Greetings from Charlotte,
Mr. Meredith and Mr. Ames taped two more Tomorrow's World programs this week. Mr. Ames taped program #305, "Will the Dead Live Again?" which will air on May 27 and offer the CD, Is There Life After Death? Mr. Meredith taped program #306, "Why Christ Must Come Again," which will air on June 10 and offer the booklet, Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return. Mr. and Mrs. Davy Crockett were in Bluefield, West Virginia, last Sabbath and I was able to visit the Anderson, South Carolina, congregation. I will be in Toronto from Wednesday to Sunday for a Canadian Ministerial Conference and Sabbath services. I will be accompanied by Mr. Leif Kareliusson from the IT Department. He will be doing some filming for this year's Behind the Work presentation.
FROM THE PRESIDING EVANGELIST
Dear fellow servants of Christ,
As we approach the Passover, all of us should be focused on what Christ and the Father have done for us. It is truly humbling to realize that—compared to the 6.5 billion on this earth—so very few human beings really understand our reason for being and know about God's awesome Plan. Also, we should be very grateful to have an active part in the Work which God is accomplishing here on earth just prior to Christ's return as King of kings.
Many of our brethren have recently responded very positively to our emphasis on Jesus Christ—our desire to educate our people through Living University and other initiatives. We are also continuing with our long-standing emphasis on reaching the world through the Tomorrow's World television program.
As you know by now, we in this Work—by canceling certain low response television stations—have been able to add "new" TV stations in San Diego, Los Angeles and St. Louis. Now, I can report that we are negotiating to go on a new Chicago station which—with a special promotion—is offering us the first three months of TV time absolutely free! So, being on a local station on a different day and at a better time should certainly increase our impact in reaching that major city. The U.S. income for the Work is now running at exactly 4 percent increase over last year. We are very thankful for this.
However, based on the income level for last year, we budgeted for a 6.5 percent increase. So there are a number of projected programs we will have to "cut" if the income level does not increase substantially. Satan's recent attacks have certainly had an effect. Although we have only lost a few dozen members, even this does have a negative financial impact—as you can imagine. So I am asking all of you to join me in praying fervently about this! And I am requesting that you ask the brethren to go "all out" in supporting God's Work at this critical time. Please remind them to set aside some extra large offerings for the upcoming Holy Days. We honestly have a special need at this time and I know that all whose hearts are truly in what Christ is doing will want to respond generously. Thank you, in advance, for your help and your prayers.
My wife and I are leaving Monday for an extended visit to our churches in the Australasia area over the Spring Holy Days. I promised them five years ago that I would try to return within a few years. It will be a long and arduous trip to New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines with a final stop in China before returning home. So we will deeply appreciate your prayers for God's guidance, for physical strength and for our safety. May God's richest blessings be upon all of you as you continue to walk with Him and with Jesus Christ our Head and Savior.
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
From the Congregational Audio/Video Department
A special pre-Passover sermon (DVE 420 titled; How Should Christ Live in Us?) has just been sent to all video recipients, by first class mail. Please work this DVD into your local services, before Passover.
Online Attendance System: Official Start Date, April 1
Attention Pastors: As explained in the Ministerial Bulletin, February 2007 issue, we will officially switch to an online attendance system beginning April 1. All Area Pastors and Video Recipients are set up to enter attendance online for their respective congregations, through the MyLCG section of the Member Resources website (www.cogl.org). Please be ready for this change in system (refer to the Ministerial Bulletin mentioned above for detailed instructions). Either the Video Recipient or someone to whom you specifically delegate the task of submitting attendance (and have notified us about) will have access through the MyLCG site. For further questions, or to designate someone as an attendance taker, send e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected].--Rod McNair
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
As we draw near to the end of the first calendar quarter of 2007, we will have our quarterly finance meeting to discuss our budget and the impact of various projects for preaching the Gospel and "feeding the flock." Although we have an increase in income year-to-date over the same period last year, it is not enough for us to fund all of the programs and projects we want to accomplish in the Work.
You prayers for the resources to do the Work are certainly appreciated. God certainly knows our needs and will provide them; using human instruments who have willing hearts and who are stirred to do the Work (Exodus 35:21).
Another activity keeping us busy at this time is our annual independent audit being conducted by Cherry, Bekaert and Holland, LP, a large regional accounting firm which specializes in non-profit organizations. The auditors are in the office this week as we undergo a detailed audit of our books, records and business practices. Although it is not required that we undergo an independent audit, we do it voluntarily as part of being good stewards of the resources God provides. We want to exercise a high degree of care in discharging our responsibilities to properly account for all of our fiscal activities.—Davy Crockett
FESTIVAL OFFICE
Some have asked about the Feast sites in the United States for 2007. We are still in the process of finalizing some arrangements and contracts. As soon as these are finished, we will announce the sites and begin the process of registration. Pastors, please be speaking with your local Festival Advisors in preparation for the upcoming festival registration, and let us know if there will be a new Festival Advisor in your congregation this year.—Rod McNair
MORE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL FEAST SITES
Those wishing to transfer to international sites that have already been announced in the The World Ahead, are free to make their own arrangements at their convenience. Also, if you are planning to travel outside the United States for the Feast of Tabernacles this year, you should act now to acquire a passport and appropriate visas, or be sure that your current passport will not expire before you plan to return home. Because of new U.S. travel regulations, passport applications are up 25 percent, flooding the State Department and the normal six-week processing period now takes ten weeks. Even with the extra fee of $60 to expedite processing added to the normal charge of $97, your application could now take four weeks instead of two. U.S. passport forms and instructions are available online at travel.state.gov/pdf/0011.pdf. You may also obtain more information at designated U.S. Postal Service locations.
