The meaning of God's holy days parallel the doctrines of Hebrews 6 and outline our path of spiritual growth. Physical harvests in ancient Israel depended upon the early rains of fall which caused the seeds to germinate and grow along with the latter rains of spring necessary for the grain crops to grow to maturity. These rains symbolize the outpouring of God's holy spirit in individual lives by baptism, which enables spiritual growth and, eventually, the great spiritual harvest to come.

Donald Ward

Elder, United Church of God

Before his retirement in 2021, Dr. Donald Ward pastored churches in Texas and Louisiana, and taught at Ambassador Bible College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has also served as chairman of the Council of Elders of the United Church of God. He holds a BS degree; a BA in theology; a MS degree; a doctor’s degree in education from East Texas State University; and has completed 18 hours of graduate theology from SMU.