Greetings from Charlotte,
People sometimes ask how many congregations and ministers there are in the Living Church of God, so here is an update. We have 430 local congregations in 67 countries. These congregations are served by 259 ministers who reside in 30 countries. This means that 37 countries do not have a resident minister and have to be served by a minister who must cross a border to serve them. In 2023, we had 275 baptisms in 30 countries. So far this year we have at least 96 newly baptized members in 19 countries. We recognize how small in this world we truly are, but we are indeed a worldwide Work supported by a dedicated and hardworking team.
When we consider the scope of the Work that God is doing through us, it is remarkable. Consider what we give away free of charge—Tomorrow’s World magazines, booklets, Bible Study Courses, DVDs, and CDs. We support a television ministry on hundreds of stations, have a significant presence on the Internet and in social media, and produce Viewpoints and Whiteboards in several languages. Our eyes can glaze over from looking at statistics, but I never cease to be amazed at what God is doing through such a small number of people. Let us be thankful for being used as we are by our Creator, but let us be humble and recognize that we are mere instruments in His hands and it is only through Him that we can do anything. The Council of Elders will be meeting next week, and your prayers for those meetings are appreciated.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
Second Passover—Must Read
The Second Passover this year is on Wednesday, May 22, which means that it will be observed on Tuesday evening, May 21, shortly after sunset. This Passover is for those baptized members who were unable to take the first Passover due to unavoidable circumstances, as instructed in Numbers 9:1–14. If you have any questions, please contact your pastor.
Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Last week we held three initial presentations, in California and South Carolina, and two follow-up presentations, in Florida and North Dakota. These events drew a total of 84 guests. This week Mr. Martin Montgomery will give an initial presentation in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and there will also be two follow-up presentations, in Minnesota and South Carolina. Thank you all for your prayers and support for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.
Feast of Pentecost in El Salvador
The congregations of Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost together in Puerto de La Unión in El Salvador. The sermons will be given by Dr. Douglas Winnail and Mr. Mario Hernández, and we will have simultaneous translation to English and Spanish. Members who wish to attend from other countries must communicate with Mrs. Caterina Monti for reservations and payments. Her WhatsApp number is +503 7976 5379 and her email [email protected]. All welcome!—George Schaubeck
Feast of Tabernacles
U.S. Ministerial Feast Assignments
If any U. S. minister has not yet received a ministerial Feast assignment, please check your LCG email. If you do not find it there, contact Tyler Wayne a [email protected].
Feast Websites Now Live—Must Read
The 2024 Festival site webpages are now live! All LCG brethren and Feast guests can access the Feast site write-ups at https://fot2024.lcg.org.
Feast Registration May 12—Must Read
The 2024 Feast of Tabernacles general registration is quickly approaching! General registration is scheduled for May 12, at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time, USA). Please take the time to log in to your MyLCG account before then to make sure that you know your PIN and password. If you do not have Internet access and need help getting Feast information, contact your local congregation’s Festival Advisor. If you don’t know who your Festival Advisor is, please contact your local Pastor.
Note to Festival Advisors: Please print out and distribute to brethren who need them the site descriptions and registration forms in preparation for Feast registration. You can find these documents by going to https://cogl.org, signing in to your MyLCG account, and clicking on the “Registration” button under the “Feast of Tabernacles” banner. Log in to the registration system using your MyLCG credentials, then click the “Advisor Access” link. Alternatively, you can go directly to the Feast registration system at https://fotreg.cogl.org/ and log in using your MyLCG credentials. Then click the “Advisor Access” link.
Festival Registration Problems: Status May Need to Be Updated
Attention Pastors: One of the most common technical difficulties people have in registering for the Feast occurs when their status has not been updated in the Church’s files. For example, those listed as a “Coworker” or “Subscriber” in the Headquarters database will not be able to register. Only those listed as a “Prospective Member” or “Member” can register for the Feast. Please look over your area’s member lists and let us know if anyone’s status needs to be changed. This could especially apply to those who have recently started attending with us. We need the pastor’s notification to change anyone’s status, so please send U.S. status updates to [email protected], or, if outside the U.S., to your Regional Office.
