Greetings from Charlotte,
The 2010 Feast of Pentecost is now history and the reports coming in are very positive and encouraging. Mr. Meredith spoke to more than 90 brethren in London on Pentecost, and he is looking forward to giving a Tomorrow's World Special Presentation in London this coming Sabbath (see below). One hundred subscribers have already pre-registered to attend (see below). Your prayers for Mr. Meredith's successful presentation are appreciated. Mr. Ames, Mr. Apartian and Mr. Crockett spoke to congregations in Tennessee, Quebec and Washington state over the Pentecost season. Mr. Jonathan McNair and Mr. Darrell Lovelady both report very positive results for the follow-up TW Special Presentations in Manhattan and Los Angeles. This weekend the Charlotte congregation is hosting a Carolina Singles Weekend that will include Sabbath services, seminars, a dinner-dance and a Sunday outing at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Almost 90 singles from North America are expected to attend. All this is occurring as ancient Bible prophecies are coming alive almost daily right before our eyes!
Church Administration
United Kingdom Update
Mr. Rod King reports: We had a wonderful Pentecost weekend here in London. Dr. Meredith spoke on the Sabbath afternoon to our north London congregation. He was warmly received and we had visitors from New Zealand, South Africa and China. We met at a new venue for Pentecost with 91 in attendance. This is a record for the London congregations and Dr. Meredith gave a clear "meaning of the day" message. There were many who attended for their first Pentecost service so they got the best teaching they could receive. Yesterday, Dr. Meredith visited the venue for his Special Presentation this coming Sabbath. The auditorium seats 396 people and we have already received pre-registration notice from 100 people. We expect about 120 of our people to be there so we trust it will be a "full house." Thank you in advance for your prayers for Dr. Meredith's good success.
Pentecost 2010 in Georgia and Tennessee
Mr. James Sweat reports: Nearly 300 brethren heard evangelist Richard Ames in Blairsville, Georgia; and in Knoxville and Manchester, Tennessee over the Pentecost season. Mr. Ames' inspiring sermon given on the Feast of Pentecost, "By My Spirit," listed 15 powerful blessings that come to us through God's Holy Spirit. With God's Spirit present, the atmosphere was uplifting, filled with love, unity and power! The brethren expressed their gratitude and appreciation for Mr. and Mrs. Ames' visit and their selfless dedication to God's Work!
Follow-Up Glendale, California Tomorrow's World Special Presentation
Mr. Darrell Lovelady reports: Last Sabbath, we held a successful follow-up to our Tomorrow's World Special Presentation in Glendale, California. There were 102 in attendance, of whom 36 were Tomorrow's World subscribers. The follow-up presentation was titled, "Where Is the Church Jesus Christ Built?" The presentation was well received. Following the presentation, I was approached by many who had sincere questions about Church doctrine. Some expressed a desire to begin attending Church services with us. We are very thankful for God's blessing on the Tomorrow's World Special Presentation series held in Glendale.
Jamaica Update
Mr. Lascelles Fraser reports on the ongoing unrest and violence in Jamaica: The limited State of Emergency and resultant curfew started at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. All the brethren reached their homes safely… All are monitoring the situation and taking the necessary security precautions not to venture into the troubled areas. A prospective member actually lives in the area under curfew. Thankfully, she is well, except that her movements are restricted. The unrest caused restricted movements on Monday (a public holiday), as there were roadblocks mounted on some thoroughfares. I wanted to get something from the office on Monday but was unable, as two routes to the office were blocked and I could hear gunfire from my home in the vicinity of one of the roadblocks. Yesterday [Tuesday], most business curtailed their operations, sending staff home early and, by mid- afternoon, there was not much traffic on the streets. Today [Wednesday], there is more movement on the streets. However, some businesses in the areas where roadblocks were mounted remain closed and some employers have told their employees to remain at home for the rest of the week. Your prayers are appreciated.
Feast of Tabernacles 2010
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—USA Only
Attention USA Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to the Church Administration Department is Tuesday, July 15. All forms should be properly completed by the members requesting second tithe assistance to attend the Feast this year. Then, the Area Pastors should write their recommendations/comments on the forms before submitting them to CAD. Festival Assistance Request forms are available to ministers on the MyLCG website (www.cogl.org).
Living Youth Camp
Summer camp 2010 is fast approaching with our Pre-Teen Camps in Texas and in Missouri, our Adventure Camp in the Rockies, and our Teen Camp in Pennsylvania. We are looking forward to all of our summer programs bringing fun and fellowship to more than 300 young people in the Church. Please note: we have no more openings for campers or staff in the Texas Pre-Teen Camp or in the Adventure Camp. We may have a few openings left for campers and staff in the Missouri Pre-Teen Camp—contact Mr. Wallace Smith ([email protected]) for more information. We have no more openings for female campers or staff in our Teen Camp in Pennsylvania, but we do have quite a few openings for male campers. We also are looking for a camp nurse for the teen program in Pennsylvania—please contact Mr. Jonathan McNair ([email protected]) for more details. In addition, anyone who has applied to camp, either as a staff member or as a camper, but who no longer plans to attend, should let us know as soon as possible, so we can make arrangements for others to fill those spots. Please contact Jenny Penman at [email protected].
