7/7/05

Greetings y’all,

Early this morning, we heard the news that several blasts had ripped through London’s transit system at rush hour, killing dozens of people, seriously wounding hundreds and disrupting the Group of Eight meeting held in Scotland. World leaders have expressed their condemnation of this attack, while security in other western nations is being raised.

Upon reading the breaking news, Mr. Roderick Meredith prepared a concise commentary for the Church websites. We in God’s Church are deeply grieved by these terrorist attacks, but we are not surprised because we know that prophecy marches on.

Our Brethren in London Are Safe

Dr. Doug Winnail is on his way back to London from a visit to South Africa.  In his absence, we contacted a few members in England. Here is what Sonia King writes: “Thank you for your call of concern for the London brethren. I have managed to contact most of the London members (though not all because phone lines are extremely busy).  They are all okay. London Underground is completely closed and London is almost at a standstill. There have been 33 confirmed deaths.  Three explosions on the tube and one on a double decker bus.  Tony Blair has called the act ‘barbaric’.”

CHURCH ADMINISTRATION

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bryce are on their way to Tampa, Florida, for a weekend church visit, while Dr. Winnail sent this brief report from Africa yesterday:

Visit to South Africa: The visit to South Africa has gone well.  I spoke to 50+ brethren in Johannesburg last Sabbath.  On Sunday, we had an interview with a representative of one of the political parties in South Africa and saw the governmental buildings in Pretoria.  On Monday I flew to Cape Town and we held a Bible Study on Tuesday evening for 20+ brethren.  Today we visited an area settled by French Huguenots in the 1600s that also included some Waldensians who came to South Africa from Holland and France in the 1600s. I plan to fly to London on Thursday evening.  This has been a very profitable trip.—Douglas Winnail

Living 4 Tomorrow—A Time 4 Young Singles (It’s Not Too Late To Apply.)

We still have space available for the Living 4 Tomorrow session in July.  If interested, please send in your application without delay.  Knowing the difficulty of setting summer plans, last minute applications will be accepted as long as space is available.  The L4T program is open to ALL singles between the ages of 18 and 30. The fee of $155 US will cover the cost of all lodging, food, and activities.  Arrival date is the afternoon of Tuesday, July 12, with a get-acquainted cookout scheduled for that evening.  Departure date is Sunday morning, July 17.  For additional information and applications, visit the LYC youth website at www.youth-web.org or call Lambert Greer at 502-228-5917 or e-mail at lgreer@lcg.org.   

Singles Website

More than 70 singles from all over the world have registered at the new LCG singles website. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to fellowship with brethren from around the world! Register online at www.lcgsingles.org.  

LEGAL AFFAIRS

Some may have noticed in the past that the Church’s main corporation in the USA was a “California” one.  We were operating as a California corporation in the USA before becoming a North Carolina corporation as of June 30, 2005. The correct legal name of the Church’s new corporation in the USA is “Living Church of God (International) Inc.”—and this is the name which should appear on all future contractual agreements of the Church in the USA. Those involved in securing meeting space for the Church should keep this in mind when making arrangements for Church meeting halls. This does not affect past contracts, and those to whom the Church is currently sending payments will receive a “Notice of Merger” in the mail with future payments.

The name “Living Church of God” will continue to be utilized in the USA on our letterhead, signage, printed materials, and in our media efforts, as usual.—Tom Turner

MEDIA

Exciting media developments are happening in God’s Work…

TV Production: With the telecast about to enter its summer rerun schedule, we are busy making plans for the upcoming 2006 season. In the works, we will include new various visual elements such as a new opening, new commercial breaks, new graphics, new music and a new closing. Along with this, we will be working to modify the current set to allow the presenters to be seated, either behind a desk or at a couch or chair, from time to time. Starting in 2006, all programs will be closed captioned. Look for these new developments to appear this November.

Internet: We continue to see a wave of traffic to our Tomorrow’s World and LCG websites. Traffic to the Tomorrow’s World website has jumped over 50% during the past month! Our LCG website has also seen a jump in traffic, with many people commenting on our new Study Topics and Q & A sections. Year-to-date, our Google advertising program has exposed 13.1 million people to our booklet ads with over 170,000 people clicking through to read or order our materials.

More exciting developments are in the planning stages. Please continue to pray for the Internet and telecast as we use these tools more powerfully in spreading the Gospel to the world.—Steve Stiffler

FINANCE OFFICE

Income numbers from the first half of this year show some encouraging growth. Excluding Holy Day Offerings, Donor and Co-worker growth is up 44.65% from the same period in 2004. Donors and Co-Workers also make up 17.71% of total income, excluding Holy Day Offerings, which is the highest percentage in memory. Please continue to pray that God will add more faithful Donors and Co-Workers to help us fulfill our all-important mission of Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock.—Jerry Ruddlesden

FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2005

 High Elevation Feast Sites (to be read in all congregations in the USA)

 Some older or infirm members who, for health reasons, find it impossible to attend their assigned Feast site at the higher elevations of Lake Tahoe, CA and Taos, NM should request a transfer to Corpus Christi, TX or Rapid City, SD. If you are in this category and need financial assistance because of additional travel expense, please contact your Area Pastor to obtain a Second Tithe Assistance Request form.

 Rapid City, South Dakota

 Hotels are offering rooms for Living Church of God members attending the Feast in Rapid City.  They have agreed to hold a block of rooms for our group until August 15. For more information, visit the following website: www.rapidcitycvb.com or e-mail Sheldon Monson at smonson@lcg.org--Sheldon Monson

 Antigua, Guatemala

 The Feast of Tabernacles services will be held at Villas del Marques Hotel, near Antigua’s downtown. Villas del Marques Hotel has given the Church a special rate of US$22 per person, per day, for the cost of lodging, breakfast and parking. There are also many other hotels in Antigua of lesser or higher cost. Following is a useful website on Antigua: www.antiguaguatemalaonline.com.  Those interested in keeping the Feast of Tabernacles in Guatemala should contact the Church’s Spanish Department at 704-844-1970 or send e-mail to mlincoln@cogl.org.  

 COMMENTS

 Last Monday, Americans celebrated their Independence Day with spectacular fireworks and much extravaganza. On July 14th, the French will do the same in remembrance of their Bastille Day—Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. But just what is liberty, or independence or freedom?  Ever since the beginning, humans have sought freedom, fought for freedom—the wrong way. No wonder this world doesn’t enjoy peace or freedom. True freedom is attained not by the use of the sword but by the observance of God’s word. As Christ said, those who fight with the sword will perish by the sword (Mathew 26:52). Today, very few believe Christ’s words, very few believe when He said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32). Many ask, What is the truth? That’s the very question Pilate asked Christ—but he didn’t want to wait for the answer. Like most people, Pilate didn’t want to know or to learn that God’s word is the truth—the source of true freedom, independence or liberty. As each nation around the world celebrates each year its own independence day, we in God’s Church must remind ourselves that the very purpose for our calling consists of proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God—the good news of true freedom for all eternity. Freedom from sin, from wars, from suffering. This is the truth that shall set us free.  This is our mission, the very reason for our being in God’s church.   

Y’all have a nice Sabbath,

Dibar Apartian

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COGwriter 2005