From the Presiding Evangelist
Dear Fellow Servants of Christ,
As you have no doubt heard, we recently conducted the most unified and most love-filled General Ministerial Conference we have ever experienced! As a very long-term ministerial couple just emailed me, "It was so good to see you and Sheryl again during the conference. We feel this was the most loving, joyous conference we have ever attended. We thank God for the Spirit there.—Karl and Gaylon Beyersdorfer."
Literally scores of similar messages have been received since the conference by Mr. Ames, Dr. Winnail and me. So we do, indeed, give God thanks! For God's Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity and joy. And we should all pray fervently that this may continue.
Recently, Mr. Ames has held very successful "Special Presentations" in the New York area and in Los Angeles. My wife and I will be leaving tomorrow for London for a similar "Special Presentation." The first one in Britain—of it is kind—in many years. Please pray for God's blessing on all the Special Presentations around the world! Also, please pray fervently for God's blessing on the semi-annual letter which is now being mailed to about 330,000 people around the world. This letter tells a great deal about the Work—especially considering the DVD abbreviation of our "Behind the Work" film giving an "inside" view of our leadership and what is going on. It has the potential—with our prayers—to add many thousands of new co-workers and members around the world. Finally, I will not apologize for telling you brethren and leaders in the Work that we truly do need all of God's people who can to give very generously in this soon coming Pentecost offering! If we are to move forward and act on the new media opportunities that are coming to us, we must—with God's help and mercy—generate significantly more income during the rest of this year.
So, for those of you who are employed and who are able—please dig down deep in the service of Jesus Christ! The upcoming Pentecost offering is a "special time" to give as an act of worship to our God. As Mr. Armstrong used to say, "The Church of God moves forward on its knees." All of us—even those currently unemployed or underemployed—can join together in "crying out" to the Eternal God to bless this Work which He is doing through us His faithful people!
Mr. and Mrs. Ames, Mr. and Mrs. Apartian, Mr. and Mrs. Crockett and my wife and I are all leaving tomorrow for various Pentecost sites around the world. We will trust God to protect us—especially as some of us fly over the ocean—and try to give our lives to God as best we can. I hope that all of God's people can catch that vision and that we can all "go all out" in serving the living Christ, in using every bit of our time, our talents and our financial resources to have an impact on this very confused world while we have the opportunity. Prophetic events are moving swiftly. The end is drawing near. But we—with God's help—must do all we can to reach out to those people who need to know the Truth and ask God to open the minds of as many as is within His will and help us to reach them and help them and serve them with all our hearts.
May God be with and guide you in the days ahead. May God bless this coming Pentecost weekend. May God help every one of us to give our lives to Him, to love one another, to love all men, and to truly give our lives to our Father in heaven and to His Son Jesus Christ. Brethren, let us truly learn to "put our hearts" into our prayers and ask God to pour out His Spirit upon us at this Pentecost time and use us powerfully as His servants.
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith
Church Administration
The workweek at Headquarters started with Living University's second Commencement ceremony on Monday (see report below). As stated above, Mr. and Mrs. Meredith will fly to the United Kingdom tomorrow, where they will spend the Sabbath and the Feast of Pentecost. Then, the following weekend, Mr. Meredith will give a Special Presentation to subscribers in the London area. More than 3,000 people have been invited to attend this milestone event. Mr. and Mrs. Ames returned to Charlotte on Monday evening after Mr. Ames's successful Special Presentation in the Los Angeles area (see report below).
Meanwhile, the Director of Church Administration, Dr. Douglas Winnail is having a profitable visit in Europe. He wrote from London today, "My wife and I have had a short, but very profitable trip to Europe. We spent last Sabbath with our congregation in Charleroi, Belgium and with visitors from France and Holland. I gave a sermon on Seeking and Walking with God and after the sermon, Mr. Rees Ellis and I covered Lesson 5 (on Vision) from the Living Leadership Course. One of the highlights of the service was special instrumental music by three young sons of Eric and Tricia Boyer who played the trumpet, trombone and saxophone. On Sunday, we traveled to Holland to spend some time with Mr. and Mrs. Frans Peeters who manage our Dutch language website. The trip has afforded us time to spend with brethren and has been very encouraging."
