Greetings from Charlotte,
Mr. Richard Ames reports that we have four more Tomorrow’s World telecast tapings to finish the 2024 season. That will bring us to 32 completed programs by the end of January. We also have ten initial Tomorrow’s World Presentations scheduled for January, plus five follow-ups and two Canadian online events. The French magazine has come in and will be mailed soon. Last year’s Christmas telecast has now surpassed 98,000 views on YouTube. This year’s Christmas telecast is now over 50,000 views. The Mark of the Beast telecast has both U.S. and Canadian versions, and they have over 122,000 views between them. The Law or Grace booklet has been translated into Spanish and is being passed on to Mr. John Robinson for layout. The Spanish TW YouTube short, “Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th,” has over 650,000 views and has gained over 3,900 subscribers.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
Family Weekends
Reports are returning from the family weekends held last week in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida (a campout). More than 1,160 people attended these five events. Besides hymn-sings and services on the Sabbath, participants enjoyed seminars, meals, dances, sports, family games, and lots of fellowship over the three- or four-day weekend. Thank you to all who attended and to all who worked and prayed for their success.
Living Youth Program
Reports are returning from the Living Youth Program Camps around the world. Dr. Scott Winnail reports that 154 young people plus staff are enjoying the Teen Camp in Kendu Bay, Western Kenya. Campers participated in activities such as a relay race, tug-o-war, and a cooking competition. Mr. Rees Ellis reports that 44 campers and staff traveled from four different countries to the Teen Camp in Porto-Novo, Benin. Activites include swimming instruction, Mölkky, and other activities. The spiritual focus has been the theme "Choose Life." Preteen and Teen Camps are also in session in South Africa and the Philippines. Mr. Joseph Gonzales reports that there are 32 campers in the Philippines, five of them from Malaysia, and it is the first formal camp most of them have attended. All are enjoying the experience and it did not take long before they looked like they had all been friends for a long time.
Finance Department
Year-End Donations (U.S. only)—Repeat Announcement
Please be reminded that all U.S. contributions dated in December and postmarked on or before December 31 will be counted as a donation for 2023 and may be tax deductible in 2023, even if we receive it in January 2024. For those who donate online, the deadline for online contributions is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 31.
Also note that if you plan on taking a tax deduction for contributions, your tax return should not be filed until you receive your year-end receipt for donations. This donation receipt is one of the tax documents the Internal Revenue Service requires you to keep as backup to claim this deduction. We plan to issue year-end donation receipts on or about January 22, 2024.
As we close the calendar year for 2023, we want to extend a hearty thank you to all our members, co-workers, and donors for your generous financial support, and for your prayers for every aspect of the Work. The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few, but collectively we are able to accomplish much through God’s blessing. Please continue to pray for God’s guidance in everything that we do at Headquarters and in the local congregations around the world as we begin 2024.
Comments
The Value of Hope: For many today, the future looks bleak; the world is in trouble with little hope of getting better and our personal future is unclear. Yet, having a positive hope in the future is a vital aspect of life. Few today realize that the Bible provides that positive hope. King David wrote, “You are my hope, O Lord God” and “I hope in Your word” (Psalm 71:5; 119:147). The Apostle Paul said under cross-examination by a Roman governor that he believed “all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets” and that he believed God “that there will be a resurrection of the dead” (Acts 24:14–15). He also wrote of the hope “of eternal life…. looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 1:2; 2:13). As Christians, we are urged to “lay hold of the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18) and purify ourselves so we can become “children of God” (1 John 3:1–3) and reign with Him in the coming Kingdom of God (Daniel 7:27; Revelation 5:10). Let’s never lose sight of the great hope!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—December 28, 2023
Middle East Attitudes Are Shifting: For centuries, Muslim Middle Eastern nations have been generally divided along denominational Sunni-Shia lines. The Sunni branch of Islam makes up 85 to 90 percent of all Muslims and are the dominant population in nations such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, while Shias make up only about 10 to 15 percent of all Muslims and form majorities in nations such as Iran and Iraq. The Sunni-Shia divide has been a major source of division between many countries in the Middle East. However, times are changing.
The current war between Israel and Hamas appears to be pushing many Muslims to reconsider their historic antipathy toward each other. In a recent study of Tunisians, survey participants were asked for their opinions about other Middle Eastern nations (Foreign Affairs, December 14, 2023). Before October 7, 2023, many Tunisians had increasingly positive perspectives toward Israel and negative perspectives about Iran. But, within just three weeks of the onset of the current war, attitudes there had shifted greatly. Additionally, before the war began there was much friction between Iran and most of its Arab neighbors. Now, Iran has removed visa restrictions on 33 nations, including many Arab states in the Gulf (Reuters, December 14, 2023). Iran and Saudi Arabia have reinstated communications after seven years of silence. And all the while, Israel, who just a couple of months ago was building ties with many of its Arab neighbors, is rapidly becoming an enemy.
Such a shift in Middle Eastern allegiances, with longtime enemies suddenly treating each other as potential allies, is significant. Students of Bible prophecy should take note of such developments, but not be surprised. Zechariah 12:2–3 speaks of the hatred of Israel that will fill many peoples and governments of the world and prophesies that, eventually, we will see that “all the nations of the earth are gathered against it.” To learn more, be sure to read our booklet The Middle East in Prophecy.
Germany’s Historic Military Deployment: Last week German and Lithuanian defense ministers signed a historic agreement (Newsweek, December 18, 2023). Germany agreed to permanently deploy a military battalion to Lithuania—the first foreign German troop deployment on European soil since World War II! This move, to occur over the next three years, will involve 4,800 troops and their families. Lithuania is responsible for infrastructure preparation, and Germany will provide troops and equipment. The battalion should have full-operation capabilities by 2027.
As the Lithuanian defense minister noted, “The German commitment of permanently stationing a brigade in Lithuania is a historical step for both Germany and Lithuania…. We are turning over to a page of even deeper strategic partnership.” Lithuania is bordered by Russian ally Belarus, which in turn is bordered by war-torn Ukraine. He also stated, “The German Brigade will significantly increase our defensive potential and enhance NATO deterrence and collective defense.” His German counterpart pointedly commented, “Germany understands clearly the new state of affairs in security politics: we are taking the role of leadership and responsibility in the [NATO] Alliance.”
Students of history should note this pivotal event. German military adventures beyond its borders were the genesis of history’s only two world wars. Bible prophecy sheds powerful light on Germany’s role in the future of Europe. It will eventually lead a group of ten European powers politically and militarily. This agreement with Lithuania could be the first step in German troops being stationed around Europe—and even the Holy Land. To learn more, be sure to read or listen to our booklet Germany in Prophecy.—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, Matthew Ellison, and Rod Wissinger