Greetings from Charlotte,
As I mention in this week’s video update, several personnel transfers are in progress at this time. Because not everyone sees the video updates, I’ll mention these transfers here as well: Mr. Javid Khan has been working in our Charlotte television department for the last three years, but moved back to Canada this week to resume work at the Canadian office. His artistic abilities will continue to be an asset to the video editing team in Canada. Mr. Phillip Johnson is completing his ministerial training here in Charlotte and will be moving at the end of May to the Kansas City area. Mr. Everett McNair will be coming to Charlotte for a year of ministerial training in Mr. Johnson’s place. The next semiannual letter is beginning to be printed this week, and it will be mailed to all Tomorrow’s World subscribers. In it, we are offering a brand-new booklet: Spiritual Warfare. Members do not need to order this booklet, as it will be automatically sent to all member households.
—Gerald E. Weston
Church Administration
Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Last week we held seven Tomorrow’s World Presentations. These events drew a total of 50 guests. This week, we are scheduled to hold three initial presentations: Mr. Stuart Wachowicz will present in Regina and Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Mr. Wallace Smith will present in York, Nebraska. Also, Mr. Mark Sandor will hold a follow-up presentation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.
Beware of New Scam Tactics
A few months ago, we ran an announcement warning members to be wary of certain scams. As the world continues to descend into sin and as technology continues to grow more sophisticated, we need to be ever more aware and alert to the tricks of these nefarious actors. One scam to be aware of is phone number “spoofing.” Scammers have found a way to use the actual phone numbers of banks or people that you know personally, so that it appears that you are receiving a legitimate phone call from the person or institution that owns the number being spoofed.
Do not continue a text or phone conversation regarding your sensitive information if you did not initiate the conversation. If you receive a phone call from a bank and you are asked for money or information, hang up, call the number listed on the back of your bank or credit card, and ask to be directed to the Fraud Department. Additionally, banks will not call and ask you for a One-Time Passcode sent to your phone or email. If the person on the phone asks you to give them that information, hang up and call the Fraud Department of the institution supposedly represented.
Additionally, with the growing use of A.I., these scammers can create voices that sound identical to those of your family members or friends. If you receive a phone call from a family member or friend who is asking for money, hang up and call the person back.
Living Education
Living Education-Charlotte
We’ve reached the maximum capacity of young women for the Living Education-Charlotte 2026–27 academic year, but we still have openings for young men who are interested in building a godly foundation for life. If you’d like to apply, just go to https://www.lcgeducation.org/apply/.
Living Education-Online
As we approach the day of Pentecost, now is a good time to review the profound meaning of this Holy Day. Our Pentecost unit contains a number of learning modules, beginning with “Pentecost and the Old Testament” and continuing with “Pentecost and the New Testament,” “Lessons from Pentecost,” “Tools and Resources,” and finally “Voices of Experience,” which features interviews with five pastors focusing on the meaning of this important Holy Day. To access this course, just go to www.lcgeducation.org/online/#doctrines and click the Pentecost course.
Feast of Tabernacles
Booking Church-Negotiated Housing for the Feast
If you are using Church-negotiated housing for the Feast of Tabernacles, please be sure to use the correct method for making reservations. There may be a website link, a booking code, or a phone number for you to call. Using a different method for booking Church-negotiated housing can cause several problems, not least of which is overspending on Feast housing. If you are unsure of the correct method for booking your housing, contact the Festival Coordinator or your local Festival Advisor.
Post-Registration Update
As of this writing, more than 4,200 Living Church of God brethren and guests have successfully registered for the 2026 Feast of Tabernacles. This year, we have approximately 84 Feast sites around the world, with 15 in the United States and 69 in other nations. If you have not registered, please do so, even if you are going to your assigned site.
If you have requested a transfer and have not yet been notified by email of acceptance (or denial), please be patient. The following sites are nearing capacity: Branson, Missouri; Fernandina Beach, Florida; Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; Gulf Shores, Alabama; and Carry-le-Rouet, France. If you applied to transfer to one of these sites and have not been notified of your acceptance, please consider transferring to another site; though you are welcome to stay on the waiting list, we cannot guarantee that your transfer will be accepted.
The following sites have ample space and welcome more transfers:
- Boerne, Texas
- Dubuque, Iowa
- Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Poconos, Pennsylvania
- San Diego, California
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Spokane Valley, Washington
- St. George, Utah
If you have not yet registered for the Feast, please do so, even if you plan to attend your assigned site. Registering helps us know how much space there is for those on waiting lists. To register, go to the Feast Registration system at fotreg.cogl.org and log in using your MyLCG credentials. For information about each Feast site, go to fot2026.lcg.org.
