United Church of God Chooses Two New Men for Council of Elders
May 9, 2012
The General Conference of Elders (GCE) of the United Church of God met in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 5 through 7 for their annual meeting.
Carmelo Anastasi
Amongst other business, the GCE chose two new members for their Council of Elders: Carmelo Anastasi and Mark Mickelson. They will each serve a three-year term. Two incumbents, Scott Ashley and Melvin Rhodes, were returned for another three year term each, and two councillors decided not to run for office again: Bill Eddington and Roy Holladay.
Mark Mickelson
All items on the ballot were overwhelmingly approved by the General Conference this year. This includes the annual Strategic Plan, Operation Plan and Budget, plus a number of amendments to our governing documents. In addition, one of the approved amendments prescribes that Council of Elders’ three-year terms begin this week, so the two new members are taking office almost immediately.
More details will be written up for you in the June issue of United News.
2012-2013 COUNCIL OF ELDERS. Top from left: Mario Seiglie, John Elliott, Scott Ashley, Robin Webber, Mark Mickelson, Bill Bradford. Front from left: Carmelo Anastasi, Gary Antion, Melvin Rhodes, Darris McNeely, Robert Berendt, Donald Ward
Peter Eddington—Media and Communications Services
Letter From Melvin Rhodes, UCG Chairman
April 20, 2012
Dear Fellow Ministers,
I’ve just returned from a very positive and uplifting trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa. It was really good to be with the members down there.
I spent Passover, the Night to be Much Observed and the First Day of Unleavened Bread with the brethren in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.
Members in Zimbabwe are scattered all over the country—a nation that is over three times the size of the state of Michigan—where I live—so it’s always a joy when everybody can get together for a couple of days. It costs us about $1,000 to bring them all into a central location. It would cost far more for me to travel around and visit everybody. They also benefit from being with each other.
In a country that not so long ago suffered from severe food shortages, the ladies put on a really nice meal for us on the Night to be Much Observed. Thanks to the generosity of a teen in Lansing, Michigan, I was able to give every single household a box of scripture cards prepared as a fundraiser by our Ambassador Bible Center.
At the same time, Marshall Takaindisa, a long-time member from a remote rural area, received his “new” (used) battery operated wheelchair. Marshall teaches at a sprawling school complex and, so far, has depended on others to push him around. But now he can get around by himself.
He asked for a wheelchair a few months ago. Finding a wheelchair was one thing—getting it into the country was quite another. Freight charges and customs duties are only part of the problem—the paperwork is quite daunting. It was suggested that I “ride” it into Zimbabwe. For this, I needed a letter from my doctor saying that I needed to use a wheelchair in Johannesburg where the new airport requires a lot of walking. For once the wound in my foot was advantageous!
I asked the office in Pretoria, South Africa, if they could help find the wheelchair. Finally one was found, but when our office employee’s husband, Neil Wallis, went to pick it up, he realized there was no foot-rest. That meant I would have to keep my feet up while using the chair. A foot-rest could be added once it arrived in Zimbabwe.
At the airport the battery ran out so I had to be pushed with my feet up, but we got it on to the plane and into Zimbabwe and into the hands of Marshall, who was absolutely thrilled to receive it. As LifeNets paid for the wheelchair, there was no cost to the church for a wheelchair that will make a big difference in one man’s life.
After Sabbath services on the first Holy Day, I was able to travel to Mutare, a four-hour drive away, where our deacon, Mike Mukurati and his wife Primrose, live. This beautiful mountainous area is close to the Mozambique border. I spent the remainder of the weekend with them. On the Sunday Mike and I visited a new member who lives in Mutare, an 83-year-old lady originally from South Africa, Claudia Harrison. Mrs. Harrison is the only person of European descent in the Zimbabwe congregation. If you’re ever in Mutare you must visit—she makes a really good cup of tea! (I can’t speak for her coffee!)
Following my visit to Mutare, we returned to Harare, and I then flew back to South Africa. I was able to spend the Last Day of Unleavened Bread and the weekly Sabbath with the members in East London, a congregation that recently returned to the United Church of God after they became more aware of recent events.
Their enthusiasm and the spirit of love, joy and peace (the first three fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians chapter 5) was an exhilarating experience for me personally. I longed for my wife to be there to share the time with me, but she was not able to make this trip. Once again, it was a real joy to be with the members in an isolated part of the world.
After returning to Johannesburg, the three ministers serving in the region were able to get together Sunday morning to discuss future plans for serving the area. At the present time, there is just one elder resident in South Africa, Roy Demont, who was ordained last year exactly one week after his wife Jean died. Roy is in his seventies and has been speaking in all four congregations in South Africa, once a month in each. The churches are so far apart that three require flights to get there. While we were talking he offered to go to Zimbabwe a couple of times a year, which will help me out greatly, as I can only make it there twice a year from the United States.
Roy’s son in law, Grant Chick, was also present. Grant lives in Australia and, with the support of the Australian National Council, was able to help out in South Africa during the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. He and his wife will be returning to the area for the Feast of Tabernacles, where Grant will speak in both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Also present at the meeting was Jason Webster, who has been doing an outstanding job taking care of the church’s needs in the Johannesburg and Pretoria area.
In both Zimbabwe and South Africa I had the very real sense of being on the frontline of the work that God has called us to do, the work of preaching the gospel and preparing a people. There are currently 120 attending with us in South Africa and about 30 in Zimbabwe.
South Africa does not need a great deal of help from the Cincinnati home office. They are self-sufficient. But we in the U.S. do take care of their magazine and booklet printing and some of their mailing costs. Occasionally they need help in other areas. For example, Richard Kennebeck, our information technology (IT) manager, was there during Unleavened Bread helping them with their computer and office system. His wife, Emma, also helped their office manager and treasurer in South Africa, Isella Wallis.
