Hello everyone,
Mr. and Mrs. Roderick C. Meredith will be away from Headquarters on a Church area visit for the next several days. Mr. and Mrs. Dibar Apartian are going to be traveling to Los Angeles next week. Please pray for God's blessings and protection for the Merediths and Apartians on these trips.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Ross Abasolo, our Church office manager in Toronto, has been here at HQ for a few days for the purpose of close communication and interfacing between the Charlotte and Toronto operations. This kind of "face to face" time spent among Church office personnel and departments is invaluable. As always, Mr. Abasolo is a delight to work with!
Ministerial Profiles—ASAP!
In order to update our records, we have sent a "Ministerial Profile" form to all of our ministers around the world (if yours hasn't reached you, let us know and we will send you another one). We ask that you please complete this very important form and return it to the Church Administration Department by the July 12 deadline. So far we have only heard from about 60% of the ministers. Thank you very much for your help on this project!
German Update
Mr. Adrian Kaefer reports: From January 1st through June 30th, 2004, our German Web site www.weltvonmorgen.org had:
9336 identified visitors (+ 27.1% from last six months 2003). Visitors are counted only as those who look at least at one page of the Web site; 66.3% of all registered visitors.
2151 booklet downloads (+ 3.3% from last six months 2003).
4365 article downloads (- 15.7% from last six months 2003).
598 Bible Study Course downloads (lessons 1-8) (+ 2.4% from last six months 2003).
Additionally, printed publications were sent out by mail:
153 booklets (+ 16.8% from last six months 2003).
59 articles (- 59.3% from last six months 2003).
30 copies of Bible Study Course lessons (+ 15.4% from last six months 2003).
It looks like we see a trend toward an "online-society" here. While the number of visitors who view our German publication files online is about the same as last year (averaging at about 20,000 visitor sessions in six months), the number of people who are also downloading files is stagnating or even decreasing. This counts especially for article files. The booklets are possibly downloaded more due to file size (for not having to spend time online every time one wants to read them).
It also looks like people are more interested in our "main works" - the booklets - while articles catch more of people's interest through search engines. Main topics of interest are drug abuse and occultism.
Interesting as well is that the number of visitors from Germany has increased by over 20% in the past 6 months, compared to the second half of 2003, and is now at 24.5% of all visitors (19.5% in 2003).
Feast of Tabernacles 2004
Barbados
Mr. Clyde Skeete, Site Coordinator, informs us that an incorrect phone number for him was mistakenly published in the Festival Planner. If you need to contact Mr. Skeete, please call 246-264-0022 or 246-432-9436. We still have 10 wonderful places for those wanting to transfer to Barbados for the Feast.
Festival Assistance
By now, all of the ministers in the USA should have received "Application For Festival Assistance" forms to be used by those who will need assistance to attend the Feast of Tabernacles this year. Please announce this at Sabbath services this week and note that the deadline to have them back to us, properly filled out and signed by the Church Pastor, is August 16, 2004.
COMMENTS
Prophecy marches on with barely a ripple of concern. Deuteronomy 28:23-24 says, "And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed."
Notice this report from USA Today, dated 6/22/04.
"Western states kick off summer under threat of crippling drought
"By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY
"DENVER — Drought conditions in parts of the West are the worst in more than 400 years. Western governors will meet today with federal climate officials to assess conditions and discuss how to prepare for the threat of wildfires and what could be a dire summer for crops and drinking-water supplies.
"The governors, from 18 states from Kansas to Hawaii and Arizona to Alaska, are meeting in Santa Fe on the first day of summer for the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association. Their meeting comes as:
"• The drought in the Colorado River Basin, which is the main water supply for seven states and the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas, is probably as bad or worse than the basin's biggest drought in 1590-94, the U.S. Geological Survey says. The agency, which studied rings on trees among other things, also says the flow of the Colorado River during the past two years was barely half than during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.
"• The nation ended its third-warmest spring on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Near-record warmth in March prematurely melted mountain snow on which the region relies for drinking water and crop irrigation.
"• The long-term drought picture "remained virtually unchanged" with no break in sight in the latest "Drought Monitor," published weekly by NOAA. The report says at least half the rangeland and pastures in California, Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona were in poor condition.
"• Las Vegas, the nation's fastest-growing metro area, may have to declare a drought emergency at year's end if the water level in Lake Mead drops to its lowest point in 40 years as predicted.
"The National Weather Service predicts above-normal heat across the West and below-normal rain for the Northwest in July.
"Most of the governors' states have suffered four to six years of drought that has sapped supplies, hurt recreation and damaged crops. The governors will meet with the head of NOAA, retired Navy vice admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, to discuss an early-warning system that could help them plan for drought and predict wildfire conditions."
We must stay alert and follow the admonition of Jesus Christ found in Luke 21:34-36 or we will be caught off guard. It says, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."
Have a peaceful Sabbath!
Charles E. Bryce