We are happy to announce that September Danforth-Prentice was baptized in Woodburn, Oregon, on February 9, 2008. Norbert Link conducted the baptism, which was witnessed by family members and brethren. We would like to welcome September as a newly-begotten child in the Family of God.

A new StandingWatch program (#156) has been posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and You Tube. It is titled, “Right or Wrong–God Decides!” In the program, Norbert Link discusses the fact that the human mind does not know what is Christian conduct. The Bible allows what humans reject, or it prohibits what humans approve. Examples include: relating unflattering facts about people who have died; spanking and disciplining our children; marriage and divorce; abortion; and scientific advancements of cloning or “creating” embryos. Do you know God’s viewpoint on those matters?

Please remember Norbert and Johanna Link in your prayers, as they will be flying on Friday to Oregon for a church visit of the brethren, and to conduct a baptism. They plan to return on Monday.

Our new booklet, “The Sacrificial System and the Tabernacle in the Wilderness,” has been posted on our Website. The booklet will be sent shortly to the printer in England, and hard copies will be distributed upon receipt.

A new StandingWatch program (#155) has been posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and YouTube. It is titled “Does God Want You to Prosper?” In the program, Norbert Link discusses the fact that many teach today a so-called “Prosperity Gospel,” even though that term is nowhere mentioned in the Bible. But does this mean that God wants His people to be poor and destitute? If not, what do we need to do to receive God’s blessing of prosperity in this life?

A new StandingWatch program (#154) was posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and YouTube. It is titled, “Bobby Fischer’s Life and Death.” In the program, Norbert Link explained that Chess genius Bobby Fischer died on January 17, 2008. His high IQ did not prevent him from adopting and promoting false ideas. At the same time, some reporters should be embarrassed about their ignorance, when resurrecting an inaccurate claim that Fischer was a member of a “sect” or “cult” in California, which allegedly taught wrong doctrines. What is the truth regarding Fischer’s association with that church, and what are some of the church’s teachings, which upset reporters?

Several video-recorded sermons were posted on Google Video:

The video recordings of Edwin Pope’s sermons, “As We Examine Ourselves,” (April 8, 2006) and “No Other Gods” (August 5, 2006), were posted on Google Video. Edwin Pope’s sermon, “Sin–A Powerful Enemy” (December 3, 2005), had already been posted previously on Google Video.

In addition, Norbert Link’s Feast of Tabernacles sermon for 2007 (September 28, 2007) was posted on Google Video, under the title, “The Mystery of God and Man.” Also, his sermon, “Pentecost and You” (May 27, 2007) was posted on Google Video as well.

A new StandingWatch program (#153) was posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and You Tube. It is titled, “Abortion–Right or Wrong?” In the program, Norbert Link asks the questions,  Is abortion always right–or is it always wrong? And if it is acceptable under certain circumstances, how old does the embryo or fetus have to be to make it right? Neither proponents of “pro choice” nor those of “pro life” seem to have the answers. Do you know the truth? Only God, in His Word, the Bible, can tell you.

The video recordings of Norbert Link’s sermons, “Tabernacle in the Wilderness, Part 1,” and “Interpersonal Relationships,” were posted on Google Video.

A new StandingWatch program (#152) was posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and You Tube. It is titled, “No–You Are NOT Born Again!” In the program, Norbert Link points out that many well-meaning Christians are convinced that they are born again. But none of them are–if you believe the words of Jesus Christ. He told Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, in the book of John, chapter 3, that in order to be born again–in order to be able to see and enter the Kingdom of God–you must BE Spirit. But no Christian alive today IS a Spirit being; therefore, he could NOT have been born again! Why then is there so much confusion about the born-again concept?

The following video recording of Norbert Link’s recent sermon was posted on Google Video:

Bible Study — Do You Know the Year of Christ’s Return?

Michael Link and Noelle Jacobs would like to announce that they plan to get married in Ramona, California, on June 29, 2008.

The draft of the new booklet on “Man’s Holidays and God’s Holy Days” has entered the second review cycle.

A new StandingWatch program (#151) was posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and YouTube. It is titled, “What IS the Kingdom of God?, Part 2.” In the program, Norbert Link is asking the following questions: Is the gospel message just about Jesus Christ, or is it Christ’s message about the Kingdom of God? IS God a Family, or does He just HAVE a family? Is it the potential of man to become God or just a spirit being, higher than angels, but lower than God? What DOES your BIBLE say about these questions?

The following video recordings of Norbert Link’s recent sermons have been posted on Google Video:

“Was the California Wild Fire Caused by God?,” dated November 3, 2007
“Image Which Speaks,” dated September 13, 2007
“The Tabernacle in the Wilderness, Part 3,” dated September 1, 2007

Set forth below are statistics of recent viewings and downloads of several of our video-recorded sermons (plus one video-ad), which were placed on Google Video:

