Greetings from Charlotte,
As countries in the northern hemisphere move into the "lazy days of summer," conditions in Europe, the Middle East and other parts the world continue to move in prophetically significant directions. Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has finished a co-worker letter that is being mailed this week. Mr. Wayne Pyle reports that last week's re-run Tomorrow's World telecast by Mr. Ames, "The Coming Day of the Lord," is expected to generate more than 5,600 responses—which demonstrates again that people today are interested in prophecies about the future! The new congregation we started last Sabbath in Braselton, Georgia began with 44 people in attendance. New congregations have also recently begun (or will begin soon) in British Columbia (Canada), New York City (USA) and Huntingdon (United Kingdom). Mr. Jonathan McNair reports that 22 guests attended his Tomorrow's World Special Presentation in Rochester, New York, and Mr. Wyatt Ciesielka had 14 guests for a TWSP in Mountain View, Arkansas last weekend. Mr. McNair will have a follow-up presentation this coming Sabbath in Rochester. Mr. Gerald Weston and Mr. Mike Elertson will hold TWSPs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada next week. The Texas Pre-Teen Camp got off to a good start this week in Mexia, Texas (see below). Your prayers are appreciated for all these activities.
Church Administration
Canadian Update
Mr. Gerald Weston reports: I recently returned home from a trip to British Columbia, where we held four Tomorrow's World Special Presentations. One was held in Terrace, which is about a 15-hour drive from the nearest minister. We chose this location because we have a good number of subscribers in the area and because we have recently started a small in-home video group near Terrace as a result of Norman Aitchison baptizing three people who live there. Eighteen "brand-new" people attended the presentation, although it remains to be seen how many will come along. Barry Walker and I then traveled to Prince George, where we had 14 new people attend the presentation there. Of those, half expressed interest in Sabbath services and at least one of them had traveled four hours to attend the presentation that evening. She said it would probably be five hours going back home, as she had to slow down because of bears and moose crossing the roads. It was also rainy. Mr. Walker and I then drove all night, arriving at 5:30 a.m. back in Kelowna, as he was scheduled to work Thursday morning. This was not in our original plans! Then on Friday and Saturday we held two more presentations in Vernon and in Kelowna. In all, we had 58 "brand-new" people in attendance at these presentations. This coming week we have two TWSPs scheduled for Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Georgia and Alabama Update
Mr. Jack Lowe reports: Over the last several weeks we have had visitors for the first time as a result of our last Tomorrow's World Special Presentation. It is encouraging to see fruit still being produced. We had 109 in attendance on June 5 in Atlanta. One visitor was there for the first time and said she would return. We are sending letters to "GOTOs" [subscribers who have requested to speak with a minister or expressed interest to attend services] we have contacted over the past months who have not yet attended Church services. We remind them of our free literature and let them know the time and channel where they can view the Tomorrow's World telecast. We give them our phone number again. We have two people attending with us now due to this extra effort.
Malaysia Update
Mr. Rajan Moses reports: We had combined services at the Royale Bintang hotel in Seremban for Pentecost…. William Tan from Singapore joined us for the weekly Sabbath and Pentecost. A total of 82 members attended. The offering this year was very good. Last two weeks I mailed 1,200 copies of the semi-annual letter and another 1,455 letters by electronic mail to all subscribers in South East Asia. The May-June issue of the Tomorrow's World arrived last week and I am now working on sending them out.
Living Youth Camp
Texas Pre-Teen Camp
On Sunday, June 13, 93 campers—including staff—arrived in Mexia, Texas, at the scenic Fort Parker State Park for five days of fun, food, and a variety of activities at the Texas Pre-Teen Camp. This year's theme was "God's Way Is Fun!" The Texas Pre-Teen Camp also enjoyed the special visit by Mr. Jonathan McNair, LYC National Director, who contributed a helpful Christian Living class, an insightful Teen Bible Study, and a meeting with parents and staff. Also, adding to the success of camp, were four full-time pastors, four deacons, and an army of dedicated volunteers! Today, Thursday, will be the finale—climaxing with a smoked brisket dinner followed by a pre-teen talent show. Thanks to all of God's people for their prayers for such an outstanding camp!—Dan Hall
Feast of Tabernacles 2010
Panama City, Florida: We do not yet have a Choir Director for the Festival Choir at the Panama City Feast Site. If you plan to attend this Feast Site and would be willing to serve in this capacity, please contact the Site Coordinator, Mr. Jack Lowe, at [email protected]. We have also finalized the activity schedule and request that all who have registered for this site return to the Feast of Tabernacles portion of the Members Resources website (the MyLCG section of www.cogl.org) to sign up for the activities they would like to attend. We need to determine if we have enough interest in the cruises to determine the number of boats to book.
