Greetings from Charlotte,
This continues to be a busy time in the Work of God. Mr. Peter Nathan arrived back in Charlotte from his preliminary trip to the U.K. He will return to the U.K in about two weeks to formally take up his new role as Regional Director for the U.K., Europe and Africa. Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Cristian Orrego are in Spain to conduct a number of visits with members and new contacts in that country. Mr. Weston has been in Canada filming new programs, and will be visiting the Vancouver congregation this coming Sabbath. Last weekend, I had very encouraging visits to congregations in Columbus and Akron, Ohio, and this weekend I will visit congregations in Anderson, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina. Ministerial moves have gone well this summer (Mr. and Mrs. Adam West to New England, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Rodzaj to Milwaukee and Mr. and Mrs. Phil West to Little Rock, Arkansas). Last weekend, nearly 40 visitors attended a Tomorrow's World Presentation and several follow-up Bible Studies. This weekend, four more follow-up studies are scheduled. Mr. Rod McNair conducted an online planning meeting for international Festival Site Coordinators this week, and he commented what a blessing it is to be able to have men from around the world in the same meeting at the same time, due to modern technology. Today, we have some remarkable tools to use as we preach the Gospel and serve God's people.—Douglas Winnail
Church Administration
Canadian Family Civic Weekend
The Canadian Family Civic Weekend is just seven weeks away! Join us August 3–6, as we will be transported back to Medieval Times, watching elegant equestrian displays and tournament, as well as jousting, falconry and games. There will be Bible Studies and a seminar, giving us a chance to grow together as we learn more of God's way. Also, we are planning brunch options that will provide a fantastic opportunity for fellowship and building brotherly bonds. At the end of the weekend, we plan to visit the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens Trail, which will inspire us to apply Philippians 4:8. This year we will also be having a talent show, so if you would like to be part of it, or if you have any questions, please contact Tim Dranov at [email protected]. For more information about the price, accommodations, and much more, and to register, visit our website: Lcgontario.org/cfcw (not an official LCG website).
Living Education
Acceptance letters have been sent to a number of applicants to our on-site program in Charlotte, with the remainder to be contacted shortly. Congratulations to those who will be coming to Charlotte in August—our Living Education staff is busily preparing for you! For those who are interested in our first Living Education–Online class, which also begins in August, pre-enrollment is open. Pre-enrollment will give you a first glimpse at the course, as well as specific reminders and direct communication regarding the class. As a reminder, this class will be "The Life, Ministry and Teachings of Jesus Christ," and will include lectures Dr. Roderick C. Meredith recorded for Living University. In addition to the videos, there will be written information and study guides to highlight important lessons from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. For more information and to pre-enroll, just go to lcgeducation.org.—Jonathan McNair
Feast of Tabernacles
Activity Registration: Not Yet Open
This year, as in the past, we are separating Feast of Tabernacles online registration into two parts: (1) Site registration, and (2) Activity registration. Here is a brief explanation of the two phases:
Site registration opened April 15 and will be open all the way up until Feast time. As of this writing, 7,390 members and guests are successfully registered for the Feast of Tabernacles. During site registration, you will also have the opportunity to sign up to volunteer at the Feast (music, parking, ushering, etc.). Of course, some Feast sites are now closed to additional transfers. If you are on the waiting list for a closed site, you will need to transfer to another site.
Activity registration will be the second phase of online Feast registration. Activity registration is not yet open, and will not open until later this summer—stay tuned for more details! Check the Festival website (go to lcg.org, click on "Feast of Tabernacles" and follow the links) to find descriptions of activities that are being planned for your site. When Activity registration opens—later this summer—members and guests will be able to sign up for (and in most cases pay for) Feast activities.
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to the Church Administration Department is Monday, July 16. All forms should be properly completed by the members requesting second tithe assistance to attend the Feast this year. Then, the Area Pastors should write their recommendations/comments on the forms before submitting them to CAD. Festival Assistance Request forms are available to ministers on the MyLCG Web site (www.cogl.org).—Festival Office
Feast Site Information
Sites now closed to transfers:
- Carry-le-Rouet, France
- Panama City, Florida
- Marble Falls, Texas
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
- Liverpool, Canada
- Kauai, Hawaii
U.S. Sites still with ample room:
- Snowmass, Colorado
- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
- Mount Snow, Vermont
If you are waiting on transfer approval to one of the closed sites, you will need to transfer to another site. Or, you can attend your assigned site. We would appreciate you changing your registration as soon as you can. For more information, contact the Festival Office at [email protected].
Living Youth Program
Living Youth Program 2017 Camp Pictorial
The pictorials from last year's camp programs have arrived in Charlotte. They cover the Teen camp in Texas, Adventure camp at Mount Rainier, as well as the North American Preteen camps in Missouri, North Carolina and Texas. We're also excited this year to have been able to include most international camps: Belgium, New Zealand, South Africa and Togo.