Zimbabwe requires slightly more help. The members in both countries are excited at the prospect of preaching the gospel in their areas—it is hoped to hold a Kingdom of God Bible Seminar in Harare next time I visit.
Spiritually, the visit to both countries was also a big boost for me personally. In Zimbabwe I very quickly realized my new iPhone did not work at all, which meant I was cut off from the rest of the world. I could not receive calls, text messages or e-mail—and it was wonderful! Very relaxing. I had more time for prayer and Bible study and more time to talk with the members—a reminder of the importance of living by the two great commandments, love toward God and love toward neighbor.
“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:35-40).
Our priorities should always be our relationship with God, first and foremost, and then our relationships with other people—with our spouses, our children and members of God’s spiritual family. Electronic gadgets can get in the way—they don’t save us time, they consume time—sometimes at the cost of neglecting those important relationships. In the Western world our spiritual lives are constantly threatened by modern technology. It’s a joy to go to areas that are not yet spoiled in this way and where people still matter. It is not surprising that Africa is the only continent where the number of people claiming to be Christian is actually increasing.
“Look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest” said Jesus Christ in John 4:35. In the previous verse He said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”
That work continues to this day and we have a part in finishing it. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
The African field is indeed “white for harvest.” Those turning in hope to Jesus Christ need to understand the need to be like Him, to keep His commandments, to walk as He walked, to live His way of life. Simply calling yourself Christian doesn’t do this. There’s a need for the truth of God to be revealed and for people to take God’s commands to heart. “You shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul” (Deuteronomy 11:18). “And you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
Africa is an exciting place to be, especially when you are visiting those areas where God has called people to be a part of His spiritual family. Remember your brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Africa; and, if you are ever able, be sure to visit them and be inspired—and take a break from all those electronic gadgets!
Sincerely,
Melvin Rhodes—Chairman, Council of Elders, United Church of God
Chairman’s Letter: Report on Council of Elders Meetings
[The following letter was sent to the United Church of God ministry on March 2.]
March 2, 2012
Dear Fellow Ministers,
The Work that God wants us to do is moving forward! Four days of Council of Elders meetings have just ended.
For the first time in recent memory we managed to cover all the items on our agenda. This is testimony to the incredible spirit of unity and cooperation that exists on the Council of Elders at this time. This does not mean there was no discussion before decisions were made. There are 12 men on the Council and they have 12 different opinions, but we all share the same goals. Our purpose is constant—to preach the gospel and to prepare a people.
We began as usual with reports from the Administration—from the president, Dennis Luker; from the operation manager of Ministerial and Member Services, Victor Kubik; from Media and Communications Services operation manager, Peter Eddington; and from our treasurer, Aaron Dean.
After the regular reports, Darris McNeely, chairman of the Media Committee, outlined a new document establishing Media Guiding Principles, replacing the old Media Philosophy Statement. We then moved on to discussion of our vision and the Strategic Plan and Operation Plan.
After a great deal of discussion we were able to agree on the Strategic and Operation Plans that will be presented to the General Conference of Elders (GCE) in May.
We spent considerable time on the proposed Budget for the coming fiscal year—2012-2013.
We were thankful to note that God has continued to help us through a calendar year of financial challenges. In serving our many congregations around the world we had to step out on faith, asking God to provide. And He always did and continues to do so.
Our new budget for the coming fiscal year includes a “faith line” like last year. When it is presented, you will see that 30.5 percent of our income is now devoted to preaching the gospel. In spite of suffering a loss in income just over a year ago, we have been able to do more—going through doors as God has opened them. We do not want to let up on these efforts. While our current income will not supply all our needs, we are asking God to call new people into the Church to help finance further efforts.
The Father calls people (John 6:44). We preach the gospel as Jesus Christ told His disciples to do (Matthew 24:14; 28:19). We preach the gospel through our varied media efforts including our website with over 300,000 unique visitors per month; our flagship magazine The Good News; Vertical Thought for our young people; the Bible Study Course for in-depth biblical teaching; and our dozens of booklets and other literature. All our beliefs are clearly answered in our literature, which is freely available to everybody who wants it anywhere in the world.
All of this costs money. With more money, we can do more. Please pray that God will add more people to His Church—people who can help contribute to our efforts.
In order to devote more to our increased media efforts, our home office expansion proposal is “on hold” until our finances enable us to expand without borrowing. It is hoped that we will soon be able to expand the video studio—without which we are limited in what we can accomplish in keeping up with advanced technology like Internet television and an even more professional program. We would like to expand our production of short topical videos for our website that deal with the latest news and items of interest. Our goal is to make the United Church of God, an International Association, website the first Christian website people will turn to for biblical answers and a deeper explanation of what’s going on around the world. We have a long way to go, but are confident that this is the direction in which God is leading us.
Several of the Council sessions were recorded, including the home office expansion proposal, and you can view them online at coe.ucg.org/videos. In addition, full reports from the Council reporter, Randy Stiver, should be available next week.
At the home office we have a group of very talented young people who are tech-savvy and full of ideas—together with enthusiasm for preaching the gospel.
In other Council business, for some time the Ethics Committee has been working on a revised Ministerial Code of Ethics, which will reflect concerns that became apparent in recent months. It took a while to go through the new code with Mario Seiglie, the chairman of the Ethics Committee, who has been guiding this process. The new Ministerial Code of Ethics is attached for our ministry. Ministerial and Member Services will be following up on this with you.
In our Executive Session, we were pleased to approve the ordinations of four men. Three are in the United States and one in West Africa. Please continue to pray for our ministry as they serve you and as they serve God. It is a challenging job, especially with the many and varied responsibilities that our ministry have.
Our meetings ended mid-afternoon on Thursday, enabling most Council members to get home before the Sabbath so that they can speak in their own church areas. The two Australians won’t be back until early next week. They are Bill Eddington (Melbourne) and Bill Bradford (Brisbane). Please remember them and their wives, Rae and Jenny, in your prayers—long flights are grueling and take their toll on the body.
Please pray for us as we constantly do for all of you.
Sincerely,
Melvin Rhodes—Chairman, Council of Elders
Member Letter from Chairman Rhodes
February 23, 2012
Dear Brethren,
Diane and I recently returned from a trip to the United Kingdom where I had been invited to present the first Kingdom of God Bible seminar in the nation’s capital, London.
Over a thousand invitations had been sent out. Eighteen new people came, which is quite a good attendance. I don’t think anybody had driven there—they all used public transport, as we did. It remains the best way to get around the city.
There was a great deal of enthusiasm among the new attendees. A number of them asked many questions afterwards. Most of the people present were from Commonwealth countries, nations that were formerly colonies of Great Britain. These countries all inherited the common bonds of the English language and freedom of religion, which have enabled us to preach the gospel in so many parts of the world.
Our visit came shortly after the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible in 1611. An exhibition at Westminster Abbey commemorated the event. This has been described as the most influential book in history, after the Bible itself, as the British, in time, took the book with them to all their overseas possessions including the American colonies that became the United States of America. There was an incredible enthusiasm for the Bible for centuries. The historian Jacques Barzun wrote that this enthusiasm “did not cease for 350 years; 1900 was the first year in which religious works (at least in England) did not outnumber all other publications” (“From Dawn to Decadence,” page 10, 2000).
How times have changed!
A fellow minister, Mike Caputo, who serves in the Toronto, Canada, area, pointed out recently that most websites devoted to atheism are based in Britain. And, certainly, many of those will be in the London area.
I have five brothers in England. Four of them have never owned a Bible, let alone read one. I reflected on how best we can reach a nation when most people are unfamiliar with Scripture. It’s not just Britain as most of Europe is the same. It’s also increasingly the case in the United States. It’s a challenge, but it’s one we must face. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). It is clear that God is calling people in all nations. “For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).
On the Sunday we had a ministerial conference in the former Imperial Schools building in Bricket Wood, a small community north of London. Amongst other items of business, we welcomed our latest addition to the overstretched ministry over there, Alex Preston, who was recently ordained. Alex and his wife Christine live in Scotland. I joked about visiting them before I need a visa—Scotland is set to hold a referendum on breaking away from the United Kingdom in 2014.
We spent a great deal of time in the meetings discussing future Feast sites. As well as choosing locations easily accessible to church members in the British Isles, consideration is given to attracting visitors from overseas who are always welcome, and a reassurance to the small church in the British Isles that they are very much a part of an international association. This year the Feast will be in Llandudno, North Wales.
The following day John Ross Schroeder and I were back in London for a press conference on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Although February 6 was the actual anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne in 1952, official celebrations will take place the first weekend of June when the weather is better. At least, it should be! Britain’s weather can be notoriously unpredictable.
This will be only the second diamond jubilee in British history. Queen Victoria, the present Queen’s great-great grandmother, celebrated hers in 1897 at the time of Britain’s ascendancy, when the map of the world was dominated by the color red, all the nations that made up the British Empire.
One of the people presiding over the press conference remarked, with incredulity, that 400 years ago people actually believed that the monarch was chosen by God, a reference to the idea of the Divine Right of Kings. But you don’t have to go back four centuries. When the present Queen was crowned the majority of the British people believed the same.
Comparing Britain at the time of Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral in January 1965, a momentous event that I still profoundly remember, with the country 32 years later at the time of Princess Diana’s funeral in September 1997, the writer Peter Hitchens wrote that in Churchill’s time: “The country was a profoundly Christian society, in which religion was part of the language, of the state and of daily life in a way quite unique in Europe…Through its great literature, its verse and its hymns it had obtained an idea of itself that was comforting and powerful. It believed in the family and the home, that great zone of private life in which the state has no business” (“The Abolition of Britain,” page 347, 1999). A profound change took place between these two funerals!
This change began earlier, as Jacques Barzun observed. It’s due to a number of factors, one of which is the increasing secularization of society. In turn, this has led to outright hostility toward religion—and this is true on both sides of the Atlantic and in other western democracies.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Britain has lost it way spiritually—and this has a great deal to do with increased secularization and the rejection of the Bible. But it’s also increasingly true of the United States, where we see growing rejection of the country’s biblical roots.
American historian Benson Bobrick wrote: “Englishmen carried their Bible with them—as the rock and foundation of their lives—overseas” (“Wide as the Waters,” page 12, 2001). It was the very foundation of their lives. Those Englishmen eventually became Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans, founding other nations originally on the British model. As Hitchens put it: “Religion was part of the language, of the state and of daily life in a way quite unique in Europe.” The Bible had little influence on the continent of Europe, where the church and its traditions controlled the minds of the people. It wasn’t until after England broke with the church that King Henry VIII was able to lift the ban on the Bible.
When God told Abraham that his descendants would be a blessing this must have been one of the blessings He had in mind—that the Word of God would go out to the world through his descendants, the British and American peoples: “And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).
It continues today. God’s Church in the British Isles is very small. Compared to mainstream churches, God’s Church in the United States is also small. But thanks to the tithes and offerings of the people in the United States, the United Church of God is able to preach the gospel to the world, out of all proportion to our size.
Our ancestors four centuries ago embraced the Bible with great enthusiasm, so much so that King Henry VIII had to tell the English people to curb their enthusiasm, as he had heard that people were even reading their Bibles in the pubs, which he felt was highly inappropriate (Bobrick, page 160).
As our ancestors took their Bibles with them everywhere, we should also take the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God everywhere we can, going through doors as God opens them.
Next month our minister in Nigeria, Oludare Akinbo, will be presenting the first Kingdom of God seminar in Accra, Ghana. Seminars have already taken place in Australia, Canada, the United States, Germany, England, Nigeria, Kenya, Brazil, Chile, the Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Ireland, Zambia, Bolivia and the Isle of Man.
