Greetings from Charlotte,
We are getting back to normal routines after the Council of Elders meeting and the Pastors Conference. During the Council meeting, we discussed plans for the future of the Work and a number of doctrinal issues that will be covered in more detail in the weeks ahead. During the Pastors Conference, Mr. Meredith reviewed our mission and purpose, and we covered material on leadership, speaking, prophecy, challenges facing youth and families and the differences between COG groups. We also distributed copies of the new Pastoral Manual and the Advanced Leadership Training Program. One of the highlights of the conference was the graduation of the first six students from Living University who qualified for Certificates in New Testament Studies. The ceremony was moving and included short speeches by two graduates. Comments on the conference, the fellowship and the unity have been very positive.
Church Administration
Healing
We received the following report from a member: "I wanted to give you some good news. I was miraculously healed of the infection I had in my arm. It turned out to be MRSA which is antibiotic resistant. You may already know this, but MRSA is contagious and fatal… The day before I got anointed I went to urgent care and was put on antibiotics… When I went for a check-up, I was told that the antibiotics were doing their job and getting rid of the infection. A few days later I received a message with the results of the culture and it was confirmed that I had MRSA. When I heard that, I instantly knew that God healed… I do believe that God performed a miracle and healed me. Before this, I knew that God is the only Healer and that medicine only treats medical conditions, but in this case, the medicine was of no use… I want to give glory to God because He deserves it and to give my brethren reason to continue believing and not lose faith."
News from Myanmar
On May 16, Mr. Thomas Tial Hoe, our elder in Myanmar, sent a message via e-mail to our elder in Malaysia, Mr. Rajan Moses, informing him that he had been able to call Mrs. Saw Lay Beh in Sakhangyi and "received good news from her. No damage by Cyclone. But they are very poor." This was the first direct communication with one of our members in Myanmar since Cyclone Nargis. Mr. Bruce Tyler, during his visit to Charlotte, reported that a team of members from Thailand is being organized to travel to Myanmar to provide support to our brethren in the affected regions. Headquarters is also looking into ways to deliver aid from our Disaster Relief Fund. Your prayers for their success and safety are requested.
Spanish Update
Mr. Mario Hernandez gave a public Bible lecture in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, on May 2. Our deacon and deaconess in Bahia Blanca wrote, "Forty-eight persons attended the lecture, including 34 'new' people. Among them were several enthusiastic young persons and families with small children. Some of the attendees had been listening to the radio program but had never responded. Six of the attendees had a personal meeting with Mr. Hernandez. Two weeks after the presentation, we were still receiving calls and requests for a copy of the lecture's recording. We thank God for allowing us to have a part in His Work."
The Work in Indonesia
Mr. Arius Nusantara reports: "Two weeks before the Passover, I sent out an e-mail regarding 'The Truth About Easter.' Of the 310 subscribers, only one was offended and asked us to stop sending e-mails and other material. The others who did respond accepted our booklet offer, The Holy Days, translated into Indonesian. So far there have been 28 requests—just for April.
"During April we also advertised our Indonesian Tomorrow's World programs, 'Seven Satanic Deceptions,' presented by Mr. Richard F. Ames, and 'Satan's Attacks on the Bible,' presented by Mr. Roderick C. Meredith. There have been 29 requests for the CDs. Also we have recorded four new people taking the Bible Study Course, which brings the total number of subscribers to 320.
"A few minutes after we sent out the e-mails offering our new Indonesian-translated booklet, The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy by Mr. John H. Ogwyn, and the newest edition of our Indonesian Tomorrow's World Asia Pacific magazine, we almost instantly received three requests in our inbox. And while I am writing this report, we have already received twelve more requests. We expect the total number of requests to be 30 to 35. We are very happy with the Work's positive growth in this part of the world."
Living Youth Camp
LYC Michigan is filling up fast. At this time we can no longer accept applications for high school workers. We only have three or four spaces left for girl campers, but for boy campers (ages 13-17) we are only two-thirds filled. Remember that because of higher costs in transportation, we have reduced tuition by about $100 this year, making this two-week camp an incredible bargain. Three or four adult ladies are also needed to work in supervisory positions in service departments, and we are still looking for someone to fill our nursing position. We currently have a nurse to cover part of the days, but not all. If you have ever considered attending LYC Michigan and are a teen boy or a woman who would like to give of your time for two weeks, or a nurse with some time off, please go to lyc.lcg.org to fill out an application. Girl campers need to get their applications in right away. Don't miss this opportunity to spend time with teens of like mind in Michigan's spectacular Upper Peninsula.
Feast of Tabernacles 2008
This week's international Feast site featured in The World Ahead is New Zealand.
Taupo, New Zealand
God's Feast of Tabernacles will again be held in Taupo, New Zealand. This town on the shores of Lake Taupo, in the center of the North Island, has repeatedly proven to be a delightful site to fellowship together in the worship of the Creator. His handiwork is brilliantly displayed in the mountains, rivers, lakes and forests surrounding Taupo. The town has ample fine accommodation and dining facilities in a wide price range.
