Dear fellow ministers and servants of the living Jesus Christ,

 

Thanks to all of you, very much, for your service to God’s people and to His Work in these end times! Many of you, I know, are going “above and beyond” in helping God’s people, serving them in many ways, and giving of your time and energy in the service of Christ and His Church. Thank you. Unusual prophetic fulfillments are certainly taking place on almost a daily basis as the “pieces of the puzzle” begin to come together before Christ’s return to this earth. It is certainly exciting and motivating to see this. As I said in the co-worker letter, I came to Ambassador College sixty years ago this month. So I have been in God’s Work now—counting my student days and student employment at the college—for just over sixty years. I certainly have seen God’s hand in world affairs and am inspired that so many of the prophetic events that we have talked about for so long have already taken place—or are now taking place before our very eyes.

 

God has continued to bless this Work in spite of the terrible recession our nations have undergone. We have had more calls from prospective members, more TV responses, a higher growth rate for Church membership than in many years, and many other blessings. We thank God for this!

 

Yet, mainly because of the recession—which is now ending—the Work of Christ is experiencing a very “tight” financial condition. Though we have budgeted 5.3 percent increase in income for this year—and deeply need this in order to sustain our current programs—our current income is only running about two percent increase year-to-date. So unless we receive truly generous Feast offerings this year we will have to make more cuts in our television stations and other parts of the Work. But, in all honesty, we have tried to run a “lean” operation and do not have any extravagance that I am aware of. So we do deeply need the prayers of all of God’s people and their sacrificial offerings in the weeks to come!

 

Therefore, please announce this to the brethren and tell them of the unusual need at this time. Let them know that as they come to worship God and picture Tomorrow’s World at the Feast of Tabernacles, they should think of these coming Feast offerings at Trumpets, Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles in that context. This is worshiping our Creator and being truly thankful that most of us in the western world still have far more material wealth and “things” than the vast majority of mankind. Even though some of us, at times, think that we are “giving until it hurts” we do not even begin to commence to have the “hurt” others have in less fortunate circumstances. So encourage everyone to be generous—though we do not want any of our widows or less fortunate people to put themselves into financial hardship because of this.

 

Also, brethren, as Mr. Armstrong stated a number of times, we do want the brethren to know that it is all right to give any of their “excess” second tithe as Feast offerings—especially as part of the final Feast offering on the Last Great Day. A number of people have actually “enjoyed” this opportunity to give of their substance to the Work—knowing that they did not need to use it all up during the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

Also, again, let us all pray fervently for God’s special blessing on these coming offerings—on the Work in the coming months, and on our wonderful spiritual fellowship, sermons and activities during the soon-coming Festival season. May God inspire you, use you and guide you all in His service. Please pray for me, as I pray for you all and give God thanks that we have so many fine servants helping and assisting all around the world.

 

Your brother in Christ,

Roderick C. Meredith

 

 

Greetings from Charlotte,

 

Since many people will begin travelling during the fall Holy Day period, this will be the last issue of The World Ahead that we will send before the Feast. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith will be in Tennessee for the Feast of Trumpets, Mr. and Mrs. Ames will be in Toronto and my wife and I will be in Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Apartian will be here in Charlotte, before departing to France next week for the Feast of Tabernacles.  Mr. and Mrs. Rick Stafford spent a few days in Charlotte before leaving for their new assignment in England. Mr. Wallace Smith is also in Charlotte this week to tape a special Tomorrow’s World DVD titled 2012: Mystery and Truth. I had a very pleasant and profitable visit in Cincinnati, Ohio, last weekend for a Sabbath service and a mini-conference with leaders from that area. Mr. Ames will be presenting a Tomorrow’s World Bible Lecture in Toronto this Sunday after Trumpets. About 6,300 subscribers have been invited to attend. Please keep that event in your prayers. Please pray also that God will protect everyone travelling during the Holy Days and that He will bless and inspire the Feast of Tabernacles that will be held in more than 40 sites around the world.

 

 

Attention all Pastors: If you plan to have the Feast of Trumpets 2009 DVD (sermon by Dr. Douglas Winnail) played at any of the congregations you serve, be aware that there is a significant volume drop 17 minutes and 30 seconds into the sermon.  Please instruct the responsible person to be prepared to manually turn up the volume at that point. The Media Production department apologizes for the problem and the inconvenience.

Mr. Kinnear Penman writes: Late last year..., a young lady member here in New Zealand, was diagnosed with myeloid leukemia and we requested prayers for her. She now is able to write, “I want to, from my heart, thank everyone for their cards, their prayers and their well wishes.