Because many of us will be traveling tomorrow for the Feast of Pentecost, we are publishing The World Ahead on Wednesday this week. Mr. and Mrs. Davy Crockett will be in the Seattle-Tacoma area; Mr. and Mrs. Ames will be in Georgia and Tennessee. My wife and I are off for Montreal. Your prayers for the safe travels of everyone and for an inspiring Feast of Pentecost around the world are appreciated.
Glendale, California Tomorrow's World Special Presentation
Mr. Darrell Lovelady reports: It was a packed house at the Tomorrow's World Special Presentation held in Glendale, California last Sabbath. Mr. Richard Ames spoke to the 144 in attendance on the topic of end-time prophecy and the coming Kingdom of God. Mr. Ames was well received by the 84 Tomorrow's World subscribers who attended. Our local congregation let its light shine as members welcomed the public and provided refreshments following the presentation. The fellowship lasted for more than an hour.
One person commented that she knew she was at the right place after having been greeted by one of the ushers. Many expressed a desire to attend services with us and indicated they would be attending the follow-up Special Presentation this Sabbath. Please pray for God's continued blessing and success of the Tomorrow's World Special Presentations!
Earthquake in Puerto Rico
Mr. Raul Colon reports: I would like to inform you about the recent earthquake in Puerto Rico which happened at 1:00 am [on Sunday]. It was 5.7 in the Richter scale; the strongest we have experienced in a generation. The epicenter was located in the northeast of the island, near the Dominican Republic, the most earthquake-prone region in Puerto Rico. Public services have not been interrupted and so far no damages to properties have been reported, thanks to God.
Living University
Commencement 2010
Monday morning, witnessed the second Living University Commencement in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year we honored eight graduates from five nations: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. Four students were physically present for the Commencement. Graduates completed the Certificate in New Testament Studies, the Diploma in Biblical Studies, and the Associate of Theology programs. We also conferred our first Bachelor of Theology degree on Mrs. Kathleen Wollin from Wisconsin, a 71-year old member who was miraculously healed by God from memory loss after suffering a stroke several years ago! Mrs. Wollin was further presented with the Herbert W. Armstrong Excellence Award. The commencement address was powerfully delivered by Dr. Roderick Meredith. Following Commencement, a fine reception was held for graduates, guests, faculty and Headquarters staff.
There will be no summer courses offered by Living University this year. Courses will once again resume on August 16 and registration for those courses will commence July 1. If you have questions about Living University or specific courses or programs, please contact Dr. Scott Winnail by phone or email at [email protected] or 704-708-2292.
Comments
Why did Job say, "What I dreaded has happened to me" (Job 3:25)? Because he was human, like the rest of us. Job had many questions. Unlike most of us, he never doubted God. Curiously enough, God answered Job's questions with a series of questions of His own that revealed Himself as the Omnipotent Creator (Job 38-41). Job got the point. He answered, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6).
God gives the answers to our questions, provided we are in tune with Him. Satan is the one who puts doubts in our minds, and leads us to false reasoning. He even dared to tempt Christ when the latter was on Earth (Matthew 4). He formulated his questions with an "if," trying to plant doubts in Christ's mind. "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread" (verse 3). Christ's answer was, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (verse 4). Satan tempted Christ again by saying, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down" from the pinnacle of the Temple and then expect a miracle from God. Christ's answer was, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God." Notice that Christ's mind went directly to God's word.
Finally, when Satan took Christ to a high mountain and tempted Him with the glory of the world's kingdoms, saying, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me," Christ's answer was, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" This should be our own answer every time we have doubts in our minds concerning God and His love for us. We should never fear Satan. If we are close to God, we will always have divine protection. The best way to fight Satan is to recite with conviction what Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, a verse Mr. Meredith quotes often: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." This is your best weapon to fight against Satan.
