Greetings from Charlotte,
This week, we held productive Council of Elders meetings. Nineteen ministers from around the world participated in three days of invigorating discussions. Unfortunately, after Mr. Rick Stafford, Regional Director of the Caribbean, arrived at the Charlotte airport, his decades-old artificial hip snapped while in line at the car rental agency. Mr. Stafford was able to get into surgery the next day (Friday) to replace his failed hip prosthesis and will be recovering in Charlotte for the next couple of weeks before he is able to travel home. He was able to participate in the meetings remotely from his brother-in-law’s house here in Charlotte.
The Council of Elders meets twice a year in person, and these meetings are incredibly valuable, giving us the opportunity to hear updates from the various regions and discuss policies and questions that have arisen over the course of the year. In a world that is moving more and more toward remote communication, taking the opportunity to actually sit together in person to discuss these things is refreshing. This tradition follows the examples of the Apostles meeting in Jerusalem in Acts 15, Acts 21, and Galatians 2. Thank you all for your prayers regarding these meetings and Mr. Stafford’s recovery. Because of this week’s busy schedule, there will be no video update.
—Gerald E. Weston
Church Administration
Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Last week, we held three follow-up presentations, three initial presentations, and two online presentations. These presentations drew a total of 35 in-person guests; the online attendance data is not yet available. This week, Mr. Michael Heykoop will give an initial presentation in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. We will also hold three follow-up presentations in Panama City Beach, Florida; Valdosta, Georgia; and Sylva, North Carolina. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.
Northeast Men’s Training Camp
Mark your calendars! The Northeast Region will host a Men’s Training Camp at the Star Lake Camp in Bloomingdale, New Jersey, over the Presidents’ Day weekend, from Friday, February 13, through Monday, February 16, 2026. The cost will be $175 (cabin) or $250 (double room) per person, inclusive of food and accommodations. If you are interested in attending or have questions, please contact Mr. Brent Mitchell at your earliest convenience by emailing him at [email protected] or by calling him at 929-395-9048.
Kansas City Winter Family Weekend 2025 – December 25–28
We invite you to join us in Kansas City for the KC Winter Family Weekend! The weekend begins Thursday, December 25, at 4:00 p.m. with a Hospitality Gathering and continues Friday with sports activities during the day and an evening Bible study. Sabbath morning starts with a Hymn Sing and seminars, followed by services and a dinner-dance that evening. On Sunday, explore the Jerusalem Marketplace with hands-on activities, games, and food for all! For more details and to register, go to kclcg.org/2025weekend.
Comments
Judging vs. Judgment: Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1–5), admonishing us not to condemn, criticize, or sit in judgment of others, but to make sure that our own houses are in order. However, Jesus also warned that we must be able to recognize false teachers and leaders who will be identifiable by their fruits (Matthew 7:15–20). This requires making decisions and judgments. A person who lacks judgment makes foolish decisions. Making wise judgments requires wisdom and spiritual discernment—and that comes from experience, from seeking and listening to wise counsel (Proverbs 11:14; 15:21–22), and from receiving, nourishing, and using the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6–7). The Scriptures reveal that God gives His Spirit to those who repent of their sins and obey His instructions (Acts 2:38–39; 5:32). If we nourish God’s Spirit daily (2 Corinthians 4:16) and are willing to be led by that Spirit in our thinking and actions (Romans 8:14), we can develop the discernment we need to make wise decisions and judgments.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy
“Germany is arming itself to the teeth to transform Europe again.” This sobering article title ran in The Telegraph on Sunday, November 2. Germany’s armed forces drew little respect from other NATO nations ten years ago, but today’s Bundeswehr, driven forward by the threat of war with Russia, is a growing force to be reckoned with and is rocketing far beyond the capabilities of other European nations.
Earlier this year, the German government changed what they called the “debt brake,” making essentially limitless spending available for the military. Since then, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to make Germany’s military the strongest in Europe by providing it with “all the financial resources it needs.” At this time, more than 60 percent of the German public supports more military spending, and Merz plans to grow military spending to 3.5 percent of GDP in the next few years. In cash terms, that will increase spending from about €53 billion in 2021 to €162 billion by 2029. Germany has placed an order for 105 new Leopard 2 battle tanks, taking its fleet to more than 400—roughly double that of the United Kingdom. “In 2024 alone, Berlin ordered 123 Boxer armoured transport vehicles, 265 protected trucks, 19 ‘Skyranger’ mobile air defence turrets, six frigates and two submarines, among many other things,” according to one review of government spending. This is in addition to “an order of up to 1,000 American-made Patriot missiles”—missiles that will be “partly or completely manufactured in Germany.” In fact, last year, the German military spent more than three times the combined amounts of France, Britain, and Poland. This spending spree is expected to continue in earnest as Germany evolves into a continental military force once again.
Some fear the current military buildup in Germany resembles that of the Third Reich in the 1930s. While many commentators see the current situation as very different, students of history cannot help wondering where this will all lead. Bible prophecy helps make sense of what is happening in Germany and across Europe, as many nations rebuild their military might. Germany will transform Europe again! You can better understand where this will lead by reading or listening to Germany in Prophecy.
The Dark Side of Political Chat Groups: In the shadows of America’s political landscape, encrypted group chats are breeding extremism. A new investigation reveals that platforms such as Telegram—once hailed for protecting privacy—are now hosting conversations steeped in racism, violence, and Nazi glorification (Reuters, October 25, 2025). These are not isolated rants from singular extremists, but organized exchanges about political activism.
Within these private channels, participants praise Adolf Hitler, fantasize about racial violence, and advocate dismantling democratic institutions. The conversations are calculated and often wrapped in patriotic language that obscures its true intent and makes extremism harder to identify. Younger, more impressionable users are especially vulnerable to this shocking content that masks hate as urgency and righteousness. The encryption shielding these conversations evades oversight. Invite-only groups and disappearing messages make monitoring by authorities and watchdogs difficult, allowing radicalization to proceed in seclusion.
The potential consequences of these dark chat groups are sobering. Some participants have been linked to protests, campaigns, and violent incidents, narrowing the gap between online hostility and offline harm. The Bible cautions against careless or hateful speech because it can ignite widespread damage (James 3:5–6). The Apostle Paul tells us that “evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33). You can learn how to combat the destructive influence of negative communication by reading or listening to “Guarding Your Tongue Against Evil.” —Scott Winnail, Dan Bennett, and Richard Franz