In the U.S. a new series of seminars will be held in May. We hope to continue the program with a new series three times a year.
As we reach out to the world with a renewed vigor, sharing the good news of the coming Kingdom, we see our Western nations increasingly turning their backs on God. Atheists are becoming more militant with a planned mass march on Washington, D.C., next month. Court decisions on both sides of the Atlantic reflect anti-Christian sentiment.
It is not just coincidence that as Britain turned away from the Bible the nation declined, having lost its way. Now we see clearly the same development in the U.S. Deuteronomy 28 shows a clear connection between our nations’ obedience to God’s laws and the blessings that were received; also the negative consequences of turning away from the laws of God. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
German-Foreign-Policy.com noted on February 20: “According to an expert of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAB), it had already become apparent at the last G-20 Summit that ‘the enormous power of the US’ had ‘noticeably diminished’ because of its economy’s chronic weaknesses.”
Britain’s rapid decline followed two world wars that effectively bankrupted the nation. The U.S. is set to follow after fighting two big conflicts in the last decade.
At a time when we see our nations facing all kinds of serious problems and clearly in terminal decline, it is our responsibility to bring a message of hope to the British and American peoples and, indeed, the whole world—hope in the promised Kingdom of God, the good news that Jesus Christ gave to us, the news of His return to establish a world ruling Kingdom that will never be destroyed.
Sincerely,
Melvin Rhodes—Chairman, Council of Elders
“Speaking of 2012″: Member Letter from Dennis Luker
January 3, 2012
Dear Brethren,
Here at the home office we are still elated from the exciting experiences of the recent Winter Family Weekend and the fact that our Beyond Today television program just set a new record out of the 24 programs aired since July 10, 2011. It attracted 1,198 responses. It is interesting that during the time many of our brethren get together to fellowship and give their children and families a respite from the year-end holiday furor, our television program sets a record while profiling the pagan origins of the Christmas season. It is certainly encouraging to be a part of God’s Church and work!
The 15th consecutive Winter Family Weekend was held for the first time this year at the Great Wolf Lodge near Cincinnati. The four-day event represented a great success with 1,100 members in a standing-room-only Sabbath service and 712 attending the Friday night Bible study. To accommodate the large attendance, the staff at the Great Wolf Lodge pulled in every available seat they could find in the conference center.
The extensive Great Wolf Lodge water park and traditional church athletic activities were a major hit with families, and many people attended the Bible and Christian living seminars held each day for both teens and adults. These seminars, a number of which were also standing-room-only, ranged from an open question and answer session with four members of the Council of Elders, including Melvin Rhodes, chairman of the Council, to an in-depth look at the meaning of Galatians 2 and 3. Members also enjoyed taking part in the live production of three new Beyond Today television programs featuring each of our presenters, and a large group relished a formal tour of the church’s home office about 20 miles away. Needless to say, plans are already underway for a return to Great Wolf Lodge for our Winter Family Weekend in 2012.
Speaking of 2012 and the new secular year before us, light snow dusted the region around the home office as the Winter Family Weekend ended, reminding us that we must gird ourselves to persevere through the winter months (in the northern hemisphere) between the festival seasons, and even now begin to think about and prepare ourselves spiritually for the Passover. It is through this commitment to constant improvement that we progress forward in our spiritual lives.
Of course, 2012 has been tagged as the year when the now-extinct Mayan civilization supposedly “predicted” a global apocalypse, with a whole host of purported cataclysms to accompany it. We in the Church know that a specific sequence of events and prophetic fulfillments must occur before the final catastrophes engulf this planet, and even then we are warned that “false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible” (Matthew 24:24 New International Version).
Brethren, we are God’s “elect” as we are grounded in the faith, and Jesus Himself tells us that as we collectively hear the rumblings of prophecy fulfilled drawing closer, we are to “see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6 NIV).
Rather than become fearful and anxious about whether we shall escape some future cataclysm, we are to direct our energies into overcoming—seeking to be transformed by God’s Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1-2). We are told by Jesus, the living Head of the Church, that we are to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). This light must “so shine”—it must be seen—“before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (verse 16). That applies to every one of us.
As we think about this and about beginning to prepare for the Passover, I would like to remind you of what Jesus said later in His famous Olivet Prophecy. Continuing what He began in the 24th chapter of Matthew, Jesus used a parable as a teaching tool in the 25th chapter regarding 10 virgins. Christ noted that “while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept” (Matthew 25:5, emphasis added). Half of the 10 virgins had been wise in securing oil—a spiritual metaphor for God’s Holy Spirit—while the others were not. Half were prepared, even when the others neglected to do what was right and necessary. Christ’s point? Emphasizing what He had said earlier in Matthew 24:44, He declared, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).
Jesus used the action verb “watch” to underscore our need to be alert and fully engaged in God’s plan. It includes the need to discern the times we live in, but it also encourages us to take a look at our own spiritual condition. This word watch echoes the command given to us by Paul in preparing ourselves spiritually before the Passover, where we are to examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28). The parable of the 10 virgins reveals how easy it is for us to know the right thing, but then to fall short and not do it. We are instructed by James, the human brother of Christ: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22, NIV, emphasis added).
While we have the encouraging knowledge that the world will not end in 2012, we also have this sobering message: “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). This is worth giving some thought to as Christ proclaimed that a major identifying mark of a Christian would be the fact that others could openly see the godly love that Christians have for one another (John 13:35). Is this spiritual love apparent in the observable light that is supposed to shine forth from us? In addition to those in the Church, Jesus told us that we are to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
These are not easy things to do, but they give us a framework to begin preparing for the upcoming Passover in about three months. Let us renew our commitment to seek God with fresh intensity, understanding that it is not by our human power that we overcome, but literally it is “God who works in you” (Philippians 2:13). Through the mighty power of God we can overcome our human nature and be changed day by day in our hearts and minds, filled eventually to the full with God’s transforming Holy Spirit!
