Greetings from Charlotte,
Mr. Wallace Smith was in Indianapolis, Indiana, last Sabbath for a Tomorrow’s World Presentation. Twenty guests and 31 members attended in person. Mr. Jonathan McNair conducted a TWP in Crossville, Tennessee, for 17 guests and 17 members who attended in person. While we see continual loosening of COVID-19 restrictions here in the United States, it is not the same elsewhere. Mr. Rajan Moses reports that Malaysia has gone into complete lockdown from June 1 to June 14. Since these lockdowns are often extended, he requests prayers so that they can plan for the Feast. Also pray for Mr. Ephraim Abok, one of our Kenyan ministers, who is in hospital with pneumonia.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
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 Thursday, 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. The forms are available to ministers on the MyLCG website (www.cogl.org).—Festival Office
Living Education
This weekend, two “Men’s Training Camps” will be conducted, one in North Carolina and one in Wisconsin. These activities are focused on worshipping God, building bonds of brotherhood between men in the Church, and learning how to become more effective Christians, husbands, and fathers. On Friday evening, the activity begins with an introductory session on the challenges facing men today, as we begin the Sabbath focusing on the contrast between a man of God and a man of the world. As the Sabbath continues, the men have a Sabbath service in the morning, with the afternoon and evening filled with study sessions and fellowship. Sunday morning adds another layer of learning, as they take part in interactive learning sessions on a variety of topics. In a culture that hates the very idea of men having a God-ordained responsibility for leading their families, being a Christian man is a daily battle. These programs are designed to strengthen the understanding and resolve that are critical for men in the Work of God today.—Jonathan McNair
Television Department
The Tomorrow’s World telecast received 11 Telly Awards (Silver and Bronze) for four programs from the 2020 Telecast Season. These awards were given in a handful of categories. Congratulations to Messrs. Weston, Ames, Smith, and McNair and the editors on their excellent efforts!
Living Youth Program
Texas Teen Camp: Talent Show Form Deadline Moved Up to June 20!
If you are a camper going to the Texas Teen Camp and would like to participate in the Talent Show, please fill out the following form (Login to MyLCG) by June 20 (this is a change). This earlier deadline will give us time to make necessary preparations for the Talent Show. Note: All participants must submit a form in order to be considered for the Talent Show. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Rod McNair at [email protected].
Texas Teen Camp: Camp Choir—Repeat Announcement
We’re also planning to have a Camp choir! Whether you are going to be a camper or a staff member, if you would like to participate in choir at Camp, please If you’d like to participate, please fill out the following form (Login to MyLCG) by June 30 (this form only takes about a minute to complete). If you have questions, please contact Mr. Jonathan McNair at [email protected].
Camps Deadlines Approaching
- Texas Teen Camp
All Teen Camp registration is closed. Please send your transportation details, camper medical form, and horseback riding release form to Mrs. Jenny Penman at [email protected] if you have not already done so. - Missouri Preteen Camp
The last day for campers to register for the Missouri Preteen Camp is Sunday, June 13. We may be able to accept more staff, but it will be on a case-by-case basis. - Texas Preteen Camp
The Texas Preteen Camp is closed for camper registration. We still need a couple of lifeguards and adult male counselors. If you would be able to assist this summer, please contact [email protected] or register online at http://camp.livingyouth.org. - West Virginia Preteen Camp
The last day for campers to register for the West Virginia Preteen Camp is July 1. We are no longer accepting staff for this camp. If you are interested in serving as camp staff, please consider another Preteen Camp.
Comments
Be Prepared! We are living in increasingly uncertain times, with unstable economies, job insecurity, storms, floods, droughts, and sudden terrorist activities. Due to our modern dependence on technology, these dramatic events can cause serious disruptions in our daily lives—thus we need to plan ahead for unexpected emergencies. This is reflected in the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared! Solomon offered the same advice when he wrote, “Ponder the path of your feet”—think about where you are going and how to get there (Proverbs 4:26). Solomon also observed, “A prudent man foresees evil [danger] and hides himself [takes refuge], but the simple [the naïve and unsuspecting] pass on and are punished [they have to face the consequences of not being prepared]” (Proverbs 22:3). God’s Church has long encouraged members to prepare for unexpected emergencies—keep a supply of bottled water, a stock of non-perishable food, extra vitamins, first aid supplies, extra batteries for flashlights, a battery-powered radio, a camp stove or heating device, etc.—things that may be needed if normal public services are disrupted. While God’s people will look to Him for their ultimate protection, we also need to do our part to be prepared—so we are not taken by surprise.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 10, 2021
The Franco-German Relationship Is Faltering: France and Germany have functioned as the leading nations of the European Union for more than a decade. Both nations contribute significant financial resources to the EU. But a recent article in German Foreign Policy observed, “Merkel’s last Franco-German Ministerial Council meeting feigns harmonious relations. Yet Merkel had successively increased Berlin’s predominance over Paris.” In recent years, the gulf between the two nations has widened.
In 2010, German-led fiscal austerity was enacted by the EU, despite “fierce French resistance.” This led to a growing economic gap between the two nations, with Germany far out-producing France. Germany also worked to weaken French influence in the Union for the Mediterranean, an organization of nations France had hoped to use to balance growing German influence in Europe. To add insult to injury, France is being blamed for the failing intervention in Mali (where both France and Germany have been struggling to enforce peace). The nations are also at odds over a sixth-generation Euro fighter jet, contributing to ever-increasing tension. Overall, the relationship between France and Germany is weak and continues to deteriorate.
Bible prophecy reveals that Germany, not France, will lead Europe at the end of the age. The German-led “King of the north” will eventually become heavily involved in the Holy Land and closely tied to the Roman Catholic Church. Bible prophecy does not identify France as a major player in the future of Europe. Where exactly France will fit into a final configuration of nations or kingdoms in Europe remains to be seen, but Scripture is clear that Germany will be at the helm. For greater insight into Germany’s future role in Europe, be sure to read “Resurgent Germany: A Fourth Reich?”
Russia Disconnecting from U.S. Dollar: Russia and other nations around the globe are working to disconnect themselves from the dollar. The U.S. dollar, or “greenback,” has been a powerful element of American hegemony for more than a century. When nations trade goods in U.S. dollars, it keeps the currency strong and provides greater American influence in the affairs of those nations. It also helps keep the standard of living very high in the United States. Russia currently plans to remove the dollar from its National Wealth Fund, replacing dollar holdings with the euro, the Chinese yuan, and gold (Wall Street Journal, June 3, 2021).
The U.S. recently imposed sanctions on Russia for ongoing computer hacking attacks and its interference in last year’s presidential election, and Moscow views decoupling from the dollar as a way to reduce or remove the negative impact of such sanctions now and in the future. The nation has converted large quantities of its dollar supplies into other currencies and has sold many of its U.S. Treasury Bonds. It continues to sell a significant amount of its oil in dollars but is working to change this practice.
As more nations around the globe move to distance themselves from the dollar, American influence over international markets will diminish, and many experts suggest the standard of living in the U.S. will decline as well. Bible prophecy reveals that the power and influence of the Israelite-descended nations, including the United States, will decrease, even as the power and influence of other nations increases (Deuteronomy 28:33). God warned that because of their rejection of Him, He will “break the pride” of the power of the Israelite nations (Leviticus 26:19)—and the dollar is certainly a major element of American pride and power. The decline of the dollar on the world stage is just one way the U.S. may be humbled. To learn more, watch our sobering telecast “The End of America.”—Scott Winnail and Francine Prater