Greetings from Charlotte,
Last Sabbath, Dr. Meredith gave the sermon here in Charlotte, entitled “Fear God,” and on Wednesday he did some taping in the TV studio. This morning he left for Houston, Texas, where he will preach on the Sabbath. On Sunday, Dr. Meredith and Pastor Rick Stafford will make a two-part Tomorrow’s World Presentation entitled “After Armageddon.” My wife and I returned to Charlotte on Tuesday after very profitable visits with brethren and Church leaders in South Africa, Europe and the UK. It has been encouraging to see the stability, focus and dedication of God’s people in different parts of the world. Here in Charlotte, we are finalizing arrangements at a few remaining Feast sites in the USA, and we are making plans for the Spring Holy Days. Please note and announce that camp registrations begin this Sunday, Februar y 9. Living University registration for second semester classes has leveled off at about 190 students, and we are accepting applications for on-site students in Charlotte for the fall semester of 2014. Please continue to pray that God will guide His Work as we head into what could be a very interesting year ahead.—DSW
Church Administration
“Open House” Sabbath Services in Lyon, France
I held a Sabbath assembly in Lyon on February 1, giving a sermon entitled “Where Is God’s True Church?” There were 11 people in attendance: four members and seven new people. One new lady had in the past attended a presentation Mr. Apartian gave in Geneva. She is already asking for baptism. Most of the new people know their Bibles and are quite familiar with what we teach. They were particularly familiar with Mr. Brochu’s sermons online. Everyone seemed interested and happy. We all kept talking until about 6:30 p.m. The next assembly in Lyon will be held on March 1.—Roland Lecocq
Passover 2014—Repeat Announcement
Important Notice to All Pastors: This year the Passover Service will be observed on Sunday evening, April 13. Let us know as soon as possible if any of the congregations you serve will need additional Passover Service supplies (bread trays and/or wine trays or glasses) or a copy of the Passover Service recording. To ensure timely delivery and to save on shipping costs, please let us know this information before February 18 for international congregations, and by March 17 for U.S. congregations.
Also, let us know of any scattered members who are unable to keep the Passover with a congregation and who need to receive the Passover Service recording and letter instructions for observing it at home. International requests should be received before February 18. Please direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at cad@lcg.org as soon as possible.
North Florida Spring Holy Day Family Weekend—April 18-21, 2014
Come join the North Florida congregations as we enjoy peaceful fellowship away from “the world” for the last part of the Days of Unleavened Bread 2014. The event will take place at the beautiful lakefront Cerveny Conference Center in Live Oak, FL. Unforgettable activities include: canoeing and kayaking on beautiful White Lake, Bible Studies, early morning coffee fellowship every day, and instructive workshops on the topics of homesteading and sustainable, organic gardening. We have the joy of sharing all of our meals, and lots of time for iron sharpening iron from Friday, April 18, until Monday afternoon,
April 21.
We are very excited to announce our special guest speaker, Dr. Scott Winnail. Dr. Winnail serves as the Executive Vice President and Dean of Faculty at Living University.
Our unique “all-inclusive” price includes literally everything: all activities, lodging, and meals. Each meal will be prepared and served by local brethren and enjoyed together in the beautiful Juhan Dining hall overlooking White Lake. Rooms are $65 per night and all of the 7+ meals for the weekend cost only $25 per adult.
This weekend is for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of big city life and slow down, breathe deeply the fresh country air, and have long conversations about our future as the family of God. Families and singles of all ages are encouraged to attend.
To find our more information and to register online, visit www.LCGnorthFL.com (not an official Church Web site).—Joseph Brown
Upstate South Carolina Spring Holy Day Weekend in Greenville, SC—Repeat Announcement
The Anderson, South Carolina congregation invites you to join us for our seventh Upstate South Carolina Spring Holy Day Weekend scheduled for Friday, April 18, 2014 to Monday, April 21, 2014. The weekend promises to be filled with inspiring spiritual messages, uplifting fellowship, and fun activities. Come celebrate the last part of the Days of Unleavened Bread with us in Greenville, SC. We are pleased to announce that the Presiding Evangelist of the Living Church of God, Dr. Roderick Meredith will be our guest speaker for the weekend.
Planned events include a Friday afternoon bike ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail; a Friday evening opening dinner and Bible Study; brunch, a Bible Question-and-Answer Session, and Sabbath services on the Sabbath; the Black Hat Banquet and Ball on Saturday night; a picnic and recreational activities, including a 5K road race and softball games, on Sunday; and Holy Day services on Monday, the Last Day of Unleavened Bread. Services and the Banquet and Ball will be held at the Hyatt Regency Greenville in downtown Greenville, SC.
