The World Ahead Weekly Update — June 26, 2014
Greetings from Charlotte,
God made human beings male and female for the purpose of having children and eventually becoming part of His family. Yet, today, many are confused about what they are and what their role should be. This sad travesty was on display during the month of June as “Gay Pride” events were staged in different parts of the world—totally ignoring what God has to say on this subject (see Leviticus 18:22-24; Romans 1:18-32). We need to pray earnestly for the return of Jesus Christ when there will be a “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:19-21). Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has been busy holding meetings and taping messages for the Feast of Tabernacles and a segment for the 2014 “Behind the Work” film. Mr. Ames has been preparing for his part of the TWP that will take place in Charlotte this weekend, and he will tape an introduction for this year’s “Behind the Work” film. Dr. Wil Pierre has returned to Florida after a very encouraging trip through the French-speaking Caribbean. Please note that registration for Living University classes that begin in August will open on July 1 (see announcement below). Last weekend, 178 visitors attended Tomorrow’s World Presentations in Anderson, SC; Crossville, TN; and in Calgary and Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada. This coming weekend, TWPs will be held in Charlotte, NC; Jackson and Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and in Syracuse, New York. Your prayers for these efforts to warn our peoples of what lies ahead and also offer a message of hope will be much appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Tomorrow’s World Presentation in Anderson, South Carolina
A Tomorrow’s World Presentation was held at the Anderson Civic Center in Anderson, South Carolina, on Sunday, June 22. Mr. Wyatt Ciesielka, manager of Television Production and Internet Operations for the Church, spoke on the topic of “After Armageddon—Five Keys to End-time Prophecy.” After a break, Mr. Ron Poole, Anderson Area Pastor, spoke on “The Mystery of God’s Holy Days.” There were a total of 89 in attendance, including 53 guests. Several from other Church of God groups attended. Participants enjoyed refreshments provided by Anderson congregation members. Many stayed long after the presentations were over, discussing Biblical topics. Several expressed an interest in attending Sabbath services in the future. We were thankful for the strong response and are hopeful that those God is calling will respond and act on what they have learned.—Manuel Burdette
Tomorrow’s World Presentation in Crossville, Tennnessee
On Sunday, June 22, Mr. Rod McNair presented the first part of a two-part Tomorrow’s World Presentation in Crossville, Tennessee, to 45 visitors and 32 members. He discussed five signs announcing the return of Jesus Christ. Mr. Martin Fannin gave the second part of the presentation, explaining God’s Holy Days and His master plan. The response was very positive, with many visitors expressing interest and two couples asking about attending Sabbath services in the very near future!—Lenny Bower
Visit to French Caribbean
On June 5, I arrived in Haiti to spend the Sabbath and the Feast of Pentecost with the brethren there. The atmosphere of brotherly love could be felt by everyone on the Sabbath and the Holy Day. On Monday I held a Leadership Training meeting with the ordained and leading members of the congregation. On Tuesday, June 10, I traveled to Martinique, meeting Elders Marcel Ginier and Etienne Duval. We discussed several ways to move the Work forward in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guyana. On the Sabbath, we had services and a delicious meal, followed by a Bible Study and a question and answer session. We also had a brief leadership meeting to discuss guidelines of Sabbath services. It was a special blessing to have Mrs. Jeanine Hodebar, a deaconess in the congregation, back with us. Almost eight months ago, Mrs. Hodebar was very close to death. The physicians had given up all hope. At this time, there are no signs of cancer—a powerful testimony to God’s intervention.
