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Letter to the Brethren: August 20, 2026

Letter to the Brethren: August 20, 2026

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from the Five Cities region of California.

I am scheduled to be a guest on a new podcast later today, so I expect to report about that next week.

Brazil

As reported here before, I went to Brazil last Summer and baptized a former theology teacher and Protestant minister named Adao de Amorim.  He has since been our host for Brazil.

Adao de Amorim and Bob Thiel

Last Friday he sent me an email stating that a congregation of 40 have now declared that they now wish to be part of the Continuing Church of God. We continue to have growth with more and more people coming with us in Brazil.

However, Adao de Amorim informed me that he lost his job yesterday. Please pray that he can find another which allows him to support the work, plus pray for more laborers for the harvest (Matthew 9:38).

Holy Day DVDs

We sent out holy day DVDs to international areas, such as Ethiopia, Malawi, and the Philippines, to those leaders who asked for them. While DVDs are not used as much in the USA, they still are used a lot in many areas around the world.

Getting the Gospel Out in Aymara

We continue to make the good news of the kingdom of God available in additional languages.

We just posted the following a couple of days ago:

  1. Jaqinakax askichañanaktix utjapxiti?
  2. ¿Kuna Suma Yatiyäwi Jesusax yatiyäna?
  3. ¿Markanakana Qullan Qillqatapanxa, Qhapaq Suyu uñt’atänati?
  4. ¿Apóstolanakaxa Qhapaq Suyu Suma Yatiyäwi yatichapxänti?
  5. Machaqa Testamento anqäxankir qillqatanakaxa Diosan Qhapaq Suyu tuqita yatichapxäna.
  6. Griego-Romano iglesianakaxa Diosan Apnaqawipax wali wakiskiriwa sasaw yatichapxi, ukampisa…
  7. Kunatsa Diosan Qhapaq Suyu?

Jikxatañataki yatiyäwinaka

Amuyt’awi: Aka pankax inglés arut jaqin lurat amuyt’awimpi jaqukipatawa, ukataw yaqhip arunakax janiw qallta arurjamäkaspati, ukampirus jak’ankañapaw suyasi. Inglés arun pankax internet tuqin inakiw jikxatasi, aka chiqan: www.ccog.org.

Diosan Qhapaq Suyu Suma Yatiyäwipa – Aymara

The Apostle Paul wrote:

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. (1 Corinthians 14:10)

Since there are languages people do not understand (cf. Psalm 81:5), but all languages are significant, then obviously more languages than one needs to be used by the CCOG to teach.

Consider also Jesus’ words:

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!’ (Luke 15:4-6)

40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:40)

We try to reach all that we can.

Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote:

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)

We are to sow bountifully! We are sowing by having as many languages as we can available as we prepare for the fulfillment of prophecies including Matthew 24:14.

About 2–3 million people speak Aymara, depending on the source and whether second-language speakers are included.

A reasonable breakdown is:

  • Bolivia: roughly 1.5–2 million speakers
  • Peru: roughly 400,000–500,000
  • Chile and Argentina: smaller communities, probably tens of thousands combined

So, Aymara is one of the major Indigenous languages of South America, particularly in the Andean highlands around Lake Titicaca.

For comparison, it has far more speakers than many Native American languages in North America and remains an important living language, with official recognition in Bolivia and Peru.

My thanks go out to the ‘Closing Act’ volunteers for their efforts to support Jesus’ commission in Matthew 24:14.

Sabbath Games and Animations

Several days ago, our oldest son Michael announced that he put together another free online Bible game (see Announcing Michael’s ‘The Ten Commandments Steamboat’ Willie’s Game).

Michael also has a lot of free games at his Bible Challenger game site.

