Greetings from Charlotte,
Most of us are back from a few days off over the American Thanksgiving holiday. One who is not is Mr. Tyler Wayne, who is on a jam-packed trip in Florida to check out potential Festival sites, and he was earlier in Indiana doing the same. I recorded a telecast on Thursday titled “Faith Over Fear,” offering the booklet Where Is God’s True Church Today? Mr. Htoowah Laybeh is back in Thailand, following his trip to England to renew his visa. This was projected to take about two months, but through his diligence and God’s blessing, he was able to get it renewed in two weeks. Please remember our Myanmar brethren who are living in difficult situations due to the civil war in their country, and please also remember our brethren in Jamaica who are still trying to recover from the hurricane that hit several weeks ago.
—Gerald E. Weston
Church Administration
Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Last week, we held one Tomorrow’s World Presentation. Mr. Paul Kearns gave an initial presentation in Invercargill, New Zealand. This presentation drew 14 guests, which is notable because we only sent 68 invitations—about a 20-percent response rate! This week we will hold three presentations: Mr. Wallace Smith will travel to Lakeland and Brooksville, Florida, to give initial presentations, and Mr. Paul Kearns will give a follow-up presentation in Invercargill, New Zealand. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.
Charlotte Family Weekend – Repeat Announcement
The Charlotte Family Weekend will take place Friday, December 26, through Sunday, December 28. The activities will begin on Friday evening, with a Bible Study starting at 7:00 p.m. On December 27, there will be a Hymn Sing starting at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Question & Answer session, in which questions that we all encounter will be answered by evangelists of the Living Church of God. Sabbath Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Following services, there will be a dinner in the dining area that all are invited to attend; gluten free/dairy free options will be available. The cost of this meal will be $5.00 per person with a price cap of $20.00 per family. Payment for the meal will be collected after the Sabbath on the night of the meal. After dinner, the Charlotte Family Dance will begin, with music for all ages, lasting until 9:00 p.m. Various activities for the adults and children will begin Sunday morning and conclude at 3:30 p.m., with lunch provided.
Firm commitments for the Saturday evening dinner must be received on or before December 16. To confirm your attendance, please contact Mr. Phillip Johnson via email ([email protected]) or phone (704-708-2207).
Kansas City Winter Family Weekend
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 board games and continues Friday with sports activities during the day and a 7:00 p.m. Bible Study. Sabbath services will be at 2:00 p.m., followed by dinner and a dance that evening. On Sunday, explore the Jerusalem Marketplace with hands-on activities, games, and food for all! A special group hotel rate is available—please be sure to book your room by December 11 to ensure the discounted price. For more details and to register, go to kclcg.org/2025weekend.
Trinidad Family Weekend—Repeat Announcement
The LCG congregations in Trinidad will be holding their 2025 Family Weekend from Thursday, December 25, to Sunday, December 28. Activities include a “Bible and board games” night, a Friday-night Bible Study, Sabbath services, a dance, lectures from Mr. Weston and Mr. Stafford, basketball, children’s activities, a ladies’ aerobics session, and more! If you are interested, please let us know soon. There is space for a few more visitors, and we would love to have you and your family join us. The registration deadline for this event is Monday, December 8. For further information, please contact Mr. Damian Weekes at [email protected] or Mr. David Grant at [email protected].
Television Department
Tomorrow’s World Digital Media Support Team
To give more of our members a simple, practical way to help the Work, we are inviting as many as possible to join our Digital Media Support Team. As more members participate, we expand our insights and increase our effectiveness. Right now, we are focusing on our Tomorrow’s World YouTube channel, and members of the Digital Media Support Team receive an email each time we release a new YouTube video. Your part is very simple: Watch each new video in full within a day or two of receiving the email. Early viewing and engagement can help YouTube show these videos to more people who might not otherwise see these messages. We plan to run this YouTube-focused effort through March.
