Greetings from Charlotte
Israeli elections were held this past week, with no clear winner yet. Midterm elections are already underway here in the US, with millions of ballots already cast. However, election day—kind of a misnomer—is scheduled for this coming Tuesday. It will be interesting to see which way the country decides to go. Some in France and other parts of Europe are still in the mood to riot, loot, and destroy property. Our world is clearly at a turning point, and the direction is not good.
Meanwhile, the work continues. This past week, we discussed possible topics for 2027 Tomorrow’s World Presentations. One thing we have learned over the last couple of years is that whether it is a telecast, a Whiteboard, or TWP, it is not only the subject, but also the title and advertising that makes a difference. Mr. Michael DeSimone and his team have done extensive testing on different titles, thumbnails, etc., and they have found that there can be significant differences in responses depending on these factors. Given that, we will test various topics, titles, and graphics for our upcoming TWPs. That said, it is always vitally important that members support these efforts by beseeching God’s intervention—especially when a presentation comes to your area. —Gerald E. Weston
Church Administration
New Congregational Hymnals are Being Shipped
The new congregational hymnals have finally reached Headquarters! While the new personal hymnals are still in transit from the printer, we expect them to arrive soon. We are beginning to ship the congregational hymnals to pastors, who will distribute them to each congregation—however, we request that you do not use these hymnals in your congregations right away, but instead wait until the personal hymnals have been received.
One reason for this is that pianists and song-leaders will not have spiral-bound, lay-flat hymnals until they receive the personal hymnals. The other reason is that the number of congregational hymnals being sent to each congregation has been adjusted according to the number of personal hymnals that have been ordered by each congregation’s members. Once you have received your personal hymnal, please bring it with you to services each week so that there are always enough hymnals to go around.
Finally, please talk to your pastor regarding specific instructions on how to “break in” the new congregational hymnals when opening them for the first time. Properly doing so will greatly extend their lifespans and help us be good stewards of these hymnals.
Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Last week, we held an initial presentation in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada and a follow-up presentation in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. The Canadian presentation drew 14 guests—a 3.7 percent response rate. The South African follow-up TWP drew nine new guests and five return guests, which is very encouraging for a follow-up presentation. This week, we will hold one initial presentation in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, and one follow-up presentation in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for the Tomorrow’s World Presentations.
Living Youth Program
European Camp (Belgium) 2027 – Early Announcement
We are once again planning to offer our LYP Teen Camp in Belgium this coming summer. Campers and staff should plan to arrive on Monday afternoon, July 26, and depart the morning of Monday, August 2, 2027. We ask that those who are interested in attending please email Scott Winnail ([email protected]) to let him know of your interest. This is not a commitment. We will provide more details and begin accepting applications in early 2027.
Comments
Our Opinions vs. Christ’s Mind
How many times have you heard or made comments like “Here’s how I see it” or “Here’s what I think”? All too often, these comments are made about people in leadership and the decisions they make—even in the Church. Moses was criticized by men who held different opinions (Numbers 16:1–11), and Peter differed with Jesus and even rebuked Him (Matthew 16:21–23). In both cases, the critics failed to recognize Satan as the real source of their negative and divisive attitudes.
Before we share our opinions, we need to remember that God warns, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55:8). As Christians, our focus should be on developing godly perspectives that reflect the mind of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5). Long ago, Solomon wrote, “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back” (Proverbs 29:11). Before we make a comment, it is good to ask ourselves, Am I promoting my own opinion or does my comment reflect the mind of Christ? —Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy
Could the Global Economy Fail?
The financial crisis of 2007 and 2008 sent shockwaves around the globe. Then there was an economic recovery. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, world economies took another financial downturn. Now, between the war in Ukraine and the United States’ and Israel’s war with Iran, the global economy is struggling again. “The global economy ‘could soon test the limits of resilience,’ as emergency oil stocks run low and government budgets become overstretched, the International Monetary Fund [IMF] has warned” (The Guardian, October 12, 2026).
In March, the International Energy Agency announced the release of the greatest amount of oil reserves ever, and they promised to “accelerate it” after an October meeting. However, a recent report stated that the United States’ strategic petroleum reserve has now reached its lowest level since 1982. This does not bode well for the world’s economy, for which the US has been one of the primary engines. IMF economists warn that a prolonged war in the Persian Gulf region could increase both energy and food prices. They also warn that continued “disruptions to energy infrastructure, cyber-attacks, or extreme weather events could amplify these effects.” The world’s economy appears to be on the edge.
As the late John Ogwyn insightfully wrote, “It is apparent that unless human emotions can be channeled differently, they will fracture the whole global economic structure.” Such circumstances threaten to generate the sort of chaos in which a “strongman” leader will be welcomed to bring stability and prosperity to the global financial system. The Bible foretells that such a strongman will arise in Europe! To learn more about this future European superpower, read or listen to Mr. Ogwyn’s eye-opening publication The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor, or Soon-Coming Reality?
Lymph Nodes in the Skull?
For centuries, the skull was viewed as a hard, simple structure protecting the fragile brain. And, for nearly 100 years, scientists thought the brain was protected from immune activity that could damage it (Deutsche Welle, August 24, 2026). However, the historic view of immunity and the brain is rapidly changing!
A recent study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis revealed that skull bones of mice contain immune clusters “resembling lymph nodes.” Mouse models are used for initial research because of the similarities between human and mouse anatomy. In order to understand the function of these “lymph node-like structures,” researchers suppressed their function “in mice with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.” As a result, “the tumors grew faster and the animals died sooner.” Then researchers used immune-boosting proteins to stimulate the immune clusters in the bone marrow, with the result that the “animals rejected tumors more effectively and survived longer.”
While scientists caution that the recently discovered lymph node-like immune structures in mice skulls might not exist in humans and more studies are yet to be completed, this finding reveals that the immune systems of even small mammals are more complex and effective than previously thought. If a less complex mammal like a mouse has such an advanced immune system, why wouldn’t a human? As one researcher observed, “We have never seen such structures in healthy bone marrow before…. It is an exciting discovery that points out that a complex brain requires its own specialized immune structures to defend it.”
The human body is a remarkably designed organism that even twenty-first-century science is only beginning to understand. Discoveries and advances in scientific understanding continue to speak to the need for a highly intelligent Creator. To learn more about this Creator, watch “Evolution’s Dirty Little Secrets.” —Scott Winnail and Francine Prater