Letter to the Brethren: July 7, 2022

Posted on Posted in Letters to the Brethren

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

Baptism

On Tuesday we had a baptism in Grover Beach.

Alan Garner drove up here after visiting relatives about two hours south of here.

After the baptism we went out to dinner.


Alan Garner, Joyce Thiel, and Bob Thiel

Jesus said:

10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)

So, we, too, should also rejoice.

Since I moved to the central California coast in 1976, this is only the second baptism I am aware of in the Church of God in the Five Cities area that was done in the actual cold Pacific Ocean. Mine was the first back in 1977, and that was during much colder and overcast weather in Pismo Beach (which is about 1.5 miles north of Grover Beach) earlier in the year.

This was not nearly as cold, which pleased both myself and Alan Garner.

SDAs Becoming CCOG

Pastor Radson Mulozowa sent the following email yesterday:

Greetings from Malawi and Mozambique brethren

Let me report that am in Chikwawa district visiting brethren who we’re in seventh day Adventist church and they have decided to join ccog so am here to teach them about the beliefs of continuing church of God and the kingdom of God so that they must know what they are believing
Best regards
Radson

Our book, Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism, lists 28 differences that we have from the SDAs. Those who believe the Bible will see why the CCOG’s differences are more in line with scripture.

European AM Radio and Shortwave Radio also into the Middle East and North Africa

As mentioned in an earlier Letter to the Brethren, we have been working on increasing our radio presence, both online and through more traditional broadcast media.

We are now on AM radio in Europe, as well as on a shortwave radio station that targets Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East on European Gospel Radio (EGR). Although shortwave is not used much in North America, it reportedly has hundreds of millions of listeners around the world.

We are being broadcasted four days per week on EGR’s AM station, and three days per week on its shortwave station, Monday through Thursday:

COMBO SW+AM on Tue, Wed, Thu at 20:30-20:45 (8:30-8:45 PM) Central European Time
ii.)  AM only on Mon 21:30-21:45 (9:30-9:45 PM) Central European Time

As mentioned a few weeks ago, we should, for the time being, be relatively uncensored so we can proclaim the coming Kingdom of God and other biblical truths over the air from Europe.

For the first broadcast, Steve Dupuie and I did an introductory radio item, which is also the recommended sermonette for the week:CCOG on European Gospel Radio.

Elder Veljic reported that he covered the following on his three broadcasts:

I covered three topics.  1. The pope’s comments on the war in Ukraine, where he said it might have been actually provoked.  2. Abortion and how the abortion protagonists accuse Christianity of fascism. 3. Belgium, Luxembourg and Prophecy.

I would like to give a special thanks to Bill Wedekind for the “behind the scenes” assistance he provided to get the radio broadcasts properly uploaded to EGR.

Ghana Radio and Television

As mentioned before, we also have a media presence in Ghana.

Pastor Samuel Ofosu wrote this week that we are on radio and television on two stations in Ghana in the language of Asanti Twi.

The above station also live streams the radio broadcast onto television.

The radio position 102.9 FM.

We are on SUNDAYS from 7:00 AM to 7.30 AM.

The above station also live streams the radio broadcast onto television.

The radio position 98.7 FM.

We are on TUESDAYS from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM.

Radio is a proclamation door that we use to reach those we otherwise would not reach.

Update on Doc Buchanan

Jo Anne Buchanan sent the following related to her husband:

Hi Dr. Thiel,
Doc is doing so much better!  He is eating well and getting stronger.  His mental state is improving somewhat, but still has no short term memory.  He can carry on a conversation, but will often forget what he was saying mid sentence.  He still has some twinges of pain in his ribs, but is usually  comfortable.
We have to go to the states … for Dr.s appts.  Doc is questioning whether he is strong enough to go, but I really want our primary care Dr. to see him.  We have been going to her for about 20 years and she knows us. I think he can do it, but I will get a wheelchair for him.  We would sincerely want your prayers for an uneventful trip and that Doc will be able to withstand the travel.
Kindest regards,
Jo Anne

Please keep the Buchanans in your prayers.

Elder Aleksandar ‘Sasha’ Veljic has been filling in for Doc’s counseling role during Doc’s recovery.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested  service for the weekly Sabbath:

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. Note: If there are ever commercials before, during or after, they ARE NOT from us nor do we receive money from them–but sometimes platforms put them up.

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

For the first time in years, CERN’s Large Hadron Collider was scheduled to start up again on Tuesday (see Large Hadron Collider discovered three exotic particles and restarts today: Any prophetic or military ramifications?). The CERN project, as perhaps still the largest physics project in the world, is likely to spin off technologies with military potential. With Germany greatly increasing its military spending, this also points to military potential for this project consistent with prophecies such as Revelation 13:3-4 and Daniel 11:39.

UK Prime Minister essentially proposed a new “Roman Empire” this week (see Boris Johnson proposes a new Roman Empire for Europe).

The USA reportedly has had at least 309 mass shootings (those are incidents involving at least four shot/killed) this year, counting the one in Highland Park, Illinois (see Highland Park, Illinois is 309th mass shooting this year in the USA, Philadelphia has shots, and ‘the city is full of violence’). The Bible warns, “the land is filled with crimes of blood, And the city is full of violence” (Ezekiel 7:23)–this appears more and more to be an apt description of the USA.

Concluding Comments

Jesus said:

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ‘ (Revelation 3:7-10)

Radio is one of many “doors” that are now opened for us.

To see more of the “doors,” check out the CCOG Multimedia page.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer