Greetings from Charlotte,
Dr. Meredith continues to be spiritually and mentally strong, but his body is weak. Mr. and Mrs. Ames want all of you to know how much they appreciate the many encouraging get-well cards and messages from around the world. Mr. Ames commented: "These loving and inspiring messages demonstrate that the body of Christ, individually and collectively, is vibrant and actively exemplifying its role as the light of the world and the salt of the earth." Mr. Ames recorded a telecast this week, as did Mr. Rod McNair. Mr. Lawdi Ferreira conducted a Bible Study in Harare, Zimbabwe this month, with 12 guests attending; then he flew to Zambia to conduct a Bible Study in Lusaka. Mr. Stuart Wachowicz conducted a TWP on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with 52 visitors, raising the possibility of starting a new congregation in the area. Some of you may have found our new livestreamed program, Tomorrow's World Now. Thursday at 3:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) was our second attempt at live broadcasting on YouTube and Facebook. We are currently testing it once a week, with an eye to going five days a week in the future, but right now we are having to work through technical challenges, and as we get our feet wet, we are discovering what does and doesn't work well regarding the format, so if you do tune in, please be patient with us. We believe TW Now has great potential, but we are far from where we want to be.—GEW
Church Administration
Asian Leadership Conference
The recent loosening of travel restrictions in some parts of Southeast Asia has made possible the first combined Asian Leadership Conference. Ministers from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, and Australia, as well as local congregational leaders, have gathered in Thailand for two days of meetings led by Mr. Rob Tyler and Mr. Rajan Moses. For some, it is the first time to be outside their own country or to meet brethren outside their home congregations. Some traveled 27 hours by bus in order to attend. Mr. Tyler commented that "we really need the gift of tongues as we have seven spoken languages among us." The conference will provide a real boost to strengthen and unify the region, and also encourage all the brethren after the death of Mr. Bruce Tyler, who was greatly loved and highly respected throughout the region.
Ministerial Bulletin Index
Pastors and Elders: Please note that an updated Ministerial Bulletin index has been uploaded on the MyLCG Web site. You can access it by going to cogl.org.
March 18 Livestream Service Replay—Repeat Announcement
The replay of the March 18 livestream service from Charlotte is now available in English, French, and Spanish at www.lcgwebcast.org, under the "Stream Site" dropdown list and the "Local Congregations" section. The passwords are: lcgmarch18 for the English recording, lcgmarch18sp for the Spanish recording, and lcgmarch18fr for the French recording. Then, click on "03-18-17 – Afternoon Services" to play the recorded service. Also, the sermon, which was given by Mr. Weston, will be sent to all congregations on a disk.
"Noah's Ark" Children's Coloring and Activity Books—Repeat Announcement
As an "Unleavened Bread Feast gift" for our little ones in the Church, we have produced coloring and activity books, available in two levels, with the theme of "Noah's Ark." Level 1 is for children ages 4-7 and Level 2 is for children 8-10. The books are only available as electronic files (PDF), not in print. They can be printed and downloaded by parents from the MyLCG section of the Member's Resources Web site www.cogl.org. Just log in to your MyLCG account and click on the appropriate links.
Feast of Tabernacles
Thailand and Jamaica Waiting Lists
We have 22 people on the waiting list for Chiang Mai, Thailand and 49 on the waiting list for Montego Bay, Jamaica. At this time, we are unable to accept more transfers to either of these two sites. If you registered for either of these two sites, but have not yet received an e-mail confirmation of your transfer approval, you are on the waiting list. If you are on either of these two waiting lists, we would recommend that you re-register for another Feast site at this time. However, if you would like to wait to see if any more openings come available, you are welcome to stay on the waiting list. We apologize for any inconvenience.—Festival Office
Living Youth Program
Live Online Teen Bible Studies Suspended Until After the Fall Festivals
The live online Teen Bible Studies will be suspended from now until after the Fall Festivals, although Bible Studies given at some of the summer camps will be posted during the camps. In the meantime, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's on "The Mystery of the Church," can be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Sheldon Monson
Teen Camp Athens, Texas—Staff Application Deadline
Because so many applications have already been received for staff positions at the Texas Teen Camp, we request that anyone wanting to be considered for a staff position sign up by Sunday, April 16. Anyone applying after this date will be accepted ONLY IF space is available. As the camp fills, camper applications will take priority over adding non-essential staff positions.
Campers: If you plan to be a camper at the Teen Camp in Texas this summer, it would be wise to apply now, to ensure that you can be considered for acceptance while space permits.
Over 250 have applied already—this will be a very BIG CAMP. Sign up now!—Sheldon Monson
Mount Rainier Adventure Camp
Congratulations to everyone who has been accepted to the 2017 Adventure Camp in Mount Rainier! Acceptance Packets and trip itineraries were mailed out this week. Hopefully your training is well underway, as it's going to be a physically challenging hike this year.
We were unable to accept a number of people due to being at permitted capacity. If we were unable to accept you on the hike, please accept our apologies! Space is always limited; we would encourage you to keep training and apply again next year.
