May 2026 Member Letter

May 7, 2026

Dear Brethren,

Because of the timing of the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, along with the travel associated with that season, I missed writing a member letter in April. As a result, I have quite a bit to share with you in this letter!

First, I would like to update everyone on the construction of our new building, the “Education Center.” About two weeks ago, in mid-April, the structure truly began to take shape. As I write this letter, I can look out from the office lobby and see the outline of the building—walls, roof and defined rooms. For quite some time, all we saw were piles of dirt and a concrete parking lot. Now, however, the building foundation is complete, steel pillars are in place, and the structure of the roof is visible. The project is currently on schedule, and if no delays arise, the building is expected to be completed in mid-October—approximately a week or two after this year’s Feast of Tabernacles.

Since the Education Center will also serve as the home for the Dallas congregation, we are planning a special celebration on the first Sabbath we hold services there. It will be especially exciting to attend the Feast of Tabernacles and then return home to a new meeting facility. Please continue to pray that the construction proceeds smoothly and that this building will serve as a valuable tool for the Church for many years to come. 

Over the span of seven years (since 2019), we will have completed two buildings—an office facility and an education center—while remaining debt-free. This is something that has not often occurred in the history of the Church. During this time, we have also increased our expenditures for preaching the gospel and caring for the brethren. And we continue to hire additional men for the pastoral ministry to replace those who are retiring, eight this year alone. For this fiscal year, we have the highest budget in our history, and currently, a third of the way through the year, we remain within that budget. God has truly blessed us, giving us the ability to expand the mission of the Church while also constructing quality facilities for its use.

For the Passover this year, my wife and I, along with our treasurer, Britton Taylor, and David Baker, the regional director for Asia, traveled to India and Sri Lanka. It is difficult to fully describe how different this experience was compared to what we are accustomed to. It was both inspiring and sobering. Seeing firsthand what our brethren experience in other countries leaves a deep impression. Consider what it means to live as a member of the Church in a predominantly Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist society. While we do not face those same challenges in the United States, this is the daily reality for our brethren who live in these countries.

Yet, despite these differences, we experienced a deeply meaningful and inspiring Passover, Night to Be Much Observed and Days of Unleavened Bread. The Passover service itself was exactly the same. We washed feet, partook of the unleavened bread and wine, and quietly returned to our accommodations afterward, gathering again the next evening for the Night to Be Much Observed. We had 10 members present for Passover in Sri Lanka and approximately 20 for the Night to Be Much Observed.

Although we were nearly 10,000 miles from home, we were among people who share the same beliefs and the same hope for the future. Each time we gathered together in a meeting hall and the services began, it felt no different than being at home.

This highlights an important truth: We are united by God’s Spirit and His calling and not by a culture or society. Though we live in different cultures and environments, it is the same Spirit and the same calling that bind us together. This creates a unity that is difficult to fully describe. When you have the opportunity to visit brethren in another culture, that unity becomes very clear as you see them faithfully practicing the same beliefs.

The language may differ, but the attitude and spiritual connection are the same. We experienced this in a lighthearted way during the Night to Be Much Observed. We sat with three ladies who found great amusement in watching Mr. Taylor and me react to the food—which was much hotter than we were used to! While it was mild to them, it was quite spicy to us. Despite the heat, the food was excellent, and we continued eating. The ladies thoroughly enjoyed our reactions, and we all shared a good laugh. It was a wonderful reminder that even across cultural differences, we can share joy, fellowship and laughter as members of the same spiritual family.

We must never take for granted what God has given us. The Church, the truth and His Spirit are extraordinary blessings in a world filled with division and tragedy. Everywhere we look, we see animosity, conflict and unrest. Even this past week, we witnessed yet another assassination attempt on President Trump. We continue to see ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East, as well as civil unrest and conflict across parts of Africa. These conditions are contributing to widespread suffering, including severe famine.

James identifies the root cause for this violence in James 4:1-3: “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Our world is in serious trouble, with conflicts and tensions increasing daily. Many claim to follow Christianity, but we must ask whether their actions truly reflect God’s way of life. As James continues in verse 4 of this same chapter: “Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” As God’s people, we must clearly see the world for what it is and not become entangled in its disputes, arguments and divisions. God has called us and given us something precious—His truth and His Spirit.

We are not part of this world, but we, along with our brethren, must live in this world. We should pray for our brethren and take advantage of opportunities to serve and support one another whenever possible and wherever possible. What a blessing it is to share a meal, a conversation or even a simple moment of laughter with God’s people. These are gifts we should never take for granted.

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Jim Franks