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Letter to the Brethren: March 14, 2024

Letter to the Brethren: March 14, 2024

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

We remain out of our offices and are into cramped aisles in the warehouse as our ceilings are in the process of being replaced because of water damage related to the tornado that hit last month. Because of the construction, the church telephone line (which is analog) is still not functional and probably may not be for another week or much longer. However, email still works. Sorry for any difficulties this may cause some of you.

That said, someone asked if we needed money from the brethren for repairs. No, the repairs are being covered by our landlord’s insurance, our lease-required renter’s insurance, as well as by me personally. While the Continuing Church of God can use donations for its various missionary efforts (Matthew 24:14;28:19-20; Romans 9:28, 11:25, etc.), including feeding the poor (Galatians 2:9-10, 6:6-10; James 1:27, 2:15-19, etc.), we do not use any donations to repair the building.

On other matters, we have attempted to negotiate meeting room rates in Corpus Christi for the location of the Feast of Tabernacles for the USA this year, but still do not have an acceptable deal at an acceptable facility. Therefore, we also contacted two additional Texas cities (Irving and Galveston) as we continue to work and pray about this.

Related to proclamation matters, we received another 20 translations of our English booklet titled The Gospel of the Kingdom of God this week. The work of reaching the world with a witness of the good news of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14) continues.

Prayer Requests and Kenya

Evangelist Evans Ochieng broke his leg in a motorcycle accident in Kenya and has also been recovering from pneumonia and malaria. While he believes he has recovered from having pneumonia and malaria, his leg still hurts, so please keep him in your prayers.

Let me add that malaria remains a major problem in much of Africa and our brethren have often been afflicted with it.

Pastor Tiongik Sawek sent the following photo and report:

Receive greetings.

We had a blessed meeting with the Molo-Sirikwa congregation. The members were happy for their new beginning.  Unfortunately, Evangelist Ochieng didn’t attend as he was not feeling well after getting a motorcycle accident. Otherwise the meeting progress well, after the sabbath we proceed with the church elders where they show us the already purchased plot yet to be constructed., we also find the already purchased blocks for construction which was a good work. We only find that they still require support for them to acquire Iron sheets, Cement and joining rods for them to construct the church.Currently, these members held their prayers in a nearby school which they were given a grace period upto May this year for them to have their place of worship.Evangelist Ochieng had already channeled contributions for purchasing Iron Rods. We also wish a quick recovery for Evangelist Ochieng as we didn’t touch on other issues for the construction. We postponed other activities as we a wait for him.Later we proceeded to Njoro (Kimeto’s wife) to see the condition of Elder Kimeto’s wife who was unwell, … We told them Evangelist Ochieng will visit when he recover fully. We also extend our prayers to them. …Thanks

Regards,

Pst. Sawek

Jesus said to endure to the end. So, although we continue to face struggles and trials, we also are making progress.

As far as other prayer requests go, I was informed today that Sasha Veljic, head of ‘Hope of Israel,’ is in a coma. He recently had two strokes as well and remains in my prayers.

Malawi and Mozambique

Pastor Radson Mulozowa sent the following from Malawi:

Greetings from Malawi and Mozambique

We are all fine by the grace of God.Let me first report about my health that pray for me as I was involved in car accident as. I was passing a bridge coming from Zomba where we are preparing for the irrigation in Malawi . The bridge went sinking down when I was in itMy left hand was affected together with the car, bojoint, shocks, and the front tyres  but God protected me very much, I was treated as outpatient.On irrigation everything is going well and I will send you the full report since we failed to start the project upon hearing from the government that another cyclone Helena is coming this week aWe are planning to plant maize and sweat potatoesWhat I have seen is that all the four zones of our church wants to do irrigation namely Mwanza, Zomba, Migowi, Mozambique and chileka off which it’s impossible to buy fertilizer  and seeds for all the zones as the plans were for two zones Zomba and Mozambique. so am meeting all the zone leaders to clarify which zones can we do depending on the funds we have since the funds you sent I gave some funds to the church leaders so that they can give to the brethren they know that they are in worse point though many are affected. I did this to avoid confusion because last time we assisted everyone who was in need but this time I failed to put on public upon discussion with all the pastor to avoid confusionAbout Nadia irrigation instructions he told me that he is not on WhatsApp only zoom and Skype and am planning to have those access to those apps so that we can learn more from himGROWTHLet me report that a new congregation has joined us us called Ndungunya and is being lead by Brother KhamulaLet me say thanks for your prayers and support towards the work both Malawi and Mozambique in the way that though were are passing hard times of hunger but we are seeing church growth .This week I will keep Sabbath with brethren in Mozambique

Best regards

Radson

We have trials and difficulties, but need to continue to press on and it is great that others are responding.

Food Support to the Congo

There are dire needs for food for our brethren in the Congo. On Monday, we sent some funds to assist them in buying food, plus some to also assist in Rwanda.

The Apostle James wrote:

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, (James 1:27)

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  (James 2:15-19)

The Apostle Paul wrote:

9 … James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. (Galatians 2:9-10)

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10)

We should not weary of doing good and helping those of the household of faith.

Messages of Nuclear Destruction

Typically, I try not to have both a primarily prophetic sermonette and sermon the same Sabbath. And if that does happen, normally there is almost no crossover of content.

As it turned out, there are more shared scriptures and quotes in this week’s recommended sermonette (Donald Trump, Europe, and Nuclear Weapons?) and sermon (Great Tribulation Protection).

However, in hindsight, this looks to have several positives as while both cover aspects of coming destruction that Jesus warned of, the sermon is mainly focused on how to avoid the coming Great Tribulation according to various statements that Jesus made that are recorded in the word of God.

We are truly closer to the Great Tribulation and the later establishment of the Kingdom of God than we ever have been before. Therefore, because of scriptures related to proclaiming the good news of the coming kingdom of God as a witness, the prophet Zephaniah’s writings about gathering together, along with Jesus’ admonitions to end time Christians, the relationship of the recommended sermonette and sermon seem to be a timely type of emphasis.

Please pray that God would unify the remnant of the true Philadelphian Christians so that they will heed the scriptures and support God’s end time work, without excuse or delay.

Suggested Sabbath Day ServicesHere 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 mobile 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

Pope Francis has upset various military supporters of Ukraine this week with his ‘white flag’ comment (see CBS: Pope Francis says Ukraine should have “courage of the white flag” against Russia) as well as upset the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Catholics because of his same-sex blessing document (see EN: Vatican’s blessings for ‘same-sex couples’ triggers rejection of ecumenical dialogue by Copts). The pro-Vatican Zenit.org site reported that Francis has basically erased ’20 years of progress’ towards ecumenical unity with the Copts (see 11 years later, Francis still acts like an Anti-Pope). That said, once we see signs and lying wonders, such as prophesied in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and Revelation chapter 13, we will see more of the Babylonian unity the Bible predicts.

Yesterday, the European Union took another step towards control and surveillance by passing some rules on the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (see CNBC: World’s first major act to regulate AI passed by European lawmakers). The EU wants the world to accept its standards on AI and other matters, as well as wants to dominate information technology. The coming ‘666’ power will exploit what the EU is doing (cf. Revelation 13:15-18; see also LN: ‘Another country announces it will require its citizens to accept biometric digital IDs’ COGwriter: Nepal and Norway are not the only ones).

Muslims around the world are celebrating Ramadan (see also When and what is Ramadan?). Apparently Hamas hopes this month long observance will trigger a wider regional conflict in the Middle East (see I365: Hamas ‘striving to ignite the region during Ramadan’ says Mossad; COGwriter: Could Jesus return in 2031?). For Jesus to return in 2031, we would expect to see a broader and more destructive regional war in 2024, whether or not it has anything to do with Ramadan.

Concluding Comments

Jesus said the following:

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:9-17)

Brethren, God’s plan is about love.

Remember to always abide in the love of Christ and love others.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer