Personal from the President

Count It All Joy

Today I'd like to share with you some of the positive outcomes and experiences of the past six months. We are all well-aware of the many trials that the world endures that also affect us. At the same time, we should remind ourselves of the blessings that God gives us. In one of our past hymnals we sang a refrain: "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God has done!" I'm going to do that now.

First, I'm thankful for waking up every morning and looking to another day of life, opportunity and doing good. God is our sustainer and gives us every breath. He is living in us and we in Him. That is a miracle and an awesome blessing.

I thank God for my wife, Beverly, my family, friends, coworkers and health. I'm thankful to understand the big picture of the times in which we live. While the world is hearing the ticking sound of the Doomsday Clock bringing the world closer to oblivion, we instead hear the ticking of the Kingdom Clock, heralding the coming Kingdom of God that will save this heartbroken world. We praise God by thanking Him. I often think of this passage in Hebrews 13:15: "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

Thanksgiving for the people I work with

I work with remarkable and positive people who radiate energy to their fellow workers. I work with various teams in all aspects of the work, whether it be ABC, International, the ministry or media. The apostle Paul describes so well what we already have: "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:1-4, emphasis added).

We celebrate each other's blessings and mutually encourage one another.

Some recent challenges have been with compliance for how many people can assemble at a particular Feast of Tabernacles site. We had to cancel some sites and are quickly finding others that comply with continually changing policies and regulations.

The COVID-19 lockdown was a jolt to all of us. But it is forcing us to do things differently. With continually advancing technology, we have been able to communicate amazingly well with one another. For example, we had to cancel our in-person General Conference of Elders meeting this past May, but that didn't stop us from holding some of the meetings effectively online.

During that conference, our ministerial wives conducted an online seminar that divided into smaller breakout rooms. As I was watching some of the meetings from the corner of my eye, I thought that this might also be a way to conduct some of our other sessions, namely ministerial training sessions.

One area of focus in coming ministerial training will be in speaking. This need was borne out in the Member Survey conducted earlier this year. Using web conferencing technology, we are planning to work with small groups of 10 or so minsters with a mentor who could help the group improve their speaking and preaching techniques.

What appeared as a rude halt to doing things the way we had always done them is now resulting in doing things differently and better.

Thanksgiving for our faithful brethren and ministry

Here's how Paul assessed the people that he served: "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God" (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4).

This is exactly my sentiment about our brethren and ministry. When COVID-19 struck, we feared that all the closed businesses, unemployment and economic havoc would negatively impact most of our brethren. However, generally, this is not the case. Overall, God has blessed our brethren and spared them from the worst of the hardships that have befallen others. In the last six months, our church income has remained healthy. The support for the Work of God has been extraordinary as people in a time of trial turn their thoughts to the needs of others.

During the lockdown, we have been able to do God's work with as much vigor as ever. We have produced new strong Beyond Today television programs and issues of the BT magazine without skipping a beat.

Our ministers have been innovative, resourceful and effective in caring for their congregations as they have paid particular attention to the vulnerable. While in-person church services were canceled, our ministry made sure that their congregations received Sabbath services via video conference, Facebook, telephone and other means. Our brethren have also networked with other online UCG church services, resulting in a healthy synergy. Many of our pastors write encouraging weekly newsletters to their churches. Unexpected necessities have produced innovative and resourceful inventions!

Staying at home has had its benefits as well. It has given us time to think, read, plan. I have kept in touch with people as much or more than ever before. I have not had to drive as much, and the time previously spent in a car has been put to more useful purposes. I've enjoyed working from home, although I look forward to being with my coworkers more in person again.

Changing the pace of life has been a blessing. Bev and I have talked more. We have picked up a tradition that we experienced while being with friends in Sweden. At certain times of day in Swedish society, everything stops—and people have a Fika. This is where coffee and cookies appear, and people talk to one another. We have implemented our daily Fika at 3 p.m. There's nothing like a Fika to talk over the affairs of the day.

I think of what Paul said about his ministry that had trials far greater than anything we've experienced and he could still say: "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13).