Greetings brethren,
This week, families in China mourned the death of more than 400 loved ones lost when a cruise ship capsized, last Friday, on the Yangtze River. As we do God's Work and pray for God's Kingdom, we yearn for a time when tragedy and suffering will be a thing of the past (Revelation 21:4). God's Work continues to publish that powerful and encouraging message. This week, Dr. Meredith has been writing and conducting meetings. Mr. Richard Ames' timely new telecast "Surviving Tough Times," aired on May 31, receiving 4,550 responses—a 7.2 percent increase over the average telecast response over the last year. As reported earlier, nationwide television and radio coverage in Kenya will begin in July on the Family Media outlet. You may be interested to know that the Television Department currently produces almost 40 different versions of the Tomorrow's World telecast (accounting for differing translations, formats, phone numbers and addresses, for respective countries and market areas). This week online Festival Office meetings were conducted, attended by Festival coordinators from all over the world. Dr. Doug Winnail is currently travelling in South Africa and joined our Festival Office meeting from there. Last week, 164 guests visited three Tomorrow's World presentations, including 136 at a TWP conducted in Toronto (see article below). The West Virginia and Texas camps begin on Sunday. The Work of the Ever-living God is going forward—let's value our precious opportunity to go forward with it!—RMc
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Presents in Toronto, Canada
On the Sabbath of June 6, the Toronto, Ontario congregation hosted an exciting presentation titled "After Armageddon." In the weeks leading up to the presentation, registration numbers indicated that our meeting room would likely not be large enough. An overflow room was prepared and attendance for Church members had to be limited. As Regional Pastor Winston Gosse began the first portion of the presentation, "Three End-Time Prophecies to Watch," guests continued to pour in and even our overflow room became quite crowded! A total of 136 guests joined with 22 members for an overall attendance of 158. The audience was audibly agreeable with many of the points made by Mr. Gosse and the vast majority remained for the second portion, covering "The Mystery of God's Holy Days." Fourteen guests requested either a visit from a minister or to attend Sabbath services. We are excited to see what fruit may come from this presentation in the coming weeks.—Michael Heykoop
Tomorrow's World Presents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The powerful message of the Gospel was expounded to 21 visitors and 70 members at a Tomorrow's World Presents in Milwaukee on Sabbath, June 6. Both the first part, "After Armageddon" presented by Mr. Rod McNair, and the second part, "The Mystery of the Holy Days" given by me, were well received. Many visitors were eager to voice their agreement with some of the powerful truths expounded and comments on the feedback forms filled out by the audience afterward expressed appreciation and interest. Time will tell if any of the attendees will be interested in pursuing the Truth further, but they did receive some clear instruction and warning!—Phil West
Tomorrow's World Presents in Bismarck, North Dakota
The first ever Tomorrow's World Presentation in North Dakota was given in Bismarck on June 5. Seven guests and nine members attended the two-part presentation by Regional Pastor Stuart Wachowicz from Alberta. Several stayed asking many questions following the session. Three people from a meeting going on in the next room stopped in at the break to ask for brochures and information about the Church. We do pray that God will use this event to call more into His Work and family.—Gerald Weston
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only—Repeat Announcement
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to the Church Administration Department is Wednesday, 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 Web site (www.cogl.org). Note: Members requesting second tithe assistance should plan to attend their assigned site, unless there are extenuating circumstances.—Festival Office
Living Church News Announcements—Repeat Announcement
Area Pastors and elders, please remember that when the brethren in your area have a milestone event—a birth, death, wedding, major anniversary or ordination—we want to report it in the Living Church News. Because the LCN comes out just six times a year, it is easy to forget to send in the announcement; then before you know it your week-old news isn't printed until five months after the event! So, please try to remember to send your news promptly to the Church Administration Department, either to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Remember that because of the print/mail schedule, news submitted for the September-October issue will generally need to arrive by mid-June; news for November-December by mid-August, and so on. Thank you for your prompt reporting of these events that are so meaningful to our brethren!
Television Department
Television Department—Telly Award for Dr. Meredith's program "Escape the Great Tribulation"!
We are pleased to let you know that Dr. Meredith's extremely powerful telecast titled "Escape the Great Tribulation" has just been awarded a Telly! Telly Awards are given for outstanding television commercials and programs, and the finest online videos. They represent the best of the best in television and video production. This particular program was specifically noted for the excellent technical quality of the editing, which includes the overall post-production, graphics, sound, voice tracks, etc. With nearly 12,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries, it is truly an honor to be awarded another Telly. This is a testament to Dr. Meredith's delivery and the level of production excellence that God has helped us achieve as we strive to fulfill the Great Commission (Mark 16:15)! Dr. Meredith's powerful telecast can be viewed on the Tomorrow's World Web site at http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/telecasts/escape-the-great-tribulation.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Feast of Tabernacles
General FOT Activity Registration (and Payments) To Open Sunday, July 12—Repeat Announcement
Beginning July 12, all LCG members and guests attending the Feast of Tabernacles will be invited to begin registering for activities at their respective Feast sites. Payments for activities will also be able to be made at that time. Activity Registration and payment will be made via your MyLCG account, through the Festival Web site. (To access the Festival Web site, go to www.lcg.org and click on "Feast of Tabernacles.")
Various Feast-site activities are being posted now on the Festival microsites, for informational and planning purposes. (For those planning on going to the Feast in Hawaii, activity registration will begin sooner, date to be announced.)
Living Youth Program
Ohio Teen Camp 2015
The Ohio Teen Camp Staff applications are now closed. Camper applications are open for another two weeks, until June 26. The Master Schedule for summer camp is now available on the Living Youth Web site. All Activity Directors should check this schedule of classes to verify the number of classes you will be responsible to write lesson plans for. An updated "Staff List" has also been posted.—Sheldon Monson
Adventure Camp 2015 – Grand Teton National Park—Repeat Announcement
The Trip Itinerary for the Adventure Camp is now available on the Living Youth Web site.—Sheldon Monson
Comments
Living Youth Camp Season Is Here! Over the next ten weeks, seven teen and pre-teen summer camps will be conducted in the United States and Europe, involving hundreds of young people and staff. Summer camp is a special highlight for our youth, and has produced many positive, life-lasting memories over the decades. But make no mistake—camp is not just about having fun! In a world filled with moral confusion, infectious materialism and a "me-first" attitude, summer camp is a time to focus our young people's minds on God's way of life. It is about recapturing true values. It is about creating a culture of purity. It is about including everyone—with no one left out. It is about learning that God's way produces fun that is fun today and fun tomorrow—with no regrets or heartache.
The task of the Living Church of God youth programs—including its various summer camps—is not to take away from parents the job of teaching the children. On the contrary! It is rather to orient young people toward the leadership of their fathers and mothers, who are to "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). The role of the Church is to turn the "hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers" (Malachi 4:6). Ultimately, the goal is that summer camp helps young people establish a relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, so they can prepare to take the mantle of responsibility of doing God's Work when their time comes.
Thank you for your prayers for Mr. Sheldon Monson, Director of the Living Youth Program—he is recuperating and regaining strength after cancer surgery. And as summer begins, please also be praying for a successful and safe camp season!
Have an inspiring Sabbath,
Rod McNair
News and Prophecy—June 11, 2015
Outbreaks of Epidemic Diseases: "Hong Kong issued a 'red alert' advisory on Tuesday against non-essential travel to South Korea, where eight new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) were reported, bringing the total to 95 with seven fatalities... South Korea has the second highest number of infections, after Saudi Arabia, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control... South Korea's new cases bring the total of MERS cases globally to 1,244, based on World Health Organization (WHO) data, with at least 446 related deaths" (Reuters, June 9, 2015). Meanwhile, "bird flu" is rolling through the Midwest of the USA, resulting in the death of almost 47 million chickens so far. The result has been the tripling of the price of eggs (USA Today, June 9, 2015). Jesus Christ warned in His Olivet Prophecy that disease epidemics or "pestilences" would be one of many signs of the end of the age. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:7-8). For more information on these end-time prophecies, be sure to read Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return.
War between China and America? A recent London newspaper declared, "US-China war 'inevitable' unless Washington drops demands over South China Sea" (The Telegraph, May 26, 2015). China's Communist Party has stated, "If the United States' bottom line is that China has to halt its activities, then a US-China war is inevitable in the South China Sea" (ibid.). Chinese construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea has worried China's Asian neighbors and the United States. The U.S. has promised to continue patrolling international waters China claims as its territory. Where will this lead? "Analysts say neither Washington nor Beijing appear to be in the mood to back down and that there is a serious risk of a minor incident in airspace around the islands escalating rapidly" (ibid.). Bible prophecy indicates that the modern Israelite nations, including the U.S., will have their power broken due to their national sins and rejection of God's ways (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). Scripture also describes the rise of an Asiatic superpower capable of fielding a 200-million-man army (Revelation 9:16) that will result in the death of one-third of mankind (vv. 15, 18). China's massive population will likely contribute to this army. In addition, China's growing confidence and alliance with Russia could lead to more aggressive actions in the region, even at the cost of a potential war with America. For more information on China and Bible prophecy, read our Tomorrow's World article, "Is This China's Century?"
Brutal Actions by ISIS: A United Nations envoy on sexual violence recently stated that "Teenage girls abducted by Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria are being sold in slave markets 'for as little as a pack of cigarettes'" (The Guardian, June 8, 2015). "Abducting girls has become a key part of the ISIS strategy to recruit foreign fighters who have been travelling to Iraq and Syria in record numbers over the last 18 months. 'This is how they attract young men: we have women waiting for you, virgins that you can marry,' Bangura [the UN envoy] said. 'The foreign fighters are the backbone of the fighting'" (ibid.). ISIS's blatant disregard for the life and dignity of young girls is almost inconceivable. The Apostle Paul foretold that "in the last days perilous [terrible] times shall come… men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous… proud, blasphemers… without natural affection… fierce [brutal]" (2 Timothy 3:1-6, KJV). The Bible reveals that when men reject the ways of the true God, they become "filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity… they are senseless… heartless, ruthless" (Romans 1:28-32, Amplified). The daily tragedies going on all over the Middle East call to mind the Bible prophecies about Ishmael: "he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him…" (Genesis 16:12, KJV). God clearly hates the violent actions of debased men and will only tolerate them for so long. In fact, God prophesied of the descendants of Esau, "I will bring you down… and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau" (Obadiah vv. 4, 18). For more on this sobering topic, read our booklet The Middle East in Prophecy.—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater and Justin Ridgeway