Weekly Update

February 4th, 2016

Greetings from Charlotte,

Last Saturday, another rampage by Boko Haram left 65 people dead in a northeast Nigeria refugee camp.  What a cowardly and brutal attack—on a refugee camp!—against vulnerable, defenseless human beings who are made in God's image.  As we pray for God's protection while we worship Him on His Sabbath, let's cry out for God's Kingdom to be set up on the earth, for the benefit and peace of all mankind!

Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith and Mr. Ames have been holding meetings this week, along with their normal writing and other duties.  Dr. Douglas Winnail is travelling today to South Africa, for the next leg of his trip (see note below).  Final graphics for this year's Tomorrow's World Presents were finalized this week, and two TWPs will be conducted in Dublin, Ireland and Lisburn, United Kingdom this weekend by Mr. Gerald Weston and Mr. Henry Cooper.  We are also grateful that our pastors in Alabama and Mississippi, Messrs. Anthony Stroud and Ed Breaux, reported no injuries or damage to our brethren or their property from the recent tornadoes in those states.  Please continue to pray for God's protection, guidance and direction on all of His people around the globe!—RMc

Church Administration

Dr. Winnail's Trip to Africa 

"Greetings from Nairobi,

So far the trip has gone very well.  We returned from western Kenya Tuesday afternoon.  The visit to the west, the Sabbath services and the two-day conference all went very well. The leaders there seemed eager to learn. We had a very good reception, stay and sendoff.  Simon Muthama (Kenya Area Pastor) and his wife, David Mwanzia (Elder from Nairobi) and his wife, and Dr. Akin from Nigeria also attended.  This morning [Wednesday] we visited the television station that is airing the Tomorrow's World program—and got caught in a two-hour traffic jam coming back to the hotel!  Thursday, we plan to look at several possible sites for a potential summer camp before I fly on to Johannesburg, South Africa, where we will hold Board meetings on Friday, a service on the Sabbath and a Conference on Sunday for South African Church leaders."—Douglas Winnail

Visit to French-Speaking Caribbean

Caribbean Regional Director Rick Stafford and I recently completed a 12-day trip to Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Maarten. Martinique elder Etienne Duval joined us in Martinique and St. Maarten. We visited several potential Feast sites, conducted one baptism, Sabbath services, a Bible Study, and Mr. Stafford gave a Tomorrow's World Presents in St. Maarten. The small congregation in Guadeloupe has been increased by two families who have recently begun attending with us from a different Church of God background. Mr. Stafford gave the TWP on "The Mystery of God's Plan Revealed" and the guests stayed long after the presentation to ask questions, fellowship, and enjoy the refreshments. Several people expressed a desire to attend weekly Sabbath services. A new video group on the French-speaking side of the island will begin this coming week.—Wilner Pierre

Passover 2016—Repeat Announcement

Important Notice to All Pastors:  In 2016, the Passover Service will be observed on Thursday evening, April 21. Please let us know as soon as possible if any of the congregations you serve will need additional Passover Service supplies (bread trays and/or wine trays or glasses) or a copy of the Passover Service recording and letter instructions (available in English, French and Spanish). The Passover Service recording is the 2015 recording given by Mr. Ken Frank. To ensure timely delivery and to save on shipping costs, we need this information before February 22 for international congregations, and by March 21 for U.S. congregations.

Also, please let us know of any scattered members who are unable to keep the Passover with a congregation and who need to receive the Passover Service recording and letter instructions for observing it at home. International requests should be received before February 22 and U.S. requests before March 21. Please direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected] as soon as possible.

