Home Office Weekly Update

A Changing Atmosphere in the World

Greetings brethren around the world,

An old movie contained a line that goes something like this: “My! Things change so quickly around here!”

That may not be the exact line, but that sentiment certainly applies in today’s world. Since the Feast of Tabernacles, we have learned yet again the impact the United States (modern-day Manasseh) and its leaders have on the world.

In the last few weeks, it has been surprising to see the change in thinking and the overall “atmosphere” in the world. There was no violence, no major demonstrations or inflammatory rhetoric following the recent election that changed the direction of the United States. Some point to the positive effects seen in the stock market, the reported slower immigration on the southern border, the willingness of war-torn zones in Ukraine and the Middle East to engage in peace talks, and the departure from the “woke,” far-left policies that had led the nation, and even the world, into moral depravity.

There’s a different feeling in the world, it seems. “Peace, prosperity, security” are common refrains.

But, as we know, things can change quickly in this world. In times of calm and plenty, we as God’s people can fall prey to the allure and false comfort of a deceptive sense of well-being. God warns us in the good times to “not forget Him” (Deuteronomy 8: 11–18) and to stay focused on Him, His way and our calling. Guard your mind and heart, and do not slink into a false sense of complacency, thinking that His return may be far off.

As in the days of Noah

Christ warned His people in Matthew chapter 24 about how it was in the days of Noah. “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

He goes on to caution us to “be ready” and not be like the foolish virgins who were unprepared when the “bridegroom” made a surprise appearance.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:2–3 Paul reminds us that even in times when we may feel we can “relax,” we must intensify our relationship with God and our commitment to His way: “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

Paul goes on to say, as Christ did, that we should not be taken by surprise when this happens. Don’t fall asleep, he warns.

Brethren, let’s stay close to God. Embrace Him, and let us grow in the agape and unshakable faith we must have as the end times grow even closer. How long it will be before God determines “enough is enough” and this world is plunged into the perilous times ahead, only He knows.

In the meantime, individually and collectively, let us be doing His work, preaching and living His gospel and His way.

Launch of new UCG.org website

As His Church continues its God-given commission to preach the gospel in all nations, send a warning message to the House of Israel, and care and nurture the disciples God calls, a major step was recently taken in advancing these efforts.

The revised and updated UCG.org website made its debut a little over a week ago. As with any website revision and introduction, it has faced some challenges. There are some new ways for members to access the features they used before, and some new ones that they’ll come to appreciate.

The I.T. and website staff here at the home office, along with all of us, understand the frustration some of you have experienced during your first visit to the new site. Some of us have encountered the same issues and share the same questions. Let me assure you that our staff is hard at work to make adjustments to the system to address everyone’s concerns.

Just a quick note on how you can make the most of your experience on the website. Many have wondered why they need to “sign in.” Logging into the system offers several benefits. First, you’ll have access to your own personal “dashboard,” where you can store information you’ve seen for easy reference and continued study. You’ll also be able to donate online and track your donations at any time. Additionally, signing in gives you access to all sermons that are available in the members’ sermon portal, along with many other features.

Login issues

Another common question is about forgotten usernames or passwords. If that’s the case, first try resetting your password using the “Forget your password?” option to request a reset email.

If you do not receive a reset email message, it’s possible you don’t have an account with us at UCG.org. We did not migrate accounts that were inactive for a very long time. If needed, feel free to create a new account.

If you are still having trouble and the reset doesn’t work, please reach out to our I.T. and website departments for assistance. You can contact them directly at web_training@ucg.org and we’ll be happy to help. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Reporting bugs

If you find errors on the site or something that is not working, please use the “Bug Report” tab on the right side of the page, and please check the box, “Include data about your current environment, like the browser and page URL. This helps us understand your feedback better.”

All of us appreciate your patience as we introduce this system, which includes features that will enable us to better preach the gospel to the world, support those whom God is calling, and provide enhanced resources for study and biblical education in all areas of your life.

If you have questions or need help, let the staff know and they will take the time to assist you.

Thank you, brethren, for your support and for your commitment to God and His Work. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3, “We are [all] God’s fellow workers; [His] field. We are God’s building.” And we are family, all over the world, bound by His Holy Spirit and His truth.

Have a wonderful rest of this week and upcoming Sabbath day.

In Christ’s service,

Rick Shabi

COMING SOON: Daniel/Revelation Class Video Recordings

The next series of Ambassador Bible College class video recordings will be available soon. As you may recall, we previously released recordings of The Book of Acts by Darris McNeely, and Corinthians by Steve Myers. The upcoming video series will cover the books of Daniel and Revelation. Watch for them soon.

REMINDER: Winter Family Weekend Registration

The Cincinnati, Ohio Winter Family Weekend (WFW) is coming soon! Opening night is Tuesday, Dec. 24, with events running through Saturday evening, Dec. 28.

Please register all attendees in your household—even if you do not intend to participate in sports activities. This helps tremendously with planning for all the events and food we have in store. Continue to visit wfw.ucg.org frequently as we will soon be posting the schedule of events, food menus, hours of onsite restaurants and other important information.

WFW Children's Choir

Anyone aged 10 and older is welcome to sing in a choir piece for special music. It'll be a mix of multiple generations. We'd love to have some out-of-towners join the group and share in lifting our voices to God in praise. If you'd like to participate, please email Kourtney Kovanis for more information at kourtney.kovanis@gmail.com.