Greetings from Charlotte,
This week Great Britain lost one of its strongest and most influential leaders in recent decades. Former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher died last Monday, April 8 at the age of 87. Don't miss Mr. John Meakin's timely commentary, "Margaret Thatcher, A Lady 'Not for Turning!'" (www.lcg.org) in which he described the economic revolution she began—and the spiritual and moral revolution Britain and the rest of the world sorely need under the soon-coming reign of Jesus Christ!
This week in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has been holding various meetings, including a discussion about the upcoming semi-annual offer. Mr. Ames has been taping a new telecast. Festival registration has started off well, with more than 3,000 people registered in the first 24 hours. The income is on an upward trend, for which we are thankful (see report below). Last week's telecast by Mr. Rod King, entitled "Will the Beast Rise in Europe?," has drawn 4,355 responses. Dr. Douglas Winnail will be in Lima, Peru, for meetings and Sabbath services, and then meet Mr. Mario Hernandez in Colombia for a regional conference with elders from all over South and Central America. Mr. Rod King will also be conducting regional leadership meetings in Charleroi, Belgium, on Sunday. In more sobering news, Mr. Dan Hall reports that doctors are not expecting his wife Nancy to live long—she is now entering hospice care. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are praying for her healing but accepting of God's plan for her, and they deeply appreciate the outpouring of love and support from so many brethren. Please continue to ask for God's mercy on their behalf, as well as other brethren who need God's intervention.—RMcN
Church Administration
Second Passover
The Second Passover this year should be taken shortly after sunset on Tuesday, April 23. This Passover is for those baptized members who were unable to take the first Passover due to unavoidable circumstances. The biblical instructions regarding this ceremony are found in Numbers 9:1-14.
Thank You from Travis Goddard's Family
Our heartfelt thanks to our LCG brethren for all of the cards, prayers, calls and outpouring of love that we have received on the death of our beloved son Travis. It has been like "arms holding us tightly" in our worst trial ever. We thank everyone and know that we will see our son again soon in the first resurrection.
With Much Love,
Bob and Bonnie Goddard / Dan and Rachel Contardi and family
French Caribbean Update
My wife and I returned safely to Charlotte after spending three weeks during the spring Holy Days in Haiti and Martinique, and in the Dominican Republic to make final arrangements for the 2013 Feast of Tabernacles.
There were five new people baptized during the spring Holy Days in Lasille, located in the northern part of Haiti, which is a five-hour drive from the other congregation in Petionville. This new congregation continues to show growth over this past year. It was a tremendous blessing to see the humility and love for God's way of life, as the members of the congregation worked together setting up for the Night to be Much Observed after losing electricity for a couple of hours. It was completely dark, yet everyone quietly worked together as a team without complaining during the intense heat. It was amazing after the lights came back on, right before sundown, to see how beautifully the tables were set. It was a blessing and beautiful example of the true meaning of the Spring Holy Days. There were a total of 105 people in attendance for the services on the First Day and Last Day of Unleavened Bread in Haiti.
After spending eight days in Haiti, my wife and I arrived safely in Martinique on March 28 to spend the Sabbath and Last Day of Unleavened Bread with the brethren. On the Sabbath, we had two new people from the Seventh Day Adventist Church attend services for the first time. My wife and I were able to meet with the pastor and two elders from the Worldwide Church of God to discuss the possibility of using their hall on Saturdays. This could cut down tremendously on the cost of paying for the use of the hall in the hotel each month. The WCG pastor's wife has long been a dedicated member of the Living Church of God.
Congregations in both countries remain spiritually strong despite Satan's repeated attempts to disrupt and discourage God's people all around the world. It was a valuable lesson to learn not to constantly complain about everything that can go wrong, but to put more emphasis on what God is doing for His Church as He prepares each member to be a part of His family in the near future.—Wilner Pierre
Kingston Family Weekend
Over 100 brethren from the northeastern U.S. gathered together at the Epworth Center camp just outside Kingston, NY for the last half of the Days of Unleavened Bread. The theme for this year's Family Weekend was "Training Camp." Regarding the purpose for the activity, Mr. Jonathan McNair wrote:
Throughout the course of the year, we have very few opportunities to build those bonds of brotherhood, beyond our brief time together at weekly Sabbath services. A family weekend like this gives us the opportunity to work and learn together as no other time does (and) requires that we work side by side preparing meals, organizing and conducting activities, and studying the Bible. We are faced with living in accommodations that are unfamiliar and, perhaps, uncomfortable! We are taken out of our comfort zone, and faced with inconvenience. This is good training for us!