Living University
Register for SUMMER Semester NOW! For the first time in several years, Living University is offering two summer courses scheduled to run between May 24 and July 21. These "regular" courses will be condensed from 16 weeks to just eight, This summer we will offer THL 135 – Life, Ministry and Teachings of Jesus and THL 438 – Biblical Prophecy II: Minor Prophets. For more information on these courses and to learn about prerequisites, please visit the "Summer 2017 Class Schedule" menu link on the www.livinguniv.com Web site. Please note that the tuition fee for these classes has been reduced by over 50 percent to just $150 for the entire course, plus the cost of textbooks. Those ages 65 and over are eligible to "audit" one class per semester for which Living University will waive the tuition fee. To apply to Living University and to find out more, please visit the www.livinguniv.com Web site. For additional information, please contact Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or 704-708-2294.
Call for On-Campus Students in Charlotte Extended! For those seeking a unique and exciting learning opportunity, LU is now accepting applications for full-time students to study on campus in Charlotte, North Carolina, beginning this fall. On-campus students experience many special opportunities beyond online study, and most participate in our work-study program, which helps defray most living costs. Some scholarship money is also available. Student housing is available for both male and female students. Additional details and requirements can be found online, as can an estimate of associated costs. Application to the on-campus program can be made online through the University Web site (www.livinguniv.com). If you are a legal resident of the U.S., you are interested in on-campus LU study, and you have questions or want to find out more, please contact Dr. Scott Winnail at 704-708-2292 or [email protected]. Interested students should plan to complete their applications as soon as possible.
Comments
Preparing for Passover: In just over one week, we will be observing the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. These annual Festivals are a memorial of the great sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for our sins and a reminder that we need to recognize and eliminate sin and inappropriate aspects from our lives. For the Passover period to be meaningful and profitable—not just routine—we must do our part to prepare for this important phase in God's Great Plan of Salvation. To put the Passover into proper perspective, it will be helpful to review the gospel accounts of the events that led up to the Passover, the crucifixion and the resurrection. Placing our own period of self-examination within this biblical context will help us appreciate the real significance of Jesus' sacrifice. The Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread provide us with an annual opportunity to examine every aspect of our lives in the light of God's instructions in the Scriptures. Spending some time every day in prayerful study and reflection, as we go through this Holy Day period, will help us grow to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—March 30, 2017
The UK's Departure Has Begun: On Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May prepared a letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk, formally notifying him of Britain's departure from the EU and triggering "article 50(2)" of the Treaty of European Union. In her six-page letter, the prime minister laid out her hopes for a smooth two-year transition, beneficial for both parties, and a positive, future "special relationship" (Telegraph, March 29, 2017). However, feelings in Brussels and across Europe may not be so agreeable. Many in Brussels are in favor of Britain's departing as quickly as possible, and even leaders in Scotland are pushing for a break with England (Politico, March 29, 2017). Some experts believe that Brexit is just the tip of the iceberg for a union that cannot sustain itself economically or politically (Telegraph, March 28, 2017). Britain plays a key role in Bible prophecy, unbeknownst to many. At no other time in history has our booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy been more relevant. For more insights into the future of the United Kingdom and Europe itself, be sure to read or listen to this powerful and historically relevant booklet!
China's South China Sea Bases Ready for Occupancy: According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative think tank which has analyzed two years of satellite imagery, "China has largely completed three major military bases in the South China Sea that have naval, air, radar and missile-defence facilities" (The Guardian, March 28, 2017). Although China has denied militarizing the islands, "Last week the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, said defence equipment had been placed on islands to maintain 'freedom of navigation,'" and experts believe the defense equipment will include radar, mobile missile launchers, and combat aircraft (ibid.). As China moves forward with military ambitions on these islands, the U.S. and several of China's neighbors continue to "push back." The future of the region is uncertain and troubling. The question is, "What will come of it?" Will there be war or just continued standoffs? Bible prophecy foretells a future Asian confederacy that will eventually march across the continent to the Holy Land. This confederacy will boast the largest army the world has ever seen (Revelation 9:13–19)! The saber-rattling now being witnessed in the South China Sea is preliminary activity that could help facilitate the creation of the future Asian confederacy prophesied so long ago. For more on this coming superpower, be sure to read or listen to Revelation: The Mystery Unveiled.
Foretaste of the Kingdom in California? California is a beautiful state, but the crime, traffic and pollution are hardly reflective of Christ's coming reign. However, a recent event can give us insight into the coming Kingdom of God. "Southern California's deserts are bursting with color after this winter's heavy rains brought drought relief to the area. It's known as a 'super bloom,' and one of this caliber hasn't happened in California's typically arid deserts in 12 years" (The Weather Channel, March 17, 2017). Deserts across the state are bursting forth with flowers and plants in areas typically covered mostly with sand and tumbleweeds. The state's renowned Death Valley is one of those places. Scientists estimate some of the flower seeds may have been underground for decades, or even for more than a century (ibid.). Long ago, God prophesied of the time following Christ's return to the earth, when "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing…" (Isaiah 35:1-2). This incredible vision of the future of the earth can be seen once in a while following unusual rains in the desert. California's blossoming deserts are just a tiny foretaste of what will happen to the world's deserts one day. For more information on this exciting subject, read or listen to The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like? To view photos of the blossoming deserts of California, consider visiting The Weather Channel.—Scott Winnail, John Meakin, and Francine Prater