United News November-December 2021

United News: November - December 2021

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This special issue of United News features Feast of Tabernacles reports from sites all over the world! You can read those reports and view photos from each site on pages 2-16.

Member and Ministerial Services operations manager Mark Welch provides and update and asks for prayers for MMS on page 17. On the same page, Aaron Dean writes the Council Letter, titled, "Add to Your Faith Virtue."

Church news can be found on pages 18-19. Read about women's enrichment weekends and youth camps in Zambia as well as an upcoming Virtual Pinewood Derby hosted by the Worcester, Massachusetts, congregation.

Three Good News articles can be found on pages 20-23; "Before You Post" by Katherine Rowland, Surprising Benefits of Bible Memorization" by Clint Porter and "The Road Less Traveled" by John LaBissoniere. Announcements are featured on pages 24-25.

Media updates and an article about the new Ambassador Bible College Student Council officers are all featured on page 27. As always, the Beyond Today airing schedule and financial stewardship/planned giving article can be found on the last page of this issue.

Thank you for your continued support of this publication. Please email UN@ucg.org to submit articles, announcements, local church news, questions or feedback. 

Table of Contents

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

Twenty-six brethren from three different countries—Brazil, United States and the Netherlands—gathered together to observe the Feast at the beautiful Búzios beach in southern Brazil.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

The brethren in France were blessed to welcome visitors from the United States, Peru, Switzerland and Guatemala to celebrate the Feast with them at the all-inclusive Térnelia resort along Lake Annecy in the French Alps.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

An aura of joy, happiness, love and cooperation engulfed the brethren who gathered to observe the 2021 Feast of Tabernacles at Kanjedza, in Malawi’s Commercial City of Blantyre.

Women’s Enrichment Weekend Focuses on Strength and Courage

Copperbelt, Zambia—With a theme, “Be You Strong and of Good Courage,” derived from Joshua 1:9, we held our women’s enrichment weekend with an attendance of 28 women.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles for the southern Caribbean was held at the Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

The Pewaukee, Wisconsin, area served as the backdrop for nearly 200 of God’s people to worship our Heavenly Father at this year’s Feast of Tabernacles.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

In order to participate in the Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day, this year we decided to join with our brethren in Chile and Mexico to celebrate online.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

At the Feast in Germany this year, 131 brethren from seven nations celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in the beautiful Black Forest at the lake of Titisee.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

The Nkhwazi Feast site in Malawi caters mainly to the Lilongwe and Nkhwazi brethren who are located in the central region of Malawi.

Youth Camp Held in Copperbelt Region of Zambia

Copperbelt, Zambia—The 2021 youth camp, which was held from Aug. 22-29, 2021, at Redcliffe lodge by the Zambia- Zimbabwe borders under the theme “Be Like Our Heavenly Father,” had about 74 people attending from three regions of Zambia—Northwestern (38), Copperbelt...

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

We all know that God commands us to rejoice at the Feast (Deuteronomy 14:26).

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

Beautiful Amish Country in Walnut Creek, Ohio, provided a millennial setting for the Feast of Tabernacles 2021.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast in Drumheller went well, with great weather the whole time, very few anointings and no reports of anyone coming down with COVID-19.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

For the fourth time in five years, Winneba hosted brethren from Accra, Agona, Kwanyako, Kumasi and Yeji, who convened at this windy, beautiful town on the southern coast of Ghana to keep this year’s Feast of Tabernacles.
Memorizing Scripture can help you engage with the text in the way its authors designed it to be read.

Surprising Benefits of Bible Memorization

8 minutes
There is power to be found in committing passages and chapters to memory—even if you don’t yet fully understand every line.

Central Province of Zambia Hosts Youth Camp

Our youth camp took place in the Central Province of Zambia from Aug. 23-29, 2021.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

This year, 352 brethren gathered together in the beautiful high desert of central Oregon to keep God’s Feast of Tabernacles.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

With only three weeks in between Zambia’s youth camp and the Feast of Tabernacles, God made things possible again by allowing 136 people to come together at Mufulira in the Copperbelt to celebrate His Holy Days at the appointed time...
What does loving our neighbor look like when it comes to what we post on social media?