The activity-filled weekend was kicked off with a welcome meeting Friday evening. Sabbath morning started with a Hymn Sing followed by a wonderful brunch. Dr. Scott Winnail gave an inspiring afternoon sermon on "Training the Trainers." Saturday evening everyone enjoyed a dinner dance that was serviced by the teens. Sunday morning brought training workshops in silk screening, reading music, edible arrangements, calligraphy, jewelry making and knife sharpening. After a refreshing lunch, there was a short presentation about putting the lessons of the workshops to work. Dr. Winnail also held a meeting for those interested in attending Living University. A seminar for song leaders and sermonette men followed that presentation, and also an "Introduction to Baptism" meeting. The ladies again prepared a wonderful meal for dinner and the men all worked together in cleanup and dish duty. Mr. John Hunter closed the day's events with an evening reflection.
Dr. Scott Winnail kicked off the last Day of Unleavened Bread with a motivating sermon on staying unleavened in our training as God's trainers. Mr. Jonathan McNair finished off the weekend in the afternoon with an inspiring sermon on following God, waiting on Him and obeying His voice, as we complete our basic training as servants of the Eternal.—Randall Moran
Carolina Singles Weekend 2013
Registration is open for Carolina Singles Weekend 2013! You can register on our Charlotte Church page, http://charlottelcg.org (not an official Church Web site), as well as see the full schedule. The dates are Friday, May 24 to Monday, May 27. We will be having lots of wonderful messages, exciting activities, great fellowship and delicious food. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Darren Brinson at [email protected]. We hope to see y'all there!—Darren Brinson
Living Youth Programs
Online Teen Bible Study—Friday Evening
The Bible Study on Friday evening, April 19, will be on "The Holy Spirit" and will be presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, I encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath Day.
The chat room is open at 7:30 p.m. (EST) and the Bible Study runs from 8:00-9:00 p.m. You can access this Bible Study at www.livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful opportunity for Godly fellowship and learning. For those of you who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's, "The Mystery of Satan and the Demons," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Josh Penman
Living Youth Camp—Ohio
For many teens, the highlight of Living Youth Camp each year is the "Final Banquet." Unlike most summer camps, which begin to wrap things up and serve left-overs on the final night of camp, we do the opposite: we have the most formal evening of the camp.
Each year, the dining and dance halls are decorated according to a theme to help tie the evening together and make it more special. This year we're looking for suggestions from the youth in the Church as to what they would like the theme of this year's dinner and dance to be. If you have a suggestion for the theme (for instance, "The Garden of Eden," "The Whole Armor of God," etc.), please e-mail it in to us at [email protected]. Thank you!—Josh Penman
LYC Teen Camp 2013—Camp Lazarus, Delaware, Ohio—Repeat Announcement
This camp is filling up fast! Please send in your applications as soon as possible if you would like to attend.—Sheldon Monson
Texas Pre-Teen Camp Two Months Away!
Important: If you are planning to apply for the Texas Pre-Teen Camp, please do so soon! Since camp starts in two months, camper and staff positions need to be determined as soon as possible.
Registration is now open for summer fun at LYC Texas Pre-Teen Camp, June 16–21 at Camp Whispering Cedars in Dallas—six days of recreation, fellowship, sports and adventure for pre-teens and their families.
Campers ages 7–12 will participate in full days of challenging activities while making friendships that will last a lifetime. Mini campers ages 6 and under will take part in many of the activities their older siblings do, but with more unstructured time for games, crafts, and play. Older siblings, campers ages 13 and 14, will be a part of our camper/staff training program and have an opportunity to learn and practice skills needed to be an effective camp staff member while also partaking in many of the activities provided for the campers. Parents are always needed to fill our staff positions, and more importantly, to create the family atmosphere that has always been a big part of LYC Texas Pre-Teen Camp. We encourage all who are interested in attending to register by filling out the applications online at http://lyc.lcg.org/. If you are unable to apply online, you may receive a paper copy of the application by calling Jenny Penman at 704-844-1960, ext. 2283. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact our Camp Director, Mr. Phil Sena, by phone at 512-535-6771, or by e-mail at [email protected].