Thank you for remaining faithful to God and for helping in the work of His Church. Your love, prayers, service and financial support are sincerely and deeply appreciated!
In Christ’s service,
Dennis Luker
PS—As the second round of the Kingdom of God Bible Seminars will be coming up shortly, please remember to pray for their continued success in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Letter to UCG Ministry from Chairman Rhodes
November 30, 2011
Dear fellow ministers,
Once again, we are just a few days away from our quarterly Council of Elders meetings, which begin at the home office on Monday, December 5. They will finish on Thursday, December 8.
Our meetings this time will be somewhat different, with the first day devoted to a “retreat” style discussion on our Strategic Plan, led by the chairman of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, Robin Webber, assisted by Bill Eddington, chairman of the Roles and Rules Committee.
After the retreat, we will be meeting in open session on Tuesday to formally discuss the Strategic Plan for the General Conference of Elders to consider and approve in May of 2012.
What is going to be truly helpful in guiding us during these two days of deliberations will be the surveys that were sent to members, ministers and employees. We’ve received very meaningful input from church members, which will help us with our planning. Our thanks goes to Julie Zutz, who did an excellent job compiling the results of the survey, in her own time. An article is scheduled for United News soon to report on the survey results.
Continuing in a renewed spirit of unity and peace, the Council will be deciding on how best we can move forward as a church, to more effectively and efficiently preach the gospel to the world. We will also discuss how we can constantly strive to improve our service to those whom God has called, following the example of service set by our Elder Brother and Head of the Church, Jesus Christ. Our greatest desire as a church is to develop much spiritual fruit. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).
After the two days devoted to strategic planning, we will turn our attention to a very full agenda, beginning with the regular quarterly reports from the president and the three operation managers.
Amongst other things, we will be discussing plans for the expansion of the home office to enable the building of a new recording and production studio to increase our broadcasting effectiveness. Also, attention will be given to the annual international reports submitted from every region of the world. These will be particularly interesting this year as we hear of the progress that has been made in different areas following the challenges we faced a year ago.
The Council agenda is attached for those who appreciate more detail. You may share the contents of the agenda and this letter with members this week.
I would like to take a moment to explain item number 2.7, which is a discussion of “Doctrinal Matters.” At a time when we still hear of websites erroneously claiming that we are about to change doctrine, I want to reassure you that this is not the case. The Doctrine Committee, under the chairmanship of Bob Berendt, spends its time defending doctrine, not discussing changes to doctrine. Thanks to the committee, members of the Church may request a review or clarification of a doctrinal issue. They can also submit study papers on a biblical topic for further study by members of the committee. The Doctrine Committee has consistently upheld the traditional teachings of the Church, proving once again the truths we all believe and share.
Please pray for us as we meet. The United Church of God has a unique opportunity to significantly move forward at a time of peace and unity. Let us seek inspiration from Jesus Christ, the living Head of the Church, and then follow where He leads us.
In Christian love and service,
Melvin Rhodes—Chairman
Member Letter from Chairman Melvin Rhodes
November 15, 2011
Dear Brethren,
What a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles everybody seems to have had. Inspiring, unifying, peaceful—these were words people used in their Feast reports. Some said it was the best Feast they’ve had yet!
It may be hard adjusting back to “real life” after the Feast, but at least we don’t have to worry about paying the bills. God, in His infinite wisdom, has provided us with a system to save for the Feast—removing the headaches that come from a heavy debt load.
Sadly, our nations have not followed biblical laws regarding saving and debt, but have chosen rather to overspend and borrow excessively. The result is the current international debt crisis that threatens to engulf us all.
In this regard, 2011 may turn out to be as significant for Europe as was 1989. The fall of communism led directly to the rapid growth of the European Union as the Union absorbed most of the countries that had formed the Eastern Soviet bloc.
Now, this year we are seeing significant changes in Europe once again.
To begin with, earlier this year serious financial problems led to the fall of both the Irish and Portuguese governments. Then in November it was Greece and Italy’s turn to go through government upheaval. In just one week, the prime ministers of both countries announced their resignations, and their governments collapsed. They could not get majority support in their parliaments to deal with the overwhelming debts facing both countries. In an interesting development, both countries have had leaders imposed on them who were not elected. They are technocrats, not politicians.
In addition, the international debt crisis is far from over. Spain and France are two more eurozone members in trouble. In the last few days, France has announced austerity measures.
According to the Wall Street Journal: “Italy may yet need financial aid if the mere announcement of a new government doesn’t stop the capital outflow…Failure to halt the crisis could lead, in the worst case, to an Italian debt default that cripples Europe’s banks, plunges the region into a slump and roils the global financial system” (“Exit From Italian Debt Spurs Fears,” WSJ, Nov. 9, 2011).
The debt contagion is spreading—with no country totally immune. Even those with little debt will be negatively affected by a slowdown in international trade and investment.
What’s been interesting throughout the never-ending European fiscal crisis is how well the value of the euro has held up against other major currencies, including the U.S. dollar. Today it stands at $1.35. “Europe’s problem isn’t the euro. If it were, Hungary, Iceland and Latvia—none of which use the euro—would have been spared their painful days of reckoning. The same applies for Britain. Europe is in a debt spiral brought about by spendthrift, overweening and inefficient governments. This is a crisis of the welfare state,” comments the Wall Street Journal (“Europe’s Entitlement Reckoning,” WSJ, Nov. 9, 2011).
The paragraph continues: “Mario Monti, who is tipped to lead a new government of technocrats, once described the Italian economy as a case of ‘self-inflicted strangulation.’ Government debt is 120% of GDP, making Italy the world’s third largest borrower after the U.S. and Japan.” America’s debt problem is worse than Italy or Greece!
What’s happening over there will soon be here—affecting the United States as assuredly as Europe is in crisis now!
It’s not surprising the Vatican has come out with an 18-page document titled “Toward Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems in the Context of a Global Public Authority.” “Since then, it has been celebrated by advocates of bigger government the world over,” writes Robert A. Sirico in the WSJ (“The Vatican’s Monetary Wisdom,” WSJ, Oct. 27, 2011).
The Vatican paper correctly shows the origins of the current financial crisis, which goes back to currency changes that began 40 years ago when Richard Nixon severed the link between the dollar and gold—a direct consequence of his predecessor’s choosing to fight a war without raising taxes. Since then we’ve lived in a world of crazy money. The analysis of the problem may be correct, but the Vatican’s proposed solution of establishing a “world central bank” and a “global public authority” would mean the end of 250 years of Anglo-Saxon domination of world finance and pose a very real threat to national sovereignty, independence and individual liberty.
Yet this is exactly what is prophesied in the Bible. In Revelation chapters 17 and 18 we read of an end-time financial system that is a revived Roman Empire, in close relationship with the universal false church. Many of the European Union countries were a part of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago. The desire for a European union has been a dream down through the centuries. In 1922 Mussolini announced a revival of the Roman Empire.
Only 35 years later, the modern European Union was established by the Treaty of Rome, with members pledged to form “an ever closer union.” Part of that pledge was fulfilled with the common European currency, the euro. Of the 27 EU members, 17 use the euro. In spite of the current fiscal crisis, Estonia embraced the euro only this year, becoming the fifth of 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 to adopt the euro, and the first ex-Soviet country to do so.
Numbers can be overwhelming. Revelation chapter 17 shows that 10 kings (10 leaders of political entities or countries), will at some time unite to form the final resurrected Beast power.
“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen and faithful” (verses 12-14).
Clearly, this is an end-time prophecy that is fulfilled just before Christ’s return. It also shows us that there must be further changes in Europe to bring about this final union of 10 nations.
A significant change already taking place through the financial upheavals convulsing Europe is that Germany has emerged as the key player and the most solvent major country in Europe. The Germans have been fiscally far more responsible than any of the other western nations, including the U.S. and UK—both of which were once dismissed by the late French President Charles de Gaulle as “the Anglo-Saxon debtor nations.” Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that: “It is now the task of our generation to complete the economic and currency union in Europe and create, step by step, a political union.”
Keep your eyes on Europe as it goes through the changes that will eventually lead to the formation of the Beast power.
At the same time, realize that this international debt crisis is a global pandemic that will reach us all in the near future. Governments everywhere will have to cut spending drastically. This includes the United States, and it will have a major impact around the world.
At the launch of the euro over a decade ago, The Economist magazine reminded readers that a major lesson of history is that eventually paper money always fails. This is the fate that will befall the euro, the U.S. dollar and the British pound.
It is also a reminder that we cannot put our trust in mammon. Matthew 6:24 says: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
This financial crisis is going to affect us all. Let us put our trust in God to preserve us through it and to help us stay focused on His soon coming Kingdom and on preaching the gospel of that Kingdom now—while we still have the opportunity to do so. Let us pray for our countries at this difficult time: that the financial means will still be present for us to preach the good news of the coming Kingdom of God to an unstable and unhappy world.
In Christ’s Service,
Melvin Rhodes—Chairman
Pre-Feast Letter from Chairman Rhodes
September 15, 2011
Dear Brethren,
When I first started reading the Church’s literature in 1966, the geopolitical emphasis focused on three areas: the Middle East, which is the epicenter of Bible prophecy; Europe and developments leading to the “ten kings” prophesied at the end time; and the continuing decline of the English-speaking nations.
Forty-five years later, after natural disasters, it seems that the news is still dominated by these three.
Relations between Israel and its neighbors are worse now than they have been at any time since the 1979 peace treaty with Egypt. The Israeli Embassy in Cairo was stormed last week, and the Ambassador and his family had to flee. Even “moderate” Turkey has talked of war, with their prime minister saying that an incident last year justified conflict with Israel.
In addition, there is to be an attempt at the United Nations later this month to recognize an independent Palestinian state. Although the U.S. would veto such a move in the Security Council, a vote in the General Assembly is a foregone conclusion against Israel.
Such a vote would also highlight increasing divisions between the United States and its European allies, as most European countries are likely to vote for an independent nation of Palestine.
Even without the Middle East, Europe itself is facing its own problems as fiscal disaster looms daily. As I write this on Tuesday, September 13, there are rumors again of Greece defaulting financially. An interviewee on BBC News last night put the likelihood of a default at 98 percent! A headline in London’s Daily Telegraph (August 24) read: “Market crash ‘could hit within weeks’, warn bankers.” September and October, historically, are the most likely months for a big financial upheaval. Any bad economic news in Europe, or even a default by tiny and seemingly insignificant Greece, will have a negative ripple effect around the world, including the United States. As a number of financial publications have observed in recent weeks, the prospect of a “double dip recession” is now more likely.
The worst-case scenario for Europe is of a possible total economic collapse. If this happens, we could see a repeat of the 1930s when, out of the rubble of democratic Europe and the Great Depression, the era of the great nationalistic dictators emerged that led to World War II. An article on today’s Stratfor website highlights the danger:
“European nationalism has always had a deeper engine than simply love of one’s own. It is also rooted in resentment of others. Europe is not necessarily unique in this, but it has experienced some of the greatest catastrophes in history because of it. Historically, the Europeans have hated well. We are very early in the process of accumulating grievances and remembering how to hate, but we have entered the process. How this is played out, how the politicians, financiers and media interpret these grievances, will have great implications for Europe. Out of it may come a broader sense of national betrayal, which was just what the European Union was supposed to prevent” (“The Crisis of Europe and European Nationalism,” George Friedman, Stratfor, September 13.)