Additionally, we invite those with musical talent to perform special music for the Sabbath or Holy Day services or to perform appropriate danceable music for the Ball. Please contact us with your proposed performance selection.
We have secured a room rate of $89 per night for guests staying at the Hyatt. This guaranteed rate expires on March 28, 2014. Further details about the event, prices of meals, and registration instructions are located at our local Web site: http://lcganderson.org/ (not an official Church Web site). Or you may contact Manuel Burdette for further information at 864-638-7719 or by e-mail at mhburdette@att.net.
We look forward to seeing you in Greenville for the best Spring Weekend ever!
Living Youth Programs
Online Teen Bible Study—Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study Friday evening, February 14, will be on “The Seven Last Plagues,” presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven’t had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, I encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The Bible Study runs from 8:00-9:00 p.m. (EST) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful opportunity for godly fellowship and learning. For those of you who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening’s on “The Seven Trumpets Sound,” can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Sheldon Monson
Summer Camps 2014—Please read in all congregations this Sabbath
Registration begins this Sunday, February 9, 2014 for all summer camp programs in the United States and Europe. For more information, or to register, please visit lyc.lcg.org. Sign up now!
● Summer Camp programs in the United States consist of the following:
LYC Teen Camp at Camp Lazarus—Delaware, Ohio
Camp Director: Sheldon Monson
Dates: Staff Arrival – Sunday, July 27
Camper Arrival – Monday, July28
Departure – Sunday, August 10
Location: Camp Lazarus (BSA)
4422 Columbus Pike (Route 23)
Delaware, Ohio 43015
Ages: Campers – ages 13-18
Staff – ages 18 and older
Tuition Cost: $250 (first camper), $200 (second camper), $150 (third camper or more)
New Activities: Water skiing and Life Roles (girls – jewelry making and baking; boys – tying fishing flies and making fishing jigs)
LYC Pre-Teen Camp—Missouri
Camp Director: Gene Hilgenberg
Dates: Sunday, June 29 – Friday, July 4
New Location: Knob Noster State Park
Camp Bob White
873 SE 10 Road
Knob Noster, Missouri (Approx. 50 miles South East of Kansas City, MO)
Ages: Campers – ages 7-12
High School Staff – ages 15-18
Adult Staff – ages 19 and older
Tuition Cost: $110 (first camper), $100 (second camper), $95 (third camper or more)
New Activities: Fishing and Swimming
LYC Pre-Teen Camp—Texas
Camp Director: Phil Sena
Dates: Sunday, June 15 – Friday, June 20
Location: Camp Whispering Cedars
6010 Whispering Cedar Drive,
Dallas, Texas 75236
Ages: Campers – ages 7-12
High School Staff – ages 15-18
Adult Staff – ages 19 and older
Tuition Cost: $110 (first camper), $100 (second camper), $95 (third camper or more), $110 (Sibling Campers 13-14 years of age)
LYC Family Camp—West Virginia
Camp Director: Paul Shumway
Dates: Sunday, July 13 – Friday, July 18, 2014
Location: Glenwood 4-H Camp – same as last year (Near Princeton, West Virginia)
Ages: Campers – ages 7-12
Staff – ages 13 and older (parents encouraged to attend)
Tuition Cost: $110 (first camper), $100 (for each successive camper), $55 (adults), $30 (mini-campers) $350 (maximum fee for families)
● Camps will also be held in Europe (August) and South Africa (December 2014).
The European Summer Camp—Tonbridge, Kent, UK
Dates: Wednesday, August 13 – Friday, August 22
Location: Rock UK Carroty Wood Adventure Centre, just outside of Tonbridge, Kent.
Cost: £130.
LYC Camp in South Africa–Pretoria
Camp Director: Lawdi Ferreira
Dates: Monday, December 22 – Wednesday, December 31
Location: Camp Discovery Game Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng
Ages: Campers – ages 12-18
Staff – age 19 and older
Cost: $250 per person
Deadline to apply: September 30
Anyone interested in attending the camp in Europe or the one in South Africa, as a camper or as a staff member (age 19 and older), or who has questions about them, is asked to contact Rees Ellis at rellis@lcg.org or Jamie Meakin at jamiemeakin@lcg.org.uk.
