The Worldwide Church of God was founded by people who were committed in sacrifice and prayer to build a powerful radio ministry. Today, Jesus continues to work in this church through people who are committed in sacrifice and prayer to follow wherever he leads.
It has been a difficult year--but also a time of rejoicing. We praise our Lord for the assurance he gives us that our labors are not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Though the work is sometimes hard and it is not always easy to see where Christ is leading, we are promised that our labors will be rewarded richly. We are being refined, and purity does not come from comfort and easy routines. We are growing spiritually, and growth comes from shouldering the heavy load--in our case, a load so heavy that we know we cannot possibly carry it on our own. The burdens we carry have driven us to our knees time and again, and the Lord Jesus Christ is helping us day by day to do the work he wants us to do.
In some ways, our "work" is smaller than it has been for many years. We have less money to work with--which means that each dollar is needed more, and appreciated more. We have made painful reductions in the number of employees at headquarters and, to a smaller degree, in the field ministry. We have made the painful decision to close Ambassador University in May (see articles pages one and three), and we trust God to provide the educational resources the church needs to work into the 21st century.
Our paid staff cannot do as much as it used to, and we rely more and more on volunteer workers. Even some of our pastoral work is being done by volunteer workers, who are being given training for this work (see article pages 10 and 11). Our volunteer workers will broaden our ability to do the work that God knows is in our future. He is preparing us, training us for greater service to advance his kingdom.
We are growing in many important ways: (See box at right.)
There is so much to be done, dear friends! Some of it requires money. Some requires talent or skill--spiritual gifts and godly inclinations. Some requires time. All of it requires a daily sacrifice of prayer--prayer of praise, thanksgiving, repentance and seeking God's will and power in our lives. Only in such earnest and devoted prayer will we find the dedication and commitment, the self-sacrifice and the power to be all that God wants us to be. Growth does not come from comfort and easy routines. Growth comes from heavy loads that we allow Jesus Christ to carry through our lives.
We look forward to 1997 with great optimism that our Lord and Savior will lead us where he wants us to go. He is our strength. May we all commit to honor him more in every way in 1997 than we did in 1996.
With joy in the Lord,
Joseph Tkach
Jan. 21, 1997, Worldwide News, page one
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