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| A Man of Faith and Courage | Jan-Feb 96 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Over 46 years ago, I met a remarkable man. This man radiated faith and courage far more than anyone I had ever known. God was indeed real to him. And he made God more real to me than anyone else had ever done. This man was very human. he himself confessed he had faults and imperfections. But they were all up front. If you were perceptive, you could easily see them. |
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| Are We "Legalists"? | May-June 95 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Detractors often accuse the members of the Global Church of God of being "legalists." This, of course, is intended as a big put down---a way of frightening people away from our Church and the Work of Jesus Christ is doing through us. Why are we called this? Probably people want to imply that we are too strict in teaching and adhering to God's law---especially the letter of the law. |
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| Be Warm and Welcoming | Festival Planner 98 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro:
Separated brethren are beginning to come with the Global Church of God. And dozens more "brand new" people are also beginning to attend. But how should these new people be received? Remember when you first attended? Were the local brethren warm and welcoming? Or did some seem to be cold and distant? No doubt many of you have found memories of brethren greeting you, inviting you over for dinner, calling when you were sick. |
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| By Whose Power? | June-July 97 GCN p 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: We talk and write a great deal about "overcoming" in the Global Church of God. And so does the Bible. In Revelation 2:26, Jesus is speaking directly: "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations." And again: "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (3:21). |
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| Careful What You Say! | May-June 96 GCN p 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Reflecting on the current problem in the Church, which is discussed in m y lead article in this issue, it is evident that much of the problem involves our use of the tongue. We have all got to be more careful in what we say! It seems that several individuals out in the field churches have become "information centers" to the rest of the Church. They probably pride themselves on this. Apparently not having much else to do, they spend a LOT of time on the telephone---or in writing letters and messages---relaying the "news." |
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| Christ Is the LIVING Head | Oct-Nov 97 GCN p 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Because of the upsets and divisions among God's people, many seem to have lost their perspective. They seem to have forgotten that Christ is the LIVING Head of the true Church of God! Strangely, a number of purported "leaders" of various groups act as though Christ had been "asleep at the switch" from 1934 to 1986. Yet those were the years of the powerful ministry of Herbert W. Armstrong. They were the years of the greatest growth in God's Church in modern times---and the years of its greatest IMPACT by far in preaching the Gospel. |
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| Council of Elders Appointed | Mar-April 95 GCN p. 2 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Following Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong's example, we have established a Council of Elders in the Global Church of God. As this is a very important step forward, I want to tell all of you about this Council because it certainly represents spiritual growth and maturity in the Global Church. |
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| Courage | Post-Festival 97 GCN p 2 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: One of the main characteristics God appreciates in a man or woman is courage. When we contemplate the lives of Abraham, Esther, Daniel---and certainly Jesus of Nazareth---we see rich examples of courage in many different and trying situations. Abraham was willing to leave his home, his country and everything he had ever known to travel to a land where he had never gone before. Just why would he do this? Because God instructed him to! |
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| Don't Be Fooled | Sept-Oct 95 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Probably most of you reading this have heard my two sermons on Galatians. I tried to be very technical and very specific---literally "drilling" the listeners on the ways modern preachers so often pervert Paul's writings. Why? Because during the years I was in a sort of "exile" in Glendora, California, I determined that if I ever got a chance again to help lead God's people I would strive with all my heart to ensure that they would not be fooled again. I was literally sickened---as were many of you---by the cunning twists of reasoning that were used to undermine the truths of God. |
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| Do You Hate Evil | July-Aug 98 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: As we fully explain in this issue, nothing is more important than Christian love and outflowing concern toward God and toward our fellow humans. Nothing. Nevertheless, a vital counterpoint to this wonderful and all encompassing truth is that we must truly learn to hate---not the people who perpetrate evil, but evil actions themselves. |
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| Do You Really Stand for Something? | Mar-April 96 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: In this swift-moving, godless society, each one of us had better take the time to decide what we really believe in---what we're willing to "fight" for and, if need be, die for. Today's materialistic, secular culture is almost overwhelming in its influence on most who call themselves Christian. |
