Greetings everybody,
Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have arrived back from the Living Youth Camp in Michigan, safe and well. They are very happy with the way everything went there. In fact, all reports we are getting from this year's camp are glowing. What a blessing to be able to have such a yearly activity for our youth!
FROM THE PRESIDING EVANGELIST
Dear fellow ministers,
My wife and I just returned from the summer camp night before last—tired but happy. It was an enlightening and encouraging experience. The overall atmosphere of warmth, love and dedication of the campers—and certainly the staff—was outstanding! Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Weston and Mr. Lambert Greer have been working with the camp for many years and have certainly done a wonderful job. We all owe them a great debt of gratitude for the long hours of service they put in preparing for the camp and then administering the camp. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan McNair, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Solomon and Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Monson all did a fine job in helping direct the various activities throughout the entire camp. All in all, we had a wonderful team in place and deeply appreciate what these ministers and wives are doing—plus the other older "volunteers" among our lay brethren who also put in long hours and help so much, and the other staff. The "fruits" of this camp will certainly be forthcoming, I am sure, in years to come as our young people reflect the excellent lessons of Christianity and character they are learning during the entire experience at our Living Youth Camp. So I am thankful to God for making this possible and again want to express deep appreciation for what is being accomplished.
Once again, I am urgently asking all of you for your enthusiastic help and prayers in helping us locate a Managing Editor for our publications. This individual is direly needed at this time. So please put forth every effort to help us locate anyone in the Church with a reasonable similarity to the qualifications listed below. I will now send you the write-up from Editorial describing the qualifications they desire:
The Editorial Department is looking for a Managing Editor to assist the Editorial Director in the planning, editing and production of the Church's periodicals (primarily Tomorrow's World magazine and the Living Church News). The ideal candidate will be a skilled copy editor and writer, comfortable using desktop publishing software (QuarkXPress preferred). Experience with both the MacOS X and Windows XP operating systems is desirable.
Applicants should be truly dedicated to the Church, have an excellent grasp of Church doctrine and be reasonably well acquainted with history and current events. The right candidate will have a proofreader's eye for detail, be comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment and be a "team player" able to cooperate effectively with staff in all HQ departments. A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte; the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. If you are interested in this position, please send your resume to:
Human Resources Department
Living Church of God
PO Box 3810
Charlotte, NC 28227-8010
Again, fellow ministers, let me assure you that I have a deep personal interest in helping secure the right individual for the above position. All of us here will deeply appreciate any help or ideas you can give us. Try to really check around and even personally motivate anyone you know who has these capacities to help us at this time. And, even if you are not able to locate such an individual, please join me in praying fervently that God will help us find the right person to fill this important post in God's Work. Thanks for your zealous help!
Roderick C. Meredith
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
CAD Fax
Recently we experienced problems receiving faxes at our CAD fax machine. Since then, we have purchased a new fax that works better. From now on, please fax all CAD faxes to this new fax machine at 704-844-1975.
Sermons on DVD and CD
We have great news regarding our DVD and CD duplication and distribution. After December 1, 2004, Headquarters will no longer distribute VHS and audio cassette tapes in the monthly sermon mailings to LCG congregations and video groups. This change to DVD and CD formats will save the Work in material and shipping costs and provide a better quality product to help feed God's people.
Those who have not yet acquired a DVD player should be aware that our disc format requires a Minus R (-R) playable machine. Please let us know if you need help with this matter. Realizing that there may be a few isolated situations that require the continued use of audio cassettes for individuals, pastors should send in any requests for this older format to Deborah Lincoln-Strange in CAD. Thank you everyone for your patience, while waiting for this change over to occur.
Feast of Tabernacles 2004
Festival Assistance—A Repeat Announcement
Please note that the deadline to have applications for Festival assistance forms back to us, properly filled out and signed by the Church Pastor, is August 16, 2004. We ask you not to wait until the last minute to submit them.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Myrtle Beach Feast site is in need of an experienced Choir Director. A good number of basses, altos and sopranos have already volunteered their talents. A director and some tenors are needed to complete the Festival choir. Tenors may volunteer by notifying the Festival Office at 704-844-1970. Applicants for the position of Choir Director should call the site coordinator, Mr. Don Davis, at the same number.
Philippines Update
Mr. Rod King reports from the Philippines: Mr. Buena from the Manila office sent me an article from the local paper showing that the NPA (terrorists) operating in Bicol are using the same tactics as the Iraqis by holding hostages for ransom and demanding that the Philippine government release their members from jail.
On another matter, Mr. Casing reports that the Feast site we thought we had booked for Tacloban has been withdrawn from us. The management has made requests of us that we cannot meet. Please pray that God will show us where He wants us to keep His Feast in Tacloban.
COMMENTS
Real leadership is hard to find anywhere in the world today. In his book, "The Path to Leadership," the great British military leader, Field Marshall Montgomery, nails down many true leadership principles. On page 11 he says, "Leadership is based on truth and character." And then on page 12 Viscount Montgomery writes, "I suggest that the final test of a leader is the feeling you have when you leave his presence after a conference or interview. Have you a feeling of uplift and confidence? Are you clear as to what is to be done, and what is your part of the task? Are you determined to pull your weight in achieving the object? Or is your feeling the reverse?"
When we add to these wise words the concept of servanthood, then we can better understand what Mr. Meredith is talking about when he emphasizes servant leadership. Jesus Christ was the perfect example of this kind of leadership. Notice the encouragement we feel when we "leave His presence" after hearing what He says in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Have a delightful Sabbath day!
Charles E. Bryce