Feast of Tabernacles

2016 International Feast Sites

Some international sites are still being finalized but, as of this moment, the following sites can be announced. Below are the sites with the coordinator/contact listed: 

Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia – Martin Montgomery – [email protected]

Christ Church, Barbados – Clyde Skeete – [email protected]

Penticton, British Columbia, Canada – Barry Walker – [email protected]

Rockland, Ontario, Canada – Yvon Brochu – [email protected]

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada – Frank Best – [email protected]

Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan, Canada – Marc Arseneault – [email protected]

Carry-le-Rouet, France – Rees Ellis – [email protected]

Montego Bay, Jamaica – Lascelles Fraser – [email protected]

Kendu Bay, Kenya – Peter Nathan – [email protected]

Penang, Malaysia – Rajan Moses – [email protected]

Hanmer Springs, New Zealand – Paul Kearns – [email protected]

Baguio City, Philippines – Kinnear Penman – [email protected]

Claveria, Philippines – Gideon Benitez – [email protected]

Davao City, Philippines – Felipe Casing – [email protected]

Naga City, Philippines – Kinnear Penman – [email protected]

Kalutara, Sri Lanka – Zig Svalbe – [email protected]

Great Malvern, Worcestershire, United Kingdom – Simon Roberts – [email protected]

Luganville, Santo, Vanuatu – Graeme Hemphill – [email protected]

These sites are not open for international transfers:

Moscou, Brazil – Damian Weekes – [email protected]

Batu, Indonesia – Arius Nusantara – [email protected]

Sakhan Gyi, Myanmar – Rajan Moses – [email protected]

Kalaymyo, Myanmar – Rajan Moses – [email protected]

Mae Sot, Thailand – Rob Tyler – [email protected]

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – Graeme Hemphill – [email protected]

Feast of Tabernacles 2016 USA Sites—Repeat Announcement

As previously announced, the following sites have been secured for the 2016 Feast of Tabernacles:

San Diego, California – The Bahia Resort on Mission Bay www.bahiahotel.com

Seaside, Oregon – Best Western Ocean View Resort www.oceanviewresort.com

St. George, Utah – Red Lion Hotel www.redlion.com/st-george

Montgomery, Texas – La Torretta Lake Resort latorretta.com

Osage Beach, Missouri – Tan-Tar-A Resort www.tan-tar-a.com

Traverse City, Michigan – Great Wolf Lodge www.greatwolf.com/traverse-city

Mount Snow, Vermont – Grand Summit Resort Hotel www.mountsnow.com/your-stay/grand-summit

Panama City Beach, Florida – Boardwalk Beach Resort www.boardwalkbeachresort.com

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort

www.hhibeachandtennis.com

Gatlinburg, Tennessee – River Terrace Resort and Convention Center www.westgateresorts.com/river-terrace

Please do not make any reservations at these properties until you have been accepted, even at your assigned site. Stay tuned for future updates in The World Ahead with forthcoming information about the Festival Web site and Festival registration.

Living Youth Program

Online Teen Bible Study Friday Evening

The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, February 12, will be on "Christianity Is a Way of Life, Part 2" presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, we encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.

The Bible Study runs from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern time) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at 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 on, "Christianity Is a Way of Life, Part 1," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.

LYC Summer Camps 2016

We're excited to be able to announce the dates and locations for the upcoming LYC summer camps this year in North America and Europe. Registration for the North America camps, as well as more detailed information about the camps and preparing to attend camp, will be available on camp.livingyouth.org in just one week, on Sunday, February 14. Until then, this should whet your appetite!

Ohio Teen Camp 2016

Forge new life-long friendships and create some unforgettable memories this summer at LYC! This exciting summer camp program for Living Church of God teens is held at beautiful Camp Lazarus near Columbus, Ohio and features sports, canoeing, dances, swimming, music, life skills, and much more in a Christ-centered environment. This great camp facility is complete with dormitories, cabins, and tent sites, an in-ground swimming pool, state-of-the-art archery and riflery ranges, sand volleyball courts, grassy sports fields, an outdoor amphitheater, a large dining hall and kitchen area, and an old-fashioned wood lodge with a river-stone fireplace and a log-rail deck overlooking the scenic brook that flows through the property.

Arrival date for campers is Monday, August 1, and for staff, Sunday, July 31. The departure date for both campers and staff is Sunday, August 14. Registration opens on Sunday, February 14 at camp.livingyouth.org.

Adventure Trip 2016—Banff, Alberta, Canada

Banff National Park, one of the most beautiful spots on the planet, is the site of the 2016 Adventure Camp! Located in the Canadian Rockies, this park encompasses 6,641 square kilometers of mountainous terrain, dense coniferous forests, alpine landscapes, and numerous glaciers and ice fields. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, marmots and pikas are widespread in the alpine areas. It is home to 56 mammal species including grizzly and black bears, cougars, lynxes, wolverines, weasels, river otters, wolves, elk, deer, moose and more. Prepare to experience the breathtaking beauty of this incredible backcountry! We will hike up and down strenuous mountain passes, walk through lush green valleys, and breathe cool mountain air. We will enjoy relaxing in the famous Upper Hot Springs following this spectacular hike, before whitewater rafting on one of the Rockies' most thrilling whitewater rivers—the Kicking Horse—with grade IV+ rapids! This is sure to be one of the most exciting and challenging Adventure Trips yet! Sign up early for this camp as spots will fill up fast! The cost is an incredible value at $450 per person for campers (ages 13-20) and $350 per staff member (ages 21 and up). All acceptances will be made during the month of February. Camp attendees from outside Canada will need to have a valid passport allowing for travel to Canada, as well as arrange for any applicable travel documentation, such as a Travel visa or Electronic Travel Authorization. For more information, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp. 

Campers and staff should plan to arrive by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, and depart by noon on Thursday, July 14. Registration opens on Sunday, February 14 at camp.livingyouth.org!

Missouri Preteen Camp 2016

Come join the fun at the Missouri Preteen summer camp held at Knob Noster State Park. Each year preteens from all over the Midwest and beyond gather to enjoy an action-packed week of fun and fellowship in the beautiful Ozark hills. So come and help make this year's camp an adventure where we meet new friends, renew old acquaintances and expand our knowledge of God and all of His creation.

The arrival date is Sunday, July 3, and the departure date is Friday, July 8. Registration opens on Sunday, February 14 at camp.livingyouth.org.

North Carolina Preteen Camp 2016

This LYP Preteen Camp will be conducted at Singletary Lake State Park, in beautiful eastern North Carolina. This camp facility is complete with numerous cabins, freshwater lake with private access, large dining hall and kitchen area, hiking trails, sand volleyball court and more!

The arrival date is Sunday, June 19, and the departure date is Friday, June 24. Registration opens on Sunday, February 14 at camp.livingyouth.org.

Texas Preteen Camp 2016

Come join us at the 2016 Texas Preteen Camp for fun-filled days in the summer sun, making friends and learning how to have fun doing things God's way. Deep in the heart of the pine woods of East Texas, Lone Star Camp in Athens, Texas, the location of this year's camp, is a beautiful facility with air-conditioned meeting rooms, dormitories, cabins and even family housing—all within close proximity of each other—with plenty of bathrooms and showers in every building, along with basketball and volleyball courts, a 25-acre lake, and a playground for enjoying free time. Hone your archery skills. Enjoy Ga-Ga Ball, gym sports and canoeing. Share your talents in the Variety Show. Enjoy three scrumptious meals a day plus snacks! Make new friends and enjoy friends from camps past. This year's camp promises to be a well-balanced, enjoyable time for all.

The arrival date is Sunday, July 10, and the departure date is Friday, July 15. Registration opens on Sunday, February 14 at camp.livingyouth.org.

LYC Europe 2016—Belgium

The LYC Europe for 2016 will be held at Domaine de Chevetogne, Belgium. Schedule permitting, activities will include hiking/orienteering, water-skiing, leather work, music, Bible and Christian education, volleyball, football, speedminton, basketball, nature discovery, PowerPoint presentation skills, speech and initiative training. We have one Sabbath for relaxation and spiritual instruction, and the week will culminate with a special Sabbath dinner followed by a sing-along.

The arrival date is Sunday, August 7, and the departure date is Sunday, August 14. Application forms can be requested from the UK church office ([email protected]) or from Mr. Rees Ellis ([email protected]).  

Lifeguard – CPR – AED – First Aid Training and Certification Clinic 

In preparation for our upcoming camps, we are offering lifeguard and other training and certification for those interested.  Housing and food will be provided once you arrive but you will be responsible for your own transportation, lodging, and meals to and from this certification course.  If you are interested in participating in this training program, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected]. Space is limited so please sign up soon!

Dates:  

CPR – AED – First Aid: Friday, June 3

Lifeguard: Sunday, June 5 to Monday, June 6

Location: Evergreen Keeter Retreat, 3660 County Road 3600, Hawkins, TX 75765           

Meals, accommodations, and local transportation from Thursday night through Monday afternoon will be provided by LYC and local brethren.

Prerequisites:

CPR/First Aid: None

Lifeguard:

  • Must be at least 15 years of age on or before the final scheduled session of the course.

  • Must be able to swim 300 yards continuously, demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing.Candidates may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both, but swimming on the back is not allowed. Swim goggles may be used.

  • Must be able to tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs. Candidates should place their hands under the armpits.

  • Must be able to complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:

    • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.

    • Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.

    • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface to be able to breathe. Candidates should not swim the distance under water. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

Cost of Certifications:

  • CPR/ First Aid – Free if donating your services to LYC for a minimum of 2 years; $30 for all others

  • Life Guard – Free if donating your services to LYC for a minimum of 2 years; $60 for all others

Itinerary: TBD

LYC Registration and Ordering Camp Pictorials—Repeat Announcement

Preparations are well underway for the camps that Living Youth Programs will be running this summer. Mark your calendars: we are going to begin registration for the five North America-based camps in just two weeks, on February 14. 

Additionally, we will be accepting orders for both the 2014 and 2015 Camp Pictorial albums, starting on February 14. Each album has a suggested donation amount of $35 to help offset some of the costs of production. If you previously ordered a 2014, and haven't received it yet, don't fear: we still have your order, and you don't need to request another copy.—Josh Penman

Human Resources

Employment Opportunity: Web App Developer


Are you a Web App Developer? Do you have experience with Drupal, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, Java, Android application development, and/or iPhone/iPad application development, and Linux, Apache and MySQL environments? Are you enthusiastic about Web development, social-media, multi-media, and developing next-generation apps? Are you even more enthusiastic about participating in the greatest Work on the earth at this time by directly helping the Internet Department support the Church's efforts to proclaim the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to the entire world!? If so, and if you are a motivated team-player, and a goal-oriented innovator, then we invite you to submit your resume and apply for our Web App Developer opening.  We want to add one more position to our team later this year.

The ideal candidate will either: a) have a Bachelor of Science degree and at least one year of professional experience, or will b) have at least five years of related professional experience. The ideal candidate will be able to cooperate effectively with staff in all Headquarters departments. The ideal candidate will also have a positive, "can-do" attitude and will be creative, but able to stay focused and deliver projects without a lot of supervision. Applicants should be truly dedicated to the Church and to the Truth. A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte, and the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. We request that only those applicants who live and can legally work in the United States apply for this position. If you are interested in the Web App Developer position, please send your resume to: Human Resources Department, Living Church of God, P.O. Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227-8010. Fax: 704-844-1973; e-mail: [email protected].

Comments

What's a Finstagram?

In a constantly-changing world, technology is hard for all of us to keep up with—except, perhaps, for our children!  They are often more comfortable with new technology, because they have grown up with it.  It becomes second nature to them.  One of the latest new trends among young people in our society is creating fake Instagram accounts, called "finstas."  Some teens are getting into this so they can share more private (often embarrassing or funny) photos or videos with their closest friends, than through their "official" Instagram account.  Obviously, the risk for doing permanent damage to their reputations through sending supposedly private photos or video to "only their closest friends" is extremely high. 

How do we as parents handle trends like these?  How do we handle social media in general?  As in all areas of training our children, we need to be fully engaged in teaching them.  We must educate ourselves about the positive and negative aspects of modern technology.  We should only allow them access to technology that is age-appropriate.  We need to teach them the importance of protecting their reputation—and why picture/video-based apps can be so risky.  As parents, we need to openly discuss social media with our children—but not just lecture at them, truly listen!  And we should be strong in establishing a culture of purity and high expectations in our homes.  This includes knowing passwords and privacy settings on our children's devices, not because we are suspicious of them, but as a hedge of protection against the onslaught of the world.

