Dear Friend,

As I walked through the Albuquerque, New Mexico, airport Wednesday morning, July 5, the USA Today headline did its job and grabbed my attention. "A Nation of 300 Million" it read, explaining that in mid-October 2006, the population of the United States will pass that milestone! It was a mere 40 years ago that the U.S. census came in at 200 million, and experts project that we will top the 400 million mark in only 26 more years.

Greater longevity, a healthy birth rate and a steady flow of immigrants (both legal and illegal) account for this rapid rise, which is "faster than any other industrialized nation." With the exception of a very few countries—interestingly, nations such as Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia—the rest of the world's population is also swiftly expanding.

When some people see such statistics, they see the related economic, political and social issues or looming, worrisome problems like hunger and health concerns.

As a church, we also see serious hunger and health problems—a world starving for spiritual knowledge and suffering from serious spiritual sicknesses! We also see, though, that the good news of the coming Kingdom of God explains the causes and offers the ultimate solutions.

Jesus Himself emphasized how much God loves all the people of this world. Each and every one is a child of God by physical creation, and He is going to offer each one the opportunity to be His child through His spiritual creation. This is one of the least understood truths of the gospel, and something that everyone needs to know! In spite of the problems facing the 6 billion-plus inhabitants on the earth today, there is hope in their future, and the Church's work today is to preach that message of hope and salvation.

Although at times that task looks monumental, if not impossible, we believe Christ's promise that "this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). He is true to His word, and that's why we go about our work with great faith!

When I read the latest figures on population growth, another of Jesus' statements also rings in my ears: "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37). I'm so thankful to report that more laborers have helped us increase our efforts to preach the gospel in the past year and, consequently, we are confidently planning for greater growth in the near future.

For instance, a vigorous print advertising campaign reaching over 13 million U.S. households through direct mail and "take one" brochures should result in over 100,000 brand-new Good News magazine subscribers.

In addition, responses continue to increase to our Beyond Today television program, currently airing on 166 stations in the United States and on Vision TV and The Christian Channel in Canada. Beyond Today is also on 18 radio stations in the United States including XM satellite radio and an Internet radio station, as well as in Barbados, St. Kitts and Jamaica. This trend of rapidly increasing responses encourages us, because it is a sign that listeners are indeed hungry for God's truth.

Also, please be sure to download and read our booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom if you haven't already done so. We'd be happy to send you a free copy in the mail too if you wish.

If you want more, 120 Good News radio programs are available for listening and/or podcast download on the Internet at www.gnmagazine.org/radio/ and 28 Beyond Today programs are available for viewing or podcast download via the Internet at www.beyondtoday.tv/.

The world's population is growing, and we have to grow at a faster rate—thank you for your help in making this possible! Many have followed Christ's admonition in Matthew 9:38 to "pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." There are millions of hungry "mouths to feed" spiritually, and there is no greater way to help this growing world than by giving them the words of life!

I'll be back in touch next month. Until then, may God bless you!

Sincerely,

Clyde Kilough
President
United Church of God