The COGwriter.com home page has the following:

Michael’s Free Bible Quizzes, Games and Public Domain Animations
Bible Challenger Numerous Bible games.
Bible Challenger Asteroids This is a fast-paced game with similiarities to the old Asteroids video game of last century.
Bible Wheel of Fortune A Bible challenger game, with similarities to the television program.
Bible Challenger Jeopardy A biblically-oriented ‘jeopardy’ game.
Bible Challenger Sabbath Quiz This illustrated quiz covers topics related to the Christian Sabbath.
The Ten Commandments Steamboat Captain the steamboat inspired by Steamboat Willie (1928): the public-domain cartoon that first introduced Mickey Mouse. Your goal is to collect each word of the Ten Commandments in order.
Resurrection of Jesus Christ This is one of the Bible Challenger quizzes that goes over facts and teachings some do not understand.
Self Grading Bible Quiz 15 questions and a report card when you finish.
The Good Samaritan A public domain claymation for younger people.
Paul in Damascus Not a quiz, but a Lego-animation.
John 21 Not a quiz, but (other than a Lego suggesting a long-haired Jesus) a biblical story for young people.
David vs. Goliath A higher level animation for older young people.
Solomon’s Temple This is a a 5 minute animated film that shows one artist’s understanding of the details about Solomon’s temple.
Nehemiah Animation A four minute, sometimes silly, Lego-animation related to Nehemiah and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
Bible Crossword Puzzle
Who Wants to be a Biblical Millionaire? A sophisticated quiz. Now with over 1,000 questions to help challenge and build your knowledge of the Bible.
Night to Be Observed. This is a CCOG animation, not public domain, related to the Night To Be Observed. It provides historical and prophetic information.
Pentecost Quiz This is a Pentecost quiz based upon the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.
The Antichrist Quiz Do you really know much about the Antichrist?
Michael’s Feasts and Fasts Quiz 15 questions, amusing wrong answer screens.
The Ten Commandments Quiz Developed by our son Michael.
Michael’s Day of Atonement Quiz Another free on-line Bible quiz by our son Michael.
Bible Hangman Michael’s most interactive Bible game to date. Another one of his free online Bible games.
Michael’s Sabbath Quiz Test and learn a little more about the Sabbath

While many of these are fine for adults, they are intended to help teens and younger children have fun ways of learning about the Bible and the truth of God.

Suggested Sabbath Services

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

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

The AfD party continues to gain support in Germany and one of its leaders, Ulrich Siegmund, has been dubbed “the most dangerous man in Germany’ (see AfD’s Ulrich Siegmund called the most dangerous man in Germany, but what about Herr Guttenberg?). Many in Germany are concerned that the rise of the AfD could lead to a 21st century version of Adolf Hitler’s rise last century. We warned about that in a video some time ago–watch AfD: Prelude to a Hitler Beast? And what will happen when the final Beast rises up will be worse than Adolf Hitler’s reign.

Earlier this month, Poland unveiled what is believed to be the tallest ‘Marian’ statue in Europe (see Poland unveiled Europe’s largest ‘Mary’ statue: Is Marianism going to be a tool of the Antichrist?). Roman Catholics have long used their version of Jesus’ mother Mary to try to draw people into their faith and they intend to do that more in the future. It remains my view that the Beast and Antichrist will do that for a time, and it is very likely that some apparition that people will believe is Jesus’ mother Mother will become fairly public in the future when the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:7 is taken out of the way (see What is Restrained and Who is Restraining in 2 Thessalonians 2:7?). The statue in Poland looks to be part of the way this will be set up.

Related to the Middle East, we keep hearing of attacks and threats to attack. Iran reportedly is considering some type of attack against the USA and Israel (see Iran makes demands and threatens actions against the USA and Israel). It is possible that we may, fairly soon, see great damage to Jerusalem as prophesied in Isaiah 22:6-9. That may be the prelude to a coming temporary peace deal in the Middle East (Daniel 9:27) which will essentially lead to the countdown of the Great Tribulation and the return of Jesus.

Concluding Comments

This week’s recommended sermon included information about something many improperly believe supports the view that God is a trinity. The trinitarians somewhat remind me of the Samaritans in Jesus’ day. They claimed to be worshiping the God of the Bible, but Jesus disagreed.

The Apostle John recorded the following:

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:9-10)

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24)

Most who say that they are Christian are in churches that profess that God is a trinity. Those who believe so are not worshipping God in truth.

Brethren, because we teach the truth about the Godhead, we join a long line of successive churches of God that are despised by the majority of Greco-Roman Catholic and Protestant ones.

But we need to uphold and teach the truth about God as we worship God in spirit and in truth.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer