Tag Archive for: Forum/Assembly Summaries

Author: Nathan Kroon | Student Leader, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

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Estimated Reading Time: 9 min.

How seriously do we take the topic of history? Mr. Bob Rodzaj discussed this with the students of Living Education in this forum.

He recalled a trip that he took to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in his youth. He said that, like most children on trips to historical places, he only remembered monuments and grass, neglecting to appreciate why the town is famous in the first place: the Battle of Gettysburg. After revisiting it 30 years later and learning about what happened there, his eyes were opened. It expanded his worldview exponentially, and he then realized what he was missing, how much he was missing, and the difference it could make. History can enrich our lives and increase our potential in so many ways. Mr. Rodzaj encouraged us to delve into history—whatever strikes our fancy or satisfies our curiosity—to do just that.

A Modern Disinterest in History

Many people today have no interest in history. True history is not really being taught in our schools. Some young people do not even know who won the American Civil War, let alone that there even was one! Historical movies can seem long and boring when we don’t appreciate the background and context—and the life lessons that can be learned. But everyone loves a good story, and history is all about stories—stories that can benefit us in so many ways.

History is Everywhere!

The Bible is full of doctrine, prophecy, and examples of Christian living—AND history, from beginning to end. Many of the books found in the Bible are full of history. The book of Revelation itself is history written in advance! Many geographic locations can also be a great source of history. Mr. Rodzaj attended Virginia Tech for five years, but failed to appreciate at the time that the state of Virginia is saturated with early American and Civil War history. As a result, he missed out on a lot of potential learning! Modern Church history is also wholly interesting and beneficial. Many helpful lessons can be learned from the history of the Worldwide Church of God: stories of zeal, healings, massive growth, getting off track, getting back on track, the times surrounding the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, apostasies, and splits. Mr. Rodzaj recalled that he came into the Church in 1979, later attended Ambassador College, and eventually had to make difficult decisions when the great split came about. He was grateful to be surrounded by dedicated individuals who had experienced those earlier days—individuals who provided good examples to follow—which helped him to navigate the challenges, and to end up in the Living Church of God.

What History Teaches Us

Mr. Rodzaj gave examples of lessons history can teach us:

1. A Lesson in Remaining Strong in the Faith

Revelation 2 and 3 tell us all about the eras of God’s Church. The Sardis era is known as the “dead church”, yet not all people’s faith were completely dead during this time. In Revelation 3:4, Christ said “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” Mr. Rodzaj also read from The Incredible History of God’s True Church, by Ivor C. Fletcher, which listed a few inspiring figures that persevered in their faith during the Sardis era, despite the Church of that era being religiously dead for the most part. Accounts like these can help encourage us to stay faithful in the hardest times, as well as to understand what we may face today or in the future.

2. A Lesson in Leadership

During the American Civil War, Union General George B. McClellan and Confederate General Robert E. Lee provided a contrast in leadership styles. In the deadliest day-long battle in America’s military history, the battle of Antietam, McClellan led his army from a mile away, receiving reports and giving orders, distant and detached from what was really going on in the heat of battle. Meanwhile, Lee, engaged and involved, rode on horseback up and down his lines for hours to command his men. Though the Union had nearly twice as many soldiers than the Confederates, the battle ultimately ended in a draw because of the leadership of Lee. Lee’s example emphasizes how important it is to be engaged and involved as leaders.

3. A Lesson in Communication

Abraham Lincoln was an amazing communicator whose use of figurative speech and metaphor—clear, forceful, and logical—helped America through the greatest test of its history. Lincoln’s famous “house divided” speech on the issue of slavery in America convinced many that slavery tolerated and expanded would indeed cause the nation to collapse. In the famous Gettysburg Address, likely the most well-known speech in history, Lincoln framed in two minutes the great significance of the struggle to preserve the nation. Edward Everett, who spoke for two hours prior to Lincoln’s short address, wrote, “I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.” Lincoln was a gifted communicator; studying his example can help us to grow as communicators as well.

