Dear Readers,

I am writing to you during a break in meetings we are holding about the work of the United Church of God in East Africa. Those responsible for overseeing that area have reported some good news—we now have 1,655 people in that region who subscribe to The Good News magazine (764 in Kenya, 504 in Ethiopia, 175 in Eritrea, 158 in Tanzania and 54 in Uganda). Several hundred also subscribe to the other publications we offer—World News and Prophecy, Vertical Thought and the Bible Study Course.

While these numbers, compared to the population, are merely the proverbial "drop in a bucket," we are still very thankful that God has cracked open the door to allow us to provide the gospel message free of charge to this part of the world.

For many people in Africa, life as they know it has always been bleak, with no prospects of escaping the pervasive war and poverty. As a result, the coming Kingdom of God is the only hope they have for a better life. By contrast, isn't it sad that so many people in the prosperous parts of the world do not even see the need for Christ's return? Many studies show that citizens in the "advanced" nations are growing more and more ignorant of the Bible, increasingly distant from religion and further away from any kind of personal relationship with God.

Some day, though, God has promised that the terrible veil of ignorance will be lifted from everyone in the world! Over thousands of years, through the prophets of old, Jesus Christ and the New Testament apostles, God has confirmed these promises of a new world coming—a world of peace, unity, security, love and knowledge of God's way of life.

People of all nations dream of living in a world of harmony—no war, no famine, no hatred, no needless suffering—but it seems so elusive. The recently completed Olympic Games in Beijing probably captured the highest ideal humanity can reach. In fact, the theme song of the games that the 204 national delegations marched to in the opening ceremonies was titled "One World, One Dream." The dream of one world may be symbolized for two weeks on the athletic field, but can it ever be literally achieved on the political, religious, social and economic fields? History and human experience say no, but God says, "Yes! It will be achieved under the coming reign of Jesus Christ."

Watching the scores of nations filing so colorfully and ceremoniously into the Olympic stadium brought to my mind a dramatic event the world will witness with rejoicing some day. We read of this future scenario, after Christ returns, in a prophecy in the second chapter of Isaiah:

"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.

"Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (verses 2-3).

Can you picture such a magnificent occasion, when representatives from scores of nations will flock together in Jerusalem, all coming not to compete in games, but to worship and learn from God? All peoples—Africans, Asians, Australians, North and South Americans, Europeans —culturally diverse, but singular in their purpose to be taught how to truly live the dream of one world at peace! And God promises:

"He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Isaiah 2:4).

Everything we write about in The Good News points to this coming day. When we write about current events, or even historical events, it is all designed to help you understand the world around us in light of the good news of the world to come!

Thank you for your interest and concern—we pray that you are finding hope and help in the pages of our literature. People the world over are hungry for something positive to cling to, a little hope for their future.

That hope shines from our recently reprinted booklet You Can Understand Bible Prophecy. After clearly outlining the keys to understanding the prophecies of the Bible and pointing out proofs of fulfilled prophecy, this booklet focuses on the future. It shows how the troubles of this age will soon be replaced by "The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ." The booklet concludes with a look "Beyond the Millennium" to a time of endless peace. This is truly good news—the best news! We want you to have this important and inspiring information. Just click here to read, download or order a free copy.

We'll be in touch again next month.

Sincerely, in Christ's name,

Clyde Kilough
President
United Church of God

PS—The latest issue of The Good News is now online, and hopefully you will be getting your September/October issue in the mail in the next few weeks. A look at the prophetic significance of the Russian invasion of Georgia and the new Mediterranean Union are just some of the timely subjects covered. Other articles highlight godly leadership, peace, happiness and God's solutions to this world's problems. Take a sneak peek now by clicking here.

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