Living Church of God has been spending a considerable amount of money on Tomorrow's World presentations in various cities. In the latest Weekly Update, Gerald Weston is bragging about the number of people attending their presentations in three cities. The city names and population estimates are below.
Binghamton, New York 45,672Charleston, West Virginia 49,138Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada 110,984LCG had a potential audience of 205,794 people who had the opportunity to come and hear the "good news" about the LCG and how once they join they will be required to pay 30% of their income in tithes, then send in another tithe on the tithe, and to regularly give special offerings and contribute to the building fund or some other emergency fund set up so the elite can do their pet projects. Ultimately, these presentations are about bringing in new money streams.
So just how many people showed up at these three presentations?
Last Sabbath we held Tomorrow’s World Presentations in Binghamton, New York; Charleston, West Virginia; and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; with a combined total of 57 guests and 79 members.With all of the money spent on cable broadcasting spots, advertising, magazine articles, mailings, and co-worker letters, they were only able to draw in 57 people. Of those 57, LCG claims some were former WCG members checking out LCG.
We are pleased to see a number of former Worldwide members trying to reconnect with the Church and who are checking us out. There are also a number of brand new people who express great enthusiasm when learning we actually have services nearby.Let's see how long that "great enthusiasm" lasts as these people find out how much money they will be required to give.
Next, Gerald Weston talks about the greatest University in the United States, if not the entire world, Living University. This mind boggling University now has 8 on campus students! Count them, 8! Add to that the number of online "students" and you have the most astounding university the world has ever seen! COG colleges and universities are the BEST!
Living University classes began this past week with approximately 170 online students and eight on-campus students.Gerald Weston also mentions he just finished the latest member/co-worker letters. As usual, it is all about money. Money, money, money! Can't' discuss Jesus with you, but, "give us your money!"
I finished a co-worker letter and a letter regarding the fall Holy Day offerings, which you should be receiving shortly.One of the reasons Weston is writing about money, again, is that income is not what they want it to be. As usual, the members are slacking off with their donations. It seems it was more important for families to have fun over the summer and to save some extra for the Feast vacation time that they have not been sending in as much. Without that extra money, LCG has not been able to get their "good news" out on as many stations as possible. God has been standing there holding the door open and they have not been able to enter. Sound familiar? Blame the brethren!
We have contracted for a new station in New Mexico and are looking at another one in the Tampa, Florida area. Budget limitations hold us back from doing much more.Weston then ends with at least one encouraging thing for members to consider, and it is going to be a hard one for some LCG members:
On another note, brethren, let us make sure we do not get caught up in the spirit of hatred that is descending on the United States at this time and will become more apparent all over this world in the near future. We are members of the Family of God and must never become distracted from the big picture.—Gerald Weston
27 comments:
Of course the income is down - hasn't part of the message been financial disaster for "the USA and its Anglo-allies"? Don't they believe their own spiel?
I find everything about the LCG to be sadly disappointing anymore. From the awful sermons of Rod McNair and Gerald Weston to the boring magazine articles that all seem to be rewrites of decades old PT or GN articles. There is nothing preached anymore that is worthwhile or spiritually rewarding. I am so sick of their constant begging for money. They want us to send the money in, but the employees and ministers fail to curtail their extravagant lifestyles and boast about their adventures and great vacations on Facebook and elsewhere. This will be our last Feast with them. Since it is already paid for we are going as a family vacation, nothing more. We will make an appearance at services and then go out and have fun.
8 students in their University? What the hell is wrong with these people? Why would a legitimate accrediting association accredit such a mess? What good is Michael Germano, other than a familiar name and the ex-president of a failed University, two of them to be exact.
Would it be cheaper, and far more efficient if they simply PAID people to come to the public presentations? Say $20 if they stay for the whole thing, and with the option of putting it back into a box in the back on the way out if they felt they got their moneys worth?
Even Jesus fed the crowd with bread and fish!
I'm still amazed that Germano was accepted in LCG after the article he wrote about how great Jr's church changes were in the mid 90's WWN. I guess they all follow the money. No character needed!
Oh no! I haven't been near an LCG website for ages, and after replying to this post I'm getting Tomorrow's World Google Ads!
Can't believe the numbers! You could probably find more people to volunteer to receive the HIV virus in these cities!
BB
Connie, I don't know if you were being facetious, but in my professional opinion, your idea about the $20 is worth trying. Offer it to all co-workers, and make it receivable at the door as they enter. Bumping it up to $50 might not be a bad idea either.
They have nothing new to contribute, just the same old bull shit that HWA spewed out of his mouth.
Connie wrote:
"Would it be cheaper, and far more efficient if they simply PAID people to come to the public presentations? Say $20 if they stay for the whole thing, and with the option of putting it back into a box in the back on the way out if they felt they got their moneys worth? "
Actually not a bad business model... Hey, don't give them any ideas:::
Connie and Gordon –
They could do even more. Remember HWA’s Autobiography story about how he paid some farmers to act enthusiastic about approving the Dixie Highway, hoping others would follow like sheep?
Pay a few to attend the presentation, act skeptical, ask seemingly difficult questions, and appear satisfied by their nonsense answers. After the presentation, they go to talk to a minister as if they’re interested in a home visit.
Anon 539 – I had questions like that as well. It seemed as if change was okay, to a degree, but at one point it may have gone too far. But on leaving, they reversed the changes, including ones that they seem to have tolerated.
Perhaps for those on the payroll, they were like Winston Zedemore (Ghostbusters) “Ah, if there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say.” But when they leave, who should believe them?
"They could do even more. Remember HWA’s Autobiography story about how he paid some farmers to act enthusiastic about approving the Dixie Highway, hoping others would follow like sheep? "
an old old old sales gimmick from waaaaaay back....put a couple of plants in the crowd to buy your snake oil, and others will buy it too since they don't want to miss out on anything.
it's still very much in use today...any ad that says "don't miss out" or "limited time only" or "everyone is rushing to ________ (fill in the blank) is using that very tactic.
Disgusted in Charlotte, don't let the door hit on you on the way out. It's good to know that fake Christians will no longer be attending with LCG.
Anon @ 7:12
When have there ever been Christian's in Charlotte? I see none in leadership positions. They deny Jesus and worship Moses.
As if God calls people through chicanery! A church that would use "plants" in the audience is man-made, for sure.
BB
@ 7:12
One big difference between WCG and LCG is that in WCG disgusted members stopped tithing for a while before they left. LCG members know about the tithe-monitoring, so they usually keep tithing right up until they leave. LCG may be losing some fake Christians after the Feast of Tabernacles this year, but will be losing real tithe-payers, which will directly affect the lifestyle of spoiled HQ turds.
It wasn't that long ago when LCG supporters promoted their organization by pointing to the seniority of its leaders and to the quality and reach of its carrying out the first commission. Now, with Meredith gone, and with income down, how has LCG responded? By cutting back on carrying out the first commission!
If you are attending LCG and wonder what happened to Philadelphian love of the brethren and the truth, try COGWA. COGWA loves the truth in that it doesn't go in for leaders "pet heresies" (going to heaven in a kind of rapture when Christ returns, 'new understanding' about the Falling Away, etc.), and it loves the brethren in ensuring quality spiritual "meat" for their consumption, instead of endless sermons on "follow the leader and don't get buggy about details."
Speaking of fake. ...you post anonymously. And how do you know that Disgusted in Charlotte is a fake Christian? Because someone wants to spend time with their family during the feast? Or because someone has admitted that their church isn't meeting their needs? Sounds pretty honest to me.
When HWA was speaking in the Philippines, didn't they pay people to come in out of the heat to sit in the audience where he was speaking? Sounds typical of him. Appearances mean more than substance, just like AC campus.
@11:49 AM
Speaking of fake. ...you post anonymously.
How else can Jim Meredith, Wile E. Ciesielka, David Meredith, Rod McNair and other HQ wolves expect to be taken seriously when they post? Remember, that same anonymity is what lets a conscience-stricken LU student or HQ worker-bee post here, too.
The population statistics cited are misleading. Although these are declining cities within withering regions, yet the combined metro populations of these three cities is around 600,000 people. Attracting 57 new people from a population of 600,000 is abysmal. Having only 79 members, some of whom traveled from far outside the metro areas, is even more embarrassing. Looks like the gates of Hell are closing in on the LCG!
@5:05PM
Attracting 57 new people from a population of 600,000 is abysmal. Having only 79 members, some of whom traveled from far outside the metro areas, is even more embarrassing.
If all 79 members were from that metro area of 600,000, this would be the equivalent of having about 42,000 members across the United States., LCG has about 1/10 of that, so those three declining cities appear to be strongholds where LCG has some of its greatest presence.
LCG used to have a much wider reach, with its presence on major national TV stations, which have been cut with the drop in income. For most potential members, these days, LCG is just another online ministry, much like the Almost Arrested for Mail Fraud Elijah. LCG executives may not realize it yet, but the way they have cut "expenses" they have actually cut future income and growth. Even though it's pagan, they should read the tale of the Goose Who Laid the Golden Eggs.
yup, feil the name of the game is self service, not service to God: Luke 14:26 has no place in our society...we must live for the moment, and any concept of eternal life, the product of keeping the Commandments, be damned, right?
Anon 7:12
I was in LCG in Charlotte for a 12 years.
I have never known a group of faker Christians in my life.
Self-righteous, conditional love, self-loving, brood of viper gossips.
I work in "the world" and have found more out-flowing concern and genuine Christian character in co-workers who have never heard of LCG or HWA.
You are blind.
It is always interesting to me that the anonymous posts by what seem to be LCG leadership essentially say, "bite me" rather than a humble approach of 'hey, maybe there is a problem here.' All the examples Christ gave of going after the lost sheep are completely ignored. It is directly to these kinds of people that God gives warnings in Matt. 18. Take heed LCG leadership, the way you treat people is disgraceful!
@ Anon 9:32 PM
Do you remember how Rod Meredith kept on defending Dave Pack in Global, for several years, even though reports kept on coming in to San Diego that Pack was a liar and a wolf and was driving God's people away?
Eventually, Pack turned on Meredith, but only after much damage had been done. Many people ended up in UCG who would have been happy in Global if Rod Meredith hadn't allowed Pack to abuse them.
Anyone with the Holy Spirit can discern that there are a couple of men in LCG Charlotte today who are liars and self-promoters and are almost like little miniature versions of Dave Pack. When people see that Gerald Weston isn't casting those men out and going after the sheep they've driven away, they can see that it's a repeat of the pattern Weston learned under Meredith.
Even if it is only out of his self-interest, Weston ought to remember that miniature versions of Dave Pack can grow into full-sized replicas. Not only are LCG's HQ wolves driving away some Spirit-led brethren; they are poised to launch their own self-serving attacks on Weston when the time is right, just as Pack did against Meredith.
In the meantime, LCG leadership should read Matthew 23:15. The longer Weston waits to cast out the wolves from LCG HQ, the more time they will have to corrupt the workers under them. Already, there are parts of LCG HQ where if you are a sheep you WILL be sheared, and maybe even eaten, by wolves who are your co-workers, not just your boss. Why would any Christian want to be a part of that?
There was a featured article in the Times of Israel about Christian churches that observe the same feasts days as the Jews. The church they featured in the article is the LCG. Here is the link: http://www.timesofisrael.com/christians-who-celebrate-rosh-hashanah-and-yom-kippur-a-growing-trend/
I wonder what the other church leaders/prophets will think about their not being interviewed or discussed in the article.
The article got one thing very wrong. It said LCG is ruled by a council of elders. Wrong. LCG strongly teaches one-man rule and scoffs at the "unbiblical" nature of church governments like UCG. I wonder if LCG is actually embarrassed by their dictatorial form of government and so they misled the article's author.
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