App
November 12, 2020
Dear Brethren,
At the writing of this letter, the 2020 presidential election appears to be in the bag for Joe Biden, the Democratic Party nominee. However, President Trump is continuing to push back on numerous legal fronts, demanding recounts and investigations into voter fraud—which if allowed to proceed could take weeks to complete and may ultimately involve the U.S. Supreme Court. We may not know the final results until the first part of January. When we consider all the deception, the large number of dead people “voting,” and all the fake mail-in ballots, it’s anyone’s guess where it will all end.
Difficult situations like this have occurred many times in the history of America, but this election is plagued by unprecedented corruption in the voting process. For example, in the state of Wisconsin there were more ballots cast than there were registered voters! In Michigan, poll workers at a voting center got caught actually entering the names of dead people in an attempt to make it look like they had actually voted. There are many additional similar examples. It’s a huge fraudulent mess! So we’ll just have to wait and see how it turns out. It may well end up in the House of Representatives, where each state gets only one vote—thus reelecting Trump!
With the pernicious growth of secularism and the almost complete removal of God from America’s institutions, many Protestant evangelicals and Catholics have been working together to support politicians who have conservative, morally sound values. But with fewer and fewer people who actually believe in God, it is a difficult task. Most politicians embrace “values” that are far removed from the values taught by God’s Word. Their “values” are derived from man’s definition of good and evil. And politicians are easily corrupted by power, money, and sex. Such is the history of the nations and governments of this world.
The problem, however, is not really the “government” itself, it’s the people who run the government—and those who elect them, the voters. For example: The principal sin of America is legal abortion on demand up to the point of birth—infanticide. The numbers of those against abortion are growing, but it is almost impossible to stop it—because we live in a such lawless, ungodly society. And many are hoping that with the new alignment on the Supreme Court, perhaps abortion can begin to be significantly limited. But until the Court intervenes, the killing of the most innocent among us will continue unabated. Since abortion was made “legal” in America in 1972, over 62 million helpless babies have been killed in the womb.
Abortion is also rampant in numerous other nations; indeed, many nations have practiced abortion throughout history. Anciently, some nations practiced sacrificing their children to their gods—actually Satan the devil, who is the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4). Even ancient Israel (and Judah) allowed such sins to flourish for a time. For this and other grievous sins, God sent them into national captivity. However, God always gives a warning and a call to repentance before He executes judgment. God sent the prophet Jeremiah to warn all Judah—particularly its leaders and priests—that if they did not stop all such sins, they would be exiled to Babylon. Notice: “Thus says the Lord, ‘Go and get a potter’s earthen jar, and assemble some of the elders of the people and of the elders of the priests. And go out to the valley of the son of Hinnom by the entry of Potsherd Gate. And there declare the words that I shall tell you.
“ ‘And say, “Hear the Word of the Lord, O kings of Judah, and people of Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, which shall cause the ears of him who hears it to tingle. Because they have forsaken Me, and have profaned this place and have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents. They have also built the high places of Baal to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I never commanded nor spoke, nor did it come into My mind.’ ”
“ ‘Therefore, behold, the days come,’ says the Lord, ‘that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but The Valley of Slaughter. And I will make the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem come to nothing in this place, and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of those who seek their lives. And I will give their dead bodies to be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth. And I will make this city a waste and a hissing. Everyone who passes by shall be astonished and shall hiss because of all its plagues’ ” (Jer. 19:1-8).
As the Bible reveals, all problems faced by humanity—particularly those dealing with government and religion—are the result of human nature, which is a mixture of good and evil. Humans are easily corrupted because of the downward pull of the “law of sin and death” (Rom. 7:23; 8:2), because of lust and deceit—all under the sway of Satan the devil, the “prince of the power of the air” who is actively deceiving all nations (Eph. 2:1-3; Rev. 12:9).
This has been true from the beginning—with Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel—on down to our day. As a result, there has never been a human government that was truly righteous or truly successful—they have all failed! While many leaders and governments start out with good intentions, and some with righteous causes, they nearly always end in disaster. It is exactly as the Bible reveals: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12; 16:25). When people trust in politicians instead of God to solve their problems, regardless of their apparent good intentions, they are doomed to failure.
The biblical histories of the people and kings of Israel and Judah show that they experienced cycles of sin and revival. However, the ultimate end of their kingdoms was war, famine, pestilence, captivity, and exile into the lands of their enemies. Israel was carried away to Assyria, and Judah was exiled to Babylon.
Whenever a person, group of people, or nation trusts in riches, power, or politics instead of trusting God, they are doomed to failure and must face God’s judgment. Notice the difference between those who trust in men and those who trust in God: “Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes. But he shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land that is not inhabited.
“ ‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters; it sends out its roots by the river, and it shall not fear when the heat comes, but its foliage shall be green; and he is not worried in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit.
“ ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings’ ” (Jer. 17:5-10).
David gives this admonition, which is good spiritual and political advice: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Psa. 118:8-9).
Trusting in the Lord is part of living faith. We trust God because we believe Him. We believe His Word. We believe in Christ—in His death for the forgiveness of our sins, and we trust in His resurrection, in His life, as He lives in us to bring us ultimately to glory. We trust in God to lead us through the power of His Holy Spirit. All of this translates into our hope of the resurrection and eternal life, as the apostle Paul writes: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is according to godliness; in the hope of eternal life, which God Who cannot lie promised before the ages of time, but revealed in its own set time in the proclamation of His Word, with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior” (Titus 1:1-3).
Trusting God as He leads us with His Spirit produces godly love with a true willingness to obey Him and keep His laws and commandments. Notice what King David writes to his son Solomon on how living God’s way develops this trust deep in our hearts and minds: “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commandments; for they shall add length of days, and long life, and peace, to you. Do not let mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them upon the tablet of your heart; and so you shall find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:1-7).
Our love for God and His love for us is the most important aspect of our relationship with Him. Here is how David praised God for His love: “O, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever. Let Israel now say that His steadfast love endures forever. Let the house of Aaron now say that His steadfast love endures forever. Let those who fear the Lord now say that His steadfast love endures forever.
“I called upon the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me as my helper; therefore, I will look in triumph upon those who hate me” (Psa. 118:1-7).
Even in difficult times, trusting God in all circumstances brings His blessings, His love, His protection, and His grace. Here is how David expressed it: “Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever [in the resurrection]. To the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious and full of compassion and righteousness. It is well with the man who is gracious and lends freely; who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely, he shall not be moved forever; the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he shall not be afraid until he sees his desire upon his enemies” (Psa. 112:1-8).
In these times of prolonged distress and anxiety in the nation and on the world, always be trusting in God the Father and Jesus Christ. They will never fail you at any time!
Thanksgiving in America: On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln set the official date for Thanksgiving Day for the nation. Americans had observed Thanksgiving for many years, but on differing dates. Lincoln was a man who studied the Bible all during his life and understood that God was the source of our blessings as a nation, while at the same time He corrected us for our sins. The following proclamation was written while the Civil War was still being fought, as it did not end until 1865. Here is Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day proclamation:
A PROCLAMATION
“THE YEAR that is drawing toward its close has been filled with blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart of the habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
“In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
“Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
“It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelt in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such a singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners and suffers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.
“In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the United States to be affixed.
“Done in the city of Washington, this 3rd day of October, A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
“By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
“WILLIAM H. STEWARD, Secretary of State”
God has indeed blessed the nations of modern Israel—the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
After Israel’s wanderings in the desert for forty years, God gave a warning to them just before they entered the Promised Land. His warning to ancient Israel is also a warning to modern Israel. As Lincoln warned the Union that they had forgotten God, today our nations are not only forgetting God, they are turning their backs to Him. Furthermore, the churches of God are “rich and increased with goods” (Rev. 3:14-22) and have become lukewarm toward God. Thus, God’s warning through Moses to ancient Israel is also a warning to modern-day Israel and the Church: “And you shall consider in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. And you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to fear Him, for the Lord your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley and vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey, a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness. You shall not lack any thing in it. It is a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. [That is what Thanksgiving Day in America should be!]
