Dear Brethren,

This issue of the ANU is jammed full of exciting articles, updates and memories of many wonderful activities
held in God’s work in the Asia Pacific Region. It is a pleasure to share these with you!
King Solomon reminds us that life is like a vapour [thanks Mr Solomon] and yet, how many of us make plans,
start projects, resolve to do more Bible study and prayer…or perhaps we are determined to visit or call our
brethren, only to find the weeks and months evaporate before our eyes.

The Apostle Paul lovingly instructs us to “redeem the time, for the days are evil” (Eph 5:16).Paul was exhorting us to consider that if we’re not careful, we could be swallowed up with the cares and busyness of this world. Perhaps you worked to exhaustion during the week and then were unable to attend Sabbath services because of extreme tiredness. We need to have the right perspective and also make sure our priorities are right. Isn’t the greatest work on this earth by far, the work God is doing in each of His begotten children – the work of developing Holy Righteous Character, His Character, in each of us? Clearly, this is no small feat, especially in these Laodicean and evil days we find ourselves in.

Recently, I heard about a gentleman who was once affiliated with our former association, yet after many years in the wilderness, reconnected with the church. He set himself the goal of reading all the Tomorrow’s World magazine issues since they first began in 1999, that’s a total of 155 magazines to be exact. You can still access every issue from the website, https://www.tomorrowsworld.org.

He expressed how happy he was to be able to catch up on all that he missed over the years. This is just one example of redeeming the time – perhaps you might do the same, or even set a goal to read or reread all the church-published booklets. Whatever you decide, why not start now and “redeem the time”?

As I’m sure you’re aware, the Holy Days are quickly approaching – and perhaps have already arrived by the time you receive this issue of the ANU. The Feast of Trumpets – picturing the Return of our Lord, Saviour and King. The Day of Atonement – when we will finally see Satan bound and unable to influence mankind. The Feast of Tabernacles – 1000 years with Jesus Christ and the Saints governing this earth according to God’s laws and teaching His perfect way of life. And then finally, the Last Great Day – wow! Imagine all who have ever lived, resurrected to physical life and given a first genuine introduction to God and having the Book of Life opened up to them. God’s Holy Days give such hope, don’t they? Let’s make sure we properly plan for these days both physically and spiritually.

This year, we will be holding 18 individual Feast sites in the Asia Pacific Region. There will be a few ministerial festival travel assignments which you may be interested to know. Mr and Mrs Edwards will travel to Malaysia, Mr Hemphill will be in Papua New Guinea, Mr and Mrs Taylor as well as my wife and I will be in Nadi, Fiji. We will also have the privilege of some international ministerial visitors. Mr and Mrs Hugh Stewart (Victor Harbor/Forster), Mr and Mrs Garrett Steagall (Forster), Mr Ron Poole (Malaysia/Forster), Mr and Mrs Marshall Moluf (New Zealand) and Mr and Mrs Brent Mitchell (Philippines). Each year, it becomes increasingly difficult to find suitable festival venues due to availability and price increases. The cost of accommodation as well as travel and food inflation is also a challenge for brethren. For others, simply having the physical health to travel to their nearest Feast site is problematic. For these reasons, we may need to consider holding smaller sites in more locations to help ease some of those burdens in 2026.

Brethren, wherever you are reading this ANU, from the office staff here in Adelaide, I wanted to extend to you all our love and festival greetings. I know I can speak for everyone in the Regional and local church offices that it has been our great pleasure to serve you all over the past year. We will keep you in our prayers as I hope you will keep us in your prayers too!

Have an inspiring Holy Day season, be safe as you journey to the Feast of Tabernacles and never take for granted our awesome calling and the privilege we have been given to know the Truth.

In Christian Love,

Robert Tyler, Regional Director