Greetings brethren!

What a difference a week makes. 

As I write this - services have been canceled in all U.S. and International congregations for the next two weeks. The State of Oregon has canceled classes until the 1st of April, closing their facilities. The United States has declared a State of Emergency, Travel for Foreign Nationals from Europe has been restricted through April 13th, and the stock market has been a roller coaster. The recommendations from the WHO and CDC are to avoid crowds, and to maintain vigilance in hygiene and social isolation, and prepare to contract the virus at some point. A number of epidemologists and doctors have said we are in for a long ride, not necessarily weeks, but months. 

It is almost impossible to know exactly how this will impact us going forward over the next several months. One of the predictions that I heard today on BBC News was that this outbreak might peak as late as the end of May for the United States. It remains to be seen the effect that the closures and cancellations will have on the virus and its spread, but hopefully, these measures will limit the spread, and cause it to be something that is in the rearview mirror sooner, rather than later.

In the meantime - there are a few important notices regarding services and activities over the next few weeks:

March 14th - Services canceled in all U.S. and International locations (Special permission was granted to hold services in Accra tomorrow for Mr. Moody and I as it was an essential part of our trip and Ghana has largely been unaffected.)

March 15th - Senior Brunch postponed. (Date and Location TBD)

March 21st - Services canceled in all U.S. and International Locations

March 28th - Stephens Middle School closed to all users as a result of District closure (Services and Location TBD)

A number of local areas will be webcasting during the time of the suspension of Sabbath services. Portland, Tacoma and Seattle will all be webcasting services in addition to the home office webcast on March 14th, and March 21st. 

Home Office (11:30 AM) - www.ucg.org/webcast
Portland (1:00 PM) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdiwfMQ-gjXozguTIupM4tg
Tacoma (2:00 PM) - https://www.ucg.org/congregations/tacoma-wa/webcast  -- Password: treeoflife
Seattle (March 21st ONLY - 2:00 PM) - http://www.ucg-seattle.org/index.pl?media/webcast.html

Going forward from March 28th at this point is an unknown. Discussions are in progress with regards to alternative plans for regular Sabbath services, Passover and Spring Holy Days should the need arise. 

Please be cautious in your approach going forward, for those who are older with pre-existing conditions -- the Coronavirus is proving to be quite deadly for some. Please take the necessary precautions, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything. 

In the long run - this is part of what is to come. The seals that are illustrated in Revelation 6, the false religion, war, famine and pestilence comes on like labor pangs. Christ illustrated in Matthew 24, that there would be wars and rumors of wars - we might extrapolate this to be diseases, and rumors of diseases too. That as the time leading up to the Day of the Lord comes - that the trevail upon the world would come like that of a pregnant woman. 

Over the past decade or so, we've seen outbreaks of SARS, Swine Flu, Ebola, Coronavirus and much more. Nigeria has been in the throes of an outbreak of Lassa Fever, while D.R. Congo is still experiencing an oubreak of Ebola, and the whole of the subtropical world loses people daily to Malaria, and Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, etc... there is pestilence the world over, and we know that this is what must occur before the end is to come.

Despite this - the word must continue to go out. Despite the false religion, war, and famine - the Word of God must go out as we come nearer to the time of the end of the return of Jesus Christ, despite what happens in the world around us. 

It is largely unknown the final impact that COVID-19 will have on the world. It has certainly been an eye-opening experience. I hope that for us, it has been a lesson in the importance of hygiene, quarantine, and reasonable preparedness. It is certainly wise to have some stores of food and supplies on hand so that you're not impacted by the rush and empty store shelves. I'm sure there will be additional lessons going forward as we consider how life will change in the United States over the coming weeks.

It has been requested that you take some time in the next couple of weeks to pray and fast for God's will in all of it. For His direction in this time of uncertainty, and for His protection and blessing upon mankind.

The comings weeks will be a time of great isolation for many of our widows and shut-ins, please consider ways you can encourage your brethren throughout the week. A simple phone call, or email, can go a long ways when you're home on your own. Thank you once again for your patience and flexibility, and for your ongoing love for one another. 

Take care of each other. We'll get through this together.

With Love,
Ben