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| Feed on Christ | July-Aug 95 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: The vast majority of brethren who have come with the Global Church of God have done so because of one thing and one thing only---the Truth. You knew that the leaders in this Work not only teach the Truth but sincerely try to live by it as well. With God's help, we will NEVER let you down. But will that alone keep you from falling away? From giving in to sin or to vanity? From getting your "feelings" hurt? |
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| How Do You Picture Yourself? | Jan-Mar 97 GCN p 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Each of us has a mental self-image---the way we picture ourselves. A young man might say, "I'm Joe Jones, high school football player." To him, that's the most important thing he is. Now his mother may wish he would think of himself more often as her son, or at least as a member of the Jones family. His father might want Joe to begin picturing himself more as a future businessman---and begin taking steps toward that goal. But for now, Joe's mental image of himself is of a high school athlete---a strong young man to be admired by his peers. |
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| Keeping the Feast Is VITAL! | July-Aug 96 GCN p 2 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: The Feast of Tabernacles will soon be upon us! Are you faithfully saving your second tithe so that you can have a joyous, abundant Feast? have you made your reservations to attend a Global Feast site with your brethren? In His inspired Word, God makes it exceedingly clear that this issue is of paramount importance to Him: "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain" (Zech. 14:16-17). |
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| Living by Faith | Sept-Oct 96 GCN p 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: All of us in the Church know that we're living in momentous times. Man does have the capacity to annihilate himself. Food and water shortages are increasing. And the general trend of crime and violence when compared to a decade ago---especially youth violence---is up. As the Bible says, "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13). |
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| Testing Time | Aug-Sept 97 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Forty-five years ago this spring, I graduated from Ambassador College. Having been sent out on a nationwide baptizing tour with Raymond F. McNair the previous summer, I was now---during the summer of 1952---the leader of a tour that covered much of the United States and even included a brief visit or two in western Canada. |
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| Time to Give Thanks | Nov-Dec 95 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: With a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles just behind us, and with the American Thanksgiving Day approaching, it is a good time to consider how much we in God's Church have to be thankful for! Most of us are living in nations where we have almost complete religious freedom. We all have the awesome privilege of really knowing the true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We know why we are alive, where we are going and how to get there. |
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| We Are Now Being Tested | Nov-Dec 96 GCN p. 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Having just experienced a joyous Feast of Tabernacles, we in the Global Church of God must now move forward and spiritually grow more than ever before. God is opening---and will yet open---marvelous doors to help us get out His Message if we're truly yielded and surrendered to Him. |
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| Will You "Hang in There"? | Jan-Mar 98 GCN p 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Down through time one of the truly great qualities of men and women of character has been perseverance. They didn't give up and quit. They didn't turn aside from doing what's right. They persevered. God has given us these past five years to continue teaching the Truth through the Work of the Global Church of God. Although we are certainly far from perfect, thousands of knowledgeable, thinking individuals---even those not in our fellowship---acknowledge that we in the Global Church of God are teaching the Truth and doing the Work more along the lines Christ guided Mr. Herbert Armstrong than is any other organization on earth. |
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| Will You Willingly Suffer for Jesus Christ? | Sept-Oct 98 GCN p 3 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: International incidents with prophetic implications continue to dominate the headlines! The recent savage attacks on American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, coupled with U.S. counterstrikes on a terrorist training base in Afghanistan and an alleged chemical weapons plant in the Sudan have heightened international tension to levels we have not seen in recent years. With the threat of many more attacks to come from international terrorists, along with continued counterstrikes, a time of trial and testing is beginning to come upon the United States in a way it has probably never experienced before. |
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Open Letter
| Open Letter | Mar-April 95 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Greetings! As I reported to you in the recent co-worker letter, four hundred faithful, zealous brethren---who are the backbone and muscles of God's Church---and a score of ministers and elders have come with the Global Church of God over the last two months. Our total church attendance is now well over 4000. Our community of faith is growing! As you know, Evangelist Colin Adair and his wife, Margaret, have joined us and are already serving God's people in the south Florida area. |
