Greetings from Charlotte,
One year ago, the tragic shootings occurred in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin congregation. In the year that has transpired, family members, relatives, friends and many others have struggled to understand, forgive and rebuild their lives—with considerable success. Many found their faith in God and His plan to be vital elements—along with the support they received from various sources—in making progress after this tragedy. The Scriptures reveal that it is not God’s will that these things happen (II Peter 3:9). However, God does allow such events to occur in this world—read the story of the New Testament Church in Acts 3-12 where Peter and John are jailed, Stephen is stoned, James is killed and others are persecuted for their beliefs.
Today, Thursday, Regional Pastor Rand Millich and Area Pastor Darrell Lovelady conducted a press conference in Brookfield; they will also be conducting Sabbath services for the congregations in this area. We have taken a number of calls from the press here in Charlotte as well. Our prayers will be with everyone in the Milwaukee area this weekend.
In Charlotte, this week, we have been finalizing contracts for Festival sites and preparing for Festival online Pre-registration that will be available again this year. We would urge everyone to utilize the online registration. Festival Advisors will be able to assist those who do not have computers. We are also developing an agenda for the Ministerial Conference that will be held in May. Mr. Ames is back to work and made a TV program, Life After Death. Mr. Apartian recorded another French sermon. Dr. Winnail has actually been in the office all week!
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Services on the First Day of Unleavened Bread
There is no biblical command to have two services on the first day of Unleavened Bread. The brethren are often together the evening before, for the Night to be Much Observed; therefore, it may be advisable to hold only one service on the first day of Unleavened Bread, depending on the situation in the local area. Each Area Pastor should make this decision for his area. Otherwise, as has been our practice, the Church should normally hold two services on the annual Holy Days, except for the Day of Atonement.
Attitudes and Hall Rentals. It has been the policy of the Church over the years to rent halls for meetings. We have rented a variety of halls to hold services, Bible Studies, clubs, and socials. Finding affordable halls located in safe and convenient-to-reach areas is often very challenging and time-consuming. Sometimes there will be holiday decorations or symbols (religious, etc.) in the halls we use because others also use the same halls for other purposes. Occasionally, a few individuals take exception to the hall for these reasons and then voice their concerns to others—creating dissention in the congregation. We should be able to understand that items in a hall used by other organizations are not part of our services nor do they affect our religious practices. The apostle Paul worshipped God and preached the gospel effectively to people in prison—not the place that most of us would choose to hold services (Acts 16:25-34). Paul also preached the gospel to pagan Greeks on Mars Hill in Athens—a city filled with idols (Acts 17:16-34). He even used an idol to illustrate a point to his audience (Acts 18:22-23). While we need to be sensitive to the feelings of weaker members (Paul’s term), we also need to grow to the point where we understand that various symbols or other items that may be in the halls we rent “are nothing” and that we need not be afraid of them (Jeremiah 10:5; I Corinthians 8:1-13; Romans 14). The purpose of a service is to worship God, learn the truth of God and fellowship with God’s people. To become overly focused on the physical setting of a service is to miss the real point of being at services.
Church Visit—Anderson, South Carolina. I made a short trip last Sabbath to Greenville and Anderson to visit Elder Ronnie Poole and his wife Margie and speak to the congregation (of about 50) in Anderson. After services we made a quick tour of the Bob Jones University campus that is located in Greenville. It was a pleasure meeting brethren, sharing a pot-luck dinner and seeing some familiar faces from congregations that I once pastored in Georgia.—Douglas Winnail
Church Visit—Bluefield, West Virginia. My family and I (with Mrs. Ruth Nestor from Charlotte) had the opportunity to visit the Bluefield Church area this past Sabbath, where we were welcomed by about 50 loving brethren. Bluefield is nestled in the beautiful mountains of southern West Virginia—a region famous for its production of coal. Mr. Bob Croyle, a deacon in Bluefield and a Church member for nearly 50 years, gave a very helpful sermonette on how “God’s people are the salt of the earth.” After commenting on recent developments in the Work, I spoke on preparing for the Passover by “Allowing Love to Cover a Multitude of Sins.” Following the service, we enjoyed wonderful fellowship and a delicious covered-dish meal. Although it was cold outside, the love and concern inside was warm indeed. It is most encouraging to see the dedication and faith of God’s people and to see their earnest desire for the Kingdom of God.—Scott Winnail
MEDIA
Mr. Wayne Pyle reports another very positive week of TV responses. Last week’s program by Mr. Ames, How to Overcome Satan, is expected to draw more than 3,400 responses. The responses to the previous week’s record-breaking program by Mr. Ames, Seven Satanic Deceptions, are nearing 5,000. Mr. Pyle mentions that two 4,000-plus weekends back-to-back has given us two 15,000-plus months back-to-back, which has never happened before. The year-to-date growth for the TV program is currently 28% over last year.