Living Youth Program
LYC – Texas Teen Camp
We have passed the deadline to accept applications for our teen camp in Texas. At this point, we have reached the maximum capacity for girls, though we still have a few openings for boys. We’ll consider applications for camper boys a little longer, but in order to apply, please contact Mrs. Jenny Penman directly at [email protected]. Staff acceptance packets have been sent out with important instructions for serving at camp this year. If you’ve been accepted as staff, please take the time to read the full packet. If you have any questions about camp, contact Mrs. Jenny Penman or Mr. Jonathan McNair at [email protected].
Comments
Trials and Trust: Tests and trials are a major part of life. Our challenge as Christians is how we will respond. Will we trust God and follow His instructions, or will we give into our emotions and lash out—or compromise and quit? To come through trials successfully, we need to remember that God says that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28) and that He will provide a “way of escape” if we trust and obey His instructions (1 Corinthians 10:13). Those instructions include: “do good” and “trust in Him” (Psalm 37:3, 40), forgive (Matthew 6:14–15), don’t return “evil for evil” (Romans 12:17), be patient and not easily provoked (1 Corinthians 13:4–5), and endure without quitting (Joshua 1:6–9). We need to remember that God is watching to see if we will remember these instructions (1 Corinthians 3:13–14). When trials come—and they will—trust God, obey His instructions, and keep your eyes on the big picture.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy
The Power of Drone Technology: Drone swarms are among the latest technological advances in warfare, and the United States Department of War recently announced a billion-dollar plan to purchase more than 200,000 lethal drones by 2027 (DroneDominance.mil). The objective is to “accelerate the growth of the U.S. industrial base and rapidly arm combat units with low-cost, consumable drones at scale.” Germany and Ukraine are also working on a joint venture with advanced drone development (Associated Press, April 14, 2026).
Skyfall is a Ukrainian company that supplies Ukraine’s military with interceptor drones costing less than $3,000 each—a far cry from the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on a single U.S. fighter jet. “Interceptor drones are small, fast, semi-autonomous unmanned aircraft… designed to hunt and destroy incoming drones by ramming into them or detonating alongside them at altitude” (MilitaryTimes.com, March 11, 2026). Kyiv is reportedly using 9,000 drones per day, many of which are manufactured domestically (Axios.com, February 18, 2026).
Drones are now being used very effectively in the war between Ukraine and Russia, as well as by the United States and Israel in their strikes against Iran. The swarm-like nature of many drone weapons calls to mind the descriptions recorded in the book of Revelation of weapons with the appearance of locusts and the power of scorpions (Revelation 9:3, 7–10). As mankind continues to advance in its ability to make war (Joel 3:10), we should be mindful that Jesus Christ tells all of us to watch and pray (Mark 13:33). Reading or listening to our free study guide Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return can help you better understand the uncertain times ahead. And watch for the cover article of the May-June 2026 issue of Tomorrow’s World magazine, “Plowshares into Swords,” to understand why all the world is gearing up for war.
Teenagers Taking Over: United States teenagers are using social media to plan and implement “takeovers” of buildings, parking lots, and other venues (New York Post, March 30, 2026). “People chasing internet notoriety organize the meetups online, which spread like wildfire, prompting mobs of hundreds to turn up unannounced at public spaces like shopping malls, city streets, parking lots and businesses and taking them over.” Often these gatherings are violent and wild, and police are frequently unable to manage the unruly mobs. Some takeovers have resulted in property damage, theft, assault, and even shootings.
God said through wise king Solomon that parents who truly love their children will direct and discipline them (Proverbs 13:24), noting that parents who properly discipline their children are more likely to have rest or peace (Proverbs 29:17). As society approaches the end of the age, children will become oppressors (Isaiah 3:12)—contrary to some popular wisdom, children need to be taught which behaviors are appropriate and which are not (Isaiah 5:20). Ultimately, children who are taught well are far better equipped to experience a peace-filled life (Proverbs 22:6). But children left without proper supervision will ultimately bring shame (Proverbs 29:15).
The Bible has advice on how to raise godly children and “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6). You can learn more by reading or listening to Successful Parenting: God’s Way. —Scott Winnail, Richard Franz, and Francine Prater