Weekly update from LCG HQ 6/6

Greeting from Charlotte,

The reports from Pentecost are very positive. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith were in Kansas City where Mr. Meredith spoke on the Sabbath and on Pentecost to a combined congregation of more than 300 people both days. Mr. and Mrs. Ames were in West Virginia for Sabbath services and a combined service on Pentecost. Mr. and Mrs. Apartian were in Quebec (see Canadian Update below). My wife and I were in Atlanta for the Sabbath and in Manchester, Tennessee, for a combined service on Pentecost. Dr. Scott Winnail and his family were in Anderson, South Carolina, on Pentecost. A number of ordinations occurred over the weekend. Many commented that the services were inspiring and that getting together on Pentecost was almost like the Feast! Yesterday, we held a Living University Board meeting and this afternoon we have a Living Church of God Board meeting. Currently, we are approaching a deadline for articles for the September-October issue of Tomorrow’s World magazine and the semi-annual letter is being mailed. In his timely letter, Mr. Meredith offers Tomorrow’s World subscribers a DVD titled The Big Picture. This is an adaptation of the Feast of Tabernacles “Behind the Work” film 2008. It is the second time we have offered a DVD in our semi-annual letter. The first DVD offer, The Power of Prophecy, proved to be very successful: we received almost 58,000st 58,000
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Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja! Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se začne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!

responses, excluding the Philippines, Malaysia and South Africa—a 16% response rate. The Big Picture DVD will give our subscribers an eye-opening insight into the mission of the Living Church of God. We hope also that it will move those whom God is calling to become a part of this end-time Work. Your prayers are most appreciated.

On Sunday, June 6, Mr. Richard Stafford will be presenting a public Bible lecture in Memphis, Tennessee. More than 2,700 subscribers have been invited to attend. Mr. Stafford will speak on “What Is Ahead for the USA? How You Can Be Prepared!”

Church Administration

Ordinations

Nine ordinations were performed on the day of Pentecost and on the Sabbath preceding it. In Anderson (South Carolina), Manuel Burdette was ordained a deacon, Henry and Patti Ridgeway were ordained deacon and deaconess, and David Wakefield was ordained an elder. In Atlanta (Georgia), Vernon Bush was ordained a deacon. In Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Juan Carlos Jidy and Robert Stephens were ordained deacons, and Richard Thomas was ordained an elder. In Nashville (Tennessee), Pat McKinnon was ordained a deaconess.

Canadian Update

Regional Director Gerald Weston writes: As was mentioned in last week’s The World Ahead, we are trying out a new method to advertise Tomorrow’s World Bible Studies in Canada. We send a color brochure that gives the title of the Bible Study, a short bio of the speaker, an explanation of the Church behind the magazine and telecast, and an opportunity to pre-register. This is mailed three to four weeks in advance. We then mail a reminder letter timed to arrive a few days prior to the study. To those who register, we send an e-mail reminder message the day before. Last night gave us our first opportunity to see what kind of response this might bring. Out of the 630 invitations sent for our London (Ontario) Bible Study, 70 “brand new” people attended, a whopping 11% response! This was WAY above anything we have seen before in Canada. Two percent has been more typical. How many will respond and go to the next step remains to be seen. We do not know if the next two studies on June 12 and 14 in Kamloops and Abbotsford, British Columbia, will do as well, as it is possible that the London study may not be typical.

In addition, we were very encouraged by Mr. Dibar Apartian’s French language public lecture in Quebec City. We only sent 125 invitations, but eight “brand new” people attended—a 6.4% response. We did not use the new methods of advertising for this lecture, but this was an excellent response, considering the distances involved. Mr. Apartian’s long-standing familiarity with the audience was no doubt helpful in bringing this high response.

Quebec City Area Pastor Mr. Yvon Brochu adds to Mr. Weston’s report: Mr. and Mrs. Dibar Apartian kept Pentecost with 39 enthusiastic brethren in Quebec City, Canada. After morning services, to honor Mr. and Mrs. Apartian’s encouragement and service to the House of God, the Church chorale performed a special song to the glory of our great God. In the afternoon, Mr. Apartian gave a public Bible lecture. In addition to the Church members, eight “new” people attended and some of them may soon be attending Sabbath services. Two other individuals were kind enough to call and express their regret of not being able to attend.

Caribbean Update

The first Living Church of God Sabbath service was held in St. Lucia on May 23 with an attendance of five. The second and third Sabbath services were held on May 30 and on Pentecost, the next day. Six persons were present. Mr. Dexter Wakefield is scheduled to visit St. Lucia again from June 13 to 14. We expect our starting congregation in St. Lucia will solidify and grow.

United Kingdom and South Africa Update

Regional Director Rod King reports: It was a privilege to be in Charlotte to attend the Council of Elders meetings and to spend time with Mr. Meredith and his team there. I had the chance to make two more programs titled, “What on Earth is God Doing?” and “America’s Fall, Europe’s Rise.” It was sobering to put the facts together of the fall of great American institutions such as Lehman Brothers and General Motors. Pontiac will cease to exist and Opel in Germany will be propped up by the German government. Vauxhall in England will most probably not survive, which will end a name that goes back to the very beginning of British motoring history. GM’s Australian division, Holden, is in better shape and looks set to continue…

I have pleasure in announcing Mr. Meredith’s recognition of Mr. John (Jock) Bennie’s ordination as an elder in the Living Church of God. Mr. Bennie will assist Mr. Botha in pastoring the Durban and Pietermaritzburg area in Kwa Zulu Natal. We appreciate his faithfulness and know that he will contribute a great deal in the future. Mr. Botha also reports a surge in new visits and attendees in the Kimberley and Bloemfontein areas.

Here in the U.K., we are looking forward to welcoming the Staffords to the team in September. Mr. Stafford is a native of Washington state, which is about as wet and overcast as England. Mrs. Stafford (nee Meredith) was born in South Kensington, London and so is eligible to hold a British passport. Mr. Stafford will help out with the increasing load of new visit requests and new congregations here [….] Getting around England is both difficult and expensive, so we are trying to provide services where able for new people. We now have sixteen congregations in the U.K. and Ireland.

Living Youth Camp

Teen Voyageurs Adventure Camp

We currently have room for several more campers at the Teen Voyageurs Adventure in Minnesota this year. If you are interested, please get your application in without delay. If you started the application process, but did not complete it, please do so right away, or let us know if you have changed your mind. We need to know if you are not going so we can plan for others who may want to go. If you have completed the application process and for some reason have not heard whether you are accepted or not, please contact Jenny Penman at: jennypenman@lcg.org or 704-844-1960, ext 237. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime adventure experience.

Comments

Are You Filled with God’s Spirit? In the Scriptures, we read of numerous people who were “filled” with God’s Holy Spirit—John the Baptist, his mother Elizabeth and his father Zacharias (Luke 1:15, 41, 67Luke 1:15, 41, 67
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15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. ⁴¹ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: ⁶⁷ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,  

). On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were “all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4Acts 2:4
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4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  

). Later, Peter and Paul were described as being “filled” with the Spirit (Acts 4:8; 9:17; 13:9Acts 4:8; 9:17; 13:9
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8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, ¹⁷ And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. ⁹ Then Saul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,  

). Paul admonished the brethren, “do not be drunk with wine… but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18Ephesians 5:18
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18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;  

). How do we become filled with the Spirit? If we repent, make a commitment at baptism and receive the laying on of hands, we are promised the “gift” of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38Acts 2:38
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38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  

). God gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey His commandments (see John 14:15John 14:15
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15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.  

; Acts 5:32Acts 5:32
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32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.  

). However, that Spirit must be nourished daily by regular prayer and Bible study if we are to be “filled” with it (2 Corinthians 4:162 Corinthians 4:16
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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.  

). Paul’s admonition to Timothy to “stir up” the gift of God’s Spirit indicates that there are things we can and must do to become “filled” with the Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6-72 Timothy 1:6-7
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6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  

)! Let’s make sure we are doing our part to nourish and exercise the fruits of God’s Spirit so that we can be instruments in His hands.

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail