Greetings from Charlotte,
This week Dr. Meredith conducted three full days of meetings with the Council of Elders. New and exciting ideas were discussed, with samples of one new video program coming from the Canadian office. You should be seeing some new tools added to our media mix in the very near future. Dr. Meredith was able to conduct all meetings, but he does get tired and your prayers for his continued strength are greatly appreciated. On the final day of meetings, some of the older members of the Council were asked to give details on what drew them into the Truth and what advice they might pass along. This was a most encouraging exercise as it was evident that each man spoke from the heart regarding the factors influencing his life and decisions. It was instructive to learn what it was that attracted these men to the Truth as these same factors are still valid today, and with God's calling there are people who can be motivated to respond similarly to the Truth. Dr. Meredith finished the meetings by reminding us of the faith needed for the future as difficult times descend upon us. He went through a short Bible study demonstrating the centrality of faith in the lives of various biblical personages, and admonitions for us. This truly was one of the most profitable series of meetings in which the Council has participated.—GEW
Church Administration
2016 Charlotte Family Weekend—Registration Opening
Mark your calendars and start making plans now to attend the 2016 Charlotte Family Weekend! The theme for this year's event is "Family Now and Forever." We hope to have registration open by Sunday, November 20, but it may not happen until Monday or Tuesday. Registration will be on your My LCG page of the www.cogl.org Web site. Updates on activities will be posted on https://www.facebook.com/LcgCharlotteWinterWeekend/?fref=nf, the Charlotte Family Weekend Facebook page. This is a public page, so you don't need a Facebook account to view it. The host hotel will once again be the Renaissance Charlotte Suites. Room rates this year are $98 per room which includes a buffet breakfast for two. Discounted breakfast coupons for additional occupants may be purchased upon check-in. Reservations may be made by calling the hotel directly at (704) 357-1414 or by using the link provided on the Facebook page. Activities will begin at the hotel on Thursday evening, December 22, with a 1950s sock hop themed dance—so slick back your hair, put on your poodle skirts and come join us for a fun evening of music and dancing. Friday morning there will be a number of targeted seminars. We have a new activity this year for Friday afternoon—bowling! We have done a complete buyout of a bowling alley near the Renaissance, allowing us two full hours of unlimited bowling. The venue also has great food and drinks available, so even if you don't want to bowl, feel free to join us for lots of good food and fellowship. Friday night there will be a Bible Study for everyone, given by Mr. Gerald Weston. We plan to again livestream over the Internet Dr. Meredith's sermon at the Saturday afternoon Church service. Saturday night there will be a semi-formal dinner/dance for all ages. Sunday, December 25, we will have the increasingly popular Sports Day with basketball and volleyball tournaments, free play, kids' activities and games and lots of free food! Sunday night we will wrap things up at the hotel with a Games Night. Last year we had over 800 people join us for the events and we hope that this year even more of you will attend. So grab your dance shoes and your tennis shoes and come join us for an exciting weekend of physical and spiritual rejuvenation!—Jim Meredith
Kansas City Family Weekend: December 30 through January 1
The Kansas City Family Weekend is getting closer! All Friday and Saturday events will be at the KCI Airport Embassy Suites and the deadline for getting a suite at the excellent rate they have given us is December 10. Please visit our local Kansas City Web site at kclcg.org (not an official LCG Web site) for more details on how to contact the hotel and get the special rate. You can also sign up on the Web site to stay with brethren, but space is limited, so register early. Detailed information, registration, housing details, and activities sign-up are all available on our Web site, at the link for the KC Family Weekend. You can also sign up to display your artwork, poetry, quilting or other creative endeavors in a special area so all of us can appreciate your talents. The secret password for housing and other information on the site is "security" (all lowercase).
The weekend will once again include Bible Studies Friday night and Saturday morning, afternoon Sabbath services, catered dinner, evening entertainment and dance. On Sunday, we'll kick off the day with Family Games, where a dozen or more teams of 15-20 people will answer trivia questions, run relays and test their ability to synergize. From there, we'll continue with sports and leisure activities for all ages, including basketball and volleyball tournaments, Gaga Ball, backyard games, and children's games. We also have a volleyball workshop and kids' basketball skills workshop (dads are encouraged to attend).
