Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings to all of you around the world.
We hope you had a fine and spiritually uplifting result from the Days of Unleavened Bread which ended last evening.
Theresa Diliddo came out here last week for services, Passover, and the Night to Be Observed:
We also showed her some farm animals and a local waterfall.
Terry Nelson is Not in the Continuing Church of God
We received mainly positive reports related to the Days of Unleavened Bread.
One exception had to do with a congregation that would no longer attend services in a building after the owner of the building was contacted by Terry Nelson. The building owner was then saying so many bad things about CCOG leadership in Kenya which the congregations understood was not true, so instead of meeting at the building, the congregation met under a tree.
Terry Nelson is not part of the Continuing Church of God as he disfellowshipped himself several months ago and help register a ‘Hope of Israel’ group in Malawi. The ‘Hope of Israel’ denies Philadelphia era governance and has chosen to go in a different direction than the CCOG in many ways.
Terry Nelson has marked himself as hostile to the CCOG by intentionally targeting various CCOG members and putting forth various accusations and information that are not biblically-appropriate.
Related to researching one of his “proofs” and accusations related to a claim of financial corruption, I recently sent the following to deacon Grantone Otieno:
Dear Grantone: Terry Nelson has a screenshot attached where he says you said that $50000 was spent on Bradox’s {Ochieng’s political} campaign. Is that something you did say?If so, where did the money come from?
Best regards,
Bob Thiel
Grantone Otieno responded to me with the following a few days ago:
Greetings Dr. Bob. I know nothing about this. I’VE never accursed Evans with that false accusation. I know really know nothing like that. Many regards.
Grantone.
Deacon Otieno also sent Terry Nelson an email saying that and more.
It also should be noted that another ‘Hope of Israel’ leader improperly posted at an anti-Church of God website that the CCOG lost entire countries in Africa–that is absolutely false. The CCOG did not lose one entire nation in Africa, nor even most of one.
Let me also add that since giving the sermon, Hierarchical Governance and Corruption on March 18, 2023, I was contacted via Facebook by a “Joy” who made various accusations against Evans Ochieng. The four people I have had review her Facebook messages to me (Bob Thiel) have all agreed that her testimony is not trustworthy as she has provided contradictory information that demonstrates that–plus she provided statements in contradiction to various facts.
Anyway, please do not be taken in by talebearers (Proverbs 26:22; Acts 20:3) and accusers of the brethren (Revelation 3:11, 12:10).
Baptisms in Malawi
Pastor Radson Mulozowa sent the following report:
Greetings from Malawi church and MozambiqueWe are all fine by the grace of GodLet me report that Passover service well and we did it in Zomba since we there were people to be baptizedNAMELY:1. Maxwell Macheso2. Paul Khacha3. Daniel Likhuva4. Charles Medison5. Frank Chikometsa6. Gift Leadson7. James Malizani8. Andrew Poya9. Dyson Chikhwaya10. John Haward11. Madalitso madeya12. Judith Medison13. Zione Dickson14. Lozina Maduka15. Agness Said16. Emily Madeya17. Felista Mangitsa18. Elista Manuel19. John MadeyaThese are the name of brethren that I baptized them in ZombaThe work is growing in ZombaThe services for unleavened bread are going well both Malawi and MozambiqueBest regardsRadson Mulozowa
Jesus said:
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. …
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:7,10)
So, there should have been plenty of rejoicing this past week or so.
Malawi and Mozambique Leaders Meeting
Radson Mulozowa sent the following photo and report:
Dear Dr BobGreetings from Malawi and Mozambique leadersWe meet today to discuss and plan about the workThere are many brethren in Mozambique who needs baptism so I will be traveling to Mozambique next week Friday to visit brethren in Miiseu 4. Nasiyaya and we will gather at one placeIn there report the church is progressing and God is leading his workBest regardsRadson
Yes, we continue to work to serve and proclaim the word of God in Africa.
Feast of Tabernacles 2023
While Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are behind us for 2023, we continue to prepare for the 2023 Feast of Tabernacles.
The Feast of Tabernacles is something all of us should be preparing for. This year, services are to begin the evening of September 29th and continue until sunset ending the Last Great Day which is October 7th.
As mentioned before, in the USA we plan to hold services in the Fairfield Inn & Suites Wisconsin Dells. Its address is 511 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Wisconsin Dells
The Fairfield Inn & Suites Wisconsin Dells shares a parking lot, and has affiliation, with the SpringHill Suites Wisconsin Dells. Its address is 461 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965.
The hotel representative sent the following:
| Hotel(s) offering your special group rate: |
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Wisconsin Dells for 99 USD per night
Book your group rate for CCOG Feast of Tabernacles
- SpringHill Suites Wisconsin Dells for 109 USD per night
Book your group rate for CCOG Feast of Tabernacles
The SpringHill Suites Wisconsin Dells is supposedly a little nicer than the Fairfield Inn & Suites Wisconsin Dells and also is to have the option of having connecting rooms.
The rates for each include some type of breakfast.
The discount being offered to us is substantial as when we tried to book them for the period of the Feast of Tabernacles, the rates that came up online where about USD$50 more per night, so we feel that the rates being offered are quite good.
While we do not require that people stay at either of those properties, it is usually much easier for those who chose to stay where services will be held.
The closest main airport, which is in Madison, Wisconsin.
If you are planning on attending in the Wisconsin Dells, please let me know. Please be kind and tell me as soon as you can. My email address is cogwriter@aol.com
The Feast site in Canada is expected to be in Harvey Station, New Brunswick, which is about 1/2 drive from Fredericton. Fredericton has an airport, car rental and etc. As far as accommodations go, there are many hotels in Fredericton, as well as possible access to Airbnb in nearby cottages.
For more information, contact Herb Haddon, email hwhaddon@gmail.com.
Congregants should already be saving second tithe so they can afford to go and observe the Feast of Tabernacles joyfully, as God’s word declares they should.
Do not put it off as time marches on fairly quickly.
Leaders in other parts of the world should also be planning on where they will hold the Feast of Tabernacles in their respective countries in 2023.
Here is a link to additional information, which we expect to further update: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2023.
Suggested Sabbath Day Service
Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people:
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- The suggested sermonette is: Red Heifer Sacrifice Ready April 2024? Other sermonettes are available at our Prophecy channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- The suggested sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The suggested one is: 7th Commandment: Love and Faithfulness. Other sermons are also available at the COGTube channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
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
Things may be speeding up in the Middle East as Israel has been involved in what it considers to be retaliatory attacks against positions in Gaza and Lebanon (see DW: Israel strikes Lebanon, Gaza after rocket attack). We may be close to Israel and Iran, and probably Syria, fulfilling prophecies in Isaiah 22.
French President Emmanuel Macron raised eyebrows by stating that Europe needed to take different positions that than the USA related to China –he also pushed for ‘European sovereignty’ in the Netherlands (see Sen. Marco Rubio Slams French President’s Call to ‘Break Away’ from U.S.: ‘Does Macron Speak for Europe?’).
Concluding Comments
The Apostle Paul wrote the following:
11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech — 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 3:11-4:1)
Brethren, despite tests, trials, and difficulties we encounter, we are looking for something more glorious than people can even imagine!
Accept the mercy you have received, be merciful to others, and do not give up or lose heart.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer