We
are rapidly approaching the spring festival season, at which we commemorate the death and
resurrection of our Savior, Mr. Tkach writes in this month's
Personal.
We
are rapidly approaching the spring festival season, at which we commemorate the death and
resurrection of our Savior, Mr. Tkach writes in this month's
Personal.
We are not commemorating days, of course--the days are merely a method we use to commemorate our Savior and the salvation that he has achieved for us.
Our existence now and our eternity rest solely on the work of Jesus Christ. "By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14, NRSV). "We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (v. 10).
Jesus paid for the sins of everyone--even though many do not yet know it. Pages 6 and 7.
How
can you be sure you are in the kingdom of God and not destined for the lake of fire? asks
J. Michael Feazell.
Many Christians worry that in the final analysis, they might not be counted among the children of God. Pages 8 to 13.
God is sensitive to
the suffering of each little one who cries alone in the night, writes Randal Dick.
Yet, what he sees is not just 100 million physical children growing up without a parent, but also 4.2 billion precious children of all ages, trying to make it on their own spiritually without the support of a spiritual Mother.
Spiritually speaking we have a problem of dying spiritual mothers (church congregations). Fifty to 70 churches in the United States cease to exist every week. That is a high mortality rate.
Indications are that the death rate of spiritual mothers will rise dramatically in the coming decade. Pages 14 and 15.
Asia
is a most challenging area for Christians to live in, let alone be dedicated to fulfilling
their part in the commission Jesus gave his church, writes regional director Rod Matthews.
In some countries the national religion is a massive hurdle that must be overcome to introduce someone to their Savior.
A better understanding of the core of the Christian message and certain lessons have changed how we go about spreading the gospel in Asia. Pages 16 & 17.
Several WCG members participated in the Iowa InnerChange Freedom Initiative dedication in Newton, Iowa, Saturday, Dec. 4.
Guest speaker Chuck Colson said: "You can't scare people out of crime. Something has to happen in the human heart."
Several members from Chariton and Des Moines are learning the meaning of pure religion (James 1:27) as volunteers and counselors at a state correction center, in Newton.
The goal of InnerChange is to change the hearts of offenders, thus their values and lives, through Jesus Christ. Page 19.
February closed with a total income of $1,865,432, writes controller Ron Kelly. Daily average donations were $85,580.
Donations (income from members and regular contributions) were one percent under budget estimates for the year. Total income, which includes such things as income from the estates of recently deceased people, was down 15 percent. Page 27.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000