Greetings from Charlotte,
A lot is happening in our world. Extremely powerful earthquakes struck Russia this week; there was a mass shooting in downtown Manhattan, New York; and there were other big news stories. While some understandably focus on these stories, far more prophetically significant events are taking place. President Macron of France stated last Thursday that France would formally recognize a state of Palestine in September. On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Starmer said the UK also would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes “substantive steps” toward a two-state solution—in other words, either you do it, or we will impose it on you. And Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday that Canada plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. Have these leaders thought this through? Who will rule such a state? What will be its territory? How can the world recognize a state that wants its neighboring state to be wiped off the map—“from the river to the sea”? These are interesting times!
—Gerald E. Weston
Church Administration
Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Last week, we held two follow-up presentations in Blue Ridge, Georgia; and Plymouth, England, which drew a total of twelve guests. This week, we will hold three initial presentations in Tallahassee, Florida; Clarksville, Tennessee; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as one follow-up presentation in Roanoke, Virginia. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.
Feast of Tabernacles
Activity Registration
Activity registration for the Feast of Tabernacles is tentatively scheduled to open on August 18. To view information on the activities scheduled at the Feast site you are registered for, you can visit the Festival microsite at fot2025.lcg.org.
Sermons for Those Unable to Attend the Feast in Person – Repeat Announcement
Attention Pastors: Because some members, for legitimate reasons, are unable to attend the Feast of Tabernacles in person, the Church provides access to Feast sermons by various means.
Many Feast sites will offer livestream or telephone connections to those assigned to that site. This is the preferred option. Though not a substitute for being present at the site, these connections give access to live Feast services, including prayers and hymns.
Prerecorded Feast sermons will also be available for brethren who are unable to attend in person and for whom the livestream or telephone connections are not feasible. The prerecorded sermons will be published online—one per day—throughout the Feast:
- English-language Feast sermons will be posted at https://members.lcg.org
- French-language Feast sermons will be posted at www.eglisedieuvivant.org
Additionally, links to these prerecorded Festival sermons will be emailed to pastors in advance of the Feast. Before the Feast, you can forward that email to the members in your areas who are not attending in person.
We request that as many as are able access their assigned site’s Feast sermons by livestream or telephone or view the prerecorded sermons online. However, if there are brethren in your areas who cannot take advantage of these options and need to receive physical sermon disks through the mail, please send us their names and addresses before the following deadlines:
- The deadline for international requests for prerecorded Festival sermon disks is August 15. For those in regions with slow postal service, please send in your requests as early as possible in order for the sermons to arrive before the Feast.
- Requests for recipients in the U.S. must be received by August 29.
- If possible, please do not wait until the deadline to send in your requests.
Living Youth Program
Belgium Living Youth Camp 2025
The Belgium Living Youth Camp, which began on Monday, July 28, has gotten off to a fantastic start. The bilingual camp, including both French and English, is located in the green, wooded, rolling hills of the beautiful Ardennes region of eastern Belgium. Nineteen campers from Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, French Guiana, Martinique, and the Congo are delighted to be together as they learn to have fun God’s way. The occasional rain showers haven’t dampened their enthusiasm and growing camaraderie. Activities have included netball, capture the flag, bivouacking, choir, dance class, and a trip to a wild animal and nature park. The Christian Living classes, given by Messrs. Rod McNair, Rees Ellis, Scott Winnail, and Pascal Deville, are focusing on the LYC theme for 2025, “The Wisdom of Proverbs.” The camp is headed up by Dr. Scott Winnail and Mr. Rees Ellis, who are assisted by Mr. Ellis’ team of local volunteers. Your prayers for the camp’s successful completion this coming week are much appreciated.
Texas Preteen Camp 2025
A special thank you to the 45 staff members who dedicated so much time and effort to make this year’s Texas Preteen Camp a success. We had beautiful weather and great attitudes from the 49 campers and twelve mini campers who attended. The theme “Love your neighbor as yourself” was expounded upon in Christian Living classes as we studied the last six commandments. In addition to Christian Living, there was art, basketball, volleyball, kickball, gaga ball, paddleboarding, swimming, archery, clay “Pictionary,” a sing-along, and a fun show. Everyone seemed to put into practice love for their neighbors as they worked together to make camp run smoothly. Thank you to everyone who participated in this important pursuit of helping to turn the hearts and minds of our young people to God.
Comments
Are You a Friend of God? An old saying says, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” The Apostle James warned that “friendship with the world” can make someone an “enemy of God” (James 4:4). Over the years, many have learned that we cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s Church. The Apostle Paul wrote that, to be Christian, we must come out of this world and begin to live a different way of life (2 Corinthians 6:17–18). Abraham was a friend of God because he trusted and obeyed Him (Genesis 26:5; James 2:23). Jesus told His disciples that they would be His friends if they loved Him and obeyed His commandments (John 14:15; 15:12–15). Let’s continue to strive to be friends of God and Jesus Christ by following these instructions so we can reign with Them in the coming Kingdom of God (John 14:3).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy
Patience May Slow Aging: It has long been said that patience is a virtue. And it is indeed a vital element of Christian character—even a fruit of God’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). However, are there even more benefits to being patient than spiritual maturity?
New research on the health benefits of patience has been reported by the National University of Singapore (The Epoch Times, June 28, 2025). Geneticists studied patience in university students and discovered that those who displayed more patience and practiced delayed gratification had effectively “younger” cells than those of other students.
Telomeres are the portions at the very ends of DNA strands that act as protective “caps.” As individual cells age, the telomeres grow shorter and shorter. But the telomeres in the cells of more patient people were longer than those in the cells of others, suggesting that they are effectively younger. Researchers suggest that those who are more patient also make more healthful decisions in their daily lives, and the effects of these numerous small decisions accumulate to positively impact their bodies. More patient people also report lower rates of depression and even a lower risk of hypertension. As the study author noted, “How we wait shapes who we become—down to our cells.”
The Bible is full of references to the importance of patience, including the need to “wait on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). Jesus said, “By your patience possess your souls”— that is, your lives (Luke 21:19). Although the context of Jesus’ statement is religious persecution and tribulation, science is now discovering that patience benefits the quality of our lives and apparently can lengthen our lifespans. While scientists continue to search for a medical path to a longer life, they are also discovering that the spiritual path illuminated by God’s word (Psalm 119:105) provides the very health benefit they seek. You can learn more about living longer by reading “Is Eternal Life an Intangible Asset?” —Scott Winnail and Francine Prater