Greetings from Charlotte!
The Texas Living Youth Teen Camp is now in full swing with “about 118 campers and 86 staff members to serve, work, and enjoy an activity-filled two weeks ‘recapturing true values’ and developing a godly culture of life,” as I mentioned in the July 11 co-worker letter that was just mailed out. Please pray for the success of both the LYC and the co-worker letter since the mail income has been lagging. Our Tomorrow’s World Presentations (TWPs), however, are not lagging. Last weekend, we had new presentations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by Mr. Rajan Moses; Mr. Mark Sandor in Fargo, North Dakota; Mr. Yvon Brochu in Quebec City, Quebec; Mr. Michael Heykoop in Thunder Bay, Ontario; and Mr. Rob Tyler in Sydney, Australia. In spite of the terrible flooding and adverse weather conditions in Sydney, 39 out of 41 registered visitors attended the TWP (see report below). Dr. Douglas Winnail is scheduled to give TWPs in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this coming Sabbath and in London, England, on July 24. Continue to pray for these Gospel initiatives and for the Work to go forward in greater power.— Richard Ames
Church Administration
Ministerial Visit to Cuba
From June 28 to July 4, one of our ministers had the opportunity, after almost three years, to visit again the island of Cuba. Despite the serious situation of almost total lack of fuel and not being able to get a rental car, it was possible to visit almost all the brethren. It was necessary to hire a taxi service for all the visits, which included, in addition to Havana, the provinces of Matanzas and Villa Clara. Visits included a six-hour meeting with a doctor interested in the Church who even requested information about baptism. Sabbath services were celebrated in Pedro Betancourt, Matanzas, with about 12 people. In addition, several potential places to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles were considered, and for now it is very possible that we will return to Villa La Conchita, where we celebrated the Feast in 2019. This villa is very appropriate and is located in the province of Matanzas, near the popular beaches of Varadero. This site is not open to transfers.—Spanish Department
Australian Tomorrow’s World Presentation
The TWP on Sunday, 10th July, for the Campbelltown area in Sydney was a great success. Despite an eight-day “rain bomb” that put 50,000 residents under evacuation orders and caused severe flooding across the Sydney region, 39 out of the 41 who registered attended the presentation. Even on Sunday we had rain and we thought we were heading for a complete “washout.” However, as the time to start drew nearer, we had more and more attendees arrive. The Sydney brethren did an outstanding job of mixing, fellowshipping, and answering questions, along with setting up the meeting room and providing refreshments. The attendees were from various ethnic backgrounds and associations. Mr Tyler’s lecture was met with very positive comments from the attendees and many of the guests indicated they would be back for the follow-up next week. We look forward to meeting up again.—Graeme Hemphill
Recent and Upcoming Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Last week, we held nine Tomorrow’s World Presentations—five initial presentations and four follow-ups. These had a combined total of 121 guests. This week four initial presentations are scheduled: in Auckland, New Zealand; Saskatoon, Canada; Regina, Canada; and Belfast, Northern Ireland. There are also four follow-up presentations scheduled: in Vero Beach, Florida; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Quebec City, Canada; and Sydney, Australia. Thank you very much for your continued prayers for this particular effort in the Work.
Feast of Tabernacles
Volunteers Needed
Some Feast sites are still in need of volunteers for specific areas of service. Pianists are especially needed. If you can help in the following areas, it would be greatly appreciated:
- Boerne, Texas – Pianist
- Fontana, Wisconsin – Pianist
- LaGrange, Georgia – Pianist
Comments
Skills that Promote Teamwork: Members of successful organizations develop the necessary skills to function together smoothly to accomplish goals. These skills can be identified and learned. Christians must develop the same skills—and many are clearly biblical. Effective team members are sensitive to the feelings of others and they avoid offending others (Matthew 18:7). They are forgiving and ignore insults because they are not easily offended (Proverbs 10:12; 17:9). Team players do not sit in judgment of other people—they make sure their own lives are in order (Matthew 7:1–5; James 4:11). Team players are peacemakers who promote harmony and work smoothly with others (James 3:17–18). They deal with people gently, respectfully, and patiently, and are willing to listen (James 1:19). Effective team players appreciate the team is made up of individuals with different talents and abilities who make unique contributions to the team (1 Corinthians 12:12) and that the main priority is to work together to achieve a goal while showing love to one another (Ephesians 4:16). Good team players have learned to love others—just as Jesus instructed.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—July 14, 2022
Egypt and Saudi Arabia Draw Closer: In late June, the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Egypt met and signed a series of agreements worth over $7.7 billion (Reuters, June 21, 2022). The 14 different agreements involved a wide range of economic sectors, including food and agriculture, power and energy, oil, and pharmaceuticals. The agreements are far-reaching and will tie the two nations together in multiple areas of their economies. Leaders of the two countries also met recently with those of several other nations to discuss cooperation against the Iranian threat in the region (Israel Hayom, June 27, 2022). The other nations, mostly Arab, included Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and the United States. Iran’s continued military unpredictability has catalyzed Arab unity in the region—unity against Iran.
This increasing unity, especially considering the size and military power of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, is sobering in the light of Bible prophecy. Scripture warns that as the end of the age approaches, a militarily powerful confederacy involving Arab nations, known as the “king of the South,” will rise and press for control of Jerusalem, only to be countered by the German-led European “king of the North” (see Daniel 11). For this prophecy to come to pass, there must be a clear “king of the South.” Could growing unity between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, along with other Arab Gulf nations, lead to the formation of the “king of the South”? Time will make this clear. To learn more about the coming “king of the South,” be sure to read or listen to our insightful booklet The Middle East in Prophecy.
The Wisdom of Mankind: We have launched humans into space and safely landed rovers on Mars. We fly from one side of the earth to the other in hours, and we communicate nearly instantaneously by video between points anywhere in the world. Technology advances daily, and now we drive battery-powered vehicles hundreds of miles on a single charge. Is there any end to what mankind can achieve and invent (Genesis 11:6)? Yet, each brilliant advance seems to create another disappointing setback.
For example, as electric vehicles continue to grow in prevalence, serious problems are emerging. In a recent event, a Tesla Model S sat in a junkyard for three weeks after an accident (Washington Post, June 22, 2022). Suddenly one day, the car burst into flame. It took a team of a dozen fire fighters 4,500 gallons of water and over an hour to put out the blaze… a blaze that burned at over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and continually reignited after being doused with water. This was not a one-off event. Other Tesla Model S vehicles have also erupted into flame. And, lest Tesla feel picked on, electric batteries produced by other auto manufacturers have also spontaneously ignited, forcing the recall of tens of thousands of automobiles. In a December 2020 incident, firefighters poured 30,000 gallons of water on a car-battery blaze before extinguishing it—as much water as is contained in a moderate-sized swimming pool!
The innovations generated by human brilliance and ingenuity often bring with them a host of brand-new problems. God created mankind with insight and creativity, but God also warned, “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). God put human wisdom into perspective when He noted that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). Although man’s creations are often awesome, they are also often riddled with unforeseen consequences—unlike God’s perfect creation! As time goes on and humanity creates bigger and better things, the wise are frequently reminded of humanity’s imperfections. However, the Bible reveals that one day soon Jesus Christ is going to return and set up a Kingdom on this earth that will be perfect and without flaws. To learn more about this world-changing event, be sure to read or listen to “What Is the Greatest Reality?”—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, and William Williams