I have recently been classified as being in the first stage of remission; meaning that my most recent blood tests show a large reduction in cancer cells. I am very thankful to God for His mercy and grateful to everyone for their prayers and out-flowing concern. Prospects are looking much better for me.” Miss Mafuao has been able to continue working as a nurse. She has a schedule of post-graduate studies and is also doing several papers with Living University. The widespread support she has received from members has been very encouraging for her mother and father who also express their thanks.

Attention all Ministers: A general ministerial conference is tentatively scheduled for April 26-28, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Arrival day would be Sunday, April 25, and departure day would be Thursday, April 29. The realization of this conference is subject to finances. However, we would like you to be aware of the possibility so you can start planning to attend.

Mr. Kinnear Penman reports: We are continuing to receive good responses to the Tomorrow’s World program. During August, the weekly average response was 141. Of this total, averages of 73 per week were first-time callers. This is a 72% rate. Sixty-eight sets of Bible Study Course lessons were mailed during the month. Two new co-workers were added to the list as supporting us financially in this effort…. Plans for the Feast are well en train and we hope to have a record number of approximately 110 in attendance.

LCG Music Weekend and Campout

Our thanks go out to the almost 100 of you who traveled near and far to come to this year’s Labor Day Music Weekend and Campout in Missouri!  Thanks, too, to those who prayed for the weekend’s success, as God’s hand was evidently present.  While the weather reports called for rain and the areas immediately surrounding us experienced huge downpours all weekend long, our little campsite experienced nothing but pleasant showers at night after we all went to bed—showers which conveniently “turned off” just in time for all of us to wake up!  Good thing, too, since the tent we used for our activity was not nearly big enough to handle the large increase in crowds this year!  Speaking of God’s hand, many are already aware of the dramatic fall one of our little ones had which was announced last week. The protection and mercy our Father extended was, indeed, a blessing. Again, thanks to all who came—and we are looking forward to seeing you here for Labor Day in 2010!—Wallace Smith

 

 

As a reminder, Opening Night will be on Friday night, October 2—only 15 days away, as of this writing!  The first day of the Feast of Tabernacles will be Saturday, October 3 (check with your local site coordinator to confirm times of services).  We at the Festival Office hope you all have safe travels and a profitable Feast.  Please remember in your prayers those who cannot attend the Feast.

 

If you are traveling internationally for the Feast, it is recommended that you leave your Holy Day Offering in your home country. This will ensure that you receive proper documentation for a tax deduction, if your country allows it. You should make an additional offering at the international site you attend, and can plan accordingly. Your attention to these instructions and your use of the preprinted Holy Day envelopes is greatly appreciated.

Attention Area Pastors: Please ensure that the following announcement is made at your congregations before the Feast: “Brethren are encouraged to bring a hymnal (one or two songbooks per household) from their local congregation’s supply for use at the Feast, but they should bring back to their congregations the same hymnals, after the Feast, so that an equal number of books is returned to each congregation.” Area Pastors should also designate someone from each of their congregations to bring along extra hymnals for use at the Feast. 

 

Our online Festival registration system has worked well this year with only a few glitches. This registration information is a great help to the Festival Office and Festival Site Coordinators in planning and preparing for the Feast.  If you have not registered (and you know who you are), you can still do so, even at this late date.

 

 

Every year we have a survey taken at the Feast to get feedback from brethren.  We will once again have the Festival Survey, on the second to the last day of the Feast.  Please do fill out this survey form, as it provides us with helpful information on festival planning for next year.

 

 

For those who may want to tour the Headquarters facility in Charlotte, tours can be conducted before the Feast on September 29-30 and after the Feast on October 13-14 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Reservations are not necessary.

 

Formal Dinner Dance: Please plan to bring your formal attire to the Feast in Wisconsin Dells.  This year’s extravaganza will be held at the Grand Ballroom at the Chula Vista Resort on Thursday evening, October 8.  Great food, music, an entertainment portion, formal keepsake photographs, and a children’s activity area, make this an event you will not want to miss, even if you are not a dancer! We will collect payment for this activity at the Feast.  (Sabbath wear is also appropriate).

Scramble Golf Tournament: Anyone still interested in signing up for the scramble golf tournament in the Dells, please contact the Festival Coordinator, Sheldon Monson, by email at smonson@lcg.org or by phone at 715-386-6898.  Feel free to put together your own team of four or, if you do not have a team, we will assign you to one.  This event is scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, October 4.  Cost for green fees (18 holes) and cart rental is an exceptional value at only $35 per person.  Prizes will be awarded.

Teens Serving: All teens who wish to serve at this year’s senior luncheon are asked to bring a white shirt and black slacks (men), and a white blouse with black skirt (ladies).  Anyone between the ages of 13-20 is encouraged to participate.  Pizza and drinks will be provided for those serving.  Sign up at the information table at the Feast.—Sheldon Monson

 

Now accepting applications for on-site study for the 2010-2011 academic year (U.S. residents only at this time).

