Letter to the Brethren: January 24, 2019

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from New Jersey, a place I had not expected to be today.

My wife Joyce’s mother died Tuesday, so we are on the other side of the USA.

However, last Sabbath we had a trip to Garden Grove, California and met with a couple of CCOG supporters last Sabbath:

Anyway, it was good for us to meet with both of those men again (one of which my wife and I had not seen in decades).

So, the background for the sermon and sermonette recommended this week will look different than usual.

Now, since we are planning on staying in New Jersey for several days, we would like to mention that we are currently planning Sabbath services in the Wayne, New Jersey area this upcoming Sabbath (January 27, 2019). If you would like to attend, send me an email to get the particulars.

My email address remains: COGwriter@aol.com

On other matters, by this time, we had hoped to be able to finalize our USA Feast of Tabernacles’ site location, but because of an issue with one hotel, and travel matters, this will be delayed for a little while. We will try to keep you informed once we have more details.

Manipur, India

As reported before, Alexsandar ‘Sasha’ Veljic was in Manipur in the far eastern portion of India.

Manipur in red (Map via Filpro)

He has since safely returned to Serbia.

He sent in the following:

K. Sani Mao, Sasha Veljic, Mary Mao, and another

Manipur, India Congregation

Dear Bob:

I have just landed to Serbia

Last Friday, 12 individuals were baptized in a river outside of Imphal.  I am happy we had done it in the nature, away from the town.  They are all enthusiastic and happy and I am also enthusiastic with them.

On the Sabbath, January 19, 2019, India got its first deaconess in the modern history of God’s Church.

Prior to the ordination of Mary, the wife of our deacon K. Sani, I delivered a memorable sermon on the parable of the wheat and tares.  Since the congregation in Manipur suffered from various betrayals, as well as those who crept in in the past for different (and wrong) reasons, the sermon was much needed to explain to the brethren various events that happened throughout the history of God’s people and in recent times.  Various members of the congregation were particularly concerned that the younger baptized members didn’t not really understand about dedication and seriousness because their calling wasn’t as dramatic as it had been for their parents.

Other than portraying to the brethren the fact that we cannot prevent tares being sown in the Church, as the parable shows us, we are not to be suspicious of one another and try to accuse one another with judgemental attitude.  I pointed out that the youth of the local church informed me that once a unified and fired congregation had been driven to become colder, disunified and that members became to accuse and suspect one another.  Enough of that, brethren, I thundered from the lectern!  Half of the congregation was in tears in repentance of that attitude.  As far as the young people, I explained that I had no reason not to baptize them since I counseled them properly and they express the understanding of what their sins incurred as the death penalty.  Also, I said that their calling could not be as dramatic as that of their parents for the simple reason that they are the second generation Christians.  Therefore, they didn’t grow up in pagan families, but with you, brethren, having a Christ-like examples.  Therefore, we should be there to nurture and support our youth, I said, not to be suspicious of them.

My sermon was followed attentively by all newly baptized youth and everyone noticed how amazingly attentive they were, as never before.  When I finished the sermon, we had a break for lunch and preparing for ordination.

Prior to the ordination, Mary asked to speak and “make a confession before the congregation”.  She stepped up to the lectern and said that she has been guilty of suspicions and judgemental attitudes.  She wanted to acknowledge that before the elder and the entire congregation prior to her anointing.  Mary also asked for forgiveness and she particularly asked the church youth to forgive her.  They have forgiven already, I said to Mary prior to anointing her.  They told me they have forgiven before they were baptized.

The ordination took place and my prayer lasted for about 10 minutes.  As of recently, Mary occupies a high position in the government of Manipur.  Being a teacher, she was selected by the government and appointed (without any elections and political activity on her part, lest there be any misunderstanding) the secretary of education in order to clear up all the mess that the previous corrupted secretary has done.  So, I prayed that Mary’s position would help her for qualifying for the future role in the Kingdom and having an important role in the World to come.  I also prayed that her continual service would be a blessing and a great benefit to the local congregation.

Following ordination, I delivered another, somewhat shorter message about the days that will mark the very end of this world and our work as Philadelphia remnant.  Again, the newly baptized youth, and even some other youth, had given their undivided attention to the message.  Following that Sabbath, the congregation in Manipur stood at peace and unity, something that seemed to be sorely lacking due to past … abuses and various people who came and went from that congregation.

God’s people now continue united in Philadelphia love.

With gratitude,

Sasha

We are glad that the trip went well.

Jesus taught:

1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(Luke 15:1-10)

And more than one repented in Manipur.

We should be joyful as well.

Haiti

Herb Haddon informed me last night that he and his wife Gisele were able to get a good deal on tickets to go to Haiti. They plan to spend two Sabbaths there meeting with Nicolas Moise and others there that have expressed interest in the Continuing Church of God.

We have been working on this for some time, but needed one more passport to arrive. So, now that it has, the plan is for the Haddons to go next month.

Radio

Last Thursday afternoon, I was on the radio on the NutriMedical Report with Dr. Bill Deagle. We discussed NATO and PESCO and prophecy related to Europe and the USA.

I am scheduled to be on again today at 2:06 PST but am not sure if this will work, but we will see.

Dr. Deagle’s program is on the Genesis Communications Network, Revolution Radio, Red State Radio, and other outlets.