The UCG
Canadian Report
UPDATED April 13, 2007
Hello;
It has been some time since there has been an office update. The office
staff has been very busy with a number of projects. In addition, this is
one of the years when our fiscal year ends almost exactly as the spring
Holy Day season begins. Hopefully your spring Holy Day season got off to
a fine start.
Our fiscal year ended March 31 with income for the year being more than
budgeted. For that we are very grateful.
In the first three months of the calendar year we added nearly 1,500 new
subscribers to The Good News magazine. As of March 31, we had 11,692
subscribers on file. (Already in April we will be adding about 350 new
subscribers.)
Incoming mail from January to March of this year is higher than the same
period last year. Especially encouraging is the increasing number of
internet subscription and literature requests we’re receiving – nearly
3,000 since January 1, 2007. By the end of April, we will have received
more internet requests than we did in all of 2004. These requests
currently make up more than 50% of our total incoming mail. At the
current rate, we could end the year with about 10,000 such requests –
about 30% more than last year’s record number of internet requests.
All this incoming mail is resulting in a lot of outgoing mail. For the
first three months of 2007, the average number of items distributed per
month stood at 14,822. (That’s about 500 pieces per month more than last
year).
In addition to the increase in internet subscription and literature
requests, we are also receiving a number of responses to the semi-annual
letter sent in February. To date, we’ve had over 750 responses to the
letter and we’ve added a large number of people who are now receiving
the Bible Study Course (as offered in the letter).
Over the past few weeks, we also began sending renewal letters to about
2,500 subscribers to The Good News magazine. Responses to the letter are
coming in already but have yet to be tabulated.
More recently, the donation statements for the first quarter of calendar
year 2007 were printed. They, along with a supply of donation envelopes,
will be mailed as soon as possible. (Because the Holy Days fall in April
this year, donations for the Days of Unleavened Bread will be included
in the second quarter donation statements).
This week saw the delivery of our newest booklet, The New Covenant: Does
It Abolish God’s Law? It will be mailed to members and others who have
requested it as soon as possible. Several hundred copies will be mailed
out initially.
Also keeping the staff busy are the responses to the Beyond Today
television program. To date we’ve received 1,548 responses in all.
Almost 75% of those responses have been new additions to our file while
the remaining 25% are from people already on file. We’ve added over 900
new subscribers to The Good News magazine since the program began airing
in May of 2006. Last week’s program set several records. The program was
entitled, “Christians Who Don’t Keep Easter” and offered our Holidays or
Holy Days booklet. The total number of responses came to 88 – a record.
Of those, 54 were from the program itself and the remaining 34 – also a
record – were from the beyondtodaytv.ca website. The phone responses to
the TV program came from 8 provinces. The average number of responses
per program is steadily increasing.
Attendance at the First Day of Unleavened Bread is down very slightly
from last year’s record. Figures for Passover and the Last Day of
Unleavened Bread are incomplete.
We certainly have much to be thankful for as we begin our new fiscal
year and as we continue through the spring Holy Day season. Pentecost
isn’t too far off and will be here before we know it.
With that, on behalf of the office staff, I wish everyone an enriching
Sabbath.
With warmest regards,
Edwin van Pelt
UPDATED March 23, 2007
Hello Everyone:
Anthony Wasilkoff
We know that Jesus Christ had to die for the sins of the world. We recognize that He laid down his life for us collectively and individually. We realize that we must not take His sacrifice lightly and must partake of the Passover Service only in an appropriately worthy manner.
The apostle Paul identified a vital aspect of his ministry as the ‘ministry of reconciliation’ (II Corinthians 5:18-19). In virtually every congregation of the church, estrangements and hard feelings and even conflicts develop during the course of a year. And this is no surprise since the Holy Bible points out that even Paul and Barnabas had their differences (Acts 15:37-41) as did Paul and Peter (Gal. 2:7-14). However, they were able to address these situations and get past them, thus setting an example for all of us who were to follow.
