From the Presiding Evangelist
Greetings brethren around the world! Thanks for all of your consistent love and loyalty and the wonderful unity we have experienced for so many years. God is blessing the Work of His Church and we continue to experience good growth in nearly every area.
But the "world" as a whole is not yet aware of us. Brethren, we are not only the "little flock," but the "tiny flock." Yet, before we gain more recognition before the world, we should do all we can to become fully Christian in every way. We can be a far greater "light" to those whom God is calling from the world if we are not only preaching about the horrifying events of the near future and then the coming world of tomorrow, but also demonstrating our love for others by imitating Christ and the original apostles in the world today. Over and over, Jesus gave examples of the need for His true followers to serve one another and others in need. The example of the Good Samaritan shows the need to help and serve anyone who might be found "in need" or "at the side of the road"—so to speak.
Then, Jesus' own powerful warning on this very way of serving is expressed in Matthew 25:34-46. I hope all of you will study this passage carefully! For Jesus let us realize that whenever we give food or water to a "stranger" (v. 35), we are giving it to Him! Whenever we visit the sick or those in prison, we are visiting or serving Him (v. 36)! Jesus indicates to those people who are not willing to perform this kind of service that they will be on His "left hand," and He will say to them: "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (v. 41)!
I know this sounds pretty strong. Yet it is exactly what Jesus said! So I hope all of us will do all we can to try to serve more people in our communities and neighborhoods in this way. With this thought in mind, I have asked our people at Headquarters here in Charlotte to institute an "Outreach Program" wherein we try to serve and help others in the community in the way Jesus described—visiting the sick and those in prison, feeding and clothing those in need, etc. Some few have indicated to me that many of the brethren are "too busy" to do this kind of thing. So, in an organized way, we cannot all participate equally because of individual needs. I realize this. Yet, we must not all be "too busy" to do what Jesus said! I am sure that we can tear ourselves away from some of our own family activities, shopping, watching TV, etc., and take time to do those things that Jesus said. In this way we will be "reflecting Jesus Christ" in the way He tells us to do. Also, as the leading ministers in each area request, I hope that, gradually and thoughtfully, "Outreach Programs" may be established in most of our churches of any size. This kind of program can be patterned after the one here at Headquarters. Please get in touch with Mr. Wyatt Ciesielka if you have questions about this. Of course, in a tiny congregation of only ten or fifteen people, it would be up to each one of you individually to help your neighbor. And, with Christ living in you, I am sure all of us will want to do this as we are able—not making too many excuses.
Brethren, I hope all of us will get behind and promote this program as a vital part of our Christian living and become the example and the "light" Jesus commands us to be. Such structured opportunities for each congregation need not be more than two or three times a year. But at least the brethren involved can be getting the experience of "giving" in this way. And more and more of our young people can be taught the approach of giving and serving and grow up with this thought in mind as part of the true Christianity which we should be teaching them as part of preparing the bride in order to marry Christ who taught us these things.
So I ask all of you to pray about this. Be responsive to Jesus Christ, and ask God to guide each one of us—in a balanced way—to follow through on this kind of program in each of our congregations and in our personal lives as well. God will bless us if we follow these powerful teachings of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith
Church Administration
Greetings from Charlotte,
While violence escalates in the Middle East and in Ukraine, typhoons have lashed the Philippines, Taiwan and China, and the largest fire in the state's history has burned more than 250,000 acres of the state of Washington. Numerous fires are burning in Oregon and Washington due to lightning strikes and tinder dry conditions in the western portion of the United States. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has held a number of meetings and is working on an upcoming Tomorrow's World telecast. Today we will review portions of the Behind the Work film that is being prepared for the Feast of Tabernacles. Regional Director Mr. Gerald Weston and his wife will be in Charleroi, Belgium for services this Sabbath as part of their trip to visit with various congregations and offices in the UK and Europe. Mr. Hernandez is in France this week and will travel to the Canary Islands, Spain, tomorrow. Last weekend, 253 visitors attended Tomorrow's World Presentations: eight in Geneva, Switzerland, 71 in Johannesburg and 174 in Cape Town, South Africa (see write-ups below). This weekend TWPs will be held in Rochester, NY; and in Fredericton and Trenton, Canada. Very positive comments have been received from the West Virginia Family Camp (see report below). This coming Sunday, the LYC Teen Camp will begin in Ohio.—DSW
Tomorrow's World Presents in Geneva, Switzerland
On Sabbath, July 19, 20 people attended a Tomorrow's World Presentation I made in Geneva, Switzerland. Eight of them were new people. These people knew their Bible and had read quite a bit of our literature. They asked interesting questions. The TWP went very well.—Mario Hernandez
Tomorrow's World Presents in South Africa
Mr. Rod King and Mr. Pieter van der Byl made two Tomorrow's World Presentations, in the Cape Town and Johannesburg areas, on Saturday and Sunday, July 19-20. A total of 5,878 invitations were sent out. In Cape Town, 188 people attended, 174 of them visitors. In the Johannesburg area, 144 attended, of whom 71 were visitors. We are extremely thankful to God for the excellent response we had to the presentations.—Christo Botha
Church Survey 2014—Repeat Announcement
Attention Area Pastors: This is a reminder that the Church Survey, which was distributed during the Ministerial Conference in May (or sent to you by mail), is due by July 31. Please return your lists to us by registered mail (within the U.S.) or by private courier (FedEx, DHL or similar service if you are outside the U.S.). Send to: Living Church of God, Attn. Joshua Penman, 2301 Crown Centre Drive, Charlotte, NC 28227, USA, telephone 704-844-1970. Please do not return your lists by regular mail, fax or e-mail. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Internet Operations
New Tomorrow's World App
The new Tomorrow's World mobile App for Android has been released. This new version includes new functionality, new content, and better performance. It is available for download now from the "Google Play" store.—Wyatt Ciesielka, Director of Internet Operations
Feast of Tabernacles
Feast of Tabernacles, Lake of the Ozarks
We are looking for chorale directors for both the Festival chorale and the children's choir for the Lake of the Ozarks Feast site. We also need more people to sing in each choir as well as more volunteers for all departments. If you have not already done so, please go to the MyLCG Church Web site and register to serve.—Gene Hilgenberg, Lake of the Ozarks Festival Site Coordinator ([email protected]; 417-483-8365)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon CDs—Repeat Announcement
Attention Pastors: Please send the Church Administration Department at [email protected] the names of those in your congregation(s) who will be unable to attend the Feast and will need to receive a set of the Feast of Tabernacles sermons on CD. (Sermons are available in English, French or Spanish.) The deadline to submit these requests is August 1 for international recipients and August 30 for recipients in the U.S. Note: Feast sermons will also be uploaded (one per day) during the Feast at www.lcg.org, for those who have Internet access.
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only—Repeat Announcement
The deadline to submit Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance requests was July 15 and we are processing the forms. Please be patient while we process your request, as it might take a few weeks to receive an answer. As a reminder, our policy is that those who request assistance should attend their assigned Feast site.
Activity Registration Open—Repeat Announcement
Feast of Tabernacles activity registration is open! Brethren are encouraged to sign up for their Feast site's activities. It is a great help to those who are arranging for the activities to have an idea how many people plan to participate in them. Check the Festival Web site (fot2014.lcg.org) or with the Festival Site Coordinator for more information about payment options that may be available.—Rod McNair
Living Youth Programs
West Virginia Family Pre-Teen Camp 2014
The West Virginia Family Pre-Teen Camp successfully completed its fifth year—and what a camp it was! We could see the loving hand of our Father throughout—in His divine protection, encouraging healings, unusually good weather, personal growth and unity! Twenty-four campers and seven teens, affectionately called the "A-Team," participated in our best camp to date. The theme for Christian Living classes was the first five of the Ten Commandments. Several commented on the depth of meaning brought out by covering one commandment at the beginning of each day. A number of campers and staff members were awarded a bookmarker for reciting the Ten Commandments long form!
Highlights listed by the campers and staff include the following: Christian Living Classes, "learning to apply the Ten Commandments better in my daily life," Fun Show, intimate family atmosphere, "Spark Plugs," "A-Team," Big Ball, seeing the growth in the young people, nutritious meals made from scratch and the Hebrew folk dance. One nine-year-old camper's highlight was "being healed." On a scale of 1-10, campers and parents gave the activities a 9.7 and a 9.9 to the question, "Was camp worthwhile?" And to top it off, after paying the camp facility a deposit of one-half of the camp fee, the camp administrator said, "We're good"! Our Heavenly Father has certainly blessed His camp in West Virginia most abundantly!—Paul Shumway
Ohio Teen Living Youth Camp 2014—Repeat Announcement
The "Dress Code" for the following special events is as follows:
- Dress for Friday Evening Bible Study
Bible Study dress is nice casual. Boys are expected to wear a dress shirt, slacks, and dress shoes. No tie required. Girls are expected to wear skirts/dresses. No shorts or blue jeans or tennis shoes allowed.