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command you today, lest when you have eaten and are full and have built goodly houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then you become haughty of heart, and you forget the Lord your God Who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage, Who led you through the great and terrible wilderness with fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, Who brought forth water for you out of the rock of flint, Who fed you in the wilderness with manna which your fathers did not know, so that He might humble you and that He might prove you to do you good in your latter end.
“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, so that He may confirm His covenant which He has sworn to your fathers as it is this very day. And it shall be if you do at all forget the Lord your God and walk after other gods serving them and worshiping them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish—yes, perish. As the nations whom the Lord destroys before your face, so you shall perish because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Deut. 8:5-20).
There are many passages from the book of Psalms that show how we are to praise God with thanksgiving for His goodness in all things and in all circumstances. This is clearly shown in Psalm 107: “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (verses 1-2). Four times in this psalm it reads: “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (verses 8, 15, 21, 31).
Psalm 136 is devoted entirely to extolling God. Each of its 26 verses ends with: “for His mercy [or steadfast love] endures forever.” The first three verses begin with giving thanks to God: “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endures forever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for His mercy endures forever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for His mercy endures forever” (verses 1-3).
In the same manner, we need to be thankful for all things and, most importantly, for the spiritual blessings that God has poured out upon us. Notice what Paul wrote to the Colossians, as well as to the Laodiceans: “Now I want you to understand what great concern I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
“Now I say this so that no one may deceive you by persuasive speech. For though I am indeed absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, be walking in Him; being rooted and built up in Him, and being confirmed in the faith, exactly as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:1-7).
We need to always be devoted to loving God the Father and Jesus Christ in all things, rejoicing with thanksgiving for the great hope that God has given us: “And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called into one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And in everything—whatever you do in word or in deed—do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Col. 3:14-17).
It is good that this nation has set aside a day of thanksgiving to God for all His bountiful blessings. But as Christians, we always need to be thankful to God—as we live and move and have our being in Him.
Brethren, as we come to Thanksgiving, we want to thank you for your love and prayers, for your service to the brethren, and for your dedication to God. We pray for you every day—for your health, your healing, your protection, and that you are always growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your continued support with God’s tithes and offerings. Together we can serve the brethren and preach the Gospel with the tools that God inspires us to use. May God the Father and Jesus Christ continue to bless you with love, grace, and thanksgiving in all things.
With love in Christ Jesus,
Fred R. Coulter
FRC
2020 Feast of Tabernacles Reports and Comments
Kalispell, Montana—One word describes the Feast in Kalispell—and that word is encouraging fellowship. The brethren spent much time with one another, and every day we got together in the meeting hall after services with a meal, talking with each other extensively—discussing Fred’s messages and enjoying being with one another. It was evident that the Spirit of God was being reflected in the attitude and fellowship of the brethren, as well as in the praising of God in the sermonettes and prayers and singing. Durrell Brown and Bryon Norrod, the elders at the Feast, gave thoughtful, insightful messages. Two in-depth presentations were given by John Guenther on the history of the Church of God through the ages. The brethren carpooled and visited Logan Pass of Glacier National Park, had a wine and cheese tasting activity, along with a game night and a movie night.—JV & HV
Vernon, B.C., Canada—Greetings everyone! Just wanting to say hello to all of you. The Feast is moving along past half way and the spirits are all good. Everyone is doing well and the weather has been fabulous, staying in the lower 20s so far. The fellowship is just wonderful! The group is one big happy family! The messages are fabulous and the Spirit of God is certainly present among us. From 34 joyous brethren, we wish you a most enjoyable and inspiring remainder of the Feast! Our continued love to you all.— NB & DB
Shipshewana, Indiana—The brethren in attendance at the Shipshewana site enjoyed themselves very much. We had a wonderful opening night and first-day Sabbath service with 38 in attendance. We averaged about 26 each day the rest of the Feast. The weather was rainy only one day out of the total eight days. The rest of the Feast was filled with lots of sunshine and temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 degrees. The fall colors were spectacular and everyone was in a festive spirit. The fellowship was just as you would expect from God’s people—a rejoicing spiritual family reunion with service, heartfelt fellowship, good food, and laughter.
