Letter to the Brethren: April 16, 2015

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Hello Pastor Bob.

We are very grateful to our Lord and soon coming  King for His wonderful opportunity of giving Himself to Atone our Sins and make us to strive to be without sin so we can be sons and daughters in God’s Kingdom.

It was a great Week of Passover and days of Unleavened bread of which ended well with everyone here we hope the same with you too.

I just want to report to you about our third Sabbath Services in Migori and the progress we have made since its still new congregation, but we are seeing God is doing wonderful work through those whom were longing for the place of peace and harmony to warship Him.  This Sabbath also was very nice with the increased attendees, those whom left United cause of how things are here, we were about 11 adults and 8 children and youths. those who were CCOG members here and about some 20 visitors who came from a nearby town in Awendo those whom also are looking forward to join CCOG when they maybe called by God to be part of His family, so the attendees were 39 in total. Pastor Evans Ochieng also visited us and gave a wonderful massage of which later we had planned to have a Bible study but since its a rainy season here in Kenya we did not have that due to the rain that came before we complete out meals.

After the Services instead of Bible Study we had a discussion of knowing the fact from the members themselves of which when we are reporting some people whom will read weekly update may not try to write anything that may contradict the actual picture of this new congregation since there are many people who are good on reporting false matters concerning the CCOG and how its growing in Kenya, but all members whom were in that meeting were informed a bout this and all accept and gave their point of view of how they have been with problems and they have made up their minds to be back to the truth that now has got lost from those groups they have been, so we agreed all together that the Continue Church of God is in Migori.

I hope that Mr. Evans will give his report too.

Thank you for working together to preach the truth before our Lord and King returns.

Best regards

John.

Those outside of Kenya may be surprised to hear that there are a lot of lies about the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) being passed on in Kenya.  Basically, it seems that some people and leaders with a Church of God background cannot accept that we have had the type of phenomenal growth we have had in Kenya.  Out of envy/jealousy, some pass false information about myself, Pastor Evans, other leaders, and/or doctrinal positions of the Continuing Church of God.

Few critics have stopped to realize that unlike many COG groups, the Continuing Church of God actually has printed literature that it distributes regularly in Africa.  And the CCOG actually has materials in multiple languages.  In Africa, this includes English, Kiswahili (Swahili), and Dholuo (Luo), while we are also trying to get materials in languages such as Ekegusii and Kalenjin.  We also are working at getting materials in Zulu, which is spoken in South Africa.

There are also two reports from CCOG Pastor Evans Ochieng, here is the first before the trip:

Before I give the monthly report, let me thank you for the steps that we have made especially in Africa. This has happen because of the effort you have put in Africa to see that the work in Africa is fully supported in every corner.

The Luo magazines, Swahili Magazines, English Magazines have done a wonderful work in Kenya.  As from January till today the CCOG congregations are increased in different parts of Kenya.

Recently another new congregation is started in Migori under John Owak (former minister of UCG) I plan to meet with John that next Sabbath I will visit this congregation.

Here is the second which came after the trip and after John Owak’s report came in.

I met Migori congregation yesterday. I was planing to meet two congregations on my way to Migori. But since I was using public means, I managed to meet only one congregation under John Owak. The meeting was good. I gave a message about the kingdom of God/true repentance.

I met eleven people that most of them came from UCG. Since Migori is a place where people are not honest, I wanted to confirm if those who met me are true members of CCOG. I took time to hold a meeting with them and talk to them one by one. The reason why I was doing this, was because I wanted to confirm from each person if they are true members of CCOG.

Four people who came from UCG are Mr and Mrs Owak. (John’s father and mother), Jared Odhiambo, John Owak and his four children, George Ochieng. The reason why I mention their names is that, you can put this letter in weekly update so that UCG should know that this people are no no longer members of UCG. I met other brethren who came from Awendo. They have interest in CCOG.

I gave out many books. Where is the true Christian Church?, Continuing History of the Church of God, Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen, Bible News Prophecy magazines in Luo and English. This Dholuo magazine magazine is helping so much in Luo and many people are really in need of it. I printed 300 copies but it seems that the number is still low. The demand is too high. which means next printing I will print more.

I did not meet Granton because he was in a burial of his brother.

The Book of Revelation tells of reaching people in all languages:

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  (Revelation 7:9-10)

As part of the final phase of the work, we in the CCOG try to go through whatever doors God opens, and this includes getting materials translated and available in all languages that God moves someone to translate for us.

Most critics of the CCOG simply do not understand that, nor do the groups most are part of.

On other African matters, we are still in contact with a group Nigeria and the one I mentioned before in Ethiopia.

Radio

I was able to be on radio yesterday.  The topic was related to the recommended sermonette for the week, and the free book offer below.

Free Hillary Clinton Book Offer

Now that Hillary Rodham Clinton is running for the office of US President, I am pleased to announce a FREE book offer.

Its ten 10 chapters answer these topics:

1. Hillary Rodham Clinton: Background, Morality, and Hebrew Prophecy
2. Hillary Clinton, Islamic Prophecy, and Related Biblical Prophecy       
3. Is Hillary Clinton the Antichrist?      
4. The Names “Hillary,” “Diane,”“Rodham,” “Clinton,” and Her Faith 
5. 20 Reasons Why Hillary Clinton is Apocalyptic
6. Buddhist, Native-American, and Other Prophecies       
7. Nostradamus and Hillary Clinton     
8. Immorality, Republicans, and Prophecy
9. The King of the North, Hillary Clinton, and the End of the United States, and its Anglo-Saxon Allies
10. Hillary Clinton is Fulfilling End Time Prophecy

So, what is the free book offer?

Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version of the 188 page print edition is normally US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it.

The free offer is that Amazon will give it free until Monday, April 20, 2015.

Why?

Because Amazon wants people to use ‘Kindle editions’ of books.  And it will allow a five-day free availability trial, which for this book began today.

Also, it should be mentioned that you do NOT have to have a Kindle reader to do so.

Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps.

After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition.

This is a special free offer and Amazon says it will expire April 20, 2015.

This is the ONLY way Amazon allows Kindle books to be given away electronically, so if you do not do this, understand that according to my agreement with Amazon Kindle, I cannot give readers an electronic copy in another way.

This is my first commercial book in a couple of years.  I believe having books like this allow us to reach people we would not otherwise be able to reach with the printed word.  Also, it makes it easier to get radio interviews (interviewers are used to dealing with authors).  Since we do not pay for regular radio coverage,  getting interviews is a great way to reach people with our message at low or no cost.  It is my belief that this new book will help accomplish that goal.

Advertising Censorship

Perhaps I should mention here that yesterday I was personally stopped from advertising my availability for radio interviews related to my “Hillary Clinton” book by a service I used back in 2009 to promote my 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect book.  The service refunded the money I personally paid for this once they saw the title of the book and had more details about it.

Because I take stands against matters such as acceptance of much of the homosexual agenda, I knew there would be radio programs that would not have me on.  But it came as a surprise that a service that advertise to radio show hosts would refuse to accept advertising.

In addition to this, a press release service that I have used in the past stopped a press release related to the book that was almost word for word identical to one they ran two years ago (the main difference is that the name “Hillary Clinton” replaced the name “Barack Obama”).  They do not want people to discuss ‘the end of the world,’ the destruction of the United States, antichrist, any who could be ‘apocalyptic,’ etc.  I am still trying to work through this with them, but this represents a massive change in how they used to do business and is a new ‘politically correct’ form of censorship.

The actions by the radio advertising service and the press release firm are steps towards the coming prophesied “famine…of the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11-12).

The time will come when the work as we know it will be stopped and cut short (Romans 9:28).

This is one reason why we need to go through doors we can to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom when they are open (1 Corinthians 16:7; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3;  Revelation 3:8) as some may not be later.

Pray that God would open more doors.

Reminder Santa Fe, New Mexico: April 25, 2015

As mentioned some time ago, my wife Joyce and I plan to be in Santa Fe, New Mexico the Sabbath of April 25, 2015.

