Greetings from Charlotte,
A new French-language telecast, “Malachi’s Prophetic Message for Today,” presented by Mr. Rod McNair and dubbed in French, was posted this week. It offers the French-language version of Do You Believe the True Gospel? I recorded a new program earlier today titled “Have You Taken the Mark of the Beast?,” offering Which Day Is the Christian Sabbath? Dr. Douglas Winnail is to be in Houston for the Sabbath and Pentecost. Mr. Mario Hernandez and Mr. Cristian Orrego and his wife Carmen are to spend ten days in Mexico, and Mr. Peter Nathan is to spend Pentecost and ten days in South Africa. Semiannual responses are flooding in to the office. We continue to refine the television stations we are on—dropping less productive stations and adding new ones as budget permits. Celebrations abound for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years on the throne. Britons, especially older Britons, as well as others in the Commonwealth and elsewhere, deeply love this remarkable woman. I hope all of you have a rewarding Sabbath and Pentecost.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
51 New Attendees from Tomorrow’s World Presentations in 2022 (United States Only)
Thus far in 2022, the Living Church of God has conducted 31 TWP “campaigns” in the United States. One campaign is defined as the TWPs conducted in one city, including any follow-ups. It is encouraging to note that, based on the feedback from our pastors, God has guided 51 new people to start attending services in the United States as a result of these events, with another 37 interested though not yet attending. Thank you to our pastors and brethren who make these TWPs possible—they are yielding fruit!
Pre-Engagement Counseling Follow-Up Announcement
Last week we ran an announcement entitled, “Why Get Pre-Engagement Counseling?” If you are dating seriously but not yet engaged and publicly committed to marriage, this is for you. Your pastor is here to help you, as a couple, discern God’s will as you consider making a covenant with each other before God.
If you are not yet ready to go to your pastor as a couple, you may wish to speak with him individually about your relationship and ask for his advice on how to proceed. The purpose here is to give you tools you need, early in the process, to make wise decisions and seek God’s direction at every step. If you would like more information or have any questions about pre-engagement counseling, contact your pastor.
And again, as mentioned in last week’s announcement, the Church requests that all couples considering marriage seek pre-engagement counseling from the ministry before any formal engagement.
Living Education
Living Education Graduation
On Friday, May 27, we conducted the graduation ceremony for our 2021–22 Living Education–Charlotte program, concluding another successful year. Congratulations to our graduates!
- Charles Austin
- Kevin Bibb
- Gabby Burson
- Kezia Ciesielka
- Caanin Fausone
- Nathan Kroon
- Sabrielle McNair
- Ryan Price
- Destiny Stroud
- Yolanda Watt
Feast of Tabernacles
Festival Registration
If you are going to your assigned site, you need to register. Thank you to everyone who has registered for the Feast. As of today, 5,700 Living Church of God members and guests have successfully registered. Even if you are going to your assigned site, you need to be sure to register, as it helps us know how many spaces are available for those who want to transfer in. If you have trouble registering, please consult your local Festival Advisor.
If you are a shut-in, you need to register as “Not Able to Attend.” Regrettably, we understand that some “shut-ins” will not be able to attend the Feast in person for health reasons. We will miss you at the Feast! If you are in this situation and know you will be unable to attend the Feast in person, we still need you to register on the Festival registration system. When you register, simply choose the option, “Not Able to Attend.” This helps us know if there is space at your site for transfers. If you have trouble registering, please consult your local Festival Advisor.
2022 Feast Service Needed
Some Feast sites are in need of volunteers for specific areas of service. If you can help in the following areas, it would be greatly appreciated:
- Sandusky, Ohio – Pianist
- New Bern, North Carolina – Pianist
- Boerne, Texas – Pianist
- Fontana, Wisconsin – Special Music
St. Augustine Room Block Commitment
If you would like to attend St. Augustine, Florida, for the Feast and are willing to stay at the resort, please let us know. We are still short of meeting our contracted room block commitment for St. Augustine. If this would not create a financial burden for you and you are willing to stay at the resort, please register for St. Augustine and put in the Comments box “Can stay at the Resort.”
The below Feast sites are closed for further transfers:
- Boerne, Texas
- Branson, Missouri
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
These sites have ample space and welcome more transfers:
- Florence, Oregon
- Fontana, Wisconsin
- Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
- New Bern, North Carolina
- Poconos, Pennsylvania
- San Diego, California
- Sandusky, Ohio
- Williamsburg, Virginia
Living Youth Program
Living Youth Camp Registrations Closed
Registration closed on Friday, June 3, for all our camps for 2022. We look forward to seeing you at camp!
Comments
Humility—Key to Unity: David wrote, “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1). The Apostle Paul urged Christians to “walk worthy” of their calling “with all lowliness and gentleness… endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1–3). But, what destroys unity and causes contention? The Scriptures reveal that pride is an underlying cause of contention (Proverbs 13:10), yet humility can promote peace, harmony, and unity (James 3:17–18). Jesus was exalted because He first humbled Himself (Philippians 2:5–9). As Christians, we are admonished to be forgiving (Matthew 6:15) and to treat each other with respect—as we would like to be treated (Romans 12:10; Matthew 7:12). Let’s all take this advice to heart so we can be in the Kingdom of God together.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 2, 2022
“Disaster Upon Disaster”: In the prophetic book of Ezekiel, God warns today’s Israelite-descended nations of the fate coming upon them because they have rejected Him and His laws: “Disaster will come upon disaster, and rumor will be upon rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet; but the law will perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders” (Ezekiel 7:26).
A recent CNN article echoes the same story: “Disaster Upon Disaster: Wildfires Are Contaminating the West’s Depleting Water with Ashy Sludge” (CNN, May 29, 2022). “Megafires aren’t just burning down homes, trees and wildlife in the West,” the article explains. “They’re also destabilizing the soil. When it rains, thousands of tons of charred sediment flow into rivers and reservoirs used for drinking water.” The damage done to forests and forest soil by fires means that less water is absorbed by the ground. When it rains, water flows freely off hills and mountains and leads to unstoppable floods. One such contaminated river supplies 90 percent of the drinking water for Las Vegas! And 71 percent of California residents drink water that flows from the Sierra Nevada mountains. Not only does the contaminated water taste bad, but when treated with chlorine, cancer-causing compounds can be created.
In addition to compounding problems in the natural world, many observers are beginning to notice the multitude of simultaneous catastrophes currently rocking the global economy—skyrocketing fuel prices, stock market drops, and inflation threatening to grow out of control. More disasters upon disasters!
As time goes on, we see increasing signs of the approaching end of this age—just as the Bible has long foretold. While it is easy to become cynical or callous to these events, Jesus Christ offered encouraging advice: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). To learn more about the prophesied signs of Christ’s return, watch “Seven Signs of the Second Coming.”
Coming: An EU Army: The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has put intense pressure on European nations to build up their military capabilities far more rapidly than previously planned. European military spending has suddenly increased in many nations in just the last couple of months, and it looks as though increases will continue (EUReporter, May 20, 2022). The European Commission and High Representative, based on analysis performed by the European Defense Agency, recently laid out a plan to better arm and coordinate the equipping of EU nations. One of the major efforts coming out of this working group is the push for military coordination across Europe to avoid fragmentation.
Early plans include creating a Defense Joint Procurement Task Force charged with coordinating efforts to obtain defense-related items and helping EU nations work together to fill their most urgent defense gaps in the fastest way possible. Nations will also rapidly work to increase defense industrial capacity within the EU and reduce reliance on non-European countries. The European Commission is also examining the need to increase defense budgets across EU nations.
For several decades, Europe has discussed a common defense but has made little progress. However, recent events in Ukraine have pressured EU nations to finally take action—especially Germany, where the coalition government has agreed to “massively increase military spending” (Deutsche Welle, May 29, 2022). End-time prophecy reveals that the coming German-led European “beast power” will wield great military power on the world stage (Revelation 13:1–4). Actions currently underway could bring about the fulfillment of this major prophecy. To learn more about this coming European army, read or listen to our booklet The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor or Soon-Coming Reality?—Scott Winnail, Tom Turner, and Francine Prater