Earlier this month we invited four people who represent the Northern Kentucky hospitality industry to be in the audience for the Beyond Today television program. One of the four, the conference manager at the Marriott Cincinnati Airport (where we held the General Conference of Elders meeting a few years back) wrote to us this week. I'd like to share her note with you:

"Thank you very much for the opportunity to attend the TV session at the UCG headquarters earlier this month. It was such a delight to meet all of you and see some of you from the General Conference of Elders Conference at our hotel from a few years ago. Your warmth and hospitality was so greatly appreciated. It was an honor to be a part of your event.

"Our conversation after watching the taping of Beyond Today did not end at the conclusion of the recording of your television program. I brought the information home and it opened a great conversation with my teens at dinner. Thank you for providing a great conversation starter (refresher). It's so important to know that my children are on track in their faith.

"It has been a delight to work with UCG in the past and I hope to have you to visit us in the future for lunch or see our updates and renovations. Again thank you for allowing us to be a part of a wonderful experience and meet you. I do hope to keep in touch.

"Yours in service,
Danyelle"

Next week we will be recording three more Beyond Today programs at the home office and once again anticipate a full studio audience.

Podcast this week

On the Inside United podcast, Steve Britt and I discuss apologetics after his recent sermon based on internal evidence in the Gospels. Steve and his wife, Danielle, just visited the home office. He spoke on this topic in his Sabbath sermon. We then decided to record a podcast based on what he presented: https://www.ucg.org/members/united-news/inside-united/inside-united-podcast-125-steven-britt-apologetics

Construction of Feast site in Nkhwazi, Malawi

Of special note this week is the work of our expatriates, Nick and Megan Lamoureux living in Malawi, who along with the Lilongwe congregation are continuing to develop one of our two Feast sites in Malawi. They have a very informative and picture-filled blog at https://outofvermont.travel.blog/.

Chaos in Haiti

I asked Caribbean senior pastor Chuck Smith to give me an up-to-date report about what's happening in Haiti:

"I wanted to give you an update on our brethren in Haiti and the volatile situation the entire country is facing. Some have called it civil disobedience, while others call it a civil war. No matter what you call it—it is sad and disturbing to most everyone, especially our brethren. In a country where it is difficult just finding work or food to survive, imagine trying to live a godly life where violence is a way of life. It's a life where every store, hotel and market has guards with shotguns patrolling the grounds and checking your every move. Haiti is a place where everything not behind block walls is fair game. And yet, God has raised up a rapidly-growing church.

"Our brethren, for the past few weeks, have been protected. But, we have many who could not get safe passage to church each week. Roadblocks and thugs looking to rob have made life even more complicated. Thankfully our church hall is truly a 'sanctuary' for most of our brethren. Our hall is behind 10-foot-tall block walls with razor wire on the top. We have secure steel doors to keep everyone safe once they enter the compound.

"We had hoped to have our long-planned and uplifting Learning Center up and functioning this week, but due to the violence we have had to cancel the classes that were planned for the next six weeks to teach English and Computer Skills to 14 students, which, when completed, would have put them in the top five percent of the country job skill-wise. But all is not lost, as we will continue to hope and pray for a more peaceful time in the months ahead. Youth Corps and Good Works have made this dream possible and we will find a time with God's blessing when we can finish this dream. Our brethren are all safe and we have been able to provide extra food for those times when traveling on the roads is prohibited and food is scarce. Deacon Joseph Jean is seeing to the physical and spiritual needs of our 100-plus brethren in Mirebalais.

"Tuesday, June 25, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution establishing a political mission starting October 16 that will officially replace the U.N. peacekeeping activities in Haiti. U.N. military peacekeepers left the country on Oct. 15, 2017, after 13 years—leaving only advisors to help reform the government. Will this bring some much-needed stability to Haiti? We can only hope and pray, since that is right in the middle of God's Feast of Tabernacles. I am praying we can have this year's Feast so the brethren can begin to have a greater picture of the peace and prosperity promised in the coming Kingdom of God. Thanks so much for everyone's prayers and support for God's people in this troubled country. I have not been able to travel to Haiti in the last month, but I am hoping for a small window of time so I can complete the FOT plans. God has shown His protection on every trip so far, and there is much to do since the 'fields are indeed ripe.'

"We have a blog at ucghaiti.blogspot.com for those who would like to keep up with God's Work in Haiti. We usually update it after each trip, but we will try to update it as we hear updates from Joseph Jean about the situation there."

Here is some additional information from the Good Works page about the Haiti Youth Corps project:

"Good Works and United Youth Corps are sponsoring a project in Haiti. This project will take place in Mirebalais in two sessions.

"On June 23 the first session of teaching English and computer skills in Haiti was to begin, providing invaluable skills for 14 individuals, and the framework for future classes. Unfortunately, with mounting political instability and violence in the country, with the safety of our volunteers in mind, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel session one.

"We are hopeful that the second session scheduled from July 14 to August 4 will proceed as scheduled. This project will provide an intensive six-week course in English and computers, with 14 students teaching English and basic computer skills. Both of these skills are highly sought after in employees in Haiti and will provide a significant economic advantage to the participants."

We request continued prayers for our Haitian brethren as they face these difficult circumstances.