Weekly update from LCG HQ 5/30

Greetings from Charlotte,

This has been a short week due to Monday being the Memorial Day holiday in the United States, and this Sunday being Pentecost with a number of our staff leaving today or tomorrow to speak in different congregations. Mr. and Mrs. Ames will be in West Virginia; Mr. and Mrs. Apartian will be in Quebec, Canada; and my wife and I will be in Atlanta. This week, Mr. Meredith finished a semi-annual letter that will be mailed to around 400,000 subscribers. We have also concluded the second successful year of Living University with more than one hundred students enrolled in classes during the spring semester. We are looking forward to having a number of on-campus students here in Charlotte in the fall. This Sunday, we will observe the Feast of Pentecost. Please pray that God will pour out His Spirit on His people to inspire the speaking and to bless the fellowship and the offerings. We certainly need more of the gifts of God’s Spirit to complete His Work. While our year-to-date income is showing a small increase (1.6% over last year), the expenses of the Work continue, in spite of cutbacks that we are making. Please encourage the brethren to remember these needs in their prayers and offerings during this Holy Day season.

LIVING UNIVERSITY

On-Campus Students for 2009-2010

Would you like to be a member of the first “on campus” class of Living University in Charlotte, North Carolina? Would you like to work toward a college degree in the exciting God-centered environment of the Church’s International Headquarters? Do you want to possibly work as a part-time employee of the Church, contributing to God’s worldwide Work, while you work towards your degree and participate in LU student activities? If so, the LU on-campus program is for you! LU is now accepting applications for its first on-campus freshman class at Charlotte, beginning this August. If you are a young adult of college and university age, you may find this one-of-a-kind program the right choice for your higher education. You may access the application and other related materials on the LU website, at www.livinguniv.com. On the home page, simply click on Making Application, for instructions and further information. If you have questions, please call 704-844-1960, ext. 304.

Summer Registration

Registration is currently underway for the 2009 Summer Session course: THL 476 Archaeology of Jerusalem. The course, approved for the Open Learning Program, will begin on June 2 and end on July 28. This course deals with the development of Jerusalem from prehistoric times through the Byzantine Period in light of archaeological discoveries and extant historical details. Emphasis upon key stages of the city’s past as Canaanite Jebus, City of David and Zion, Nehemiah’s Jerusalem, Herodian Jerusalem, Roman Colonia Aelia Capitolina, and Byzantine Jerusalem.

CHURCH ADMINISTRATION

Ministerial Moves

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Stafford will move from pastoring churches in Arkansas to pastor churches in England. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt Cieselka will move from assisting in the Austin, Texas area to pastor churches in Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Breaux will continue to live in Louisiana and serve as the Associate Pastor working with Mr. Rod Reynolds, but will also begin serving (on July 1, 2009) congregations in Ocean Springs, Mississippi and Pensecola, Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Brown will pastor Thomasville, Georgia as well as Jacksonville, Live Oak and Ocala, Florida since Dr. and Mrs. Scott Winnail have returned to Charlotte to work with Living University.

Canadian Update

Mr. Gerald Weston writes: We would like to announce the launching of two new websites that we hope will target a younger demographic segment. The first is a magazine format home site that contains articles on a variety of subjects relevant to the young adults, university age group. The second is what we call a “feeder site” which addresses a single issue and is intended to grab attention and then lead people to the home site and eventually to the Church’s main websites. You can help us promote these websites by visiting them and bookmarking articles using Facebook, Twitter, etc. The sites are: www.BelieveCreation.com and www.LiveForTomorrow.org.

In another development we are scheduled to hold three Tomorrow’s World Bible studies in early June. Subscribers have been invited to London, Ontario on June 3; Kamloops, British Columbia on June 12; and Abbotsford, British Columbia on June 14. We are testing a new, full-color invitation advertisement with a follow-up reminder letter to see if we can encourage more people to come to these studies. We will keep you informed on the results.

East Africa Update

Kenyan Elder Simon Muthama returned to Nairobi after a successful eight-day trip from May 7 through 14 to western Kenya and Uganda. He first visited congregations and a prospective member in Kissi and in Oyugis, western Kenya. On the Sabbath of May 9, he conducted services in Ndhiwa with 20 in attendance. During his time in Ndhiwa, Mr. Muthama and our local Church host discussed plans for the future growth of the Church there. Mr. Muthama then traveled to Uyoma Bondo to visit two families, give a two-hour Bible study and to provide baptism counseling. He traveled next to Fort Portal West, Uganda, where he visited prospective members. He reported that it was “exciting and unbelievable” to learn these persons have been “studying our literatures for decades.” On May 13, Mr. Muthama came back to Kampala, Uganda, where he visited another prospective member, before returning to Nairobi the next day.

