Vol. 15, No. 7 www.ucg.org August 2009 News Faithful Members Provide Feast Cattle, the At a Glance Sermon Video Inspiration Church and Senior Pastor Appointed the Gospel: for British Isles Why Branding Ministerial Services, in conjunc- tion with Peter Hawkins and the min- Is Important istry in the British Isles, would like to announce the appointment of Paul for UCG Suckling as senior pastor for Britain. Mr. Suckling’s work will be focused ■ Two branding agencies on ministerial and congregational met with members of the development. In fulfilling this role he will work with Peter Hawkins, who Council of Elders Media manages the day-to-day work of the Committee along with Church in the British Isles and works with the National Council. key administrators at the Mr. Suckling is currently serving as home office on Sunday, the regional pastor for the northeast- July 19, to discuss how ern region in the United Sates and also pastors congregations in Portsmouth, the Church can be more New Hampshire, and Worcester, Mas- effective by developing sachusetts. A new regional pastor will be appointed for the northeastern a brand. Both agencies region later this year. In the meantime, are associated with the Mr. Suckling will continue to fill that position as well. Church. Four other local Jim Franks agencies are scheduled to present ideas on Aug. 6. GN Commentary Gets by Larry Salyer THREE BOYS read an article in Bonne Nouvelle, the French Good News magazine, in Kigali, Rwanda, on June 20 Over 40,000 Views (photos by Peter Eddington) Cattle have always been a valu- On June 26, the Media department by Peter Eddington Four Amazing Stories living righteously, when the odds are able possession, and no owner likes filmed a GN commentary by Clyde The stories of four members and against us? To hear the inspiring to see even one go missing. Ranchers Kilough titled “Michael Jackson’s During the month of June, the their families are covered. Without answers to these questions and more, who manage vast herds are especially Funeral” one day after the pop musi- Media and Communications Ser- “spilling the beans” and preempting make sure to view the sermon video careful not to leave their cows easy cian died. Over the course of the next vices department, on behalf of Min- the video, the stories come from sev- at this year’s Feast of Tabernacles, prey for rustlers and thieves. month, 15,152 people viewed it on isterial Services, began filming the eral corners of the globe: Texas, North wherever you may be attending. Hundreds, if not thousands of years YouTube and a record 23,856 people 2009 Feast sermon video. The film- Carolina, Nigeria and Rwanda! ago, humans learned how to mark cat- watched it on Yahoo Video. ing resulted in 40 to 50 hours of inter- We trust you’ll be encouraged to Thank You tle and other livestock to identify their Internet managing editor Aaron view footage that will later be edited seek the Kingdom of God more fer- As a side note and postscript, owner by putting a permanent sign or Booth commented about the unusually to the hour-long sermon video. vently as you hear our own members I would like to thank the many initials right into the cow’s hide. This high response on Yahoo video. “We congregations, mark was called a brand. had a lot of comments on the video,” he Theme of the members and said. “And all the comments were in Video f r iends who prayed See “Branding,” page 5 Spanish—except for one.” He went on The faithful example for my recovery to explain that it is possible that a Span- of the membership of and health after I Inside: God’s Church provides contracted dengue See “News at a Glance,” page 2 the core material for fever while on 2 Profile: New Council Member Melvin this year’s sermon vid- assignment in Rhodes; Forward! The Value of United Statistics eo. The inspiring stories Africa for this very Volunteers of dedication to God’s video. 3 Around the World: Zimbabwe, verticalthought.org way of life, despite sore While still low Philippines, Guatemala and more Total Unique Visitors trial and adversity, are on energy and 4 United Youth Corps Zambia; United for 2008-2009 fiscal year an inspiration to all of weak at times, I Youth Camps Reports 100,000 us as we seek the King- now expect a full 6 Congratulations, College Graduates dom of God. recovery thanks 8 Congratulations, High School Graduates Romans 14:17-18 is to God. I’m sorry the key scripture for Video editor Clay Thornton films as minister Oludare Akinbo that I cannot per- 10 From the Word: And Such Were Some of You, Living a Life That Makes the video, providing gives a Wednesday evening Bible study in Nigeria sonally reply to a Difference the background theme: the more than a 50,000 “For the kingdom of God is not eating tell their stories that have increased hundred cards and notes that arrived. 12 Treasure Digest: Four Enemies of Faith, A Blessing in Disguise; Turning the and drinking, but righteousness and their faith in God—despite hardship, The encouragement of our member- Hearts; Children’s Corner peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For trial or persecution. ship gave me much strength through he who serves Christ in these things How can we have peace and joy, this difficult health trial. UN 13 Local Church Updates is acceptable to God and approved by even while going through difficulties? Peter Eddington is Media and Com- 14 Announcements Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 men.” How can we focus on the Kingdom, munications production manager. 16 What’s New on the Web? 2 UnitedNews August 2009 United Church of God, an International Association News Profile: New Council Member Melvin Rhodes At a Glance Melvin Rhodes, pastor of the Lansing, Michigan, congregation, Breaking Free Journal, an online publication that offers articles of was recently selected as a Council of Elders member at the General support and encouragement to those in the Church who are battling Conference of Elders annual meeting in May of this year. certain addictions and difficulties. The online journal can be found Continued from page 1 Mr. Rhodes was born in the north of at breakingfree.ucg.org. In addition, he England and came into the Church after regularly contributes articles to The Good ish version of Yahoo Video pulled it hearing the radio broadcast on Radio 270, News and United News. from the English language site, increas- one of the “pirate” stations that operated In 2001 he was asked to be the senior ing the amount of coverage. off the coast of England up until August pastor for Ghana. One of the key factors for the high 1967. His four years at Ambassador College in response, according to Mr. Booth, was He then attended Ambassador College in Bricket Wood and his four years in Rhode- the timeliness of the news topic. “It’s Br icket Wood where he met h is wife, Diane, sia were great inf luences on his life, as was important with the commentaries that who came from Detroit, Michigan. They his father who, although an atheist, was we be timely in the news and to antici- were married in 1975 and have three chil- very interested in world affairs. pate the news, which we were able to dren. They now have four grandchildren. As he begins to serve on the Council, do with the keywords ‘Michael Jack- They spent the f irst 15 years of their mar- Mr. Rhodes looks for ward to working with son Funeral.’” r ied lives in England and Afr ica. They lived the other members of the Council in build- At the time the commentary was in both Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and ing unity within the Church, finding ways posted, news programs were still Ghana. In 1990 they moved to Michigan to more effectively preach the gospel and reflecting on the events surrounding and have been attending the Lansing con- getting through the economic difficulties Michael Jackson’s death and had not gregation ever since. Diane and Melvin Rhodes caused by the global financial crisis. yet begun addressing the funeral event They have been in the United Church “Americans today are going through that was to take place on July 7. of God since its beginning, during which time Mr. Rhodes has many challenges, which are mostly of a financial nature, but those in By posting a GN commentary on spent most of his time pastoring and writing. He is a senior editor the Church are fully committed to supporting those whom God has his funeral before it was in the news, of World News and Prophecy. He is also the managing editor of called around the world.” UN we were able to capitalize on searches made over the next few days when it was more of a hot topic. We hope to be able FORWARD! The Value of Volunteers to anticipate news items and produce GN commentaries that address them. by Clyde Kilough when you think about it, God’s people are continu- by Church members would be to ask the impos- To watch this commentary and oth- ally giving of themselves in so many ways, often sible! ers, visit www.gnmagazine.org/video. Last week while on out of sight, behind the scenes. One cannot help but But in addition to this type of value, the Church Elizabeth Cannon vacation in California, ask, What kind of Church would we have without reaps many more intangible, incalculable com- Dee and I had a mar- the volunteers who freely give of their time, talents munal benefits through volunteerism.