Greetings from Charlotte,
There were four Tomorrow's World Presentations last weekend. In addition to our members, we had 20 guests in Nashville, Tennessee; 10 in Beaumont, Texas; 42 in Calgary, Alberta; and 30 in Cambridge, Ontario. This Sunday we have another one scheduled for Manhattan, New York where we have invited over 5,000 guests. So far this year we have held 18 TWPs and we have a good number on the schedule for the coming months. I especially enjoyed my trip to Nashville as it gave me the opportunity to spend time with our minister and his family. Darrell Lovelady serves three congregations in addition to Nashville, which keeps him quite busy. On our return we stopped in Knoxville, Tennessee to spend a few hours with Martin Fannin, along with his wife and daughter. The Fannins also serve four congregations. Meanwhile, weeks of heavy rains have caused severe, even historic, flooding in much of the United States Midwest and South. Parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana have been especially hit hard. Please remember our members who may be in the way of this current disaster.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
Visit to Kenya and West Africa
I was privileged to spend the spring Festival season with the brethren in Kenya, then flew to Nigeria and Ghana to visit the brethren there as well. Altogether, I visited ten congregations. Ten people were baptized before the Passover (six in Kenya and four from Tanzania). In all, some 189 brethren in Kenya and Tanzania partook of the Passover in an organized service. Others, because of distance or health, needed to keep it at home. We also held a conference with the ministry to plan for this year's Feast of Tabernacles and next year's Passover services. This year, we anticipate that more than 500 people will attend the Feast in Kenya, including visitors from neighboring countries such as Uganda, Ethiopia and Zambia; and about 150 in Tanzania. Increasing interest in the Church in Ghana, West Africa, provides a prospect of some immediate growth there.
Also during the visit, I was able to make contact with a media representative, which may provide us with some interesting possibilities; as well as to take care of some legal matters and make a visit to a maximum-security prison.
Throughout the journey, the brethren in East and West Africa were in good spirits and supportive of the Work our Father is accomplishing. As always, they greatly appreciate a visit from headquarters. —Peter Nathan
Thank You to All Who Volunteered
We would like to thank all who responded to our request last week for volunteer transcriptionists. The response was very encouraging! We now have enough volunteers to fill our current needs. We greatly appreciate the enthusiasm and zeal all our volunteers around the world have for doing the Work, serving in various capacities to fulfill the mission of the Church!
Canadian Family Civic Weekend—August 4-7
Are you ready for an adventure involving dancing on a ship, cannon fire, taking a trip back in time to 1812, and spiritual lessons? Come enjoy the Canadian Family Civic Weekend, August 4-7. Calling all artists, artisans and bakers: we will have a silent auction and bake sale during the Game Night of the Canadian Family Civic Weekend. Come join the Canadian Family Civic Weekend. We'll have cookies. For more information, please contact Timothy Dranov ([email protected]) or visit the CFCW website (https://cfcw.000webhostapp.com/) (not an official LCG website).
Second Passover—Repeat Announcement
The Second Passover this year should be taken shortly after sunset on Tuesday, May 9. 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 9:1-4.
Charlotte BRiC Weekend for Singles (Memorial Day Weekend)—Repeat Announcement
We are now just three weeks away from the Charlotte Building Relationships in Christ (BRiC) Weekend! Registration is underway and many singles from all over are planning to attend. If you are single and interested in joining us for the weekend, please visit our webpage at charlottelcg.org/bric (password bric) to register. This is truly a great opportunity for singles of all ages to be together. There will be dancing, dinner, sports, and of course BRiC Talks! If you have any questions concerning the weekend, please contact Mr. Jacob Hall ([email protected]) for more information. If anyone is interested in participating in the music during the weekend—special music, accompaniment, choir, etc.—please contact Mr. Marcus McCullough ([email protected]).
Adirondack Family Cycling Adventure—Registration Deadline—Repeat Announcement
For anyone interested in our Adirondack Family Cycling Trip, the deadline to register is May 15. This will be a unique opportunity for active members of all ages to cycle through the mountains and valleys of upstate New York. The trip will begin on June 25 and conclude on July 2. We will ride through a total of 300 miles of some of the most beautiful scenery in America. In addition to cyclists, we're accepting support staff applicants. Cost for the trip is $150. Don't miss the deadline! For more information and to register, just go to www.nelcg.org (not an official LCG website) and click on the "ADK Cycling Adventure" tab at the top of the page, or contact me at [email protected].—Jonathan McNair
Living Youth Program
North Carolina Preteen Camp—Repeat Announcement
The North Carolina Preteen Camp is rapidly approaching! We look forward to kicking off the U.S. camps this year, from June 11-16. If you are planning to attend, please turn in your application soon. Our deadline for staff applications is May 15 and for camper applications is June 1. We hope to see you there!—Mark Sandor
Teen Camp—Lone Star Camp Athens, Texas—Repeat Announcement
We are still accepting Staff Applications for young adult staff (singles ages 18-30) for the Teen Camp in Athens, Texas. We are especially in need of more young adult counselors and assistant counselors. Positions for staff applicants ages 31 and older have all been filled, with the exception of a Camp Nurse. We still could use two people to serve in this capacity.