Philippines Update

Mr. Dayrell Tanner reported that he has been informed by Philippines Area Pastor Gideon Benitez that “the rice crop in Maranding area has been affected by some sort of disease that does not allow the rice to flower and thus no grain. He will give us an update on the needs of the brethren in that area, as they rely on rice for their living and sustenance.” Please continue to remember them in your prayers.

FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2009

This week, we feature in The World Ahead the description of our site in Colombia. Descriptions of this and other sites can be found on MyLCG (www.cogl.org).

Armenia, Colombia

The Feast of Tabernacles 2009 in Colombia will be celebrated in Armenia. Armenia is surrounded by mountains, forest and is at the core of Colombia’s coffee plantations—where this world-famous Colombian traditional coffee bean is produced and processed. Services will be held at the Campestre Portal del Sol hotel. This excellent hotel has restaurant service, conference halls, sports amenities, beautiful gardens, pool and Jacuzzi, and lots of room for fellowship, rest and meditation with an enjoyable and unchanging spring climate. The cost of lodging is approximately USD $26 per day, per person and it includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more information on the hotel, visit its website at www.hotelcampestreportaldelsol.com. The hotel is only fifteen minutes from the Airport (direct flights arrive from Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport).

Translation into English will be available. If you like to attend the Feast in Colombia, request a transfer by registering through the MyLCG section of www.cogl.org and contact Madeleine Lincoln-Strange at mlincoln@lcg.org or by phone, at 704-844-1960, ext. 217.

MEDIA

Internet Update: Website Commentaries among Most Popular Features on Website.
Each week we add three written commentaries to our www.tomorrowsworld.org and www.lcg.org websites. The purpose of these commentaries is to provide fresh and compelling content for those who frequent our websites. Each commentary is designed not only to be a quick read, but also to provide food for thought. The conclusion contains a suggestion for further reading—usually a booklet or an article from the Tomorrow’s World magazine or even a telecast. In this way, the commentaries serve as a gateway not only to our booklets, but also to previous magazine articles and telecasts.

These commentaries have proven to be very popular and are among the most-read pages on our websites. They are frequently shared virally with others through email, Facebook, and Twitter. Many choose to sign-up to receive notification by email of new commentaries or other important announcements. The response to this service is very high and our email list is on target to grow 40% this year!

Now more than ever, this world needs our message of warning and hope. The website commentaries represent one more way that people are introduced to that message.—J. Charles Ogwyn

COMMENTS

The Spirit of Pentecost: This Sunday we will observe the Feast of Pentecost (also called the Feast of Weeks or Firstfruits—Exodus 23:16; 34:22Exodus 23:16; 34:22
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16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. ²² And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. year's end: Heb. revolution of the year  

). It is a commanded assembly (Leviticus 23:15-21Leviticus 23:15-21
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15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: ¹⁶ Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. ¹⁷ Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. ¹⁸ And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD. ¹⁹ Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. ²⁰ And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. ²¹ And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.  

) that was observed by Jesus and His disciples and the early Church (Acts 2). It was on Pentecost that God began the New Testament Church with a dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit—just as Jesus had promised (Acts 1:4-8Acts 1:4-8
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4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. being...: or, eating together ⁵ For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. ⁶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? ⁷ And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. power...: or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you  

). The Spirit of God, working through the disciples, filled them with courage and conviction to preach the Gospel and God supported them through “many signs and wonders” that greatly aided the growth of the Church (Acts 2:43Acts 2:43
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43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  

). It is also worth noting that the Church earnestly asked God, “grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus”—and that God answered their prayers in very powerful ways (Acts 4:29-33Acts 4:29-33
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29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ³⁰ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. ³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. ³³ And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  

). That same Spirit is available to us today. Let’s do our part to nourish that Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16; 22 Corinthians 4:16; 2
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16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. ^{2 1} But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. ² For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? ³ And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. ⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. ⁵ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. ⁶ Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. punishment: or, censure ⁷ So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. ⁸ Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. ⁹ For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. ¹⁰ To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; person: or, sight ¹¹ Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. ¹² Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, ¹³ I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. ¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. ¹⁵ For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: ¹⁶ To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. corrupt: or, deal deceitfully with in Christ: or, of Christ  

Timothy 1:6-7) so we can bear the fruits of it (Galatians 5:22-23Galatians 5:22-23
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22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  

), and God can use His Church to finish His work and that His people can prepare to reign as “firstfruits” with Jesus Christ in the coming Kingdom of God (Romans 8:23Romans 8:23
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23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  

; James 1:18James 1:18
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18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.  

; Revelation 14:1-4; 20:4-6Revelation 14:1-4; 20:4-6
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14 ¹ And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: ³ And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. redeemed: Gr. bought ⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ⁵ But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.  

). May you have a profitable Pentecost!

In Christian love,
Douglas S. Winnail