The New Testament
has two basic rituals: baptism and the Lord's Supper--and there are no detailed
regulations for either, writes Joseph Tkach in this month's Personal.The New Testament
has two basic rituals: baptism and the Lord's Supper--and there are no detailed
regulations for either, writes Joseph Tkach in this month's Personal.
Why these two? In a religion in which faith is primary, why have any rituals at all?
The primary reason, I believe, is that both the Lord's Supper and baptism picture the gospel of Jesus Christ. They rehearse the fundamental elements of our faith.
Baptism unites us with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. Our salvation depends on his death and on his resurrection. Our forgiveness--being cleansed of sin--depends on his death; our Christian life and future depend on his resurrected life. Pages 8 and 9.
In Window on the
World, Randal Dick reports on persecution our members face in Bangladesh.
Mr. Dick received a communique from John Biswas, a WCG member and head of the Bengali Evangelistic Association.
Mr. Biswas writes: "On Dec. 19, a group of militants attacked two of our gospel workers while they were distributing gospel tracts, Bibles and meeting people. These ferocious men came with gun, knife and iron rods and harmed our gospel worker.
"Mr. Satya Biswas was badly beaten and ended up being admitted to the critical care unit in a hospital. This fanatic group also attempted to burn one of our worship centers (church) and to kill the caretaker, a national missionary, Mr. Peter Baroi.
"However, due to the intervention of local people, the church building was saved from being burned, and Peter was able to escape. They have burnt gospel tracts, literature and Bibles." Pages 12 and 13.
The weekend of Dec. 5
and 6 was a quiet, but significant milestone in the history of the WCG in Europe, writes
John Halford, regional director.
Thirteen men and women gathered in a hotel outside Brussels, Belgium, to discuss the next steps in our church's development on this continent.
For the past year or so, we have been discussing how we should organize the European branch of the WCG.
This is a time of great challenges, but also of great opportunities. We ask you to remember us in prayer, as we remember you. Pages 14 and 15.
Bernard W. Schnippert, church treasurer, gave the Big Sandy congregation a plaque of appreciation and commendation Dec. 12 and described the legacy that the brethren have contributed to and created during the past 45 years.
Because of the impending sale of the Ambassador University campus, the Big Sandy church began meeting at the Abundant Life Temple in Gladewater, Texas, Jan. 2. "The sale of this facility affects the local WCG congregation most," Dr. Schnippert said. "It's your home." Pages 18 and 19.
Income for December,
for only the fourth time this year, has been at or above budget, writes controller Ron
Kelly.
The daily average for December was $115,946. That made the daily average for the year $106,793.
As 1998 came to an end, I had to sit back and give our loving God gratitude for his bountiful love and blessings for the year.
So many thousands of you gave so generously during the year. Page 22.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1998