Activities included a catered meal, a burger and hotdog night, a poetry reading night, a Bible study, and a group picnic. Several evenings were spent playing games, which created an opportunity for fun and fellowship. Day-seven activities included a group meal at the historic Blue Gate Restaurant, followed by a showing of the film Deep Field: The Impossible Magnitude of Our Universe. The film features stunning imagery from the Hubble space telescope and creates an unforgettable journey from earth to the outermost edges of the universe. Afterwards we listened to Fred’s March 20 message, “True Fellowship With God.” The brethren were greatly inspired by both the film and the message.
Many brethren commented on how much they enjoyed the beauty and quietness of the rural farm setting, the many local shops, and the wonderful fellowship. They especially appreciated the spiritual food inspired by God in the messages (we played both the prerecorded messages and utilized the live-cast sermons each day). We truly felt God’s presence and warm embrace as we rejoiced in His Feast. Thank you Fred for all you do, and may God continue to bless you, keep you, and fill you with His love.—AJ
Tulsa, Oklahoma—This year we had a new location for the Feast in Tulsa—the Homewood Suites located on Mason Street in Broken Arrow. This is a very nice location. The meeting room was quiet and private, and was set up with tables that made it easy to take notes. Coffee and snacks were enjoyed before and after services.
We were a very small group this year with only eight in attendance. Due to Covid19 the hotel was not serving food, but we were able to have food delivered. On Wednesday we had our group fellowship meal and everyone pitched in and brought food. (I ordered pizza to go with our meal. The delivery was 15 minutes late, so the driver said no charge. God does bless his people!)
We enjoyed using the Feast transcripts books to follow along with the sermons. They really helped. We had downloaded all of the sermons to a thumb drive and just plugged it into one of these new smart TVs. It was all we needed!
We really enjoyed the Feast this year, even though we were a small group. We were able to relax and enjoy the messages and have great fellowship—and forget all the problems going on in the world. I hope everyone had a really great Feast!—LB
Virginia Beach, Virginia—Approximately 25 brethren attended the Feast in Virginia Beach. The weather was beautiful, except for light rain a couple of days. We met and stayed at the Sandbridge Resort and enjoyed wonderful spiritual food. Besides the nearby beach, among the activities we enjoyed were a visit to an aquarium, a barbecue just outside the meeting room, and an interactive Bible study. We also were blessed with a pianist for song services.—DM
Destin, Florida—The Feast in Destin was held at the SanDestin Hotel. There were few in attendance due to Covid-19 restrictions. Still, we enjoyed the fellowship of 13 brethren on the first day. When hurricane Delta decided to visit the Florida panhandle on the fifth day, we were forced to cut the Feast short in Destin.—SD & TD
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee—We had another tremendous Feast in Pigeon Forge. The brethren arrived with a loving spirit, which made our fellowship and activities all the more inspiring. We averaged 77 in daily attendance, with 89 on the last day. We were blessed to have several new brethren attend and the weather was beautiful. And the messages were excellent. We were able to spend a lot of time together; our activities included a luncheon, cookout, ice cream social, family evening, and nightly fellowship.
This year we had several children and teens attend who enjoyed daily Bible lessons taught by Pam Bruening. The children also performed special music. What a blessing it was for all of us. Thank you to all the children and teens, we loved having you as part of our fellowship. We also had the baptism of Judy Barclay in the motel pool.
We want to thank everyone for their help in making this year’s Feast so successful. God has blessed our Feast and we give the thanks and praise to Him.—TF & RF
Hollister, California—A fantastic Feast was celebrated by 21 in attendance in sunny Hollister! The city is surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful farm land displaying productive fields of produce, vineyards, fruit and nut orchards, as well as poultry and livestock. This made it easy to visualize the coming time of spiritual and physical abundance and blessings in the Millennium! We enjoyed inspiring live messages and warm fellowship (and delicious potluck meals!) in the meeting hall. We also had two amazing barbecue meals—one hosted by Fred and the other by Carla and her daughter, Laura. And Jonathan was the grill master! As a special highlight, a baptism was held and we joyfully welcomed a new brother in Christ!—LD
Branson, Missouri—We had a wonderful Feast in Branson again this year at the Stone Castle Hotel. Everyone worked together to make this one of the best ever. With the inspiring messages, the spiritual nourishment, the fellowship, the food, our delightful emcee, our talented singers who gave us special music, and the good fall weather—we couldn’t have asked for more!