On Monday, June 16, I traveled on to Guadeloupe and met with Mr. Jean-Yves Celeste, our deacon and host there. The next day he and I made a home visit to a new prospective member. We also discussed strategies to promote more growth in this part of the country. I conducted an in-home Bible Study on Tuesday. The faithful little flock in Guadeloupe is very small but spiritually strong. On Wednesday, June 18, I flew to St. Maarten and was there for Sabbath Services, to meet with our few but faithful members there. Brethren in a remote area of Haiti and also a family in Martinique have contracted the Cikungunya virus carried by mosquitoes [see “News and Prophecy,” June 5]. I will continue to monitor their progress and recovery. Please continue praying for our brethren in Haiti, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Maarten, and French Guyana.—Wil Pierre
Prayer Request
My son and his wife, Stephen and Elizabeth Hall, dearly appreciate all the prayers for their baby, Isaac. For a while, it appeared that he was improving. After a month in the hospital, and with a feeding tube inserted, Isaac came home. It was hoped that he would strengthen and ultimately be able to eat on his own. However, after a battery of tests, the doctors confirmed that the baby is not thriving and growing as he should. In addition, Isaac’s condition has worsened. He is currently in the ER and will be transferred to ICU due to possible pneumonia and other complications. Please continue to remember Isaac and his parents in your prayers.—Dan Hall
Feast of Tabernacles
Activity Registration Coming—Repeat Announcement
Some have inquired about signing up on the Festival Web site for activities at this year’s Feast of Tabernacles. Activity registration is not yet open but should open next month—stay tuned for coming announcements and more details! When activity registration opens, brethren will be able to sign up (and pay online) for many activities now being planned by the Festival Site Coordinators.
If you have not yet registered for a Feast site, you may do so on the Festival Web site (http://fot2014.lcg.org).
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only—Repeat Announcement
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to the Church Administration Department is Tuesday, July 15. All forms should be properly completed by the members requesting second tithe assistance to attend the Feast this year. Then, the Area Pastors should write their recommendations/comments on the forms before submitting them to CAD. Festival Assistance Request forms are available to ministers on the MyLCG Web site (www.cogl.org).—Festival Office
Living Youth Programs
LYC Adventure Camp—Trinidad
We are pleased to announce our inaugural Adventure Camp Caribbean. This is an adventure for the young and young at heart—an opportunity to backpack along the trails of the northern coast of the island of Trinidad. It is a very scenic route even though much of the time is spent going through the forest—a trail not frequented by man. There are frequent views of the coastline through the trees and a regular supply of freshwater along the way. We propose to hike between the villages of Matelot and Blanchisseuse going from east to west. There are many beaches along the way that are accessible only by hiking or by boat. Our camp site will be at Madamas Bay at the mouth of the Madamas River where it empties into the Caribbean Sea.
The dates for this activity are Friday, August 29, to Sunday, August 31, 2014. We plan to depart on Friday, rest and rejoice on the Sabbath with a full Sabbath service. We will leave Madamas Sunday morning and head to Blanchisseuse to complete our adventure.
If you would like more information about the Adventure Camp Caribbean, please contact Mr. Damian Weekes at dweekes@lcg.org.
Another Successful Texas Pre-Teen Camp
Last week, 48 pre-teen campers plus 92 staff members and sibling campers gathered to spend four days of learning and playing at Camp Whispering Cedars in Dallas. In addition to many old favorites such as swimming, kickball and archery, new activities included gymnastics and gaga ball (a type of dodgeball within a small enclosed space). Perhaps the most talked-about new offering was roping (because this is Texas, y’all!). Christian living classes centered around instruction from Deuteronomy 6. At the annual end-of-camp talent show on Thursday night, appreciation was shown to the kitchen staff with a spontaneous standing ovation because of the outstanding meals they provided all week. Attitudes were exemplary, and most said they are looking forward to returning next year. This year’s Texas Pre-Teen Camp was a resounding success!—Phil Sena
Adventure Trip 2014—Yellowstone National Park
A revised “Packing List” and “Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions” have been posted on the Youth Web site. Anyone going on this trip is advised to review both. The “Trip Itinerary” for this camp was posted a couple of weeks ago. The itinerary notes what is planned for each day of this Adventure.—Sheldon Monson
Ohio Teen Living Youth Camp 2014
The “Dress Code” for the following special events is as follows:
Dress for Friday Evening Bible Study
Bible Study dress is nice casual. Boys are expected to wear a dress shirt, slacks, and dress shoes. No tie required. Girls are expected to wear skirts/dresses. No shorts or blue jeans or tennis shoes allowed.
Dress for Sabbath Brunch and Dinner on the Sabbath (other than the final banquet)
Dress is the same as noted above for Friday evening Bible Study.
Dress for Sabbath Services and the Final Banquet
These are dress-up occasions. Boys are expected to wear a dress shirt, coat and tie and dress shoes. (Coats may be removed if it is too hot.) Girls are expected to wear skirts/dresses and dress shoes or dressy sandals.
Dress for Topics and Dance
Boys are expected to wear polo shirts, dress slacks and dress shoes. Girls are expected to wear sun-dresses (hats optional), and dressy sandals.
We have moved the “Topics and Dance” to the afternoon (2:00-5:30 p.m.). One boys’ dorm and one girls’ dorm are scheduled for each topics and dance session. Special cold beverages and appetizers will be served in a “Garden Party” type atmosphere. Each girls’ dorm will be required to come up with decorations and a theme, and will have the morning to decorate and prepare for this special event.
The “Daily Activity Schedule” for the Teen Camp in Ohio is now posted on the Living Youth Site. All activity directors should check this schedule so that they can formulate their course outline and lesson plans and get them to each member of their staff as soon as possible. The “Evening Activity Schedule” and a revised “Staff Assignments List” have also been posted.—Sheldon Monson
Living University
Living University—Registration for First (Fall) Semester
Registration for fall semester classes will begin on July 1 and classes will begin August 18. Students may register anytime between July 1 and the start of classes. For those who have never taken a Living University course, you will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for your selected course. The following are brief descriptions of a selection of the 16 classes being offered next semester. We plan to share an overview of our fall courses over the next month in The World Ahead, so be sure to watch for them. A complete listing of “2014 Fall Classes” (spring in the Southern hemisphere) can also be viewed on the Living University Web site. To make application to Living University, to register for courses, and to find out more, please visit www.livinguniv.com. For additional information, please contact Mrs. Michelle Broussard at mbroussard@livinguniv.com or 704-708-2294.
THL 110a – Bible Study Course. This version of the Bible Study Course (BSC) is online and includes lectures on related topics and additional readings. It will be more “in depth” than the paper-pencil or online version of the Bible Study Course, but it will use the original course as its backbone. The course has no tuition charge and students are only responsible for the Technology Fee. This is the first of the two-semester course, and it serves as an introduction to the Bible, its message, and its implication for successful Christian life in today’s world.
THL 135 – Life, Ministry and Teachings of Jesus. This course is one of LU’s foundational courses in theology, and covers the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the four gospels. It takes a “harmony of the gospels” approach to the subject and covers the gospels in far more detail than is possible in our traditional Sabbath services. The gospels are analyzed from the context of the social, political, and religious conditions of the first century. Students will spend time reviewing the background, purpose, message, and themes of the gospels and the significance of Jesus Christ in the first century and beyond. The lecture core of this course is a series of recorded lectures presented by long-time evangelist and Bible teacher, Dr. Roderick C. Meredith.
THL 200 – Principles of Christian Living. This practical and informative course covers the purpose for human life; human nature; values, morality, and ethics; marriage and family; and career. Topics include values, beliefs, and morals; interpersonal communication; dating, courtship, marriage, and children. Students will learn how to explain and demonstrate a basic knowledge of practical Christian living principles. The lecture core is a set of contemporary lectures by Dr. Douglas Winnail dealing with the foundations of Christian living for successful life in today’s world.
