Greetings everyone,
It would be unthinkable to use my usual southern greetings in this week's Update because Dr. Douglas Winnail and I will be sharing it—he is a northerner, born in Akron, Ohio. I'm writing the first part of this Update, he the second.
The third and final session of the Pastors Conference is still going on with great success and much enthusiasm. This evening, Mr. and Mrs. Meredith will be hosting a dinner in their home for all the visiting ministers, the lecturers and their wives. During this third session of the Pastors Conference, Messrs. Meredith and Ames took a greater part of the lectures because Mr. Charles Bryce flew on Tuesday to Dallas, to be at the funeral service of Mr. David Burson, Associate Pastor of the Dallas, Texas, congregation. Midwest Regional Pastor Mr. Rand Millich conducted the funeral service for Mr. Burson, who died last Friday night. Also present was Mr. Davy Crockett from headquarters. Mr. Burson leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Patty, son Douglas, and daughter Heather Millich. All of us will be greatly missing his dedicated service, and his warm and friendly personality.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Our first Tomorrow's World broadcast in South Africa
Mr. Syd Hull reports: The Eternal was very good to us! On this first program we received 41 responses. The people who phoned in were very excited and very keen to receive the booklet offered. They spoke very highly of Mr. Meredith and were looking forward to the next program. One response came from an old Plain Truth reader. He asked if we were connected to Mr. Herbert Armstrong in some way. We answered in the affirmative. One lady said that she was nicely surprised because "you just don't hear the truth explained so clearly!" Another caller said that she was so discouraged that morning but, in the afternoon, she disconsolately came upon our program and felt exhilarated after listening! We, too, are looking forward to the next broadcast. God's people are also very excited as they have been praying for a good response. I may add that these responses came from all over South Africa, from a very broad area.
Spanish Update
A brief report by Mr. Mario Hernandez: I worked hard at the youth camp. I taught five classes every day and was also in charge of the dish-washing crew. I thoroughly enjoyed my work. However, because of much traveling, my immune system had been undermined. On August 10, I was supposed to leave for Peru but my body did not respond. I asked Mr. Armando Orrego, our elder in Colombia, to make this trip in my stead to Peru. He spent the Sabbath of August 13 in Lima and traveled next day to Cerro del Pasco. He successfully gave the public lecture I had planned to give. From all reports, Mr. Orrego's trip to Peru was a success.
Concerning the Feast of Tabernacles, I plan to spend the entire Feast in Argentina. Mr. Orrego will coordinate the Feast in Peru, Mr. Schaubeck will be in Colombia, Mr. Mora in Guatemala, and Mr. Colon in Mexico.
MEDIA
A new milestone was reached with the Tomorrow's World TV coverage in the United Kingdom, Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. As of this week, we received our two-thousandth phone call in response to the telecast since we started airing on the Inspiration Network International (INI) in April. Most of the response is coming from the United Kingdom, with the highest concentration (one-third of all calls) coming from London. We are also getting calls from other countries, including the Republic of Ireland, Austria, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Eighty-five percent of the callers are first-time callers. The Tomorrow's World TV program airs every Sunday at 10:00 am, Mondays at 1:30 pm, and Monday through Friday at 1:30 am on the Eurobird (B Sky B) and Hotbird 6 satellites.
A week ago, on August 20, we began airing on the Inspiration Network (INSP) in the United States. This network reaches 20.6 million households. The first two airings generated 344 phone calls. The telecast airs at 1:00 am Eastern Time—which is 10:00 pm Pacific Time. Despite the early time in the east coast, 54 percent of the response came from after-midnight folks, another 34 percent from the Central Time Zone.—Wayne Pyle
My part of this Update terminates here, and Dr. Winnail's starts…
Dibar Apartian
COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS—DEALING WITH ADVERSITY
by Douglas Winnail
Last week Mr. Apartian referred to the stirring comments of Britain's courageous wartime leader, Winston Churchill, about never giving up under conditions of adversity. I recall a sermonette Mr. Apartian had given years ago in Pasadena, when he mentioned that in the years ahead, those who never had to endure hard trials and adversities might have difficulty persevering when things get rough at the end of the age. His words were prophetic.
In our affluent self-centered western countries thousands opposed the "Israelite led" war in Iraq because people might get hurt and our cities might be terrorized in return—even though a brutal dictator was killing his own people, making aggressive moves against neighboring countries and threatening to cut off the oil-supplies to the west. This same mentality—if difficulties arise or someone gets hurt, we must change course—has banned soccer balls from playgrounds in Britain so children won't injure themselves, made school exams easier so fewer students fail and discarded moral standards so no one feels guilty. Giving in to pressures of the moment does not build courage and determination in children or adults. It is not the mark of a great people or a great nation.
These same attitudes also affect the Church today. Many who received "the Truth" on a silver platter (free booklets and magazines, etc) let go of that Truth when pressures arose, or walked away from the Church over alleged grievances or hurt feelings. When tragedy strikes an individual, a family or a church, many today are easily led to the conclusion that someone has sinned and God is trying to help us see our error so we will change. However, this is not always the case, and giving into prevailing ideas is not necessarily the correct course of action or the lesson God wants us to learn.
Down through history, God's people have had to endure and overcome trials and tribulations. God told Joshua to "be strong and very courageous" in the face of trials (Joshua 1:6-9). Solomon said, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small" (Proverbs 24:10). Jesus said we must "endure to the end" to be saved (Matthew 24:13). James knew that dealing with trials can build patience, persistence and faith (James 1:2-7). Peter warned, we should not to be surprised when trials come because God is watching how we react under pressure (I Peter 4:12-17). There are times when adversity strikes that we must determine to stay on course and not waver or change—and this takes courage—when others are clamoring to change course because difficulties have arisen. God also promises to make a way out (I Corinthians 10:13), and to reward overcomers who do not crumble under trials (see Revelation chapters 2 and 3).
When the early Church lost ministers and members due to persecution or other causes, the biblical writers did not view it as God's punishment for their disobedience (see Acts 4-12). They understood that Satan can use trials to disrupt the Church or sow doubt and discouragement (II Corinthians 2:10-11). While some got discouraged and left, others soldiered on courageously! Like Christians in the first century, our challenge—when we encounter adversity—is to persevere, grow and stay on course to finish the race and fulfill our mission and our calling. Courage in the face of adversity is the mark of a leader. That is what God was looking for then—and what He is looking for today.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas Winnail