- Dress for Sabbath Brunch and Dinner on the Sabbath (other than the final banquet)
Dress is the same as noted above for Friday evening Bible Study.
- Dress for Sabbath Services and the Final Banquet
These are dress-up occasions. Boys are expected to wear a dress shirt, coat and tie and dress shoes. (Coats may be removed if it is too hot.) Girls are expected to wear skirts/dresses and dress shoes or dressy sandals.
- Dress for Topics and Dance
Boys are expected to wear polo shirts, dress slacks and dress shoes. Girls are expected to wear sun-dresses (hats optional), and dressy sandals.
We have moved the "Topics and Dance" to the afternoon (2:00-5:30 p.m.). One boys dorm and one girls dorm are scheduled for each topics and dance session. Special cold beverages and appetizers will be served in a "Garden Party" type atmosphere. Each girls dorm will be required to come up with decorations and a theme, and will have the morning to decorate and prepare for this special event.
The "Daily Activity Schedule" for the Teen Camp in Ohio is posted on the Living Youth Site. The "Evening Activity Schedule" and a revised "Staff Assignments List" have also been posted.—Sheldon Monson
Living University
Living University—Registration for First (Fall) Semester
Registration for fall semester classes is now underway. Classes will begin August 18 and students may register anytime between now and then. For those who have never taken a Living University course, you will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for your selected course. Enrolling is quick and easy—it will only take five to ten minutes. Just visit our Web site and click on the "Apply Now" link. The following are brief descriptions of several courses being offered next semester. A complete listing and more details of "2014 Fall Semester Classes" (spring in the Southern hemisphere) can also be viewed on the Living University Web site. To make application to Living University, to register for courses, and to find out more, please visit www.livinguniv.com. For additional information, please contact Dr. Scott Winnail at 704-708-2292 or [email protected]. As a reminder, those in their third tithe year at the start of the semester are eligible for a 50 percent reduction in tuition. Just be sure to submit the Application for Financial Aid sheet available on the LU Web site. In addition, those age 65 or older are eligible to audit one class per semester tuition-free. You will only be responsible for the cost of books and class fees (if any). Those completing homeschool high school programs can also take LU courses. See the Web site for more details or contact us with your questions.
THL 412 – History of Christianity I: This course deals with the history of Christianity from the first century to the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It focuses on the growth and development of Christianity during the early centuries in the Mediterranean world as well as its expansion into Europe and the East. Students will find this course fascinating as they come to better understand the context for the growth of God's Church through the ages.
THL 460 – Understanding Contemporary World Religions: This course is an introduction to the major religious traditions of the world, particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam; and consideration of neo-pagan and cultic phenomena in the contemporary world. Emphasis is on the historical development, key figures, as well as major doctrines and practices. As the world changes and God calls more people from more diverse religious backgrounds, understanding "where they have come from" will help God's people better encourage and serve new spiritual brothers and sisters.
THL 476 – Archaeology of Jerusalem: This course deals with the development of Jerusalem from prehistoric times through the Byzantine Period in light of archaeological discoveries and extant historical details. Emphasis is upon key stages of the city's past as Canaanite Jebus, City of David and Zion, Nehemiah's Jerusalem, Herodian Jerusalem, Roman Colonia Aelia Capitolina, and Byzantine Jerusalem stressing the importance of the Temple Mount, Cenacle, and Golgotha. Students taking this class should be able to explain the historical development of Jerusalem and identify its features and key structures. This is an important class for those planning to attend the Feast in Jerusalem!
