Greetings from Charlotte,
Human tragedies continue to make news. A powerful typhoon, the 12th this year, pounded the Philippines with 80 mph winds and drenching rains that destroyed crops, drowned animals, submerged villages, destroyed homes and claimed the lives of nearly 60 people. More than 100,000 remain in temporary evacuation centers. In Europe, many of the half million people seeking refuge from strife-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa are facing the coming winter months while living in tents, abandoned buildings or sleeping on the ground. This world sorely needs the return of Jesus Christ and the government of God. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith is working on an article. Mr. Ames and Mr. Smith are preparing new Tomorrow's World programs. The most recent co-worker letter is being mailed to more than 21,000 supporters around the world, and the current subscription list for the Tomorrow's World magazine is about 530,000 in all languages. So far this year we have held 51 Tomorrow's World Presentations that have drawn 2,145 visitors. Please pray that God will bless these efforts to preach the Gospel to our troubled world.—DSW
Church Administration
2015 Charlotte Family Weekend—Exciting New Update!
Dr. Meredith has just approved to livestream the church service on December 26 at 2:00 p.m. EST. We will be advertising this event to our subscribers as a chance to "Meet the Living Church of God." This will mean that potentially tens of thousands of people could watch this service live on the Internet. It will introduce them to the fact that we are a "real" Church with thousands of members—not just a small "Internet church" with no real members or congregations. If you would like to be a part of this ground-breaking event, come join us for the Charlotte Family Weekend! Arrival will be on Thursday, December 24, and departure will be on Monday, December 28. Housing and most of the activities will once again be held at the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel. Make sure you arrive in time to attend a casual Hawaiian Luau themed dance on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. On Friday morning there will be seminars for teens, young singles, mature singles and married couples, as well as an activity in the afternoon and a Bible Study that evening. On the Sabbath there will be a Bible Study, Sabbath services and a special dinner dance. Plans are set for a full day of sports tournaments and games on Sunday. See the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LcgCharlotteWinterWeekend?ref=bookmarks for more details. Last year we had more than 670 people in attendance, and this year we hope to break 700! We hope many of you will be able to join us for these four exciting days of fellowship, physical and spiritual food and fun!—Jim Meredith
Kansas City Family Weekend: January 1-3—Repeat Announcement
Save the date! The Kansas City Family Weekend is just 2½ months away! Activities will begin on Friday, January 1, and run through Sunday, January 3. The locations for the activities will be the same as last year, and much of the activity lineup will be similar, although we do have a few surprises up our sleeves. Registration, housing information and activity schedules are coming soon. We look forward to seeing you in January!—Michael Keesee
Living Youth Program
Online Teen Bible Study Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, October 30, will be on "World Peace Coming in Our Time!," presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, we encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The Bible Study runs from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern time) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful opportunity for godly fellowship and learning. For those of you who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's on, "Why Study the Bible in the Space Age?," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.
Legal Affairs and Risk Management
Immunizations: California
Since June 30, 2015, when Governor Brown signed SB 277 into law, striking down personal and religious belief exemptions to immunization in California effective July 1, 2016, our office has received a number of inquiries on this topic.
Compared to the rest of the U.S., California now stands in the extreme minority. Of 11 states that had bills filed to remove either the personal belief/conscientious/philosophical or religious exemptions during the 2015 legislative session (CA, MD, ME, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, VT and WA), California was the only state where legislation was passed leaving only the medical exemption. Vermont retained a broad religious exemption, but the legislature removed the philosophical exemption. The other nine states rejected the removal of any non-medical exemption. West Virginia's status quo of only permitting medical exemptions remains unchanged.
It is our understanding that if parents of children enrolled in elementary, middle and high school at public and private schools, child care centers, day nurseries, or nursery schools in California file a letter or affidavit stating beliefs opposed to immunization prior to January 1, 2016 (i.e. no later than December 31, 2015), that exemption will apply until the next "grade span." (The three "grade spans" are defined as birth to preschool, kindergarten to sixth grade, and grades 7 through 12.) Parents attending with LCG in California who object to immunization may wish to consider availing themselves of this temporary opportunity.
