Greetings everyone,
The "Living 4 Tomorrow" singles activity in Michigan ended successfully, and the "Living Youth Camp," also in Michigan, started this week. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bryce are presently with the group, but they will head back to Charlotte on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Roderick Meredith will be the next VIP visitors of the Youth Camp.
FROM THE PRESIDING EVANGELIST
Dear fellow ministers,
Great news! After years of hoping to find the right individual for an overall Office Manager, we have decided to bring in Mr. Davy Crockett to take this vital post. Mr. Crockett will generally oversee not only the business but most of the departmental areas of the Work here at Headquarters. He will become part of a "troika" reporting directly to me—freeing me up to concentrate on my ministerial and overall executive responsibilities. His official title will be Director of Business Operations.
As most of you know, Davy Crockett is a longtime elder in God's Church who has faithfully served the Arkansas brethren for decades. He and his wife are extremely warm, dedicated and balanced. Mr. Crockett is a "people person." So I know he will bring a great deal of warmth and encouragement to all of the departments with which he works. I have known him for many years. In fact, he flew out to Pasadena to join with me and others in the "inauguration" service of the Global Church of God on January 2, 1993. He is the only elder—besides myself—who has faithfully continued serving in this Work since that time. As most of you know, he is currently a Pastor-rank minister serving the brethren in Arkansas and Western Tennessee. Also, he has been a successful businessman for decades who knows the ins and outs of business, banking, insurance and administration. We are pleased to have a man of Mr. Crockett's stature coordinating many of the activities here in the Headquarters offices.
Mr. Richard Ames, of course, will remain in charge over all electronic and print media responsibilities and the other things he does. Mr. Bryce will continue to direct the Church Administration Department as usual—both locally and internationally. But Mr. Crockett will "fill in the gap" in being an overall Operations Manager of the Headquarters departments not directly under one of these two evangelists. This will be a big help to me, personally, and relieve me of a number of interdepartmental problems I have had to deal with to some extent for the last year or so. So let us rejoice in this! And please pray for Mr. and Mrs. Crockett and their family as he makes this transition from his long-time home in Arkansas to come and serve the entire Work by moving to Headquarters here in Charlotte.
Also, please pray for Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ogwyn—Mr. Ogwyn's older son— and his wife who, after several months of ministerial training, will now replace Mr. Crockett as pastor of the Arkansas congregations. Just like his father, Mr. Charles Ogwyn has shown himself to be very capable, dedicated and balanced in serving God's people. I'm sure the brethren in Arkansas will grow to love and respect Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ogwyn. As we get the right "team" in place, I know that God will bless us and use us ever more powerfully in the coming years.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Living 4 Tomorrow and Living Youth Camp
Forty three young singles met at Thunder Bay Resort in Hillman, Michigan, for three days of classes, fellowship, and fun at "Living 4 Tomorrow." While the event was a big success, we were confronted with a significant challenge — the total collapse of Northwest Airline's computer system. Since the majority of flights were booked with Northwest, most spent hours in lines, listening to delay and cancellation announcements, and hoping for luggage at their destination. The last run from the airport arrived at 3 a.m. Thursday morning, but everyone connected up with his luggage and the event was unanimously reported to be a huge success.
L4T ended Sunday morning and Staff Orientation for Living Youth Camp began Sunday afternoon at Northwoods Christian Camp near Pickford, Michigan. Campers began arriving Tuesday afternoon and camp began Wednesday morning for 202 campers, high school and adult staff. Mr. and Mrs. Bryce are visiting the camp for the first time since Living Church of God started and are having the opportunity to evaluate the progress of the program. Mrs. Carl McNair is also visiting and enjoying some of her grandchildren, while Jonathan and Christie perform numerous duties at the camp.
In spite of everyone being extremely tired due to the 1:00 a.m. arrival of the airport bus with 51 campers and staff aboard, all seem to be really enjoying their first full day at LYC 2004. For those parents who need to contact the camp, you may do so by calling 906-647-6260. Those needing to send a fax should send it to 906-647-6261.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated for the safety and success of this program that is so important for the families and the future of God's Church.
