Greetings from Charlotte,
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Weston are traveling with Mr. Mario Hernandez and Mr. and Mrs. Cristian Orrego in South America this week. They spent time with brethren in Chile and in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, and by now should be in Buenos Aires. We are looking forward to their safe return on Tuesday. Other traveling ministers have returned to Headquarters, including Mr. John Robinson from Merrill, Wisconsin, where he served at the area’s annual Winter Family Weekend, and Mr. Dexter Wakefield and Mr. Mike DeSimone from the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Tennessee. Mr. Richard Ames has been very busy in recent days, giving a Tomorrow’s World Presentation in Dunn, North Carolina, last Sunday, and heading out to two more, in Kannapolis and Statesville, North Carolina, this weekend, in addition to taping a telecast this past Wednesday, titled “The Conquering King Is Coming Soon!” We appreciate your prayers for all of our traveling ministers and their families. Also, please continue to keep in mind our brethren in Myanmar (Burma), whose situation continues to worsen. There are more details below and we are continuing to watch the situation.—Wallace Smith
Church Administration
Tomorrow’s World Presentations and Report on Devonport TWP
Last week’s Tomorrow’s World Presentation in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, was a resounding success. Mr. Mongomery, who presented “Prophetic Signs of Christ’s Return,” reports that 45 guests attended the presentation. This is remarkable because we only sent 262 invitations, so the response rate was 17.2 percent! Some people travelled as much as 2.5 hours to attend. One guest attended because she had previously read the Tomorrow’s World magazine in a waiting room and she happened to recognize the Tomorrow’s World banner outside the TWP. She also stayed for Sabbath services after the presentation. Including the follow-up in Devonport, Tasmania, this week there will be ten presentations, the others in the U.S. and Canada. Thank you for your prayers!
Update on the Brethren in Myanmar (Burma)
Mr. Htoowah Laybeh requests urgent prayers for the brethren in Kalaymyo, Chin State, Myanmar. There was a heavy airstrike Wednesday night and Thursday morning surrounding the Kyar Inn village. Warned of the attack, the villagers (including our members) are fleeing the area. They are now heading to a refugee camp. In other parts of the country, some members are under threat of forced conscription into the army. Please pray for God’s protection on our members who are enduring the war in Myanmar.
Passover: Deadline for Requesting Supplies and Materials—Repeat Announcement
Important Notice to All Pastors: In 2024, the Passover Service will be observed on Sunday evening, April 21. March 17 is the U.S. deadline for requesting Passover Service supplies (bread trays and/or wine trays or glasses) or a physical copy of the Passover Service recording and letter instructions (available in English, French, and Spanish) for congregations. (This year we have a new Passover Service recording presented by Mr. Wallace Smith.) Any requests for Passover Service recordings and letter instructions for home observance, needed by members who are unable to keep the Passover with a congregation, should also be received by the above deadline. Please direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected]. Note: As in the last couple of years, the digital Passover Service recording is available to pastors and video recipients via the FTP site, and a private YouTube link will also be provided.
Living Education
While we highlight a different Living Education element in The World Ahead each week, we also provide those who subscribe to our Living Education email a regular sampling of the features that appear on our website. With a quick glance, you’ll see a sample of one of our courses, a link to a children’s lesson for each age group, a post showing what our LivingEd–Charlotte students are up to, and even a snippet of our “Brother to Brother” or “Digging Deeper” podcasts. To subscribe, just use this link: https://bit.ly/LivingEdNews (refresh your browser if you don’t see the place to add your information to sign up). Or you can use this QR code if you prefer.—Jonathan McNair
Feast of Tabernacles
2024 Feast in Cavan, Ireland
Cavan, Ireland, not previously announced in the international Feast of Tabernacles listing, will be open to international transfers. If you have any questions regarding the site, please contact the Feast Site Coordinator, Mr. John Murphy ([email protected]).
Feast of Tabernacles Congregation Assignments 2024 (USA only)—Repeat Announcement
This year’s Feast of Tabernacles congregational site assignments in the U.S. are listed below, and registration is tentatively scheduled for May 12. The one change from last week is in bold font.
Please note: The Church has always encouraged all of us to serve at the Feast as we are able, and often the needs are greatest at our assigned site. Therefore, before deciding to transfer, please talk to your pastor to see if there are service needs locally. In your long-term plans, consider staying to serve at your assigned site once every several years to support the local needs. To find out where your local congregation is assigned, please consult the following list.
Arroyo Grande, California
California: Arroyo Grande, Banning, Bay Area, Fresno, Garden Grove, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego
Nevada: Reno
Boerne, Texas
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Lawton
Texas: Abilene, Amarillo, Big Sandy, Dallas, Midland, Temple
Branson, Missouri
Arkansas: Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Little Rock, Russellville
Kansas: Chanute, Wichita
Missouri: Columbia, Joplin, Kansas City, Rolla, Springfield
Oklahoma: Tulsa
Canaan Valley, West Virginia
Maryland: Baltimore, Salisbury
Michigan: Flint, Kalamazoo, Traverse City
Ohio: Akron, Columbus
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh
Virginia: Bristol, Winchester, Wytheville
West Virginia: Charleston, Morgantown
Dubuque, Iowa
Iowa: Des Moines
Illinois: Chicago, Peoria, Springfield
Indiana: Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, La Porte, Terre Haute
Minnesota: Minneapolis
Missouri: St. Joseph, St. Louis
North Dakota: Bismarck
Nebraska: Lincoln, Omaha
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
Wisconsin: Appleton, Merrill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
Florence, Oregon
Alaska: Anchorage
Idaho: Boise
Montana: Great Falls, Helena
Oregon: Bend, Myrtle Creek, Portland
Washington: Richland, Seattle/Tacoma, Spokane, Tonasket
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Alabama: Birmingham, Dothan, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
Florida: Pensacola
Louisiana: Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreveport
Mississippi: Hattiesburg, Jackson, Ocean Springs
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Georgia: Atlanta, Augusta, Braselton, Columbus, Savannah, Warner Robins
South Carolina: Anderson, Columbia, Gaffney, Walterboro
New Bern, North Carolina
North Carolina: Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Kannapolis, Raleigh, Statesville
Virginia: Norfolk, Richmond
Palmetto, Florida
Florida: Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Lake City, Lakeland, Melbourne, Naples, Ocala, Sanford, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee
Georgia: Valdosta
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Alabama: Athens
Georgia: Blairsville
Kentucky: Berea, Louisville
North Carolina: Asheville, Sylva
Ohio: Cincinnati
Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Crossville, Etowah, Knoxville, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville
Puerto Rico
San Juan
Rockport–Fulton, Texas
Texas: Baytown, Corpus Christi, Houston, Lufkin, San Antonio, San Marcos, the Valley
St. George, Utah
Arizona: Phoenix, Prescott Valley, Tucson
Colorado: Colorado Springs, Denver, Grand Junction
New Mexico: Albuquerque, Santa Fe
Nevada: Las Vegas
Utah: Layton
Wyoming: Cheyenne, Rawlins
Tannersville, Pennsylvania
Connecticut: Hartford
Massachusetts: Auburn
Maine: Waterville
New Hampshire: Tilton
New Jersey: Hammonton, Rahway
New York: Albany, Binghamton, New York City, Plainview, Rochester, Syracuse
Pennsylvania: Harrisburg, Tannersville
Rhode Island: Pawtucket
Living Youth Program
Texas Preteen Camp Registration Opens Sunday, March 3
Texas Preteen Camp registration opens this Sunday, March 3. The camp will be held July 22–26. We look forward to an exciting and fun-filled camp!
Registration is already open for all the other U.S. Living Youth Camps. Visit camp.livingyouth.org for details about all the camps and to register.
Adventure Camp 2024—Eagle Cap Wilderness
We are now reviewing applications for Adventure Camp, and acceptance packets should go out soon. When you receive your acceptance packet, please be sure to read it carefully as there are some important considerations regarding training for this backpacking trip. Please do not make travel plans until you have been accepted and have carefully read your acceptance packet. Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible if you want to go but have not yet registered. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Jonathan Bueno ([email protected]).
