Dear Brethren,
As we observe Pentecost, we recognize the need for God to intervene powerfully on earth. The world continues to suffer—On Wednesday, four people were killed in Tel Aviv and three hospitals were bombed in Aleppo. We certainly can see the need for God to pour out His Spirit even more on His Church, make Himself known to this world, and bring His Kingdom to this earth.
Dr. Meredith is travelling today to Kansas City to be there for the weekly Sabbath and Pentecost. Mr. and Mrs. Ames will be in Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota, this weekend. Dr. Douglas Winnail reports that his trip to Melbourne and Brisbane over the past week has been successful (see below) and he will be flying to Auckland for the Sabbath and Holy Day. He will return to Charlotte next Wednesday. This week, we conducted online Feast meetings with USA and international site coordinators to discuss Feast activities and the Festival Web site. One hundred and sixty-seven guests attended five Tomorrow's World presentations last weekend in the USA, Canada, and the UK. We were saddened this week to hear of the death of Mr. Ray Reynolds, an elder serving in Oklahoma City. As of Thursday, Mr. Ben Whitfield, who pastors our Wyoming, Colorado and Utah congregations, is awaiting an aortic valve surgery. As we gather to keep Pentecost, please continue praying for the Work, and for those who have suffered loss or are enduring health trials.—RMc
Church Administration
Australia Trip
The trip has gone well so far. I spoke in Adelaide on the Sabbath and spent time with members of the congregation. I have also been able to spend time with the office staff and elders: Rob Tyler, Michael Gill and Martin Montgomery and their wives. Mal Jennings and his wife flew over from Perth for the weekend, and Rajan Moses flew down from Malaysia. On Sunday, Rob Tyler and I flew to Melbourne, where we had visits on Sunday afternoon, and I conducted a Bible Study on Sunday evening. On Monday, Rob and I met with Rod and Shayne King and other Melbourne ministers. On Tuesday, we flew to Brisbane and met Dayrell and Jeanette Tanner and I conducted another Bible Study. The brethren here have deeply appreciated the leadership of Mr. Bruce Tyler, and they are focused on doing God's Work. On Friday, Mr. Rob Tyler will return to Adelaide and I will fly to Auckland, New Zealand for the Sabbath and Pentecost.—Douglas Winnail
Tomorrow's World Presents in St. Louis, Missouri
There were 38 enthusiastic, smiling, vocal, literature-hungry visitors at last weekend's Tomorrow's World Presents in St. Louis. Comments such as, "We have never been fed like this before" were common. The messages, "Has God Abandoned Us?" and "The Pathway to Hope" were used in part to draw a sharp line of demarcation between the message of God's true Church and that of counterfeit Christianity. Challenged by the Truth, four of the 38 visitors left at the break. The visitors that stayed broke out in spontaneous applause as the second presentation ended. The St. Louis brethren were truly lights and witnesses, serving our guests with refreshments and fellowship long after the program ended. We look forward to many of our guests visiting with us next Sabbath.—Richard Franz
Prayer Request: Mr. Ben Whitfield
Please be praying for Mr. Ben Whitfield, as he has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He was scheduled to have surgery today to replace an aortic valve, but because of a fever he developed, the surgery has been postponed to Friday. According to Mrs. Whitfield, the doctors feel that, with surgery, the prognosis should be good. He has been anointed. Please join us in urgently praying for God's healing and mercy, on behalf of Mr. Whitfield.
In Memoriam: Mr. Ray Reynolds
Mr. Ray Reynolds, of the Oklahoma City congregation, died this past Sunday afternoon after a short battle with cancer. He was 76, and had faithfully served the Oklahoma area for many years as a deacon and more recently as an elder. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn. Cards and condolences may be sent to the HQ office in Charlotte: 2301 Crown Centre Dr., Charlotte, NC 28227 and they will be forwarded to her.