4. A Lesson in Virtues to Emulate

History provides examples of great and unselfish leaders that can help us to emulate them. The book Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin, describes the political genius and magnanimity of Abraham Lincoln, who placed in his own Cabinet political rivals he had run against in his presidential campaign. He had to continually deal with men who believed he was moronic, men who criticized his decisions and actions were utterly foolish. Yet he dealt with these men respectfully, recognizing their value and counsel. Because of Lincoln’s gracious and respectful treatment, these men became his greatest admirers and devotees.

5. Lessons in What to Do and What Not to Do

History can teach us what to do and what not to do. In the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant was highly regarded as a general, but his early overconfidence almost cost him dearly in some of his initial battles. General McClellan, who struggled with fear and insecurity, squandered many opportunities to end the Civil War early on as a result. History also shows us how temperament and personality can affect people’s choices and decisions. Studying historical figures’ great successes and failures, and why they occurred, can help us to analyze our own behaviors, and steer us away from making similar mistakes.

6. A Lesson in the Complexities of Human Nature

Learning about the backgrounds of historical figures can show us how human nature develops and operates within people, and how they affect a person’s motives and behavior. The book Crucible of Command analyzes how the upbringings of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee affected their leadership later in life. Grant, in his early life, was not the brightest boy, but he had grown up in a family with a father present to mentor him. He became very patient, understanding, and successful in leading and dealing with people because of this. Confederate General Robert E. Lee, on the other hand, grew up with an absentee father, leaving him a product of paternal neglect. He grew up having to take care of a mother who struggled with depression and needed constant care. As a result, Lee struggled with melancholy, and did not deal with those he commanded head-on, but indirectly, which at times was problematic. We all have different backgrounds, so understanding what factors into our mindsets early on can help us to better analyze our own behavior and be better prepared to deal with people in this life and in the next age.

Caution: There’s Always A Narrative!

In studying history, be aware that there’s always a narrative that can impact our point of view and what we can learn from historical accounts. Bible translations and commentaries provide examples for us. Mr. Rodzaj explained that Bible translations often depend on the agenda of the translators. That’s why it’s important for us to become familiar with the authors of the translation, their reasons for creating the translation, and how they interpreted the original texts. Likewise, Bible commentaries tend to reflect the belief system of their authors and their own understanding of the Bible. History too has its narratives, and we need to understand the point of view of the historians who relate it, to gain a proper perspective on what really happened and those who were involved.

Much to Gain

There are important lessons to be learned in both worldly and biblical history. History can:

• Help you have an outward mindset and outlook on life.
• Help you make better choices and decisions.
• Help you better understand and deal with other people.
• Help you develop traits and habits that will enhance your personality and character.
• Help you become better qualified to assist Christ in the next age.

So delve into history, and let history enrich your life and increase your potential!

Nathan Kroon is a Student Leader at Living Education. He originally hails from Washington State and is a 4th generation Christian. Currently, he works at Headquarters as a Video Editor and is the Lead Landscaper at the LivingEd dorms. His hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, drawing, and watching movies.

Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

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Estimated reading time: 4 min.

In his forum presentation, Mr. Laybeh gave the Living Education students a glimpse into the new developments in the Work in Thailand.

First, he gave a little background about himself to the students. He was born in Myanmar but forced to flee at a young age and spent much of his childhood in Thailand. Later on, he moved to the UK and worked there for over a decade. But God had a plan for him, and that plan involved him returning to Thailand once again–this time to serve God’s Work by preaching the Gospel and feeding the flock in Southeast Asia.