Australian Update
By Bruce Tyler
Responses to the Tomorrow's World program continue to remain constant. With the closure of Channel 31 in Sydney, due to licensing issues, we are currently averaging 100 responses per program. These responses are mostly from Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. The new Adelaide television station is not properly functioning. What is of interest is that we are still receiving many requests for literature from the Sydney area, as well as some very positive growth and subscriber interest. In the last month, Mr Michael Gill commented that he has had 10 new visits, not including phone visits. As a point of interest, it looks like Channel 31 Sydney is possibly going back on air sometime early in 2005.
Each month we are adding an average of 244 new subscribers to the mailing list. Most of these are a result of the television program. Currently our total Tomorrow's World subscriber list stands at 10,151.We presently have 417 individuals studying the Bible Study Course Lessons.
Co-worker numbers are also very encouraging. Since mailing Mr Meredith's latest semi-annual letter, we have added 13 new co-workers. We now have a total of 90 co-workers. This means that God has blessed us with a 47.5% increase in co-workers since the start of year.
Feast of Tabernacles 2004
Llandudno, Wales, UK—Choir & Special Music
If you are attending the Feast in Llandudno and are interested in singing with the Festival Choir, or doing special music, please contact Mr. VG Lardé via e-mail at: [email protected]
Festival Assistance—A Repeat Announcement
By now, all of the ministers in the USA should have received "Application For Festival Assistance" forms to be used by those who will need assistance to attend the Feast of Tabernacles this year. Please announce this at Sabbath services this week and note that the deadline to have them back to us, properly filled out and signed by the Church Pastor, is August 16, 2004. Please don't wait until the last minute to submit the Festival Assistance forms.
COMMENTS
Upon my return from a short trip to California, many asked me how my grandson was. My answer, "Exceptional." But have you ever wondered why we say "grandson"—and not "little son"— when speaking of them? In some languages, in French for instance, grandsons are referred to as "little sons" (petit-fils). That makes more sense—at least to me. Here is another example. When inquiring of someone's age, in many languages (including Spanish and French), one asks, "What age do you have," or "What is your age?" Not so in English or in German, wherein that question is tinted with a negative color. You ask, "How OLD are you?" But why? Why make people feel OLD?
Idioms, customs, and expressions used as a figure of speech are peculiar to all languages. Yet, they seem odd when subjected to comparison. Let me show you another example before revealing my reason for writing about these things. Did you know that in the old English in-laws were referred to as "beautiful" people? One would say, "my beautiful mother" when referring to one's "mother-in-law," or "my beautiful sister" when referring to one's "sister-in-law," and so on. Actually the French have maintained that "lovely" way of speaking of "in-laws."
Well, here is my point. Many people refuse to admit that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (II Timothy 3:16) because they are unable to grasp the meaning of its idiomatic expressions. Consequently, they find discrepancies and contradictions in the Bible. I recall a young woman's indignation who, after quoting to me Jesus' reply to His mother, vociferated, "Jesus didn't respect His mother at a wedding party when He told her rudely, 'Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?'" (John 2:4). Obviously, this woman did not grasp the meaning of Jesus' words. On another occasion, also acting in ignorance, a man wanted to convince me over the phone that the mere pronunciation of Jesus Christ's name was tantamount to salvation (Acts 4:12). I am sure all of us can find verses in the Bible that appear to be obscure. What then? Do we throw the Bible away? Do we leave God's Church?
The first thing we learned when God called us was that the Bible is the word of God. It does not contradict itself. But we need to study it recognizing its ways of expression, we must seek the meaning of its idioms, search the true intent of its words. Neither the style in the original texts nor the occasional deficiency in various translations should be a stumbling block to anyone who truly believes in God. Seek the help you need. Use different versions or translations of the Bible, as well as the tools that are at your disposal—including the booklets, the magazines and the articles printed by the Living Church of God. Undoubtedly, ALL Scripture is written under God's inspiration—and God really means what He says.
Y'all have a nice Sabbath.
Dibar Apartian