 

Living University is now accepting applications for on-site study in Charlotte for the 2010-2011 academic year. Classes will begin in August 2010. If you are a young adult of college and university age, strongly consider this one-of-a-kind God-centered program for your higher education. You may access the application and other related materials on the LU website at www.livinguniv.com. On the home page, simply click on Making Application for instructions and further information. The website contains information on estimated costs as well as materials that are necessary to complete the application process. Note that the application deadline for on-site study in Charlotte is February 15, 2010. You will be notified of your admittance by April 1, 2010. For those wishing to attend the on-site program and who do not have previous college, you will need to take your college entrance exam (SAT or ACT) and have your test scores sent to Living University well before the application deadline. Applicants should plan to sit for their ACT or SAT exam in November or December of this year. More details on these exams can be found on the LU website. If you have additional questions, please call Dr. Scott Winnail at 704-844-1966 (select option 7) or email him at swinnail@lcg.org.

The Fall Holy Days: Over the next several weeks we will observe the Fall Holy Days that picture the culminating events in God’s Great Plan of Salvation for all human beings. These days reveal how God is going to put an end to the deception and suffering in this world by sending Jesus Christ to banish Satan and set up the Kingdom of God on this earth, where the saints will reign with Christ for one thousand years. After this, all who have ever lived and died without knowing God’s plan will have the opportunity to learn God’s way of life (see Revelation 20). Although Satan has blinded the world to the meaning of these Holy Days, we need to remember that Jesus told His disciples, “blessed are your eyes for they see… because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:11-17). As we observe the Fall Holy Days, let’s rejoice and be deeply grateful to God for the incredible privilege we have been given to understand and prepare to participate in the fulfillment of these “great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:2-4).

 

Have a profitable Sabbath and Fall Holy Day season,

Douglas S. Winnail

 

UN Calls for New Global Economic System. China, India and Russia have called for a new global currency. Now, the United Nations “has posited such a suggestion.” A recent UN report states, “the present [global economic] system, under which the dollar acts as the world’s reserve currency, should be subject to a wholesale reconsideration.” The report continues, “Replacing the dollar with an artificial currency would solve some of the problems related to the potential of countries running large deficits and would help stability” (Telegraph, September 7, 2009). As the value of the U.S. dollar and British pound continue to drop, talk of a global economic system with a world currency is intensifying. As the blessings that God promised to the world through that the Israelite-descended nations begin to dissolve, so does the respect for these nations. Long ago, God prophesied the Israelite-descended nations would become the “tail” instead of the “head” if they disobeyed God (Deuteronomy 28:44). We need to watch for who the new “head” will be.

 

Israelite Society Is Disappearing. The British Office of National Statistics reports the five most popular boys’ names in Britain are Jack, Oliver, Thomas, Harry, and Joshua. However, a closer look at the list reveals, “the third most popular choice for male children born last year in England and Wales was not Thomas, but Mohammed [or Muhammed]” (Mail Online, September 11, 2009). Also, in recent comments, London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, “called on people to fast for a day to help them gain a better understanding of Muslim neighbors.” In an effort to be inclusive and welcoming, the British mayor stated, “There are valuable lessons that people of all backgrounds can learn from Islam such as the importance of community spirit, family ties, compassion and helping those less fortunate, all of which lie at the heart of the teachings of Ramadan.” However, one columnist asked, “Is he encouraging the Muslims to observe Lent?” Another columnist observed that if this trend to understand and embrace other religions continues, “we will lose our culture” (Daily Express, September 5, 2009). God warned that because of Israel’s sins and rejection of His ways, the alien among them would rise higher and higher. God also predicted that disobedient Israel would serve their enemies (Deuteronomy 28:43). Instead of pointing his people to the core values of Christianity, the mayor is suggesting the people of London learn from a foreign religion. This is sobering indeed.

 

Women Ruling More. The Barna Research Group reports that the number of females in senior leadership roles in mainstream Christian churches is on the rise. The number of female senior pastors in U.S. mainline Protestant churches has doubled over the last decade, while average attendance has declined (www.Barna.org, September 14, 2009). It is amazing that professing Christians so easily dismiss clear biblical teachings that conflict with contemporary feminism. The Apostle Paul stated, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but they are to be submissive as the law also says” (1 Corinthians 14:34). This scripture refers to speaking or preaching during an organized Sabbath service. Paul instructed Timothy, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:12). The idea of a “woman pastor” is simply not scriptural and is clearly against the plain teachings of Scripture. Honest students of the Bible realize that God, through these commands, is not “discriminating” against women. Rather, God placed specific guidelines in His word to show us how to live, develop character and to see if we really “want” to follow His instructions. God warned that one sign of the end of the age would be, “As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths” (Isaiah 3:12).—Scott Winnail, Sue Bennett and James Ginn