Weekly Update

June 30th, 2022

Greetings from Charlotte,

The Western Regional Ministerial Conference was held this week and it was wonderful to interact with the men in person and to answer questions that have come up. We have begun posting articles in Hindi on the India website and will have new content each week to keep the site up-to-date and active. We are currently offering the English-language Bible Study Course online but will be posting booklets in Hindi in the weeks to come. Our two teen outdoor adventure camps, in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and the Ouachita (pronounced “Washita”) Forest of Arkansas, should be finished by the time you receive this report. Several of us will be leaving at the end of this coming week for the teen summer camp in Texas. Please remember to pray for all these activities and initiatives by the Church to preach the Gospel to the world and to feed the flock.—Gerald Weston

Church Administration

Recent Tomorrow’s World Presentations

Last week we held five initial Tomorrow’s World Presentations: Savannah, Georgia; Salt Lake City, Utah; Sudbury, Ontario; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Charleston, South Carolina. These presentations had a combined total of 119 guests. One follow-up presentation was held in Vero Beach, Florida, and attended by three guests and 20 members. Thank you for your prayers for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.

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 Friday, July 29. 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

Feast of Tabernacles

Feast Site in Argentina

The brethren in the South American country of Argentina invite those considering an international Feast site to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day in the peaceful and quiet tourist area of ​​Merlo in the province of San Luis. There will be English translation of services.

  • City: San Luis de Merlo
  • Hotel: Ayres del Bosque
  • Includes: Lodging, breakfast, lunch, and dinner (drinks are not included)
  • Date of arrival: October 9 from 1:00 p.m. with dinner
  • Departure date: October 18 after breakfast
  • Minister in charge: Mr. Mario Hernández

For more information please contact:

Comments

Do We Value the Truth? Jesus said, “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Jesus also told His disciples that the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth” that “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). As we witness the lies and seriously misguided ideas that are promoted today in Satan’s world about homosexuality, transgenderism, and other perverted and immoral behaviors, it is increasingly obvious that “truth is fallen in the street” (Isaiah 59:14). The prophet Jeremiah warned that when nations do not obey God or receive correction, truth will perish from their mouth (Jeremiah 7:28). This is why we have been called today, to “restore” true values (Matthew 17:11) that come from the word of God. Our job will be to point the world back to the Bible, because Jesus plainly said, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Do we value that truth?

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

News and Prophecy—June 30, 2022

Rage over Roe v. Wade: In January 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that all women in the nation had a constitutional right to abortion. This decision made previous state-level abortion bans illegal and stood for just over 49 years. On Friday, June 24, the Supreme Court reversed that decision and removed such nationwide protections for abortion. This ruling does not make abortion illegal in the U.S. It simply removes federal protections for abortion and instead allows individual states to decide whether or not mothers have the right to terminate the life of their unborn child.

As of this writing, at least eleven U.S. states have banned abortion (though the law is temporarily blocked in two), and an additional nine states are expected to ban it, with two more expected to add strong restrictions. In reaction to the court ruling, “pro-choice” demonstrations erupted in several cities across the nation, along with arrests for vandalism and destruction of state and federal property. Global reactions are mixed, with some condemning the U.S. and others finding encouragement in the ruling (BBC, June 25, 2022). While the Vatican came out in support of the court decision, noting it is also a situation for the rest of the world to reflect on and learn from, President Joe Biden called it a “sad day” for America (Reuters, June 24, 2022).

Abortion is a politically explosive issue, but for Christians it should not be a confusing matter. The Bible clearly reveals that taking the life of an unborn child is murder (Exodus 20:13; 21:22–25). The Scriptures also plainly state that the God who inspired these instructions does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). While pro-abortion and anti-abortion factions battle over this divisive issue, Christians are advised not to get involved in the carnal political efforts of this world (John 18:36; Philippians 3:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20) and, instead, to cry aloud concerning sin and the need for national repentance (Isaiah 58:1). The real hope for peace is the return of Jesus Christ, who will bring about a “restoration of all things” (Isaiah 9:6–7; Acts 3:19–21). To learn more about God’s perspective on abortion, watch our telecast “Tiny Fingers and Toes!”

Sacrificing Today’s Children: God clearly condemned the ancient pagan practice of sacrificing children (Leviticus 18:21). Yet, in our increasingly godless society, many see no connection between these ancient rituals and what we are doing to our own children by promoting modern, radical ideologies.

Recently, Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson penned a pointed commentary for the Telegraph on the current gender-fluidity fad, titled “We are sacrificing our children on the altar of a brutal, far-Left ideology” (June 16, 2022). In his article, Dr. Peterson discussed the rash and unethical treatment of young people with gender identity issues as a mad rush to assist in changing their gender without giving them time to consider the motivation and consequences of this life-altering, one-way treatment. Peterson noted, “We have crossed the line from ideological possession to active malevolence—and we are multiplying our sin… by attributing our appalling actions to ‘compassion.’ Heaven help us. Truly.”

Long ago, God warned that nations that reject His laws will reap serious consequences. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil… those who are wise in their own eyes” (Isaiah 5:20–21). This upside-down way of thinking is the natural result of discarding a common moral compass—the Bible. Yet sadly, it is our children who suffer as a result of misguided ideologies and body-altering drugs and surgeries at the hands of morally depraved practitioners. The prophet Jeremiah noted the perversions in his day had “filled this place with the blood of the innocents” (Jeremiah 19:4), yet we fail to see the connection today. Thankfully, when Christ returns to establish His Kingdom, the blood of innocents will no longer be shed, and they will finally live in peace, protected by those who love them (Isaiah 54:13). To learn how children will be raised in God’s soon-coming Kingdom, be sure to read or listen to Successful Parenting: God’s Way.— Scott Winnail and Francine Prater