Comments
The Value of Education: Over the years, some have concluded that a worldly education is of little value to true Christians. Since Satan is the god of this world, and we are to come out of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4; 6:14-18), some have assumed that getting an education in this world is ungodly and/or a waste of time. Such ideas overlook the fact that God used individuals in powerful ways who were schooled in this world. Moses was raised as a prince in Egypt and was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). Solomon was knowledgeable in many areas (1 Kings 4:32-34), and he collected wise sayings in the book of Proverbs. Daniel was one of a group of intelligent young Jewish captives educated in Babylon before they were used by God (Daniel 1:3-4). Paul studied at the feet of Gamaliel, the leading rabbi of his day, before being used by God to write 14 books in the New Testament. Numerous studies show that more education results in larger incomes. Education also enables Christians to provide better for their families. Christians who understand the Truth of God and the Plan of God should take advantage of opportunities to gain an education that will help them prepare to serve others more effectively now and in the coming Kingdom of God. This is one of the reasons for developing Living University—to help God’s people prepare for the future.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 26, 2014
A Divisive Head for Europe: This Friday EU leaders will meet to appoint Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission (Telegraph, June 22, 2014). Some Europeans are strongly supportive of Mr. Juncker, while some British see him as Anglophobic because of comments he made in a 2005 speech to the European Parliament (ibid.). Last year Mr. Juncker was forced to step down amid scandal from his position as Luxembourg’s leader. He has also been known to endorse lying to the public in order to achieve important EU aims (Telegraph, June 4, 2014). British Prime Minister David Cameron has threatened to call for an unprecedented “yes or no vote” on Mr. Juncker’s appointment to the Commision presidency at Friday’s nomination dinner for him (Telegraph, June 22, 2014). France and the Netherlands, two nations recently opposed to Mr. Juncker’s appointment, have reversed their opinions and now favor him—leaving Britain standing alone (Telegraph, June 23, 2014). Divisive decisions by the European elite appear to be further fracturing long-standing relationships within the EU, while Britain is taking actions that further alienate it from nations once seen as friends. This corresponds with ancient Bible prophecies that place Israelite-descended nations like Britain on the “outside” of the final Beast power that will emerge in Europe (see Ezekiel 23:9-10, 22-30; Hosea 5:1-9; 11:3-7). For more on this topic be sure to view our sobering telecast on “Britain’s Setting Sun.”
France’s Tumble from the Top: “It’s not a good sign when the leader of a G7 nation feels the need to state his country still matters. That is precisely what French President Francois Hollande did at a meeting of European Union leaders last month after his Socialist party’s humiliating defeat by the hard right National Front in European Parliament elections” (Reuters, June 13, 2014). According to one former European affairs minister, “Hollande is a devalued currency. If we need something, we go to the Germans. Before, we used to go to the French as a way of bringing the Germans around. Now France is mostly absent” (ibid.). The European Commission’s representative to Paris noted, “France can be a driving force for the EU but member states are also well aware that if France sinks, there is a risk for the whole euro zone. No one has any interest in weakening it. Everybody, including Germany, wants it to get stronger” (ibid.). France has been a major player in the development of the EU. However, France is an Israelite-descended nation. Long ago, God warned that the nations who reject Him would diminish in power, authority and respect among world nations. Moses foretold that alien nations “shall lend to you [Israelite nations], but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail” (Deuteronomy 28:44). France’s continued “tumble from the top” of the European leadership, sobering as it may be, is something to expect as prophecy marches on. For more on this subject, be sure to read our insightful booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Deadly Plague Out of Control: “The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Africa is ‘totally out of control,’ according to a senior official for Doctors Without Borders, who says the medical group is stretched to the limit in responding” (Associated Press, June 20, 2014). Ebola, which causes its victims to bleed to death internally, is spread from person to person and has no cure or vaccine. This outbreak “has been linked to more than 330 deaths in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, according to the World Health Organization” (ibid.). According to Armand Sprecher, a public health specialist with Doctors Without Borders, “This is the highest outbreak on record and has the highest number of deaths, so this is unprecedented so far” (ibid.). Ebola (hemorrhagic fever) is a deadly disease with horrific consequences. Tragic outbreaks like this should motivate any Christian to “sigh and cry” for those who suffer and to pray wholeheartedly for Christ’s return. As the end of the age approaches, Jesus warned that we would see increasing outbreaks of disease epidemics (Luke 21:11) and that these would be just “the beginning of sorrows” that will precede the return of Jesus Christ to this earth (Matthew 24:8). For more information about key end-time events, be sure to read our booklet Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return.—Scott Winnail, John Meakin and Chris Sookdeo