For three memory-filled and event-packed days, Living Church of God brethren from across the United States gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the restoration of God's Philadelphian Work under the leadership of Dr. Roderick C. Meredith.
Dozens of brethren arrived in Charlotte on December 28, in time to participate in Friday afternoon's Marriage Seminar, at which more than 50 couples listened to presentations by Mr. Richard Ames, Mr. Rod McNair and Dr. Douglas Winnail, while their children were treated to an interactive "hands-on" tour of the Mail Processing Department and the audio and the television studios. Young people practiced their oral communication skills by recording "Letters to the Editor," from a recent Tomorrow's World magazine, which will be included on an upcoming CD distributed to visually impaired brethren.
On the Sabbath afternoon of December 29, more than 500 enthusiastic brethren packed the 4,600-square-foot Lakeshore Ballroom at the Hilton Charlotte University Place. After an inspiring opening prayer by Dr. Winnail, brethren were treated to an 18-minute video presentation, gleaned from 15 years of archival footage, offering a retrospective look at the growth and development of the Work. The video traced the Church's expansion over the last 15 years, from the very first days of the Global Church of God—where the "Mail Processing Department" was the Davis family's dining room table—to the present, where the Living Church of God mails out hundreds of thousands of booklets, audiovisual materials and magazines from a 9,000-square-foot warehouse in the 38,000-square-foot Headquarters building.
For special music, brethren heard Kathryn Ames on violin and Jennifer Colon on piano, performing "Berceuse," from the opera Jocelyn by Benjamin Godard.
Presiding Evangelist Dr. Roderick C. Meredith then gave the sermon, exhorting brethren to think often about their rich heritage, individually and as a Church. "We deeply feel we are the Philadelphia remnant," Dr. Meredith reminded listeners. "Others have more social clubs and activities and things, but they're not doing the Work to the same degree. That doesn't make us better humanly, but we do have that opportunity and that understanding that perhaps they don't understand."
"We are involved in the greatest crusade in modern times," Dr. Meredith emphasized, noting that those who have departed have forfeited the privilege of serving in that God-inspired effort. But to be sure we will stay involved, he reminded us, we must stay close to God. As he said: "Brethren, if we walk with God, if we talk with God, if we drink in of His word and feed upon it and pray on our knees and meditate, and then yield to God so that we're in a spirit of prayer, and having that communion with God all the time, we will be hand in hand with Christ and walk with Him right over into eternity."
After Mr. Ames closed the service with prayer, brethren fellowshipped for a couple of hours, then after sunset most returned to the hall to enjoy a formal dinner and a lively evening of dance. Music was provided by the J. R. Wells Band. Between dances, many brethren visited the "Museum of Memories" in an adjoining room, where Barbara Crockett and Sandra Davis had assembled a sampling of props that had been used in telecasts and magazines over the years.
Sunday morning, December 30, saw the brethren enjoying two activities. Eighty-eight singles gathered at Headquarters for a Singles Seminar, which included presentations by Dr. Meredith, Mr. Ames, Dr. Winnail and Mr. Lambert Greer. At the same time, a family event at the nearby Masonic Hall gave nearly 200 parents and children an opportunity to enjoy games and fellowship.
Many commented that it was a weekend not only of fun, but also of uplift and encouragement, as so many brethren came together to reflect on where we have been as a Church, and on where we are going—and on the great privilege God has given each of us to be a part of His end-time Work.