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Why A Life Roles Class?

Author: Katelyn Wissinger| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2025-26

At Living Education, one of the courses we take is Life Roles. When we look at the world around us, there is so much confusion about what it means to be a man or a woman, or even about the differences between them. Mr. McNair addressed this in the introduction to the class.

To provide context for the reason for the course, Mr. McNair examined both masculinity and femininity. The world sees men as toxic, useless, and irrelevant. It sees women as oppressed and in the bonds of patriarchy. Yet God’s word challenges us to view men and women differently and to accept that they have complimentary – roles and responsibilities – a fact society around us wants to ignore. Godly masculinity is defined by the characteristics described as relating to a man in the Bible – not society. And godly femininity is likewise defined by the characteristics described as associated with a woman in God’s word.

The men’s and women’s life roles classes this year will teach skills and provide knowledge so that we can fulfill the roles God has designed for us in life. I, for one, am excited for women’s life roles where we’ll learn things like how to provide a healthy and nutritious diet for ourselves and our family, how to beautify and improve our life and life for those around us, how to care for ourselves, our husband and our family, and how to serve our church and our community. A number of ladies from the Charlotte congregation provide expertise in a wide range of topics, bringing their knowledge and experience to bear – and also building bonds of friendship with our Living Education women.

Pillars of a Productive Work Ethic

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Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

Mr. Adam West, a pastor in the Work of God, currently serves as Office Manager for the Living Church of God headquarters facilities. With many years of professional experience behind him, Mr. West recently addressed this year’s Living Education students on principles of building a productive work ethic.

Engagement Drives Performance

Mr. West referenced a Gallup poll on disengagement in the workplace, revealing a startling 85% of employees are not engaged in their work. Being actively engaged is a critical element of a strong work ethic and success in the workplace—and disengagement from one’s work is a dangerous threat to productivity. 

“What about us?” Mr. West inquired. For those of us seeking to follow God’s way, we should strive to make sure we are engaged not only in our work, but in our calling. Mr. West reminded the students that engagement drives performance—and in order for it to drive us, it must be coupled with a strong work ethic.

Five Pillars

“Have you ever had a job you didn’t want to do?” Mr. West asked. While we could give any number of answers based on personal experience, it is important to remember that our attitude while doing a job is deeply important. We should strive not only to do the things that need to be done, but to find something to enjoy about it. Mr. West also reminded the students that we are all answerable to someone—and we are all ultimately answerable to Christ for our work ethic. Continuing, Mr. West shared five pillars of building a productive work ethic.

Pillar 1: Purpose

Finding a purpose for your work—a “why”—is critical. Having the proper motivation means we will be driven to achieve greater results, and will allow us to be more effectively engaged in what we do. This also applies to more than just our professional lives—it applies to our spiritual lives as well. We need to align our personal goals with our spiritual ones, and to have a proper perspective on why we do what we do in life.

Pillar 2: Diligence

Mr. West encouraged the students to take initiative and exemplify diligence. Reading from Proverbs 6:6-8, he stated: “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” Our initiative and willingness to go the extra mile elevates the quality of our work, and helps us achieve greater results.

Pillar 3: Responsibility

As both workers and as Christians, we are always accountable to someone—and we are ultimately accountable before God. Keeping this in mind is important, and we should bear in mind the principle found in Luke 16:10: “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.” When we are receptive to correction and bear responsibility well, we shine before those whom we serve.

Pillar 4: Excellence

Applying excellence is another deeply important component of being a good worker and a good Christian. We should strive to apply excellence and quality to everything we are given to do. Being good stewards of what we’ve been given shows character, integrity, and honor.

Pillar 5: Endurance

Mr. West emphasized the importance of endurance and growth. We should constantly be maintaining our energy and effort, and looking for ways to grow. We should also expand this mindset into seeking to help others grow—this, Mr. West reminded the students, is the definition of altruism. The process by which we achieve our results does matter, and we should make sure we maintain our level of endurance.

Take a Craftsman’s Approach

Mr. West offered principles that not only foster engagement and help develop a stronger work ethic, but also have a dual application to our spiritual life. Our Christian walk requires both our engagement and our constant effort. Mr. West encouraged the students to take a “craftsman’s approach” to our work—applying care, effort, and love to the work we’ve been given to do.

David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.