LYC European Teen Summer Camp—Chevetogne, Belgium—Repeat Announcement
The dates for this year's camp are arrival on Friday, August 16 and departure on Sunday, August 25. The cost for each person attending will be £120 sterling/€150 euros. Accommodation is in a dormitory where also Sabbath services, Bible Studies, meals and sing-alongs will take place. See http://www.domainedechevetogne.be/fr/new_maison_foret.php?style=stylebase, the resort Web site, for more information about the facility.
Schedule permitting, activities will include hiking/orienteering, water-skiing, leather work, music, Bible and Christian education, volleyball, football, badminton, basketball, nature discovery, PowerPoint Presentation skills, speech and initiative training. We have two Sabbaths for relaxation and spiritual instruction, and the week will culminate with a special Sabbath dinner followed by a sing-along.
Application Forms are available from the LCG office in the UK, [email protected], or from Mr. Rees Ellis in Belgium, [email protected]. Camper and staff applications are to be sent to the UK Office with a copy e-mailed to Mr. Rees Ellis.
Feast of Tabernacles 2013
2013 Registration Open
Festival Registration for 2013 opened last Sunday, April 7. As of Thursday, 3,450 brethren around the world are registered. If you requested a transfer, but have not been notified of your approval, thank you for your patience. We are processing the transfer requests as quickly as we can. Please do not make housing reservations until you have been given confirmation of your acceptance to your requested Feast site. For those without Internet access, please contact your Festival Advisor for assistance.
Please Note: Chattanooga, Tennessee is at capacity and closed for further transfers.
To access the Festival Web Site and register for a site, go to: www.fot2013.lcg.org. (You can also access it by going to the Living Church of God Web site (www.lcg.org) and clicking on "Feast of Tabernacles.")—Festival Office
Finances
After a dip early in the year, I am glad to report that the regular income is now even with last year—and on an upward trend. The offerings on the First Day of Unleavened Bread—a good indicator of the trend for the year—are up about 2 percent over last year, which is encouraging.
In 2012, the Church was blessed with an income increase of nearly 12 percent, but some of that came from non-recurring sources such as estate bequests and large special offerings—which are not part of our normal tithes and offerings. We are extremely thankful for those special blessings. That extra income enabled us to add, among other things, TV stations and some much-needed equipment. For instance, the envelope labeler in the Mail Processing Department was an older machine that had been running over 1 million pieces per year. It was on its last legs and the staff was constantly nursing it to keep it from breaking down. We now have replaced the old machine with an industrial-quality labeler that can handle our growing volumes for years to come—and do it at a lower cost.
But the special bequests and offerings may not necessarily recur in 2013. Therefore, we are being very careful about our higher 2012 "baseline" of expenditures and are prepared to make adjustments to match our normal 2013 income trend. We greatly appreciate God's generosity to His Work and the faithfulness of the brethren and co-workers in their tithes and offerings.—Dexter Wakefield
Comments
Eyes on the Coach: I went to my son's basketball practice recently, and was intrigued by one of the teaching techniques the coach was using. When the coach was talking, if the boys were not paying full attention (as sometimes happens with pre-teen boys), he would suddenly yell, "Eyes!" At that moment, all the boys were to immediately look the coach straight in the eye and clap loudly, twice, as a team. His booming voice would momentarily shock the boys, and break the power of the distractions, whether it was a passerby, a stray ball rolling on the floor, or a whistle blown from another court. I was impressed at how this teaching tool enabled the coach to re-focus the whole team on where they should be looking for instruction—at him!
