My family and I safely returned from Michigan last Friday (though one of our bags was ruined).
Pentecost weekend went fine here, and hopefully also in your area.
I was on a live podcast last Sunday. Other podcasts are still planned–like one for later today.
The podcasts are an open door we have been going through (cf. Revelation 3:7-8).
Pentecost
Deacon Koang Deng sent the following report from Ethiopia:
Dear elders:
Greetings to you this morning.
I hope this email finds you well.
The feast of weeks goes well in Ethiopia and south Sudan.
This is a picture we have taken in sabbath service yesterday.
Best regards,
Deacon koang Deng
Pastor Ezekiel Ombassa Oanda sent the following report related to congregations he oversees in Kenya:
Shalom shalom. We had three sites in Kisii during day of pentecost. I was forced to make that decision because I had no funds to bring them and at the same time feed them together . Will share with you some pictures of the same.
The three new groups that God has given me to shepherd need iron sheets to put on halls. The groups are rapidly growing and 14th June I’m going to baptize more in Jesus’ name.If I were able I could have finished everything in Jesus’ name. But now I’m tied up. I took a loan to settle down the school fees for my kids and still have some balances to clear yet and my loan repayment is an headache now. I feel like going to seek some work at the city and see how I can repay my loan. I’m at the cross roads. But I believe my God will never let me down.
I have 70 widows in total also need some assistance. I have those who are need also need assistance. This makes me sometimes hide from them.
I need your prayers.!! But I know one thing that my savior is a life and is always in control. One morning everything will be fine.
I will share with you my dream soon. Wishing you All the my dear fellow disciple of the Christ.
Yours fellow disciple of the Christ,
Ezekiel Ombaso Oanda.
Pastor Tiongik Sawek sent the following report from the Rift Valley of Kenya:
Receive greetings in Jesus name. We did a blessed Feast of Pentecost here in our locality and also I got a report from other locals in Rift valley. Here in the Chilani region we experience a good turn up, we are thankful for the good work and May God Bless us here in Kenya and the entire Rift valley.
Regards,
Pst. Sawek
Pastor Radson Mulozowa sent the following report:
Greetings from Malawi and Mozambique church
We are all fine by me grace of t
Let me report that the feast of pentecost went well
We had the following site namely
Chiringa
Zomba
Domasi
Nasiyaya
Chileka
Mwanza
Let me request your prayers as the work of God is growing daily
Best regards
Radson Mulozowa
Brethren, as Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).
Rwanda
Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent the following reports from Rwanda:
May 27, 2025
Pastor Dr Bob,
Greetings from Rwanda.
I reached Rwanda safe. The weather was nice. Even though we traveled at night and arrived late.
I met Moise and his brother at the airport.
They took me to a nice place where I’m staying now. It’s not an hotel.
Pastor, things are very tough here in Rwanda. There’s a big problem in Rwanda. Brethren cannot meet together. Even I was trying to see how we can meet together with brethren but it’s impossible. So it’s forcing me to meet individuals. I can only talk with one or two people at a time. No songs, no teaching louder. You can just talk normally. This people are just meeting through phones and there are some people who doesn’t have Smart phones. So connection becomes poor and tough. Because no way how to teach them even on Sabbath. So what’s needed here, those who doesn’t have Smart phones needs phones so that every Sabbath day they can be online. That will give easy time to teach them or to do the meeting Evey Sabbath and every feast a part from feast of Tabernacles which will need them together. Unleavened bread also needs them together for days. Pentecost is for one day.
Now what I’m doing is to meet every member one or two of them at a time and it’s risky. The new law in Rwanda is very tough. Let’s pray for them if GOD can open for them way’s. We have 15 people who doesn’t have Smart phones so they cannot participate in any teaching and there is no way to teach them. Now they needs assistance within the church. If possible to buy for them phones so that they can also participate on every meeting.
The total number of brethren in Rwanda now is 53 who are in the church. I’m happy that the 53 members are very steady in the church.
Evans
May 29, 2025
Pastor Dr Bob,
Greetings from Rwanda.