Importantly, California's SB 277 does not require homeschooled students or students who do not receive classroom-based instruction to be vaccinated—and also does not appear to prohibit a student who qualifies for an Individualized Educational Program from accessing any special education and related services required by his/her IEP.
It is helpful for parents in California who currently want to exercise a "personal belief" vaccine exemption so their children can attend school to understand that under the new law's "grandfather" clause, children can continue to attend daycare or school (all grades) with the "personal belief" vaccine exemption IF their parents have filed that exemption by December 31, 2015. If your child's personal belief vaccine exemption is not filed before that date, your child will not be able to attend day care or school (all grades) with the personal belief exemption after July 1, 2016. The current California State Exemption Form is available at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Documents/CDPH-8262.pdf.
Since LCG does not have a formal teaching or "doctrine" on immunizations, it is our understanding that an LCG parent wishing to avoid such for their child would need to have an "Authorized Health Care Practitioner" complete Section A of the California State Exemption Form. Then the parent would need, under Section B, subsection I, to check "Receipt of Information," sign and date that section, and in subsection II put a check mark next to all immunizations the parent wishes to avoid. Then sign, date, and deliver to the child's school—keeping a photocopy for the parent's records. Note: Considering the prejudice of many in the school system, and the dishonesty of many in this society, it would make sense to send the completed exemption form to the school via certified mail, return receipt requested (make sure to photocopy the form, and the fully prepared certified mail envelope with the certified mail tracking number clearly displayed). Once the signed green receipt card arrives back through the Post Office, putting the signed return receipt card proving delivery with the copies of what was sent also seems a reasonable and prudent step to help prove the exemption form was delivered to the school.
Living University
Call for On-Campus Students (U.S. only at this time): For those seeking a unique and exciting learning opportunity, LU is now accepting applications for full-time students to study on-campus in Charlotte, North Carolina beginning in the fall of 2016. On-campus students experience special opportunities beyond online study. Students meet for weekly discussion classes with many of their professors, including Dr. Germano, Mr. Ames, Drs. Douglas and Scott Winnail, Mr. Ken Frank, Mr. Peter Nathan, and Mr. Jerry Ruddlesden. Weekly Assemblies are provided by many of the Church leaders based in Charlotte and around the world. Monthly student outings and other social activities are planned and students participate in congregational opportunities unique to the Charlotte congregation and Headquarters (including Spokesman Club, Singles' Bible Studies, Outreach activities, service during Council of Elders and Ministerial conferences, and much more). Student housing is available for both male and female students. Most of our on-campus students also participate in our "work-study" program—working part-time in different departments throughout the Work and Living University. Student work-study helps defray most living costs. Application to the on-campus program can be made online through the university Web site (www.livinguniv.com). Additional details and requirements can also be found online, as can an estimate of costs associated with on-campus study.
If you are interested in on-campus LU study and have questions, please contact us. At this time we can only accept on-campus students who meet legal requirements to live in the United States. Our hope is to expand this opportunity to international students in future years. Students interested should plan to complete their applications by February 2016. Those with no previous college should submit college entrance test scores (ACT or SAT) along with other application materials and should plan to take that examination this fall. You can find out more about these exams through a local high school guidance counselor or local community college or university testing service. Home-schooled students are also encouraged to apply. To find out more, please contact Dr. Scott Winnail at 704-708-2292 or swinnail@livinguniv.com.
