] has totally destroyed this year's harvest. We have eight Church families affected by the current Tungro attack and, since they rely on their crop for sustenance, these families are now in need of emergency assistance to survive. We are hoping the next crops will be disease-free. For farmers, it is not easy to recover their investments and many will fall into heavy debt trying to maintain their farms….We pray earnestly, as we need "thy kingdom to come."
[In Iligan City] on May 25, heavy rain commenced early in the morning and continued on throughout the entire day…. As the rain continued, many people and rescue teams started to panic because they were witnessing houses and animals being carried away by the rising torrent of the floodwaters. A house belonging to our brother, Napoleon Umali, half-flooded with water and mud. Thankfully, he was able to transfer his personal belongings up to the second floor. Two days later, the sun was out and the weather was very hot and humid…. Many were affected by heat stroke, including five of our brethren…. Our weather is so hot during the day and the nights bring heavy rains. The weather patterns have changed markedly over the past 40 years and definitely for the worse. We know God controls the weather and He is allowing us to experience these trials because of our sins. God haste the day when Jesus Christ will return, and gives us rain in due season, and a pleasant temperate climate to live in.
Mr. Felipe Casing reports from Davao: The deliberate bombings, not just in key cities in Mindanao, but also in some smaller towns, are an almost monthly occurrence. Although the killings and kidnappings have caused fear amongst the populace, some have made the decision to continue conducting business as usual and other activities, whilst facing dangers during working hours. Most of our brethren have to face this. They are braving all these dangers and trusting God for protection whilst at work, or staying at home working for their livelihood. We really do give thanks to God, since no one among His people has been adversely or severely affected by such hatred and cruelties perpetrated by the people around them. In Polomolok… this is very troubling as we have eight areas where our brethren reside and congregate for the Sabbath and Festivals, and only Davao and Kidapawan are unaffected. This prompts us more readily and heartily to pray everyday "Our Father in heaven, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Regrettably, it is not possible for the brethren to relocate. They cannot just leave their properties, homes, farms or businesses—so they remain where they are, praying every day for peace, or to be spared from harm…. On health matters, the brethren are generally fine; living in the city is not wholesome for most. The air pollution in Davao is sometimes extreme. The housing in the city is generally cramped, which gives rise to the easy spread of viruses and other illnesses. Our members often come down with fevers and colds. Some of our members have the blessing of living in the farming areas where greenery abounds and unpolluted food is grown.
Living Youth Camp
Missouri Pre-Teen Camp 2009!
As you hear this announcement in services, around 100 campers, staff, and young children from the Missouri LYC Pre-Teen Camp will be meeting with around 50 Church members for Sabbath services at beautiful Quiver River State Park. Our camp concludes on Sunday, and as of Wednesday afternoon it has been an absolutely phenomenal camp so far! This year, our staff has treated the pre-teens to canoeing, softball, fishing, archery and riflery classes, as well as Nutrition and Sign Language classes. In Arts & Crafts, the girls are making beautiful decorated glass hangings, while the boys are working with drill presses to create their own hand-made and decorated clocks. Our bevy of ministers have been conducting Christian Living classes for the entire camp focusing on our camp theme, "God Created the Family," with separate but coordinated classes held for the dorms, the adult staff, and the teen staff every morning.
The first day-and-a-half, God blessed our camp with more liquid sunshine than we had ever seen at the Missouri Camp! But even while it was raining, we believe God was smiling on our campers, as their fantastic attitudes during the downpour were an inspiration to us all, and every instructor jumped in to make sure that his or her classes took place as scheduled and in the most creative of ways, and we never missed a beat—even with indoor canoeing! Personally, as the Director, I was humbled by the example of the truly outstanding staff God has blessed this camp with this year. The rain cleared up before the second day was over and now, writing as I am on the third day of camp, we still have our "Stop Goliath" activity, as well as our Fun Show, Bible Study, Hymnal Sing-A-Long, Sabbath Services, and the Big Camp Quiz Game to go! All of us are so thankful for the blessings that our Heavenly Father has literally and figuratively rained down on us this year!—Wallace Smith
Feast of Tabernacles 2009
3,521 Registered in the U.S. and CANADA
Feast of Tabernacles registration continues as we approach the end of June. The count of registered brethren in the United States and Canada stands at 3,521 as of June 17 (4,723 including all international areas). Coordinators are busy forming their organizational teams, working with the Festival Office to draft speaking schedules and formulate budgets. The Festival Office will be holding a Web conference with Coordinators next Wednesday, June 24. Plans are also underway for 2010 sites. If you are in need of Festival Assistance, please contact your pastor. Deadline for pastors to submit assistance requests to CAD is July 15, 2009.