This is just one example of the projects you can take part in as a member of the Digital Media Support Team—no matter who you are, your participation would be deeply appreciated and directly strengthen our Tomorrow’s World outreach efforts. If you would like to be part of the Digital Media Support Team, please email [email protected].
Comments
Is the Old Testament Obsolete? Many Christians today believe that the Old Testament was for the Jews and the New Testament is for Christians. However, Jesus taught that we are to live “by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). The Apostle Paul wrote that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Paul was primarily referring to the Old Testament when he wrote these words—because the New Testament did not yet exist. When Jesus and the Apostles quoted scriptures, they quoted from the Old Testament. Paul also told Christians in Corinth that the Old Testament examples were “written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:1–11). He was clearly stating that we need to learn from the instructions and the examples in both the Old and New Testaments—which is why Jesus emphasized that we must live by “every word of God.”
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy
U.S. Pushes Germany to Take Over NATO: Germany recently hosted the 24th Berlin Security Conference. This conference included attendees from nations inside and outside of Europe, including many NATO nations. During the conference, the United States Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, spoke on behalf of President Donald Trump and mused, “I look forward to the day when Germany comes to the United States and says that we’re ready to take over the Supreme Allied Commander position. I think we’re a long way away from that, but I look forward to those discussions” (The Telegraph, November 19, 2025). In additional comments Mr. Whitaker shared his wish that Germany’s military capabilities would one day be equal to those of the U.S.
Ever since NATO’s inception in 1949, the “Supreme Allied Commander Europe” role has been filled by an American general. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first to hold the post, and he later became a U.S. president. In the last two years, Germany’s military growth has been a top priority in Berlin, and Germany is far outpacing the rest of Europe in its rearmament efforts.
While many nations are not yet ready for the United States to relinquish the leading role in NATO, could Germany take on this role in the future? Many students of history and of Bible prophecy are keenly aware that Germany is prophesied to take a global role in the years ahead, both politically and militarily. And Germany’s future impact on the U.S. and other nations descended from ancient Israel will not be as kind as one might think—Ambassador Whitaker and the U.S. should be careful what they ask for. You can learn more about this sobering subject by reading “Europe’s Time Has Come.”
Brain Rot: A Coming Reality? Smartphones have become indispensable tools in modern life, but their constant presence may be reshaping how we think, remember, and feel. Researchers are increasingly concerned about how the overuse of smartphones affects cognitive function (Smithsonian Magazine, September 12, 2025). The brain thrives on focused attention and deep processing, yet smartphones encourage the opposite—fragmented focus, constant multitasking, and shallow engagement. Notifications, endless scrolling, and app-switching train the brain to flit from one stimulus to another, weakening working memory and reducing our ability to concentrate. Over time, this can erode mental sharpness and make it harder to retain information without digital assistance.
Dependence on smartphones for navigation, reminders, and even basic facts means we’re outsourcing memory. This isn’t inherently bad—tools have always extended human capability. But when reliance becomes habitual, the brain changes. Neuroplasticity ensures that repeated behaviors shape neural pathways. If we continually defer to devices, we may lose the mental discipline to recall, reason, or reflect without them. This shift doesn’t destroy the brain, but it does change how it functions. Mental health is also part of the equation, as excessive screen time, especially on social media, has been linked to increased anxiety, depression, and sleep disruption. The constant information overload can leave users feeling drained and disconnected. Young people are especially vulnerable, as their brains are still developing and are more susceptible to environmental influences.
Experts are not calling for a digital purge, but they do urge intentionality. Taking breaks, setting boundaries, and engaging in offline activities can help restore balance. Smartphones are powerful tools, but like any tool, they must be used wisely. The goal is not to fear technology, but to direct our attention, memory, and emotional health with care—recognizing that what we practice, we become. You can learn more by reading “Will A.I. Save or Destroy Us?” —Scott Winnail, Michael Grovak, Chris Sookdeo, and Richard Franz