Greetings everyone:
We have continued to have nice rains here in San Diego this week—very nice rains. Some folks have complained about the "cold nights." I am amused to see people wearing heavy winter coats in weather comparable to June in Wisconsin or Montana. Such wimps! I have tried to explain to them that 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) in southern California is no colder than 20 degrees Fahrenheit in Montana! Seriously now, it has been beautiful for the past week, though cool and damp part of the time.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE:
Mr. Meredith's new secretary, Monica Cormier, has arrived and is working, so Mr. Meredith is happy! Mr. Apartian has stated that she is welcome to move over to our side of the office any time she would like, as he has no secretary except my wife who helps him as she is able. However, she does not speak French, let alone write it.
MEDIA:
Mr. Richard Ames injured his back while in Arizona recently He has been in great pain and unable to come into the office at all this week. Please include him in your prayers for healing and relief from pain.
Mr. William Bowmer submitted the following announcement concerning the Web site:
Beginning this Friday, the weekly sermons in streaming video as well as audio will be available on the Church Web site. The address is, of course, http://www.lcg.org/sermons.htm. I hope those of you with Internet access are able to take a look soon.
INTERNATIONAL:
Prayer request from Manila:
"Brethren around the world are aware of the ongoing Estrada impeachment trial for corruption and taking proceeds from illegal gambling. Earlier this week, key evidence was disallowed, which prompted all the prosecutors in the Senate trial to resign immediately. The perceived cover-up was a flashpoint for increased demonstrations in the city. In one of them, incidents of rock-throwing broke out between pro-Estrada and anti-Estrada demonstrators along Ayala Avenue, the main business district just a few blocks from where the Church office is located. Every day hundreds of thousands of demonstrators are gathering at the EDSA shrine, and are threatening to march on Malacanang Palace if the President doesn't resign by 6:00 am Saturday morning. Most if not all of the President's cabinet has resigned as of Friday, including the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, and the Director of the National Police.
Regardless of the political outcome, the next few days will see a volatile situation in Metro-Manila that could quickly escalate, as emotions run high on both sides. Please pray that this crisis will be resolved peacefully this weekend, for the safety of our brethren and the Work."
Our host in Sri Lanka reported that we must move our meeting out of the facility we have used in the past due to complaints against us from a religious group.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION:
I am very encouraged with the growth of the Church in year 2000. We began the year with fear of potential gridlock from computer glitches around whole world. Thankfully, those fears were unfounded.
The combined Sabbath attendance for the USA, and all international areas at the end of year 2000 had grown to 5,957, an increase of 747 persons over 1999.
The Feast attendance in 2000 was slightly lower than expected, and lower than our weekly Sabbath attendance. We are still looking for Feast sites for 2001 to serve our members best. We are also looking for a site in the Northeast and one for the Upper Midwest. Please ask God to guide us in finding locations that please Him. We are also looking for a replacement site for Kerrville, Texas, as the facility we have used there is no longer desirable due to management problems of the establishment..
CONCLUSION:
Even when we are enduring trials and tribulation, we are told to rejoice and give thanks. We all admire people who are happy even in adversity. As one has written, "The happiest people are those who discover that what they should be doing and what they are doing are the same thing!" God has people scattered around the world, so when a disaster occurs anywhere on earth you can safely assume someone feels its effect. Please pray for our brethren around the world every day.
I hope that you are all very happy, and have a great Sabbath!
Carl E. McNair