Focus on Portuguese Work

February 28, 2013

Focus on God’s Work

The home office has released a second monthly Focus on God’s Work video—this one by Jorge de Campos about our Portuguese-language efforts.

As earlier announced, the plan is for various managers and employees of the United Church of God to give a report about their area of responsibility that may be of particular interest to our congregations. Pastors are asked to make the video links available to our membership, and most videos will be suitable to play in the sermonette timeslot at Sabbath services.

Focus on God’s Work has it’s own menu selection on the member’s website under the “resources” tab at members.ucg.org/content/focus-gods-work. This is where a new video will be posted each month, and we’ll also endeavor to announce them here at Inside United: Realtime.

Jorge de Campos, coordinator of our Portuguese-language areas, gives an inspiring report about these areas in the video below.

Please feel free to download this and future presentations to get a monthly update on the work being done by various departments in the Church to preach the gospel and prepare a people.

Peter Eddington—Media and Communications Services

Global Internet Responses to “Beyond Today”

February 20, 2013

On January 2, 2013, the United Church of God posted a long list of countries and territories from which people had responded via the Internet after viewing the first 25 Beyond Today programs this fiscal year.

In that report we stated that since July 2012 a total of 6,737 Internet responses to Beyond Today had been received from 68 countries and territories. As of today (seven weeks later) we are pleased to mention that after having now aired 32 Beyond Today programs, the number of Internet responses has grown to a total of 9,017 from 78 countries and territories.

As an example of weekly Internet response, Beyond Today program “666 and You!,” which aired the week of February 10-16, 2013, generated 366 responses. These came from the following 18 countries and territories—which is the highest weekly country/territory count so far this fiscal year:

• Australia
• Benin
• Canada
• Dominican Republic
• England
• Hong Kong
• India
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• Netherlands
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• United States

Finally, we greatly appreciate your heartfelt and vigorous prayers for God’s generous blessings and guidance. It means a great deal to everyone on our media team.

Sincerely,

Peter Eddington—Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services

Free Live Bible Study Webcast: Exposing Conspiracy Theories—Illuminati, Harbinger & Others

February 18, 2013

God’s Word or Cunningly Devised Fables, Which Do You Believe?

The Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation of the United Church of God is continuing its bi-weekly Bible study Wednesday night, February 20. The study begins at 7:30 p.m. ET and is available live via webcast.

The apostle Peter wrote that “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). This scripture forms part of the foundation for proper understanding of Bible prophecy.

Conspiracy theories abound about world history, along with interesting but flawed interpretations of prophecy. They have always found fertile ground among students of the Bible. Over the years many of these ideas have attracted the attention and beliefs of members of the Church of God.

Some of these include various conspiracy theories like the Illuminati and that the Jewish Holocaust never happened. A more recent focus has been on the book, “The Harbinger: The Ancient Prophecy that Holds the Key to America’s Future.” So, in this Bible study we answer a pivotal question: What does Scripture actually have to say about the future of the United States and British Commonwealth?

Steve Myers and Darris McNeely will examine some of these ideas in a challenging and informative Bible study this Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.

Plan to attend in person, or you can listen online. Also, please note that we have a mobile option. You can view the Bible study using your smartphone.

Steve Myers—Pastor, United Church of God Cincinnati East

2013 United Youth Camps

February 12, 2013

United Youth Camps Video Promo

As we prepare for another exciting year for United Youth Camps, please enjoy the UYC video teaser posted below. Teens and staff, be sure to watch for the February United News to arrive in your mailbox for full details and application information. The deadline for both camper and staff applications is May 1. We are all looking forward to another great camp season!

We expect hundreds to apply this year, and we know that you are excited about being there. Some camp scholarships may be available if needed, so see your pastor for details.

Campers and staff, we are truly looking forward to a wonderful United Church of God camp season this summer. Be sure to get all the details from the February issue of United News and apply so you don’t miss out.

Steve Nutzman—National Coordinator, United Youth Camps

“WORD Network” Proving to be Valuable BT Vehicle

February 5, 2013

Beyond Today Television

WORD Network Update

We are pleased to report that Beyond Today television program, “Jesus Fasted: Should You?” hosted by Gary Petty, which aired January 27-February 2, 2013, on the WORD Network edged out last week’s highest responding program while generating new record-high numbers.

“Jesus Fasted: Should You?” obtained the highest number of responses and the lowest cost per response (CPR) of all programs aired this fiscal year on the WORD Network. Furthermore, our records indicate this CPR was the lowest ever recorded on any network on which Beyond Today has aired since the United Church of God began airing on commercial television in April 2010.

As you may know, Beyond Today airs on the WORD Network on Saturday at 11:30 p.m. MST/10:30 p.m. PST and on Sunday at 1:30 a.m. EST/12:30 a.m. CST. It also airs on Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. CST/10:30 p.m. MST/9:30 p.m. PST and on Thursday at 12:30 a.m. EST.

The WORD Network reaches millions of households in the United States on cable and satellite television (please check your listings for channels in your area). It can also be seen in 200 countries around the world via satellite on DirecTV, channel 373.

In addition, Beyond Today airs throughout the United States on superstation WGN America every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. EST/7:30 a.m. CST/6:30 a.m. MST/5:30 a.m. PST. Please visit the WGN America website

www.wgnamerica.com/schedule to find a station in your area. Insert your zip code into the “Channel Finder” box at the top of the website. Click on the triangle next to the zip code box to view a list of WGN America stations in that area.

Beyond Today airs nationwide across Australia and Canada. For a complete listing of stations please visit our channel guide. Plus, programs can be viewed on-demand on a dedicated Beyond Today television channel on Roku, and can be streamed from Vimeo, Wii, Xbox, PlayStation 3 and Apple TV.

As always, we are very grateful for your enthusiastic support and prayers for all of our continuing media efforts to preach the Gospel of God’s Kingdom throughout the world.

Peter Eddington—Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services

Bible Study Webcast: The Resurrections and the New Heaven & New Earth

February 4, 2013

The Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation of the United Church of God is continuing its bi-weekly Bible study Wednesday night, February 6. The study begins at 7:30 p.m. ET and is available live via webcast.

The series on the book of Revelation continues with the last 6 verses of Revelation chapter 20, and then on into chapters 21 and 22. Chapter 20 covers the timeframe of the 1,000-year millennial reign of Jesus Christ and the resurrections. It ends with the judgment upon those people who refuse to follow Jesus Christ. Chapter 21 begins with the new heaven and the new earth.

Join us for in-depth study into these topics and more on Wednesday. Presenters will be Gary Antion and Randy Stiver.

Plan to attend in person, or you can listen online. Also, please note that we have a mobile option. You can view the Bible study using your smartphone.

Steve Myers—Pastor, United Church of God Cincinnati East

“Beyond Today” Continues High Responses

February 1, 2013

Beyond Today Program Achieves Second-Highest Response for the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year

Last week we reported that Beyond Today program “The Rapture: Hope or Hoax?”, which aired the week of January 13-19, 2013, generated a record-high response. We are now pleased to inform you that the subsequent Beyond Today program, “Change Your Life Story” hosted by Gary Petty, which aired the week of January 20-26, 2013, produced the second-highest overall response (1,267) this fiscal year.

Response to Beyond Today programs from around the world continues at a solid pace. For example, Internet responses to “Change Your Life Story” came from the following sixteen countries: Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, Sudan and the United States.

We welcome you to watch the upcoming Beyond Today programs for the month of February. These include:

• “Is This the End Time?” to air February 3-9, 2013.
• “666 and You!” to air February 10-16, 2013.
• “72 Hours to Chaos” to air February 17-23, 2013.
• “Christ’s Second Coming: When Predictions Fail” to air February 24 – March 2, 2013.

These will air nationwide on television stations across the United States, Canada and Australia—and can be viewed on-demand on dedicated BeyondTodayTV channels on YouTube, Vimeo, Wii, Xbox and Roku.

As always, we appreciate your diligent prayers for God’s continued blessings on the United Church of God as we strive to preach and publish the good news of the Kingdom. Thank you too for your support of our hard-working media team members.

Peter Eddington—Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services