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December 18, 2015
This Blog to be Discontinued
With almost 1 million views since Inside United: Realtime was created in 2010, it is now time to discontinue this United Church of God management team blog.
We thank our 1,625 followers and subscribers. We also thank those who left more than a hundred comments and interacted with us. The majority of our viewers came from the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, Germany, Philippines and France.
The content and news provided here at Inside United: Realtime will now appear and continue on the Beyond Today website of the United Church of God and also on the new members website of the Church.
Updates on the work of the Church’s media department, letters from the president, letters from the chairman, and reminders of webcast Bible studies and other events, will now all come from the Beyond Today and UCG Member sites.
We recommend that you immediately sign up for e-mail updates of new material posted on these sites if you have not already done so. Simply go to http://www.ucg.org/email-subscribe and choose one or both of the available e-mail services.
Thank you for your support of the important work of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and caring for those whom God calls into His flock.
Peter Eddington—Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services
New Members Website
December 16, 2015
Exciting New Development
The United Church of God recently launched a major refresh to its main website, UCG.org. And now there is an exciting new change to the members website for members of the Church to find to articles, local church updates, a calendar of events happening within the Church and other information pertinent to them. The new website can be found at www.ucg.org/members. Watch the introductory video below.
The new members site is more usable and functional for mobile devices, with a simpler and cleaner look. The Web team is always working to take advantage of the constantly shifting and changing Internet, improving the website and making it better for everyone to navigate. Everything will work together: the members site, local websites, the main UCG.org and the Beyond Today section.
The search function
The search function works better than ever on the new UCG.org and members website. Any query searches all sections of the website. There are fewer drop-down menu tabs across the top of the page, so if you cannot find something that was there before, just search for it in the search engine. Since everything works together it’s easier to find what you’re looking for.
Local congregation websites
The local congregation websites are rolled into the main UCG.org site, streamlining the look and making it easier for new and prospective members to find information on congregations near them. In the local sites, members can find updates and see a calendar of activities that pertains to their congregation.
The community tab
On each local congregation page there is a tab labeled “Community.” Here, members can join a community that is just for people in their congregation—prayer requests, announcements, member-specific sermons and other information that might be sensitive in nature can be posted here with privacy so that only members who have been vetted by their pastor or the local congregation maintainer can see it.
United News
United News is now a Web-first publication—meaning that important updates, articles, calendar events, news items and other information will be published online at the members site continually, with a print edition continuing to be published bi-monthly. Check out uploaded articles in the “Latest Updates” section on the page, or go directly to www.ucg.org/united-news.
Where will sermons be?
All sermons—including those from every local congregation website—are now migrated to the new site at www.ucg.org/sermons. The updated site makes it easier to listen to on mobile devices. You can also subscribe to an RSS feed (www.ucg.org/sermons/rss) of the newest sermons uploaded.
UCG member e-mail updates
Members can now sign up for updates on the members site by following this link: www.ucg.org/email-subscribe. When you sign up you will receive an e-mail a few times a week with latest updates and articles posted to the members website (www.ucg.org/members). This update will include United Church of God member updates, announcements, events, United News content, sermons and more.
Can I Get Involved?
The Web team is always looking for more volunteers to help with posting sermons and material pertaining to their local congregation. If you would like to get involved and help out with your local congregation website, please talk with your minister about what you can do for the website.
There have been close to 300 local volunteer maintainers of the local congregation websites who have already been helping out. They have been valuable and helpful to the Web team, who could not possibly maintain all aspects of the Church’s various websites without them. The Web team would like to thank all those volunteers.
There is one Body with many members, and the members website is just one of the places where they can come together. It is an exciting new development for everyone to enjoy and utilize.
Linda Merrick—Associate Editor, United News
Aaron Booth—Internet Managing Editor
Wednesday Night Bible Study Webcast
December 15, 2015
“The Time Is Now: Get To It!”
The United Church of God is finishing its four-part Bible study series, “The Time Is Now,” with part four on Wednesday, December 16, at the time of 7 p.m. Eastern. It will be available live via webcast.
Steve Myers, Beyond Today presenter and pastor in Cincinnati, is presenting the topic: “The Time Is Now: Get To It!.” We live in fast paced, hectic, can’t catch your breath kind of world. Life can be like a handful of sand that seems to slip all too easily through our fingers. Why do we have difficulty getting a handle on it? In this study we’ll discuss how to seize control and use our time effectively.
Plan to attend in person at our Cincinnati location, or you can listen online. You can also view the Bible study using your smartphone Internet browser.
Peter Eddington—Media and Communications Services
Big News About “The Good News”
December 14, 2015
For more than 20 years The Good News has been bringing readers the same good news—which is the meaning of the term “gospel”—that Jesus Christ brought when He walked the earth 2,000 years ago. He came “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15).
We at the United Church of God bear that same message—the message of the Kingdom of God that Jesus Christ will establish throughout the world following His return to the earth, and how you and I now, through repentance and belief in that Kingdom, submit to the rule and way of life of the King of that Kingdom.
That is a truly life-transforming message, if we allow our Creator to work within us to change us from the inside out. It is also a message of great hope, because although we live in a time of great turmoil and trouble, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
We know that God is working out His plan, and it will come to pass exactly as He sees fit. We look forward to a world and a way of life beyond today.
And that leads to some big news about The Good News. Beginning with the next print issue (January-February 2016), we are changing the name of The Good News to Beyond Today to reflect this hope and mindset. This move is also to better distinguish our publication from others using the name “good news” and to link our magazine more closely to our Beyond Today television program and Internet website.
You’ll still be receiving the same eye-opening articles you’re used to from The Good News, but in a new, more eye-catching package.
The same staff will still be working hard to bring you what our readers have regularly told us they like best—what they need to make both the Bible and the world around us make sense.
We want to share with readers the hope of a new world beyond today—a world in which “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). We also want to help you learn how to start living by the values of that Kingdom and begin experiencing its blessings now.
You don’t need to do anything to continue to receive this renamed and refreshed magazine. If you are subscribed to our print version of the magazine, your subscription will continue as before with no charge. Your email subscription to this email update will also continue. We will be sending out new email messages from Beyond Today within the next few days.
We look forward to having you with us as we turn the page on a new chapter with this magazine. We also hope you’ll continue to join us in praying to God, “Your Kingdom come!”.
Scott Ashley
Managing Editor
Beyond Today
LIVE Bible Study Webcast on Wednesday
November 30, 2015
“Laboring in God’s Word”
The United Church of God is continuing its four-part Bible study series, “The Time Is Now,” with part three on Wednesday, December 2, at the time of 7 p.m. Eastern. It will be available live via webcast.
Gary Petty, Beyond Today presenter and pastor in Tennessee, is presenting the topic: “Laboring in God’s Word.” The Bible is God’s sure word of prophecy, instruction and truth. There are critical keys you can use to deepen your understanding of how to apply the timeless principles of the Bible to your daily life. Revival begins with daily application of God’s teaching.
The remaining study is as follows:
- December 16 — The Time Is Now: Get To It!
Plan to attend in person at our Cincinnati location, or you can listen online. You can also view the Bible study using your smartphone Internet browser.
Peter Eddington—Media and Communications Services
Laodicea: Final Bible Study Webcast on Churches of Revelation
September 7, 2015
The Churches of Revelation
The Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation of the United Church of God is concluding its bi-weekly Beyond Today Bible study series titled: “The Churches of Revelation.” The story of Laodicea will be covered on Wednesday, September 9, at the time of 7 p.m. Eastern and will be available via webcast.
For this eighth and final study, Beyond Today presenter Darris McNeely will expound upon “Laodicea—The Lukewarm Church.” Christ’s message to His Church at Laodicea was direct and unyielding. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten,” He thundered, “Therefore be zealous and repent.” Does Christ aim this message directly to the Church in our time—the most critical moment in world history? What is that message and how can it impact your spiritual life? Join us as we explore the message to the “lukewarm church.”
Plan to attend in person, or you can listen online. You can also view the Bible study using your smartphone Internet browser.
Peter Eddington—Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services
Bible Study Webcast: Philadelphia—The Faithful Church
August 24, 2015
The Churches of Revelation
The Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation of the United Church of God (UCG) is continuing its bi-weekly Beyond Today Bible study series titled: “The Churches of Revelation.” The story of Philadelphia will be covered on Wednesday, August 26, at the time of 7 p.m. Eastern and will be available via webcast.
For this seventh study, Beyond Today presenter and church pastor Steve Myers will expound upon “Philadelphia—The Faithful Church.” God’s inspired words to the congregation at Philadelphia are an uplifting message of hope and encouragement. Unlike the letters to the other churches in Revelation 2 and 3, correction is not to be found. But there is an admonition—to continue what they were already doing. Christ promised them great rewards for their faithful perseverance. Join us a we study the church in Philadelphia for timeless instruction for us today.
Here is the remaining schedule for the Churches of Revelation series:
- August 26, 2015: Philadelphia—The Faithful Church – Steve Myers
- September 9, 2015: Laodicea—The Lukewarm Church – Darris McNeely
Plan to attend in person, or you can listen online. You can also view the Bible study using your smartphone Internet browser.
Peter Eddington—Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services
“Beyond Today” TV Adding New Sunday Airtime on the Word Network
August 19, 2015
New Airtime Effective Sunday, September 13, 2015
We are pleased to announce that beginning September 13, 2015, the Beyond Today television program, produced by the United Church of God, will air every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. EST on the Word Network. This new airtime will complement our current Word Network air times—which includes Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
The Word Network is available in over 200 countries reaching millions of viewers in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. It reaches 86 million homes in the U.S. alone through DirecTV, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Cox, Cablevision, Charter, and a host of other cable operators—and another 9 million homes on Sky TV in the United Kingdom, from which we are seeing results.