Applications for campers can be submitted until the end of May—but space is limited, so please apply as soon as possible.
Staff Assignments have been posted for this camp—check them out on the Youth Website.—Sheldon Monson
Comments
Importance of Prayer: Is it really necessary to pray? Jesus urged His disciples to "watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation" (Matthew 26:41). David and Daniel prayed three times each day (Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10). Jesus prayed all night before making a major decision (Luke 6:12-13) and when He prayed, He prayed earnestly (Luke 22:31-32). When Jesus' disciples asked, "Lord, teach us to pray," He gave an outline of a model prayer (Luke 11:1-4). In this model prayer, the focus at the beginning and at the end of the prayer is on God and His coming Kingdom—while personal requests are sandwiched in between (Matthew 6:9-13). This helps us keep our personal issues in proper perspective. It is also instructive that Jesus prayed for His disciples who were being called out of this world, but He did not pray for the world, because He knew that God is not trying to save the world now (John 17:8-11). Prayer is an essential tool for us to talk with God and build a closer relationship with Him, so we become more like our Father. The Scriptures reveal that prayer is important and that sincere and earnest prayers are like sweet incense to God (Revelation 5:8). This is why the Apostle Paul encouraged Christians to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Let's follow that advice!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—May 4, 2017
Russia and Britain Exchange Threats: "Global defense spending has gone up for the first time since 2011. According to the World Military Expenditure Report… countries around the world spent a total of $1.68 trillion (1.56 trillion euros) on arms in 2016" (Deutsche Welle, April 24, 2017). The U.S., China and Russia led the spending. One expert observed, "Today, unlike a decade ago, actors are not relying on diplomacy and international institutions. Instead, individual countries are investing in arms to protect themselves" (ibid.). "A perceived threat from Russia has [also] triggered a central European dash towards military spending" (EU Observer, April 24, 2017). And at a recent meeting, "A senior Russian politician responded aggressively… to comments by the U.K.'s defense minister suggesting pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons against Russia is an option for London, claiming the U.K. would be completely annihilated by Russia's nukes in response" (Newsweek, April 25, 2017). The Russian politician ended his comments noting that the greatness of the British Empire is "gone for good" (The Independent, April 25, 2017). Global political tensions are heating up and "rumors of wars" are increasingly in the news—just as Christ prophesied they would be at the end of the age (Matthew 24:3-6). While war is not likely to break out between Russia and Britain in the immediate future, God warned that when nations forsake Him and exalt themselves, there will be consequences (Jeremiah 2:16; 9:13-16; Hosea 9:14). For more on the future of the West, and Britain in particular, read "The Handwriting Is on the Wall."
Britain-EU Relations Becoming Rocky: This week, "A German newspaper reported that after a dinner on Wednesday evening Mr Juncker accused Mrs May of being 'deluded' and said it was 'more likely than not' that Brexit talks would fail. According to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung... Mr Juncker told Mrs May 'I'm leaving Downing Street 10 times more sceptical than I was before'" (The Telegraph, May 1, 2017). Also, according to a Telegraph investigation, the EU has been secretly planning to block Brexit negotiations (May 2, 2017). "Theresa May has [subsequently] warned Jean Claude Juncker that he is about to find out how much of a 'bloody difficult woman' she is following reports that he claimed she is delusional over Brexit" (The Independent, May 2, 2017). Bible prophecy has long revealed that the British people will not be part of an end-time European beast power. The Bible also reveals that because of their sins against God, Britain's former allies will turn against her and carry her into some sort of captivity (Deuteronomy 28:47-51; Jeremiah 4:13; Ezekiel 16:37; 23:9; Hosea 9:1-17). The increasing tension between the UK and the EU over Brexit could be an indication where this relationship will go. For more on the future of Britain, read our still timely article "'Goodbye' to England?"
Health Dangers of Tattoos: "Tattoos are more popular than ever. Roughly half of millennials have one, as do 36% of Gen Xers… The number of Americans with at least one tattoo has jumped 50% in the past four years" (Time, April 5, 2017). The growing prevalence of tattoos has spawned new research into potential dangers of the practice. Research shows tattoos may interfere with both body cooling (through sweating) and also mineral reabsorption. Tattooing is linked to the spread of malignant cancers when skin tumors are present during the tattooing process. Tattooing may also increase the risk of skin cancer, and tattoo ink may act as a vector for the spread of bacterial infections (ibid.). Ultimately, many of the risks of tattooing are still unknown. Long ago, God outlawed tattooing for His people—for their own benefit, and, as His chosen people, they were to be holy and an example to other nations (Leviticus 19:28; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; 14:1-2). The Bible states that we are made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27) and that our bodies are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19); therefore, God expects us not to deface our bodies. For more information on this timely topic, be sure to read "Body Ink: What Does God Think?"—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, John Meakin, and Danielle Pierre