Letter to the Brethren: June 6, 2024

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from the Five Cities of California.

Once again, we received another 20 translations of our English booklet titled The Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We want as many languages/dialects as possible to support the short work of Romans 9:28 (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word) as well as to fulfill commissions that Jesus gave in Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20.

Muslims and a Book Not Yet Finished

There are reportedly over two billion Muslims in the world.

Jesus said:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

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 nearly a quarter of the world, it seemed appropriate to put together materials, other than, for example, mainly just having our The Gospel of the Kingdom of God booklet in multiple languages that Muslims and others can read. This is part of our preparation for the short work mentioned in Romans 9:28 (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word).

That is also consistent with something that the Apostle Paul wrote:

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

Yes, for the gospel’s sake, we want materials that are directed to different peoples.

So with that in mind, to the Muslims, we wish to show some connections, as well as important differences.

In the recommended sermon for this week, I showed a new book that we are still working on. Originally, I hoped that this book, which I began working on in the early Fall of 2023, would have been ready this past January, but research on it took longer than than originally anticipated.

That said, I ordered two preliminary draft copies of it which arrived last week. One was to use as a visual prop during sermons, and the other was given to the caretaker at a local mosque for him to see if he or others there will give additional feedback before the book is finalized for printed distribution.

The caretaker and I originally met several weeks back and some items we discussed were added to the book as the result of that meeting. We, along with my wife Joyce, also met late last Thursday, when I gave him a draft copy of the book.

While the draft of the book is available online (click on Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century), it is not expected to be finalized, printed, and sent to supporters for several months from now.

That said, the recommended sermon for this Sabbath is based on parts of the book as well as with items that are not in the book, but that were published by the old Worldwide Church of God over forty years ago. I expect to do several sermons related to the book, and then plan on it being re-edited before it becomes available from us in print.

Molo and the Rift Valley Leaders Meeting

In the Letter to the Brethren: May 9, 2024, I mentioned flooding in parts of Kenya. In the Letter to the Brethren: May 16, 2024, elder thanked us for assisting and said he would send a longer report. So, he did along with the following photo:

Dear pastor Bob,

I am glad to take this granted opportunity in the name of our lord savior Jesus Christ who is the soon coming king to rule this world, to inform you that we are well and we thank God for his protection. Thank you for your prayers and support to brethren here in Kenya especially those who were affected by floods in the rift valley. I managed to give them food and clothings under the leadership of Evangelist Ochieng’ and his reasonable guidance, may God bless him. …

The photo of those who received food and clothings in Molo are attached below. Thank you and be blessed.

Yours in vineyard,

Elder David Cheruiyot.

As the Apostle Paul wrote:

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10)

We are glad we were able to assist with the disastrous flooding our brethren were impacted by.

Evangelist Evans Ochieng also went to the Rift Valley and held a leaders meeting there. Here is a photo and a report:

Pastor Dr Bob,

Greetings from Kenya.

We had a wonderful meeting yesterday with all church elders and pastors in Rift valley. The meeting was very successful. The brethren were very happy because we introduced good plans for the church development and how to preach the gospel all over Rift valley. We gave every member to give advice how we can operate the work in Rift valley. Before going to Rift valley I had a meeting with the leaders in Nyanza and we discussed a lot how the church manage all its duties because the church has grown in kenya to an extent that needs more skills to operate the work. We always seek guidance from the Almighty God to lead the church in kenya and more wisdom to teach and lead the work of the gospel of the kingdom of God to reach all parts of kenya as it’s flowing now.

We are asking for more prayers that can give more strength of doing this work.

We left very late when all members are happy with the ongoing plans in Rift valley.

Evans

Radson Molozowa recently held a leaders meeting in Malawi that went well:

Let me report that the meeting has started well and everything is going perfect

Am having leaders both Malawi and Mozambique

Best regards

Radson

The Continuing Church of God has had a lot of growth in Africa and leaders’ meetings help insure we can “speak the same thing” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Suggested Sabbath Day Services