International News at a Glance

• Elders Visit Ethiopia and Kenya
• Open House Sabbath Held in Montreal
• French Circulation Doubling; Pastor Visiting Europe and Africa
• British Isles National Council Meets

Elders Visit Ethiopia and Kenya

On April 9, new elder Ed Dowd and senior pastor John Elliott traveled to East Africa for Passover and Unleavened Bread. One objective of the trip was to meet with interested Bible Study Course graduates in Ethiopia. The Good News is read by over 500 there and over 100 have graduated from the BSC .

Five new people attended. They were quite knowledgeable of Scripture and showed appreciation for our literature.

Afterward the elders journeyed to Kenya and visited congregations each day. They traveled through most of the places where recent tribal clashes killed some 1,500. Calm has returned to Kenya, and its citizens are busy again with the daily challenges of life there.

On the First Day of Unleavened Bread they ordained UCG's first-ever minister in East Africa, Antonio Thiong'o Ndung'u. The leaders reported that the brethren in all our congregations are stable and growing spiritually. Six people were baptized during the trip, and it concluded with a leadership conference in Migori. Photos and a daily blog of the trip can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/4rj7l2.

—John Elliott

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Open House Sabbath Held in Montreal

April 5 was a full Sabbath activity in Montreal, Quebec, as Joel Meeker presented a French sermon in the morning and then an English video of the French areas of UCG that he coordinates.

His French sermon focused on our Passover preparation and our need to recommit to God's calling without leaving "options" open. He explained that our present evil age has little commitment to anything. People "keep their options open," even within God's Church. He mentioned the example of the Spanish explorer Cortez, who deliberately burned his ships after landing in Mexico, so there could be no turning back. We have a need to fully commit ourselves to God's calling and be busy with that responsibility. Marjolaine Meeker translated the sermon into English.

In the afternoon Mr. Meeker presented a question-and-answer period about the African work, and then narrated an English video highlighting areas of Africa, along with their privations compared to our affluent first-world lifestyle. He concluded with an invitation to the Feast in France.

Of the 57 in attendance, 17 adults and children were from other Church of God affiliations. Kevin Ford from Toronto, Ontario, played the piano for hymns as well as presenting a special music piece by Chopin. Sandwiches were served at the lunch break with an afternoon tea at the end of the day. Many stayed to fellowship for an hour or more afterwards.

Another public lecture for Montreal is planned for next spring.

—Graemme Marshall

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French Circulation Doubling; Pastor Visiting Europe and Africa

Through Internet advertising and our French-language Web site, we continue to add subscribers to Bonnes Nouvelles (French GN). We are on track to double our modest circulation by the end of this fiscal year, going from 1,200 to 2,400, almost all of which will be direct subscribers.

In March the third lesson of the Bible Study Course in French was printed and has been sent to our member list.

We are receiving more and more mail, both electronic and airmail, from around the world. In March, for example, we received several queries from Muslim Algeria, including from a man who is very interested in our magazine and has serious questions about the difference between the Christianity of the Bible and Islam.

French pastor Joel Meeker is currently on a one-month trip that included France, Belgium and Switzerland for the Spring Holy Days, followed by visits to two countries in Africa. He is again meeting with the leaders of the group that has contacted us from Burundi, then going to Rwanda where Dr. Greg Swartz will spend two weeks giving free dental care to the Rwandan brethren, while also giving demonstrations and training in the latest techniques to local dentists. Tom Kirkpatrick, who has administered the Good Works program since its inception, will join them for several days to advise on this project and assist in the effort to gain government recognition for the Church, as well as give a sermon to the Rwandan brethren on the Sabbath.

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British Isles National Council Meets

The National Council of United Church of God—British Isles met March 9.

Jan Schroeder gave a circulation report for January and highlighted the higher than normal response to the renewal letters sent out during February. There has been a significant number of new donors.

Treasurer Barbara Fenney's financial report highlighted that general income is slightly ahead of budget and expenditure is largely following the budget. If trends continue, there may be scope for some advertising this year. An early draft of the budget for 2008-2009 was presented.

In presenting the Media and Internet Committee's report, Peter Hawkins proposed planning an advertisement. After discussion, the National Council agreed to this proposal and suggested that it be in the style of an "advertorial" that might address the topic of Britons' loss of identity.

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