International News at a Glance

• Sweden Tests Google Web Advertising
• Good Works Project to Raise Livelihood Seed Money for Sri Lanka
• Good Works Begins Church Hall Project for Ivory Coast
• British Isles Semiannual Letter Sent
• British Isles Summer Camp Planned

Sweden Tests Google Web Advertising

After talks with Peter Eddington at the UCGIA home office and Peter Hawkins in the British Isles, Sweden is being added to the Google search Web advertising currently being used by UCG for the month of December. We will then gauge cost and response and consider if we are to continue or not.

Other advertising opportunities are being investigated and prayers for the work in Sweden would be greatly appreciated.

—Paul and Kira Spenser and Solveig Hammar

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Good Works Project to Raise Livelihood Seed Money for Sri Lanka

A Good Works project has been launched to raise funds to help members in Sri Lanka. Some of the members there are having great difficulty maintaining jobs due to conflicts with the Sabbath. The local economy has taken a beating due to the continuing civil war, and unemployment is high.

We would like to use $2,500 of Good Works Program funds as seed money to help some of our members there start up small businesses so they can provide for their needs and the needs of their families. For more details on the Good Works Program, see www.ucg.org/goodworks.

—David Baker /p>

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Good Works Begins Church Hall Project for Ivory Coast

In several African countries our brethren have difficulty finding suitable halls. This is either because meeting halls simply don't exist, or because the price is too high.

Currently the church in La Mé, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), is meeting in a bamboo and grass-thatch structure. However, with recent growth in the congregation, they are at the point of outgrowing this venue, and the local authorities have informed them they may not use electricity in this structure because of the risk of fire.

In addition, most African governments expect churches to own their own buildings and resist accrediting church organizations that don't have their own building. This government recognition is necessary for us to operate legally in these countries (have bank accounts, have phone lines or P.O. boxes in the name of the Church). Not being recognized can place our brethren at some risk of being mistaken for belonging to a secretive or illegal entity. This is presently the case in Côte d'Ivoire .

The members in Cote d'Ivoire, in spite of very difficult economic circumstances, are faithful in contributing their tithes and offerings, which barely cover the expenses of the Church in their country. They have, with their own means, acquired a lot in La Mé, and have broken ground for a concrete block structure.

We estimate that they will need $2,000 to finish the construction of the building, so this has been listed as a Good Works project. For more details on the Good Works Program, see www.ucg.org/goodworks.

—Joel Meeker

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British Isles Semiannual Letter Sent

UCG–British Isles sent a semi­annual letter to 6,300 Good News readers Nov. 13 and within three days received the first 47 responses (including 10 donations) requesting the booklets The Book of Revelation Unveiled and You Can Understand Bible Prophecy. As of Nov. 30, 600 (9 percent) had been returned.

The text of the letter was varied slightly for three groups: Members, coworkers and donors (521 in the United Kingdom , 81 not); those due to be renewed (997 United Kingdom, 240 not); and the remainder of the Good News readers (3,611 United Kingdom and 850 not).

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British Isles Summer Camp Planned

UCG–British Isles plans to hold a summer camp next year for young people from approximately 9 to 18 years old.

The activity will take place at Buxton Field Centre in Derbyshire between Sunday, July 29, and Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007. The center can sleep up to 32 and there is also camping available on site and other lodging in the town if parents wish to come but not camp.

The organizers are also looking for a small number of young adults to act as helpers.

Please contact David Fenney for further details or to express an interest. He can be reached by e-mail at david_fenney@ucg.org.

—UCG–British Isles National Announcements, Nov. 18, 2006

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