Greetings from Charlotte,

This has been a busy, productive and encouraging week on many fronts. We were very glad to hear from ministers in the Midwest that no brethren were hurt by the tornadoes which hit that area over the weekend. Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has conducted a number of meetings and written a co-worker letter that was mailed to more than 10,000 recipients. Mr. Wayne Pyle reports that with a strong response from the new ION network, last week’s Tomorrow’s World program by Mr. Ames entitled “2012 and the Apocalypse” should generate well over 6,000 responses. Mr. and Mrs. Ames were in Toronto, Canada for the Last Day of Unleavened Bread and stayed over for several days so Mr. Ames could tape several programs for the new television station in Hong Kong. Dr. and Mrs. Wil Pierre have returned from very profitable visits to congregations in Haiti and Martinique. This coming weekend, Mr. Rod McNair will be in Joplin, Missouri for services and then he will make a Tomorrow’s World Special Presentation in Harrison, Arkansas on Sunday. I will be in Baltimore, Maryland for services and then do a TWSP in Front Royal, Virginia on Sunday. Members of the Council of Elders will be in Charlotte for meetings next Thursday and Friday, and the general Ministerial Conference will be held here from Monday to Wednesday, April 30-May 2. Please pray that God will guide and bless these meetings and activities as we strive to do His Work.—DSW

Church Administration

The Second Passover this year should be taken shortly after sunset on Saturday, May 5. This Passover is for those baptized members who were unable to take the first Passover due to unavoidable circumstances. The biblical instructions regarding this ceremony are found in Numbers 9:1-14.

Accommodations are available at both the Holiday Inn Express and the Quality Inn & Suites near the Headquarters building and easily accessible to major highways. The rate at the Holiday Inn is $99 dollars a night and the rate at the Quality Inn is $79 dollars a night. To receive the discount, you must

ask for the “fellowship” rate. This rate applies to weekdays and the weekend and is also available beyond the dates of the Singles Weekend, if you’d like to come in early or leave later.

Memorial Day is a race weekend in Charlotte, so try to make your reservation as soon as possible. Let us know if you have any problems making your reservation.

Holiday Inn Express
9420 East Independence Blvd
Matthews, NC 28105

Phone: 704-443-3100

13470 East Independence Blvd

Matthews, NC 28105

Phone: 704-821-9800

Living Youth Programs

Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening

This Sunday evening the topic is “Jesus Christ: The True Foundation,” presented by Mr. Phil West. The chat room is open at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) and the Bible Study runs from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Living Youth Camp (LYC) still has plenty of openings for campers at our pre-teen and teen summer camps. These camps are the highlight of the summer for many Church youth, and will leave memories that they will cherish for many years! If you would like your child to attend, apply to one (or more!) of our camps online at http://lyc.lcg.org.

If you are considering serving as a staff member at the Ohio camp, please apply as soon as possible. The deadline for applications to staff positions in Ohio is April 30. This only applies to the staff positions for the Ohio teen camp.—Josh Penman

Feast of Tabernacles 2013 (Please Announce)

This is your final opportunity to register for the 2013 Feast of Tabernacles Israel Tour. Registration for the tour will only be open through this coming Sunday, April 22. For a description of the tour and to register, please log on to your MyLCG account at www.cogl.org. (If you do not have Internet access, please ask your Festival advisor to register you.) There, you will find details of the planned itinerary as well as the cost of the land package for single or double occupancy (air fare is not included in these prices). Those who register will not be notified as to whether or not their transfer request has been approved until sometime after registration has closed on Sunday. Once approved, you will be directed to complete needed paperwork and submit a $350 per person deposit. Please note that even if you pre-registered, you must still officially register during this registration period. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to register for this unique and exciting Festival experience!—Jim Meredith

Human Resources

To all Area Pastors: God’s Work continues to grow, and as a result the Media Operations Department needs a video editor to assist with the increased work load. Please review the job description below. If you know of an experienced video/media editor who is a Church member and can work well under deadline pressure, please e-mail me (rames@lcg.org). A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte, and the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. Also, the candidate should submit a resume to Mrs. Suzanne Pyle, (hr@lcg.org), fax 704-844-1973, at the Human Resources Department here at Headquarters. We request that only those applicants who live and can legally work in the United States apply for this position. Thanks for your help.—Richard Ames, Director of Media Operations

The Video Editor / Production Assistant will have the following responsibilities:

·Production of video content for the Living Church of God.

