Letter to the Brethren: March 6, 2025

Posted on Posted in Letters to the Brethren

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

We are still working through malware issues, but our man in Portugal has succeeded in getting more and more of our websites back up to make our materials, such as those on The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, available to more people and in more languages. Please continue to pray for the success of this project.

Matthew 24:14 will be fulfilled and Satanically-connected interference, “gates of Hades shall not prevail” (Matthew 16:18) to stop that.

Podcast Interviews


(Pixabay photo)

Last Thursday, I was on Michael Klassen’s 5 AM Podcast.

Last Friday, I was on with Monica Hansen, The Graceful Warrior podcast. Monica told me that she had been thinking of contacting me before our podcast team  contacted her. So, she was glad we were able to do one together.

On Tuesday, I was on Dr. Rosemarie Downer’s All Things Faith Walk podcast. We discussed the first portion of our booklet: Is God’s Existence Logical?

We also discussed God’s purpose and some related matters which are in our free e-book The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?

Let me add that being a guest on Protestant podcast channels is tricky as we do want to get God’s truth to all we can, but also by trying to minimize offense to the podcast hosts.

That said, it is my intent to put up links to many of the podcasts after the hosts upload them.

Being a podcast guest looks like another door that Jesus opened for His Philadelphian remnant (Revelation 3:7-8; cf. Hebrews 13:1, literal)–and we in the CCOG are utilizing this door. We are reaching people that we otherwise would often not be able to reach.

Podcasts are one of the many forms of media we are using to work on the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20, etc. To learn about other ways and media forms, see also the Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.

Online Services from Northern Ireland

My wife and I saw on the news that Microsoft has decided to phase out Skype (the same service Steve Dupuie and I used to use for sermonettes, but replaced with Riverside this year). Microsoft is encouraging Skype users to migrate to Microsoft Teams as a replacement.


MicroSoft Teams logo

On Monday, Jaison Curtis sent the following from Northern Ireland:

Hi Dr Thiel,

Because Microsoft are discontinuing Skype in May we have transitioned to Teams which is a lot more suitable for services.

We have been meeting, as a small group, twice a week, for nearly four years (service and study). However, due to the limitations of Skype we were not able to accommodate casual attendance until now.

We are pleased to announce that we can now offer the English UK based service to anyone that wishes to attend from anywhere in the world, even if you cannot come regularly.

Our service follows the standard COG format. We play a short music/choir video before starting just to get everyone settled and monitor this to make sure all is working satisfactorily. We have two hymns then the opening prayer. The sermonette is next with two more hymns. We then play the sermon, sing two more hymns and have a closing prayer. The whole service with music and words is shown on the shared screen.

Sabbath Service:
5pm UK GMT
9am Pacific
10am Mountain
11am Central
12pm Eastern

Tuesday Bible Study
8pm UK GMT
12pmm Pacific
1pm Mountain
2pm Central
3pm Eastern

To get a link for the next service or study, please email service@ccog.uk.

It is likely that we may be a little rough round the edges until we learn the technical details of the new app.

We will be happy to welcome anyone that wishes to join us each week. Come check us out and if you like it, please come again.

We aim to make it as close to a physical service as we can for those that are scattered.

Jaison

We basically have three online services with the one out of Northern Ireland, one out of New Zealand, and one out of Texas (which Canadians tend to connect to).

This is one way our volunteers are assisting and connecting our scattered brethren, particularly in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Reports from Evangelist Evans Ochieng, Pastor Tiongik Sawek, and Pastor Radson Mulozowa

CCOG evangelist Evans Ochieng sent the following report:

Pastor Dr Bob,

Greetings from kenya.
The work in Kenya has made many steps forward. I’m trying to figure out how the Church moved in 2024.  The books, magazines and the support of pastors have done a great job in Kenya.
In 2024 , so many people were baptized in different Congregations in the church.
Here are the names of those who were baptized last year.
1-spinicah mighty orwa
2- Patrick oswago osoro
3- Naomi kwamboka otoki
4- Stella maragwa sakora
5- Rose onyando
6- Joshua Nyachoka Onchieki
7- Aska mogare Ezekiel
8- Beatrice monyangi masabe
9- Hilda mora Joshua
10- Judith mora Achai
11- Sarah kerubo Joshua
12 Florence Buyaki ontweka
13- Jane kemuto Osoro
14- Naomi Nyabonyi omambia
15- Joseph ongeche onyimbo
16- Josephine Nyanchoka
 17- Sylvia Nyangarisha
18- Rehema ombaso
19- Seth motito Ombaso
20- Henry Orina Sakora
21-Violet Ngina Nyaundi
22- Edina Onderi
23- Obed karanja meshack
24- Yunike mora Omoke
25-  Rose Onyango Osoro
26- Gladys Nyamechi okongo
27- Florence Nyanduko
28- Joshua Okongo
29- Enock Bichango
30- Linet Charles
31- peter Nyambaso
32- Matha osoro
33- Askaa moraa
34- Doronthy Ochieng
35- Eunice Moi
36- Nicholas Ochieng
37- Victor Ochieng
38- Joice Lavuma
39- Elvis Amoko
40- Joseph omollo
41- David Tonui
42- Irine memo
43- Joseph chepkwony
44- Stanley Tonui
45- Johnstone koros
46- Irine koros
47- Josaphat Koech
48- Pikoty Chumo
This is the list for those who were baptized in 2024 . I do not include who have joined the church and yet not been baptized. Those Will be included in the line of 2025 list of baptism.
The church members in Kenya are now more than 4000. We also built 5 halls in 2024.
                 Magazines and books
In 2024 we printed 1800 magazines and 900 booklets.The books and magazines have done a big job in reaching so many people.
            Radio program
The radio program is well attended by our radio programmers, Joel Owuoti, Charles Agwenge and Wiclief Obote. The radio program has done a wide range Job of reaching so many people.
                Pastors
We have five pastors in Kenya and through their efforts and corporation, we have a done a wonderful work that has made the continuing church of God to be ahead in preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.  Through the effort and prayers, The contuing church of God has made steps forward.
Pray for the work in Africa. GOD of Ibrahim, Isaac and Jacob has helped the work in Africa to move the way it’s now.
            Feast site in Kenya
We are now building feast site of continuing church of God in Ndhiwa. This will be the first feast site to be built permanent in Africa for the continuing church of God. We have already build wall of 12 rooms. Our aim of this year is to build 16 rooms, kitchen, Dining Hall and one big Hall to help youths. Those who can give support for the feast site can contact me or the committee.
Evans

