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News at a Glance
335 Baptized Around the WorldIn 2006, at least 335 new members were baptized around the world. This compares to 316 reported in the January issue last year. Here are the baptisms reported at press time: Argentina ..................................... 7 [ back to top ] Coworkers and Donors IncreasingThe Church's base of U.S. coworkers and donors continues to rise at a nice pace. As of the end of November, we have 8,482 donors (an 18 percent increase over last November) and 3,397 coworkers (a 13 percent increase). As in years past, our donors and coworkers play an increasing role in the financial stability of the Church. It is important that we continue to reach out to our readers to encourage them to be involved in what we're doing. Our coworkers receive four letters a year from the president letting them know what the Church is accomplishing with their donations and how their funds are being carefully used. These mailings include a two-page newsletter excerpted from United News. New coworkers receive an offer for World News and Prophecy as well. New donors also receive a letter from the president with an offer for the Bible Study Course. —Peter Eddington [ back to top ] Old Cards Keep Coming InGood News print advertising continues to serve as an important ingredient in the Church's endeavor to publish the gospel message. Not only do our colorful cards, brochures and inserts attract immediate attention, but many have a long shelf life, resulting in subscriptions being requested months and years after our original advertising campaigns conclude. For example, a good quantity of subscription cards printed during the 2004-2005 fiscal year have been received during 2006. Many of these cards are from past supermarket and member-distributed brochure campaigns. As a result, our overall Good News advertising cost per response for that fiscal year dropped from an already very good $3.33, calculated at the close of 2005, to an even better $3.11 now. Please continue praying that many potential readers will respond. —John LaBissoniere [ back to top ] Council Names Corporate SecretaryIn an executive session Dec. 12, the Council of Elders engaged in a final discussion and decision to appoint a corporate secretary. The Council selected David Johnson to serve in that capacity. Mr. Johnson is an elder, residing in Cincinnati, Ohio. He assists Jim Franks in Ministerial Services and also teaches classes at the Ambassador Bible Center. Mr. Johnson will work with outgoing secretary Gerald Seelig over the next few months and will participate in the next Council meetings in February-March 2007. Mr. Johnson will assume the role of secretary on May 1, 2007. —Don Henson [ back to top ] Elders Ordained and CredentialedOn Dec. 10, the Council of Elders approved the credentialing of Donald Mathie as an elder. He is serving in the Oshkosh, Wisconsin, congregation. On Dec. 16, Kim Boykin was ordained an elder. He and his wife, Brenda, serve the Raleigh, North Carolina, congregation. [ back to top ] New Camp Site and Director AnnouncedSteve Nutzman has been appointed as camp director for the United Youth Camp in the Northwest Region. He replaces last year's camp director, David Holladay, an elder and Microsoft employee who has accepted a job transfer to Brisbane, Australia. The new site for the Northwest camp will be Camp Arrah Wanna near Mt. Hood, east of Portland, Oregon. [ back to top ] Beyond Today on Google Video and Yahoo VideoIn addition to YouTube mentioned last issue (page 16), the popular online search tool Google offers a video search feature where registered users can upload videos to the Google video Web site. This free service allows visitors to search for posted videos and either view them online or download them. Now Yahoo has a similar free service. As of the end of November, we have 54 Beyond Today TV programs, commentaries and booklet commercials posted on the Google Video Web site found at video.google.com and 47 at Yahoo Video found at video.yahoo.com. At Google, these files have been viewed over 30,000 times. The most popular program, "Is There Life After Death?", has generated over 3,600 views at Google Video alone. Thanks to these new features from Google, YouTube and Yahoo, we are able to reach more people online with the Beyond Today TV program than we would from only the www.beyondtoday.tv Web site. This is all at no additional cost. —Peter Eddington [ back to top ] Feast Coordinators to Meet in DallasThe four Canadian Festival coordinators and director of operations Tony Wasilkoff will join the U.S. Festival coordinators for their annual meeting Feb. 7 and 8 in Dallas, Texas. The U.S. Feast sites will be the same, except that Hawaii will be replaced by Alaska for this year. The Feast will return to Maui in 2008. A new meeting location will be found for the site in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and the Church is looking at the possibility of a site in Jordan this year. New Festival coordinators for this year are Doug Horchak (Alaska), Lyle Welty (Cincinnati, Ohio/Northern Kentucky) and Jack Hendren (Kerrville, Texas). The coordinator for Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, will be named later. [ back to top ] New E-Magazine ApprovedThe Council of Elders approved a new electronic publication dealing in specialized education issues for members with addictions, addictive behavior, anti-social behavior, emotional and mental problems. Melvin Rhodes will serve as managing editor. Articles of 2,500 words or less from UCG members can be sent to melvin_rhodes@ucg.org. [ back to top ] Salt Lake Ski Weekend SetThe Salt Lake City, Utah, congregation will be hosting its annual Presidents' Day Ski Weekend, Feb. 16 to 19. As before, skiing will occur Sunday and Monday. Rates will be negotiated through Park City, venue of the Winter Olympics. Housing will also be available through the establishment used by the local church for services. Guest speakers on the Sabbath are also planned. Visitors will be responsible for providing their own housing and transportation. For best rates, sign up early by contacting Larry Salyer at larry_salyer@ucg.org or by phone at (801) 495-0412. —John Fox [ back to top ] Days of Unleavened Bread Egypt Tour Details AvailableEstimated prices for the April 4 to 11 seven-day/six-night tour of Egypt announced last issue (page 1) have been posted on the travelgallery.com Web site. Round-trip airfare from New York to Cairo and on to Luxor is estimated at $1,057 per person. The cost of the study program in Egypt is $1,099 per person, based on double/twin occupancy. (The supplement for a single room is $169.) This includes three nights in Cairo and three nights in Luxor in four-star hotels, breakfasts and four dinners. The rate also includes a guide and transportation by private air-conditioned bus. The extension trip to Sinai April 11-13 is $385 per person, double occupancy. A deposit of $400 is due Jan. 30. See travelgallery.com for more details. [ back to top ] Planning to Travel Internationally? Get Your PassportAs of Jan. 23, 2007, all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air to Canada, Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean will be required to present a valid passport to reenter the United States. A valid driver's license will no longer suffice for reentry documentation. U.S. citizens planning to travel out of the country should apply for a new passport or check their current passport to ensure it is still valid. It can take up to six weeks to process a new one, so plan ahead. For more information visit the U.S. State Department Web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. [ back to top ] Pittsburgh to Host Great Lakes Teen PromThe 11th annual Great Lakes Region Teen Prom will be hosted on Saturday, April 28, by the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, congregation at the DoubleTree Hotel–Pittsburgh Airport (8402 University Blvd., Coraopolis, PA 15108—the same location as last year). The after-prom picnic will follow on Sunday morning, April 29. The prom is for those who are in the seventh grade (and at least age 12) through age 19. Sabbath services on April 28 will be at the DoubleTree at 1 p.m. Beginning at 6 p.m. there will be a Graduating Seniors Recognition program (parents, family and friends are encouraged to attend). The teen's buffet dinner follows, and dancing continues until midnight. The cost is $32, which includes dinner, dance and after-prom picnic (accommodations not included). Overnight accommodations at a reduced rate are available at the DoubleTree—(412) 329-1400 or www.doubletree.com. When you call, identify yourself as part of the United Church of God group. For more details on hotels, directions, etc. please go to our Web site www.ucgnet.org/pittsburgh/teens/. Teens, parents and family are also welcome Sunday morning at nearby Moon Township Park for the after-prom picnic. There is no additional charge for those who attended the prom. A $3 donation per person is requested from others. In late January a personal invitation will be sent to each teen in the Great Lakes Region. If you are from outside the region and would like more information or if you have any questions, please contact Sherry Lutz at lutzsherry@hotmail.com or call (724) 443-6106. [ back to top ] Calendar of EventsJan. 16, 2007: Youth Corps and Challenger II discussion, Los Angeles, California. Jan. 17-18: Southwest Regional Workshop for pastors, Los Angeles, California. Jan. 22-30: Ministerial development training session, home office. Jan. 23: Vertical Thought conference, home office. Jan. 24-25: Managing editors meetings, home office. Feb. 7-8: Beyond Today taping, home office. Feb. 7-8: Festival coordinators, Dallas, Texas. Feb. 10: Family Dance, Receptions Eastgate, Cincinnati, Ohio (FouchB@greatoaks.com). Feb. 16-18: Texas Young Adults Weekend, "Got Friends?", Dallas, Texas (www.ucg-dallas.org/ya). Feb. 16-19: Presidents' Day Ski Weekend, Salt Lake City, Utah. (801) 495-0412 or larry_salyer@ucg.org. Feb. 16-19: Midwest Family Weekend, Branson, Missouri (see article, November issue, page 24). Feb. 23-28: Council of Elders meeting, San Diego, California. Feb. 24: 40th Orange County, California, anniversary (see article, November issue, page 24 ). Feb. 24-25: Tampa Bay, Florida, Women's Conference (ucg-tampabay.org). March 7-8: Beyond Today taping, home office. May 5-7: GCE annual meeting, Holiday Inn Eastgate, Cincinnati, Ohio. May 8-10: Council of Elders meeting. Aug. 3-7: Council of Elders meeting. Aug. 12: ABC graduation. May 18-19, 2008: GCE annual meeting. [ back to top ] What's New on the Web?World News and Prophecy Seminars online. E-mail Updates. Sign-up for various United Church of God e-mail updates, such as the Good News Reader Update and the World News and Prophecy eNews, online at www.ucg.org/contact/updates.htm. Vertical Thought. Read the latest January–March 2007 issue of Vertical Thought. Inside are informative articles focusing on prophecy. Access online at www.verticalthought.org/issues/vt14/. UCG Commentary "How Authentic Is the Christmas Portrayal of Christ's Birth?" Featured Links Beyond Today. Good Works Program. If you have questions or comments, please contact: webmaster@ucg.org |
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