Switchtasking

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Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

Mr. Michael DeSimone serves as Manager of Broadcast and Digital Media for the Church. In his experience overseeing the telecast and other media productions, success relies heavily on a structured, organized approach to the work at hand. But our success is often inhibited by poor habits, including one that is all too common today: multitasking.

The Myth of Multitasking

Mr. DeSimone explained that while common, the term “multitasking” is actually a misnomer. The habit of multitasking can be more accurately described as “switchtasking.” While it is easy to think of multitasking as the act of working on multiple tasks simultaneously, what is really occurring is a series of micro “switches” between tasks in your brain. While it can be tempting, and even easy, switchtasking has several long-term negative effects on the brain and can actually inhibit productivity. Switching between tasks diverts attention, breaks focus, and makes it difficult to prioritize or make efficient progress.

Lean

Mr. DeSimone shared the principles of Lean—an approach to business that incorporates 5 S’s: Sort; Set in Order; Shine; Standardize; and Sustain. Each of these principles is part of an organized, systematic approach to work tasks. In order to achieve optimal results, sorting has to be the first step. There may be all kinds of distracting, unnecessary clutter in the way that needs to be removed. Next, things should be set in order—arranged in a way that works. Shine refers to keeping everything clean and orderly. Standardizing involves the ideal state resulting from these steps, while sustaining refers to maintaining it.

Building Conscious Habits

These principles of systematic organization can be applied to many aspects of our lives. We come across information daily, and we take on numerous responsibilities at work and at home. Managing our approach to the information we take in is critical to personal and professional success, especially as we grow in our Christian walk. Mr. DeSimone’s message served as a reminder to consciously maintain healthy and intentional habits, and to avoid the myth of multitasking.

David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.

Put it Into Practice

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Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

In the first forum of the 2025-26 school year, Mr. Mario Hernandez—an evangelist overseeing the Work in Spanish—congratulated this year’s class on their decision to come to Living Education. Mr. Hernandez recalled the history of the Church’s educational institutions, and reminded the students of an important point: the knowledge gained through Living Education must be applied.

Knowledge is Not Enough

Mr. Hernandez’s admonition is not a new one. He referenced Deuteronomy 4:5-6, stating: “I have taught you statutes and judgments… therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

God links application of instruction with wisdom. We develop wisdom by taking what we’ve learned and actively applying it to our daily lives. Instruction and learning are important—but if we neglect putting what we’ve learned into practice, we strip everything we’ve learned of its value. The instruction that students receive through Living Education can be of lasting benefit for their futures—but only if it is put into practice. 

Be Diligent!

Mr. Hernandez stressed that these principles can be applied at any age. God has chosen us to be firstfruits in His Kingdom—a role we should not take lightly. He can begin working with us at any age, at the time of His choosing. We are never too young or too old to apply the principles we’ve been given. We have a responsibility to do so, passing on the benefit we’ve been given to others. He mentioned Luke 12:48, stating that “To whom much is given, from him much will be required.”

Mr. Hernandez reminded the students that we don’t need to wait to apply these principles. We must be diligent both to seek knowledge and to apply it in our lives—and the best time to start is now.

The Importance of Prayer

One important aspect of successfully applying godly principles to our Christian walk is prayer. Mr. Hernandez admonished the students to keep up with prayer and study. If we neglect our relationship with God, we can become distant from Him. Distance from God results in spiritual weakness, a warning that Mr. Hernandez shared with firmness.

This world is filled with distractions, violence, promiscuity, and perversion. In the face of such ever-present challenges, we cannot compromise or allow our character to be eroded.. We must put in the effort to call on God, asking for His help to put His principles into practice. If we maintain a strong, faithful connection with our heavenly Father, we will be able to overcome and enter God’s Kingdom.

Use What You Have Been Given

Mr. Hernandez reminded the students that they have been given a rare and wonderful opportunity. The next nine months will be a time of intense learning and instruction—and each day will bring new opportunities to apply principles learned to daily life. All of us are students of God’s way of life, learning and growing, and we have a responsibility to not only learn, but find ways to use the gifts that we have been given by God.

David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.

Mr. Bill Long: True Repentance

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Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

With Passover and the spring Holy Day season just behind us, Mr. Bill Long recently presented four important takeaways from Psalm 51 on true repentance. As we get back into the swing of things after the Holy Day break, we appreciate Mr. Long’s message reflecting on the season’s meaning.

