Announcements for December 10, 2011

Launching church newspaper! One of the greatest ties that bind a family together is knowing what is happening in the lives of each member of the household. To that end, we are pleased to announce a new publication for the members of our spiritual family, the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.

Beginning in early January, we will begin producing a monthly online newspaper covering the events and news of brethren and congregations around the world. Based on the example of the early Church described in several places in the book of Acts, we have chosen One Accord as the title of this publication. A church newspaper does not create the spiritual quality of “one accord,” of course, but it certainly plays a role in unifying the body when we are aware and informed of our brethren around the world.

One Accord will feature the latest updates of events in the Church, reports from international areas, congregational news, editorials, feature columns and personal announcements such as engagements, marriages, births, anniversaries and obituaries. We will also have annual editions focusing on Feast and camp reports, honoring graduates, etc.

As ones who previously worked together on church newspaper production, Larry Salyer and Elizabeth Glasgow are going to serve as editor and managing editor, respectively. Much of the content will be dependent on what is provided from the members and congregations around the world, so we are asking each pastor to designate a reporter for each of his congregations. Since the first edition will be coming in the next few weeks, please begin sending your photographs, articles and reports as soon as possible. Each pastor has the contact information.

For the foreseeable future, One Accord will be an online publication only. It will be in the standard 8½-by-11 format, however, so it can be easily printed for those who do not have Internet access.

We look forward to the inaugural issue being in your hands shortly!

Submitted by Clyde Kilough

Summary of October PCD activity. Many people ask about the answers to questions that we report on from the Personal Correspondence Department, but we have received more requests from last month’s report than ever before! In light of those requests, perhaps it would be helpful to explain why we do not include the full answers.

We appreciate the fact that many people would like to know the answers to all the questions that come through our office, but we can’t give out more information for three main reasons. The first is that reprinting the actual letter or, in some cases, just the details behind the question would be a betrayal of our policy of confidentiality. In the reports, we do not include enough info to make it possible for someone to identify the questioner.

The second major reason we can’t include the answers is that the answers range from a few paragraphs to several pages. Reproducing the full questions and the full answers every month would require a book! It would take hours to produce, as well as to read.

The third reason is that answering letters is akin to face-to-face counseling in certain ways. For example, how the questions are answered depends upon the relationship that we have with the questioner (we may have exchanged several letters), how he asks the question (in a desire to know or as a challenge) and how much spiritual understanding he has. For these reasons, the answers would vary somewhat (and in some cases, a great deal) from person to person.

Pastors and elders can answer questions about the biblical topics. To assist them, we post the Personal Correspondence Department form letters on the ministerial website. These letters provide resource material for the ministry. They are not written for general distribution, so members need to direct their questions to their ministers. (Members are also welcome to write us at this department; although historically, we deal with people who are not yet attending church and/or in regular contact with a minister. Some members write to our office for personal reasons. We respect that, and we answer their questions too.)

We believe publishing the monthly summary PCD activity report is valuable, for it provides members with somewhat of a window on the work. We regret the frustration that we inadvertently cause by not providing more information, but hopefully this explains the reason for the format we use!

The month of October was a short one for our office, and we sent out only 20 letters. Topics included one from a parent who wanted to know how to answer a child’s question: Did God make the bacteria that cause sicknesses and, if so, why? We received some questions on baptism. One asked whether there is a single book or section of the Bible that explains everything about the subject. Another question asked if Romans 6 explains the literal procedure for baptism or if the language is only symbolic.

Another person asked us to explain the fate of those “not chosen,” referring to Christ’s statement that “many are called but few are chosen.” Another contact wanted to know if “grace” means that “works like keeping the Ten Commandments” are unnecessary. Reading in Revelation that Jesus is “KING of KINGS AND LORD of LORDS,” a questioner wanted to know who the other kings and lords are. Another question based on Revelation was from a man who wanted to know if the Bible actually gives the time of the marriage of the Lamb.

Lastly, a person sought advice about a formal marriage vs. eloping. He wanted to know whether the Bible actually requires a formal ceremony. In addition to giving the factual answer, we encouraged the couple to give consideration to the expectations of family and friends.

Submitted by Cecil Maranville

International Reports

Update on Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Since 1980 I have had the privilege of serving this region. We currently have an attendance of 70 people in Colombia, 21 in Ecuador and one in Venezuela. Colombia’s main office is located in Bogota, the capital city. From there every Saturday I have the opportunity to transmit Church services via the Internet; and all members in Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia can connect. Through the virtual room, we can interact so that different members of all congregations can participate and give the prayers for the services. This has been a great blessing for all because, due to the economic circumstances, we cannot travel frequently to visit all members living outside of Bogota. Having the opportunity to communicate and share via the Internet has helped us feel closer and more integrated.

For the past year we have also been using the virtual room for interactive leadership workshops for the whole congregation and a special workshop for the men members of the Church. We have been studying the Fundamental Beliefs of the Church, and this has undoubtedly been of great benefit and edification to all.

 

The group that I have served in these countries is stable. Several people have been in the Church for many years and have managed to go through all the trials and difficulties we have faced, especially in these last years. We also have the privilege of having “the third generation”—people who have come to the Church after seeing the example of their grandparents and parents.

 

In general, one of the great challenges in these countries is the economic part. It is not easy to find good jobs that pay well and allow people to keep the weekly Sabbath and the annual Sabbaths. For this reason, there is a lot of unemployment among members of the Church. Also, a good percentage of our members are elderly, who have no help from the government—no pension and, in most cases, do not own a house. Although conditions have changed considerably in the country and today we do not have the drug war we used to have a few years ago that hit us so hard, it is still unsafe due to the guerrilla groups and far right, which make some areas very dangerous and unstable.

But through all these circumstances, God has been extremely gracious to all of His children and has protected us even amid the greatest difficulties. We are currently enjoying a period of peace and harmony and have high expectations that we will be able to move forward as the Church, fulfilling the purpose and plan God has for His children. We are very thankful to God because He has always watched over us and has fulfilled His promise to provide for our needs. We are also grateful to all the brethren in the United States who have so generously helped us always.

We pray constantly to God to bless us all around the world with His Spirit, so we can finish the race and finish the work that God started in each one of us.

Submitted by Eduardo Hernández