Note of Thanks from Mrs. Gaylon Beyersdorfer
Mrs. Beyersdorfer, along with her children and family, "thank all who have so lovingly supported us during this time of losing our husband, father and grandfather of 50 years. Your calls, cards, and especially your prayers have strengthened us and been of great comfort. This Scripture, Romans 8:28, applies absolutely for us, and is not mentioned lightly, but gives each of us great faith and peace."—the Beyersdorfer family
Fourth Annual Rocky Mountain July 4th Family Weekend—July 1–3
The Fourth Annual Rocky Mountain Family Weekend is scheduled for July 1-3! Join us for our summer get-together for both spiritual and physical food, fun and fellowship! Our special guests this year will be Regional Pastor, Dr. Jeffrey Fall and Mr. and Mrs. Jim and Susan Meredith from Headquarters. You won't want to miss the chance to visit with them!
Activities this year include:
- Friday, July 1 – Evening fellowship with refreshments beginning at 5:30, followed by a Bible Study by Dr. Jeffrey Fall at 7:00 p.m.
- Sabbath, July 2 – Sabbath Services at 1:00 p.m., followed by a covered-dish meal, then hear guest presenter Mr. Jim Meredith. The evening entertainment is so special and so secret that it can't be revealed at this time!
- Sunday, July 3 – Picnic at Castlewood Canyon State Park, from 10:00 a.m. until whenever we get tired! We've reserved a covered shelter which can easily accommodate 70 people, with sinks, grills and electrical outlets. Facilities include horseshoe pits, a volleyball court, restrooms and a playground. Castlewood Canyon also has over 14 miles of hiking trails for those who feel the need to "work off" the picnic calories! The park is at 2989 CO Hwy 83, Franktown, CO 80116. Requested donations for the picnic are $20 per person (ages 12 and older) to cover the cost of the pavilion rental and the main portion of the meal plus a side dish to share (to be coordinated on the sign-up list). If you cannot afford the donation—please come anyway!
You may sign up by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Please indicate the type of picnic side dish you plan to bring. Donations for the picnic are requested by Friday, June 24, and can be payable to Shawn or Peggy McMillin and mailed to them at 41479 Countryside Circle, Parker, CO 80138.
It's going to be a lot of fun—and we hope to see you there!—Ben Whitfield
Omaha Congregation Hosts Brethren During "Railroad Days 2016," July 16-17
All aboard for a fun-filled weekend, exploring six unique railroad-themed attractions! The Omaha congregation is hosting a weekend of spiritual fellowship and fun in conjunction with the celebration of our region's rich railroad heritage during Railroad Days 2016, July 16 and 17.
Join us on the Sabbath for a special Bible Study and then Sabbath services, followed by a covered-dish meal. On Sunday, brethren will be able to enjoy the attractions of their choice and then meet for a grill and picnic lunch provided at Bayless Park in the historic town square center of Council Bluffs, Iowa. A $15 family pass (good for two adults and their dependent children), includes admission to and transportation between all six Railroad Days locations. A $5 pass is also available for one additional adult with the purchase of a family pass. Lauritzen Gardens, The Durham Museum, and the General Dodge House are among the six attractions and more details can be found on the Railroad Days 2016 Web site http://www.omaharailroaddays.com/.
In a weekend where botanical meets mechanical, come celebrate the past, present and future of the railroad, the National Park Service, and six local attractions at Railroad Days 2016. This year marks the centennial of the National Park Service. Many parks, secluded and pristine by design, could be reached by the general public only by rail and the railroads constructed lodging and public facilities at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, and other parks.
Watch for additional details to come in The World Ahead.—Brian Pomicter
Northeast Region Men's Training Camp Registration Deadline: June 15
Preparation for the Men's Training Camp is in full gear, with a strong response so far. The June 15 deadline for registration for this activity is fast approaching. Don't miss this unique opportunity to gather with other men to focus on the challenges and keys to success in thriving as a Godly man in a God-less world. The theme of our weekend will be "A Man... Like Jesus Christ." For more information, go to www.nelcg.org (not an official LCG Web site) and click on "Men's Training Camp."
Internet Department
Tomorrow's World Facebook Page Passes 200,000 Fans—Repeat Announcement
We post telecasts, Webcasts, Tomorrow's World articles and many news items to our Facebook pages every month, and we are very encouraged by the steady growth in followers and in people sharing this content with their friends and family. The Tomorrow's World English-language Facebook page recently passed 200,000 fans, which is quite a bit of growth in the past few years, and is helping us reach and stay connected with many new people every week. Thank you for praying for the growth of our Internet and social media efforts. And thank you for "liking" and "sharing" Tomorrow's World content! Click on the "social sites" link in the footer of the Tomorrow's World Web site for more information.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Feast of Tabernacles
Festival Office Online Meetings
This week we conducted online meetings with Festival Site Coordinators from all over the United States and around the world. Coordinators discussed Festival activities and uploading them to the Festival Web site, as well as other technical details related to the payment process for Festival activities. Keep watching The World Ahead for updates about activity registration, which will be taking place later this summer.
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to the Church Administration Department is Friday, 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).—Festival Office
Festival Service Survey Coming
Pastors: As we do every year, we will soon be sending you a survey to ask for your recommendations of individuals in your areas to serve at the Feast. Service areas include sermonettes, song-leading, piano accompaniment, choir director, special music, etc. Please be watching your e-mail for this survey—we'll need to have it returned to us rather quickly.
"Unregistered" Festival Report
Pastors: This week we sent you an e-mail with a list of those members in your pastorate who are not yet registered for the Feast of Tabernacles. It is the "Unregistered Festival Report" of your congregations. Please use this report to encourage brethren in your congregations to register for the Feast. Or, you may wish to ask your Festival Advisor to take care of this responsibility. Thank you for helping us encourage everyone to register!
Great Transfer Feast Site at Kalutara, Sri Lanka
This year we are again blessed to have the same tropical beachfront Feast site as we enjoyed last year. It proved to be one of the best sites that God has opened up to us. This site is ideal for visitors from overseas to enjoy a peaceful, unhurried setting and concentrate on the real meaning of God's soon-coming Kingdom away from the hassles of the world. The Feast in Sri Lanka is at the Hibiscus Beach Hotel (www.hibiscusbeachhotel.com), located on the southwest coast at Kalutara, a village south of the capital city of Colombo. The hotel is in a quiet garden setting, surrounded by coconut palms and greenery, which extends to the golden beach sands. A restaurant, two freshwater swimming pools, and a gymnasium are some of the amenities. Your room costs will include a hearty breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
One of the highlights of the Feast is the fine fellowship that you can enjoy with all the brethren, beginning with an early morning leisurely walk along the beach sands and finishing off with the evening activities with brethren of like mind. During the Feast, a number of activities are being planned, including a trip to the turtle hatchery or a boat trip through the overarching mangrove tunnels where crocodiles and other wildlife can be seen. A side trip after the Feast has been planned to visit the Ratnapura, the "City of Gems," the mountain country of Nuwara Eliya, which is often referred in Sri Lanka as "Little England," stop at a famous tea plantation, stay in the ancient inland city of Kandy, feed the elephants at Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage where you will see dozens of elephants bathing and then climb the Sigiriya rock, the UNESCO-declared "eighth wonder" of the world.
Please visit the FOT Web site for more details or e-mail the Festival Site Coordinator Mr. Zig Svalbe, [email protected].
Human Resources
Have German Language Skills?—Repeat Announcement
We are looking for individuals who have good German language skills and who have time to devote to helping out in the Work of God in German. There is no need to travel. If you think you qualify, please contact me at [email protected]. Please provide a short description of your background with the German language, the location of where you currently attend services, and what you may be able to offer in terms of service.—Gerald Weston
Comments
Our Voyage Is Just Beginning
In 1977, two American spacecraft, Voyagers 1 and 2, were launched with a mission to explore and gather data about Jupiter and Saturn. In 2012, a new phase began, when Voyager 1 "made the historic entry into interstellar space, the region between stars…." The two spaceships' current mission, dubbed the Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM), is to "explore the outermost edge of the Sun's domain. And beyond" (Voyager Web site, http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/).
What an astounding feat of humans! To send a man-made machine to the edge of the solar system, still intact. And yet, after almost 40 years of traveling, these spaceships are still within the "Sun's domain." Still just at the edge of our solar system, which itself is just a tiny speck of dust compared to our galaxy!
Truly, how small and powerless we are, of and by ourselves.
