Greetings everyone,
The Ft. Lauderdale congregation will be hosting Mr. and Mrs. Meredith this Sabbath. Mr. Charles Bryce will be in Trinidad and he will return to Charlotte Sunday night.
In less than a month, ministers from the four corners of the world will be arriving in Charlotte for the Ministerial Conference. Some from tropical regions—or from countries where it is summer, not winter. Others from icy and freezing lands. Since the weather in unpredictable Charlotte can change overnight, our visiting ministers and guests should come prepared. When a few of our Canadian ministers heard that the temperature here may be around 30 degrees (Fahrenheit), they chuckled with delight, "That means springtime for us." Of course, they are used to temperatures below 40 degrees (Fahrenheit).
LEGAL AFFAIRS & RISK MANAGEMENT
A big "THANK YOU" to those ministers who sent recommendations regarding, as well as those who showed a personal interest in, the Secretary/Administrative Assistant position in this office.
In consultation with Human Resources, we have reviewed the information received and have chosen to retain Mrs. Brenda Robbins from the Birmingham, Alabama, area who holds a Paralegal certificate and is a Legal Secretary/Administrative Assistant with many years of experience. This is a boon for God's Work.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Instructions regarding PASSOVER 2004
Attention Area Pastors: Please check your Passover equipment and supplies in your respective areas. If you have need of anything (trays and/or glasses) for the congregations and video groups you oversee, send your request by memo to Church Administration at [email protected] without delay.
If any of your congregations or groups will be using an audiotape in conducting the Passover, you should use the one from last year by Mr. Richard Ames. Please check the quality and condition of the tapes; if replacements are needed, now is the time to request them. You may order through Deborah Lincoln Strange in the CAD office.
INTERNATIONAL
Australian Update
According to Mr. Bruce Tyler's report, 329 subscribers were added to the Tomorrow's World subscription list in January. In December, 269 were added. In this region, the total Tomorrow's World subscription list to date is 9,258. In January, a total of 461 Bible Study Course lessons were mailed in Australia, and 31 to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea. In New Zealand, the present Tomorrow's World subscription stands at 3,287 (New Zealand and Pacific), an increase of 183 for the month. Our New Zealand office posted 3,835 pieces of mail during January.
Philippines Update
Excerpts from Mr. Rod McNair's Report: "It is encouraging to see the growth in the Philippines Work in 2003. Last year, the Regional Office processed 890 pieces of incoming mail. A total of 1,762 booklets and 1,462 Bible Study Course lessons were mailed out. That last statistic is exciting, because it shows that Tomorrow's World readers, including many of you brethren who are taking the course, are interested in really studying God's Word. Also, last year's (preliminary) income growth was an excellent 11.6% over the previous year. This is also significant, because we took on a number of new projects last year, such as our first Living Youth Camp. In 2003, our expenses increased by 9.6%. This was a smaller increase than in 2002, so that is good news as well."
Kenya Update
Comments by Douglas Winnail: I have just returned from a 9-day trip to Kenya, where Mr. Owino and I held Bible studies and Question & Answer sessions with 6 groups across southern Kenya. During our travels we spoke to and visited with about 100 people. Many attending the LCG groups are coming from other religious backgrounds and have basic questions about doctrines and the Scriptures. In spite of difficult travel over deteriorating roads it was inspiring to see the excitement of those who are beginning to understand the Truth of God. For many who struggle with the grim realities of rural life in Kenya—no electricity, no running water, lack of jobs, hunger and the ever-present threat of diseases such as malaria, typhoid and other water-borne infections—the gospel of the coming kingdom of God is a message that inspires real hope. It was sobering to see the joy and enthusiasm of those in Africa who have never understood the truth of the coming kingdom of God, and at the same time remember that many in America and Britain and other parts of the world who have heard dozens of sermons about the kingdom of God drifting away from the truth and turning to another gospel—of loving Jesus, clapping hands, waving arms in the air and singing Hallelujah!
During our visit we discussed ways of doing the work more effectively in East Africa. We also noted the problems and needs of members and discussed numerous ideas for development projects that would help generate food, clean water and additional income. While in Kenya we also had an opportunity to meet with and interview members of the government, business community, several physicians and numerous individuals about their concerns in a country that is struggling to meet the challenges facing developing nations today.
COMMENTS
When a Pharisee asked Christ what he should do to inherit eternal life, the answer was, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27). The Pharisee, wanting to justify himself, said, "Who is my neighbor?" Christ answered him with a parable. He gave the example of a Priest and a Levite, both of whom "passed by on the other side" when they saw a man lying half dead on the road. Then Christ elaborated upon the loving care of a Samaritan, a foreigner, who went out of his way to take care of the wounded man.
I thought of this parable last week when most of us were stranded for a couple of days in our homes because snow and ice had blanketed the streets of Charlotte. I couldn't even walk safely to our mailbox. The next afternoon, we heard someone working very hard in our driveway to clear the ice in order to make our driveway safe for us to walk. He was our neighbor. He didn't have to do that for us, but he did. He was thoughtful and attentive to his neighbor's needs. I wish all of us in God's Church showed such caring love toward others, including those who are not in our Church. Love is shown to us in the Bible in two gradual steps. The first, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). And the second, the new one Christ gave, saying, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; AS I have loved you …" (John 13:34).
Just before the Passover, as we begin examining ourselves, we should ask ourselves whether we are always thoughtful and attentive to our neighbor's needs.
Y'all have a wonderful Sabbath.
Dibar Apartian