Two Booklets Updated: On to Printer
Updated Who Is God? booklet sent to printer
In the next few days we’ll be printing a redesigned, updated “Who Is God?” booklet. It also has a new cover as shown here.
This is one of our most important booklets, focusing on major misconceptions about God (such as the mistaken idea of the Trinity), the true identity of Jesus Christ and man’s incredible destiny to share in eternal life as part of the immortal spirit family of God.
This is another step in an ongoing project to redesign and update our 33 booklets to save money. Due to changes in postal service requirements several years ago, we had to reformat our 16 magazine-sized booklets to our smaller digest size. Once those were updated and finished, we continued our updating process with our existing digest-sized booklets.
As we’re updating them, we’re also adding photos and converting them to color throughout, which makes them more attractive to readers. We’re also printing them on lighter paper, which makes them less expensive to mail. All in all, we’re able to create more appealing products at lower cost, benefiting both the Church and those who are responding to our message.
Managing Your Finances booklet also updated
While we’re on the subject of booklet updates, last month we also updated our “Managing Your Finances” booklet. It also has a new cover, shown here.
As we were updating the text, the contrast really struck us between how bright the economic outlook was when this booklet was first written a decade ago compared to the major economic problems the world—and the United States in particular—faces today.
Reflecting these new economic realities, some helpful additions to this updated version are more ideas and proven methods for getting out of debt as well as a considerably more detailed worksheet to help readers prepare a household budget.
Due to a backlog of work for our media staff, these two latest booklet updates aren’t available for download yet, but should be in the coming weeks.
Demand remains high for our printed booklets. Over recent years we have consistently printed and mailed around half a million booklets a year, or around 30 to 50 thousand per month, in response to reader requests.
Scott Ashley
Booklets managing editor
Ministerial Services Update
April 29, 2010
As I write this many of our ministers and wives from the international areas served by the United Church of God are arriving in preparation for the General Conference of Elders meetings that begin tomorrow. Given my background in the former Soviet bloc countries and our work of preaching the Gospel there, our international efforts always have a special interest for me. It’s a great way to start up the theme of this year’s GCE, which is “Go Into All the World.”
This year and this GCE will be different for me personally. In my new interim role as operation manager for Ministerial Services, I have a different scope of work to address. Continuing the work started under my predecessors of Richard Pinelli, Jim Franks and others, we in Ministerial Services have a considerable number of established programs and issues that are in full swing. It is challenging but gratifying, particularly as my wife Bev and I have the opportunity to see firsthand in a personal way just how far we’ve come in the last 15 years.
We will be reviewing much of this over the coming four days, and hopefully we’ll draw inspiration and strength from our achievements as the growing Body of Christ. We do have a number of serious issues to address, and I am hopeful of reconciliation, re-focusing and renewal. I’ll speak more about that in my keynote address on Sunday morning. Your continued prayers for this will be much appreciated.
For those of you who are on Twitter, like before I’ll be punching out updates and news from the GCE on my Twitter account. You can use the hashmark #gce10 to follow these updates if you have Twitter access from your smartphone or computer.
Maxine Neff
On a personal note, while most likely already know of this, I did want to mention the death of Maxine Neff, wife to long-time Church of God minister Leroy Neff and mother of our pastor in Denver, Larry Neff. Mrs. Neff died peacefully in hospice care in Tyler. Texas on April 23, and the memorial service was on April 27 in Gladewater. Les McCullough officiated at the graveside service. Mrs. Neff left a legacy of outstanding service and now awaits the resurrection of the saints, which we can all be grateful for. While we have this sure hope, adjusting to the death of a loved one if not easy, so I would appreciate it if you would remember the Neff family in your prayers.
Victor Kubik
Operation Manager, Ministerial Services
Holladay Letter in Spanish
April 29, 2010
A Spanish translation of Roy Holladay’s April 13 letter to the brethren is now posted on the member’s Web site at http://members.ucg.org .
The link is in the upper left corner and goes directly to the letter.
Prophecy Seminars in Canada
April 29, 2010
Robin Webber
Robin Webber and Darris McNeely conducted separate World News and Prophecy seminars last weekend in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The meetings were well attended by United Church of God members and Good News magazine subscribers.
Attendees chat between seminars.
Topics covered this weekend were: “Europe: A Rising Superpower,” “Prophetic Decline and Fall of Nations,” and “Who Are the Two Witnesses?” A total of 19 new people attended both seminars. You can view videos of these and other topics on our Web site too.
Canada has hosted four such seminars since last September. Members have commented on the balanced approach and the timely topics presented. The support of the Canadian national office in making these seminars available is very much appreciated. We pray the seeds sown will bear fruit for the congregations.
Darris McNeely
Managing Editor, World News and Prophecy
Inside United: Realtime 