Cartwright’s Journal Out: UCG’s Beyond Today, Valentine’s, Famine, and Evangelism in the 21st Century

The latest issue (says #169 January 31, 2015) of The Journal was sent out electronically and just received. This particular issue was shorter than usual in terms of numbers of pages.

The United Church of God’s (UCG) media change was on the front page:

For several reasons The Good News, published by the United Church of God an International Association, will have a new name beginning later this year. Council-of-elders member Scott Ashley of Arvada, Colo., said that starting with either the July-August or September-October issue the publication will become Beyond Today magazine. … A UCG employee, Internet manager Aaron Booth, suggested Beyond Today for the church’s television program in 2005. The 12-man council of elders approved the name that same year. … Before 2005 the church sponsored TV programs called Good News TV and Tomorrow Television. Beginning in the fall of 2015, 10 years after Mr. Booth’s suggestion, the same name will identify print, television and Internet media.

I have reported about this change in the past (see UCG dropping ‘Good News’ title for ‘Beyond Today’). When I was speaking with UCG’s President Victor Kubik yesterday about other matters, he brought the change to Beyond Today up. Basically, UCG believes it will have better recognition (branding) if it uses the same identifier in multiple places.

There was also an article about Valentine’s Day in The Journal by Barbara Fenney that began with the following:

WARRINGTON, England— In common with numerous other so-called Christian festivals, St. Valentine’s day has its roots firmly entrenched in pre-Christian customs. It is supposedly named after two saints, but it is impossible to trace any concrete proof that either really existed. In Roman times the feast, then called Lupercalia, was kept on the 14th and 15th of February. It does not appear to have honored any particular Roman god, but the connection with wolves (Latin: lupus ) seems to hark back to Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome who were said to have been brought up by a she-wolf. Before the main feast, several goats and a dog would be sacrificed. The priests would then cut thongs, called februa (thus February ), from the animals’ skins and pursue young women around the town with them. A blow from the thongs was supposed to make the women fertile.

The recommended sermon from the Continuing Church of God today goes into this and more and is titled Valentine’s Day, Christianity, and Islam. There is also a detailed written article titled Valentine’s Day: Its Real Origins.

Church of God International’s (CGI) Wesley White wrote an article titled What is evangelism in the 21st century supposed to look like? Here is some of what it said:

Three prongs

Our history of evangelism began in the early 1930s when emphasis was placed on a three-pronged approach: radio, print media and personal appearances. In the 1960s this formula for evangelism was revised to include television. And it worked back then. Unfortunately, too many of our leaders are still stuck in this outdated quagmire. Their method of preaching the gospel is to put a talking head on TV and supplement it with booklets and a magazine. This is followed by occasional public personal appearances in local cities by the TV talking head.

Tanks should lead

And it does not give us the same results that we had from 1933 to 1975.

We pour thousands and thousands of dollars into programs that no longer work. When it comes to God’s truth, we should never change. But, when it comes to methods of promoting that truth, we will either change or die out.

Well, his assessment for the lack of success perhaps for CGI is true. His basic point that some changes in approach are appropriate for the 21st century is correct.

The 21st century evangelistic efforts for the Continuing Church of God have been more productive, as well as more cost-effective, than many of those others used in the past. We utilize You-Tube for television (so we do not pay for air time), accept guest appearances on secular radio (also no cost), have our own Internet radio channel (no air time costs), have multiple websites in multiple languages, put out magazines and booklets in print (many of which are viewed online at no cost), and have personal meetings (more than a talking head, real meetings with interested ones around the world). We are having success in the 21st century and are leading what I have long referred to as final phase of the work. The the Continuing Church of God has successfully reached millions on very little income, because we have not “despised the day of small things” and we know God will be faithful. We recognize that secular media coverage can be helpful and believe that this will be a factor in completing the short work of Romans 9:28. We believe all that we are doing and expect to do is what evangelism in the 21st century is supposed to look like as we strive to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20.

The back page of The Journal had an article that mentioned famine in Western Kenya. We in the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) have members there and have been helping to support them. Here is something from our latest Letter to the Brethren:

Food for Africa

Kenya-based CCOG Pastor Evans Ochieng sent the following reports Tuesday:

Pastor Dr Bob,

Thank very much for the funds I received today. I will purchase food for our members in Nyakach and plan to meet them tomorrow. These, our brethren, are feeling very bad…

Thank you very much for the assistance. God will bless you highly. you have promoted the church in Nyakach and in Kenya at large. CCOG bears fruits. we are preaching the gospel in every corner and every way.

Evans

Although our focus is spiritually-feeding, we help where we can. We strive to follow the admonitions and example of the Apostle Paul:

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10)

25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. (Romans 15:25-27)

While we do have limited resources, we strive to assist where we can.

Donations to assist Kenya can be made via PayPal and other methods (check out the Donations page and put the word Kenya or Africa in the comment if you want all to go to assist with food).

Also on the back page was the following:

FARMINGTON HILL, Mich.— Alan Ruth reports that he and his website are recovering from “Google search-engine penalties and a protracted attack” on the website’s popularity by “three spam domains.”

It is terrible that some people send out spam and take other tactics to improperly shut-down websites. The time, sadly, will come when more governments (not just individuals and private groups) will decide that Christ’s gospel of the kingdom should no longer be preached (see The Final Phase of the Work). This will then stop the short work of Romans 9:28 and lead to the start of the Great Tribulation.

The Journal also had the usual letters to the editor and other advertisements, various comments, and opinion articles.

The Journal itself is available by paid subscription (though Dixon Cartwright says some subscriptions are free to those who cannot afford it) and often tends to take a non-Philadelphian era view of certain church matters.