It is not easy to raise children in this high-tech and high-risk world.  But the advent of social media has not changed the standards or the goal God's people have always had in raising their children to love and embrace God's way of life.  As Solomon said almost 3,000 years ago, "Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.  I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths.  When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.  Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life" (Proverbs 4:10-13).

Have a wonderful Sabbath,

Rod McNair

News and Prophecy—February 4, 2016

Iran and Rome: "Pope Francis held talks with Iran's president at the Vatican Tuesday [January 26], calling on Tehran to play a key role in stopping the spread of terrorism as Iran tries to improve its image in the global arena" (Associated Press, January 26, 2016). During this visit, the pope noted "I thank you for your visit and I hope for peace," while President Rouhani even asked the pope to pray for him (Reuters, January 26, 2016). President Rouhani later visited other European nations during his trip. "'A new chapter has begun in Tehran's relations with the EU, including France,' Iran's ISNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying on his arrival in Paris on Wednesday" (Deutsche Welle, January 27, 2016). It will be interesting to see how this growing rapport—for the time being—between Iran and Rome and EU nations plays out in the future.  Could Iran be part of the countries "from the east and the north" that eventually "trouble" the European king of the north, after his armies occupy Israel in the time of the end (Daniel 11:44)?  The future holds some strange and sobering events in regard to all the major powers in the region. For deeper insight into this future, read our free booklet The Middle East in Prophecy.

Will the Migrant Crisis Push a Strongman in Germany? German Chancellor Angela Merkel is becoming increasingly unpopular in Germany due to her handling of the migrant crisis. "A newly published survey found that almost 40 percent of Germans are so angry with Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy that they want her to resign… At the same time, 45.4 percent of voters for the left-wing Die Linke party saw Merkel's refugee stance as cause for her to resign" (The Local De, January 29, 2016). "Passions have been inflamed since New Year's Eve, when men from within a 1,000-strong mostly Arab and North African crowd groped, robbed and in two reported cases raped women in mob violence in the western city of Cologne that shocked the nation. Police failed to control the chaos, then tried to pretend it didn't happen. More than 700 criminal complaints have been filed. Heads have rolled, and politicians have pledged a law, order and deportation crackdown" (Agence France-Presse, January 21, 2016). German citizens and other Europeans are increasingly concerned that politicians are not taking seriously the migrants who many believe are waging religious war against European citizens. Bible prophecy makes it clear that a strong man will come out of Europe with intrigue, being seen as a deliverer of the people—rising against a king from the South who is seeking to destroy the northern kingdom (Daniel 11:21-28). Pushed to war, this northern king will come as a "whirlwind" against the southern kingdom and destroy it without remorse (v. 40). Will the current handling of the crisis lead to the rise of this coming strongman? Only time will tell. To study the deeper truth behind this subject, read our article "Growth of a Strongman: Germany Rising Again!"

God's Awesome Creation: "If almost every mother breastfed her children it could prevent more than 800,000 child deaths a year [according to a recent Lancet article], yet governments are failing to promote and support breastfeeding, with rates remaining far below international targets, new research has found… Children who are breastfed for longer have higher IQs, lower death rates and less risk of infection than those who are breastfed for shorter periods or not at all, the research found. Breastfeeding may also protect against diabetes and obesity later in life, while for mothers it can help with birth spacing, protect against breast cancer and may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes" (The Guardian, January 28, 2016). King David wrote "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well" (Psalm 139:14). As more and more scientific research is conducted, many of the findings provide evidence of the marvelous design of the human body, and shed more light on the futility of man-made substitutes like infant formula. Research like this should be very encouraging to Christians and reinforce the desire to use our bodies as God created them. For more inspiration as it relates to the human body, read or listen to "The Miracle of DNA."—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway and Francine Prater