Greetings everyone,
Mr. Charles Bryce arrived safely in Charlotte, and is now in the process of unpacking his household goods. We have been in touch a number of times this week, and he assures me that he will be in operation next week as planned. His e-mail address is: [email protected]
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
International
Mr. Kinnear Penman sent the following report on his recent visit to Vanuatu:
"My trip to Vanuatu included the spiritual highlight of baptising Mrs. Remma Robin in the waters of the Orap River on Malekula. Mrs. Robin is a young mother of two children and has been attending church for several years. Her husband, Dhai, also attends and is evidence of Peter's comments that husbands can be 'won by the conduct of their [virtuous] wives.'"
"At Sabbath services in Orap we had 38 in attendance. Morning and afternoon services were broken by a shared lunch of local fruits and vegetables."
"Some weeks ago I asked you to pray about the situation in Orap where our members were threatened by expulsion from the village which is actually owned by the Protestant Evangelical Church (a French denomination.) The threat has not further advanced. However, please do continue to pray for our brethren there. The wife of a local chief now attends services with us."
Philippines terrorist bomb rips Davao:
I'm sure you have all heard or read about the bomb blast this week that took the lives of many civilians in the Davao airport. This serves as a reminder to all of God's people in the Philippines and throughout S.E. Asia that misguided and evil forces seek to disrupt and destroy an environment in which God's people can worship Him.
Mr. Rod McNair recently visited the Manila Church Office and conducted a conference with the Philippine ministry. The following excerpt is from a report this week to the brethren and ministry:
"I hope you are all having a good Sabbath, enjoying another opportunity to worship God in peace and safety. God is so good to us, for providing for our needs, for protecting us from harm, even in ways and times when we're not aware of the danger. Recently in Mindanao, the war between government troops and rebels seems to be ratcheted up. Just today we heard the news of several bombings, the most deadly at the Davao international airport, where at least 20 were killed and up to 170 wounded. Apparently the bomb went off in a rucksack in the greeting area outside the entrance. A bomb also went off in Tagum the same day, injuring two people. And a town hall was destroyed in Cotabato province. Last week, rebels succeeded in cutting off electrical power to all of Mindanao by bombing two main power towers in Lanao del Norte. Yesterday I talked with Mr. Tex Benitez, who said they were without power for three days, but it was restored since then. He said despite the fighting in Cotabato and bombings, the brethren in his areas are safe. This is a grim reminder that we live in Satan's world. Until Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, returns, no political or military solutions will solve the problems of hatred and violence, stemming from the carnal, human heart. 'Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask… Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.' James 4:1-4. When will this world learn the way to have all our needs provided is to simply ask! And then to submit to the powerful will of God (vs.6-7). And yet men fight and murder and destroy all in an attempt to gain what they do not have. Jesus Christ will bring the ultimate solution to humanity's warring spirit when He comes in a blinding flash and a voice of a trumpet, to subdue all His enemies (II Thessalonians 2:8)."
United Kingdom—Dr. Doug Winnail forwarded a commentary by Alistair Cooke presented on BBC News (February 20, 2003) entitled "Appeasing Hitler and Saddam."
In summary, he compared the political insanity of today to the political insanity of the late 1930's. I will append the file for those of you who have not yet seen it.
ADMINISTRATION
Charlotte, NC office information—the administration office and mailing addresses are:
Physical address: Living Church of God
2301 Crown Centre Dr
Charlotte, NC 28227-7705
TV Mailings: PO Box 3800
Charlotte, NC 28227-8000
Other Mail:
PO Box 3810
Charlotte, NC 28227-8010
Telephone numbers—beginning March 10th—
Main Number: 704 844-1970
Main Fax: 704 841-2244
FINANCE—(Business Office Staff)
Greetings from the Business Office! Thank you for generous support thus far in 2003. We are very thankful to see a 10% in increase in income for 2003. Many have asked when tithes and offerings should be sent to Charlotte, NC—and, where to send them.
Please begin to mail tithes and offerings to the following Charlotte address after February 21st:
Living Church of God
PO Box 3810
Charlotte, NC 28227-8010
You should receive envelopes with the new address with the February Co-worker letter, which should be mailed within two weeks. Also note that any mail sent to San Diego will be forwarded on to Charlotte after February 21st.
COMMENTS
Now that Mr. Charles Bryce has moved to North Carolina, this will be the last Update originating from my office.
Speaking of "moving," Mr. and Mrs. Bryce have had lots of experience—having now moved a fourth time since resigning from WCG and joining us in GCG/LCG. I cannot recall how many times they moved in WCG, but my experience tells me it was plenty of times.
As full-time ministers of Christ, a field minister is subject to transfer according to need. Sometimes a need dictated "back to back" moving, which is very taxing and disruptive to a family. It is clear evidence of the commitment and dedication of our ministers that when asked to move because of the needs of the Church they "swallow their spit, salute and march" like the good soldiers of Christ that they are.
I hope you brethren appreciate their sacrifice. It has been said, "Three moves equal one fire." This is not just because of the loss and damage to furniture household goods, but also because of the dollar costs incurred. I know of a number of men who have bought a house in one market, and have had to sell thousands of dollars below their purchase cost a couple years later. They got caught in the recession trap, and the Church had no provision to reimburse them. As the military brass reportedly said to the GI, "If the Army wanted you to have a wife, we would have issued you one."
I think we have improved somewhat in our transfer procedures and policies, but there will always be the cost of buying and selling homes and some un-reimbursed costs. It is a sacrifice you brethren are not called on to make for the Work's sake. I am sure that you appreciate it.
Finally, I want to thank all of you for your phone, fax, e-mail memos and your letters of appreciation. It has been a privilege to serve God and His People from this office. I expect you will all support Mr. Bryce as you have supported me.
Many years ago when I transferred from my first pastorate I learned that leaving a pastorate where one has served for seven or eight years is like leaving home. As painful as it may be, it is imperative not to "reach back," as doing so is unfair to the new Pastor, and detrimental to Church.
The Apostle Paul wrote a troubled Church at Corinth what I feel is important for me to say in this final message to all of you—in hope that we move forward together toward the reward God has in store for those who serve Him.
I Corinthians 3: 1-4 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
5-10 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11-16 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Let us give God thanks for what He has built—and go forward building upon that foundation and structure He has laid through Christ, the Apostles and Prophets, and all those who have gone before. And let's continue to build on that sure foundation.
May God be with you in your service to Him!
Carl E. McNair