Forrestine Gray
Memphis, Tennessee
I am proud of my church because these changes have given me the opportunity to use my spiritual gifts to help others.
At first I wasn't certain about what my spiritual gifts were. So I prayed that God would reveal them to me so I could serve him in the best way.
I am thankful to learn that each one of us serves as part of the ministry under Jesus Christ. All of us are blessed with spiritual gifts we can share with others.
In the Memphis church, our minister, Mark Cardona, introduced various committees through which we can use our spiritual gifts.
We have one group called the caregiver committee. It consists of three subgroups: (1) Sick and Emergency Care, (2) Senior and Shut-in and (3) Emotional Care and Support.
Our goal is to minister to one another and help meet the various needs of the congregation. While I am grateful for the work that Mr. Tkach, the ministers and their wives have done, it is impossible for them alone to meet all our needs. I am thankful for the new focus on the ministry of all the members.
I am also thankful for the chance to attend a regular small group meeting. It is a joy to know that others are not just saying, "I will pray for you," but we are praying and studying together. Through this I am more sensitive to the needs of others and I am closer to members of the group than I was before.
Joyce Dwamena
Kumasi, Ghana
I count it all joy and a blessing to be a Worldwide Church of God member. Thanks to God for the humility Mr. Tkach had and left as a legacy for us.
The church has suffered loss of members but I believe God always raises the humble. We are also learning from those we used to condemn.
Also I'm happy to patch up with our distant relatives, from whom we were separated by the law. It is worth letting our lights shine for this.
Gladys Hickman
Austin, Texas
I'm excited about all the new teaching and encouragement given to women.
We know it's more blessed to give than to receive. This comes from the one who gave his life for us.
The investment of sharing with those who lack yields the highest returns, not only in fulfillment but in eternal rewards.
We must wake up to our God-given responsibilities. God commanded us to care for our children, to tend to our homes and commit ourselves to our husbands.
We are charged to look after the widows and orphans, feed the poor, to patiently look after the elderly and the sick.
You may say, how can I do all of this with everything else I have in my life. I'm exhausted trying to meet all the demands. This is where good management serves us well, where teamwork shines, where wisdom guides us.
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator. He will not grow tired or weary. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Giving of one's self always involves sacrifice, but it is what we women do best. Why should we squander our noblest gift on transient targets when we can build into the lives of people who last forever?
Examine ourselves in the light of God's standards and see ourselves as much-needed, highly prized daughters of the King of kings.
Center our energies on giving to others and we'll be given of his glory. Many Christian women see themselves as ragged paupers instead of privileged daughters of the Lord.
We must find time to study God's word, for the Holy Spirit, God's gift, does not want you to be afraid of serving people, but be wise and strong, and love them and enjoy being with others to take care of those who need you.
For as we embrace faith and grace in God, our potential can be staggering. We need to ask our Savior to walk with us as we go out to serve, as God wants us to. Be like Queen Esther. We can face any opposition if we have made the basic decision to serve God at any cost.
Years ago my husband and I took in orphans, widows and the elderly. God blessed us. We always had enough. God blessed us. We always had enough food, and money to pay our bills.
When God says he will not leave us or forsake us if our hearts are right, we can believe, because he is always there and ready to help us.
Percy Dennis
Durban, South Africa
I fully agree with the two points made by Michael Deiter [March 12 WN] regarding the feeling of emancipation through Jesus and the fact that we now accept that we are not the only Christians.
However, I must admit that I was always rather skeptical of the limitations that were placed on us as members of the Worldwide Church of God. I truly felt freed by the new understanding.
I would also like to join Vickie Bolden [March 12 WN] and say that I am proud of what the church gave up to follow Jesus Christ. However I would like to add that, after looking carefully at other denominations, I always felt satisfied that I had joined the right group.
Betty Davis
Dallas, Texas
I love and am proud of my church because we have gone through a windstorm like the one in Mark 4.
Just as he calmed the water and stilled the wind at that time, he is calming them today, saying, "Peace, be still." We have to obey and remember our miracles, and read the book.
The hard part is letting our emotions or other people influence us. It comes down to loving our Savior and trusting him.
It's really being born again. Scriptures I have read a thousand times come alive like I've never seen them. Jesus Christ comes alive in me and my faith takes off and I know I'm resting in the arms of Jesus Christ and he is telling me, "Peace, be still," and I believe.
Daniel Sanches Fernandes
Barreiro, Portugal
I have been a member of the WCG for 31/2 years, but I have known about the church through my father and grandmother since I was young.
They used to listen to the World Tomorrow broadcast on South African radio when we lived in Mozambique. We moved to Portugal in 1977.
My brothers, sister and I have always been taught to obey and follow the law of the old covenant and all the teachings of the church.
From my point of view I think many young people left the church because they had lots of laws and no love in every activity of the church. I believe that in the future the number of youths will increase as we all will have more love of Christ in us and in our congregations.
In the past we hurt our families, friends, neighbors and colleagues by trying to accomplish the law and forgetting their feelings, because the law was more important. Now we can share Christ's love to those around us.
We were proud of being different, by observing the Sabbath, feast days, tithing and food laws. Now we must be proud of the love, faith and hope Christ gives us and for being part of his body.
I am proud of being a member of the WCG and to have such a great family of brethren who stand with us, fighting the same battles and pursuing the same ideals. We should all support the work of the church financially and labor according to the gifts that God has given us.
There is no better proof of Christ's love for us than his sacrifice to save us. Most important is the new covenant of Christ and his love. For we know that true love is that which lasts forever and that it is the love that changes everything.
Celia Alexander
Roseau, Dominica
As a child I was raised in the church, and now that I am an adult I love the church even more.
I thank God for the new understanding. There is so much joy in my heart now that sometimes I feel like leaping for joy. I still keep the Sabbath and the feasts, but I now know that they cannot earn one salvation.
I used to feel guilty if I did something inappropriate on the Sabbath, but now the truth has set me free.
One can see so much love and warmth among the brethren that was lacking before. I always anticipate the next worship service, to praise and worship God and also to fellowship with my brothers in Christ.
Our willingness to repent and begin a new life in Christ Jesus has changed my life dearly. Thanks be to God. I love the church dearly.
Linval Murray
St. Catherine, Jamaica
I thank God for the church he has raised up in my time.
I thank him for the wonderful people he has used to bring the church to where it is. I thank him for the changes that are taking place in the church so that we can worship our great God in a more free, comfortable and understanding way.
It is sad to see some decide to leave the church at this time. If it is the will of God that they return I trust that they will find their way back home and celebrate victory with us.
Kate Walters
Montgomery, Alabama
I am proud of my church because it has been bringing me closer to God and my brethren ever since I was baptized in 1959. It seems like each year has brought me a little closer to him.
Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Tkach Sr. both said: Do like the Bereans and search the Scriptures daily. When the changes came about in the church, I did that. It has brought me closer to God than I had ever been before.
God opened my mind to a whole new way of thinking. He showed me to focus on Jesus Christ. When that veil was torn from top to bottom, that ushered in the new covenant. Christ had set the example himself for us to follow.
I can see more clearly the way God wants us to go. And now more than ever, it makes me want to try to live his way and love my fellow man more than I ever have before. I love my church more than ever and thank God for showing us his way.
Nancy L. Wright
Richmond, Virginia
As I look back over almost 30 years in God's church, I reflect on the peace and comfort that this experience has brought me.
I think of numerous problems for which I felt that there was no solution. But with the help of God's ministers and good friends in the church, things always worked out.
Using the words from an old hymnal, "My soul looks back and wonders, how I got over." I love God's church.
When I think of the friends I have made and so many people that I have met, I am so grateful to God for calling us from all walks of life.
I thank God for the new freedom that we have in Christ. I also thank him for the valuable lessons we learned through the years. I do not believe that we wasted any time with Christ. God had a purpose. He allowed it. We learned to obey.
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