Greetings from Charlotte,
This week we posted Mr. Richard Ames’ French-dubbed telecast: “The Amazing Real World to Come,” offering The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like? Also posted in the French language was the whiteboard “What Is Sin?,” advertising Christian Baptism: Its Real Meaning. Please pray that these will have an impact on any whom God will call.
As mentioned in this week’s video update, we have made a decision regarding a new inserter to replace 18-year-old “Millie.” Some of you sent special donations to help with this long-term purchase. Those donations covered much of the cost, and we thank you for your generosity. This machine inserts letters and booklets into envelopes and will speed up our work and save many thousands of dollars each year in hiring costs.
For those wishing to transfer for the Feast this year, be sure to count the cost. Whether flying or traveling by private vehicle, you may experience serious sticker shock. Prices continue to rise and will likely not drop appreciably between now and the Feast. If you need to make a change in plans, be sure to let us know by way of the Festival registration process.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
Five Tomorrow’s World Presentations This Weekend
This weekend we have five TWPs planned: Dr. Douglas Winnail will be in Pawtucket, Rhode Island (June 11) and Hartford, Connecticut (June 12); Mr. Stuart Wachowicz will be in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (June 11) and Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada (June 12); and, Mr. Weston will be in Gastonia, North Carolina, on Sunday, June 12. More than 10,000 invitations have been sent out for the events this weekend—your prayers for successful TWPs would be much appreciated!
Living Youth Program
Counselor’s Assistant Needed at Texas Preteen Camp
Plans for this year's Texas Preteen Camp are coming together well. The only need we currently have is a Staff position for a young man to serve as Counselor’s Assistant for the boys. This person would need to be 18 or older to serve in this capacity. Would a young man attending or serving at the Teen Camp prior to the Preteen Camp in Texas be interested in staying over to serve at Preteen Camp? If you have an interest, please email me at [email protected].—Phil West, Texas Preteen Camp Director
Texas Teen Camp: Talent Show and Camp Choir
Campers, share your talents at this year’s Texas Teen Camp Talent Show! We’re looking forward to an evening of entertainment provided by campers for the whole camp to enjoy. Selections should be vocal or instrumental music reflecting godly values of wholesome, positive, and uplifting entertainment in words and/or music, avoiding worldly themes or messages. If you would like to participate, please fill out the participation form by June 20. The form can be found when you log in to your MyLCG account, and it takes about seven minutes to complete. All participants must submit this form in order to be considered for the Talent Show. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Rod McNair at [email protected].
We are also planning to have a camp choir. Campers and staff members are all invited to participate. If you would like to be part of the camp choir, please fill out the participation form by June 20. You can access this form through your MyLCG account, and it only takes about a minute to complete. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Rod McNair at [email protected].
Comments
Importanace of Perseverance: When Winston Churchill urged his countrymen to never, never, never quit, he was echoing biblical advice. When Joshua took over after Moses, God said, “Be strong and of good courage”—trust and obey Him and don’t be afraid, and you will succeed and prosper (Joshua 1:5–9). Jesus told His disciples, “he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Paul told Christians they must control every thought, resist temptation, and finish the race to win the reward in the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 9:24–27; 2 Corinthians 10:5). The Apostle Peter advised early Christians they needed to develop courage, self-control, and perseverance to obtain the precious promises of God (2 Peter 1:4–8). John wrote that only overcomers who persist in their mission will receive a reward in the Kingdom (Revelation 3:7–13). Let’s remember this important advice to persevere in our calling so we can reign with Jesus Christ in His coming Kingdom.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy
More “Mass Shootings” in America: These days, the definition of “mass shooting” depends on who is reporting the news. By one definition—at least four people other than the shooter shot and injured or killed—Memorial Day weekend in the United States saw at least 14 such “mass shootings” (NBC News, May 31, 2022). These shootings claimed the lives of nine people and over 60 were wounded. During the same weekend, a count based on early data “found that gun violence—not just mass shootings—left at least 156 people dead and 412 injured from 5 p.m. ET Friday to 5 a.m. Tuesday,” according to advocacy group Gun Violence Archive.
Several of the shootings took the lives of teenagers who were in arguments and used guns to “solve” their problems. Following the shooting of six teenagers, Chattanooga, Tennessee, mayor Tim Kelly lamented, “I’m standing here in front of you talking about our community’s youth getting shot. That’s outrageous and it has to stop.” Sadly, even more shootings with multiple victims have taken place since Memorial Day.
In a prophecy meant for end-time nations descended from ancient Israel, the prophet Ezekiel wrote, “Make a chain, for the land is filled with crimes of blood, and the city is full of violence” (Ezekiel 7:23). Ezekiel was asked by God, “Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence” (Ezekiel 8:17). While increased violence and killings in the U.S. and other Israelite nations are saddening, these tragedies were prophesied to occur if our nations rejected biblical morality. The Bible reveals that it will take the return of Jesus Christ to eventually bring lasting peace to the whole earth (Isaiah 9:6–7). To better understand what is happening in our modern nations and discover the source of real solutions, read “Mass Murder Madness.”
Bible Teachers Go Further Astray: The Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University has published the “shocking” results of a study suggesting that barely more than half of all U.S. pastors of Evangelical churches, only 51 percent, have what the CRC calls a “biblical worldview” (Christian Post, May 29, 2022). This surprising finding reveals that about half of religiously conservative Evangelical pastors do not believe the Bible is God’s inspired word and worthy of serving as the foundation of one’s life—yet these pastors claim to be teachers of the Bible. Percentages were even lower for charismatic or Pentecostal church pastors and pastors from mainline Protestant churches.
The research also suggests that pastors of larger congregations were more likely to depart from Bible-based thinking than those of smaller congregations, tending to promote societal standards rather than those from the Bible. Another recent study reported that pastors are looking to retire at far greater rates than ever before, citing reasons such as “stress, loneliness, political divisions and other concerns like their church being in decline.”
Bible prophecies have long warned nations descended from the Israelites about the quality of their leaders at the end of the age: “O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths” (Isaiah 3:12). The Bible also warns about moral and religious teachers who claim to represent God while causing the people to stray: “Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money” (Micah 3:11). God further says that “they are shepherds who cannot understand: They all look to their own way, everyone for his own gain” (Isaiah 56:11). It is sobering to see how many want to be teachers, yet still are in need of being taught themselves (1 Timothy 1:7). God clearly explains through the prophet Isaiah, “If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). To learn more about God’s truth and His way of life, be sure to read or listen to What Is a True Christian?—Scott Winnail and Francine Prater