John Magowan
Belfast, Northern Ireland
The year 1995 will go down in history as the year of agony and ecstasy for the Worldwide Church of God. Many hearts felt saddened and depressed at the reality of friends and family leaving our fellowship.
Relearning truths that had largely been hidden from us for years suddenly became a priority, and our lives took on a new dimension in Christ.
It is gratifying for me to witness the increased love and warmth of the brethren and to see the church returning to peace.
My desire is to support the work of the church as fully as I can and to share with others the faith and love that my Savior has given me.
Truly the God of all comfort is comforting us as we submit our wills to him.
Kurt and Linda Waldau
Kettering, Ohio
We feel that this section is a great part of The Worldwide News, making it possible for members of the church to express our views about changes in the church.
Our greatest joys about being members of the Worldwide Church of God are much too numerous to state in this short space.
However, there are three we would like to write about. Someone once said, "It takes a great man to admit his mistakes, but it takes a bigger man to correct his mistakes."
How about an organization such as a church admitting its errors and then setting out to correct them?
The church is better because now we have come before God and asked for forgiveness. We are in the process of repenting and making changes that are pleasing to him. What a joy to be a part of these great changes.
The second and third joys that thrill us are these: God is love, as we all know. However, for love to be love, it must be given away. Certainly God gives us his love every day of our lives. In 1 John 4:19 we are told that we love because God first loved us. The church is teaching us to give away that love that God gives us and share it with our fellow human beings.
Under the new covenant Jesus Christ gave us a new commandment (John 13:34) that we must love one another. The church is teaching us to observe that commandment by following in the footsteps of Christ. We are to serve all humans, regardless of who, what or where they might be.
As 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, the greatest of these is love. The church is teaching this. We feel that God is pleased, for he is love.
Audrey K. Hayes
Everett, Washington
With joy I found a small group of devout Christian ladies (of deaf culture). They're praying for our church. God bless them.
If your first language is not English (mine is American Sign Language), I urge you to share your faith with other Christians of the same native language. There's nothing like the experience of inspiring others about life in Jesus--in the mother tongue (in my case, mother hands). I urge you to look for a prayer group already formed within your native culture's local community.
For me, being with multidenominational fellow Christians can help form bonds with like-minded believers of the same culture and help fulfill cultural identity needs.
Fellowshipping with such a group gives me an opportunity to shine my personal ministry and likewise for others to shine their expansive love for Jesus unto me. I'm observing shameless, zealous worshiping of our Savior from otherwise meek women.
This small group is providing me an outlet to expand my spirituality and is giving me insights to take back and share with my church's small groups. I'm glad my church is all-embracing of Christ. I sign "amen" above my head.
Bruce Blaney
Maxville, Ontario
The past year in the church has been phenomenal. The changes that we have experienced have matured us both spiritually as a church and also emotionally as people. I thank God daily for the lessons that he teaches us through the challenges that he puts us through.
I would like to comment on the embarrassment members may feel about mistakes the church has made in the past. I read an article that addressed a similar sentiment, that there is a dark side to learning the truth about something you thought was right originally, but later learned was wrong.
Instead of being shameful or embarrassed about past mistakes, you should be guided by the knowledge that from where you stand now, such lapses are a part of history, existing only as a reminder that what's right is right, and what's wrong is wrong.
So much greater is our ability to pass the benefit of what we've learned to others who come into the church in the future; and what a glorious future it will be!
Mary Fitton
Somerset, Massachusetts
I am thrilled and delighted in the way the church is going and where Christ is leading us. All that has transpired this past year is something I believe we sorely needed to make us more humble and more compassionate for one another--our brethren, our family and our friends.
It makes me feel an awareness that life here on this earth is more worthwhile than ever before.
When we finally come to understand that we are to give of ourselves the righteous God-given talents we possess and to share them with all we come in contact with, then, and only then, I believe we will have found the true meaning of Christianity.
After all, what good is it to have gifts from God if we do not share them with others? That is the secret of our physical lives--to share and give to mankind--just as we share and give to God in our spiritual lives. We must constantly continue to grow in love toward Jesus Christ.
I look forward to exciting times ahead for all of us!
Helena Palmer
London, England, South church
Greetings to you all in Jesus Christ's name. I just want to say thanks to God for his love and for his mercy in correcting his church at this time.
I feel humbled and joyful to know that God loves and cares about us so much that he chose to correct us so tenderly.
In all the sadness and disappointment that we feel in seeing our brothers and our sisters leave, we are confident that Jesus is Lord and that the Eternal is in charge, working in his church through the power of his Holy Spirit in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ. To God be the glory.
We are now positive that our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, lives in his church and that he is the centerpiece of our lives. Praise his name.
Brothers and sisters, we are not the only church that God is changing and making his Son Master and Lord of their lives. And so we give him thanks to think us worthy to be changed into tools that he can use to bring glory to his name, so let us rejoice and be glad in him who alone knows everything.
We thank God for the spirit of courage he gave to the late Mr. Tkach to speak the word of truth in faith and we thank the Lord for passing on the baton to his son. We continue to pray that Mr. Tkach will always listen to the still, small voice of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, and that he will follow him wherever he leads and we as a church will be right behind him through the help of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks to God from the bottom of my heart.
Mrs. G.C. O'Briant
Kilmichael, Mississippi
I pledge my support to God's work better than I've done in the past. I hope to be more helpful and more consistent in giving.
I attend the Greenwood, Mississippi, church, where several have quit because of the new covenant teachings.
I'm understanding more all the time. I understand the old covenant better also. Please keep teaching us through The Worldwide News. I need it and others do also.
Ezell Wilder
Kenton, Tennessee
E-mail: ewilder@cris.com
I am proud of my church because we are beginning to share Christ with others. We know that Christ died for the sins of the world, not just us. All who will call on him will be saved. No prequalifications, or conditions.
We are reaching out and sharing love with our brethren in other fellowships. Accepting them as fellow servants of Christ.
Yes, we do feel a sense of loss. It seems like our identity has been taken away from us. But, we realize that we are in a transition period.
It is becoming a lot easier as we realize more and more that our identity is in Jesus. And, what's wrong with that? Just because others identify with Jesus, why can't we? We now realize that we don't have to be different to be Christians.
I am so happy to have Christ as my identifying sign, not days, times and seasons. I pray that our loved brethren who chose to remain in bondage, will come to see and embrace the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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