Greetings from Charlotte,
The first few days of this new year have been unusual—even traumatic for many. We woke up here in the U.S. to the news of a terrorist vehicular attack in New Orleans that killed 14, while leaving three dozen injured—some no doubt for life. The longest living U.S. President, Jimmy Carter, died on December 29 at the age of 100. The current President and four former presidents attended the funeral. These events have been overshadowed by the catastrophic fires in the greater Los Angeles area, including Pasadena and Altadena, where many former Ambassador College students and employees reside, and some have lost their homes. As far as we know at this time, none of our members have lost their homes, but the situation is still ongoing, and our prayers go out for their protection and for the many thousands who lost everything. Please see Mr. Rodger Bardo’s report from California. Elsewhere, Justin Trudeau, the very unpopular Prime Minister of Canada, announced his resignation, though he may hang on until May or June. Parts of the United Kingdom are experiencing snow, ice, and flooding this week.
In light of events happening in the world at large and the serious trials many members are going through, we feel it is in order to call for a Church-wide fast for next Sabbath, January 18. If that day does not work for you and your health allows a day of voluntary fasting, please choose a time as close to that day as possible. Some members are suffering severe trials, and this year may be pivotal regarding how much time is left to do the Work.—Gerald Weston
Erratum: The year 2024 saw 749 new Bible Study Course students in Germany, a 222-percent increase over 2023’s number.
Church Administration
Update on the California Wildfires
Thank you all for your prayers for the members in Southern California during this catastrophic firestorm in Los Angeles County. Never in the county’s history has there been a firestorm this extensive. Wind-driven fires spread so fast that thousands of homes, apartments, and commercial buildings went up in flames in under three days. Many places ran out of fresh water and firefighting resources. However, we are so thankful for God’s mercy—the winds have settled down tonight. All local members are safe, though some are in temporary housing. As of this writing, several major fires still burn with little or no containment. Please continue to pray for God’s intervention. —Rodger Bardo, Pastor, Southern California and Las Vegas congregations
Tomorrow’s World Presentations
The calendar year 2025 is off to a strong start for TWPs. Last weekend, we held two presentations in Mississippi and two in Arizona that drew a combined total of 80 guests. This weekend, we will hold follow-up presentations in Arizona and in Mississippi, and Dr. Winnail will travel to Florida to give two initial presentations, in Naples and St. Petersburg. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.
Comments
Be Persistent in Prayer: The Apostle Paul told us to pray always and “without ceasing” (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). He also urged us to pray “earnestly,” be “patient in tribulation,” and continue “steadfastly in prayer” (Colossians 4:2; Romans 12:12). Jesus used the example of a persistent widow to stress that we should “pray [always] and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1–8). We are told that God hears the prayers of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29), and James records that the “fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”—brings powerful results (James 5:16). Daniel fervently beseeched God for weeks at a time without giving up—and answers came (see Daniel 9:1–10:21). We need to remember God’s promises that He will make a way through trials (Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 10:13) and will “show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). Let’s be persistent in our prayers!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy – January 9, 2025
Gangs and Sexual Violence in Trinidad: Haiti is not the only Caribbean nation where gangs are generating unrest and destruction. Trinidad and Tobago is also experiencing gang-induced unrest (Reuters, December 30, 2024). On December 30, the government proclaimed an official state of emergency, enabling it to launch a crackdown on gang activity. Government defense forces became de facto police officers with powers to conduct searches without a warrant. Trinidad and Tobago was once the richest Caribbean state, thanks to its oil reserves, but due to mismanagement, corruption, and violence, its situation has declined over the last two decades (The Guardian, June 16, 2023). Abuse of children and women by men is growing rampant, and many push back against government attempts to intervene, claiming they are defending the “traditional family.” However, the culture in the once-peaceful island nation is increasingly anti-family, as “hypersexuality” is becoming the norm, on display in the celebration of Carnival, and children are sexualized at a young age. The ungodly environment of sexuality and violence has led many young men to form gangs that only make things worse.
Absent God and biblical morality, the nation of Trinidad and Tobago is suffering the same consequences as much of the rest of the world. The real hope for Trinidad and the world is the return of Jesus Christ as the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) who will establish His government on earth based on His loving application of the Ten Commandments, supporting both the inspired structure of the family and the way that family was designed by God to work. As people are taught these ways, they will finally experience the peace that comes with following their Creator’s loving laws. You can learn more about how family violence and gangs will be eliminated by reading or listening to Successful Parenting: God’s Way.
The Need for “More Truly Christian” Christianity: In a recent interview published by the New York Times, Jonathan Rauch—journalist, author, and fellow of the Brookings Institution—was asked for his thoughts on the impact of Christianity on American democracy (December 18, 2024). Rauch observed that the American founding fathers relied on the religious values of the people—in particular, the values the founders saw in Christianity—to help make the secular American Constitution work. “It turns out that Christianity is a load bearing wall in democracy,” he said, “and the founders told us that. They didn’t specify that you have to be a Christian per se. But they said that our liberal, secular Constitution… relies on virtues, like truthfulness and lawfulness and the equal dignity of every individual.” He further stated that “once Christianity begins caving in, people begin looking other places for their sources of values. They go to wokeness or QAnon or MAGA, and those turn out to be not the kinds of values that you can use to underpin a democracy. And that’s the situation that we seem increasingly stuck in.” These thoughts are poignant because, even as an atheist, Rauch can see the powerful benefit that many biblical values provide to a society that embraces them. As Rauch observed, “what really needs to happen to get our country on a better track is for Christianity not to become more secular or more liberal, but to become more like itself, to become more truly Christian.”
Rauch is right about the need for Christianity to “become more truly Christian.” But neither Rauch nor the Christianity of the world knows what it is to be more truly Christian. The nations that call themselves Christian need to be reeducated to better understand what true Christianity is and is not. God’s word, the Bible, lays out the misunderstood truths about real Christianity with clarity and simplicity. Democracy is a form of government created by men in the hopes of developing a peaceful and productive society. But despite the successes credited to it, democracy is not the governmental structure outlined in the Bible—and Christianity today is not the Christianity of the Bible. You can learn more about what Christianity is missing today by reading or listening to Restoring Original Christianity. —Scott Winnail, Chris Sookdeo, and Francine Prater