COMMENTS
A Time to Reflect and Change. In the plan of God, the weeks before Passover provide us with an opportunity to “examine ourselves” and “judge ourselves” to see if we are really growing to become Godly Christians. During this period, we should be thoroughly evaluating our thoughts and actions in an effort to identify, root out and replace those sinful behaviors that do not belong in the life of a Christian. We should all take time to do this before the Passover (Matthew 5:23-24). If we clearly understand that “sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4), we will carefully examine our actions over the last year and make a diligent effort to change our behavior. Reading and meditating on the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), studying Matthew 5-7, Romans 12, Galatians 5 and the book of James can help us in this self-examination process. Unless we use God’s Word as a guide, we could wind up deceiving ourselves by thinking we are OK—because our behavior may not be as bad as the behavior of others in the world. Our challenge is to come out of this world (II Corinthians 6:17) and learn to live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4) so we can be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14-16). The Passover period and the Days of Unleavened Bread are designed to help us in this vital process of reflection and change.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
NEWS AND PROPHECY—March 9, 2006
World-Wide Nuclear Proliferation. In recent weeks, there has been an explosion of civilian nuclear power deals throughout the world. Deals are in the works between France and Libya, the U.S. and India (and potentially Australia), an attempted deal between the U.S. and Pakistan, Russia and Iran, China and Bangladesh, and a potential deal between China and Myanmar (Global Security Newswire, Mar. 7, 2006). These nuclear power deals are designed to reduce dependency on fossil fuels (including oil from the Middle East), yet the deals will facilitate the spread of nuclear technology around the globe. Although civilian nuclear technology is not “easily” converted to military uses, it does place nations with nuclear know-how one step closer to developing nuclear weaponry. The Bible reveals that unless God intervenes at the end of the age, “no flesh would be saved” (Matt 24:22). The current spread nuclear power is one more potential tool that man can use to destroy himself.
Hamas Website: Kids, die for Allah. “New Hamas website features animated figures calling on youngsters to fight Zionists, commit suicide for God…The site features animated figures and stories that young children could easily relate to. However, unlike ordinary sites catering for children, this particular one is operated by Hamas and its main objective is to advocate suicide and self sacrifice on behalf of Allah” (Ynetnews.com [Israel], Mar. 8, 2006). Question: How does a society come to the point where people are willing to blow up themselves and others, including women and children? Answer: Teach people from childhood that doing so is righteous and admirable. God tells us through King Solomon, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov 22:6). When we train our children in the fear of God and His ways, we raise a wise, peace-seeking society. When children are taught from very young ages to hurt, kill and destroy in God’s name, we create societies based on violence that cannot be changed in this life. The only solution is the return of Christ and the new heart and new spirit that God promises to place within mankind (Ezk 36:26). God speed that day!
Global Threat of China and India. Natural resources can play powerful roles in global conflicts. In modern times, the most highly populated nations have often had the weakest economies, and have not been able to consume vast amounts of natural resources. But change is in the air as India and China, the world’s most populous nations, begin to develop the world’s strongest economies. They will soon be able to buy whatever they need and desire. “In 2005, China alone used 26 percent of the world’s steel, 32 percent of the rice, and 47 percent of the cement” (World Watch Institute, Jan.11, 2006). China has 8 percent of the world’s fresh water and 22 percent of the world’ population. “India’s use of oil has doubled since 1992, while China went from near self-sufficiency in the mid-1990s to the world’s second largest oil importer in 2004.” China and India “both have just started to build what are slated to be two of the largest automobile industries in the world.” (Ibid). India and China are on track to consume 100 percent of the world’s annual natural resource yield, including food, by the year 2030. When resources are scarce, they go to the highest bidder—and in the years ahead this will probably be the Asian economies. This will have a significant impact on western (Israelite) nations. Bible prophecies speak of a time when the highways of Israelite nations will be desolate (Lev 26:22), when they will be debtor nations (Deut 28:44), and their people will be hungry, thirsty, naked, and in need of everything (v. 48). As the Asian giants awake, we see yet another way that God can and will humble the rebellious nations of Israel.—Scott Winnail, Don Davis