Greetings from Charlotte,
When a pebble is thrown into water, concentric waves emanate from the point of entry. I often tell our teens and young adults that they can be pebbles of purity and example in the Church and in the world. This is why we have youth programs—camps, Living Education, and Living 4 Tomorrow—to encourage them to live a life very different from that in the world. I also point out to our young people that, whether for good or bad, they will be examples. Each person who catches the vision can become a good example—not by self-righteously preaching, but by courageously living God’s way of life. Of course, the “pebbles in a pond” analogy applies to all of us. Is this not what Jesus meant when He said, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–16)? Do we consider this in how we drive, how we dress, the language we use, how we entertain ourselves, how diligent we are in our employment, and how we treat others in our everyday encounters with them? A lot is happening in our world, and we don’t have time to waste when it comes to allowing Christ to form Himself in us.
—Gerald E. Weston
Church Administration
Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Last week, we held three initial presentations and two follow-up presentations. These drew a total of 49 guests. This week we will hold nine presentations—five initial ones in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada; Seattle and Spokane, Washington; and St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri. We will also hold three follow-up presentations in Tallahassee, Florida; and Clarksville and Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as the beginning of a second campaign of presentations in Bakersfield, California. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.
Minneapolis Family Weekend
The Minneapolis congregation is hosting a family weekend on Labor Day weekend. On the Sabbath of August 30 there will be a morning Bible Study and afternoon Sabbath services, and later, Saturday evening games and fellowship. Sunday, August 31, will feature softball, a picnic, and other activities at Grandview Park in Hudson, Wisconsin. Please contact Matt Lyons (843-909-8890, [email protected]) to register or if you have any questions.
Feast of Tabernacles
Approaching Deadlines to Request Mailed Sermons for Those Unable to Travel to the Feast
Attention Pastors: Prerecorded Feast sermons will be available for brethren who are unable to travel to the Feast 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 traveling to the Feast.
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
Living Youth Teen and Preteen Camp – South Africa, 2025
We are excited to announce that the LYP South Africa Teen and Preteen Camp 2025 will be held in Wellington from Monday, December 22, 2025, to Thursday, January 1, 2026. Staff should arrive on Sunday, December 21, while teen campers should arrive on Monday, December 22. Preteens should plan to arrive on Friday, December 26. Departure for both teens and preteens will be on Thursday, January 1. The camp will feature a variety of activities, including daily Christian Living classes, dance, netball, tag rugby, indoor noodle hockey, handball, swimming, arts and crafts, life skills, volleyball, Bible literacy, speech class, leadership and teambuilding games, a cookout competition, soccer, and more. Stay connected for updates on the LYP South Africa Facebook page: Facebook.com/LYPSouthAfrica.
Applications are open! If you are interested in attending, please contact Mr. Lawdi Ferreira (email: [email protected]; WhatsApp: +27 721249018).
Comments
The Importance of Fellowship: Today, people are focused on their cell phones, iPads, and computer screens, but seldom interact with other people face to face—which fragments society. However, David wrote, “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). Jesus enjoyed and looks forward to fellowship with His called and chosen disciples (Luke 22:15–16). He also stated that true Christians would be recognized by the love they have for one another (John 13:35). The Apostle Paul urged Christians, “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day [of Christ’s return] approaching” (Hebrews 10:24–25). The Sabbath is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship with God, with Jesus Christ, and with others of like mind. Let’s not miss out on this blessing.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy
European Youth Lose Faith in Democracy: Democracy is hailed by many as the best form of government that mankind has ever invented. Yet, surprising to some, democracy is not the longest lived or the most stable form of government. Advocates of democracy claim it empowers the people and makes possible greater freedoms, but what happens when democracy fails to bring about its promises?
A new study reflects the disillusionment many European youth feel about democracy. “Only half of young people in France and Spain believe democracy is the best form of government, with support even lower among their Polish counterparts” (The Guardian, July 4, 2025). Soberingly, 21 percent admitted that they would prefer authoritarian rule to democracy under some circumstances. Among those who identify as being disadvantaged and “politically to the right of centre,” only a third support democracy. As a political scientist at Berlin’s Free University observed, “Democracy is under pressure, from within and without.”
While the perspectives highlighted by this recent study are not surprising given the political uncertainty in democracies today, they are particularly sobering from a prophetic perspective. When people become disillusioned with their governments, they become more receptive to something different. And when a powerful leader comes on the scene with promises of a better way, such individuals will be more willing to follow. This is exactly what the Bible prophesies will take place at the end of the age—an extremely influential political leader will arise in Europe, allied with a religious leader who will perform signs and wonders (see Revelation 13). You can discover God’s take on democracy by reading “In Democracy We Trust?” and learn more about the coming end-time despot by watching “The Beast is Rising.”
The Rich vs. the Poor: In both Africa and the United States, the chasm between the super-rich and everyone else represents an economic imbalance that reveals spiritual problems under the surface. A new Oxfam report shows that Africa’s elite control trillions in wealth, while its underclass endures hunger and lack of education and opportunities to prosper slowly vanish (July 9, 2025). This mirrors the American landscape, where the top ten percent hold approximately two-thirds of the nation’s wealth (Statista, October 29, 2024), while tens of millions face challenging barriers to economic mobility. The prophet Isaiah denounced such imbalances arising from greed and a lack of concern for our fellow man, crying, “Woe to those who join house to house… till there is no place” (Isaiah 5:8). Solomon also described how corrupt governance promotes suffering and unrest (Proverbs 29:2). But this is too often how this world operates—the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.
In contrast, Jesus taught a different frame of mind: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The Scriptures teach us that we should love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18) and ancient Israel was commanded, “You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty.” (Leviticus 19:15). Promoting fairness and impartiality is adhering to divine order. When nations fail to rule justly, people suffer and society crumbles.
The Living Church of God has long made the truth of God available to all who desire it, rich or poor, by making all our literature available free of charge. You can learn more about biblical economics by reading our free study guide God’s People Tithe! —Scott Winnail, VG Lardé, and Richard Franz