Greetings from Charlotte,
This has been a short week due to Monday being the Memorial Day holiday in the United States, and this Sunday being Pentecost with a number of our staff leaving today or tomorrow to speak in different congregations. Mr. and Mrs. Ames will be in West Virginia; Mr. and Mrs. Apartian will be in Quebec, Canada; and my wife and I will be in Atlanta. This week, Mr. Meredith finished a semi-annual letter that will be mailed to around 400,000 subscribers. We have also concluded the second successful year of Living University with more than one hundred students enrolled in classes during the spring semester. We are looking forward to having a number of on-campus students here in Charlotte in the fall. This Sunday, we will observe the Feast of Pentecost. Please pray that God will pour out His Spirit on His people to inspire the speaking and to bless the fellowship and the offerings. We certainly need more of the gifts of God's Spirit to complete His Work. While our year-to-date income is showing a small increase (1.6% over last year), the expenses of the Work continue, in spite of cutbacks that we are making. Please encourage the brethren to remember these needs in their prayers and offerings during this Holy Day season.
Living University
On-Campus Students for 2009-2010
Would you like to be a member of the first "on campus" class of Living University in Charlotte, North Carolina? Would you like to work toward a college degree in the exciting God-centered environment of the Church's International Headquarters? Do you want to possibly work as a part-time employee of the Church, contributing to God's worldwide Work, while you work towards your degree and participate in LU student activities? If so, the LU on-campus program is for you! LU is now accepting applications for its first on-campus freshman class at Charlotte, beginning this August. If you are a young adult of college and university age, you may find this one-of-a-kind program the right choice for your higher education. You may access the application and other related materials on the LU website, at www.livinguniv.com. On the home page, simply click on Making Application, for instructions and further information. If you have questions, please call 704-844-1960, ext. 304.
Summer Registration
Registration is currently underway for the 2009 Summer Session course: THL 476 Archaeology of Jerusalem. The course, approved for the Open Learning Program, will begin on June 2 and end on July 28. This course deals with the development of Jerusalem from prehistoric times through the Byzantine Period in light of archaeological discoveries and extant historical details. Emphasis upon key stages of the city's past as Canaanite Jebus, City of David and Zion, Nehemiah's Jerusalem, Herodian Jerusalem, Roman Colonia Aelia Capitolina, and Byzantine Jerusalem.
Church Administration
Ministerial Moves
Mr. and Mrs. Rick Stafford will move from pastoring churches in Arkansas to pastor churches in England. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt Cieselka will move from assisting in the Austin, Texas area to pastor churches in Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Breaux will continue to live in Louisiana and serve as the Associate Pastor working with Mr. Rod Reynolds, but will also begin serving (on July 1, 2009) congregations in Ocean Springs, Mississippi and Pensecola, Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Brown will pastor Thomasville, Georgia as well as Jacksonville, Live Oak and Ocala, Florida since Dr. and Mrs. Scott Winnail have returned to Charlotte to work with Living University.
Canadian Update
Mr. Gerald Weston writes: We would like to announce the launching of two new websites that we hope will target a younger demographic segment. The first is a magazine format home site that contains articles on a variety of subjects relevant to the young adults, university age group. The second is what we call a "feeder site" which addresses a single issue and is intended to grab attention and then lead people to the home site and eventually to the Church's main websites. You can help us promote these websites by visiting them and bookmarking articles using Facebook, Twitter, etc. The sites are: www.BelieveCreation.com and www.LiveForTomorrow.org.
In another development we are scheduled to hold three Tomorrow's World Bible studies in early June. Subscribers have been invited to London, Ontario on June 3; Kamloops, British Columbia on June 12; and Abbotsford, British Columbia on June 14. We are testing a new, full-color invitation advertisement with a follow-up reminder letter to see if we can encourage more people to come to these studies. We will keep you informed on the results.