I’ve been in a meeting with Martin from Congo and Moise till now. We have been discussing so many things and ways how we can make the work in Rwanda and Congo to progress after the tough condition in Rwanda made by the government. We were looking so many ways. But at long last we came to a conclusion that, since m23 are now controlling Goma town in Congo where martin and brethren in Congo are staying, and since there are some good understanding between m23 and Rwanda, the people in Rwanda can get oxygen to keep Sabbath and other feast when they can cross the border and attend them in Congo not Rwanda. And since we bought a land for the church in Congo, Moise is going to sell the plot of the church in Rwanda to go and build that church hall in Congo. whereby they can keep Sabbath freely and all the ordained feast of GOD. We also come to conclusion that the feast of Tabernacles 2025 will be held in Congo and all the brethren from Rwanda Will go to Congo.
Another thing, there are 12 people who were to be baptized before, but due to war in Congo, they failed to be baptized. So these people needs baptism. We discussed this matter for long. Lastly we came to agreement that Moise is going to baptize them soon after pentecost.
Pastor I really wonder how it’s tough in Rwanda for the brethren here. The condition in Rwanda needs a lot of prayer. I also talked with Robert from Burundi. He needs our visit in Burundi because it’s not easy for them to cross the border to come in Rwanda due to conflicts between Rwanda and Burundi.
But I want to tell you pastor that the brethren in Rwanda and Congo are really having a strong faith. They are sealed in truth and nothing can shake them. Through prayer I hope things will be changed in Rwanda.
I’m happy to see the true faith in Rwanda and Congo.
I will meet More brethren from Congo and western part of Rwanda tomorrow.
Evans
May 30, 2025
Pastor Dr Bob,
Greetings from Rwanda.
I had a meeting with 10 leaders from Congo and Rwanda inside my room where I was sleeping. Because of stickiness in Rwanda it was not possible to have a meeting in public place. And I wanted to have meeting with leaders to strengthen their faith. I tried my best to have a short time meeting with thorough teaching which give a better outcome. They went back when they were strong and full of faith. We came to conclusion of having feast site in Congo.
Teaching people privately, Baptism in Congo. Building church Hall in Congo.
The leaders from Congo went back after the meeting.
Evans
Here are leaders from Congo and Rwanda
May 31, 2025
Pastor Dr Bob,
Greetings from Rwanda,
We had a wonderful {Sabbath} service online in Rwanda. All congregations in Rwanda were connected online. My topic today was about the size of the church of God. And how it behaves and how to recognize the church of God. These were the main subject of today to help the church in Rwanda know how to Walk during such big temptation in their country. It was a wonderful subject that help people to understand who they are and what’s a head of them. I really recognize the faith in Rwanda to be one of the best.
Please pray for our brethren in Rwanda wherever you are. It doesn’t matter what position you hold in the church. However small you are, however poor you are, however strong you are, please take time and pray for our brethren in Rwanda. GOD will answer your prayers.
I, Moise and martin kept Sabbath in my room we were only three people but all congregations were connected online and every congregation listen to my teachings of today. GOD gave me power to speak about the subject of today.
Hope everyone had freedom in their countries to keep Sabbath when we had limited time in Rwanda.
Glory be to God The Almighty.
Evans
Yes, please pray for the situation there as Evans Ochieng has asked.
Anyway, Martin is Rwanika Sebulikoko Martin and Moise is Moise Nshimiyimana. Moise Nshimiyimana reported that Pentecost went well for the region as we continue to work on how to function, despite anti-Christian governmental restrictions.
Suggested Sabbath 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).
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.
In case one or more of our video channels are unavailable, down, restricted, or ?, understand that we are on multiple platforms.
For sermons in English:
ContinuingCOG YouTube channel. Dr. Thiel has produced video sermons for this channel.
Bible News Prophecy radio. This is an audio version of the Bible News Prophecy videos on one of our internet stations as well as our radio broadcasts in English. The BibleNewsProphecy.net website also has information about our international radio presence for Europe, Asia, and North America. That page is also available as a mobile app.
Bible News Prophecy International radio. This has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages.
This is also a time when more and more are distancing themselves from the United States of America. There is a new expression that has popped up a lot in the past several weeks–ABUSA. This stands for “Anywhere But the USA.” This is the attitude of more and more related to trade and investments (see ABUSA–Anywhere But the USA for trade–ECB wants independence from America). This will NOT end up well for the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39; Lamentations 1:1-2) nor its British-descended allies (cf. Daniel 8:24-25; 11:24).