Before You Post

7 minutes
Social media and the digital age has made communication more accessible than ever before. But is every idea worth sharing? What is our Christian...

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

For the fourth time in five years, Winneba hosted brethren from Accra, Agona, Kwanyako, Kumasi and Yeji, who convened at this windy, beautiful town on the southern coast of Ghana to keep this year’s Feast of Tabernacles.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

We are thankful to God for His mercy and lovingkindness for fulfilling our needs throughout the eight days of the Feast.

Central Province of Zambia Hosts Youth Camp

Our youth camp took place in the Central Province of Zambia from Aug. 23-29, 2021.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

In addition to the gorgeous hills, vales and waterways, the Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts was once again the backdrop for a beautiful Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day in Branson, Missouri.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

A total of 61 brethren gathered in Zimbabwe to observe the Feast of Tabernacles.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

This year was the most unusual Feast of Tabernacles ever observed in Midland, Ontario.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

Due to this pandemic situation many people have celebrated the Feast at their home.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles in Nigeria was at Upper Spring Resorts and Event Center, Osun State.

Updates from Ministerial and Member Services

On Aug. 18, 2021, Salvatore Cimino was re-credentialed as an elder by the United Church of God.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

Post-Feast greetings from Cincinnati, Ohio!
Are you willing to journey on the arduous spiritual road—the one less traveled?

The Road Less Traveled

6 minutes
You can choose to journey down one of two spiritual roads in life. Which one will you select? Plus, which one would Jesus Christ want you to take?

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

This was the second year in a row that the Feast has been held in Saskatoon.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

We thank God for the opportunity to keep the Feast together and we invite others to join us.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles in New Zealand this year was unique in many ways.

Kingsport Finds Bright Spot in Challenging Year

The Kingsport congregation is so thankful to now own their own building in beautiful Gate City, Virginia, just outside of Kingsport.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles, held again this year in beautiful Daytona Beach, was marked by sunny days, welcoming fellowship and timely, spiritually focused messages that pointed us to the coming Kingdom of God and what we need to do in...

New Feature Encourages Specific Prayers for the Preaching of the Gospel

The apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonian congregation to pray for him as he carried out Jesus Christ’s great commission to spread the gospel (Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:19-20).

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

American statesman Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

The city of Surrey became the temporary dwelling place for 35 Feastgoers in British Columbia, Canada; the place where God put His name and which became a refuge for those put out when COVID-19 restrictions closed down their assigned Feast...

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

God greatly blessed the brethren attending the Feast in Sabaudia, Italy!

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

With the Philippines having one of the world’s longest and strictest COVID-19 lockdowns, which has intensified the nation’s economic difficulties, most of the brethren continue to be affected and challenged by the pandemic.

Tribute to Retiring Minister: John and Merrie Elliott

The United Church of God is pleased to honor John and Merrie Elliott upon retirement on Sept. 15, 2021, after nearly five decades of employed service to the Church.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, provided a beautiful and millennial setting for eight days of wonderful fellowship, learning and inspiration.

Council Letter

Add to Your Faith Virtue

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

On the first Holy Day our attendance was 297.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

We met this year at a resort in Pichilemu, Chile, located 180 miles southwest of Santiago, the capital of Chile.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

What a blessing to celebrate the 2021 Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day in Montego Bay, Jamaica!

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

A little more than a week before the start of this year’s Feast, our president announced an increase in the number of people allowed at church gatherings from 50 to 250.

ABC Student Council Officers Chosen

Ambassador Bible College Student Council officers have been chosen for the 2021-2022 academic year.

2021 Feast of Tabernacles

Around 300 brethren came together once again for a wonderful, uplifting Feast of Tabernacles in sunny New Braunfels, Texas.

Debt—A Blessing or a Curse?

When I began business school, I recall learning about debt. In the business world, debt is seen as good—as long as it is used in a wise and appropriate manner.