Preaching the Gospel

As Mr. Laybeh explained, the work began to register the Living Church of God  in Thailand as a nonprofit organization back in 2016. It wasn’t until 2018 that the Church received a Foundation Registration Certificate, and Mr. Laybeh was able to return to Thailand in the beginning of 2019 and spearhead the work there. Now, there are 36 booklets and 22 Children’s Bible Lessons translated into Thai, and the Facebook advertising efforts in Thailand have generated 1,383 subscribers. In 2021, they began to process literature requests for Thai-based subscribers, and now have sent over 1,881 pieces of literature!

Feeding the Flock

Mr. Laybeh also gave an update on the congregations in Thailand and Myanmar. There are two congregations in Thailand, as well as two main congregations and scattered brethren in four locations in Myanmar. Unfortunately, the congregations in Myanmar cannot be visited at present, because of the ongoing crisis in that country. On a brighter note, Mr. Laybeh reported that they have baptized four people since 2019, and will hopefully baptize more when Myanmar reopens its borders.

Current Situation in Myanmar

Mr. Laybeh explained the current crisis in Myanmar, which impacts the 80 brethren we have in that country. Hyperinflation and rising costs of living are threatening to drive the whole nation into poverty. Refugees continue to flee from Myanmar to Thailand, and many people live in fear daily. The brethren in northern Myanmar cannot connect to live-streamed services every week, but fortunately, those in the south can. Recently, the “Friendship Bridge” between Thailand and Myanmar over the Myawaddy River at the town of Maesot did reopen, but “there is no definitive indication of when the Military Junta will fully open the country.” Mr. Laybeh pointed out that problems like this will only persist until the Kingdom of God is established on the earth; we should all be praying and hoping that day comes soon.

LCG Thailand Foundation Education Project

There is reason to be excited about the work in Southeast Asia. Mr. Laybeh introduced the LCG Thailand Foundation Education Project, a project that reminds us that we are called to be a blessing to the world. Since 2018, the project has taught English at local schools, beginning with an online English class. In 2019, the Education Project began to provide education supplies to various schools in rural areas.

Also in 2019, the Foundation began organizing an in-person teaching effort with the Maeku Municipality School, assisting the Thai teachers in an English class. A pilot program was done in late 2019 with two ladies from Australia. In 2020, Mr. Weston visited the Maeku School and explored the idea of having Living Education students assist the project. COVID interfered with this at the time, but as of 2023, the idea is being reintroduced!

Community Development Project

Mr. Laybeh pointed out that, as members of God’s Church,  we are “called to be a blessing,” and this includes serving and helping in the community. He went through the Foundation’s community development efforts. They help local communities with youth and family issues, warning against drug use and other matters that come up. In addition, the foundation works with the Tak Provincial Administrative Organization to help rural communities in times of emergencies and with basic necessities. They even work with the Social Development and Human Security Office in that province, assisting with emergency relief and Corporate Social Responsibility projects. Mr. Laybeh also highlighted the gardening project, which aims to give experience to locals in tending a garden. This small project points to the Kingdom of God, when all of Earth will return to a more agrarian life.

He finally concluded that we are not called into the Church by mere chance or coincidence—we are called for a reason, and that is to be a blessing by striving to do our parts in serving and giving hope to a dying world. As long as we are devoted to our calling, stay on course, and do not give up, we will eventually become a great asset to God to be used in accomplishing His Work on this earth.

The Living Education students also heard a forum from Mr. Rajan Moses—a pastor in Malaysia—encouraging us to look at all brethren around the world as family. Read about that forum here: God is a Family!

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.

Author: Nathan Kroon | Student Leader, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

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Estimated Reading Time: 4 min.

Mr. Gerald E. Weston began this forum by presenting the students of Living Education with a question: “How accurate is the statement ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’?”

