Greetings from Charlotte,
Next Monday will begin the Fall Festival season. These Holy Days picture the fact that the Almighty God has a plan that He is working out on this earth and that Jesus Christ is preparing to return to this earth and bring the peace and joy that peoples of this world so desperately desire. In Europe, pressures are building for deeper political and economic integration. Religious extremists are pushing events in the Islamic world, and America seems to face one problem after another—at home and abroad. Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith made another new television program this week. He has also been writing and holding meetings. The September Co-Worker letter was mailed this week to more than 11,000 recipients. Mr. Ames returned safely from Toronto where he recorded three new television programs. Last weekend's Tomorrow's World television program by Mr. Ames, entitled "The Coming Day of the Lord," is expected to generate about 6,400 responses. Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield will be in Toronto for the Feast of Trumpets weekend and also to visit the Canadian office. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Meredith will be in the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida congregation for the weekend, and Mr. and Mrs. Rod McNair will visit the Raleigh, North Carolina congregation on Trumpets. I will make church visits in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Marshall, Michigan over the weekend. Please pray that God will bless the Holy Days and inspire the messages that will be given, as well as the travel and the fellowship that will involve all of God's people.—DSW
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Special Presentation
Albuquerque, New Mexico: The last Tomorrow's World Special Presentation scheduled in the U.S. before the Feast was given by Mr. Rodger Bardo in Albuquerque, NM, last Sabbath. He commented that four of the new people said they plan to attend services and two are interested in baptism. One family (with WCG background) is planning to attend the Feast.
Feast of Tabernacles 2012
The Feast is just over two weeks away! As the Feast of Tabernacles draws near, please note the following items:
PayPal Payments Deadline September 16: Online PayPal pre-payments for festival activities for U.S. sites must be made by Sunday, September 16. This will give the Accounting Department at Headquarters time to disburse the PayPal funds to the U.S. sites. After September 16, brethren attending U.S. sites should wait until the Feast to pay for any additional activities. Please check with your local festival coordinator for details of payment methods accepted at the Feast. For international sites, please check with your festival coordinator for more information.
Chemical Sensitivities: We want to remind everyone while at the Feast to be aware of the sensitivities to perfumes and colognes that some of our brethren have. For people with serious allergies, walking past someone with strong perfume or cologne is not just uncomfortable, but can send them to the Emergency Room. Let's use extra care to show love to others in this way at the Feast—please use moderation.
Beach Parties—Appropriate Swimwear: Appropriate beach attire for women and men is swimwear that is modest and in good taste. We are to be guided by the two great commandments—to love God and love neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:29-31)—so as not to offend God or neighbor in our dress at the Feast. Fathers and husbands have a responsibility to be leaders in their family to teach and guide regarding what is appropriate and what is not (Ezekiel 22:26).
Health and Feast Travel: As we prepare to depart for the Feast of Tabernacles, it is not uncommon for God's people to "push themselves" and compromise their sleep and diet. Many of us try to get multiple tasks accomplished ahead of time (regarding work and school) so that we can attend the Feast without worry. Often this "push before the Feast" results in too little sleep and unhealthy eating habits. Then, when we finally get in the car, on the train, on the bus, or on an airplane, our bodies slow down and we get sick. In past years, this has resulted in some bringing the flu or a cold to the Feast site and spreading it to other Church members. If one does arrive at the Feast feeling ill, for the benefit of our brethren it is important to avoid fellowshipping and attending services until all symptoms are gone.
It is essential, as you prepare for your Feast of Tabernacles travel, to get adequate rest and maintain a healthy diet filled with a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Parents should make sure that their children also get adequate rest and eat a very healthy diet before the Feast. For our older brethren, these actions are imperative! In taking measures to stay healthy and improve your health before the Feast, not only will you be more likely to arrive at the Feast "healthy" and not be temporarily detained by local health officials (if you are traveling abroad), but you will also be physically and mentally prepared to partake of the powerful spiritual food and fellowship that God is preparing for you.
Live Streaming for the Feast of Tabernacles 2012
Feast of Tabernacles Live Streaming Video: Plans are being made once again to offer live streaming video for the Feast of Tabernacles daily services, this year from Vail, Colorado. Live telephone connection to services will be also be available. Look for more details on how to access these services in next week's The World Ahead.—Phil Sena
Services before and after the Feast of Tabernacles (Repeat Announcement)
Attention all Area Pastors: As requested, please send to [email protected] the time of services and contact person for each of your congregations for the Day of Atonement as well as for the Sabbaths just before (September 29) and just after (October 13) the Feast. The information will be collated and made available for members travelling to and from the Feast sites and needs to be posted as soon as possible so that members can finalize their plans.
Virginia Beach Children's Choir
Parents of children 4 years of age and older, if your children would like to sing in the children's choir, please contact Margie Dulaney at [email protected] or call 540-662-3696, if you have not done so as yet. Requests for a practice CD will be honored through September 20.
Living Youth Programs
No Teen Bible Study This Sunday Evening
There will not be an online Teen Bible Study this Sunday evening because of the Feast of Trumpets. The next online Teen Bible Study is scheduled for September 23.
Finance Department
U.S. Hall Rentals (Repeat Announcement)
October hall rental vouchers should be faxed or mailed to Accounts Payable by September 14 to ensure processing before the Feast of Tabernacles.
Payments (U.S.) (Repeat Announcement)
Please note that our last scheduled day to print reimbursement checks will be Monday, September 24. We will not be able to print any checks again until Tuesday, October 16. Any invoices we receive before September 20 will be paid before the break. Any invoices we receive after September 20 will not be able to be paid until October 16. If you have any questions in regards to specific invoices or payments, please contact Samanthia Kreis in the Accounts Payable Department at 704-844-1960 ext. 2236, or send e-mail to [email protected].—Jerry Ruddlesden
Internet Operations
Tomorrow's World mobile apps available from the marketplace (Repeat Announcement)
Earlier this month, we successfully launched the Tomorrow's World mobile apps on the Google "Play" Store and the Windows Phone Marketplace. Although the Tomorrow's World apps have been available from the www.TomorrowsWorld.org website for a while, their availability from the app marketplaces now opens up the possibility to reach additional millions of people! As mentioned previously, there are well over 1.2 billion active mobile-broadband subscriptions worldwide, and experts predict at least 5 billion mobile-broadband subscriptions by 2017, so this is a huge "open door" for the preaching of the true Gospel! For Android or Windows Phone users, please simply go to your marketplace and search for "Tomorrow's World" to find and install the app. And, please consider posting a brief, positive review, and giving the apps a "5 star" rating. Please note: if you have previously installed the Tomorrow's World app from the www.TomorrowsWorld.org website, then you should uninstall the app from your phone before downloading the new app from the marketplace. iPhone and Blackberry app development continues, and we hope for a limited iPhone and Blackberry release soon.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Comments
The Fall Holy Days: Over the next several weeks we will observe the Fall Holy Days that picture the culminating events in God's Great Plan of Salvation for all human beings. These days reveal how God is going to put an end to the deception and suffering in this world by sending Jesus Christ to banish Satan and set up the Kingdom of God on this earth, where the saints will reign with Christ for one thousand years. After this, all who have ever lived and died without knowing God's Plan will have the opportunity to learn God's way of life (see Revelation 20). Although Satan has blinded the world to the meaning of these Holy Days, we need to remember that Jesus told His disciples, "blessed are your eyes for they see…" " Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given" (Matthew 13:16,11). As we observe the Fall Holy Days, let's rejoice and be deeply grateful to God for the incredible privilege we have been given to understand and prepare to participate in the fulfillment of these "great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:2-4).
Have a profitable Sabbath and Fall Holy Day season,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—September 13, 2012
Severe Weather in U.S. Increasing at Unusual Rate: The U.S. has recently been hit hard by severe weather. "Nearly 75 percent of the country's corn and soya bean-growing regions have been hit by extreme drought"—although the total damage will not be known until the October harvest (Deutsche Welle, August 28, 2012). Last year, severe storms in the U.S., "caused an economic loss of about $46 billion" (about $25 billion was insured). Insured losses were more than double the 2010 record (ibid.). In the past 30 years, severe weather has increased worldwide, but "The trend is particularly evident in North America" (ibid.). "In the first half of 2012, [storms] in the US cost insurers about $8.8 billion… about 85 percent of the worldwide insured losses were caused by a series of [natural disasters] in the US" (ibid.). In the 1980s, about 50 severe storms a year were recorded; now about 100-150 are recorded. While severe droughts in the U.S. in the past occurred about every 50 years, now they are expected every few years (ibid.). Why is severe weather increasing disproportionately in the U.S.? The U.S. is among the modern descendants of Israel (Manasseh—see our booklet, The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy). God states that He will send severe weather because of sinful lifestyles (Deuteronomy 28:15-24; Amos 4:6-8). The U.S. promotes greed, premarital sex, drunkenness and homosexuality, and violence is rampant. Bible prophecies indicate that the continued rejection of God's ways will result in severe consequences. For more on this important topic, review our free booklet, Who Controls the Weather?
Germany Pushes for a New EU Treaty: Germany is calling for a new European treaty by the end of the year to clear the way for more European integration and a new legal foundation for the Union. "Germany would like to see… a legal basis that would give the European Court of Justice the jurisdiction to monitor the budgets of member states and to punish deficit offenders" (Der Spiegel, August 27, 2012). The new treaty "would broaden the existing fiscal pact's authority in the political union" (Deutsche Welle, August 26, 2012). EU Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso has also called for a new treaty and a "federation of nation states" that share their sovereignty (Reuters, September 12, 2012). However, other EU member states have expressed concerns about giving up their sovereignty. "During a meeting of the so-called Future Group, an informal gathering of 10 foreign ministers from EU countries, the majority opposed a call by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle for a new treaty convention" (Der Spiegel, August 27, 2012). Opposition in the past did not discourage the French and Germans from agreeing to "push forward with a new EU treaty—either with the entire bloc or with the 17 members of the euro zone if other countries were unwilling to go along with it" (ibid.). Bible prophecy foretells that a German-led Beast power in Europe will receive "power and authority" from 10 kings who will relinquish their sovereignty and become united as "one mind" (Revelation 17:12-13). Germany, with Europe's strongest economy and looked to to lead the EU out of its economic crisis, may soon be given more power and authority to fulfill this prophecy. Read our free informative booklet, The Beast of Revelation, for more details on these exciting events!
Don't Fear the Difficult Times Ahead: Regular readers of this News and Prophecy and students of the Scriptures are aware that as the end of the age approaches, we will see far more troubling events. There will be more false prophets, wars, catastrophic weather, major geopolitical shifts, and the Israelite-descended nations will experience unique problems and suffering due to their outright rejection of God. Without Christ's own revelation, these escalating events will cause some to become paralyzed with fear and worry. Jesus said the appearance of false prophets, wars, earthquakes, famines and pestilences would be the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:3-12). However, Jesus also said, "See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass" before He returns to this earth (v. 6). God has a plan for mankind that includes some very difficult times of correction and persecution prior to Christ's second coming. But He has also promised to protect those who obey Him (Luke 21:36; Revelation 12:14-16). God's people can find great comfort in these promises! For more on this important topic, review our exciting booklet Armageddon and Beyond.–Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway, and VG Lardé