If you are interested in possibly meeting with us for a Sabbath service in Santa Fe, please email me when you can: cogwriter@aol.com.  We look forward to meeting interested people who can attend.

If you might come, let us know as soon as possible as we need to insure that we have sufficient room.

If you already contacted me, about coming, you do not need to re-email me unless you will not be able to come.

Location: Homewood Suites by Hilton Santa Fe – North.  10 Buffalo Thunder Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87506.

Time: Services are expected to begin at 2:00 pm.  Because we (my wife Joyce and I) will need to escort you to the room, please arrive in the lobby of the hotel between 1:30-1:45 pm if possible.  I believe all who have contacted me know what I look like, but I do not know what you look like as I am not sure I have met any of you who contacted me about this before.

2015 Feast of Tabernacles

My wife Joyce and I spent a fair amount of time trying to finalize sites for the Feast of Tabernacles for this year.

Our focus was on North America.  We have finalized arrangements for a site in Denver, Colorado in the USA and Niagara Falls, Ontario in Canada.  More details are planned for next week’s Letter to the Brethren on this.

At this instant, we are also expecting four sites in Kenya, one in Tanzania, one in New Zealand, and a video site in the Philippines.

We would love to have a site in Europe, and perhaps if someone over there volunteers, we can have an official video site in at least one European nation.

More information on any and all the sites is expected to be added to the article Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2015 throughout the year and you can always go there for the latest posted information.

In you are in, or plan to come to, North America, please consider which site you wish to attend.  I expect to ask people where they hope to go in another one of the Letters.

World News Events

Pope Francis made more statements about his church not accumulating wealth, but managing it on Tuesday (see Might Pope Francis give away the Vatican’s wealth as his statements suggest?).  I suspect the time will come when the Vatican will actually sell/give away/pledge some of its wealth to influence world events.  Pope Francis has been hinting of this for about two years, so at some point in time, he probably intends to take action to match his rhetoric.  This will increase his popularity with the media, European leaders, and others in the world.

There was more fighting in Ukraine, despite the February ceasefire agreement (see Fighting, despite ‘ceasefire’ in Ukraine; Greece and Russia talk, but…).  Russia wants Ukraine and will continue to press for it; Europe wants Ukraine, and will also press for it.  The Bible shows that ultimately, ‘the kings of the Medes” which would seem to include Russian and certain Ukrainian territories will turn against Europe (cf. Jeremiah 51).  However, prior to that time, they will both seemingly cooperate with it (cf. Revelation 13:4,8), with perhaps Ukraine cooperating more.

Speaking of Russia, it decided that this would be a good time to announce that it wanted to sell billions of dollars worth of weapons to Iran (see Russia plans now to supply Iran S-300 missiles: might Israel react?).  Many of the Arab nations do not care for this, and at some point in time, the nation of Israel may take preemptive action.  Iran hopes this purchase will help it, but ultimately it may not fare well because of it and other actions (see cf. Jeremiah 49:34-38).

In the USA, more candidates officially announced their campaigns for president, like Marbco Ruio (see Marco Rubio enters the presidential race).  One of them had more prophetic interest to me (see Hillary Clinton and Some Biblical Prophecies) and she is the subject of the recommended sermonette for this week.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is our suggested format for Sabbath services this week:

• 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.
• Sermonette, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one: Hillary Clinton and Bible Prophecy. A related written item would be: Hillary Clinton and Some Biblical Prophecies. Other sermonettes are available at the Bible News Prophecy channel.
• Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
• Sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: Germany in Bible Prophecy. A related written item would be: Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy. Other sermons are also available at the ContinuingCOG channel.
• 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 that we list each week.

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 new 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.

Concluding Comments

Even though the Days of Unleavened Bread are over for this year, notice something that the Book of Proverb teaches:

1 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4  And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.  (Proverbs 3:1-4)

Brethren, let us not forget the law, we need to continue to keep God’s commands and have mercy and truth in our daily lives.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God