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| Open Letter | May-June 95 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Greetings from San Diego! Thank you all so much for your loyalty and prayers. God's Work around the globe continues to GROW in every way. Reports are just now coming in on the response to The World Ahead television program on the VISION Cable Network in Canada. It appears that hundreds of people called in, and the Canadian brethren and ministers are very enthusiastic over the first telecast and appreciated its hard-hitting message. |
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| Open Letter | July-Aug 95 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Greetings from San Diego! God continues to bless the Work in many different ways, Hundreds of new brethren continue to come with us---and God is also providing more ministers and leaders for the Work. Dr. Winnail and his wife Sherry, have just come with the Global Church. |
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| Open Letter | Sept-Oct 95 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: We are fast approaching the joyous autumn Festival season. It is almost time for four of God's commanded annual Festivals to be observed. We true Christians today are "pioneers." We have the tremendous opportunity to set the pace---to wholeheartedly keep these vital Holy Days and learn the lessons God wants His future leaders to know. |
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| Open Letter | Nov-Dec 95 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: My family and I have just returned from a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles celebration. Though we had human problems and "growing pains" in a few areas, literally scores of brethren I have talked with felt that this year's Feast was truly outstanding! My family was able to attend the Feast both at Niagara Falls and Lake of the Ozarks, and the enthusiasm, warmth and love were overwhelming. The weather was almost perfect in each area and we were grateful to see so many wonderful brethren there and to feel their warmth and appreciation for the work we are doing. Thank you! |
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| Open Letter | Jan-Feb 96 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Greetings from San Diego! The Work of the Living Christ keeps expanding in every way. Your telephone calls keep pouring in, more new brethren are attending Global each week and, as you know, we're adding new, widely watched television stations. Let me remind you again to watch our program on the new stations in Shreveport and Nashville! |
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| Open Letter | Mar-April 96 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: As you will see in accompanying articles, we had a wonderful Ministerial Conference in late January and the spirit of love and unity was really profound. We were all very grateful for Christ leading in this conference---and for the Work He is using all of us to do as His instruments. |
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| Open Letter | May-June 96 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: I hope and pray that all of you had a wonderful Passover season! Many fine reports have now come in about the excellent sermons and fellowship during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Encouragingly, a number of "brand new" people are beginning to attend with us in the United States and Canada. Such early "fruit" is coming even though, as I write this, we have not yet been on TV even one full year! Once the telecast has been aired for at least 18 to 24 months on a number of stations, undoubtedly hundreds of new people will begin to request visits. We have much to be thankful for. |
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| Open Letter | July-Aug 96 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: From what I hear, all of us had a wonderful Pentecost! Attendance was up in San Diego. The offerings were up. And I heard fine comments about the sermons everywhere. I was privileged to spend this Pentecost weekend in the Atlanta, Georgia, area with a record number of brethren in attendance. The enthusiasm was infectious and the brethren inspired me as much as I, hopefully, did them. I was especially encouraged to meet five new brethren who had never previously attended any Church of God before coming to Global. |
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| Open Letter | Sept-Oct 96 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Thank you for your faithfulness to God and to the Work of the Living Christ! I deeply appreciate the excellent response to my latest co-worker letter. The daily income has been up a fair amount---and for that we are very thankful. I arrived back here two weeks ago from our Global Youth Camp in Wyoming. I had the opportunity while there to participate in many activities with the young people---riflery archery skeet shooting, white-water river rafting (boy did I get wet!) and horseback riding. |
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| Open Letter | Nov-Dec 96 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: What a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles we have just completed! During the first half of the Feast, my family and I had an inspiring and uplifting visit to the Lake of the Ozarks. Nearly 1,000 brethren were registered there. The weather in the Ozarks was almost perfect and the sermons, sermonettes and warm fellowship were all encouraging and uplifting. |