Comments
Warned to Watch! It is important to remember that Jesus warned His disciples to be watching for a convergence of specific world events as the end of this age approaches—wars and rumors of wars, spreading ethnic violence, droughts, famines, earthquakes, floods and other environmental disasters— along with turmoil in the Middle East that threatens Europe in a way that fosters a revival of a religious and a political system rooted in the ancient Roman Empire. It is also important to remember that there are more than a dozen New Testament admonitions to watch and be alert to the signs of the times in the last days (see Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:34-36; Acts 20:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 20)! However, the Scriptures also warn that many distractions will tempt believers to lose sight of their calling—trials, tribulations and cares of this world (Matthew 13:18-23), statements and arguments of scoffers and deceivers (2 Peter 2-3), the deceptive façade of false religious ideas (2 Timothy 3-4), and the words of misguided ministers who speak of "smooth" things (i.e. "just pray for peace," "believers will be raptured away from any trouble," "God's burdensome laws are no longer binding," or "Bible prophecies are all fulfilled and not applicable today"—see Jeremiah 5:31; 6:13-14; Isaiah 30:10). We need to remain alert and watchful as we see these events coming to pass!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—May 27, 2010
EU Difficulties Ahead. Following an emergency meeting with Angela Merkel, Prime Minister David Cameron recently "signaled he was ready to veto any EU treaty to prop up the ailing euro—as he sought to calm pressure within his own party for a referendum on Europe." Mr. Cameron, who clearly understands the vast implications of a veto from Britain, stated further, "It goes without saying that any treaty, even one that just applied to the euro area, needs unanimous agreement of all 27 EU states including the UK, which of course has a veto." Critics suggest Cameron "could be forced to concede a referendum if the EU pushes ahead with plans to impose 'European economic government.'" Cameron is in the difficult position of protecting British sovereignty while working with a deputy who is an EU supporter (Daily Mail, May 21, 2010). Speculation abounds concerning how the European debt crisis will impact the future configuration of the EU. Britain might not be alone in opposing another treaty, but a nation that uses veto power against the EU will likely not be viewed favorably. God prophesied that the Israelite-descended nations will be taken captive by a revived Holy Roman Empire (Isaiah 10:24; Ezekiel 5:8; Amos 5:25-27). Although Britain is not likely to be the only dissenter in such a treaty, the use of a veto by its Prime Minister could certainly create animosity that could further alienate other European nations.
Water Woes in Egypt. The Nile River flows through 10 nations before reaching Egypt. It is Egypt's major source of fresh water. Experts estimate that Egypt's demand for water will exceed its supply by 2017. Nations "upstream" from Egypt want to implement water-related energy projects, but are prevented from doing so by a 1929 British-initiated treaty that gives Egypt veto power over these nations. Referring to Egypt's control of the Nile, a western diplomat observed "Egyptians are behaving with the Africans the way they accuse Israel of behaving with the Palestinians: they say they are ready to negotiate but without committing to the difficult issues." An Egyptian diplomat countered, "Egypt only has water coming from the river. The Africans have it from the rains." Egypt's large population and strong military ensures its access to waters that originate in other nations (AFP, May 12, 2010). For millennia, Egypt has played an influential role in world affairs. God prophesies that, at the end of the age, a king of the south (south of the Holy Land) will arise that will oppose a king of the north—and Egypt could play a powerful role in this "southern" kingdom. According to Bible prophecy, the northern king will overcome the southern king and take Egypt captive, along with its riches (see Daniel 11). Meanwhile, Egypt's water shortages will put pressure on the nation and those sharing the Nile's tributaries. This could foment future turmoil in this region where peace is scarce.
Jordan River Is Dying. "Jordan River Could Die by 2011" claims the environmental watchdog Friends of the Earth, Middle East (FoEME). More than 98% of the river's flow is diverted by Israel, Jordan and Syria. A report presented in Amman in April noted, "The remaining flow consists primarily of sewage, fish pond water, agricultural run-off and saline water." The river was full of rapids and waterfalls 150 years ago. Today, it is a stream not more than a couple meters wide. With a flow of 1.3 billion cubic meters at one time, today's flow is only 20-30 million. A dam just south of the Sea of Galilee cuts off the river's flow and now raw sewage flows from a pipe below the dam. An estimated 50% of the Jordan valley's biodiversity has now disappeared. Experts also fear that when Israel ceases dumping sewage into the river basin, the river will totally dry up (AFP, May 2, 2010). Scripture reveals that when Christ returns to the Earth, He will reestablish His Temple and from it will flow a river of living waters that will restore life to the surrounding lands and eventually to the "great sea" and the oceans of the world (see Ezekiel 47:1-12, Zechariah 14:8). The earth certainly cries out for this deliverance (Romans 8:19-23). God speed that day!—Scott Winnail, Ray Clore, Jim and Sue Bennett