International News at a Glance

• 52 Learn the Heart of Godly Shepherding in Mindanao
• Canadian GN List Grows 28 Percent
• Portuguese Web Site Goes Online
• UCG-Germany Reports Growth
• German Staff Member Hired Full-Time

52 Learn the Heart of Godly Shepherding in Mindanao

From Dec. 23 to 26, 52 men and their wives attended a very successful and inspiring four-day seminar-workshop held at the Girl Scouts of the Philippines camp in Davao City, Philippines. The seminar-workshop was conducted by Edmond D. Macaraeg, pastor of the UCG congregations on the island of Mindanao.

A year earlier, 62 assembled to attend the first "discipleship" seminar. The recent seminar-workshop was a follow-up to help answer the great need for manpower, as well as encourage a higher level of dedication and performance among those who assist in the various UCG congregations in Mindanao.

There are currently 20 congregations and video groups in Mindanao, serving more than 400 brethren.

In addition to three introductory sessions on Sunday, there were seven lectures and five sessions for practicum during the four days.

After dinner Dec. 23, the various congregational assistants gave short updates about the congregations they were assigned to look after. It was interesting and eye-opening to hear about the unique challenges being faced by each of the congregations.

The lectures included "In Search of a Faithful Servant," "The Shepherd's Heart," "The Role of a Leader's Wife," "Podium Ethics," "Basic Principles of Counseling," "Personal Godly Character Development" and "Catching the Vision of a Mission."

There were workshops on song leading and answering Bible questions, as well as three sessions of sermonette practice.

At the end of the four days, Mr. Macaraeg announced the new configuration for the Mindanao congregations, with each couple or person responsible for one or at most two areas.

One participant commented: "We would like to thank God for giving us the opportunity to attend this very helpful and informative seminar-workshop."

—Daniel Macaraeg

(excerpted from United News Asia, www.ucg.org.ph/una)

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Canada Reports Reader’s Digest and Beyond Today Responses

As of Jan. 17, the Canadian office has received 3,853 responses to the ad in the Canadian Reader's Digest, and the cost per response is now down to $8.67.

The Beyond Today television program for the second week of January drew the second highest number of responses—74. It was the first time the program "The Devil's Footprints" was aired. To date, 3,042 Canadian responses have come from the program and the beyondtodaytv.ca Web site.

An unusual phone call was received by one of our receptionists in early January. A person from southwestern Saskatchewan said she wanted to subscribe to The Good News magazine. She explained that "Brother ______ on the radio recommended it." She commented that things in the world were starting to happen really fast. We are receiving free publicity at unexpected times and in unexpected ways!

—Anthony Wasilkoff

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Portuguese Web Site Goes Online

The Portuguese-language Web site is now live at www.revistaboanova.org, which contains translated Good News articles, booklets, Bible Study Course lessons and other articles.

There is also a United Church of God member section at www.revistaboanova.org/membros.

—Michelle de Campos

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UCG-Germany Reports Growth

The January-February issue of the Gute Nachrichten magazine was again mailed to a record number of subscribers. The new issue has 5,114 readers in 20 European countries, a 3.1 percent increase over the November issue and a 17.6 percent increase over January 2007. This year's circulation goal is 5,500 subscribers by the end of December.

Outgoing mail statistics for 2007 show a record total of 39,070 pieces of literature distributed in the German language, a 12.8 percent increase over 2006. The most requested booklets during 2007 were Nach dem Tode—was dann? (What Happens After Death?) and Gibt es einen Gott (Does God Exist?).

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German Staff Member Hired Full-Time

At its final meeting of the year Dec. 16, 2007, the National Council of the Vereinte Kirche Gottes (UCG-Germany) approved hiring editorial staff member Jesmina Allaoua on a full-time basis as of Jan. 1, 2008. She has been employed part-time since January 2000.

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