Branson’s attendance grew this year: 57 on the first day and 67 on the last day (with an average of about 48). In addition to being together again with our local groups, we enjoyed making new friends from other states. God’s people truly make for a wonderful and joyful time together—with an abundance of food, fellowship, and friendship.
We had a church sponsored afternoon meal one day, and on another day our local congregation from Yellville, Arkansas had everyone over to their beautiful rented house on the lake for BBQ steaks, hamburgers, and hot dogs with all the trimmings. It was a terrific afternoon and the weather was perfect for sitting outdoors enjoying the fall foliage and view of the lake. We also had a “pizza and bingo” evening, and many of the brethren were able to take in some of the many attractions in the Branson area. Also, we had one baptism and the blessing of a baby.
God’s people know how to enjoy each other and have right fellowship! We are grateful to have been part of this wonderful Feast. God’s blessings are truly wonderful!—BW & MW
Melaka, Malaysia—The Malaysian brethren had a wonderful Feast in Melaka. This was a really challenging year for all the brethren throughout the world. But we had faith that we would definitely have a Feast this year—and God did grant us a fantastic Feast! Interestingly, on our arrival back home the lockdown began again (on October 14). God really works things out!
The weather was great and all of our activities went through without a problem. We all participated in numerous fellowship meals and activities, including a Bible quiz and an entertainment night. We skipped our usual outings as Covid-19 is on the rise in Malaysia.
A highlight again this year was the spiritual fulfillment we received in the extraordinary sermons by Fred. I gave two sermons as well. A big thank you to Fred. We had 34 in attendance, including children, throughout the eight days. It truly was a memorable Feast.—AM
Nelson Bay, Australia—The Nelson Bay site was touch-and-go as to whether it would even proceed this year due to government clampdowns and the closing of numerous venues. We prayed to God and sought His intervention so that we could come before Him and worship Him at His Feast. The site we had previously booked called us to cancel on fears of Covid19. We searched for available venues and God opened to us a beautiful, marina-front wedding venue.
The only problem was that there were too few of us to fill such a vast and expensive place. Again we prayed—and even among the many challenges facing God’s people, a flow of Feast attendees was provided. Ultimately, we had 5060 people in attendance, all of a single mind and heart to worship God. Most mornings opened with small group Bible studies for an hour. Then came the main service where live sermons were provided on a millennial theme. Though we had restrictions on singing hymns, live solo performances of singing and praise were given to God that melted our hearts and brought tears to our eyes.
There were numerous shared meals, whale watching trips, walks up mountains—as well as wine and cheese sampling and dune-surfing down steep sand dunes. The happiness and glory in God was overflowing at this Feast site with His common spirit ubiquitous in the people who came together before Him. We closed out the Last Great Day with Fred’s video sermon and had many happy/sad farewells with promises made for bookings for next year.—PC
Rotorua, New Zealand—The Feast was held next to beautiful Lake Rotorua again this year. We had the best weather we have had in the last six years. With accommodations and the conference room at the same site, it gave everyone a chance to settle down and enjoy the Feast. This year we had two baptisms. Having a few younger ones in the group this year helped us sing a lot louder. It was a real pleasure to have them with us. The messages from Fred, and the other speakers, always go down well as we hunger for the Word of God. We will meet here again next year, as there is so much in the area to do for all ages. Our love to all.—JS
Mooloolah, Australia—This year’s Feast was held in the small country town of Mooloolah in the picturesque Mooloolah valley. Attendance was 21 on both holy days and averaged 16. As expected, attendance was lower due to Covid-19 restrictions and concerns.
The festival atmosphere was friendly and informal with brethren being free to fellowship each day (in accordance with social distancing requirements). Everyone really enjoyed listening to Fred’s prepared messages each day. Each year, Fred’s messages provide additional in-depth knowledge and insight, based on God’s Word, on the millennial rule of Christ and the saints. Brethren were again provided with bound copies of the Feast transcripts of Fred’s messages, which are always useful during services and afterwards for review.—PS