The Word Network is also available to one million men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces in over 65 countries. And, it recently expanded its reach to Latin America. Word’s website streams all programming live and is also available to thousands of air travelers daily through “In Flight” services on selected airlines.
Please pray for the ongoing success of the Church’s wide-reaching efforts to preach the good news of Kingdom of God.
Peter Eddington—Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services
Reminder: Bible Study Webcast About Sardis of Revelation
August 10, 2015
The Churches of Revelation
The Cincinnati East, Ohio, congregation of the United Church of God (UCG) is continuing its bi-weekly Beyond Today Bible study series titled: “The Churches of Revelation.” The story of Sardis will be covered on Wednesday, August 12, at the time of 7 p.m. Eastern and will be available via webcast.
For this sixth study, Beyond Today presenter and church pastor Gary Petty will expound upon “Sardis—The Dead Church,” a church Christ said was dead. We’ll look at what causes a congregation to die and how you can recognize and combat those signs in your congregation.
Here is the remaining schedule for the Churches of Revelation series:
- August 12, 2015: Sardis—The Dead Church – Gary Petty
- August 26, 2015: Philadelphia—The Faithful Church – Steve Myers
- September 9, 2015: Laodicea—The Lukewarm Church – Darris McNeely
Plan to attend in person, or you can listen online. You can also view the Bible study using your smartphone Internet browser.
Peter Eddington—Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services
Good News Print Advertising to Reach 2.3 Million Households
July 28, 2015
2.3 Million Literature Ads to be Placed in Sunday Newspapers in 69 U.S. Cities
Second Test of Free Standing Insert Ads to Occur on August 9, 2015
In May 2015 the United Church of God successfully tested 446,000 full-page literature advertisements in the coupon sections of 23 U.S. Sunday newspapers. We will now test 2,294,000 half-page ads in Sunday newspapers in 69 cities/counties on August 9, 2015.
Known in the industry as “free standing inserts,” these FSI coupon ad sections have proven to be highly popular with newspaper readers. A July 8, 2014, article in Retailing Today explained that: “During the first half of 2014, more than $267 billion in consumer incentives were delivered via FSI coupons, up 8% from the same period in 2013.”
Also, on July 15, 2014, NetNewsCheck stated: “As the push to digitalize many aspects of traditional print media continues, the free-standing insert, or preprint, is holding steady in its original form. Free-standing inserts (or FSIs), which include coupons and retailers’ circulars, typically account for 30% to 50% of newspapers’ retail advertising revenue.”
Depending on the response and cost-per-response to this test, we will consider a larger distribution into other cities across the country. In this effort we will test four ads featuring our popular Bible study aids: Jesus Christ: The Real Story, Seven Prophetic Signs Before Jesus Returns, How to Understand the Bible and Heaven and Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach? Please see additional samples down below and click on each to see a larger image.
Here is a list of the 69 cities/counties in the East Central and Southeast U.S. regions in which our inserts will appear on August 9, 2015:
- Aiken, SC
- Anderson, SC
- Asheville, NC
- Ashtabula, OH
- Athens, TN
- Augusta, GA
- Bay City, MI
- Bean Station, TN
- Beaufort, SC
- Bluffton, SC
- Bristol, VA
- Bryan, OH
- Charleston, SC
- Chattanooga, TN
- Cleveland, TN
- Columbia, SC
- Concord/Kannapolis, NC
- Crestview, FL
- Crossville, TN
- Defiance, OH
- Flint, MI
- Florence, SC
- Forest City, NC
- Fremont, OH
- Ft. Walton Beach, FL
- Ft. Wayne, IN
- Greenville, SC
- Greenwood, SC
- Hickory, NC
- Hilton Head, SC
- Huntington, IN
- Johnson City, TN
- Kendallville/Auburn, IN
- Kingsport, TN
- Knoxville, TN
- Laurens County, SC
- Lima, OH
- Louisville, KY
- Marion, NC
- Maryville, TN
- Middlesboro, KY
- Midland, MI
- Monroe County, TN
- Morganton, NC
- Morristown, TN
- Mount Pleasant, MI
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- New Castle, PA
- Newport, TN
- Orangeburg, SC
- Panama City, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Port Clinton, OH
- Rock Hill, SC
- Saginaw, MI
- Salisbury, NC
- Savannah, GA
- Sharon, PA
- Shelby, NC
- Smyth County, VA
- Spartanburg, SC
- Sumter, SC
- Tallahassee, FL
- Tiffin, OH
- Toledo, OH
- Wabash, IN
- Waynesville, NC
- Whitesburg, KY
- Youngstown, OH
We are deeply appreciative of your enduring prayers for the Church’s many and varied efforts to reach people everywhere with the magnificent news about Jesus Christ and the coming Kingdom of God.
Peter Eddington—Operation Manager, Media and Communications Services
Inside United: Realtime 