He explained that, in reality, a picture is limited in scope and in size, and is therefore limited in what it is able to teach you. It does not tell you what went before and after, or what is outside of its limits. This was a revelation he learned from Neil Postman’s, Amusing Ourselves to Death. Another lesson from that book is how we define intelligence in different generations. An intellectual was once defined as someone who could both read and write, but today “we are living in an age of trivial pursuit.” Now people are considered smart for knowing little things about seemingly nothing. Ken Jennings, who is famous for holding the record of 74 consecutive wins on Jeopardy!, may know a lot of little facts, but people who only rely on these facts may be led astray by having a lack of context behind them. For instance, we know that people will often call us “uneducated” in our religious practices, because we are seemingly “out of step” with the practices of the rest of the world; however, we practice them anyway, because we know that they are found in God’s word. Mr. Weston instructed the students to therefore read good books in order to build on their knowledge, and learn to think about and analyze what is happening around them.

Fiction and Nonfiction

There are a number of good books in the world, and we need to know which ones will be the most beneficial reads. Certain fiction can even be edifying for us. For example Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, shows us a future where artificial birthing replaces human parents, which speaks to how nuclear families are more and more being done away with now. Animal Farm, by George Orwell, shows the reader the effects of widespread socialism around the world, which seems to be happening among the youth of today’s world. Some fiction, of course, may not be good for us. Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, is often praised for its “genuine” main character and portrayal of very “human” behavior, and has long been read by adolescents in school, even though it promotes the use of a number of foul words. Our nation’s education systems also teach many exaggerations in their history classes, such as the role that Sacagawea played in the Lewis and Clark expedition and when World War II really began (it wasn’t with Pearl Harbor!). But some history books can show us the reality of our world’s history, and are highly educational.

A Look Into Our World

Social books can point out trends in the “androgynous culture” that is being promoted today, and why people are the way they are. They can be somewhat edifying, even when they may be actively promoting the wrong ideas. For example, After the Ball, by Madsen and Kirk, promotes homosexuality, but also clearly shows us how activists have come to successfully promote it as acceptable ever since the 1990s. Even though it actively encourages homosexuality, it also acknowledges the pitfalls found within same-sex relationships and understands that heterosexual marriages are more stable. If we read these kinds of books, we must, of course, realize the way that the authors contradict both themselves and the teachings of God. Books that speak on our society can tell us about all the damages that have been done to society since the popularization of the false ideas of dating, sex, and gender.

Reading good books will broaden our horizons and can teach us about the world we currently live in, as well as the one that we may come to live in. It gives us more credibility in our personal knowledge, and teaches us how to better think and analyze. Mr. Weston concluded by telling the students to give themselves a minimum of fifteen minutes of reading a day, and to develop it into a habit. Reading is enriching and greatly profitable!

Nathan Kroon is a Student Leader at Living Education. He originally hails from Washington State and is a 4th generation Christian. Currently, he works at Headquarters as a Video Editor and is the Lead Landscaper at the LivingEd dorms. His hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, drawing, and watching movies.

Author: Nathan Kroon | Student Leader, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

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Estimated Reading Time: 5 min.

Mr. Wallace Smith spoke to the students of Living Education about marriage and its purpose.

He stated that, if we’re not careful, we may only speak of marriage as an escape from bad things. After all, God did not only create marriage to simply prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. He made it to be much more than that—a symbol of the kind of love that He shares with His Church. While marriage is not necessary for someone to be connected to God, that doesn’t mean it is not an incredible blessing! What, then, are some of the benefits of marriage?

Benefit 1: Sex

God specifically designed marriage to be the only environment in which sex was meant to be experienced. Aside from being part of the process of creating offspring, sex greatly strengthens the relationship between two people who are truly committed to each other. Unfortunately, the world has actively encouraged sex to be performed outside of the sacrament of marriage. “We have a lot of unlearning to do,” said Mr. Smith, because the media constantly bombards us with false, carnal ideas surrounding sex and physical attraction. Mr. Smith pointed out that chemistry is not a bad thing to have in a relationship by going to Proverbs 30:19, which speaks of the wonderful “way of a man with a virgin”; what is wrong is choosing a spouse based entirely on physical attributes, which fade over time.