Please visit our Facebook page at Facebook.com/lcgkcweekend or our Web site at kclcg.org (not official LCG sites). We look forward to seeing you soon!
Internet Department
Roku Channel Update
Each week, we place the Tomorrow's World telecast and Webcasts on our Roku channel, and we run occasional advertising campaigns to promote the channel to new people. This has produced some very positive growth over the years. For example, our Roku channel has now been installed more than 66,250 times and we average more than 105 average viewers daily, with an average viewing time of more than 32 minutes per account! In 2015 and 2016, our Roku channel has created many hundreds of new subscribers and donors, and it seems to be "trending positively" as far as reaching an increasing number of people, even as compared to many of our stronger traditional television stations. Your prayers for this and all of our media efforts are much appreciated as we do our best to reach the whole world with the true Gospel!—Wyatt Ciesielka
Feast of Tabernacles
As the Festival Office turns its attention toward next year, we want to pause for a moment to share with you some pertinent facts about the Feast of Tabernacles 2016. We are grateful that God provided an inspiring and encouraging Feast to brethren and guests all over the world. Thank you again, to all who served tirelessly—volunteering your time—to make it an uplifting experience for everyone. And of course, we thank our Great God for protecting us personally from violent storms that affected several of our Feast sites.
Here are a few data points about this year's Feast which we thought you might find interesting:
Facts about the Feast of Tabernacles, 2016:
- Overall High Attendance: 10,534
- 50 Feast sites, 33 countries
- 289 live phone/Internet connections from ten Feast sites in the USA and international areas
- 159 "Feast guests" registered (subscribers, co-workers, visitors from other COGs)
- First year for new Feast sites in Togo, West Africa and Goa, India
Stay tuned to The World Ahead and the Festival Web site for news of the Feast of Tabernacles 2017!
Living Youth Program
No Friday Evening Online Teen Bible Study on November 25
There will be no online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, November 25 because of it being Thanksgiving weekend in the United States. However, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's on "The Plain Truth About God's Holy Sabbath," can be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Sheldon Monson
Living University
Living University: Registration Now Open for Second Semester
Registration for second semester classes is now underway! The spring semester will begin on Wednesday, January 11. You may register for the spring semester (fall in the southern hemisphere) anytime between now and January 10. Those who have never taken a Living University course will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for your selected course. This semester, along with many of our traditionally offered spring classes, we will be offering a completely new course. The following are brief descriptions of several courses being offered next semester. A complete listing of second semester courses can also be viewed on the Living University Web site under the link "Spring 2017 Class Schedule." 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 or questions, please contact Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or 704-708-2294.
THL 212 – Old Testament Survey II. This second-semester course takes a very helpful overview of the Latter Prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and the "Minor" prophets. The prophecies of these books are discussed along with the background, content, structure, geography, teachings and basic meaning of each book as well as outstanding people and events.
NEW BUS 308 – Business Law. Business Law provides a comprehensive study of the relationship between business and the law. It is a fundamental business discipline and it deals with contemporary business ethics. The study of business law allows you to develop a broader perspective on the business and regulatory landscape as well as developing the proficiency that should enrich your business career and help you lay a foundation for successful postgraduate studies in business and law.
COMM 260 – Public Speaking. This course provides instruction and experience in preparation and delivery of speeches within a public setting and group discussion. In this class, students will focus on research, preparation, delivery, and evaluation of informative, persuasive, and special occasion public speaking. By the end of the semester students should be able to prepare and deliver well-organized speeches and participate in group discussion with appropriate audiovisual support.