Mr. Long started by reminding us that repentance is not simply being sorry, but truly changing our lives. He described it as having two different parts: First, the person has to change in mind and heart, and second, they must demonstrate it through actions that bear good fruit. When going before God to ask for forgiveness of sins, they can come out feeling guilty.  Mr. Long said God grants us joy after we come before Him in true repentance. If we follow David’s steps in Psalm 51, we can better express ourselves before Him and receive His forgiveness. 

The first key from Psalm 51 is to start the prayer by appealing to the love and mercy of God. David was referred to as a man after God’s own heart, yet we read that he broke nearly all the commandments throughout his life. Mr. Long clarified that 3 of the four keys for true repentance are relatively simple and painless to incorporate, but the second is one that people often have difficulty admitting. Be brutally honest in the confession of sin. King David writes that it is before God that he sins. We must remember that with each of our sins, Christ is put to death on our account. He brought out how David used three different words in Hebrew while discussing sin. Transgression means rebellion against God’s authority and the law, iniquity means distortion of what is true, and sin is missing the mark. 2 Corinthians shows us that God expects us to have sorrow that leads to repentance. The third factor is to plead for the effects of God’s mercy. After experiencing the great remorse for our sins, we can fall into a pit of despair, but it is through God’s mercy that we can experience joy. True joy can only come from God, and He promises it to His people, and we simply need to claim His promise, as Mr. Ames often reminded us. The final fourth key is asking for a humble, happy resolve. In Psalms 51, King David was already praising God’s name before he ended his prayer; we should follow that example.

As Mr. Long drew to a close, he urged us to remember that repentance is an ongoing process. Until we are spirit beings in the Kingdom of God, we must face the pulls and struggles of the human spirit and carnality. We were very grateful for the reminder after the Holy Days to continue this way of life. We understand that we will sometimes fall, yet we need to continue rising back up and growing closer and more like Christ and God the Father. We know it will not be easy, but we are all grateful for the lessons to help us fight the good fight.

Ms. Debbie Dillion: Composting

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Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

Debbie Dillion, from the NC Cooperative Extension office in Union County, came and spoke to the Living-Ed students for a Thursday forum this month. They received an informative lesson on the benefits of composting and instructions on making a functional compost system for their homes one day. Union County, NC, provided this opportunity thanks to the outreach program they offer to the local community.  The Living-Ed students are often given these opportunities to broaden their understanding and learn from different people in their weekly forums and regular field trips. 

Ms. Dillion works for the Union County office’s Agriculture and Natural Resources department. She began by explaining the Union County outreach program and how it works. Most counties in the U.S. have a program like this. She explained that she worked for the Fairfax County outreach program in Virginia before moving to North Carolina. She described the organization’s goals as bringing unbiased research based on science. 

Ms. Dillion focused on educating the students about the benefits of composting. It is an excellent form of recycling that can be done for the environment while still offering immense nutrients to plants. She transitioned to the process required to develop compost at home. She offered the students hope by informing them that composting is possible to a degree while still living together in dorms. Too many people are frightened by the idea of taking the leap and failing, but Ms. Dillion brought encouragement and boosted the student’s confidence in their abilities.

She went into more detail on the different techniques and tools for making compost. Showing examples of bin composting versus tumbler composting and warning them of a common misconception about using a tumbler composter. It is meant to be a single batch, meaning they add once, wait until the compost is made, remove it, and then start the process again. 

The students come from a wide range of backgrounds, and they are all grateful to hear from a local speaker on a topic to which they may not have been previously exposed. The new knowledge they gained on composting can be applied in their current situation at the dorms and in the future. The students left the forum with a greater appreciation for the art of composting and more of a drive to work and make their own.

Mr. Chet Carpenter: Stages of a Lifelong Learner in Christ

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Author: Katelyn Wissinger| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2025-26

The Bible relates many character traits of both the Father and Jesus Christ. These traits will become part of our character as we seek to follow Christ’s example and be more like Him. In a recent forum, Mr. Chet Carpenter expounded upon a specific character trait that the Father and the Son share: learning. He coupled this with teaching us the four pillars of becoming lifelong learners.

Mr. Carpenter pointed out that we should be lifelong learners in Christ. He used four pillars for learning: learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together, and learning to be. These four points were developed by Dr. Zhou Nanzhao, who had an extensive career in pursuing and administering education. While Mr. Carpenter used these as the basis for his forum, he pointed out that many of the world’s ‘wisest’ people and lifelong learners attain knowledge and education from worldly sources and their own experiences. While they may find kernels of fundamental knowledge and truth, they are not starting with the true source of knowledge and wisdom, God’s word, which is the Bible (2 Corinthians 3:17). 