·Assist with and perform the set-up, filming, editing, closed captioning, duplication, and distribution of various audio / video productions.

·Organize and archive video assets using computer hardware and software.

The successful candidate will meet the following requirements:

·Minimum of an Associate’s Degree in Film / Video Production is preferred.

·3 years or more of videography / video editing experience is required.

·Demonstrated knowledge of video editing software is required (i.e. Avid Media Composer – PC).

·Demonstrated experience with digital video cameras and hardware is required.

·Demonstrated knowledge of Windows and Mac systems required.

·Teachable and positive attitude is required.

The Editorial Department is looking for a Managing Editor to assist in the planning, editing, design and production of the Church’s periodicals (primarily the Tomorrow’s World magazine and the Living Church News). The ideal candidate will have good capability in layout and graphic art and will be comfortable using Adobe InDesign. Experience with MacOS X is also desirable.

Applicants should be truly dedicated to the Church and have an excellent grasp of Church doctrine. The right candidate will have an eye for detail, be comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment and be a “team player,” able to cooperate effectively with staff in all headquarters departments. A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte, and the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. We request that only those applicants who live and can legally work in the United States apply for this position. If you are interested in this position, please send your resume to: Human Resources Department, Living Church of God, PO Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227-8010. Fax: 704-844-1973; e-mail: hr@lcg.org.

Comments

The Value of Truth: America is gearing up for another presidential election campaign. Around the world other elections are taking place. During such times, candidates make all sorts of claims and counter-claims that cause many to question the credibility of the speakers. Sadly, we live in a world where truth is obscured by “spin” and growing numbers of people distrust statements made by leaders. This should surprise no one, because this is Satan’s world (2 Corinthians 4:4) and he is the “father” of lies (John 8:44). God foretold that the time would come when “truth is fallen in the street…. Everyone will deceive his neighbor… they have taught their tongue to speak lies” (Isaiah 59:14; Jeremiah 9:5). God also reveals that there are serious consequences for lying (Jeremia h 9:7-9, 13-16) and that “all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire” (Revelation 21:8). The God of the Bible is “a God of truth” who desires truth “in the inward parts” (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 51:6). This is why we are commanded to “come out” of this world (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) and to remember and follow the ninth commandment—“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). As Christians, our challenge is to gird ourselves with truth and learn to speak the truth in love.

Have a profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S. Winnail

Germany – A New Mini-Superpower: The European financial crisis that began last year has nudged Germany into becoming a more assertive nation intent on pursuing its own course on the world stage. According to a recent report (csmonitor.com, January 30, 2012), Germany’s postwar romance with Europe is coming to an end as the hard-working Germans are not willing to continue writing checks to bail out other European countries. With a strong industrial base and a growing, world class export-oriented economy (compared to the more service-oriented economies of Britain and the USA), Germany also senses its growing political clout. Since the fall of the Berlin wall, the center of gravity in Europe has also shifted from the French-German Rhine to the middle of Europe, and Berlin has become the “leading city in Europe and perhaps t he world.” However, with an aging and declining workforce and a growing and unassimilated immigrant population, Germany’s future seems clouded beyond the next decade. While the emergence of Germany as a “mini-superpower” may come as a surprise, Bible prophecies have long foretold that just before the end of this age, Germany would again play a major role in world affairs. The God of the Bible states that “He makes nations great, and destroys them” (Job 12:23; Daniel 2:21) according to His plan and purpose (Isaiah 46: 8-11). Bible prophecies indicate that God is going to use a revived Germany (Assyria) to correct the Israelite nations America and Britain for their rejection of God and His laws (see Isaiah 10:1-17). For more information on this subject, request our reprint article Resurgent Germany: A Fourth Reich?

U.S. Secret Service scandal. Just prior to President Obama’s arrival in Colombia for a conference with Latin American leaders, U.S. Secret Service and military personnel apparently held a party in a “secure hotel” with about 20 invited prostitutes. As the news broke, the primary concern was that critical security details may have been leaked (Associated Press, April 17, 2012). Sadly, the issue of immorality on the part of U.S. personnel took a “back seat” to concerns about security. The Bible clearly states that immoral actions will bring serious consequences. Long ago, God warned the sinful nation of Israel, “Let her put away her harlotries from her sight, and her adulteries…. There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land… My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…. The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me” (Hosea 2:2; 4:1, 6-7). It is sobering to watch the moral decay of the world’s leading nation and the lack of concern about sinful human actions.

COGwriter 2012

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