Spanish Translator Needed in Tannersville, Pennsylvania
The Feast site in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, is in need of an interpreter for translating services. If you are able to translate services from English to Spanish and are willing to transfer to Tannersville for the Feast of Tabernacles, please email [email protected].
Comments
The Watchman's Message: Down through the ages God has sent prophets to warn His people of dangers ahead. Moses warned ancient Israel that if they disobeyed the laws of God and despised His statutes, they would reap serious consequences (Leviticus 26:14–39). Yet, modern Israelite nations are largely ignorant of this sobering warning. Today, our political and religious leaders are actively promoting values and behaviors that clearly violate the laws of God: homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22), same-sex marriage (Genesis 2:24), transgenderism (Deuteronomy 22:5), killing unborn babies with abortion (Exodus 20:13), and more. The Bible labels these behaviors sins and abominations. Isaiah was told to “Cry aloud… tell My people their transgression” (Isaiah 58:1). Jeremiah warned that forsaking God’s laws would lead to a time of trouble for our nations (Jeremiah 2:19; 30:7). Ezekiel was commissioned to carry this warning to the Israelite nations (Ezekiel 3 and 33). This is also our mission today. Let’s pray for the strength and help to complete that mission.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—May 9, 2024
The Band of Brothers Continues: With the arctic on its northern border, Canada is looking into options to protect “the longest coastline in the world” (The Canadian Press, April 10, 2024). The Canadian defense strategy that originally called for conventionally powered submarines has led to further discussions centering on nuclear-powered submarines. In his comments last month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was considering the possibility of Canada’s participating in the next phase of AUKUS—the defense initiative begun several years ago by Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (NewsWire, April 11, 2024), noting that he had already had “excellent conversations” with leaders of the three nations about working with the alliance. AUKUS is currently discussing the expansion of the alliance in Pillar II of the plan, which focuses on “sharing technologies to ensure regional stability.”
Today, few understand that there is more to the relationship between Australia, the UK, the U.S., and Canada than just politics. The Bible and secular history make clear that these nations are descended from two of the ancient twelve tribes of Israel—Ephraim and Manasseh. The genealogical and cultural history of these nations, descended from two literal brothers, helps explain the long history of their tendency to cooperate. Bible prophecy also records a foreboding future for these nations, because of their rejection of the Bible and of God Himself. To learn more about the history and future of the Israelite-descended nations, be sure to read or listen to The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
United Methodists Overturn Ban on Homosexual Clergy: For forty years, the United Methodist Church (UMC) has banned the ordination of homosexual clergy. However, in April, the church overwhelmingly voted to overturn the ban by a landslide vote, 692 to 51 (BBC, May 2, 2024). As one UMC clergy member proudly observed following the vote, “With the approvals and acceptance of the things today... we’re beginning to see the unwinding, unravelling, dismantling of the heterosexism.” However, many within the UMC have been uncomfortable with the progressive agenda that is gaining ground within the denomination, and more than 7,600 congregations have disaffiliated from the UMC over the last few years. With many conservatives departing, the vote to overturn the ban on homosexual clergy was easily won.
The UMC has been viewed as more liberal in its theology than many other mainstream Christian denominations. Yet, prior to 2019, its governing body actually strengthened its conservative stance on certain issues of morality. The recent vote clearly demonstrates the increasingly immoral trajectory many nominal Christians are pursuing—and that is in keeping with Bible prophecy. Concerning the end-time condition of the nations descended from ancient Israel, the prophet Hosea warned, “They set their heart on their iniquity. And it shall be: like people, like priest... for the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, and they have played the harlot against their God” (Hosea 4:8–12). Not only are the peoples of the modern Israelite-descended nations rejecting God’s ways at an increasingly rapid rate, so are their so-called spiritual leaders. To learn more about where many Western nations are heading morally, read “A Society That Has Rejected God.”—Scott Winnail and Francine Prater