East Africa Update
Kenyan Elder Simon Muthama returned to Nairobi after a successful eight-day trip from May 7 through 14 to western Kenya and Uganda. He first visited congregations and a prospective member in Kissi and in Oyugis, western Kenya. On the Sabbath of May 9, he conducted services in Ndhiwa with 20 in attendance. During his time in Ndhiwa, Mr. Muthama and our local Church host discussed plans for the future growth of the Church there. Mr. Muthama then traveled to Uyoma Bondo to visit two families, give a two-hour Bible study and to provide baptism counseling. He traveled next to Fort Portal West, Uganda, where he visited prospective members. He reported that it was "exciting and unbelievable" to learn these persons have been "studying our literatures for decades." On May 13, Mr. Muthama came back to Kampala, Uganda, where he visited another prospective member, before returning to Nairobi the next day.
Philippines Update
Mr. Dayrell Tanner reported that he has been informed by Philippines Area Pastor Gideon Benitez that "the rice crop in Maranding area has been affected by some sort of disease that does not allow the rice to flower and thus no grain. He will give us an update on the needs of the brethren in that area, as they rely on rice for their living and sustenance." Please continue to remember them in your prayers.
Feast of Tabernacles 2009
This week, we feature in The World Ahead the description of our site in Colombia. Descriptions of this and other sites can be found on MyLCG (www.cogl.org).
Armenia, Colombia
The Feast of Tabernacles 2009 in Colombia will be celebrated in Armenia. Armenia is surrounded by mountains, forest and is at the core of Colombia's coffee plantations—where this world-famous Colombian traditional coffee bean is produced and processed. Services will be held at the Campestre Portal del Sol hotel. This excellent hotel has restaurant service, conference halls, sports amenities, beautiful gardens, pool and Jacuzzi, and lots of room for fellowship, rest and meditation with an enjoyable and unchanging spring climate. The cost of lodging is approximately USD $26 per day, per person and it includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more information on the hotel, visit its website at www.hotelcampestreportaldelsol.com. The hotel is only fifteen minutes from the Airport (direct flights arrive from Bogota's El Dorado International Airport).
Translation into English will be available. If you like to attend the Feast in Colombia, request a transfer by registering through the MyLCG section of www.cogl.org and contact Madeleine Lincoln-Strange at [email protected] or by phone, at 704-844-1960, ext. 217.
Media
Internet Update: Website Commentaries among Most Popular Features on Website.
Each week we add three written commentaries to our www.tomorrowsworld.org and www.lcg.org websites. The purpose of these commentaries is to provide fresh and compelling content for those who frequent our websites. Each commentary is designed not only to be a quick read, but also to provide food for thought. The conclusion contains a suggestion for further reading—usually a booklet or an article from the Tomorrow's World magazine or even a telecast. In this way, the commentaries serve as a gateway not only to our booklets, but also to previous magazine articles and telecasts.
These commentaries have proven to be very popular and are among the most-read pages on our websites. They are frequently shared virally with others through email, Facebook, and Twitter. Many choose to sign-up to receive notification by email of new commentaries or other important announcements. The response to this service is very high and our email list is on target to grow 40% this year!
Now more than ever, this world needs our message of warning and hope. The website commentaries represent one more way that people are introduced to that message.—J. Charles Ogwyn
Comments
The Spirit of Pentecost: This Sunday we will observe the Feast of Pentecost (also called the Feast of Weeks or Firstfruits—Exodus 23:16; 34:22). It is a commanded assembly (Leviticus 23:15-21) that was observed by Jesus and His disciples and the early Church (Acts 2). It was on Pentecost that God began the New Testament Church with a dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit—just as Jesus had promised (Acts 1:4-8). The Spirit of God, working through the disciples, filled them with courage and conviction to preach the Gospel and God supported them through "many signs and wonders" that greatly aided the growth of the Church (Acts 2:43). It is also worth noting that the Church earnestly asked God, "grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus"—and that God answered their prayers in very powerful ways (Acts 4:29-33). That same Spirit is available to us today. Let's do our part to nourish that Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:6-7) so we can bear the fruits of it (Galatians 5:22-23), and God can use His Church to finish His work and that His people can prepare to reign as "firstfruits" with Jesus Christ in the coming Kingdom of God (Romans 8:23; James 1:18; Revelation 14:1-4; 20:4-6). May you have a profitable Pentecost!
