A rainy but happy hello from Charlotte!
This has been the month for conferences here at Headquarters. We had the Council of Elders meetings, then a brief half-day Regional Pastors meeting and finally the Festival Coordinators conference May 19-20. All of these meetings were exceptionally productive and portend good things for God's Work and Church in the future.
It was impressive to see the zeal, commitment and ability of the ministers at these conferences. They are not "playing church"! Serving God and His people is their life. We are truly blessed to have dedicated and enthusiastic leaders in the Living Church of God, starting with Dr. Roderick C. Meredith. We should thank God regularly for that fact.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Several ministers are traveling out from H.Q. for the Pentecost weekend. Mr. Richard Ames to Houston, Mr. Dibar Apartian to Martinique, and I will be going to Sacramento.
Dr. Meredith reached a decision at the Council of Elders to convene a ministerial conference in Charlotte Nov. 17-20, 2003. Because of the H.Q. move, budgetary constraints and time of the year, this conference will probably involve mainly full-time ministers and their wives. We will send out more details later, but we just wanted to give you an early "heads-up." We are hoping for a larger general ministerial conference in 2004, when all of the ministers will be able to attend.
Singles Activity
For several weeks we have advertised "Living 4 Tomorrow — A Time 4 Young Singles." PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TARGET AGE FOR THIS ACTIVITY IS 18 TO 30. Some have erroneously thought it was for a younger or older audience. If you are interested in this activity, please see last weeks' update for further information.
Following are a few comments sent in to Charlotte from people interested in the Work:
Tuscaloosa, AL
I first want to thank God Almighty, and I want to say thanks for sending me free material on God's word over this year. My dad and I have been really blessed by the Truth. I wanted to let you know that we both are attending Sabbath services to obey God. I also know that this stuff is free, but I still want to give this offering to God's Work. I have read just about all the booklets except the Middle East in Prophecy (I hope Mr. Meredith doesn't have to get his big stick out! just kidding). I have most of the magazines and I'm on lesson 8 of the Bible Study Course. It turns out that I was wrong on just about all the major topics on Christianity. I had no clue on Bible prophecy, no clue about the Ten Commandments, I had a sorry excuse for the gospel (Paul's Gospel) instead of the Kingdom of God, thought I was going to heaven, thought people were in hell right now, thought I was saved (didn't know it was a process), no idea of the book of Revelation, or the Holy Days and God's plan. And of course so much more, but God is definitely doing a work in you all. First I had to admit that I was wrong, and then the truth will eventually make you free.
Baton Rouge, LA
Thank you Tomorrow's World for bringing the Truth to the world. Many are afraid of the Truth, but God has called you to help many come to the light. Me and my husband fellowship at home (Bible Study) with others because the church we were in only teaches half of the truth and not the whole truth and that was not what we were looking for. We want the whole truth and nothing but the truth! So we will be sending our tithes and offerings to you!
Ashburton, New Zealand
I feel to write to you to offer the only thing I have—my support through prayer and encouragement for your incredible work for God. In my life (37 years) God has offered His hand to me time and time again. Even though He is not the author of pain and suffering, both physically and emotionally He has allowed this to pass through my life for His greater purpose. By these trials I was brought to a better place and an infinitely better understanding of Him and His purpose. Which is where you come in. I was on my knees crying out to God to make Himself more real to me and to help me to understand more about Him—the answer was immediate—within hours as I recall your information was made aware to me and before long your magazine and booklets were arriving in my mailbox—FREE. (How incredible is that??!!!!) Thank you so much for your ministry—thank you for your courage to speak out. Thank you for being the "vehicle" that has allowed my eyes to be truly opened. God's word is sure. His Truth is my anchor! Take courage to move forward for Him. He won't let you fall—how can you? His arms are holding you up!
That's it for now. Have a great Sabbath!
Charles E. Bryce