Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends:
Do we realize how much this world is in utter confusion; how close we are to the return of Christ; and how great our responsibility is to do the Work of God—the most important activity anyone could be involved in? But do we also really understand that Christ will only return, when the true gospel of the Kingdom of God has been preached and when His wife—His true Church—has made herself ready (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 19:7-9)?
As a consequence, our annual conference in San Diego focused on the all-important duty and two-fold commission of the Church of God to preach the gospel and to feed the flock. We would like to thank all of you for your prayers for a successful conference, and we are pleased to say that your prayers have been answered.
We decided during the conference to buy new equipment, including an additional camera, a duplication machine for CDs and DVDs, as well as a laptop and software. These purchases will be necessary to improve the quality and dynamics of our StandingWatch programs, and to continue broadcasting our Church services live and posting our video-recorded sermons on the Internet. We also set aside specified amounts for Internet advertisement campaigns in the UK, USA and Canada, and we committed to conducting at least one additional Public Bible lecture by the end of June—this time in the San Diego area.
We will produce several new booklets this year in the English language, including one on God’s Fall Holy Days and one on the Authority of the Bible. Translations of our booklets in German will continue, and current translations can be found on our new German Website, AufPostenStehen. We will also be concentrating on producing StandingWatch programs in the German and French languages.
In the USA and Canada, we are very pleased to enclose with this letter a hard copy of our new booklet, “The True Meaning of God’s Spring Holy Days.” This booklet was recently sent out in the UK, where it was printed. It was written to assist you in diligently preparing, especially at this time of the year, for the annual observance of the Passover and Unleavened Bread. We are commanded in God’s Word to examine ourselves before we partake of the annual Passover symbols of bread and wine, and we therefore need to set aside extra time within the remaining weeks before Passover (which will be observed during the evening of April 1), to study the relevant Scriptures quoted in the enclosed booklet. We ought to take every opportunity to insure that we will partake of the Passover in a worthy manner, and that we will continue to overcome and remove the “leaven” of sin.
It must be realized, however, that God did not call us for the sole purpose of “making it into His
Kingdom.” He called each and every one of us to do a job—to participate in the furtherance of His Work here on earth, for the purpose of helping others. Christ finished the work which God gave Him to do (John 17:4)—and so must we fulfill the task which God has assigned to each of us (1 Corinthians 15:58). As has been emphasized so many times, God’s Work moves forward on our knees! We must not be negligent in praying regularly to God for His Work—asking Him to bless it physically and spiritually, to send more laborers into His harvest, and to make His Will known for the many different facets of His—Work—including even such issues as whether or not to move personnel and activities to different locations.
During the conference, we were sadly reminded of the fact that Edwin Pope is no longer with us, and his presence was greatly missed. We had a very meaningful and emotional memorial service in Chula Vista, CA, on Sunday, February 11. We would like to thank all of you—including those from other Church of God organizations—who attended the service or the previous funeral service in Columbus, Georgia, as well as those who sent their condolences, even though they were unable to attend. We might be in different human organizations, but we are all brethren and members of the Church of God—the Body of Christ, which is a spiritual organism—as long as God’s Spirit dwells within us. And as brethren, we must love one another (1 Thessalonians 4:9), and if and when we do, the world will know that we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:35). To respect the memory of Mr. Pope, one of God’s true servants, by attending a memorial service in his honor, is just one way of showing God’s love to others.
Dear brethren and friends, as we said at the beginning of this letter, the end of this present civilization is fast approaching. Man will experience terrible times before Christ returns to bring peace to this war-stricken planet. Many have lost hope for a better future. Many don’t know what will happen to them when they die! According to Der Spiegel Online of February 16, only two-thirds of registered Catholics and only one-half of registered Protestants in Germany believe in God; and at the same time one-fourth of registered Swiss Catholics have accepted the eastern teaching of reincarnation, while rejecting the truth of the resurrection.
This is just one example of the hopeless confusion in today’s world. Do we realize that ONLY God’s Church has answers to man’s fundamental questions, including why man was created and what his ultimate potential is; who and what God is; and how to worship God in spirit and in truth? But with understanding comes responsibility. It is up to us to bring HOPE to this hopeless world (1 Thessalonians 4:13). When we preach and confess our hope in God (compare Acts 24:15; 23:6), we CAN and DO bring hope to those who hear and accept the message. Brethren, in doing so, God may use us to change the lives of others for the better (1 John 3:3).
What an awesome opportunity, challenge and commission! And so, dear brethren, please pray that God’s Will of preaching the gospel and feeding the flock be done on earth. PRAY that God will grant all of us the zeal, dedication and enthusiasm to be involved in His Work! Please pray for godly wisdom to make right decisions in the furtherance of His Work, and let us never forget to give all glory to God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ—the living and eternal Head of His Church.
In Christian love,
Norbert Link
Dave Harris
Rene Messier
Brian Gale