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| Open Letter | Jan-Mar 97 GCN p. 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: As I dictate this letter, we have now completed exactly four full years in the Global Church of God and this Work to which God has called all of us. We are indeed grateful to have the opportunity to carry on the tradition of doing God's Work along the same lines as His faithful servant, Herbert W. Armstrong. Many people make fun of Mr. Armstrong and put him down. But the vast majority of those same people need to ask themselves the question, "Would I even be in God's Church if it were not for the Work that Jesus Christ did through Mr. Armstrong?" |
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| Open Letter | June-July 97 GCN p 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: As we approach the Pentecost season, all of us need to think more and more about the promised Holy Spirit---and what it should be doing in our lives. We are all very human---still in this human flesh. But we have the promise of a wonderful Helper---the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost time, each of us should ponder, "How much have I really CHANGED since my baptism? How much have I grown in this past year? Am I truly reflecting Jesus Christ more and more in everything I think, say and do?" |
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| Open Letter | Aug-Sept 97 GCN p 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Christ's Work continues to grow in every way, including income, which is still edging up through your prayers and financial support. Thank you all for y our love and loyalty. As I write, many of our "separated brethren" are beginning to take a closer look at Global. In fact, dozens have started attending with us in recent weeks. We are grateful for this, but we all need to do even more to be a light to those who might join our ranks and to let them know that Global is not "harsh" or "legalistic." And we need to extend a warm, welcoming hand of friendship to these people when they start attending with us. |
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| Open Letter | Post-Festival 97 GCN p 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: By all reports, this Feast of Tabernacles---with more than 6.900 in attendance---was the most inspiring and unifying that most of us have experienced in many years! My wife and I traveled to both Niagara Falls in Canada and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. At both locations, the love, warmth and zest of the members was remarkable---and we had a truly wonderful Feast. What a joy to see hundreds of you brethren again in person. And the accounts we hear from nearly all the Feast sites tell a similar story! So we have much to be thankful for! |
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| Open Letter | Oct-Nov 97 GCN p 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: As we enter the autumn Holy Day season, I hope all of us will be re-energized and inspired by God's awesome plan and our part in it. We picture through these God-commanded Festivals the soon-coming return of Jesus Christ, the banishment of Satan, Christ's glorious 1,000-year reign and the salvation of all mankind. As we do so, we all need to focus more fully on the Kingdom of God. We must NOT allow ourselves to be distracted by the concerns of everyday life. We must not overcome by the "thorns" of this world that Jesus described in His parable (Matt. 13:22). |
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| Open Letter | Jan-Mar 98 GCN p 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Having entered the year 1998, it will be helpful to review who we are, where we have been and our GOALS for this year and beyond. One of the great weaknesses afflicting many Christians is that they get their eyes off the BIG PICTURE. They fail to set GOALS for their lives and to consistently work toward those goals. |
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| Open Letter | Festival Planner 98 GCN p 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Greetings from San Diego! As this spring Holy Day season draws to a close, it's important that we think deeply about the meaning of Pentecost as it affects us personally. Most of us have repented and have been baptized. We accept Christ's sacrifice for our sins and received the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. Together we are to be the "firstfruits" of God's spiritual harvest (Lev. 23:17). The Apostle Peter tells all of us who are truly converted, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" (I Peter 2:9-10). |
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| Open Letter | July-Aug 98 GCN p 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: Most of us have had a wonderful Pentecost season! Since then, growth in the Work has continued and we are still receiving nearly 50% more responses to the telecast than we were a year ago---but with virtually no added stations. Because the response from Canada has been so outstanding (we've been on television there longer), my wife and I flew to Toronto for Pentecost weekend to hold an "open service" to which we invited several hundred of our subscribers in the Toronto area. With 80 new people, it was an inspiring occasion and, hopefully, will lead to more such semipublic meetings in the future. We do need to reach the people of this world with the "whole counsel of God" whenever possible. |
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| Open Letter | Sept-Oct 98 GCN p 1 | R. Meredith | No |
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Intro: I hope all of you had an encouraging and profitable summer. I've already heard that many of you certainly did. As mentioned elsewhere in these pages, the Church conducted an excellent summer activity for our young people---the Global Youth Camp in Michigan. A second camp was held in Wyoming, which we'll read about in just a moment. |
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