In This Issue

California Fires

Southern California members recounted their experiences with wildfires that killed 22 people and burned more than 3,000 homes in late October. The closest fires were 30 miles from church headquarters. Page 3.

Denomination

Pastor General Joseph Tkach announces the completion of our new Church Administration Manual for the Worldwide Church of God within the United States. We are sending the manual to each pastor and church library in the United States. The manual sets forth the principles, policies and procedures for the administration of the church. Page 5.

Christmas

Christmas is a great time to buy and give books, and every Christian bookstore is full of gift books about Jesus’ birth, writes Jonathan Stepp, pastor of the Nashville, Tennessee, church. Some are quite good, and some are quite terrible. One that is good, and ought to be on more gift lists at Christmas, is On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Egypt. Page 7.

Pastor General

Newspapers are full of bad news—economic uncertainties, persistent problems in Iraq, more strife and terrorism. Many Americans are pessimistic not only about our nation’s future, but their own as well. Pastor General Joseph Tkach asks the question, “Where does a person turn to find hope?” Page 10.

Window on the World

Sister church? It sounds like a good, positive, Christian thing, writes Barbara Edwards. But what is it? How do you do it? In my job as executive assistant to the church’s international director of missions, we have had congregations ask us how they can get started. Page 12.

Youth Ministry

Jeb Egbert addresses strategies for advancing healthy youth ministries. Youth ministry is far more than programs—it involves personal relationships, where young people come to embrace a living person—Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Page 14.

Bible Study

Christ saved us even while we were sinners, writes Michael Morrison. We are saved by grace, not by keeping the law. Romans 5 ends by saying, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” God’s grace is always larger than our sin. Page 17.

Financial Report

October income was $1.86 million, up from last October’s income of $1.75 million, writes controller Ron Kelly. So we continue to maintain a stable donation base. Page 21.

Property Sale

Preparations to sell five homes along Orange Grove Boulevard are nearing completion, writes Mathew Morgan. The sale of these homes now allows the church to take advantage of a strong residential market. Page 29.

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