The Dutch government also basically fell this week after Geert Wilders withdrew his “right-leaning” party’s support as he asserted the government was not taking sufficient steps against migration (see Geert Wilders’ Party Quits Dutch Coalition Over Immigration Policy Failures). One of the reasons I have long felt that Europe would reorganize, per Revelation 17:12-13, is because of migrant matters.
Over in Israel, its finance minister called for the construction of a “third temple” (see Israel’s Finance Minister calls for building ‘3rd Temple,’ but all that is needed is permission for sacrifices). Yet, biblically, all that is required is an altar for sacrifices (cf. Ezra 3:6), and the Jews already have that. What they lack is the political allowance of animal sacrifices–and since the Bible shows that they will be stopped (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11), they will one day be started as Jesus said, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
Concluding Comments
Instead of my usual quoting a couple of scriptures and then making comments, I would like to close from something put out by the old Radio Church of God just over 60 years ago:
Are You Part of Work?
What about it, brethren? Do you honestly CONNECT the policies, programs, buildings, broadcasts, magazines, churches, baptizing tours as one of the GREAT WORLD HAPPENINGS that is literally PROPHESIED TO OCCUR DURING THIS TIME?
Do you see this great Work of God as a PROPHESIED EVENT — one in which YOU have been given a vital part
Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom SHALL be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the END come!” (Mat. 24:1-4.)
When you receive a Co-Worker or a Member letter, do you RELATE it to another great EVENT — and think of it as an IMPORTANT message from the VERY HEADQUARTERS WHERE CHRIST HIMSELF WORKING?
Do you view it as orders from CHRIST?
Do you AUTOMATICALLY agree with CHRIST’S policies? Are you solidly and fervently behind HIS programs, His plans, HIS purposes, HIS decisions?
Or are you still “not quite sure” whether this is GOD’S Work or the work of mere mortal men?
Peter said, after many disciples had LEFT Christ, and after Christ asked Peter whether HE would prove disloyal, “Lord, to WHOM SHALL WE GO? THOU hast the words of eternal life. And WE BELIEVE AND ARE SURE that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68, 69).
Are you really SURE, like Peter was? Do you KNOW this is the CHRIST OF THE BIBLE directing all facets of THIS Work, which is really and truly HIS Work?
If you DO, brethren, then you are no longer “suspicious.” You are not wondering how the money is “being handled.”
You don’t worry and wonder about buildings, visiting programs, increased college enrollment, new press equipment. YOU HAVE FAITH TO KNOW CHRIST IS AT THE HELM. You KNOW CHRIST is on the job — that HE makes the decisions, that HE is just as active today as He ever was!
The Landicean will begin to think MAN heads this Work. He will begin to “play the angles,” to hold “reservations” in his mind about PHYSICAL things. He’ll QUIT praying — QUIT studying — and begin to LOSE God’s Holy Spirit!
And he’ll have to go into the greatest Tribulation the world has ever seen because of it.
But a really zealous PHILADELPHIAN will NOT be suspicious, jealous, unresponsive, uncooperative — “wondering,” “doubting” and fence-sitting. Rather, he’ll be TOTALLY in agreement with ALL OF CHRIST’S PROGRAMS!
He’ll be enthusiastically responsive to EVERY facet of God’s great Work! He’ll REJOICE at each new building program; each new ordination; each great step forward in printing and publishing Christ’s Gospel. He’ll be really HAPPY to have the opportunity to receive a visit from Christ’s servants in his own home. He’ll simply THRILL every time he hears of a new radio station being added; of increased college enrollment; of the blessings of God being poured out upon his fellow brethren.
What about YOU? Are you SURE?
(Armstrong GT. So – You’re Suspicious? Good News magazine April-May 1965)
Brethren, one major difference between Philadelphian and Laodicean Christians in the end times according to Jesus is their works.
Matthew 24:14 will be fulfilled and in the Continuing Church of God we are taking steps, many are unique in the history of the church age (e.g. see Continuing Church of God Multimedia page), in order to assist in that fulfillment.
