It is important for
us today to look at Pentecost in a new light, writes Pastor General Joseph Tkach. No
longer do we look to a physical harvest, at agricultural life in a tiny part of earth. No
longer do we look to the law of Moses, or to the leavened loaves of the Temple rituals.
Now, we look to the Spirit, whom God is pouring out on all flesh (Acts 2:17-18). God is calling all nations to faith and eternal life in his Son. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (v. 21).
And in this new age we preach Christ, just as Peter did. We live in an age of good news--an invitation to enter the kingdom through faith, through accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Pages 10 and 11.
Christians set out with the best of intentions to change their ways, writes Mike Feazell. But along the way, some ways change and some ways seem to stick like super-glue. And even the ways that change have a nasty way of cropping up again.
Is God satisfied with such mediocrity? Pages 12 to 16.
John Halford,
regional director for Europe, visited the Mercy Ship Anastasis, currently in Gambia,
western Africa.
A Mercy Ship is Christianity with its sleeves rolled up. It has been fitted out as a hospital ship, and with an all-volunteer, unpaid crew, it travels to poor nations, bringing needed medical help to people who otherwise would have no access to it.
The Mercy Ships are all about showing the Christian faith through acts of unselfish service. We all have the opportunity to be "vessels of honor, sanctified and suitable for the master's use, and prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21). Pages 20 and 21.
Some Latin
American WCG congregations are noticeably at the front of their Christian communities.
They join hands with fellow believers and accomplish great aspects of the work Jesus
Christ gives to the church, writes Patrick Fearon.
"Overall, the momentum is picking up in some areas, while others are in various stages of processing the transformation Jesus Christ has done in our midst," said regional director Charles Fleming. Pages 22 and 23.
For the first
time in a long time, we are excited to report that first quarter donations for 2000 are on
the positive side of the ledger, writes controller Ron Kelly.
That means more donation income was received than during the same period of 1999. Thank you so much for your generous support. The steady donation pattern we are experiencing so far this year is quite encouraging. Page 27.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000