Comments
The Church as a Watchman: Many churches feel their mission is to tell the world that God loves everyone, and that Jesus came to save sinners. However, Jesus told His disciples to be alert and watch for specific events that will mark the approaching end of the age and His imminent return (Matthew 24:42–44). Those events will include religious deception and persecution, spreading violence and war, numerous catastrophes, and selfishness and personal pursuits of pleasure (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Timothy 3:1–5). Jesus also said the last days would be like the days of Noah and the time of Sodom and Gomorrah (Matthew 24:37–39; Luke 17:26–30). As the world appears to spin out of control, Jesus said unless He returns, human beings would self-destruct (Matthew 24:21–22). Just as God sent prophets to warn the ancient nations of Israel and Judah, God has commissioned His Church to be a watchman and warn the Israelite nations and the world of the dangers ahead and to preach the good news of the coming Kingdom of God (Ezekiel 3:17–18 and 33:1–6; Mark 16:15). Let’s stay focused on this important mission.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—February 29, 2024
Growth of Atheist Churches: It sounds like an oxymoron to call something an “atheist church,” but as mainstream church attendance continues to decline, atheist church attendance is on the rise (The Conversation, January 11, 2024). Atheist churches are an attempt to give non-religious people the sense of community and belonging often generated by attendance in traditional churches. Atheist church meetings often have group singing, a message or lecture on a topic of interest in place of a sermon, and social support programs. Some of these churches practice “debaptism,” where a person renounces his or her former belief in God.
While the idea of an atheist church service may sound odd and counterintuitive, attendees laud their benefits and even claim their participation has been life changing. Happy members cite encouragement and a feeling of belonging as reasons for their continued attendance.
God directed His people to worship Him, coming before Him as a body of believers weekly on the seventh-day Sabbath. And God built into this worship many added psychological and emotional benefits as blessings for obedience. Most religions around the globe have a similar weekly practice, and worldly Christianity has held to this practice, even as it changed the day of worship from God’s Sabbath to the pagan Sunday. Satan, the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), is a master copycat and inspires people to put their own spin on their worship, doing it their own way. Such counterfeit worship should not be surprising. The Apostle Paul warned that “perilous times will come” at the end of the age (2 Timothy 3:1–4), noting that people will practice a “form of godliness” yet deny its power (v. 5). We see this today in the world’s Christianity, and even among atheists. To learn the truth that exists behind the veil of worldly religion, be sure to read or listen to our free resource Satan’s Counterfeit Christianity.
Parental Rights Eroding in Scotland: The Scottish National Party is working hard to change the values of the nation. According to legal experts, proposed legislation, drafted with the help of trans activists, would effectively criminalize actions taken by parents to prevent their children from dressing differently from their birth gender (Telegraph, February 12, 2024). One Scottish lawyer said plainly that, if the legislation is passed, “parents who actively and consistently and directly oppose their child’s decision to, for example, present as a different gender from that given at birth would be committing a criminal offence.” If parents are found guilty, they could serve up to seven years in prison and face financial punishment. Experts have also warned that the broad wording of the proposed legislation could be wielded against parents who seek to prevent their children from dressing in a provocative or sexually explicit way. Actions taken by clergy could be similarly criminalized. On reviewing the proposal, the deputy director of the Christian Institute, a religious organization in Scotland, warned, “Ordinary mums and dads face criminalisation for trying to extract their kids from the grip of radical trans ideology. Church leaders face prosecution for not praying in accordance with state dogmas.”
What used to be fringe elements of society are gaining power and influence in the governments of many Western nations, including those descended from ancient Israel. Their radical, “woke” agendas and biblically perverted perspectives are gaining ground and being used to force society to adopt their own views. Why is society abandoning biblical values at such a rapid pace? Did you know that your Bible has the answers? To learn more, watch “Humanity’s Moral Meltdown.”—Scott Winnail, Wallace Smith, and Rod Wissinger