The very future of the European Union is at stake right now. If the EU’s internal contradictions lead to it falling apart, watch for dramatic changes in Europe that will eventually lead to the resurrected Roman Empire prophesied in Scripture.
It’s going to be very interesting to see how we get from the Eurozone’s present fiscal challenges to the prophesied “ten kings . . . who give their power and authority to the Beast” (Revelation 17:12-13), but students of Bible prophecy know that this assuredly lies ahead.
Europe’s problems do not give the English-speaking countries any excuse to gloat. Both London and Washington are faced with horrendous mountains of debt and are unsure how to move forward. In the United Kingdom austerity measures (cut-backs in government expenditure) contributed to the recent inner-city riots. Take away freebies, and people will riot! But the economic crisis requires freebies to be taken away. This is a dilemma in the U.S. as well. In my own state of Michigan, welfare is being cut back, along with other expenditures, as the state tries to balance its budget. It remains to be seen what the consequences will be.
The federal government is also looking at serious cuts, though most politicians don’t seem to be looking too seriously. They will no doubt wait until the crisis worsens, as it almost certainly will.
Faced with all these uncertainties, what can the average person do? Jesus Christ said that His Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). We all realize that no government and no economic system can provide us with guaranteed security. The only real security lies in our relationship with God. “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).
At this time of the year our thoughts should be on the coming Kingdom of God as we celebrate the annual Holy Days that look forward to the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom.
A new best-seller by writer Mark Steyn is titled “After America.” Beneath the title is the following sub-title: “Get Ready for Armageddon.” There are many people who realize fully the perilous times we live in, but, sadly, do not share in the knowledge and the hope of the Kingdom.
We have that hope, and we should all have a burning desire to share it with the world.
That’s why we recently hosted the Kingdom of God Bible Seminars, which were attended by more than a thousand new people who were warmly welcomed by members of the United Church of God, eager to participate in sharing their hope of the Kingdom with others.
That hope inspires us to pray daily: “Your Kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). While we enjoy the physical blessings of the Feast of Tabernacles, let us also remember that these days look forward to a time when all the problems of this present world will be left behind.
Diane and I wish you all a truly uplifting and inspiring Feast of Tabernacles.
Sincerely, your brother in Jesus Christ,
Melvin Rhodes—Chairman, Council of Elders
Chairman Rhodes Gives Council Meeting Report
August 26, 2011
Dear Fellow Ministers,
Most Council of Elders members have now returned home after a very productive, uplifting and unifying three days of Council meetings this week. Our two Australian members on the Council will be returning home in the next few days.
Following Committee meetings all day Monday, we began Council meetings at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning with an agenda that numbered more than 30 items. All three days of meetings were held in the conference room at the home office.
On Tuesday we heard reports from UCG president Dennis Luker, followed by reports from the three operations managers—treasurer Aaron Dean, ministerial and member services operation manager Victor Kubik and media and communication services operations manager Peter Eddington.
These were followed by reports from the chairmen of the various committees of the Council. These men do an outstanding job with their committees. They brought to the table the results of their committees’ work.
All these reports started our week off on a positive footing. Throughout the week we all had a sense of the Church moving forward. Following these reports, we fixed the dates of the December and February Council meetings and, looking even further ahead, of the GCE in May 2013.
Mario Sieglie, chairman of the Ethics Committee, then updated us on a major project the committee has been working on in conjunction with ministerial and member services—the sexual misconduct policy. This paper has taken some time because up until now we have had no formal written policy in the United Church of God. We wanted to make sure that how we handle such situations is solidly based in Scripture as applied to different circumstances. While maintaining a zero-tolerance policy, there is room for repentance, forgiveness and mercy, after sin has been committed. Our new paper reflects these Christian values.
Robin Webber, chairman of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, then led us in a discussion of a new cash reserves policy and recommendations from the committee and administration as to the appropriate level of cash reserves to maintain.
At the end of the day we all went to what has become an annual COE-home office picnic, hosted by Floyd and Doris Phelps at their home in the country. A lot of work goes into this gathering and we appreciate the opportunity to fellowship with all those who work at the home office.
On our second day we were in executive session all day. Although we try to limit these sessions, it is necessary to hold them whenever personnel matters are being discussed. Most of our day was spent reviewing ordination recommendations submitted by various pastors and ministerial and member services. We were able to approve 17 ordinations to the ministry of the United Church of God. While 12 of these men live and serve in the United States, one is in the United Kingdom and four reside in the Philippines. Expect to see some new men and their wives when you come to the GCE next year!
In executive session, we were also able to discuss a couple of important legal matters.
Thursday we had another profitable day as we worked our way through most of the remaining items on our agenda.
Darris McNeely, chairman of the Media Committee, updated us on plans to merge World News and Prophecy into The Good News magazine beginning with the January-February 2012 issue. This will enable us to share the news and prophecy content formerly going into WNP with all 330,000+ GN readers. We are all excited about this development. We were also pleased to hear that Darris himself is being transferred to the home office to further strengthen and enhance our media efforts.
Robin Webber then shared with us the far-sighted vision of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, which will be discussed in greater detail at our December meeting, when two full days will be devoted to discussion of the 2012-2013 plan which the GCE will vote on next May.
On Thursday afternoon the chairman of the Doctrine Committee, Bob Berendt, updated us on four doctrinal areas that are being examined by the committee at this time—most in response to the receipt of papers from members of the Church. They are: When does human life begin?, What is the proper date of the Passover?, Is human nature inherently good, evil or neutral?, and whether we are required to eat unleavened bread every day during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Bill Eddington, chairman of the Roles and Rules Committee, then covered four different issues that his committee has been discussing: the procedure for obtaining 25% support from the General Conference of Elders to place an item on the agenda for the annual GCE meeting, whether we should appoint a deputy chairman for the Council, the ongoing review of governing documents and whether U.S.-based international senior pastors can sit on the Council as international representatives.
