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Letter to the Brethren: October 21, 2021

Letter to the Brethren: October 21, 2021

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

First an apology. I mentioned that I was scheduled to be interviewed on the radio last Thursday night. That was a misunderstanding on my part–that interview is scheduled for tonight instead.

Second, as a lot of you know, many have been battling health issues. And while most are improving, please pray for the health of your brethren around the world.

African Radio Report

CCOG Deacon Ondigo Ochieng (no relationship to Evans Ochieng) sent the following report late yesterday:

SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER, 2021 RADIO REPORT

Dear Precious Servants of the Most High:

Warm greetings in the Mighty Name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Am so very glad to present to you a one month Radio report from September 26th  –October 17th 2021.

Here is the breakdown of  the Radio program for one month:SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH 2021:DISCOURSE:CHRISTIANS-THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS part 2:

This discourse attracted 24 phone calls from different places including Tanzania,Maasai Maara region of Narok County and some parts of Migori.I was given extra 15 minutes to answer phone calls and questions.Some disputed the teaching as heretic and wrote very harsh messages.

 SUNDAY OCTOBER  3RD 2021:DISCOURSE:THE STATE OF THE DEAD part 1:This discourse came as a result of some 5 people who asked about the state of the dead.Two of them were Catholics and they wanted to know how we teach concerning purgatory and limbo and heaven.This message attracted 16 phone calls.Some three pastors from different churches i.e Maranatha,PEFA and AIC (African Inland Church) asked me to meet them on Monday over that issue.We met and discussed a lot about the State of the dead in a hotel in Kehancha town.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 10TH 2021:DISCOURSE:THE STATE OF THE DEAD part 2 (Where is Enoch and Elijah):I had to repeat this discourse that I had discussed earlier on the radio.It attracted 19 calls from different places and parts of Tanzania.11 people wrote SMS to appreciate what was discussed while three people gave very negative responses through sms.

SUNDAY OCTOBER17 TH 2021:DISCOURSE:THE STATE OF THE DEAD part 3 ( Rich man and Lazarus):This message attracted 10phone calls.All calls were positive while 2 messages  were so harsh.These two were pastors who claimed that I am using the Bible to mislead people.They even warned Mr.Hezron Marwa against having me on the Radio program.

Many people were shocked and some wanted to know where they can get us and if possible get the article on that discourse.

Final Comments: We thank God for that opportunity. May you pray for us to continue for next month and ask God to give us more courage and wisdom to handle different listeners from every denomination.

Best Regards,

Bro.Ondigo Ochieng.

We are glad that we are able to reach people in Kenya and Tanzania with this radio program. We received additional financial support from our French connection (a group in France that cooperates with us on matters from time to time) which should keep the program on the air for some time.

Rift Valley Report

Pastor Tiongik Sawek sent the following photo and report from the Rift Valley of Kenya:

Receive greetings.

Last week I was in Kilgoris, a place called Langata Soen, i stayed in the region for a period of three days. I met with the brethrens who have been inviting me several times where I got a warm welcome from them. Although I didn’t manage to meet with all of them as the place is vast and currently experiencing alot of rainfall, and also had to reside in Kilgoris town which is a far place in those areas.The same people are also requesting a visit next month but I was planning to discuss it with Elder Cheruiyot so as to inform Evangelist Ochieng to arrange enough fare as we are expecting to be in that area for a period of two weeks. This time round God willing we planned it well so as we got enough time to meet with the brethrens.Thereafter we shall also visit them together with Evangelist Ochieng. We thank God for also reaching out to our Maasai people. Kilgoris has several inhabitants, including Maasai, Abagusii, Kalenjin, Abakuria etc. We are praying and hopefully God will prevail and guide us in everything we are planning.(John 6:46)May God bless you.

Regards,

Pastor Sawek

It’s great that we have been able to reach people in some of the more remote towns in Kenya.

Suggested Sabbath Day Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people:

Note: If you have a slow internet connection, you can watch these by starting the video, then below it (and towards the right) look for an outline of a gear–if you click on that, it will allow the YouTube video to be played with lower video quality, but at least it will not stop often–you can select a quality as low as 144p. If your internet connection is still too slow (as my home one is) and/or you prefer audio messages to audio-visuals ones, go to the YouTube link for the message, click on SHOW MORE related to the description. You will then see something that says, “Download MP3.” Below that is a link to an MP3 file. Most computers (and even some cellular telephones) will allow MP3 files to be downloaded and played. This is an option we have made available (but we are also looking into ways to improve that as well)–and, of course, we have written article options. Some people have found that if their internet connections are not fast enough, that they can simply listen to the messages that are found at the Bible News Prophecy online radio channel.

IN CASE YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A ‘LETTER TO THE BRETHREN’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE ContinuingCOG channel AND MANY SERMONETTE MESSAGES ON THE Bible News Prophecy channel. There are also some messages at the CCOGAfrica channel. There are also messages in the Spanish language at the CDLIDDSermones channel.

World News Items

Inflation is becoming a problem all around the world (see WSJ: Inflation Surges Worldwide as Covid-19 Lockdowns End and Supply Chains Can’t Cope). The Bible prophesies (Revelation 6:5-6) a coming time of food price inflation and our recommended sermonette for this week deals with that (watch:Food Inflation & the 3rd Horseman of the Apocalypse).

The situation in Haiti remains dangerous as 17 American missionaries were kidnapped (see ‘US Missionaries Kidnapped in Haiti’). A report today showed a ransom demand. We would like to send the Haddons to Haiti from Canada, but the situation there is not allowing for it yet.

On Sunday, the German and Israeli air forces conducted a small joint exercise (see Joint German-Israel Air Force Demonstration: A prelude to Jerusalem being surrounded by armies?). Jesus foretold a time when Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies (Luke 20:21) just before it is time to flee (Luke 20:22). Military exercises with the Germans and other Europeans looks to lull Israel into a false sense of security that they will trust them in the future–the Bible teaches that will not end well for Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 10:5-11).

There continue to be concerns about about Poland and its role in the European Union (see AP: Why some fear a ‘Polexit’ from European Union). Today, the European Union is scheduled to be meeting about how to handle a legal decision in Poland that its laws are not subservient to those of the EU. No matter how that turns out, ultimately, the coming European Beast power will consider that his will is above all others (cf. Daniel 11:36-37).

Concluding Comments

Jesus said:

18 … I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

18 … “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Brethren, Jesus taught that despite problems, His church would continue. And it has. We all need to continue and be of good cheer as well.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer