Greetings from Charlotte,
This week, much of the world is watching to see if British voters decide to leave or remain in the European Union, while Americans appear to be in for a summer of rough political campaigning by presidential candidates. Also this week, politically motivated riots broke out in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, and wildfires spawned by a deadly heatwave are burning hundreds of acres in Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico. Looking at the news, Israelite nations are certainly having their troubles. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith turned 86 years old on Tuesday, and he has been busy with meetings and will tape his opening night message for the 2016 Feast of Tabernacles. Mr. Mario Hernandez is in Spain this week for visits, Mr. Rob Tyler and Mr. Kinnear Penman have been visiting members in Mindanao, and the North Carolina Pre-Teen camp is underway. We will hold TWPs this weekend in Regina and Moncton, Canada, Auburn, Massachusetts and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Please pray that God will bless these efforts to preach the gospel to a needy world.—DSW
Church Administration
Caribbean Regional Conference
Eight ministers and three of their wives, representing the French, English and Spanish congregations in the Caribbean Region, met for a full day ministerial regional conference in Barbados. Round table discussions included issues of general and specific interest to serving our dear brethren and doing God's Work in the island nations. I shared Dr. Meredith's opening and closing messages to the recent Council of Elders conference. All participated in reporting on the challenges and conditions of their particular areas as well as on the feasibility of a future single Feast of Tabernacles site, a combined youth camp and potential manpower. The camaraderie, enthusiasm to serve and appreciation to be together in this great Work was inspiring to all.—Rick Stafford, Caribbean Regional Director
Trinidad Family Retreat
On June 17 to 20, the Trinidad church held its first Family Retreat attended by 125 enthusiastic brethren. Most slept in dorms (five for men and five for women), while several adventurous families camped in tents. We were blessed to have our Regional Director, Mr. Richard Stafford; our Area Pastor, Mr. Paul Shumway, and his wife; as well as Associate Pastor, Mr. Damian Weekes, who all provided the spiritual nourishment for the weekend event. In addition to Sabbaths services, there were two Bible studies, a hymn sing and seminars on "Principles of Building a Harmonious Marriage," "Using Your Singleness to Glorify God" and "Godly Principles for Good Health." There were special activities for the younger children as well as team-building activities for everyone. The manager of the facility, who has 25 years of experience in running camps, offered to lead us in a session for team-building. He enjoyed working with our group and was quite impressed that all ages participated, especially the senior citizens.
The overall atmosphere was extremely positive and many commented that they would like to do this again next year... two or three times! The food was great and some even gained a few pounds. Several commented that they would have liked more seminar sessions on all three areas of health, marriage and being single. The entire event created greater unity and strengthened the bonds among the brethren. It certainly drew everyone closer together! The impact was so significant that the change in several lives was quite noticeable by others. Even the significant rainfall could not dampen the spirit of God's people. Several commented on how they could "see that the ministry truly loves us and cares for us." Our great God truly blessed this wonderful event!—Damian Weekes
Feast of Tabernacles
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon CDs
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 wish 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 July 18 for international recipients and September 12 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
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
Living Youth Programs
North Carolina Preteen Camp
Sunny greetings from Living Youth Program's North Carolina Preteen Camp 2016! Our first trip to Singletary Lake State Park has been a wonderful success, as 108 staff and campers gathered together for the first camp of the year. Prayers have been answered, as God provided beautiful weather each day. It's hard to believe the week is almost over! Be sure to check out pictures and video on the LYP Facebook page of the action-packed events, and look out for a full summary in The World Ahead next week.—Jason Fritts
Living University
Registration for 1st (Fall) Semester
As Living University prepares for its tenth year of operation, it is gearing up for the start of registration for classes on July 1st. Classes will subsequently begin Monday, August 15. Students may register anytime between July 1 and the start of classes. 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. The following are brief descriptions of several courses being offered next semester. A complete listing of the "Fall 2016 Class Schedule" (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 the www.livinguniv.com Web site. For additional information, please contact Assistant Registrar Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or +1-704-708-2294. The following are a selection of the classes we will be offering this semester. We plan to share an overview of our Fall courses over the next month in The World Ahead, so be sure to watch for them.
THL 110a – Bible Study Course. This version of the Bible Study Course (BSC) is online and includes lectures on related topics and additional readings. It is far more "in depth" than the paper-pencil or online version of the Bible Study Course, but it will use the original course as its backbone. The course has no tuition charge. Students are only responsible for the Technology Fee. This is the first of the two-semester course, and it serves as an introduction to the Bible, its message, and its implication for successful Christian life in today's world.
THL 135 – Life, Ministry and Teachings of Jesus. This course is one of LU's foundational theology courses and covers the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the four Gospels. It takes a "harmony of the gospels" approach to the subject and covers the gospels in far more detail than is possible in our traditional Sabbath services. Students will study the background, purpose, message, and themes of the Gospels and the significance of Jesus Christ in the first century and beyond. The lectures for this course are presented by long-time evangelist and Bible teacher, Dr. Roderick C. Meredith.
THL 200 – Principles of Christian Living. This practical course covers the purpose for human life; human nature; values, morality, and ethics; marriage and family, and career. Students will learn how to explain and demonstrate a basic knowledge of practical Christian living principles. The lecture core is presented by Dr. Douglas Winnail and deals with the foundations of Christian living for successful life in today's world.
Comments
Watch World News! Jesus told His disciples to watch for the fulfillment of Bible prophecies indicating that the end of the age and His second coming are near (Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13). However, these same prophecies reveal that many will be surprised by dramatic events that will mark the arrival of the last days, because most do not understand the prophetic significance of world events they are seeing in the news. This is why God has given His Church a "more sure word of prophecy" so His Church can function as a watchman to proclaim the real significance of events that are making news today (2 Peter 1:19-20, KJV). The moral decay and declining influence of the Israelite nations (Leviticus 26:14-19; Deuteronomy 32:29), the resurgence of militant Islam in the Middle East (Daniel 11:40) and the movement toward the revival of a European power with links to ancient Rome that is promoted by an ecumenically-minded papacy (Revelation 17:1-5, 12-13; Isaiah 47:8)—all point to end-time events outlined in ancient Bible prophecies. As we see those prophecies coming alive today, we need to draw closer to God and continue to watch world events so we will not be caught by surprise when Jesus Christ returns to this earth (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 23, 2016
Which Way Britain? This week, the people of Britain will make a momentous decision, whether to leave or remain within the European Union. The desire to leave is driven by the loss of sovereignty to EU institutions, a surging wave of immigrants and the growing feeling that Britain is no longer British. The pressure to stay within the EU is driven by fears of what life may be like outside the EU. European leaders also fear a vote by the Brits to leave could trigger a meltdown of the EU, if other nations decide to follow the British example. As the day of the vote arrives, Lord Browne, a former CEO of British Petroleum has observed, "the fact that this referendum is so close makes it perhaps the most worrying moment for the United Kingdom since World War II" (The Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2016). Jesus Christ urged His disciples to "watch" world news as long-prophesied events burst on the world scene in the last days (Matthew 24:42-44; Luke 21:31-36). These end-time prophecies will involve the nations of Europe and Israelite nations around the world—including an increasing polarization between the two. For more insights, read or listen to The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
A Troubled Continent: South America is facing a host of mounting problems. In Colombia, drug lords and narcotics trafficking have generated years of violence, corrupted the political and economic systems and contributed to a growing domestic drug problem (The Guardian, April 18, 2016). The oil-rich nation of Venezuela is being torn asunder by food riots and widespread looting, as collapsing oil prices have devastated the economy and left hungry residents with little money to buy food (The New York Times, June 19, 2016). In Brazil, rampant corruption has sparked mass protests against the nation's political leaders (BBC, May 31, 2016). In recent months, the appearance of the birth defect-causing Zika virus in much of South America, from Venezuela and Colombia to Brazil and Argentina, has added to the growing troubles facing this entire continent (The Telegraph, May 20, 2016). Bible prophecies have long warned that "in the last days perilous times will come" as a result of human beings pursuing selfish desires and ignoring the laws of God (2 Timothy 3:1-5). However, the Bible also reveals that Jesus Christ is going to return to this earth and bring a solution to these widespread problems—solutions that will ultimately benefit and bless the South American continent and its people! To learn more about the "good news" that lies ahead, read Do You Believe the True Gospel?
Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History: Omar Mateen, a Muslim claiming an affiliation with ISIS, killed 49 people in a homosexual nightclub in Orlando, Florida—"the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history" (Associated Press, June 13, 2016). This event leaves many "around the world wondering why mass violence keeps happening in America" (Associated Press, June 13, 2016). Many blame the lack of gun control, others point the finger at radical Islam, while some say mental illness is the cause. However, many fail to connect the dots between moral decline and rejection of God and the rise of mass violence. Those who follow Tomorrow's World understand that the United States is a modern descendant of the biblical Israelites. God intended for the Israelite nations to set an example of His way of life to the nations around them (Deuteronomy 4:6-8). He gave them His laws and a stern warning that "if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments… if you despise My statutes… if your soul abhors My judgments… I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you" (Leviticus 26:14-16). God's desire and expectation for Israel has not changed (Hebrews 13:8). Today we see not only a rejection of biblical sexual morality, but also a blatant disregard for human life. As America moves further away from God's ways, God will continue to remove His protection and allow America to reap the consequences of her sins. The lesson for America and the world is that only obedience to God and His laws will bring blessing, safety, and ultimately peace! For more information, read our articles "Play God or Obey God?" and "What Is Wrong With Same-Sex Marriage?"—Scott Winnail and Justin Ridgeway