Greetings y'all,
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is now behind us, but in its physical aspect only. For God's people, its spiritual aspect should never end. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith will be returning to Charlotte tomorrow afternoon. The rest of our traveling ministers returned safely, with many glowing reports. My wife and I took the Passover with our French-speaking brethren in Martinique, known as "The Island of Flowers." We were 17 at the Passover evening and 32 for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. After spending a couple of days with the brethren in Martinique, we went to Orlando to celebrate the last day of the Feast with the combined Floridian congregations.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Second Passover (Repeat Announcement)
The Second Passover date this year is Monday, May 23, to be taken the previous evening of May 22, after sunset. This Passover is for those baptized members of the Church who would have taken the first Passover, but because of circumstances beyond their control could not do so. The biblical instructions guiding this ceremony are found in Numbers 9:1-14.
Philippines Update
We are saddened to announce that Mrs. Ramona de Guia died on April 23, 2005, from complications of diabetes. She survived her husband, Mr. Gorgonio de Guia, just by one year. She will be missed by her family and the Church members, especially in the Visayas and in Manila where the de Guias lived and served for years. Cards and notes of encouragement may be sent to the de Guia family care of Mr. Benito Parbo at P.O. Box 32 TCPO, 6500 Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines.
Update on Barbara Crockett
Barbara continues to improve and gain strength. The homecare nurse now comes once a day and hopefully that will soon no longer be required. She is now getting out some and has been able to attend services. She tires easily, but is making real progress in her recovery.
Over one hundred fifty cards from around the country and the world have been received, plus many calls and e-mails, which have been very moving and encouraging for both of us. A hearty "Thank you!" to everyone for your loving concern and fervent prayers which have made a huge difference in Barbara's recovery and in coping with this ordeal.—Davy Crockett
Living Youth Camp (Repeat Announcement)
Camp applications are now available online at www.youth-web.org. Please note that while the application can be filled online, it must still be printed, signed in all the appropriate locations, a picture attached, and then it must be sent in. Filling it online will ensure that all fields are completed and that we can read the applications. Those who do not have computer access may still order a camp application for the Michigan teen camp by following the directions found on the back cover of the January/February Living Church News.—Gerald Weston, Youth Director
Michigan Teen Camp: Nurse Wanted
Mr. Weston is looking for a nurse for the Michigan teen camp. Anyone qualified and wishing to apply may do so online at www.youth-web.org or may contact Sue Ruddlesden at 704 844-1970 or [email protected].
Texas Pre-Teen Camp (Repeat Announcement)
The Texas Pre-Teen camp will be held from June 5-10 in Fort Parker State Park (near Mexia, 90 miles south of Dallas). Tuition for campers is $75 ($65 for the second camper from the same family and $55 for the third). Tuition for high school and adult staff is $20. High school workers must be 15 or older; young adult workers are those aged 19 to 24. You may request an application from Mr. John Ogwyn by mail, PO Box 478, Kilgore, TX 75662; by e-mail [email protected]; or by phone at 979-709-2712 (please ask for Lori Forrestier).
Missouri Pre-Teen Camp (Repeat Announcement)
Preparations for the Missouri Pre-Teen Camp were temporarily put on hold because of the sad loss of Mr. Randy Gregory. We have now asked Mr. Larry Solomon to serve as Camp Director in his place and Mr. Solomon has graciously accepted. Applications which have already been submitted will be forwarded to Mr. Solomon, but if you have not yet submitted your application for the Missouri Pre-Teen Camp, please do so right away as time is short. Also, if you were already accepted as a department head for this year, please contact Mr. Solomon to discuss what preparations have already been made. As you can understand, some changes may need to be made. Any questions concerning the Missouri Pre-Teen Camp should now be directed to Mr. Solomon by mail: 8712 E 170th Place S, Bixby, OK 74008; by phone 918-366-0611; or by e-mail [email protected].
Are You Sure You Have Applied?
Many applicants have not completed the application process, but may think that they have. If you have applied online, but did not print the form—which should look exactly the same as previous years' applications—then you probably have not completed your application. All applications must be printed, signed and mailed with your picture and application fee to the listed address.
If for some reason you cannot get your form to print, click on the "edit form" tab at the top of your screen and make sure you have entered all the required information and submitted it. It is also important that you do not use any "smiley" symbols, for example: : ), or ; ) or J . Many applicants have used these symbols and have been unable to print and verify their application form. It seems the system is too grumpy for "smileys." You must also make sure that you have Acrobat version 5.0 or above installed on your computer. If you are not sure whether you have completed your application correctly, you may log in again and check the status of your application. If the "signed application received" field is blank, you may want to verify the steps above or contact Sue Ruddlesden at 704 844-1970 or email [email protected]. Sue will be happy to assist you. If you do not want to apply online, she will mail you an application.
MEDIA
Our new leased access station in Denver, a Comcast station, began airing this Sunday in prime time, at 8:30 pm. We received 11 calls. Also, our new leased access station in Kansas City, a Time Warner station, aired at 10:00 pm on Sunday and brought in 9 calls. The new broadcast station in Houston, KHWB, produced 26 calls this weekend. The new leased access station in Minneapolis, MCN, began airing this Wednesday at 8:30 pm.
INI in the UK is tracking most excellent. We have now received 263 responses through last week. The cost per response is down to $22 per call. The first week's cost per response was $94, then in week two, the Sunday airings kicked in, raising the CPR to $118. Last week the CPR dropped to $49, and now we're down to $22. The CPR is definitely moving in the right direction—down!—Wayne Pyle
COMMENTS
Life is a perpetual learning experience no matter where we live and what we do. One of the lessons my wife and I learned during our Passover trip was to remember—and to realize—that it is possible to manage without the things we sometimes consider indispensable. Upon our arrival in Martinique less than 24 hours before the Passover celebration, we discovered that my wife's suitcase was lost. As most husbands know, wives often claim that they have nothing to wear. In this particular instance, my wife was right, literally speaking. Despite our hectic last minute purchases before the two Sabbaths ahead of us, she had to do without many things she had thought essential. Yet, somehow, she got along without them. Yes, it is possible to survive with fewer clothes, fewer shoes, fewer everything. That's a lesson well worth the loss of a suitcase. In a sense, most of us living in developed countries are spoiled. We don't often think of those who, every day, have to do with much less.
Many years ago, Mr. Armstrong warned us that difficult years were ahead and he urged us to tighten our belts. Today, these warnings are more pertinent than ever before. When reflecting upon all this, I asked myself how many of God's people at the place of safety, while awaiting Christ's return, will be able to adjust their thinking to live happily, without complaint or regret, when deprived of the things they cherished as indispensable.
Y'all have a wonderful Sabbath,
Dibar Apartian