The pictorials will be distributed a bit differently this year: if someone in your household attended one of the youth camps last year, your household will automatically receive a copy, free of charge. To minimize mailing costs, most of the pictorials can be distributed at the summer camps. Distribution will be primarily at the Texas camps. However, if no one from your family is attending in Texas, but is at one of the other camps, yours will be available there, instead. If someone from your family is attending one of the camps in Texas, please don't try to pick up a pictorial at an earlier Preteen camp, as those camps will only have enough copies for those who won't be attending in Texas.
If you have any questions, or want to double-check how you will receive your pictorial, please e-mail [email protected].—Joshua Penman
Medications for Minors at Teen and Preteen Camps—Repeat Announcement
Due to state regulations, all campers must bring a doctor's prescription or physician's script for all medications any minor will take or might take during camp. This includes any homeopathic and/or natural remedy medications. If your child will be taking any sort of medication or supplements which were not listed on the original application form, you need to let us know. Also, if you have an EpiPen for emergencies, please bring that as well. We look forward to seeing you at camp!
Comments
Real Philadelphia Christians: The book of Revelation describes Philadelphia Christians as having a strong desire to carry out the mission that Jesus Christ gave to His Church (Revelation 3:7-10). According to the Scriptures, that mission involved: preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the world (Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 10:1-8), warning the world about difficult times that will arise at the end of the age (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) and preparing a people to reign with Jesus Christ in the coming government of God (Luke 1:17). However, since the name "Philadelphia" means "brotherly love," true Philadelphians will also strive to follow Jesus' admonition to "love one another" (John 15:17). They understand that showing unselfish, outgoing concern for others (versus sitting in judgment of others) is one of the distinguishing marks of a real Philadelphia Christian (John 13:34-35). The capacity to love others is also one of the most important fruits that indicate that we have and are using God's Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-25). Let's all look for ways to show "brotherly love" to each person we meet and interact with.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 14, 2018
Is America Pushing Europe Together? While commentators in the media and government debate the consequences of rapidly developing world events, Bible prophecies provide unique insights about the future that are missing from these discussions. The Bible predicts the rise of a European "beast" power at the end of the age. This "beast" will be a political and religiously supported entity that will become an economic and military powerhouse (see Revelation 13). It will emerge as the final revival of the ancient Roman Empire (Daniel 2:40–45)—and it will rule without the help of Britain and the United States.
From a global perspective, many current U.S. actions are viewed as divisive. North American and European relationships with the U.S. are strained by American actions that are seen as protectionist and isolationist. The current actions of the American government could facilitate the emergence of the European "beast" power. According to a recent report, "the mood in Europe now is one of anger, unity and determination…. Trump has accomplished what numerous European advocates of further EU integration failed to achieve: He's convinced member states and Brussels that without a more muscular approach to trade and security, one based more on the hard knocks of geopolitics than on the appeal of soft power, the EU will be pushed around as a strategic actor in the global arena" (World Politics Review, June 6, 2018). The article concludes, "Hubert Vedrine, the former French foreign minister, has often argued that the EU must choose between whether it wants to be an enormous Switzerland or a global power. There is another alternative, that of a Fortress Europe: open, prosperous and protected within its borders, but suspicious of the world and using its power abroad for predatory purposes. Trump's policies raise the risk that this alternative will prove attractive, which would be a loss for everyone"—Europe could become the "predator"—or "beast"—the Bible has predicted!
Quickly moving world events can be confusing. However, Bible prophecies reveal the unsuspected significance of events that will create headlines at the end of the age, just before the return of Jesus Christ. For more information about where such events are leading, be sure to read or listen to our free publication, The Beast of Revelation, Myth, Metaphor or Soon-Coming Reality?
Death by Plastic! The amount of plastic waste in our environment is skyrocketing worldwide, and it is having a devastating impact. In Thailand, a pilot whale recently died "after swallowing more than 80 plastic bags" (The Guardian, June 2, 2018). Experts estimate that over 100,000 marine animals die each year as a result of plastic ingestion. In 2018, world plastic production will reach 360 million tonnes—a level that some believe will nearly double by 2030 (The Guardian, June 5, 2018)!
Once plastic reaches the environment, "it enters our food chain where, increasingly, microplastic particles are turning up in our stomachs, blood and lungs" (The Guardian, June 5, 2018). In seafood, shellfish—such as mussels and other mollusks—are the most likely to transmit plastics to humans because humans eat the digestive systems of these sea creatures (European Food Safety Agency, June 23, 2016). Plastics also make their way into groundwater and soil. To put the situation in context, some researchers suggest that "by 2050 the ocean will contain more plastic by weight than fish" (The Guardian, June 28, 2017)!
Plastic is versatile and very useful, but it is also the hallmark of a "throw-away" society. When humans were placed on the earth, God gave them specific commands to be good stewards of the environment He created for them (Genesis 2:15). Today, humanity has neglected this important responsibility, and we're told that the "whole creation groans" in agony (Romans 8:22). Thankfully, "the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" when Christ returns (v. 21)—liberty which will surely include a healthy environment and the will and knowledge to keep it that way. Today's selfish society, which fails to think about the implications of its own actions, must come to an end soon so that humanity and the creation can be saved from destruction. For more on this topic and to understand the solutions, read "Why Worry About Waste?"—Scott Winnail and Francine Prater