I trust you all had a very uplifting and inspiring Feast of Trumpets as we are now “full swing” into observing God’s autumn Holy Days here in the Northern Hemisphere!

This was certainly true for me as I had the opportunity to spend the Sabbath and the Feast of Trumpets in my “old stomping grounds” of 20 years—Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

It was wonderful to spend an extended period of time with so many close friends and members of the household of faith.

On the Sabbath in Oklahoma City, I spoke of our responsibility to actively be our “brother’s keeper” in the sense of showing genuine loving concern for the welfare of not only members of the Body of Christ, the Church of God, but also to our extended human family. We are to be good neighbors to all and to let our lights shine brightly in a rather dark and difficult world.

Jesus Christ clearly showed that we are to be good neighbors to all, just as the “Good Samaritan” was a generous, loving and kind neighbor to the man who was set upon by thieves and abusers. The religious leaders of the day moved to the other side of the road and refused to get involved, but not the Samaritan who bound up the man’s wounds and went out of his way to care for him and to see that his health was restored.

May we all set such an example of loving care and generosity toward one another!

While in Oklahoma City I had opportunity to spend time fellowshipping and “breaking bread” in all the homes of our faithful elders and wives who serve and live in the area, Ralph and Pam Redline, David and Kim Nunn, and Jerald and Susan Kliewer. I also had opportunity to spend some extended time with the elders and wives from the Tulsa area: Bill and Donna Cagle, Stan and Denise Hopper, and Harold and Martha Clement.

Another benefit of this trip was to see our new church building in the Tulsa area. Ed Dowd, pastor of Tulsa and Oklahoma City, and his wife, RaeAnn, have done a marvelous job in leading and orchestrating the necessary improvements to the new building to make it fully functional for our brethren. Of course many, if not most, of our brethren have pitched in and contributed greatly in preparing the meeting hall for its big debut that took place with a combined service on the Feast of Trumpets. The Tulsa brethren had been meeting in the social hall of the building for a number of weeks, but this was the first meeting in the main hall.

In the morning service I spoke of five major impacts and outcomes of the return of the King of kings!

1. Rebellion will be squashed, smashed and eliminated in a great war at Christ’s return.
2. A new world government will be established.
3. World peace will be the result of Christ’s return.
4. God’s law will be the standard and will go forth throughout the world.
5. The love of God will also be spread abroad throughout the earth.

It was a marvelous beginning with the Tulsa and Oklahoma City brethren combining for two services with a wonderful luncheon between services.

Still another reason for this trip was to honor two very dedicated and faithful servants of nearly 50 years, John and Merrie Elliott. John’s official retirement date is Sept. 15, but this event provided the perfect opportunity to show our appreciation and to honor them both. We did so after our first service, as I presented a card and gift certificate from Mr. and Mrs. Victor Kubik and Ministerial and Member Services. Also, a beautiful crystal globe of the world with their names engraved upon it, along with Ephesians 4:11-12 and the Church’s mission of “Preaching the Gospel” and “Preparing a People” for the return of Jesus Christ was presented to them. How appropriate on the Feast of Trumpets!

Ed Dowd, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott, also presented a welcome gift to them from the congregation, as the Elliotts recently relocated to the Tulsa area to be near their daughter, RaeAnn, and three of their many grandchildren.

I greatly appreciate the hospitality of the Dowd family and all that they do to faithfully serve our brethren in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

I arrived safely home to Cincinnati where Barbara and I, as well as all of you, anxiously await observing the Day of Atonement and going on to the Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day festivals! May we all be safe and enjoy God’s blessings as we worship and honor Him and celebrate the return of His Son, the King of kings!

May you all have a very peaceful Sabbath and truly inspiring Feast of Tabernacles!