Update on France's FOT Feast Site
We are happy to announce that preparations are being made for our Martinique brethren to spend the Feast of Tabernacles with us in l'Abeille, France, this year. Despite this exceptional grouping of French brethren, there is still plenty of room at this site for those who would like to transfer to l'Abeille, France, for the Feast. Those interested should contact Mr. Dibar Apartian at [email protected] or, by phone, at 704-844-1970.
Update on the Argentina and Chile Feast Sites
It has been confirmed that the Feast of Tabernacles sites in Sierra de la Ventana, Argentina, and in Maitencillos, Chile, will both have English translation services. This information will help those of you who are planning to attend the Feast in one of these countries to make your final arrangements.
Huatusco, Mexico
The Feast of Tabernacles in Mexico will be held this year in Huatusco, Veracruz. Huatusco is a town of 41,000 people, situated alongside the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, close to the highest mountain in Mexico, Pico de Orizaba. Feast services will be held at the colonial Los Cocuyos Hotel—a beautiful complex surrounded by almost 15 acres of forest. Los Cocuyos offers many amenities such as horseback riding, bicycle rental, basketball, golf, tennis courts, and a children's playground. For more information, visit the hotel's website at www.hoteloscocuyos.com.
The cost per day per person in a single occupancy room is USD$51; in a double occupancy room is USD$33 dollars, and in a quadruple occupancy is USD$28. Children 0-3 years old do not pay; children 4-11 years old pay $11 USD. These prices include breakfast, lunch, various trips, a welcome cocktail, and a hot-dog bonfire. English translation will be available. Those interested in attending the Feast of Tabernacles in Mexico, please contact the Spanish department in Charlotte at 704-844-1970 or send e-mail to [email protected].
COMMENTS
Adjusting Your Focus: Prior to the Passover is a good time to evaluate how to spend our time and where to focus our concerns. Jesus admonished us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). The Apostle Paul advised Christians to "walk circumspectly" and to make the most of our time "because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16). He also urged believers to "shun profane and idle babblings" and to "avoid foolish and ignorant disputes" (II Timothy 2:14-23). Paul's admonitions certainly apply to much of the gossip traffic on the Internet today that only serves to confuse and discourage. The Internet is a powerful tool that can be put to good use or misused. Regrettably, today, it gives anyone with an opinion a soap box to the world. If we are really going to follow the biblical admonition to focus our minds on what is true, noble, just and pure (Philippians 4:8), we need to be circumspect about what we read and post on the Internet.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
NEWS AND PROPHECY—March 22, 2007
The Irish and British are "Really" Related. According to a recent New York Times article, DNA research appears to show that the British and Irish peoples are closely related and may even be related to some in the Netherlands and Norway. This evidence is causing great discomfort among historians, calling into question the "established wisdom" of the history of the British Isles and Ireland. Some propose that the Irish and British came north through Spain and Italy about 4,000 years ago. Others suggest a connection with Germany—that a variation of modern English was spoken in the Isles prior to the Roman invasion (New York Times, March 6, 2007). The Church has taught for decades that the British, Irish and Welsh people are "brothers"—descendents of the twelve tribes of Israel who were mostly taken into captivity by the Assyrians (modern day Germans—thus the Germanic roots of the English language). Many of these people migrated throughout southeastern Europe, before making their way north—some through Italy and Spain, and others by sea up to Ireland and Great Britain. The biblical accounts provide helpful perspectives to the issues raised by modern geneticists, if only they would look in that direction, "...because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand" (Matthew 13:13).
Egyptian Government Increasing Power. Recent proposed Egyptian legislation is designed to give the government increased power, in the name of "protection against terrorism." Like actions recently taken in Europe and the United States, the Egyptian government is proposing legislation that "would allow authorities to arrest suspects, search homes, read mail and tap phones without a warrant. It would also allow the trial of civilians by military courts in terrorism cases." The difference between what is happening in Egypt and what is happening in the Western nations "is that in democracies, these powers are the exception, while here [in Egypt] they are being included in the constitution" (Yahoo News, March 19, 2007). The Bible predicts that Egypt will play a major role in end-time prophetic events—linked with the King of the South (see Daniel 11). The current civil actions in Egypt indicate that the government is gearing up to play a much stronger role in the affairs of its own people.
European Honey Bees Under Attack. For the last few years, giant Asian hornets—almost two inches long—have reduced Europe's bee population and devastated the continent's honey production. Experts think the hornet infestation reached France in 2004, in a shipment of porcelain from China. Due to warming temperatures in Western Europe, these bee-killing insects could soon cross the English Channel and enter Britain. Asian hornets invade a beehive and rob it of larvae to feed their young. These pests, whose sting is described as the equivalent of a hot nail piercing the flesh, can destroy a hive of 30,000 bees in just a few hours. Entomologists have found 85 football-size hornet nests in a 40-mile stretch between two French towns in the region of Lot et Garonne, where the infestation was first detected. Beekeepers from southwestern France, where the hornets are swarming in the forests of Aquitaine, estimate honey production is down 60 percent in the past ten years, and the French National Bee Surveillance Unit reports that the winter mortality rate among bees has risen to six of ten (Kent News UK, February 26, 2007; Register UK, February 21, 2007). God has used hornets before to deal with those who fail to obey Him. "I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you" (Joshua 24:12).—Don Davis and Scott Winnail