Hello everyone!
Plans for the Ministerial Conference are coming together very well. There are 220 ministers and wives registered to attend. That is about 50 more than attended our last conference 2 years ago. Growth is good! Mrs. Sheryl Meredith and Mrs. Shirley Apartian have been working hard to prepare a very special occasion for everyone on Tuesday night, March 2. They have made arrangements for all of us attending the conference to enjoy a wonderful banquet and dance, at a lovely location. So bring your dancing shoes and a hearty appetite! By the way, appropriate clothing for the meetings is Sabbath dress or dressy casual. Sabbath dress for the dance will be just fine.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
I want to clarify the details of Mr. Ben Faulkner's retirement. He is retiring from the full-time ministry. He will continue to serve in the Living Church of God ministry, when and where he can and is able. We expect he and Mrs. Faulkner will be quite busy doing that and helping out with the Feast, etc. I'm sorry about any confusion or misunderstanding I may have caused by not explaining the Faulkners' retirement more thoroughly in the announcement last week.
Philippines Update—Mr. Rod McNair
Growth in the Philippines Church and Work has been good for the year of 2003. As of January 1, 2004, the mailing list for the Tomorrow's World magazine stands at 1,719. For the year, 890 pieces of mail have been processed by the Manila office, with 1,462 Bible Study Course lessons being sent out, and 1,762 booklets mailed as well. One of the exciting trends developing is the growth of Internet responses. There were 257 total requests for the Tomorrow's World magazine in 2003. Since August, 36% of the total requests came from people who found out about the magazine through the Internet.
In another development, plans are being made to go on a new radio station in Bataan, Luzon, through one of our prospective members who works at the station. The small station covers five municipalities and will only charge the cost of running the electricity -- about $4 per program! With this station, the number of radio stations around the Philippines will total 5, with 9 TV local access stations.
After a sluggish income year in 2002, and a slow rate of growth in the first half of 2003, the income picked up in the last few months of 2003. Preliminary figures show an 11.6% increase in income for the year, with expenses held to an increase of 9.6% over the past year. God has blessed the Work in the Philippines in 2003, even through testing and pruning, and has poised us for further growth in 2004!
LEGAL AND FINANCE
All Church members and ministers are advised that anyone who has opened "charge" or credit accounts in the Church's name ("Living Church of God"), or any name associated with the Church (such as "Tomorrow's World" or "Living Youth Camp"), should immediately cancel these accounts. Headquarters, legally and financially, has the sole authority and responsibility to open and close business, credit, "charge," banking, financial and contractual accounts on behalf of the Church, for obvious reasons–including liability.
Personal or business accounts in a person's own name (or that of their own company) may obviously be opened, but no account may be opened or referenced, or in any other way obligate the Living Church of God by name in any way, unless it has been secured by and through Headquarters Legal and Financial Departments. In cases of tax or financial advantages to the local Church, please contact the Legal or Finance Departments for guidance, if any situations seem to call for a local credit account in the Church's name. We know some may be disappointed, but we trust you understand that, as good stewards, we must safeguard the Church's credit rating and be diligent to protect it from avoidable liability risks.
Many individuals and businesses are victims of misplaced liability, credit identity problems, or even identity theft. We must all understand the clear risks associated with uncontrolled credit lines and accounts. So be sure all Church-related business accounts, contracts, associated legal issues, extended credit lines or credit cards are first approved at Headquarters, in writing, through the Legal and Financial Departments. These steps are in place for the protection of the Church and all concerned. Thank you so much for your diligent and immediate attention to this important matter.
MEDIA
From Mr. Richard Ames:
New Tomorrow's World television programs were taped yesterday. The program topics were as follows:
| Presenter | Title & Offers | Airs | |
| #198 | RCM | God's True Sabbath Which Day is the Christian Sabbath? |
Mar 28 |
| #199 | RCM | The Biblical Holy Days The Holy Days—God's Master Plan |
Apr 4 |
| #201 | RFA | The Secrets of Revelation Revelation: The Mystery Unveiled! |
Apr 18 |
| #202 | RFA | The Beast of Revelation The Beast of Revelation |
Apr 25 |
COMMENTS
My wife and I are planning to visit as many congregations and international areas this coming year as is feasible. We will focus on traveling to locations where we haven't been before. Others will be traveling out from Headquarters during the coming year as well, so we at Headquarters can stay in close touch with the field ministry and local congregations and vice versa.
On the weekend of January 3 we had a wonderful visit to Austin, Texas, where we held services with the Austin and Temple congregations and had some planning time with Mr. and Mrs. Walden. Mr. Walden is the pastor there.
Last Sabbath I spent a very encouraging Sabbath with the Seattle/Tacoma congregation and others visiting there as well. Mr. Terry Graves and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Ullerick are serving the brethren there, and it was a pleasure getting to know them. On Sunday, I flew over to Spokane and held a combined Bible Study with the Spokane and Richland groups, and spent some very profitable time with Mr. and Mrs. Dean Greer. Mr. Greer is the Elder in that area.
I just wanted to update you on these trips and let you know that we are eagerly anticipating visiting with many of you as the year rolls along. Mr. Meredith has approved these trips and wants to make sure that we are looking well to the state of God's flocks. (Proverbs 27:23)
Have a delightful Sabbath,
Charles E. Bryce