Comments
A Key to Spiritual Growth and Success: Many people believe the key to success depends on whom you know. However, God's instructions are quite different. Jesus stressed the importance of humility and being teachable when He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" and "Blessed are the meek" because they will inherit the Kingdom of God and reign on this earth (Matthew 5:3-5). God was able to use Moses because he was humble and teachable (Numbers 12:3). Jesus was exalted by God because He was willing to humble Himself and follow God's instructions (Philippines 2:8-11). Solomon understood that "before honor is humility" (Proverbs 15:33). The Apostle James advised, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble," and "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:6-10). Peter records that God will exalt those who are humble and can submit to one another (1 Peter 5:5-6). The prophet Isaiah offers a summary of what God is looking for in those He will reward: "on this one will I look: on him who is poor [humble] and of a contrite spirit [willing to change], and who trembles at My word [is teachable by God]" (Isaiah 66:2). These scriptures provide us with the key to real spiritual growth and success. Let's learn to use this important key!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—November 17, 2016
Trump Presidency and the EU: Many Europeans are uncertain about the impact President-elect Trump will have on Europe, and many are fearful. One German commentator wrote, "Europe in uncharted waters… The popularity of US presidents has always waxed and waned, but never has one struck fear into the heart of his allies like Donald Trump" (Deutsche Welle, November 9, 2016). Comments posted on Twitter (that were later deleted) by the French ambassador Gerard Araud stated, "After Brexit and this election, everything is possible. The world is collapsing before our eyes… Who knows what comes next?" (Euobserver, November 9, 2016, ). Others speculate that this election may speed the development of an EU army (Euobserver, November 15, 2016). The German defense minister recently said, "Europe needs common political will for more security policy relevance. The outcome of the election in America could provide an additional impetus… The Brexit decision and the election in the United States have set a new course" for the EU (Euobserver, November 11, 2016). Germany's February presidential election will also be important to watch! Europe's future, as well as that of Israelite-descended nations like the U.S. and Britain, has long been prophesied. For more biblical understanding of these important events and how they will shape the future of our world, be sure to read or listen to our powerful booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Wooing Another Daughter: The Roman Pope has been working hard to reach out to and welcome the return of Protestant denominations to the Catholic fold. "Pope Francis and Dr. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, jointly presided at a Vespers service on October 5, and signed a statement affirming their commitment to ecumenical progress. At the ecumenical service, Pope Francis called upon all bishops—Catholic and Anglican alike—to 'work as instruments of communion, always and everywhere… We recognize ourselves as brothers who belong to different traditions, but are driven by the same Gospel to undertake the same mission in the world'" (Catholic World News, October 5, 2016). "During the service the two prelates signed a joint statement, affirming: 'Catholics and Anglicans recognize that we are heirs of the treasure of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the call to share that treasure with the whole world'" (ibid.). The Bible has long foretold that a "mother" church (Revelation 17:3-5) will re-gather her children around her at the end of the age (Isaiah 47:7-8). Although the Catholic church's "Protestant daughters" broke away hundreds of years ago, history shows they took many of her teachings with them. For more insight into this timely subject, read our eye-opening booklet Satan's Counterfeit Christianity.
Syphilis Increasing Among Millennials: The sexually transmitted infection syphilis is on the rise among millennials and many blame the sex "hookup" app Tinder. "According to a new report issued by the Centers for Disease Control, there has been a 19 percent spike in the number of cases of syphilis from the previous year with most cases happening among 15-24 year-olds… The reason for this spike, experts say, is because of the 'Tinder effect,' or the idea that casual anonymous sex is easier because of online hookup sites like Tinder" (Breitbart, October 30, 2016). "The problem with casual, anonymous sex via apps is twofold: You're more likely to catch something from one out of 100 hookups, and you're less likely to inform your former partners if you find out you have something… Syphilis is hard to detect because its symptoms look like a lot of other ailments. If untreated, it can remain latent in the body for years." In its late stages, syphilis "may damage the internal organs, including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints" (The New York Post, October 29, 2016). The Bible makes it very clear that fornication—sexual behavior before marriage—is a sin (2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Colossians 3:5). God also inspired Paul to write that sexual sin affects the body (1 Corinthians 6:18), and it has emotional and physical consequences—including sexually transmitted infections. God designed sex only for marriage and to provide blessings from this type of godly relationship. However, sexual activity outside of marriage has serious and lasting consequences. To learn more about God's plan for sex and marriage, read our article, "The Sex Age."—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, Deborah Lincoln-Strange and Justin Ridgeway