Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,
I want to share some really good news with you regarding this Work in which you participate through your prayers and faithful financial support. As our Living Church of God Members know and many of you Co-workers understand, we observe the biblical Holy Days that were kept by Jesus, His Apostles, and first-century Christianity. Our booklet, The Holy Days: God’s Master Plan, shows how these days explain God’s loving plan for mankind and the hope we have for the future.
We just finished observing the Day of Pentecost, a day on which we are reminded that God is not calling the whole world at this time (Mark 4:10-12, 33-34), but is writing His law in the minds and on the hearts of those He is calling now (Hebrews 8:7-13). The Ten Commandments were revealed to Israel on the Feast of Firstfruits, which we know today as Pentecost. They did not have the heart to obey and keep them (Deuteronomy 5:29), so it is no coincidence that following the crucifixion, it was on Pentecost that God chose to pour out His Holy Spirit on the fledgling new covenant church (Acts 2), which is “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16). It is God’s Spirit, His power, that takes away the hostility man has for His laws and gives us that new heart (Romans 8:6-9; Ezekiel 11:19-20). Truly, we are to think and act as Christ thinks and acts (Galatians 2:20).
We often use the occasions of the Holy Days to update Members on how the Work is doing, and this year we reported an abundance of encouraging news. I know that many of you who are Members heard some of this on Pentecost, but there was so much good news to share that most of you probably didn’t take it all in. Also, it seems that statistics have a greater impact when you read them and have time to consider their significance. So, pardon me, dear Members, if some of this is redundant for some of you, but I want to inform both Members and Co-workers what their contributions are accomplishing. Here are a few bullet points:
Since Pentecost 2018, we have published three new English language booklets: Evolution and Creation: What Both Sides Miss; Acts of God: Why Natural Disasters; and What Happens When You Die? In addition, we also published the late Dr. Roderick C. Meredith’s 140-page book, The Plain Truth About the Protestant Reformation. As you know, we give all these resources, including Dr. Meredith’s book, free of charge to all who ask. You make this possible. Thank you!
The Tomorrow’s World telecast airs on 122 television and radio stations worldwide and responses are up 46 percent compared to the comparable period last year.
These Tomorrow’s World telecasts are also found on YouTube, so they are seen by far more than those who only tune into our program on traditional television each week. “Ezekiel’s Message Unlocked” has just surpassed 1,000,000 views in English, and 1,630,000 views in Spanish; and “John 3:16—So Misunderstood” has surpassed 1,222,000 Spanish language views. And our French language program on “Seven Signs Identifying the Antichrist” is approaching 600,000 views.
We have produced five “whiteboards”—short, visually rich and fast-paced animation videos designed to interest people looking for solid, concise answers to biblical questions. “This One Sin Cannot Be Forgiven” and “3 Days & 3 Nights,” combined, have produced more than 674,000 YouTube views during the relatively short time they’ve been posted.
Our Work in Canada has been busy producing three types of video presentations: Tomorrow’s World telecasts, Viewpoints (short animation videos on various topics), and TW Answers (three-minute answers to Bible questions, given at the end of each telecast). Regional Director Stuart Wachowicz’ Viewpoint, “Do Schools Discriminate Against Boys?,” has brought more than 621,000 views, almost entirely from high school and college-age males. We got their attention. Now we have to bring them to the reason for their existence!
And finally, just since Pentecost a year ago, we have translated 19 booklets into Portuguese, which is spoken in Portugal, Brazil, and several other places around the world.
These are some of the very positive trends taking place here at Tomorrow’s World and the Living Church of God. There is much more, but statistics are best relayed in bites rather than buckets. The point is that we are beginning to get some real traction beyond our print and television presence. We are still very small compared to the world, but success builds more success, and ultimately, it is God who will do His Work through us.
Some of you Co-workers may not be aware that our much-loved friend, colleague, and Tomorrow’s World television presenter Rodney King died recently in his homeland of Australia. Mr. King suffered from cancer and is now at peace waiting for the resurrection. He leaves behind his faithful wife of 45 years, Shayne, four children, and several grandchildren. Rod and I spent a lot of time together when we came to Charlotte for Council of Elders meetings, and he will be dearly missed by those of us who knew him.
We are working on an exciting new “open door” which I hope to be able to announce next month. I do not want to say more at this time since negotiations don’t always turn out as you would like, but if this comes through, I think you will be as excited as I am. Although I cannot say more, please pray that God will either open this door wide, or He makes it plain to us that He has closed it. We must always remember that there are both open doors and trap doors!
Jesus exhorted the 70 disciples whom He sent out to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). It is no different today. We are shorthanded on almost every level. There is so much more that we could do and desperately want to do, but we do not have the resources. We need laborers in television production, Internet, Information Technologies, and social media, just to mention a few. Some of these needs could be alleviated if we had more faithful Members and Co-workers, such as you who are receiving this letter. Therefore, please follow Christ’s admonition to “pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
I think all of you recognize the changes taking place in our world and the danger signs all around us. Ships have been attacked in the Persian Gulf as the United States and Iran face off against each other. Any miscalculation can bring about a disastrous war for both countries and the world. Immorality is being promoted and shoved down the throats of children, in some places as soon as they enter school. And the most innocent among us are being destroyed in and out of the womb.
Dear Members and Co-workers, thank you for your loyal support. All the good news delineated earlier in this letter is a direct result of the support you give. For that we are very grateful!
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston