While in Thailand we met with deacon K. Sani Mao and his wife, deaconess Mary Thomas, who came to meet us from India.
We have long wanted to meet them and were glad to be able to meet them in Phuket, Thailand.
They gave my wife Joyce the Asian-style dress she is wearing in the photograph below:
Also, while there, I laid hands upon Sani Mao to ordain him as an elder in the CCOG. Here is a photo of him receiving the ordination certificate after having been anointed:
The Apostle Paul wrote to ordain elders who meet various qualifications (Titus 1:5-9), so we have striven to do so.
Rwanda and the Congo
Rwandan Moise Nshimiyimana sent the following photo and report:
Dear Pastor Dr Bob ,
Greetings from Rwanda and both CCOG groups we’re thank by grace of God and we continue to build. Attached there is a photo of some of past Sabbath we had visited the building.
Dear Pastor,
let we continue to pray for brethren of DRCongo Goma city they had left with their homes for fled because war in that city , for that brothers and sisters were scattered with their families this week but now we thank God for some of them started to meet with their families . Brother Martin left the city went in the rural . So , no water no electricity no internet etc. However we continue to help them with our the limited capacity we have .
Moïse.
It is good that we are making progress on the building in Rwanda. As mentioned before, Rwanda law requires ALL church organzations to own their own building.
As far as the Congo goes, the war and violence there have been in the news. Please pray for our brethren there.
Reaching the World
Someone tipped me off to the fact that one of our sermonettes reached thousands more when portions were shown in another YouTube video. Here is a link to that video: https://youtu.be/KFHfvQHXD14?si=46zNIEnHZD9cjYtl.
Also, as mentioned last week, it looks like Google News is sometimes featuring COGwriter related posts that are on Substack.
Here are some that Google News has since picked up:
Here is a report about our recent presence on Substack:
Google even brought in 2 subscribers, we are up to 31 subscribers and 38 followers. Substack rates the subscribers on a 5 star basis on how much they actually read, and those who subscribe are about 95% 5 stars – so the subscribed are very interested in what COGwriter has to say! 2.26k views in just under a month! It is a good open door!
The Apostle Paul was inspired to write:
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:15-18)
So, when Google and others accurately portray what we teach, we can rejoice that their promotion helps preach the gospel.
Marijuana
More and more countries in the Western world have legalized the use of marijuana or stopped enforcing laws related to its use.
Marijuana, Cannibis sativa
The prophet Isaiah was inspired to write:
1 Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)
While marijuana is not specifically mentioned by name in the Bible, consider that the Apostle Peter wrote Christians:
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV throughout unless otherwise specified, or in quoted articles)
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)
According to one former marijuana smoker I read, you cannot be sober and vigilant when you are ingesting/inhaling marijuana.
Inhaling or ingesting marijuana basically makes someone drunk.
The Bible repeatedly condemns drunkenness and activities associated with it:
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty (Proverbs 23:21)
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. (1 Corinthians 5:11)
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:13-14)
Becoming intoxicated by marijuana is sinful and not something that Christians should do.
Whether or not one can get arrested for using it, marijuana is still unhealthy.
The recommended sermonette for this Sabbath deals with that. Here is a link to it: Does marijuana cause harm?
Last weekend, we once again began on the Wilkins Radio Network.
This was the first radio expansion we have had in about 1 year and a half. But, I am glad we are able to increase our radio presence.
So, now let’s talk about the use of radio.
Jesus said:
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
Being on mass media, including radio, is something that COG leaders have done since no later than the 1930s to help fulfill that.
Radio was used so much to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and other biblical messages, that after he left CG7, the late Herbert W. Armstrong initially named his group the Radio Church of God.
Herbert W. Armstrong was first invited as a guest to speak on a local radio station in Oregon. The feedback was so good that the station manager encouraged him to have a regular paid program, which Herbert W. Armstrong then agreed to do. In time, he went on additional stations.
Let’s look at some of what he reported about that in his Autobiography:
In September {1933} … the living Christ began opening doors for the MASS-proclaiming of His Gospel. It was then that someone brought to my attention the fact that the local radio station at Eugene, KORE, then the very smallest minimum-power of 100 watts, had a morning devotional program scheduled, but that they were having difficulty getting local ministers to conduct the program. It was free time, carried by the station as a public service sustaining program of 15 minutes, 7:45 to 8:00 a.m.
Immediately I went to the radio station. A woman secretary told me she felt sure they would be glad to have me take the program for a week. I was to call back later for the exact date.
On my second call I was assigned the week of October 9th. October 9th was surely a great big day in my life — the day of my very first experience before a microphone, ON THE AIR!
I took this opportunity very seriously. It was an opportunity to speak to several HUNDRED people at once! I had never spoken to that many before.
I spent the preceding week preparing rather extensive notes and script. I might never again have such an opportunity, so I decided to strike directly at the very heart of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Since the Kingdom of God is based on the promises made to Abraham, I began, on Monday morning’s program with the PROMISES made to Abraham.
Mike-Fright
I had heard a lot about everybody getting mike-fright the very first time on the air. I wondered if I would experience this. It was probably the most exciting adventure of my life.
On Monday morning, I arrived at the radio studio early. The announcer did not come into the studio until ten or fifteen seconds before 7:45.
Mike-fright? Why, I thought to myself, I’m calm and cool as a cucumber!
“Listen!” I said quietly but quickly to the announcer. “I’ve never been on the air before. If you have any instructions, you’d better give them to me in a hurry. We have only 10 seconds!”
He looked at me disdainfully, and a little bored.
“Just stand up there in front of the mike, and start talking as soon as I announce you,” he replied.
About three seconds later he announced me. While he was giving this very brief announcement on the air, I thought, “Well I don’t have any mike-fright. I’m sure glad of that!”
Then, for the first time in my life, I said into the microphone: “GREETINGS, friends!”
But suddenly something had happened! Before those two words were finished, something had hit me like a jolt!
Something had started my heart pounding like a sledge-hammer! I felt myself gasping for breath! During those opening two words, MIKE-FRIGHT had seized me! I struggled with all my might to control my hard breathing so it would not be audible over the air. It was agony, but I concentrated my mind with all the strength I had on two things — to carefully say the words of my typed script as naturally as I could, and to control my hard breathing so it did not sound.
After two or three minutes I was making good progress in gaining control. After some five minutes my breathing had returned to normal, and I was so absorbed in getting this vital message over to the largest audience of my life — even though that audience was invisible — that I forgot all about the mike-fright.
The Surprising Response
The second morning there was no mike-fright. I was beginning to gain assurance, and able to speak a little more naturally.
It must have been about Thursday morning that the announcer told me the station owner, Mr. Frank Hill, wanted to see me in his office later in the morning.
He had received several letters and telephone calls from listeners, requesting copies of my talks. I had offered no literature of any kind. I had invited no mail response.
“This is rather surprising,” said Mr. Hill. “We never had any response of any kind, before, from this morning devotional program. They told me you had not invited any. Yet it has been coming. I listened in on you this morning to see what was causing it. You have an excellent radio voice, and a way of delivering your message that arouses interest and holds an audience.
“Now, Mr. Armstrong,” he continued, “I want to suggest that you work out a regular Sunday morning Church service, condensed into a half hour. I’d like to put that on as a regular sustaining program — free time — but I can’t do that without offering equal time to every church in town. However I will sell you the time at less than bare cost of operation, $2.50 per half hour.”
And THAT suggestion from Mr. Frank Hill is what put the idea of the WORLD TOMORROW program in my mind! Altogether 14 letters and telephone calls came in to the radio station requesting copies of the messages I had broadcast. I thanked him, and told him I would see what I could do.
But, $2.50 every week! WOW! That was almost as much as my entire salary had been! And I had just previously renounced even that small salary!
Today, $2.50 per half-hour broadcast seems incredibly small.
We have to pay far more than that per minute on stations today! But it seemed like an insurmountable barrier then.
Yet I knew this was GOD’S WORK, not mine. I was only an instrument. God had promised to supply every need. God had OPENED THE DOOR OF MASS EVANGELISM! I knew He wanted us to walk through that door
Here is a photograph that my wife Joyce took in 1994 of a building in Eugene, Oregon that had been used decades before by the old Radio Church of God (I believe it was their headquarters’ building in the 1940s):
One-time Radio Church of God building, Eugene, Oregon
Herbert W. Armstrong also wrote (in what is called volume 2 of his Autobiography):
I had been used to raise up the parent church at Eugene, Oregon with nineteen members in 1933. It grew. God opened radio to me … First priority in the Work is the open door program — in which Christ is opening doors … Every effort is being made to put the programs on more and more radio stations— especially the major 50,000 watt stations …
Notice something published by the old Radio Church of God:
Revelation 3:7-13: “And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that OPENETH, and no man SHUTTETH; and SHUTTETH and no man openeth.” The great door that God has opened to this work is the facility to go into all the world and preach the gospel; the door of radio, the door of the printing press, plus many other such doors. God has set before us an open door and no MAN can shut it. God can shut it, and He will when the work is finished and the Philadelphia Church goes to a place of safety. “I know thy works: Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (verse 8).
Notice that this Church has works. It has works of ZEAL and of REPENTANCE. This Church has only a little strength. But, by contrast, the Church of Laodicea believes that IT is increased with goods and has a great deal of strength. Philadelphia has little strength to do this great work that God has given it to do. God has opened the door, and yet look how insignificant, how weak, how little strength we as a Church have to do that work. How much we lack in every way, and yet God has opened the door and has given us certain vital, supernatural, spiritual gifts. Very often we lack enough money to pay the radio bills and other expenses. WE ARE FEW IN NUMBER, while many other eras of the Church of God numbered in the hundreds of thousands. We indeed have little strength. And yet, look at the great power that God has placed before us. (Neff L. What Is the LAODICEAN CHURCH? Good News, August 1959)
The ‘open door’ to the Philadelphians does have to do with gospel proclamation. Consider the following scriptures:
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord (2 Corinthians 2:12).
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me (1 Corinthians 16:8-9).
27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).
We in the Continuing Church of God are going through the open doors in radio as well as with the printing press, the internet, travel, and personal contact. This includes to areas like Africa with Gentiles.
Consider also the following from Herbert W. Armstrong’s last letter before he died:
It may be that the Work that God has given me to do is complete, but not the Work of God’s Church, which will be faithfully doing God’s Work till Christ, the True Head of this Church, returns…Remember brethren, this is not the work of Herbert W. Armstrong…The greatest work lies ahead…Never before in the history of the Church has it been possible to reap so great a harvest. It has only been made possible through modern technology, beginning with the printing press, radio, television...Each of you must commit yourself to support God’s Work…God’s work must push ahead as never before. God is opening up new doors in television (Letter, 1/10/86).
Actually, those new doors for television have included the internet, which allows videos as well as online radio.
Another new door has been being a radio guest.
As long-term readers are aware, I, Dr. Bob Thiel a.k.a. COGwriter, have frequently been a radio guest. After being so over 230 times, the time seemed right for the CCOG to sponsor our own programs.
Prior to that, CCOG Overseer Samuel Ofosu from Ghana had already doing a COG-sponsored radio program. We also have CCOG radio presenters in Kenya.
Plus, in New Zealand, Shirley Gestro helped handling our Bible News Prophecy online radio channel. Various men in CCOG have been on it. This is another way we reach people.
We also have a Bible News Prophecy International radio platform. This has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages. Kristy Gorman oversees this.
We reach people all around the world from the online radio program.
But we are also on commercial broadcast stations in North America, Africa, and Europe. Plus, we are on shortwave broadcasters that are based in the USA and Europe which, together, cover much of the entire world.
Radio is one of the “doors” we are using to work to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20, while also working towards part of the fulfillment of Romans 11:25.
