Greetings from Charlotte,
Dr. Meredith has been putting the finishing touches on his booklet on the Protestant Reformation that will come out first as a series of articles in the Tomorrow's World magazine. Look soon for the first installment in the March/April edition. Dr. Douglas Winnail traveled to the U.K. to participate in a short ministerial conference over last weekend that Regional Director Adam West organized. Mr. Richard Ames and I are scheduled to record Tomorrow's World programs next week and Mr. Wallace Smith is scheduled to go to Canada to record a number of programs for use outside of the United States. Messrs. Mario Hernandez and Cristian Orrego returned from a very encouraging trip to Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia. The Canadian office has been working for some time on a new initiative to reach a different demographic and entice them to check us out further. Please see the announcement below for further exciting details.—GEW
Church Administration
U.S. Regions and Regional Pastors—Repeat Announcement
For your information, the following is an outline of the Church's administrative regions within the United States and the Regional Pastors over them:
The U.S. Headquarters region covers the Charlotte and Statesville, North Carolina, areas. Dr. Roderick Meredith is Regional Pastor.
The U.S. West region covers the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington State, and Wyoming. Dr. Jeffrey Fall is Regional Pastor.
The U.S. Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Mr. Dan Hall is Regional Pastor.
The U.S. Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Mr. Jonathan McNair is Regional Pastor.
The U.S. Midwest: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Mr. Rand Millich is Regional Pastor.
The U.S. Mideast: Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina*, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Mr. Lambert Greer is Regional Pastor.
A few pastorates overlap two different regions. In such cases, the Area Pastor's entire geographical area is automatically assigned to his designated administrative region.
*Correction: Last week, we mistakenly listed North Carolina in the "U.S. Southeast," administrative region. It's actually in the "U.S. Midwest" region under Mr. Lambert Greer. We apologize for any confusion caused.
Passover 2017—Repeat Announcement
Important Notice to All Pastors: In 2017, the Passover Service will be observed on Sunday evening, April 9. 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 for 2017 has been made by Mr. Peter Nathan. To ensure timely delivery and to save on shipping costs, we need this information before February 13 for international congregations, and by March 13 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 13 and U.S. requests before March 13. Please direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Feast of Tabernacles
2017 Festival Advisor Survey
Pastors: Last Tuesday, Headquarters sent out an e-mail to Area Pastors worldwide, requesting them to confirm or update Festival Advisors for each congregation. Thank you to all the pastors who have already responded! The deadline for completing this task is Monday, February 13. If you are an Area Pastor and HAVE NOT received this e-mail, please contact the Festival office at [email protected].
2017 Festival Service Survey Coming—Repeat Announcement
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.
Living Youth Program
United States Summer Camps 2017
Camp registration for all U.S. Camps will begin on Sunday, February 12, 2017. The dates for each camp are as follow:
Teen Camps:
Texas Teen Camp (July 9–23) Camp Director: Sheldon Monson
Adventure Camp (August 1–10) Camp Director: Sheldon Monson
Pre-Teen Camps:
North Carolina Pre-Teen Camp (June 11–16) Camp Director: Mark Sandor
Missouri Pre-Teen Camp (July 2–7) Camp Director: Gene Hilgenberg
Texas Pre-Teen Camp (July 24 –30) Camp Director: Jason Fritts
Friday Evening Online Teen Bible Study
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, February 10, will be on "The Last Great Day – God's Master Plan Completed!" This is Lesson 31 (Part II) of the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course. We will be covering "The Lake of Fire" & "The New Heavens and the New Earth." If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies, 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 find instructions for joining the Bible Study and also access it 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 "The Last Great Day—God's Master Plan Completed!," can be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Sheldon Monson
Contributions to Funds
Thank you for contributing to the Morgan Montgomery Fund: We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Morgan Montgomery Fund! Your contributions have helped many attend camp who would not otherwise have had the opportunity. Most recently this fund provided scholarships for 5 young people to attend the summer camp program in New Zealand.
Thank you to those who have sent donations to the Youth Fund: We would like to thank all those who have donated money to the Youth Program over the past year! We will endeavor to provide the best possible camp experience for everyone attending any Living Church of God Youth Camp. It is our goal to run the best camps on the planet! Thank you!
Living Youth Programs 2016 Camp Pictorials Now Available—Repeat Announcement
Living Youth Programs is happy to announce immediate availability of the 2016 Camp Pictorials covering the Ohio Teen and Adventure Camps that took place last year. If you are interested in receiving a copy, please e-mail [email protected]. Although the pictorial albums are available free of charge, we would appreciate a donation, if possible, to help cover our costs.
Internet
Introducing Tomorrow's World Viewpoint
Recently Mr. Weston referred to some new innovations that will hopefully reach audiences that we have traditionally not impacted. Thus we are pleased to have launched our new YouTube channel—Tomorrow's World Viewpoint—with 4 Viewpoint videos now loaded, as well as a short promotional video explaining the purpose of the channel. With the world around us changing rapidly, many are concerned about trends they see in their day to day lives. Viewpoint seeks to answer many of these questions, as well as causing viewers to question and examine the motives behind some of these trends. To view these videos, you can visit either of the Church's Canadian Web pages (www.lcgCanada.org or www.twCanada.org) and click on the link for "Viewpoint." If you find these videos profitable, we encourage you to subscribe to the YouTube channel and to share the videos through social media.—Stuart Wachowicz
Comments
Are You a Peacemaker? Jesus Christ explained a fundamental aspect of Christianity when He told His disciples, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). The Apostle Paul advised brethren in Rome, "as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). Paul explained that we can become peacemakers by not seeking revenge, by not mistreating others when we are mistreated and by overcoming evil with good. Solomon wisely observed, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). Solomon also stated, "He who covers [overlooks and forgives] a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats [keeps talking about or won't let go of] a matter separates friends" (Proverbs 17:9). Jesus warned that reacting angrily to a brother or sister is the same as murder, because it breaks the spirit of the law (Matthew 5:21-26). Real peacemakers are willing to go to their brother or sister when problems arise and talk things over in a spirit of meekness (Matthew 18:15; James 3:17-18). David wrote, "Great peace have those who love Your law" (Psalm 119:165). One important lesson we must learn as Christians is that peace comes when we follow and learn to apply the laws of God.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—February 2, 2017
Europe's View of the Holy Land: Last week, the pro-Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported, "The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a report on Tuesday outlining the dire humanitarian situation in the besieged Gaza Strip and reiterating its support for lifting… [Israel's] decade-long siege of the territory... In addition, the assembly blamed the vast destruction caused by Israel's 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip for exacerbating hardship in the small Palestinian territory… It also urged European countries to back a 'future official examination by the ICC' [International Criminal Court]" (January 25, 2017). "The EU foreign service declined to comment on the leaked paper. Israeli authorities routinely denigrate the EU's annual reports as being too pro-Palestinian" (EU Observer, January 27, 2017). As the relationship between Israel and the Palestinian Territories continues to falter, EU nations appear to be taking a more active role to promote their plan for a two-state solution and a shared Jerusalem. Bible prophecy clearly states that at the end of the age, a European beast power will move into the Holy Land, surround Jerusalem with armies, and control the city militarily (Luke 21:20-24; Revelation 11:2). It will even impose its will on some of the Jews' religious worship, an action connected to what Daniel and Jesus referred to as the "abomination of desolation" (Mark 13:14; Daniel 11:31; 12:11). The actions we see today appear to be setting the stage for the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies. For more on the future of Jerusalem, read "Jerusalem's Amazing Future!"
Global Tensions Heating Up: This week, Iran defiantly tested a ballistic missile in apparent violation of the 2015 nuclear deal reached with world powers (The Independent, February 1, 2017). Some experts expect an Iranian naval attack on the allied strike group, consisting of Britain, France, Australia and the U.S., which is operating in the area (The Times, February 1, 2017). Last week Pakistan "conducted its first flight test of the surface-to-surface Ababeel missile… which officials and analysts say marks a significant step forward in the country's ability to target locations in India. The move followed Pakistan's first ballistic missile launch from a submarine earlier this month" (Financial Times, January 31, 2017). Former soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev recently wrote for Time Magazine, "Politicians and military leaders sound increasingly belligerent and defense doctrines more dangerous. Commentators and TV personalities are joining the bellicose chorus. It all looks as if the world is preparing for war" (January 26, 2017). These sobering words echo Jesus' predicted signs of "the end of the age," which include "wars and rumors of wars" (Matthew 24:3-8). Students of the Bible are urged to watch world events so they are not "caught unaware" by the return of Jesus Christ (Luke 21:34-36). To learn more about what to watch for, read Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return.
Immoral Effects of Women in Combat: According to the Marine Corps Times, "male and female infantry Marines [are] to share tents in the field" as the integration of females into combat roles gains momentum (January 25, 2017). One officer stated, "We're not changing any of our tactical posture or breaking unit cohesion or adjusting anything to accommodate mixed genders while we're operating in a field environment replicating tactical conditions" (ibid.). However, during the testing phase of female integration, "there were seven reports of sexual assault among the task force of about 600 staff members and research subjects, which is on par with other recently integrated units but slightly higher than historic rates in other military populations, the Corps determined" (The San Diego Tribune, October 15, 2015). Common sense says that when men and women are pressed into close contact for long periods of time, such problems are likely to occur. The Bible is clear that sexual immorality, in any form, is wrong (Acts 15:20, 29; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 9; 6:13, 18; Galatians 5:19)! When mankind blurs the lines of right and wrong, problems occur—and we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8). The United States and other Israelite nations—such as the UK, Canada, Australia, Israel, Scandinavia, and many more—have discarded their moral compass. Anarchy and lawlessness, hatred and disunity, multiplication of enemies, and the break-up of the family all result from ignoring these divine laws. God prophesied to the nations of Israel blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (see Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). We are watching that come true today. For more information, read our article "The Demise of the West."—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, Justin Ridgeway