In Christian love,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—May 28, 2009
Why the European Union Wants Iceland. For well over a year, Iceland has been pushing hard to become a member of the EU – especially in the wake of the collapse of Iceland's financial system last autumn. However, the EU has moved slowly on this issue. Now, the tide in Europe may be turning and Germany is beginning to support the idea. Iceland is a gateway to the mineral and oil rich Arctic floor, to which many nations are scrambling to gain access. According to an international convention known as the Law of the Sea, only nations whose territories immediately border the Arctic Ocean can gain access to its rich mineral resources. Additionally, should the polar ice caps continue to melt, the Arctic would become an important shipping lane. With Iceland as a member of the EU, Europeans then could gain greater access to the economic potential of the Arctic. In the meantime, Iceland wants to join the EU to adopt the euro as its currency, in an attempt to stabilize its failing economy (German-Foreign-Policy.com, May 13, 2009). Daniel prophesied that the end-time beast power would be comprised of 10 kingdoms – five on one foot and five on the other (Daniel 2:37-45, Revelation 17:7-12). We have understood throughout the years that the final European beast power may actually be comprised of five kingdoms from "eastern" Europe and five from "western" Europe. Watching world events through the lens of Bible prophecy certainly does add interesting insight into "why" such events may be occurring. If not a final member of the 10-nation group, Iceland could certainly add to the financial prowess and power of this formidable end-time tool of God.
Israel Digs in Its Heels. Egypt, Europe, President Obama and even the Pope have recently come out in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state. But, according to Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom's recent comments to the Knesset, "Jerusalem will remain Israel's eternal capital forever... This is not a promise; it's a fact" (IsraelNationalNews.com, May 9, 2009). Although many treaties and accords have tried to solve the Middle East "conflict" by giving the Palestinians "territory," what is and has always been at stake in the Middle East is Jerusalem and, ultimately, the Temple Mount. According to many experts, peace cannot be reached without addressing the Jerusalem issue. The Bible predicts that a time of "relative peace" will envelope Jerusalem prior to its becoming surrounded by "gentile armies"—a time when Jewish sacrifices on the Temple mount will resume (Daniel 9:27; 12:11; Luke 21:20-24). Jerusalem has been a "cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples," as God prophesied (Zechariah 12:2). It appears that there is more strife yet to come in Jerusalem. With the unfolding of more sobering end-time events involving Jerusalem, we should be motivated to pray as admonished in the Psalms, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem…" (Psalm 122:6). One day soon, the King of kings will return and make Jerusalem His earthly capital, and all nations will go up to worship Him there (Isaiah 2:1-4).
More Archeology Supports the Bible. Scientists from Israel's Antiquities Authority recently unearthed a bone seal which dates from the First Temple period. "The name of the seal's owner was completely preserved and it is written in the shortened form of the name, 'Shaul,' which is known from both the Bible (Genesis 36:37; 1 Samuel 9:2; 1 Chronicles 4:24 and 6:24) and from other Hebrew seals" (IsraelNationalNews.com, May 21, 2009). This is a clear reference to Israel's first king, Saul. As time goes on and archeology advances, more and more discoveries are made that support the historical biblical record. This trail of evidence makes it increasingly difficult for "honest" skeptics to invalidate the stories and claims of the Bible. Jesus stated during His ministry, "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light" (Mark 4:22). As time goes on, God may allow many more of the secrets from antiquity to surface so that mankind is without excuses for rejecting God. As this happens, it should also increase our faith in the Scripture and the God who inspired it.—Scott Winnail