Greetings from Charlotte,
Last weekend, we had a very positive and profitable series of meetings in Wisconsin Dells, with more than 130 in attendance for the Sabbath, and 26 deacons, elders, other leaders and wives attending a Regional Conference on Sunday and Monday. I was deeply impressed by the focus and dedication of the brethren I met to the Truth of God and doing His end-time Work. Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Monson and those working with them did an excellent job making arrangements for the meetings. After the conference, we took a scenic ride on a restored WWII amphibious "duck" vehicle that makes regular cruises on the Wisconsin River. We were also able to view the facilities that we will use for the Feast this fall. Wisconsin Dells should be a great site for the Feast of Tabernacles.
This Sunday, we will be observing the Feast of Pentecost that pictures the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the New Testament Church (Acts 2). The book of Acts and the Epistles clearly record how God was able to use, in very powerful ways, those who received and were willing to be led by His Spirit. The gospel message delivered by the apostles in the first century had such an impact on their society that they were accused of having "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). We need to make sure that we are nourishing and using God's Spirit daily (II Corinthians 4:16) so that God can use us to deliver that same sobering and exciting message today, to a world that has lost its way! Please pray earnestly for God's inspiration and blessing on the travel, speaking, listening and fellowship that will occur during the Pentecost season. Please pray, too, that God will bless the offerings given on Pentecost, to enable His Work to go forward even more powerfully in the months just ahead!
We would also like ask to for your prayers for Regional Pastor Mr. Rand Millich who lives in the Kansas City area. Mr. Millich has been diagnosed with occluded vessels around the heart and is scheduled for surgery in early June. Please pray for God's intervention for Mr. Millich and for others who are also looking to God to intervene in their lives.
Church Administration
Living 4 Tomorrow—Michigan 2007
Living Church of God young adults are invited to attend the Living 4 Tomorrow program at the beautiful facilities of the Northwoods Christian Camp, Pickford, Michigan. The L4T program is open to singles between the ages of 18 and 30. We will also have a few cabins available for young married couples without children who would wish to attend. Attending this session of L4T as presenters will be Dr. Douglas Winnail and Dr. Scott Winnail. The arrival date is the evening of Tuesday, July 10. Departure date is Sunday morning, July 15. Applications and additional information are available on www.youth-web.org and on the LCG Singles website: www.lcgsingles.org. If you do not have web access, applications may be requested by calling Lambert Greer at 502-228-5917.
Arkansas Update
Mr. Rick Stafford, Arkansas Area Pastor, reports: We just completed the second meeting of our Speaking Fellowship Program. This is an entirely voluntary program in our area with all men and women from our six congregations invited. The first session had 30 in attendance and the second had 36, some driving from three hours away! Every man has the option to speak every session… After the session, we join the ladies for awesome potlucks and two hours of additional fellowship. This program is helping bond and inspire these dedicated brethren as well as improving our speakers and bringing additional speakers up to speed.
I wanted to pass on some more good news: over the last couple of months, I have been able to invite over a dozen "gotos" [subscribers who want to attend services or speak to a minister] to services… some are brand new to the Church of God. However, ALL have come to us after seeing the telecast and recognizing the Truth and wanting to become again, in most cases, part of the Work. It is exciting to see this miracle as our Father opens these minds to respond to His calling at this time. Their new-found or renewed zeal is an inspiration to all of us.
Philippines Update
Mr. Felipe Casing, pastor in the Philippines, recently reported to us that there was lack of rain in the area of Monkayo. He said, "Our farming brethren are weary their standing crops would wither and not reach maturity." Please remember our brethren in the Philippines, especially those in Monkayo, in your prayers.
Media
In the latest statistics report prepared by Mr. Wayne Pyle, we learned that since 1999, the Church has sent out 1.9 million booklets, Bible Study Course lessons, reprint articles, CDs and other publications to people around the world, in addition to 8.3 million magazine copies.
Feast of Tabernacles 2007
Festival Registration—Usa and Canada (Repeat Announcement)
The Festival Registration date (for the United States and Canada) will be Sunday, June 3, at 12:00 noon (ET). At that time, brethren will be encouraged to go online to their MyLCG account (www.cogl.org) and register for the Feast. Registration is extremely important for accurately projecting attendance at each site. Please do not make housing arrangements before Sunday, June 3, at 12:00 noon (ET). Hotels and sites will not be ready to take reservations from the Living Church of God until that time.
For information about each site, go online to your MyLCG account (www.cogl.org) and click on the link "Feast Site Information." If you do not have Internet access, contact your Festival Advisor for information about the sites.
This year, we will not print a Festival Planner brochure. Nevertheless, all the information and details about the Feast of Tabernacles sites and the Feast Registration form will be available online on the Member Resources website (www.cogl.org), under the MyLCG section. Anyone without access to the Internet may request a printout of the descriptions of Festival sites and of the Registration Form from his local Festival Advisor. If you have any questions, please call the Festival Office at 704-844-1960, ext. 212, or send e-mail to [email protected].