Benefit 2: Commitment

Marriage is capable of providing a kind of deep commitment that is not found in other relationships, as well as a unique peace of mind. In marriage, we need to be willing to be committed to our spouse in a way that defies  human nature. We should not only be there for them at all times, but want to be there. Today, many have the idea that commitment is just cohabitation, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. If you are living with your partner while not being committed to them enough to celebrate your love before God or even before a court officiator through a wedding, you are basically telling them, “I like you very much, but if a better opportunity presents itself to me at any point, I’m walking out the door.” Those are not very romantic vows to make to each other! True commitment is what makes marriages work, and it helps establish the most important human relationship you will have in your life.

Benefit 3: Companionship

Marriage is a journey in becoming each other’s perfect companion. The act of marriage creates two companions, and if they put the right effort into it, they become “custom-made” for each other as time passes. The idea of having one true “soulmate” is not rooted in any sort of reality. If it was true that there really was only one perfect person in the entire world made specifically for you, most people’s soulmates would likely live on entirely different continents! As a husband or wife, you will learn to sacrifice parts of yourself or your life for the other person. Marriage requires sacrifice. You won’t know yourself as well as you’ll think you do going into marriage, and you will face challenges. However, part of the beauty within the marital relationship is that you are able to face challenges together. Learning to get past hardships as a team will make you more conformed to each other. After all, your spouse should be your best friend.

Benefit 4: Vulnerability

Marriage allows a couple to be completely open with each other. A husband and wife should not hold their secrets away from each other. At points, you may hurt each other’s feelings, and because you are more vulnerable with them than with anyone else, it naturally may feel like it hurts more than usual. Nonetheless, persevering through the rough patches and developing an almost psychic pattern of communication with each other makes couples stronger and more comfortable in their marriage and in their mentality.

Benefit 5: Children

A happy and stable marriage between a man and a woman is the optimal environment in which to raise children. One of the most wonderful commissions that God gave to mankind was to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28), because “He seeks godly offspring” (Malachi 2:15). Mr. Smith explained that his experiences as a father have been some of the most rewarding parts of his life. “As a parent,” he said, “you take delight in your children’s delight.”

Benefit 6: Design Fulfillment

God seeks to develop men and women into better human beings. Through marriage, we are essentially working as God’s assistant in developing our spouse. It is a great privilege to have parts of God’s work delegated to us through a sacrament that He created for us.

There’s more to marriage than most people think, and not many of these people recognize these benefits as benefits, because they don’t go into marriage with the right state of mind. If we view marriage the way that God intended humanity to view it, we can take full advantage of its joys and benefits.

Nathan Kroon is a Student Leader at Living Education. He originally hails from Washington State and is a 4th generation Christian. Currently, he works at Headquarters as a Video Editor and is the Lead Landscaper at the LivingEd dorms. His hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, drawing, and watching movies.

Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

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Estimated reading time: 6 min.

The Presiding Evangelist of the Living Church of God, Mr. Gerald Weston, spoke to the Living Education students for a forum presentation.

 He prompted us to consider what our life’s story will be and how we want it to turn out, and he urged the students to make the most of every opportunity and to avoid regrets. 

God Directs Our Lives 

Mr. Weston introduced this topic with a song, literally. He read the words of the song My Way, popularized in 1969 by Frank Sinatra. This song is written from the perspective of someone looking back on his life, and he is proud that he lived it his way. Mr. Weston said that our way is actually the worst way, and pointed to Proverbs 16:9 to show that it is really God who directs our life. 

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

Our Story

Much of our life is already determined by things we do not have control over. Our parents, family, and upbringing leave lasting effects on our life, even if we do not see it immediately. Mr. Weston illustrated this by recounting how he never thought he was like his dad, until he got to be his dad’s age. Then, he began to catch himself saying and doing things like his dad. But we should not feel bad about our upbringing, even if it was flawed—and everybody’s was, in some way. Rather, Mr. Weston exhorted us to embrace it—you can’t change it now—and understand it. 