I want to thank the committees for all their hard work and the chairmen for their uplifting presentations. They are all doing an excellent job serving the Church in their respective areas.
We concluded by presenting a plaque to Aaron Dean thanking him for his 13 years of continuous service on the Council. Mr. Dean has left the Council to take the position of treasurer and finance operation manager for the United Church of God.
Our week was a very profitable one. We covered a great deal of territory and, with God’s help, we were able to advance the work of the Church at this time.
Please feel free to share any or all of the contents of this letter with members in your area.
With sincere appreciation and with best wishes for a meaningful Sabbath,
Melvin Rhodes—Chairman, Council of Elders
Member Letter from Chairman Rhodes
July 14, 2011
Dear Brethren,
The last few weeks have highlighted the importance of friendship in each of our lives. Let me share with you a few of our recent reminders of this. Our relationships with God and with each other are of prime importance, and we must never forget this.
On the Day of Pentecost, Diane and I were in Edmonton, Alberta, where we had an uplifting and spiritually rewarding Holy Day in a congregation pastored by Bob and Val Berendt. Bob is a fellow member of the Council of Elders and chairman of our Doctrine Committee.
Bob Berendt
Prior to Pentecost we spent a few days with a couple we have known almost 40 years, Laurie and Sarah Nyhus. Laurie is an elder in United who serves the Grande Prairie and Edmonton, Alberta, congregations. They live in Valleyview, a 2,000 population community four hours drive from Edmonton.
Laurie and Sarah Nyhus
We first met Laurie and Sarah at Ambassador College, Bricket Wood, in England. We hadn’t seen each other for a few years, so we had a lot to talk about.
On the weekly Sabbath, the Grande Prairie church met in Valleyview. After services we had a leisurely afternoon of fellowship and food at the Nyhus’ home.
One of the great blessings of being in the church is the friendships we have developed over the years—friendships with people that, in most cases, we would otherwise never have met.
Mark and Michelle Mickelson
Following our visit to Edmonton, we went to Ghana for a farewell pastoral visit. Mark Mickelson, who has been working with the Nigerians for many years, will be taking over all pastoral responsibilities in West Africa for the foreseeable future, so this was my last visit to Ghana as senior pastor.
Our involvement in Ghana goes back 33 years. We first arrived in the country in May 1978 at a time when the country was literally falling apart economically and the military was in control. I’m pleased to say that Ghana is much improved and now has a constitutional form of government similar to what we have in the United States.
In those early years the church grew rapidly. Some of those people are still with us so our visit was like meeting old friends. But, encouragingly, there were also new ones—about half a dozen new people who have come into the church in Accra in the last few months. It was good to meet with them too.
Roy and Jean Demont
While there, I was able to ordain two deacons, Henry Aikins and David Meselebe, two men we have known for over 30 years and who have been true servants of the United Church of God congregation in Accra, Ghana’s capital city. These were the second and third men ordained in Africa so far this year. In April, on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, I ordained Roy Demont an elder. He looks after the Durban church in South Africa. Sadly, his wife Jean died exactly one week before his ordination.
Fred and Lucretia Kellers
A few days after returning from Ghana, we were in Little Rock, Arkansas, for their 50th anniversary. Fred and Lucretia Kellers were also there, as they pastored the congregation 25 years ago. For them it was an occasion to see old friends. For us, we met many people we had never met before. But we were also able to spend the weekend in the home of Fred and Lidia Nance, who pastor the congregation along with two others.
Fred and Lidia Nance
Fred and Lidia attended in Lansing, Michigan, until Fred was hired by UCG two years ago and sent to Little Rock. Lansing is where Diane and I live. It was really good to see them both again and also Fred’s mother Hazel who lives near them. She turns 80 on July 17th.
Friendships are so important, and we should all be thankful for them.
Jesus Christ said that, after our relationship with God, our relationships with each other are most important. The two go together and are the recipe for happiness in this life.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:37-39).
Sadly, so many friends that we have had over the years are no longer in our lives. This is due partly to our moving around, but also to the fact that many no longer believe as we do. It wasn’t that we cut them off, rather that we drifted apart when we no longer fellowshipped in the same church.
July 23rd is a special day for me—the 40th anniversary of my baptism at Bricket Wood, shortly before meeting the Nyhus’ at the end of my freshman year. I remember the day every year, but marking 40 years makes it seem so much more special.
In thinking back to 1971, again I’m reminded of how many people I knew then who are no longer in the Church. I ask myself why.
There are, of course, many reasons, but if there is one common thread it is this: They all allowed a man to come between them and God.
Not all in the same way. Some followed a charismatic man out of the church organization to form a new church; others got upset when they found out the man they had looked up to was not perfect; others were confused when the leader of the church announced doctrinal changes; still others left because they didn’t get along with somebody else in the congregation; some allowed a root of bitterness toward others get a strong hold on them.
The problem manifests itself in many ways. But the root cause is letting a human being come between them and God.
The apostle Paul wrote: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). In Matthew 6:6 Jesus Christ told us: “When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly”. Here is instruction on how we should pray most of the time—privately, alone with God. In His model prayer, which follows, Jesus reminds us to pray “daily” (verse 11).
In addition to prayer, we should follow the example of the Bereans, “who searched the scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11).
Prayer and Bible Study are essential if we are going to have a close, meaningful relationship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ set us the example of going to the synagogue (church) every Sabbath (Luke 4:16), something we are commanded to do in Leviticus 23:3.
This is extremely important. But it’s our own relationship with God that matters most and will see us through in times of turmoil and stress, whether in our own personal lives or in the Church.
Let us remember this and daily renew our commitment to God and to Jesus Christ as we work on developing an even closer relationship.
In Christ’s service,
Melvin Rhodes—Chairman, Council of Elders