In Romans 11, verse 25, the Apostle Paul wrote the following:
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25)
Related to that, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
Now I want you to study carefully one of the most wonderful, important chapters in all the Bible — the 11th of Romans. … Verse 23 says those who abide not still in unbelief shall YET receive salvation. … Now study carefully beginning verse 25: “Blindness in part is happened to Israel [HOW LONG? Forever? No — note it], UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” — the end of this age during which God is calling a people from among the gentiles to bear His name (Acts 15:14). …
Notice verse 31. These blinded Israelites have not now, in this age, received mercy, that through the mercy of the gentiles saved in this age, they MAY, THEN, obtain mercy and salvation. How? Because these saved gentiles will then be kings and priests, assisting in this wonderful Work! (Armstrong HW. Where Will The MILLENNIUM Be Spent? Tomorrow’s Word magazine, September 1971, p. 5)
(25) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel [or that part of Israel, meaning the great part, the big part — all but a few, have been blinded. It’s the big part actually] until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. [Or the number of Gentiles to be converted becomes complete — as other translations have it] (Armstrong HW. Romans 11-13. Bible Study, June 27, 1980)
And we in the CCOG have been greatly reaching Gentiles–around the world, but mainly in Africa, Latin America (in person, but also with online sermons and sermonette videos), and Asia, but also in Europe and elsewhere (see also: What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?)
Here is what the US-based shortwave station WRMI’s website has up about our program:
Bible News Prophecy
The Bible News Prophecy program broadcasts news and information in the light of the Bible and its prophecies. This includes proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14), teaching all things that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20), providing prophetic warnings of God’s impending judgments, contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), assisting in the calling of the full number of those to be reached before Jesus returns (Romans 11:25-26), explaining mysteries of God’s merciful (James 2:13) and loving plan (e.g. Romans 16:25-27), helping people better understand the Bible (Acts 8:30-31, Romans 10:14-15), explaining God’s loving plan of salvation (Psalm 68:30, John 3:16-17, Luke 3:6, Romans 11), encouraging people to live the way of Philadelphian (Hebrews 13:1) and agape love (1 Corinthians 13), and calling for personal (Acts 2:38) and national repentance (2 Chronicles 7:13-15).
The Bible News Prophecy program teaches the fact of God’s existence, the fact of Jesus being Savior, and the certainty of biblical truths. The program discusses what the future holds for humanity in the light of Bible prophecy. The Bible News Prophecy program analyzes news and world events by the light of the word of God and also explains matters that will happen in the future, based on Bible prophecy.
The Bible News Prophecy program is sponsored by the Continuing Church of God. We trace our unbroken history to the start of the New Testament church in the Book of Acts. We are a pacifist church that teaches original Christianity as taught and practiced by Jesus Christ, the original Apostles, their early faithful followers, and others faithful to original Christianity throughout history. We have supporters and congregations around the world. We have literature online in over 400 languages at ccog.org.
Our primary English speaking radio presenters for the Bible News Prophecy program on Radio Miami International (WRMI) as well as on European Gospel Radio are Steve Dupuie and Dr. Bob Thiel in North America and Aleksandar Veljic in Europe. The Bible News Prophecy program is also available online at biblenewsprophecy.net.
We also have native language broadcasters in Kenya, Ghana, and the Philippines on stations in those lands. More on our global outreach and various forms of media can be found at ccog.org/multimedia.
Bible News Prophecy is heard on WRMI on 5850 kHz at 0130 UTC Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
https://wrmi.net/index.php/programming
We are on multiple radio stations, including commercial ones, online ones, a podcast one, and shortwave ones.
Because of our high percentage of Gentile brethren in poorer regions of the world, we have much lower income than groups with as many congregants as we have.
Yet, we still seem to have a greater radio presence than any other x-WCG group at this time.
Does that make sense to you?
If you are a Philadelphian Christian, it should.