None of us is always right. James 3:2 states: “For in many things we offend all” (KJV). It is hard for most of us to admit we have made mistakes and fallen short in our dealings with one another. It is easy for us to see the speck in the other person’s eye but it is so hard to see the beam in our own eye – and we hardly even notice the speck in ourselves at all. We all have failings and faults. All of us, without exception, are instructed to examine ourselves for those faults.
It is essential that we each do our part to make the congregation we attend a place of peace and safety where harmony and cooperation abound. When problems occur, we must go to our brother – and not to someone else, about our brother. This is the Matthew 18 formula that virtually every Christian knows about but finds so difficult to put into practice. One element that is essential for this to succeed is to be sure that each of us is “easy to be entreated” (James 3:17). In that sense each of us must strive to be approachable and easy to talk to.
During this time of year, let us especially remember the brethren who are isolated and not able to assemble with fellow believers on a regular basis. Hopefully most of the scattered members will be able to meet with others on at least one of the upcoming holy day occasions. Thank you for your continuing dedication to the Great God, your abiding faithfulness to your calling and your commitment to the Work of preaching the gospel. May this wonderful time of year yield the rich spiritual blessings it was designed to yield for you and your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Anthony Wasilkoff
UPDATED March 9, 2007
Hello:
With the imminent arrival of spring, winter will once again be behind us
for another year. Another related event will also soon be upon us that
being the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. Time goes by quickly it
seems.
Here are a few highlights from the past few months:
Sabbath attendance in January 2007 was up 4.2% over January 2006.
A few weeks ago, the donation receipts for 2006 were mailed out. (If
your copy has not arrived by now it is important to contact the office
before the end of this month for a replacement.)
In February we also sent out semi-annual letters to over 6,500 readers
of The Good News. In the letter we offered the Bible Study Course as
well as the booklet, Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We
Keep? We’ve already received over 600 responses.
These responses have helped to increase the amount of incoming mail.
Even with the responses to the letter, over half the mail received this
year has been via the internet. We’ve already received more internet
requests in the first 67 days of the calendar year than we did in all of
2003.
We’ve received over 1,300 responses from the Beyond Today television
program and the beyondtodaytv.ca website. Three-fourths of the responses
are from new people with the balance coming from those already on file.
The five weeks with the highest number of responses have all occurred
since November 2006.
Our income for the fiscal year is running ahead of budget. We’re keeping
a close eye on our expenses so that everything is in line. (As you will
read in the report below, the budget for 2007-2008 was ratified by the
National Conference at its annual meeting on March 4).
We’re currently working on different projects at the office. Holy Day
Offering envelopes for the spring Holy Days will be mailed in the next
few days. We’re also working on another renewal program for subscribers
of The Good News magazine. This renewal program will be gradual and
ongoing. Even though a number of subscribers will not renew their
subscription, new subscribers are being added to our files weekly. In
January and February we have added over 900 new subscribers to our
files. Since the beginning of March another 200 subscribers have been
added. We have a lot to be thankful for, especially as we approach the
Passover.
Below is the report about the National Conference annual meeting held
earlier this week.
With that, on behalf of the office staff, I wish everyone an enriching
Sabbath,
Edwin van Pelt
National Conference 2007 Annual Meeting
Fifteen members of the National Conference, along with the secretary,
treasurer and legal advisor for the church, participated in a
teleconference on March 4.
In his address, the Director of Operations, Anthony Wasilkoff, focused
on the value of a sense of urgency. He referred to the mountain climbers
stranded on Mt. Hood and a young woman lost at sea. He showed from 1
Corinthians 9 how Paul felt urgent about preaching the gospel. When
Christ healed the blind man, He said, “I must work the works of Him who
sent me while it is day. The night is coming when no one can work.” We
are involved in a matter of spiritual life and death. We have a window
of opportunity open to us now. We have excellent publications by which
we can cast a spiritual life line to others. We must toil with a keen
sense of urgency.
In the stead of David Palmer, Dennis Horlick gave an update on behalf of
the Media Team. He gave statistics relating to recent Internet ads and
an update on the Beyond Today television program.
Robert Berendt, on behalf of the Ministerial Services Team, reported
that leadership development continues across the country. Currently, two
elders (Dennis Horlick and David Palmer) are participating in a six-week
training program for newly hired ministers. Last February, Canadian
feast coordinators attended festival planning meetings in Dallas, Texas.
Treasurer Edwin van Pelt, discussed finances past, present and future.
We have once again received a clean bill of financial health via the
annual audit. For the first time ever, we are not applying for a subsidy
from UCGia. Our work is a work of faith and we do have much to be
thankful for (Colossians 2:15).
During his address, the Chairman, Rainer Salomaa, discussed the various
stages of boards. In Stage 1, the administration is barely selected and
the board handles many administrative matters. In Stage 2, the board
works with a small staff. During that stage, the board is pretty
controlling and has to struggle at not micromanaging. Now in stage 3,
the board has many crucial policies created. The staff is now capable
and experienced. The board can focus more on governing, policy
development and strategic planning. The chairman closed by reading
sections of 2nd Corinthians 4.
The secretary reported the ballot results. The 2006 Minutes, Auditor’s
Report, Strategic Plan, Operations Plan and budget for 2007-2008 were
all approved. All four proposed amendments were ratified and are now
part of our bylaws. Three individuals were selected to begin a
three-year term on Council. They are: Dr. Ian Simons, Rainer Salomaa and
Joseph Sheperd. Dr. Simons replaces David Campbell whose term expires at
the end of March.
The last item of business was to approve the date of the next annual
meeting. The meeting concluded with some discussion, questions and
suggestions.
Following the National Conference, the National Council met via
teleconference in executive session. Rainer Salomaa was chosen to remain
as Chairman for another three years.
Rainer Salomaa (chairman) & Linda Wasilkoff (secretary)
UPDATED February 16, 2007
Hello Everyone:
Why is genuine peace so hard to come by? Virtually everyone on this
planet would say that he wishes to have peace.
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Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and will soon return to this earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is hard for some to understand and to accept that when the Son of God returns one of the first things he will do is to wage war. Revelation 19:11 declares, “He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” Only He knows how to wage war righteously and in order to begin the process of establishing world peace that is exactly what He will do.
In the world today we don’t have the kind of peace that we could or should have. However, in the church there should be peace. In our congregations there should be peace. In our marriages and families there should be peace. Not that long ago the words of a popular song had this refrain: “Let there be peace on earth – and let in begin with me.” As this song teaches, the onus is on each of us individually to do everything we can to be sure we promote peace and harmony in every human relationship that we are a part of.
James 2:18 states: “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” To the church in the city of Thessalonica Paul wrote: “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you …. Be at peace among yourselves” (I Thes. 5:12-13). To the church in Rome Paul was inspired to write: “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace….” (Rom. 13:19). This doesn’t come naturally. If it did, there wouldn’t need to be so much Scriptural admonition to that end. It is only by God’s help that we can achieve what is divinely prescribed for practicing Christians everywhere.
When peace is lacking in any of our relationships, in or out of the church, we need to ask ourselves what we individually or collectively might have done differently. In these situations it is vitally important they we are part of the solution and not part of the problem. The human tendency is to be greatly troubled and annoyed by the mote in the other person’s eye while neglecting the beam that is in our own eye. The Passover is only six weeks away from this Sunday. Now is the season for serious introspection and self examination as we prepare to commemorate the most sacred occasion of the year.
During the past two weeks, the National Office mailed nearly 6,600 subscriber development letters to recipients of The Good News magazine coast to coast. In the letter we offered the Bible Study Course and the Holidays or Holidays booklet. Responses started to come in almost right away by telephone. Mail responses are beginning to come in at an encouragingly good rate.
The Beyond Today television program continues to reach Canadians right across the country week by week. To date the National Office has received a total of 1,155 responses. We look forward to receiving many more as the program is shown to more Canadian households as the network we are on expands and reaches a greater share of the market.
Thank you dear brethren for your faithfulness to the high calling God has graciously granted us and for your commitment to the end-time work He has given to us to collectively accomplish.
Sincerely,
Anthony Wasilkoff
3,396