Comments
The Good News! Jesus was born in Judea, a province of the Roman Empire occupied by Roman troops (Matthew 2:1-6). He came to a world dominated by pagan religions where human life was often of little value. Yet, He came preaching the Gospel—the good news of a coming Kingdom of God—about a future world government that would bring peace and justice to the entire world (Mark 1:14-15; Isaiah 9:6-7). He told His disciples that in the Kingdom they would inherit eternal life and reign over cities as kings and priests (Matthew 19:28-29; Luke 19:17-19; Revelation 5:10). Ancient prophecies reveal that in the Kingdom the peoples of the world will look to Jerusalem, where the saints will reign with Jesus Christ, to learn God's way to peace, happiness and abundance (Isaiah 2:2-4). Other prophecies state this same Gospel of the Kingdom "will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations" just before the end of this age (Matthew 24:14). You have been called to have a part in this exciting mission. That is a marvelous privilege and something to be thankful for—the chance to share this good news with a troubled world that is looking for hope and a better future.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—October 22, 2105
Tensions Rise in South China Sea: "Japan and the United States staged a naval show of strength off Tokyo Bay on Sunday as they flashed a pair of powerful, flat-deck warships perhaps just days before the U.S. Navy plans to challenge disputed Chinese claims to territory in the nearby South China Sea" (USA Today, October 19, 2015). The South China Sea has become a flashpoint of tension in Asia as China seeks to exert more control by building artificial islands, which many see as potential bases for military use, something China denies. Nonetheless, "U.S. officials have said in recent weeks that they plan to send U.S. warships within the presumed 12-mile territorial limit around the new islands. The patrols would be intended to demonstrate U.S. commitment to 'freedom of navigation' in the region" (ibid.). Japan itself has scrambled a record number of aircraft within the past year to combat Chinese air patrols over Japanese-claimed sovereign territory and waters (Sputnik News, October 19, 2015). The rising tension in Asia is nothing new to those following Tomorrow's World. The Bible makes it clear that shortly before Jesus Christ returns, a superpower from Asia will attack a European superpower after being provoked (Daniel 11:44; Revelation 9:12-16; 16:12). China's growing power and confidence could contribute to the fulfillment of these prophecies. For more information on Asia's future, read our article, "Who Will Rule the Waves?"
Europe TV Moves to USA: "With its $17.7 billion takeover of Cablevision, the European company Altice solidified its position as a bold new player in the fast-consolidating American cable market. And its executives promised on Thursday that this was just the beginning of the company's empire building in the United States, noting the potential to acquire other cable companies and even mobile networks" (New York Times, September 17, 2015). Altice is currently the fastest growing communications company in Europe, and it expects in time to gain half of its revenue from the American market (Reuters, September 17, 2015). End-time prophecy indicates that a powerful "beast" power will arise in Europe, led by Germany. The rise of this European beast will eventually have serious consequences for modern Israelite nations that have turned their back on God (see Leviticus 26:14-33; Deuteronomy 28:15-51). The move by European television into the American market could be exploited in the future by this European power as it gains more power and influence. To learn more about this coming European beast power, review our insightful booklet, The Beast of Revelation.
Exploiting the Oceans: "Life in the oceans is in catastrophic decline with the number of fish, seabirds and marine mammals having halved since 1970… The report, based on analysis of more than 600 studies and assessments of 1,234 marine species, says that the average size of populations declined by 49 per cent between 1970 and 2012" (The Times, September 16, 2015). "Tuna and mackerel populations have suffered a 'catastrophic' decline of nearly three quarters in the last 40 years, according to new research… The conservation charity [World Wildlife Fund] warned that we face losing species critical to human food security, unless drastic action is taken to halt overfishing and other threats to marine life. Louise Heaps, chief advisor on marine policy at WWF UK, said: '…We are destroying vital food sources, and the ecology of our oceans.'… However, Heaps said there were solutions. 'It's not all doom-and-gloom. There are choices we can make. But it is urgent'" (The Guardian, September 15, 2015). These tragic circumstances were foretold long ago. The prophet Hosea foresaw a time when exploitive human activities would result in "even the fish of the sea will be taken away" (Hosea 4:1-3), and the Apostle Paul commented that at the end of the age "the whole creation groans" waiting for the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:19, 22). Yet there are better times coming when Jesus Christ will return to "destroy [punish] those who destroy the earth" (Revelation 11:18) and use His saints to teach mankind how to be responsible stewards of God's creation (see Genesis 1:26; 2:15). To gain a better understanding of this incredible future, be sure to read our booklet The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway, Hugh Stewart, James Bennett and Chris Sookdeo