The Little Things 

A central theme of Mr. Weston’s forum presentation was the small opportunities that changed his life—things that, at the time, he never would have guessed would be impactful. He recalled his mother introducing him to baseball and swimming as a kid. He developed a habit of running during lunch hour at school, and this small habit propelled him to keep exercising his whole life. Even his early experience hunting and fishing had an unforeseen value. When he pastored in Mississippi, he visited church members whose husbands were not in the church. Being able to talk to these men about their hunting and fishing adventures helped “show them this minister was halfway normal.” 

Those Little Things Become Big

Mr. Weston continued showing the big effects of small things in his life. He recalled how his time as a kid in South Dakota ended up paying dividends, almost literally, through his later years. It was there that he had his first job—kind of. He started shoveling snow off of people’s sidewalks and driveways with all the other local kids. As insignificant as this seemed, it taught him that there is value in work, no matter how menial. This realization led him to work hard in a variety of jobs, whenever he could, earning money and gaining experience and character. This desire to work hard carried into Ambassador College, where he worked for two years on the custodial crew setting up chairs. This job did not seem significant, but it proved invaluable. Later in his life, he was in charge of an auditorium in Chattanooga that needed thousands of chairs set up, and the contracted people were not getting it done on time. Mr. Weston used his experience to manage over 100 ushers and get the job done! Even the smallest, most menial experiences can make a major impact later in your life. 

Smallest to Biggest

Mr. Weston continued to emphasize the small things, little opportunities that could pop up today or tomorrow—opportunities that may seem inconsequential, but can have lasting impacts if we are diligent and make the most of them. In 1983, Mr. Weston’s wife asked the wife of the director of the summer education program (camp), “What do you have to do to go to camp?” It turned out that Mr. Weston’s ticket to camp was that he swam. This went all the way back to the swim lessons his mom took him to. He was not the fastest or the best, but he had gotten his lifeguarding certification and others, and that had unexpected results: Mr. Weston went to camp as lifeguarding staff. And year after year, Mr. Weston got the chance to go back. This had a massive impact on his life and experience. Mr. Weston then said, “I’ve often made the statement: everything I know, I learned at camp. And this applies to organization, to delegation, and to working with situations [. . .].” 

“The opportunity to go to summer camp taught me skills and lessons that I would never have learned any place else. And it really was just because of my wife asking that question and the fact that I knew a little bit about swimming.”

Mr. Weston

God opened a door that changed Mr. Weston’s life with a simple question and a little knowledge. The smallest things can have the biggest impacts. 

Avoid the Small Regrets Too

Mr. Weston expanded the topic of small opportunities to share some insight about common, seemingly small actions that we will regret, and gave us tips to avoid them. First, he said, “Do not overreact.” We should take time in our responses and not be hasty. Second, he said, “Learn as much as you can from your parents.” He looked back on his own life and realized the things he wished he could have asked his father and the time he could have spent with his mother. Third, he said, “Do not be critical of others.” It damages friendships and seldom helps people. Lastly, he said, “Do not waste time.” This does not mean we always have to be productive. It means we should spend more time meditating, doing things like hunting or fishing or just getting outdoors more. Otherwise, we will regret how we spent our time when we look back.

“It is our nature to waste and throw away our lives, because time is life.”

Mr. Weston

What Is Your Story Going to Be?

Are we going to look back on our life and be satisfied, or are we going to regret those small mistakes and missed opportunities? Concluding, Mr. Weston reminded the students to consider their actions today. 

“The things that happen today may have far greater impact on your overall life, on your whole story, than you could ever imagine. Take advantage of every opportunity you have.”

There are opportunities that come up every day that may be once-in-a-lifetime chances. We should take them; we should create that life story with no regrets, full of success. 
For tips on maximizing and even creating small opportunities, read a Summary of Dr. Winnail’s Forum on The Path to Achieving Your Goals.

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.