Comments
Prepare Now to Teach: The Scriptures clearly reveal that Jesus Christ is going to return to this earth to establish a world-ruling government (Daniel 2:44-45; Isaiah 9:6-7; Revelation 11:15-17) and that the saints will reign on earth with Christ for one thousand years (Daniel 7:27 Revelation 1:6; 5:10). We are told that in the coming Kingdom of God the laws of God will go forth from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4) and that people will see their teachers who will say, "This is the way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:20-21). We have an opportunity now to prepare for this important and exciting role in God's plan of salvation for mankind. We are also admonished (in Ephesians 5:15-20) to make the most of our opportunity to study the Scriptures and learn how to live by the laws and statutes of God so that we can be ready to reign with Christ and teach others in the Kingdom of God. This is why God has enabled His Church to understand the Scriptures, broadcast a television program, publish booklets, magazines and a Bible Study Course, hold leadership classes and now have Living University—an Internet university that reaches around the world—"to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17). Let's use these unique resources to prepare to teach people God's way!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 18, 2009
The Legacy of "the Woman." Revelation 17 indicates that a great end-time church (pictured as a woman) will hold sway over the final Beast power. This church is referred to as the "Mother of Harlots"—a "mother church" that gave birth to daughter churches that have also committed spiritual fornication against God and His true ways. Over the years, many students of Bible prophecy have connected this "fallen woman" with the Catholic Church. Both history and recent news reports should make it difficult for anyone to believe the Roman Church represents God's True Church. A newly-released Irish report implicates several orders of monks and nuns in the savage and indecent treatment of children in church-run orphanages. The scathing report details chronic instances of humiliation, beatings, and sexual abuse perpetrated against both girls and boys. So far, the Irish government has paid "12,000 survivors of the schools, orphanages and other church-run residences an average of $90,000 each—on condition they surrender their right to sue either the church or state. About 2,000 more claims are pending" (Associated Press, May 20, 2009). God used Ezekiel to warn the Israelite-descended nations at the end of the age about irresponsible and self-seeking political and religious shepherds. God condemns these evil shepherds, "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick… but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field…" (Ezekiel 34:4-5, emphasis ours). Due to the failure of the leaders of the major "churches" in the Israelite-descended nations, many people including women and children have become food for the beasts of the field—preyed upon by all sorts of false teachers and religions. Religious confusion reigns because the so-called shepherds have failed at their task. However, the True Shepherd is coming who will gather His lost sheep at His return and teach them the one, true way to peace (Jeremiah 31:7-9)!
Departing Further From God. On May 19, in keeping with the Obama Administration's goals, the U.S. Department of Education released its new Senior Staff appointments. The new Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools, Kevin Jennings, was the founding director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). According to GLSEN's website and Mr. Jenning's biography, "Mr. Jennings is best known for his work creating safe schools for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students" (www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/record/1808.html). The Department of Education's biography for Mr. Jennings conveniently cited another portion of the website where the reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students was omitted and just mentioned he was interested in the safety of "all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity" (www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/05/05192009d.html). Although a portion of Mr. Jennings' ambitions are undoubtedly noble and right—making schools safer for all children—his ambitions are also aimed at "normalizing" homosexual lifestyles, as witnessed by a quick review of his organization's website and the books offered for sale by GLSEN. One book tells of a homosexual teen superhero who saves the world, while another deals with the struggle a young person has with showing his mom and her partner love on Mother's Day (www.glsen.org). This important Department of Education post can be used to further an agenda of sin, in the name of student safety. We live in a world riddled with "good and evil." Conveniently for the "god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4), the line between good and evil is often blurred, and even transposed. Speaking of society at the end of the age, Isaiah was inspired to write, "Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street... So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey" (Isaiah 59:14-15). In Eden, Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good AND evil. Today we see that good and evil often appear mixed together. As Christians, we need to be able to recognize and forsake evil and adhere to what is good. The time is coming when truth will permeate the land and people will fully appreciate it (Isaiah 2:1-4). Evil and sin, in turn, will be eradicated by the coming King of kings.—Scott Winnail