International News at a Glance

• New Good Works Project Begun for Zambia
• Vision TV in Canada Finds BT Statement About Islam Unacceptable
• GN Readers’ Meeting Planned for Central London
• British Isles Circulation Reported

New Good Works Project Begun for Zambia

A new Good Works Program project was added to the Web site on Oct. 16, 2007. The description submitted by André van Belkum says:

"This year 302 people observed the Feast in Zambia at Nalubanda, a rural region to the southwest of the capital, Lusaka. Families lived in tents, which was an improvement from their previous temporary dwellings constructed from poles with straw as walls. The roofs were also of straw, and if it rained, they and their possessions got wet. As before there was still no electricity, running water or kitchen facilities. Meals were prepared outside on log fires. Their only source of water was from a well recently dug in the village. Makeshift toilets and washing facilities were built for use during the Feast.

"This Good Works Program project is for the purpose of purchasing a tract of land closer to Lusaka and developing it into a Feast site and a location for youth and other church activities (family weekends, leadership workshops and so on). During the Feast members will continue to live in the tents on the property. Youths and staff attending the national youth camp will also be housed in tents.

"Once we have secured the land, we can in time construct a bore hole for water with an electric pump (we will then have access to electricity), a block of toilets and showers. Most of the construction will be done by our members, thereby saving on labor costs (members also make their own bricks).

"The main purpose is to enhance the standard of church facilities, especially the Feast, for our members. Even though we will not even remotely reach the standard and conditions the vast majority of members worldwide enjoy, it will raise their level of enjoyment and appreciation just a little more from what it presently is.

"The cost of this project is $15,000."

Details about how group fund-raisers can help with Good Works projects can be found at www.ucg.org/goodworks.

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Vision TV in Canada Finds BT Statement About Islam Unacceptable

Susan Morris of Vision TV/The Christian Channel advised the Church Nov. 14 that "the following statement: 'A fundamental aspect of Islamic teaching is that Islam must become the dominant religion of the entire world' is unacceptable for broadcast because it does not accurately reflect the moderate segment in Islam which desires to live in peace with other faith groups, but reflects only the viewpoint of radical fundamentalist elements in Islam. This would constitute a violation of our Code of Ethics, Standards and Practices," she said.

Since the program she referred to, "Islam and Christianity—Can They Get Along?" was scheduled to air Nov. 18, Canadian elder Dennis Horlick quickly arranged to send the program "The Coming King of the South" instead. It promotes the same booklet, The Middle East in Bible Prophecy, and is the third-ranked Beyond Today program.

"Islam and Christianity—Can They Get Along?" had previously appeared in the United States and was the 15th-ranked program with 237 responses.

Guest Melvin Rhodes, who made the comment about Islam, said, "The statement I made on the program was partly influenced by a moderate Muslim I knew in high school and for some time after in my hometown in England. He had moved there from Gujarat state in India. He told me that it was the responsibility of every Muslim to spread Islam, as all the world must become Muslim…

"By the way, ex-Muslim Salman Rushdie said the same thing last year in New York. So, too, did Muhammad in 632 A.D."

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GN Readers' Meeting Planned for Central London

The London Central congregation is holding a Good News readers' meeting on the Sabbath of Jan. 19, 2008. A selection of readers will be invited to hear Melvin Rhodes, senior writer for The Good News, who will give a two-part presentation. Part one, titled "From Dawn to Decadence," comments on developments from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I to Queen Elizabeth II. Part two discusses the coming together of the modern European power and the prophesied effect on world affairs. The meeting will start at 3 p.m., following a shortened Sabbath service. The ministry in the British Isles requests prayers for the success of this meeting.

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British Isles Circulation Reported

Highlights from the circulation report for October, covering all literature distributed by the Church from Britain, include:

• 1,358 letters and other responses were received.

• 583 Good News requests were received.

• 74 Bible Study Course requests were received.

• 1,057 envelopes containing 2,444 other items of literature were mailed out.

As of Oct. 31 there were 4,379 subscribers to The Good News in the British Isles and 516 students of the Bible Study Course.

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