Home Office Weekly Update

Update on the Work of Preaching the Gospel

It’s hard to believe, but we are quickly reaching the halfway point of the 2025 calendar year. A lot is being accomplished at the home office.

Last week, Steve Myers gave an update on the many projects underway in Ministerial and Member Services. This week, President John Elliott has asked us to provide an update on the various aspects of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom so far this year.

As Jesus said to His disciples, and as He has instructed us to do: “I must preach the kingdom of God…because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Beyond Today magazine and booklets

To begin with, the July-August issue of Beyond Today magazine has a cover theme about the mysterious Mark of the Beast. The lead article is titled, “Identifying the Beast and Its Image” followed by a second piece, “The Mark and Number of the Beast,” both authored by Tom Robinson.

Writing is already underway for the September-October issue. The cover theme will most likely be about the United Nations’ 80th Anniversary, which occurs in October.

The U.N. had an idealistic beginning, but has a very sad record of success. We truly need our swords turned into plowshares, as depicted by the sculpture on the grounds of the U.N. headquarters in Manhattan. Only God can bring world peace. Our article about the United Nations will lead into a millennial-type article on “Ways Christ’s Rule Will Be So Wonderfully Different” by Becky Sweat.

In addition, manuscripts for three new booklets are nearing review stage. Their working titles so far are:

• “Modern Christianity’s Lost Roots: How Biblical Truths Were Changed into Lies.”
• “The History of Europe and the Church.”
• “Babylon.”

Bible Q&A videos and shorts

Our video production team continues to produce Bible Question and Answer videos, reels and shorts for posting on our website, YouTube and social media. The shorts and reels are excerpted from full-length Bible Q&As, Beyond Today videos, sermons, Ambassador Bible College classes, Bible studies and other materials.

Beyond Today TV

Production has commenced on new Beyond Today video content for airing on television, YouTube and social media channels. With an updated format and style, and with each program being just 13 minutes long, we believe these will perform very well. Darris McNeely, Steve Myers and Gary Petty have produced their first round of scripts, and we are back in the studio recording them.

Once the new format is tried, tested and settled upon, if all goes as currently planned we will hold screen tests and choose three new Beyond Today television presenters, to be mentored by Darris, Steve and Gary, who will then phase out of production.

In addition, timely content is being produced weekly to address breaking news and social issues of biblical relevance. The episode from last week by Steve Myers, “Time Is Running Out: What Iran and Israel’s Conflict Means for You,” has already generated more than 30,000 views and 110 comments.

Magnified episodes and shorts

Regular episodes of Magnified—which is geared towards young adults who are not in God’s Church—are being written and produced each week. In addition to the 5- or 6-minute episodes, we are also producing shorts and reels for YouTube and social media.

Top episodes include:

• “Could This Be the Last Pope Before the End of the World?” with 61,100 views.
• “What’s the Harm in Horoscopes,” with 31,000 views.
• “Maybe God Put Trump in Power, But Not for the Reason You Think,” with 22,900 views.

Jelly

As reported last week, production is underway on this summer’s episode of Jelly for kids: “The “Otterville Bible Bowl” game show. The completed episode will release in late July and full episodes of Jelly for kids can all be watched at ucg.org/members/kids/jelly.

Various promotional videos

Our very fine video production team is also working on numerous other projects during the coming six months:

• Ambassador Bible College promotional video.
• Feast of Tabernacles welcome video with John Elliott.
• Ongoing sermon video shorts and reels for social media.
• Winter Family Weekend support with video promotions and seminar recordings.
• United Youth Camps promotional video.
• Ads for Magnified promotion on Google AdWords and YouTube.
• Song leader training video.
• Mail Processing department instructional video, “How to Process Feast of Tabernacles Donations.”

And much more…

Of course, all of the above in many ways only scratches the surface of all we have going on at the home office in furtherance of the work of God’s Church:

• Daily processing of literature requests, donations and letters by Sarah Howard and our Mail Processing department.
• Regular publication of United News for our members and coworkers by Heidi Braun.
• Website development and maintenance by Aaron Booth and our Information Technology department.

Updates on additional home office projects will be outlined by Mr. Elliott in future Home Office Weekly Updates.

Prayers appreciated

We ask for you to please pray for our fellow workers at the home office, across the country and around the world. We have a huge task at hand to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) and to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that [Jesus] commanded” (Matthew 28:19-20, emphasis added throughout).

There is a cost that comes with our work. It is a very serious task. Jesus explained this very clearly in Luke chapter 9, verses 57 though 62:

“Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, ‘Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ Then He said to another, ‘Follow Me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.’ And another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

—Peter Eddington, Assistant to the President

Michigan Camping/Tubing Weekend—July 11–13

You are invited to join the West Michigan UCG congregations for a weekend of fellowship, camping and fun-filled outdoor adventure! There is a special outdoor Sabbath service on July 12 at Sandy Beach County Park in White Cloud, Michigan, and organized tubing trips on the Muskegon River for Sunday morning, July 13.

If you would like further details or a copy of the flyer advertising the event, contact Christina Morris at (269) 903-1902. A copy of the flyer may be downloaded here: West Michigan Weekend Flyer 2025.

Media and Communications Services—Job Opening Announcement

Website Content Editor – Part Time

The United Church of God has announced an opening for a part-time Website Content Editor to work at our home office in Milford, Ohio. The incumbent to this position will enhance relationships with website visitors and build stronger relationships through our website content.

Duties assigned may include:

• Update website literature, blogs and streaming media content.
• Assist with A.I. voiceovers of written UCG content.
• Organize and publish UCG video app content for streaming set-top boxes.
• Note which biblical topics and subjects will meet users' needs based on website traffic, interests and preferences.
• Collaborate with home office website and information technology personnel to improve the website experience and solve customer service issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

A high school education is necessary, and strong language, math, logic, reasoning and communication skills are required. An Associates degree in Computer Science is preferable.

Potential employees must be baptized members (in good standing) of the United Church of God. Applicants must be biblically literate and possess a thorough working knowledge of the doctrines, beliefs and practices of the United Church of God.

To apply and to upload your resume for this position, please visit this Web page: ucg.org/news/current-job-openings. Any specific questions about the position may be directed to human_resources@ucg.org.