What about us? God often uses trials not to punish us, but to get our FULL attention. This life is a training ground—that is why we are here! Is our attention distracted by the pulls of the flesh, seduced by the temptations of the world, or overwhelmed by the cares of this life? Are we responding to God's corrective but loving hand, as He chastens us "for our profit" (Hebrews 12:10)? The Apostle Paul admonishes us in the book of Hebrews: "... let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2). Even in trials, as we see the end of this age approaching, Jesus Christ says to "lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28). God and Jesus Christ have something to teach us—and that's why we need to focus, eliminate distractions, listen attentively, and keep our eyes on our Heavenly Coach!
Have a meaningful and focused Sabbath,
Rod McNair
News and Prophecy—April 11, 2013
Instability Continues To Grow in the Middle East: In recent months, tension and attacks have escalated throughout the Middle East region, leading to increasing instability. A recent suicide attack in Afghanistan killed more than 44 people and showed the capabilities of an ever-tenacious Taliban. "Causing the biggest death toll in a single attack since 2011, the militants, strapped with explosives, stormed the governor's compound…. The attack will add to concerns about how Afghan security forces will manage once NATO-led combat troops withdraw by the end of next year" (Reuters, April 3, 2013). Ten years after the start of the Iraq War, the nation is still bitterly divided between Sunnis and Shiites. "Iraq's Sunni Arabs have stepped up their protests against the current Shiite-ruled government, especially in Anbar and Nineveh provinces" (Deutsche Welle, April 3, 2013). Hamas just provoked Israel again with rocket fire, leading to Israeli air strikes against Hamas targets. Israel pressed Hamas on Wednesday "to rein in the rocket-firing militants [in the Gaza Strip] after the most serious outbreak of cross-border hostilities since the ceasefire that ended the eight-day war in November" (Reuters, April 3, 2013). The Syrian Civil War also continues to become more dangerous to the region, with the recent use of chemical warfare (Time, April 1, 2013). Scripture describes an end-of-the-age battle between kings from the European North and Middle-Eastern South (Daniel 11:5-28). The Middle Eastern "strong man" cannot lead an army unless there is first a semblance of peace in the region. Time will tell how and when this stability will come. For more information read or request our booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy.
Large Portion of U.S. Population Has a Sexually Transmitted Infection: In February, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released two new studies aimed at providing "an in-depth look at the severe human and economic burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. CDC's new [conservative] estimates show that there are about 20 million new infections in the United States each year, costing the American healthcare system nearly $16 billion in direct medical costs alone [emphasis ours]" (CDC, February 2013). One of the new, statistically representative studies estimates that there are 110 million STI infections in the U.S.—the greatest affected population being that of young adults (ibid.). Several of the most prevalent STI's lead to sterility (the inability to have children) in both men and women if not treated early. Interestingly, virtually all STI's are preventable if just one of the Ten Commandments were kept in full—not committing adultery or fornication (Exodus 20:14). Additionally, God warned that because the Israelite-descended nations would reject Him and His laws at the end of the age, their ability to bear children would be cursed (Deuteronomy 28:18; Hosea 9:14). Sexually transmitted infections are just one way that people can be cursed with infertility—and are the result of sexual sin. For more information on the blessing of obeying God's laws, please review our exciting booklet, The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?
The "Undemocratic" Origins of the Euro: This week, the EU Observer printed an interesting story on the beginnings of the euro (EU Observer, April 8, 2013). Thanks to a 2002 interview with former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, first published in a recently completed doctoral dissertation, we now have some interesting insights from one whose involvement was critical to the creation of the euro. In the interview, Herr Kohl told of how the euro was inaugurated in order to prevent future war in Europe: "Nations with a common currency never went to war against each other." He further stated, "I knew that I could never have won a referendum here in Germany. We would have lost any plebiscite about the introduction of the euro. That is very clear. I would have lost it" (ibid.). So, interestingly, in order to bring the euro idea to life, Herr Kohl stated that he had to act "like a dictator" (ibid.). The euro's undemocratic beginnings have continued with many autocratic decisions made by the EU elite. Sadly, what began as an idea to prevent war in Europe has led to a war of words and ideas that promises to divide the continent once more. Ultimately, there will arise in Europe a group of "ten kingdoms" that will unite politically, economically, and militarily (see Revelation 17). It will be interesting to watch just how this happens!—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway, and Annette Wright