Bible Study — The Books of Ezra & Nehemiah, Part 1 — 1584 viewings, 66 downloads
Bible Study — Christian Suffering — 1573 viewings, 62 downloads
Bible Study — The Books of Ezra & Nehemiah, Part 2 — 708 viewings,  23 downloads
Bible Study — Sin, a powerful enemy — 450 viewings,  32 downloads
Bible Study — The Life of Gideon — 392 viewings, 21 downloads
Bible Study — Jonah Speaks to Us  — 387 viewings, 18 downloads
Bible Study — How to Have a Successful Lasting Marriage — 376 viewings, 44 downloads
Bible Study — Day of Atonement : Mystery of the Atonement Rituals — 261 viewings
Bible Study — Flee Idolatry! — 203 viewings, 13 downloads
Bible Study — How to Be Truly Successful! — 131 viewings, 18 downloads
Bible Study — Why the Sacrifices? — 115 viewings, 3 downloads
Bible Study — Sin: How Do You Look At It? — 102 viewings, 10 downloads
Bible Study — Human Suffering: (FREE Booklet)– 78 viewings, 5 downloads
Bible Study — What the Sacrifices May Teach You – Part 3 — 41 viewings, 7 downloads
Bible Study — The Tabernacle in the Wilderness, Part 2 — 12 viewings

Total: 6413 viewings,  322 downloads

We are in the planning stages of our annual conference, which will be held in California and begin on Friday, March 28, 2008, and which will last until and including Wednesday, April 2, 2008 (with Sunday, March 30, 2008, being set aside for a church outing/activity). Please feel free to send us any questions or suggestions for discussion during the conference, which might be helpful for the furtherance of our overall two-fold commission to preach the gospel and to feed the flock.

A new member letter has been written. In the letter, Brian Gale contrasts the present terrible conditions of this world with the wonderful future which awaits us.

The text for our new booklet on the Sacrifices and the Tabernacle in the Wilderness has been sent to Shelly Bruno for finalization.

A new StandingWatch program (#150) has been posted on StandingWatch, Google Video and YouTube. It is titled, “What IS the Kingdom of God?, Part 1.”

In the program, Norbert Link explains that Christ said the blessed of His Father were to inherit the kingdom prepared for them since the foundation of the world. What did He mean by that? WHAT are we to inherit? HOW has it been PREPARED for us? WHY was MAN created in the first place? And WHO, exactly, created man?

Since we posted our StandingWatch programs on Google Video a few months ago, we are pleased to announce the following statistics: Our program, “America’s Illegal Aliens” was viewed 5,849 times; followed by “666, the Beast and Antichrist” (viewed 4,313 times); “Is Nuclear War Coming?” (viewed 3,404 times); “American Hiroshima” (2,295 times); “America’s Latest Phone Scandal” (1,637 times); “To Spank or Not to Spank” (1,620 views); “Ghosts of Departed Ones” (1,618 views); and “USA–The Fading Superpower” (1,581 views). Additional programs were viewed on Google Video from 1,505 times on downward.

As of December 28, the program, “Are You An Alcoholic?” received the most views (72) on You Tube (we began posting our programs on You Tube about two weeks ago).

Since October 13, 2007, the programs on “Britain and America”; “Why Keep Sunday?”; “The Law of God”; “Christmas”; “Mystery of Revelation”; and “Halloween” received the most views on our StandingWatch Website (from 163 to 83).

US Contributions for 2007:

Donations and contributions received with letters postmarked in 2007 AND with enclosed written checks, dated in 2007, will be included in the detailed donation receipts for 2007. These receipts will be printed and sent out in mid-January of 2008. Cash contributions must also be received prior to January 1, 2008 (or, if sent by letter, the letter must be postmarked in 2007), in order to be included in the donation receipts for 2007. All contributions not falling into the categories described above will not be included in the donation receipts for 2007.

A new StandingWatch program was posted on StandingWatch and Google Video. It is titled, “What Is the True Gospel?, Part 2”

In the program, Norbert Link discusses that Christ came to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. He commissioned His Church to preach it today, and He said that its worldwide proclamation would be the sign for His Second Coming and the end of this present civilization. But why does Christ tell you to seek the Kingdom of God–to become worthy to inherit it and to enter it? And once you are in the Kingdom of God, what will you do then?

A new StandingWatch program was posted on StandingWatch, Google Video, and You Tube. It is titled, “What Is the True Gospel?” In the program, Norbert Link is asking the audience: Did you know that the true gospel was suppressed and that the apostle Paul explained that some had already begun at his time to proclaim another gospel and another Jesus? But Paul placed a curse on those who did. Today, almost nobody knows what the true gospel is. Do you know? Don’t be too sure!

This weekend, Rene and Delia Messier will be visiting our brethren in Oregon. Please pray for safe travel. 

A new StandingWatch program was placed on StandingWatch and on Google Video, titled, “Christmas and Worldwide Peace.” In the program, Norbert Link discusses the paradox that Christmas tells us that Jesus Christ came two thousand years ago to bring peace to this world. If so, why don’t we have peace today amongst all nations? And why did Jesus say that He did not come to bring peace, but the sword? Did He want His disciples to fight others in war? What WAS the purpose of Christ’s First Coming, and what did He really teach and promise mankind?

We have begun to post our StandingWatch programs on You Tube. So far, 25 programs have been posted, including the recent programs on the Law of God, the Origins of Britain and America, Halloween, the Mystery of Revelation, Ghosts, Alcoholism, Christmas, Sunday-keeping, World Conditions, and others. In addition to Google Video, You Tube provides us with a diverse international audience, specifically in Europe.

Our Internet advertisement campaign in the USA has, so far, produced 51 requests for our booklet, “Human Suffering…Why, and How Much Longer?”, and 15 requests for our booklet, “Don’t Keep Christmas.” Most requested additional booklets, which we are offering with the Christmas booklet, i.e., “Jesus Christ–A Great Mystery,” “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World,” and “God’s Commanded Holy Days.”