And that is why we need God's Spirit. At this season of Pentecost, it is good to reflect on that. It was through His Spirit that God designed everything on Earth—the seas, the mountains, and the heavens. Through His Spirit, He built the Sun and the planets in our solar system. Through His Spirit He mapped out interstellar space, and billions of other galaxies beyond. Through His Spirit He crafted the entire, humanly unreachable Universe, which will one day be our inheritance (Hebrews 2:5-8).
He has given that same Spirit to His Church. On the Day of Pentecost, 31AD, God gave His Church the power to change the human heart, conquer sin and to face persecution. He gave power to cast out demons, heal the sick and to take the Gospel to the world. Ultimately, by His Power, we will enter the spirit realm as glorified sons and daughters in His Kingdom.
On this Holy Day weekend, let us never forget or become confused as to where our strength originates. It is not in our own power: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
Have an inspiring Sabbath and Pentecost,
Rod McNair
News and Prophecy—June 9, 2016
France's EU Future: As the EU limps along politically and economically, analysts continue to identify more nations that may need to break from or be asked to leave the EU. According to a German newspaper, "The second-largest economy of the European Union has nowadays become a pathetic sight: its problems are so grave that they pose a serious danger to all of its partner countries, especially to Germany, according to an analysis of economic correspondents of the German daily Die Welt. In the follow up to the ongoing labor law disputes in France, which led to violent street protests and a massive strike by the country's railroad workers, Die Welt's economic experts, Holger Zschaepitz and Anja Ettel have given five reasons to be worried about the country's future" and the possibility "of France crashing out of the Euro within the next year" (Sputnik News, June 4, 2016). Bible prophecy foretells that an end-time Beast power will consist of "ten kings" (Revelation 17:12). The exact final makeup of this European superpower is not yet clear, but will certainly consist of ten leaders who voluntarily submit to the leadership of a German (Assyrian) leader (Isaiah 10:5-6), who "give their power and authority to the beast" (Revelation 17:13). For more insight into who the modern Israelite nations are and their prophesied future, be sure to read or listen to our booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Catholic Church Reunion: The ancient Roman church split in two more than a millennium ago, yet current events are bringing about a "reunion" of sorts. "The Syriac Orthodox bishop of the Iraqi city of Mosul has told a French publication that ISIS attacks have helped forge bonds of unity with Catholics. The Syriac Orthodox Church is among the Oriental Orthodox churches that ceased to be in full communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451" (Catholic World News, June 2, 2016). Said an Iraqi archbishop, "This tragedy made us walk towards unity… Today in Iraq, we are working as one Christian church" (ibid.). Bible prophecy predicts this type of event, although on a much larger scale. Revelation 17:4-5 records the following sobering observation: "The woman [church] was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Many of the Catholic "daughters" will return to the "mother church" before the end of the age and we are starting to see this process begin. For more insight into this important prophecy, read our article "Who Is the Harlot of Revelation 17?"
Flooding in Europe and Beyond: According to a report last week, "The world's most visited museum, the Louvre in Paris, is to close on Friday amid worsening flooding caused by days of torrential rain… The Seine, which runs through Paris past the Louvre, has risen five metres above normal levels. Heavy rains across Europe have left at least 10 people dead, most of them in Germany" (BBC, June 2, 2016). To date, 18 people have been killed by the flooding and more rain is forecast this coming weekend (The Star, June 5, 2016). In Texas, "In the past 60 days, about three feet [one meter] of rain has fallen in eastern Texas, even closing down parts of Interstate 35 near San Pedro after six inches of rainfall fell Thursday morning alone... More than 1,400 homes have been affected by the flooded Brazos River" (ABC News, June 2, 2016). While severe drought and famine impact some areas of the world, God promises flooding in others, "I also withheld rain from you, when there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, and where it did not rain the part withered" (Amos 4:7). God also promises to smite the Israelite-descended nations with mildew (a result of prolonged flooding) due to their disobedience to Him (Deuteronomy 28:22). As nations increasingly reject God, we should sadly expect to see more of the weather extremes we are witnessing today. However, these events should also move God's people to, in love, "Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1). Click this link to find out more about the Mission of God's Church!—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater and Chris Sookdeo