The prophet Habakkuk was inspired to write:
5 Look among the nations and watch — Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. (Habakkuk 1:5)
This was also quoted in the New Testament:
40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’” (Acts 13:40-41)
Consider that most, even in the Church of God, will not believe the message of the work, even though they were told and could see the truth if they were willing.
Now, we are continuing to lay the foundation for the short work of Romans 9:28 (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word) and I believe that having a radio presence around the world, and particularly in Europe, will be a factor in it.
A lot has been going on related to the use of radio in the Continuing Church of God. This message discusses the use of radio to reach the world. It features presenters from North America, the South Pacific, and Africa. Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel also mention the commercial networks that the Continuing Church of God is using as well as two shortwave platforms and online radio. Censorship issues are also discussed.
Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people for the Last Great Day Sabbath service:
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).
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.
Yes, world events continue to confirm the understanding of many prophetic matters we in the Continuing Church of God are teaching–which are based upon the “sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).
Concluding Comments
To answer the question, JUST WHAT IS THE WORK?, Herbert W. Armstrong personally wrote:
But Christ said to His Philadelphia era Church, that because we have but little strength, He would OPEN THOSE DOORS TO US (Rev. 3:8)” (Letter 11/19/76).
The PURPOSE for which Christ built the Church exemplifies its WORK…1) To ANNOUNCE to the world for its witness the coming Kingdom of God…2) To prepare the people to whom God adds to the Church…God has always worked with humans. He has worked with O N E M A N at a time…The WORK consists of proclaiming the Gospel, by radio, by television, in print (Armstrong HW. JUST WHAT IS THE WORK? PASTOR GENERAL’S REPORT – VOL.3, NO.6 February 6, 1981)
Now God has always worked through one man as leader. But that man is only a leader, and always it has been God. For example, when Samuel was a prophet leading the people of God, they didn’t want Samuel anymore, they wanted a human king like the other nations. God said; “It isn’t you they have rejected Samuel, you weren’t the real ruler, I was. They have rejected me that I should not rule over them.” (I Samuel 8:7 paraphrased). This is eighth chapter of I Samuel. And, you see it was God ruling them, not Samuel.
And so it is really Christ leading the Church today, it is not I. I am only an instrument. But if Christ is not in me and leading me and inspiring me, then I am not the leader. And if I’m not the leader, (Armstrong HW. Ephesians 3 & 4 Bible Study, January 2, 1981)
Many others since Hebert Armstrong, however, have said that the top priority is to ‘feed the flock’ and/or that Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) completely ‘finished the work’ of proclaiming the Gospel. Who is right?
One Church of God group claims it was finished and that Herbert Armstrong declared it so finished in a sermon that was later published. However, in that sermon he did not say it was finished:
There is no one in the Church that has the qualifications, the experience that could carryon the work that God has given me to do. …
But the job God has called me to do is a prophesied to do is a prophesied job. It has been being done. I don’t think it’s anywhere near finished yet. I need your prayers. I need them daily to help me. (Armstrong HW. CONGRESS OF LEADING MINISTERS HEARS DEFINED AND REEMPHASIZED SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATION OF CHURCH. Worldwide News, March 6, 1981, p. 12)
Now, back in 1981, there was no man sufficiently trained or ordained by God to take over then. But that changed, plus note the Herbert Armstrong made it clear that the job was not done. Also, Herbert Armstrong realized before he died that there would be another phase of the work (see The Final Phase of the Work).
The Bible teaches:
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV)
Those that proved to themselves that the old WCG best represented the Philadelphia era of the Church of God should realize that its most faithful remnant would have the same priorities as it claimed and that Jesus taught (see also Why is there a Philadelphian remnant of the true Christian Church of God?).
It was of necessity for Paul to preach:
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)
IT IS A PHILADELPHIAN NECESSITY TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO THE WORLD AS A WITNESS.
Brethren, fulfilling Matthew 24:14 is part of the work of the most faithful church at the end of the age. While NOT all Philadelphians are called to personally preach, ALL are supposed to support the work of most faithful church now.
And radio is one of the means we use to preach the good news of the kingdom of God.