2014 LYC Adventure Trip—Yellowstone National Park—Wyoming/Montana/Idaho—Ple
ase read in all congregations this Sabbath
If you are 13-20 years of age and are interested in backpacking and white-water rafting, register now for the 2014 Adventure Trip to Yellowstone National Park. Arrival is Tuesday, July 8 and the departure date is Thursday, July 17. This spectacular park contains more than 290 waterfalls, the majority of the world’s geysers, and about 10,000 thermal features. They are the main reason this magnificent park was established as the first national park in the world in 1872, twenty years before Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming were granted statehood. Yellowstone Park experiences approximately 2,000 earthquakes a year, and is one of the planet’s active super-volcanoes—and the only one to be located on land. This mountain wild-land has the largest concentration of free roaming wildlife in all of the lower 48 states. Home to grizzly bears, wolves, and herds of bison, elk, moose, big horn sheep, and many other animal species, this place is truly among the most beautiful places on the planet! The cost of tuition is an exceptional value at $450.00 per camper. If you are 21 or older, in great physical condition, good with young people, and wish to apply to serve as a member of the staff, sign up now as space is limited. Registration starts on Sunday, February 9, and ends Friday, February 21, for both campers and staff. You won’t want to miss this incredible opportunity, so sign up now!—Sheldon Monson
Television Department
Russian Telecasts Now on Roku
The Tomorrow’s World program is broadcast in the Russian language over a powerful satellite television network that reaches every continent except Australia and Antarctica. This tremendous coverage makes it available from Canada to Russia, from Poland to North Korea, and all points between. The Russian telecasts are also available from our Russian Web site: www.zavtrashnimir.org/. We are thankful that they are now also available from our Roku channel. If you have a Roku, be sure to add the Tomorrow’s World channel, and give it a five-star ranking. There, you can watch the telecast in high definition any time, and you will find the English, French, Spanish, Chinese and now Russian programs.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Internet Department
New Tomorrow’s World Web Site Update!
As mentioned last week, the new Tomorrow’s World Web site has been launched to the membership for review and feedback. And it is getting fantastic reviews! We greatly appreciate everyone’s comments. If you have not yet looked at the new, beta Web site, please go to this URL: http://beta.tomorrowsworld.org
. Again, our goal is to release the new English-language Tomorrow’s World Web site to the entire world in a few weeks, followed by French and Spanish versions throughout 2014. Thank you for your prayers for the success of this major new Web site launch which should help us make an even bigger impact throughout the world!—Wyatt Ciesielka < /p>
New “Israel” Web Site
Although the Tomorrow’s World and Living Church of God Web sites (in various languages) are our primary Web sites, as most of you know, the Church also maintains many others, such as the Living University Web site, various Web sites for different regions of the world, specialty Web sites such as the Feast of Tabernacles registration sites, Youth Web sites, etc. Many of you may not know that we maintain and market more than 200 different unique Web sites. Some of these are quite small and serve as simple landing pages to promote a single booklet and direct interest to the main Tomorrow’s World Web sites. At Dr. Meredith’s suggestion, we recently launched a small, specialty Web site targeting only those who live in the modern state of Israel. We hope to add soon some more specific videos that would be of interest to those currently living i n Israel. If you would like to check it out, here is the URL: www.IsraelinBibleProphecy.org.
—Wyatt Ciesielka
Finance Department
Financial Update
God is continuing to bless His Work financially! For the first half of 2013, income appeared to be flat, showing only a small increase when compared to the strong year we had in 2012. However, in the last half of 2013, income increased significantly, resulting in a projected increase of over 13 percent for the calendar year, when accruals are included.
2013 income for the U.S. is preliminarily put at $18,556,000—a record for Living Church of God—and income worldwide is also expected to increase, the total to be in the area of $25,000,000. I should point out that these figures are currently unaudited, and as in previous years, we expect to publish complete financials in the Living Church News later this year, independently audited by Cherry Bekaert CPAs.
All of us here at Headquarters are most grateful to God for all He does for His Work through our faithful members and coworkers!—Dexter B. Wakefield, Vice President of Finance and Operations
Living University
Adjunct Faculty Needed
As Living University grows and we expand our curriculum, we are in need of additional adjunct faculty to teach and develop distance-education classes in three different areas. Interested applicants who meet the qualifications listed below are encouraged to contact Dr. Scott Winnail: phone 704-708-2292 or e-mail swinnail@livinguniv.com. Resumés may also be e-mailed or sent to him.
1. History: Living University is looking for someone to develop and teach our HIST 111 – History of Western Civilization to 1648 and HIST 112 – History of Western Civilization since 1648 courses. Qualified applicants will minimally possess a Masters degree with at least 18 graduate hours in history related to Western civilizations.
2. Speech Communication: Living University is looking for someone to develop and teach different speech-related courses, including Oral Communication and Public Speaking. Qualified applicants will minimally possess a Masters degree with at least 18 graduate hours in speech communication.
3. Music: Living University is looking for someone to develop and teach different music courses, in particular, a course in Music Appreciation. Qualified applicants will minimally possess a Masters degree with at least 18 graduate hours in music.
Comments
Skills that Promote Teamwork: Members of successful teams (families, congregations, business groups and athletic teams) develop the necessary skills to function together smoothly to accomplish goals. These skills can be identified and learned. As Christians we must develop the same skills—and many are clearly biblical. Effective team players avoid saying or doing things that offend others (Matthew 18:7; 1 Corinthians 10:32). Team players learn to forgive and overlook slights or comments they perceive as hurtful because they have learned the value of not being easily offended (Proverbs 10:12). Effective team players do not sit in judgment of others—accusing, criticizing, spreading their discontent, or saying or assuming negative things about others on the team. Instead, they make sure their own lives are in order (Matthew 7:1-5; James 4:11). Team players are peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) who are able to promote harmony and work smoothly with others (James 3:17-18). They deal with people gently, respectfully and patiently, and are willing to listen without trying to justify their own position (James 1:19). Effective team players appreciate that a team is made up of individuals with different talents and abilities who can make unique contributions to the team (1 Corinthians 12:12). They know the main priority is to work together smoothly to achieve a goal while showing love to one another (Ephesians 4:16). In summary, good team players have learned how to love their neighbors. Let’s all strive to develop these important skills so we can do God’s Work effectively!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—February 6, 2014
“Breathtaking” EU-wide Corruption! A European Union study on governmental corruption revealed that it costs the union over €120 billion annually (BBC, February 3, 2014). “In Croatia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, between 6% and 29% of respondents said they had been asked for a bribe, or had been expected to pay one, in the past 12 months. There were also high levels of bribery in Poland (15%), Slovakia (14%) and Hungary (13%),” often in healthcare (ibid.). Reasons cited for the high corruption rates included: “existing rules on conflicts of interest are inadequately enforced,” and “quality of corruption investigations varies widely across the EU” (ibid.). There was no mention of poor character and dishone sty in elected officials. Isaiah reveals that end-time leaders will be “shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory” (Isaiah 56:11). Of course, non-Israelites and their leaders have these same character flaws. Is it any wonder that “the creation itself” yearns to be “delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21)? Christ will return one day soon and finally the world will have a leader who will “reign in righteousness (Isaiah 32:1; 11:4), and with the needs and future of all people being the driving force of His rule. For more on this exciting future time, be sure to watch our telecast entitled: “Blessings of Righteous Government.”
South Africa’s Newest Political Party: “A new party that will defend gays and lesbians against violence and persecution will stand in South Africa’s elections this year” (Agence France-Presse, February 1, 2014). Its aim is to protect lesbian women against protective or corrective rape, and reduce bullying against boys “thought to be” homosexual. South African homosexuals “are regularly killed because of their lifestyle” (ibid.). Murder, rape and beating for any reason are wrong—even when committed against one sinning via homosexuality. One sin never warrants another. Only the giver of life can rightfully hold the keys to death (Revelation 1:18). What is more, how will this specialized po litical party, serving a small proportion of individuals, improve society as a whole? Should not government leaders focus on larger issues like improving character and preventing murder “period”? God prophesied of self-centered, end-time rulers who “feed” themselves and “do not feed the flock” or larger society (Ezekiel 34:3). “The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken…” (v. 4). Leaders often care only about their constituents and little about others. This new political party is another small-minded group meeting its own needs—correctly protecting people, but wrongly encouraging their sins. God warns of a sobering future punishment on the Israelite-descended nations because of their sins and rejection of His laws. For more on this topic, read our article entitled “Sodom Rises Again!”
Agricultural Revolution Needed: Earth’s population will grow by 25 percent, to more than nine billion, by 2050 (Deutsche Welle, January 20, 2014). With this increase will come a far greater need for food. “Experts assume that global food production must increase by 70 percent in order to meet the world’s changing dietary habits” (ibid.). “What hasn’t been sufficiently discussed is that we cannot achieve this type of expansion or production… At least not under the current conditions,” noted the executive director of the UN Environment Program. “Today, agriculture already uses two-thirds of the global water supply. In the past 100 years, we have dried out 50 percent of all the wetland s in the name of progress” (ibid.). Experts recommend more fertilizer and genetic modification in order to boost food production to the level needed—ultimately, “nothing short of a revolution in agriculture” (ibid.). But, are chemicals and genetic modification the solution? The Bible contains powerful agriculture principles that will feed far more than nine billion people! Scripture presents a land-Sabbath approach designed to completely renew the soil every seven years (Leviticus 25). God will ultimately change the global climate by lowering and repositioning mountains (Revelation 6:14), resulting in “rain in its season,” even in the deserts (Leviticus 26:4)! And, farmers will face an exciting agricultural dilemma when the “plowman shall overtake the reaper” (Amos 9:13), due to the abundant harvest. All this will occur without excessive chemical fertilizers or genetic modification. For more on thi s exciting time, be sure to read our article “Can You Picture the Millennium?”—Scott Winnail and Ron Ramsingh