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—USA Only (Repeat Announcement)
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).
Comments
Pay Attention to Prophecy: Jesus told His disciples to stay alert and watch for the fulfillment of specific prophecies that will mark the approaching end of this age (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). He also warned, in the parable of the foolish virgins, that many will be caught napping and unprepared by the surge of events that will precede the return of Jesus Christ to this earth (Matthew 25:1-13). It is sobering and exciting to realize that God has given His Church a "more sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:19, KJV) so we can warn the nations of Israel and this world about the prophetic significance of both current and impending world events! It is also an awesome responsibility to be commissioned as a watchman (see Ezekiel 3; 33). However, it is very instructive to see how Satan has used misguided individuals to ridicule the Church's understanding of prophecy, accusing members of suffering from "prediction addiction" or of failing to embrace a more "enlightened" view that Bible prophecies are only symbolic and do not apply to real events today! As we watch world events building to a prophetic crescendo, let's make sure that we are building a closer relationship with God and that we are learning to really live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 10, 2010
EU Using Economic Chaos to Grab More Power? According to British journalist Jason Groves, "Brussels is to grab new powers to vet Britain's budget figures, amid fears that a Greek-style economic crisis could be repeated in this country." In a move viewed with great distrust, Britain has given approval for Brussels to review and oversee its budget process with an unprecedented level of scrutiny. France, Portugal and other EU states have also given approval for this measure, which was previously viewed as too invasive. Brussels has assured member states that this current fiscal oversight will not impinge on national sovereignty. However, many see Brussels taking advantage of the situation, and "grabbing power," while the covert actions of the Greek government covering up their true debt figures are still fresh in the minds of all. These recent actions play well into the plans of those wanting "total economic integration" in Europe (Daily Mail, June 8, 2010). God prophesied that, at the end of the age, ten kingdoms would arise that would "give their power and authority" to the final beast power (Revelation 17:12-13). The concept of "power" today is very closely tied with economic strength. These economic actions by Brussels are in line with trends we would expect to see in Europe as we draw closer to Christ's return.
Continued Division in the Middle East. In the wake of Israel's recent interception of a flotilla bound for Gaza, Iran has offered to provide Revolutionary Guard troops as a naval escort for future such flotillas. Iran appeared unhappy that Turkey received credit for leading in the recent dispute and using it to bolster its regional image. Yet, the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas have publicly rejected Iran's offer. This is particularly interesting because of the strong historical relationship between Iran and Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah and Hamas appear to recognize the potentially destabilizing effects of bringing Iranian troops close to Israel (Stratfor, June 8, 2010). While Europeans struggle as an incohesive mixture of "iron and clay" (Daniel 2:41-43), the multi-ethnic nations of the Middle East also lack the unity to act as one large force. Jesus prophesied of the last days that "nation will rise against nation," meaning that ethnic group will rise against ethnic group (Matthew 24:7). However, Daniel 11 indicates that, at some point in the future, many Middle Eastern nations will be unified enough to fight collectively against the coming European Beast power. Future events will occur in such a way as to unify, at least temporarily, several of these very "independent-minded" Middle Eastern nations, so that God's prophecies will be fulfilled.
Pope Promotes Mary Worship. On May 13, Pope Benedict XVI concluded his tour of Portugal with a visit to the Marian shrine in Fatima, where three shepherd children purportedly saw an apparition of the "Virgin Mary" in 1917. After praying before a statue of Our Lady of Fatima and speaking to a crowd of nearly 500,000, the pope urged his audience to implore the "Immaculate Mother" that the nations of the world would be able to dwell together in peace. During his address, Benedict consecrated the priests of the world to the "Immaculate Heart of Mary," referring to her as a "co-mediatrix" and a "co-redemptrix" (zenit.org, June 6, 2010). Vatican watchers sensed that the Pope's remarks indicate that he may be preparing the Church for the announcement of yet another Marian doctrine—that Mary will be officially declared a "co-redeemer" and "co-mediator" with Jesus Christ. Apparently lost on the assembled crowd of pilgrims, are the plain biblical statements that "there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5) and that there is only one Redeemer referred to in the Scriptures (see Isaiah 59:20). Emotions and dogma have a way of overshadowing the Scriptures when people do not know God's word.—Sue Bennett, Scott Winnail and Douglas Winnail