Comments
Prove Your Beliefs! Today, many assume that simply "believing in Jesus" and "accepting Him into your heart" is all that is required to be a Christian. However, the Bible teaches differently! The Scriptures warn that false teachers will also talk about Jesus and will deceive many people (Matthew 24:3-5; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4). The Apostle Paul advised Christians to "Test [examine carefully] all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Paul states that our faith should be based on substance (confident assurance, solid ground) and on evidence (proof, reality) that can be assembled, examined and understood (Hebrews 11:1)—not just someone's personal opinion or emotional arguments or feelings. Luke writes that the early Christians' belief in the resurrection of Jesus was based on "many infallible proofs" and the many witnesses who had seen Jesus alive after His crucifixion (Acts 1:1-3). Peter emphasized that the apostles were eyewitnesses to the things that they were teaching (2 Peter 1:16), and that Christians should be able to give sound reasons for their beliefs (1 Peter 3:15). Paul confidently provided a defense for his beliefs (Acts 26). If we take time to carefully prove what we believe and understand the evidence upon which our beliefs rest, we, too, should be able to confidently defend and explain what we believe to anyone.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—July 24, 2014
A Role for Europe in Gaza? In response to incessant rocket fire from Gaza, Israel retaliated with a military offensive. Since then, dozens of Israelis and more than 600 Palestinians have been killed (BBC, July 23, 2014). Reacting to the carnage, "The UN's top human rights official has condemned Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip, saying that war crimes may have been committed… She also condemned Hamas for 'indiscriminate attacks' on Israel" (ibid.). However, the EU has offered another perspective. In a joint statement, foreign ministers of EU nations said they are "appalled by the human cost" of Israel's military operation which has killed hundreds of civilians in Gaza, but they "recognised Israel's legitimate right to defend itself" from the "indiscriminate firing of rockets into Israel" from Gaza which they termed "criminal and unjustifiable acts" (EU Observer, July 22, 2014). This escalating situation is pushing world powers to seek a way to intervene and stop the carnage. The idea has been suggested that UN or EU peacekeepers could be sent to the troubled area. Bible prophecy reveals that at the time of the end, a European Beast power will get involved in and ultimately control the Holy Land (Daniel 9:27; 11:40-44; Luke 21:20-24)—perhaps initially to enforce some sort of cease-fire. For decades this Work has been urging readers to "watch the Middle East" and we are beginning to see why. For more about the future of Israel and Gaza, read our booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy.
Muslim-Sponsored Genocide in Mosul: The Islamic occupying force ISIS, which captured Mosul last month, issued the ultimatum to Christians, "Convert to Islam, pay an anachronistic Islamic tax for non-Muslims known as jizya, leave Mosul, or be killed. But the day before the final exodus, Christians were informed jizya was no longer an option. The order came to convert, leave, or die" (The Daily Beast, July 22, 2014). According to a Mosul-based human rights organization, "Those families leaving from the checkpoints on the eastern side of the city were harassed and robbed of their possessions but ultimately allowed to leave Mosul with only the clothes on their backs and possibly cab fare" (ibid.). "Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) accused the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) of genocide for 'systematically targeting Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq for extinction'" (CNS News, July 22, 2014). ISIS claims to be working on behalf of God to rid its country of evil; however, its actions are far from godly. Bible prophecies reveal that when Jesus Christ returns to this earth as the Prince of Peace to set up the Kingdom of God, He will rule with righteousness and put an end to these murderous practices (Isaiah 9:6-7; Revelation 11:15). As a result, the heavens will rejoice and the earth will be glad, "for He is coming... to judge the world with righteousness" and truth (Psalm 96:11-13). For more on this exciting time when Jesus Christ finally replaces the selfish actions of deceived human leaders, be sure to read our booklet The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?
Incest OK in Australia, According to Judge. As unbelievable as it may seem, a "Judge in Australia says incest may no longer be a taboo and the only reason it is criminal is potential birth abnormalities, which can be solved by abortion" and contraception (Telegraph, July 10, 2014). "Judge Garry Neilson, from the district court in the state of New South Wales, likened incest to homosexuality, which was once regarded as criminal and 'unnatural' but is now widely accepted… we've come a long way from the 1950s—when the position of the English Common Law was that sex outside marriage was not lawful" (ibid.). Western society has "come a long way" since it has abandoned the laws and statutes that protected it and made it great. Long ago God gave mankind clear instructions against incest, instructions that were intended to bring blessings for the obedient (Leviticus 18:6-12). These instructions were to be statutes "forever" that would protect families and children. Yet today, under the guise of freedom and progress, Western society is choosing its own way that will inevitably bring serious consequences (vv. 25-30; see Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28). Thankfully, Jesus Christ is going to return and "restore" a knowledge of true, godly values (Acts 3:19-21) and deliver mankind from the misguided judgments we are witnessing today (Romans 8:19-23). For more about the blessings that come with obedience to God's laws, be sure to read our booklet The Ten Commandments.—Scott Winnail, William Williams, Deborah Lincoln-Strange and Justin Ridgeway