To be lifelong learners, we need to learn to know. We must have a desire to seek knowledge and continue learning. Ecclesiastes 12:7-14 showed King Solomon’s desire to seek as much knowledge as he could, and he eventually concluded that God’s word is the foundation of knowledge. Our desire to learn applies not just to the physical but to the spiritual. We should seek to grow in understanding of the Truth, allowing us to grow as Christians.

The second pillar Mr. Carpenter mentioned was learning to do. Once we know something, we need to act on it. In God’s future kingdom, we’ll apply everything we’ve learned in our lifetime. Hebrews 5:14 explains how knowledge should be applied. We must do this to see results.

Once we apply our knowledge, the next stage is learning to live together. Meaning, learn to build others up. “Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” in the Church are an example of this, according to Ephesians 4:10-12. We can use the Holy Spirit in us to help “iron sharpen iron” (Prov 27:17). 

The final stage is learning to be. We are to be children of God (1 John 3:1), and in God’s future kingdom, we will be the product of what we learned in this life. The Bible shows us that we are to be like Christ, obedient and holy.

Mr. Carpenter provided us with an insightful forum on how we can become lifelong learners and how this is necessary for our physical and, most importantly, our spiritual lives. Christ must be our foundation on which we place these four pillars of learning.

Mr. Gerald Weston: The Road to a Successful Life

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Author: Katelyn Wissinger| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2025-26

Mr. Weston began his recent forum to the students by asking, “What do you want out of life?” Many go through life by living in the moment, making money, and focusing on having fun without figuring out what life is about. Only when people realize they are nearing the end of their lives do they usually begin to reflect on what they have achieved. Mr. Weston spoke to us about how to live a successful life and how we can get there.  

Firstly, we need to consider the big picture. Matthew 6:33 states the ultimate purpose of life, which is to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt 6:33). Life is short, and there is no comparison between our life now and the eternal life we are promised if we stay faithful throughout our lives.  

After talking about the big picture, Mr. Weston then narrowed the focus of his forum to how to achieve what we want now. As young adults, we will be entering the stage of life where we can marry and have careers. For us women, he discussed the importance of getting an education but not choosing a career over being a homemaker and wife. Men should consider how their career choice and job opportunity will impact their ability to support a wife. Mr. Weston then pointed out that whether male or female, we should all be working diligently now because “The soul of a lazy man desires and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” (Prov 13:4). Diligently working means being teachable and working hard. Achieving success, being more than the average person in our life and our job, isn’t so hard when we work hard and take pride in doing a good job. Knowing our life is short, Ecclesiastes 9:10 exhorts us to work while we can and do it with our might.  

 Mr. Weston’s forum implored us to think about our goals in life and how we can achieve them by looking far into the future and right around the corner. We need to take the time to reflect now on what we want from life instead of waiting until near the end, when we can do little to change it. We need to consider our goals in life! 

Mr. John Strain: Finish What You Start

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Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

Human nature tends to make us run when life becomes challenging. Drawing on his experiences as an Ambassador College student, a salesman, and a minister, Mr. John Strain urged the Living Education students to finish what they started.

Mr. Strain began by reminding us that we have a few months left of Living Education, which is nearly 18% of our time here. While the end of the program may be rushing closer, there is still time for us to analyze where we are and improve upon it.  He challenged us to think about how we will finish our school year. No matter how good a start we had, if we end poorly, that is what we will take away.

The brain rewards completion. Completing projects provides us with a hit of dopamine, which encourages us to do it again. The brain can be rewired, whether for good or bad, and it is up to us to develop it positively. He gave the example of when we started praying. When we started, it was difficult, and there was little desire to do it, but it became easier after consistently doing it. It’s not easy at all times, but it’s still easier. Famous poet Henry David Thoreau said, “All endeavour calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hours toil.”

However, some endeavors in life can never really be complete. He discussed how our venture to grow in God’s character has no end date. Daily, we need to put to death the old carnal spirit until we get resurrected as spirit beings. 

In closing, Mr. Strain asked if we knew what the average for life in general was. He gave a definition that his brother had once told him. Average is the best of the worst and the worst of the best. He encouraged us to strive to become better than average, to fight that last mile, and to give it all we have through these last two months of Living-Ed. Embrace the last 18% of the program and end on a high note. None of us wants to be just average—do you?