Have a wonderful Sabbath and a joyful Feast of Pentecost,
Dibar Apartian
News and Prophecy—May 19, 2010
AIDS in Africa: A Solution Condemned. In Malawi, AIDS infection rates are estimated at around 12% of the population (more than one million people). The fastest growing infection rates are among homosexual men. Now, in the face of international criticism, a Malawi judge is expected to sentence two homosexual men to prison for publically celebrating their engagement. They were convicted of "unnatural acts and gross indecency." Homosexuality is illegal in 37 African nations (AP, May 18, 2010). Critics oppose these laws that date back to the colonial era and also suggest that such court actions will make the fight against AIDS more difficult. Despite political and societal opinion, male homosexuals are at extremely high risk for contracting AIDS, when compared to the general population. Additionally, public health officials do know how to stop the spread of AIDS and other sexually-transmitted infections. The solution is simple and very inexpensive; however, it requires character: sexual relations must only occur within the marriage of a man and woman! God commanded this nearly 4,000 years ago on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20:14), and the Apostle Paul reinforced it nearly 2,000 years ago when he commanded the Church to "flee sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18). Paul further described sexual sin as a sin against one's own body. God gives simple, loving laws that, when obeyed, lead to health and a long life (Leviticus 26:1-12). Sadly, society views these simple loving laws as outdated and stifling.
French Move May Cross the EU. "The French cabinet approved a draft law to ban the Muslim full-face veil from public spaces on Wednesday, opening the way for the text to go before parliament in July. 'In this matter the government is taking a path it knows to be difficult, but a path it knows to be just,' President Nicolas Sarkozy told the assembled ministers..." The law is expected to be passed by Parliament, but experts warn that courts may not uphold the law and that it will be difficult to enforce. Many fear repercussions from the EU when the law passes. However, President Sarkozy's reason for the law is that "We are an old nation united around a certain idea of human dignity, and in particular of a woman's dignity, around a certain idea of how to live together." Muslims comprise approximately 7.5% of the French population (AFP, May 19, 2010). Despite European efforts to unite under a common union, differences in temperament, perspective, deep-running nationalism and an obvious language barrier continue to prevent a "perfect union" in Europe. Relatively small actions by individual nations can foment division among even the EU's strongest and most influential states. God knew full-well what He was talking about when He predicted the individualistic "iron and clay" natures of the kingdoms that will compose the final Beast power (Daniel 2:37-45). Whether France joins the final 10 kings of the Beast, or is taken into captivity with the other Israelite-descended nations remains to be seen.
Growing Egyptian Anger. The minimum wage in Egypt has not changed since 1984 and remains at $6 per month! This despite a recent court ruling that the government should increase the minimum wage to $220 per month for a family of five. Food costs are rising in Egypt as they are around the globe, and 32 million of the 80 million Egyptians live near or below the poverty level. While salaries have risen among some sectors of the economy, they are seen as benefits for those "already wealthy." Intense poverty, rising salaries for the seemingly rich, and rising food costs make for a volatile recipe of social unrest. One consumer group spokesman observed "The Egyptian people have become the dry wood ready to catch fire." A journalist also observed "The protests have mostly been small, but they cast a spotlight on an income disparity that critics contend goes to the heart of Egypt's social and economic woes: An ineffective and autocratic regime more intent on preserving its authority and catering to the elite than the needs of the overwhelming majority of its people" (AP, May 6, 2010). God warned that Israelite-descended leaders at the end of the age would be self serving (Ezekiel 34). But these characteristics also apply across all governments of man. At the end of the age, a number of Middle Eastern nations will coalesce into a power known as the King of the South (see Daniel 11). Might the promise of food and fair wages, offered by a strong and charismatic leader, be used to bring these nations together?—Scott Winnail