The Feast of Tabernacles 2007 (Update 10/18/07)
We had a total of 43 sites in 30 countries celebrating God’s Feast of Tabernacles this year. Quite a few of our North American full-time ministers traveled abroad to serve the brethren. These included Mr. and Mrs. Dibar Apartian to France, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Rodger Bardo, Mr. and Mrs. Yvon Brochu, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ogwyn. The enthusiastic Mr. and Mrs. Gaylyn Bonjour traveled to Malaysia, while Mr. and Mrs. Ken Frank went to Ireland. Messrs. Mario Hernandez and Tony Mora visited Mexico and Guatemala. Mr. Rick Stafford went to Tanzania, and Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Weston to South Africa.
From South Africa
Mr. Pieter van der Byl, Area Pastor, wrote, “It was a great blessing having Mr. and Mrs. Weston with us this year. We greatly benefited from their very caring presence, as well as from Mr. Weston’s inspiring sermons.”
Impressions From Malaysia
Mr. and Mrs. Gaylyn Bonjour, who were in Malaysia for the Day of Atonement as well as the Feast of Tabernacles, wrote: “We just returned from a great Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day in Melaka, Malaysia, with 63 enthusiastic brethren. Malaysia is a beautiful country of many contrasts. Its economy is on the rise and it is coping with the development of infrastructure and many construction projects: new roads, bridges, high rise buildings, modern shopping malls and even a complete new city called Putra Rajan, dedicated to be a center for government and corporate headquarters for multi-national companies. Yet, there are also small villages that withstand the new progress and cling to the old ways of the indigenous peoples.
“Three major cultures (Chinese, Malay and Indian) have come together with the idea of strength through harmony.
“The brethren there are loving and kind. They go the extra mile to make you feel welcome and to enhance your stay in their country. We came away impressed with our brethren’s hospitality, warmth and zeal to serve God. Many friendships were forged.”
From Paris, France
The Paris congregation was delightfully surprised to welcome an unexpected number of visitors on the Sabbath of October 6, the first weekly Sabbath after the Feast of Tabernacles. The local members had to look for chairs throughout the building to accommodate the 61 present. Paris has never known such an attendance since the “old days!” After services, we all enjoyed delicious finger foods and snacks including—“naturally”—cheese and wine. Visiting brethren came mostly from Canada, Holland, Martinique, the United Kingdom and the United States. In his sermonette, Mr. Wilner Pierre encouraged everyone to practice hospitality. Mr. Apartian’s sermon topic was, Just What is True Christianity?