Two More International Feast Sites
Christ Church, Barbados
Come rejoice with us! Experience the warmth, fellowship, and tranquility of the Caribbean harmony, and swimming among the turtles in crystal-clear waters. God has again placed His name at the Barbados Beach Club, Maxwell Coast Rd., Christ Church, Barbados—an all-inclusive hotel away from the everyday hustle, yet centrally located. With a scenic peaceful atmosphere, the Barbados Beach Club offers rooms at US$85 or US$90 per person, based on double occupancy, in deluxe or super-deluxe, respectively; and US$140 based on single occupancy. Drinks, tea and coffee throughout the day are included. For room reservations, please contact directly Deborah or Maxine at 246-428-9900. The hotel's website is www.barbadosbeachclub.com. For further information about the Feast of Tabernacles in Barbados, contact the Living Church of God office in Barbados at [email protected] or 246-429-5995.
Antigua, Guatemala
The Feast of Tabernacles in Guatemala will be celebrated once again in the beautiful city of Antigua. The Eternal has placed His name in Antigua, a city of historical heritage with stone-paved streets, carved-stone buildings, colonial architecture and year-round spring-like weather. Antigua offers a variety of restaurants for all budgets and has several colorful markets. In Antigua you will find plenty of arts and crafts and very interesting historic sites.
Feast services will be held at the Villas del Marques hotel. Rooms will be available for a price of US$30 in double occupancy and US$40 in triple occupancy, both including breakfast. Guatemala's international airport is one hour and fifteen minutes from Antigua. Taxi service costs about US$10 from the airport to the site. Translation service into English during the Feast has not yet been determined. Those interested in attending the Feast of Tabernacles in Guatemala should contact the Church's Spanish Department at 704-844-1970 or, by e-mail, at [email protected].
Comments
The Church of God: Jesus said, "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Jesus' statement indicates that His Church would continue to exist down through the centuries. That Church began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), and it is named in the New Testament the "church of God" (I Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; Galatians 1:13). Some think the Work of the Church of God ended with the death of Mr. Herbert Armstrong and that all things were restored by that time. However, Jesus promised, "lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20), and the scriptural instruction to the Church is to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18). The Living Church of God continues to grow in understanding and to do the Work of preaching the gospel to the world by publishing more than 326,000 bimonthly magazines, broadcasting on more that 200 television stations, receiving nearly 30,000 Internet responses each month and sending out thousands of booklets every month. The commission that Jesus gave to the Church that He started on Pentecost continues through "doors" that God has opened to His Church today!
Have a profitable Sabbath and a joyous Holy Day,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—May 24, 2007
China and the King of the South. The northern Sudan, anciently referred to as Cush, was once part of the Egyptian empire—a region where the future King of the South may headquarter. Today, Sudan is important because of its oil deposits. The primary foreign investor and manager of Sudan's oil is PetroChina—a Chinese "national" corporation. US-based Fidelity Investments recently sold off 90% of its PetroChina investments to avoid being associated with a company/nation blamed for "looking the other way" on human rights violations in Darfur (Stratfor Public Policy Investment Report, May 17, 2007). As the EU tightens and clarifies international laws, they will likely put increasing pressure on other nations to adhere—especially in the area of human rights. The abuse of human rights could be something that would cause the King of the North to "come against" the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-45). In addition, China's unquenchable demand for oil could draw the "kings from the north and east" toward the Middle Eastern oil fields and China's important oil interests in Africa. It will be interesting to watch how these important end-time prophecies about kings of the North, South, and East are fulfilled. History is being made before our very eyes.
Widening Gulf Between Britain and Europe? Despite efforts of outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair, most Britons (69 percent) desire a looser relationship with Europe. They want to continue free trade and common policies, but desire distance on political and economic integration. Many fear that Mr. Blair will introduce a scaled down EU Constitution by the "back door" prior to exiting his office this summer—though the current Italian EU president vehemently rejected this idea (Sunday Telegraph, April 29, 2007). The Times (April 30, 2007) recently warned about the EU taking over Britain's ancient and independent university system—something many fear. Those watching the EU process know very well that the proposed changes to the EU Constitution are quite minor—and retain its intended power. Several EU nations are again suggesting that those ready to "move forward" with European integration should do so, leaving the other nations behind if necessary (euobserver, March 5, 2007). Britons are savvy to this process and are growing averse to the idea of European integration. Scripture clearly identifies that 10 nations will comprise the coming Beast power (Revelation 17:12-15). God also makes clear that many of the Israelite-descended nations will be brought into captivity by this coming super-power (Deuteronomy 28:41; Ezekiel 5:12, 6:8-11; Isaiah 10:5-6, 20-21).
Arctic Icecap Melting Faster Than Expected. Experts at Colorado's National Snow and Ice Center say the Arctic icecap is melting at a rate 30 years ahead of earlier predictions. Instead of the summer ice disappearing by 2050, as estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it may be gone in just 13 years. One glaciologist noted that Arctic ice helps keep the Earth cool by reflecting light and heat; with much less ice, the land and sea will absorb more light and heat, and the Earth will warm much faster. A study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters used satellite data and visual confirmation of Arctic ice to forecast a melting rate far more drastic than computer models had previously predicted. "Long-term and for the next 50 years, I think even the new report will agree that we're in for quite a bit of warming," one researcher said (Reuters, May 2, 2007). Satellite data also showed a major "California-sized" melt in Antarctica in January—a region previously known for its lack of warming (Yahoo News, May 15, 2007). God tells us the Earth will heat up at the end of the age, "… And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues" (Revelation 16:8-9).—Don Davis, Ben Whitfield, Dan Bennett, Scott Winnail