The New Zealand members are a friendly group who welcome brethren from overseas. Many past visitors have commented very favorably on the time they spent here and the friendships they developed, and have returned for subsequent Feasts. We expect to have around 100 brethren in attendance this year.
We plan to have a games evening and a fun/talent show, both of which were very popular last year. We also are planning various outdoors activities to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings and provide great opportunities for fellowship. Those who are interested in attending the Feast in New Zealand are invited to contact Kinnear Penman at [email protected] for additional information.
Comments
Importance of Mercy: One of the fundamental qualities that Christians need to develop to become like God and reign with Jesus Christ is mercy. Showing mercy involves patience, understanding, compassion and unmerited pardon. The Scriptures reveal that God is full of mercy and compassion (Exodus 34:6-7) and that He requires us to develop these same qualities (Micah 6:8; Hosea 6:6). Solomon states that those who show mercy honor God (Proverbs 14:31). Jesus taught that the merciful will obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7) and that God values mercy over sacrifice (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13). Jesus also taught that mercy is an important key for good human relationships, and that individuals who have received mercy but do not show mercy to others will face serious consequences (Matthew 18:21-35). In human relations we sometimes want to judge people guilty before the law, yet, the Apostle James comments that "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). As we strive to develop the mind of God, we will also come to understand the importance of showing mercy to everyone we deal with—and we will be preparing to rule with Jesus Christ in His coming kingdom.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—May 29, 2008
Spain/EU May Soon Own U.S. Highway. A group lead by the Spanish firm Albertis was named "highest bidder" in a competition to run one of the U.S.'s largest toll roads: The Pennsylvania Turnpike. The $12.8 billion deal will grant Albertis and Citigroup a 75-year lease on this major east-west thoroughfare. Albertis plans to raise tolls 25%. The deal bears watching, as the EU gains a stronger foothold on U.S. soil. The U.S. government may also privatize the only other major east-west highway in Pennsylvania, Interstate 80. Should this happen, it would also be open to international bids (Reuters, May 20, 2008). Meanwhile, Chinese firms want to lease farmland in Australia (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, April 30, 2008) and are buying up farmland and industry in the U.S. at a frenzied pace (Los Angeles Times, May 5, 2008). God warned that "The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail" (Deuteronomy 28:43-44). God also warned of a time when the "highways" of Israel would be desolate (Leviticus 26:22). As more foreign nations gain control of major industries and transportation systems within the Israelite-descended nations, the fulfillment of these prophecies is more apparent.
British Moral Decay Continues. In a landmark move, the British government granted homosexual parents "the most significant extension to homosexual family rights since gay adoption was sanctioned." Previously, fertility clinics could turn away lesbians or single women because the child would not have a father or male role model. The current law basically says that a father or male role model is unimportant. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster stated, "I think it strange that the Government should want to take away not just the need for a father but the right for a father." Meanwhile, an attempt to limit late-term abortions was also struck down (Times Online, May 20, 2008). Recent British legislation attempting to ban research using "mixed embryos" (human and animal) was also struck down (The Times, May 20, 2008). Also, currently Britain is in the throes of a crime wave perpetrated by teenage girls. Crimes by teen girls have soared by over 25% in the last three years, thanks to alcohol and drug abuse. A group of MPs noted "The government has presided over a breakdown in values… there is a climate of fear in society" (Sunday Telegraph, May 11, 2008). God warned that because Israel would depart from Him and His laws, women would rule over them and children would be their oppressors (Isaiah 3:12).
China Quake May Cause Global Economic Aftershock. Rescuers reaching the epicenter of China's massive May 12 earthquake were met by horrific devastation. With bridges destroyed and roads cut by landslides, soldiers had to hike to the remote city of Yingxiu in Wenchuan province, where they found just 3,300 survivors—1,000 severely injured—of the town's population of 10,000. The quake's death toll has exceeded 80,000. Millions are sleeping in the open, even in the midst of heavy rain, afraid to reenter damaged structures because of the many aftershocks. Two thousand Chinese soldiers were deployed to repair "extremely dangerous" four-inch cracks in one major dam that provides hydroelectric power and irrigation for the region. Hundreds of dams, mines, bridges, roads, railway lines, hospitals, schools, factories, power and water treatment plants and other infrastructure were destroyed or damaged, along with millions of homes (Associated Press, May 14, 2008). As China works to recover, the world economy will feel an economic aftershock, as the already voracious Chinese appetite for fuel and building materials will increase greatly, adding to the increase of commodity prices. China will likely dip into its reserve of 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars to pay for its recovery, adding to U.S. inflation and further hurting the American economy. God warned, "Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder without price, because of all your sins" (Jeremiah 15:13).—Don Davis, Daniel Bennett & Scott Winnail