Greetings from Charlotte,
The new mail inserter arrived right before the Feast and has been set up and put to work this week. Although we did not have a special fund for it, some of you sent in special offerings when you heard of this major purchase—thank you. We hope this one lasts 18 years, as the last one did, or better yet, that Christ returns before we need a new one.
We received notice this week that Amazon Smile has made a quarterly charitable donation to Living Church of God of $1,722 as a result of those who named the Church as their charity choice. Over the years in this program, the Church has received a total of $25,307.72. Thank you!
Mr. Jonathan McNair and two of his daughters returned to Charlotte this week after attending the Feast in South Africa. Mr. McNair also gave Tomorrow’s World presentations in Pretoria and Johannesburg on October 22 and 23. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Nathan were also in South Africa for the Feast, and Mr. Nathan gave TWPs in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) last weekend. There will be follow-ups in all of these cities this weekend.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
Past and Upcoming Tomorrow’s World Presentations
We held seven Tomorrow’s World Presentations last weekend: one follow-up in Fargo, North Dakota (the third follow-up in a series); and six initial presentations, in Kingston and London, Ontario, Canada; and in Pretoria, Cape Town, Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), and Johannesburg, South Africa. These presentations had a combined total attendance of 143 guests. This week we have six follow-up presentations, in Kingston and London, Ontario, Canada; and in Pretoria, Cape Town, Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), and Johannesburg, South Africa. Thank you all for your continued prayers for these presentations.
Living Education
Our 2022–23 Living Education–Charlotte students are in full gear as we approach our Fall Semester midterm, but it’s already time to prepare for next year. For any students planning to apply for the 2023–24 school year, applications will be accepted beginning in November. If you have any questions, just go to lcgeducation.org.
Men’s Training Camp – Oklahoma
From December 2–4, our next Men’s Training Camp will be held at Robbers Cave State Park near Wilburton, Oklahoma. The accommodations will be bunkhouse style, with camping trailer spots available for those who would prefer to bring a camper. The cost is $85 per person, which includes accommodations, meals, education, and inspiration! For more information and to register, go to MyLCG for the link.
Feast of Tabernacles
Service Appreciated!—Repeat Announcement
From the Festival Office, we wish to thank so many brethren for their service at the Feast. As they say, “Many hands make light work!” The countless hours putting together flower arrangements, manning Information Tables and Business Offices, getting to the hall early to set up sound equipment, standing out in the rain directing traffic in parking lots, serving in special music, and so many other service areas, were much appreciated. It all helped us to have a smooth-running Feast that was encouraging and uplifting. Your service was much appreciated!
Festival Survey—Repeat Announcement
If you have not yet filled out the Festival Survey, please do so by Sunday, October 30. Your feedback is important! You can access the survey by going to MyLCG login, signing in, and looking for the link to the Feast Survey 2022. One change this year is that we are asking all Feast-goers ages 13 and up to fill out the survey. Your feedback helps with planning future Festivals and we appreciate it very much!
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Pay Attention to Prophecy: Today, our world is filled with reports of violence, corruption, and other ominous events, and our daily lives are filled with multiple distractions—computers, emails, iPods, family, jobs, and other concerns. Yet, the Scriptures warn that Christians must be alert and watch for the convergence of specific events that will mark the end of this age and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The New Testament is filled with these warnings—see Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and more. We are watching the prophesied decline of the Israelite nations (Jeremiah 30) at the same time we are witnessing the rise of a more politically active Europe (Revelation 17), and we are hearing warnings from global observers and the Scriptures about potential triggers of a catastrophic nuclear war (Matthew 24:21–22). The convergence of these prophesied events should motivate us to grow spiritually, focus on finishing the Work, and prepare for roles we will play in the soon-coming Kingdom of God… so let’s watch and prepare to be ready!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—October 27, 2022
Britain’s Leadership Vacuum: Less than two months ago, Boris Johnson stepped down as Britain’s prime minister, shrouded in an atmosphere of scandal. In his place, Liz Truss rose as the leader of the Conservative party. Now, after the shortest tenure of any prime minister—just 44 days—Ms. Truss has stepped down, having lost the confidence of her own party. In her place, the Tories have elected Rishi Sunak, who takes the reins as prime minister during what Reuters has called “one of the most turbulent eras in British political history” (October 24, 2022).
Mr. Sunak is Boris Johnson’s former right-hand man—once a good friend, but now the ex-prime minister’s bitter rival. Mr. Sunak was also, just seven weeks ago, trounced by Liz Truss in the party election. He has stepped into his new position with a low degree of trust, even among members of his own party (Politico, October 22, 2022)—a party which has now been headed by three different leaders over the course of only two months. Mr. Sunak will be under pressure to call for a general election, desired by more than half of Britons, according to some surveys. Yet polls also suggest his party would suffer defeat in any such election (Time, October 25, 2022).
Sadly, Britain’s once strong and respected governmental system has become disdained by an increasing number of people. In the book of Hosea, the Bible records a sobering end-time prophecy regarding Ephraim—modern-day Britain: “As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird—no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception!... Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!” (Hosea 9:11–12). Britain, along with other Israelite-descended nations, will continue to see its reputation tarnished as it drifts further away from the morality of the Bible. It will also increasingly lose the blessings God promised to Abraham. To learn more about this sobering future, be sure to read or listen to The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
“Africa’s Next World War” in Ethiopia: While much of the world is focused on the fighting in Ukraine, there are serious conflicts elsewhere—such as Africa. According to the Telegraph, “Ethiopian federal forces, Eritrean soldiers and allied ethnic militias have been battling Tigrayan rebels in a desperate infantry war on four fronts across the Tigray region’s mountainous terrain since a fragile ceasefire shattered in late August” (October 3, 2022). The conflict involves hundreds of thousands of troops, with both sides accusing each other of using “human wave” tactics costing vast numbers of lives. Tens of thousands have died in the past few months alone as fighting has increased. Troops on both sides have observed that the violence has reached unprecedented heights compared to the previous two years of the conflict.
The Telegraph reports that “full-scale war is tearing the region apart again. Eritrea, a totalitarian state of about 6m, which used to be part of Ethiopia, has launched a general mobilisation calling up men in their 50s to fight.” The fight is pulling in many other nations: “Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan and now increasing signs that forces from as far away as Chad, Niger and Libya may also be playing a role.” Experts warn the whole horn of Africa could be pulled into and devastated by the conflict, seen by analysts as possibly “the deadliest war in the world” and dubbed by one, “Africa’s next World War.”
The Apostle James noted, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1). Much war is rooted in human self-will. This world is in desperate need of godly leaders who put the needs of their people before themselves. However, a time is coming when wars will cease (Isaiah 2:2–4). To learn more about how peace will come to the earth, read “The Way to Peace: The Missing Dimension.”—Scott Winnail and Francine Prater