The Apostle Paul wrote that the fullness/full number of the Gentiles needed to come in before Jesus returned (Romans 11:25)–and evangelist Evans Ochieng is assisting greatly in that (see also What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?).

Pastor Tiongik Sawek sent the following photo and report:

Receive greetings in Jesus name. We are happy and continuing well here in Rift Valley, Kenya. So far we haven’t communicate as we had Power blackout in our area. For the last two weeks I received contacts for the person called Titus Kirui from Evangelist Ochieng. Evangelist informed me that he received the same from an Elder coming from Rwanda.
Currently I have meet with Mr. Kirui who is coming from Sigor Sub County, Bomet Bomet. He has an interest and willingness of joining us in CCOG and up to now he had been visiting our local church twice, all the way from Sigor upto Chilani and so far we had agreed and though we are still teaching about the laws of CCOG, we had agreed in most teachings.
We are also planning to visit his area to meet with other brethren’s from his area so that they can join CCOG.
May God bless you. …

Regards,
Pst. Sawek

So, despite difficulties, more growth.

Notice also the following from pastor Radson Mulozowa:

Greetings from Malawi and Mozambique church

We are all fine by the grace of God
Let me report that my trip to Mozambique went well and successful
During my trip I met with brethren almost twenty and they were happy to see me
I shared them about
 The kingdom of God, repentance, baptism, sabbath to mention few
I gave them little funds so that they can manage to buy two bibles as they were having only one bible the whole group.
Am planning to go there again after the visitation of pastor Evans this month as he promised us
Pastor the trip it’s very far because it’s takes two days to reach the place
 Let me report that today I meant all church women at migowi inorder to encourage them to continue trusting God though they are facing hunger
I did this because the moslems are taking advantage of hunger to distribute maize flour so that people can join them
Am happy that nobody has has left ccog to follow them
After the meeting I gave them little funds each so that they can go and buy pumpkins for the family
Pastor pray for the brethren às life is very tough as price of everything has gone up including soap, sugar, to mention few
But I know we are in the last days
Let me report that we have open new congregations namely Komihela, Thawale, dzaleka here in Malawi and still God is opening more doors to reach
Pray for the work
Best regards
Radson

We continue to face struggles in Africa, but continue to try to assist the people their physically and spiritually.

Baptisms, to cite one item, are good fruits Jesus said would accompany a true prophet (cf. Matthew 7:15-20).

Suggested Sabbath Day Services

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

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.

Also available at BitChute COGTube https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/

For sermonettes in English:

Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel BibleNewsProphecy https://www.youtube.com/user/BibleNewsProphecy.

Bitchute Prophecy https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/,

Vimeo at Bible News Prophecy https://vimeo.com/channels/biblenewsprophecy

Brighteon Bible News Prophecy https://www.brighteon.com/channel/ccogbnp.

Rumble https://rumble.com/c/biblenewsprophecy.

DailyMotion https://www.dailymotion.com/dm_e24c8ac0050c5e7445cd5573711869c6/videos

For animations in English:

CCOG Animations YouTube channel.

Also available at BitChute COGAnimations https://www.bitchute.com/channel/coganimations/

Sermons and sermonettes in Spanish:

CDLIDDSermones channel.

African videos:

CCOGAfricaYouTube channel.

Also available at BitChute COGAfrica https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogafrica/

Audio messages:

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.

There is also additional information at the Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.

World News Items

The State of Wisconsin has proposed changing the English language in certain areas. For example, in a section of a Wisconsin budget proposal, the term “inseminated person” is being used in place of the word “mother” (see The ‘woke’ do not realize that replacing the word ‘mother’ with ‘inseminated person’ contradicts their abortion position). This is both stupid and illogical. While it is women who were inseminated who give birth, once they have given birth they are no longer inseminated–from conception until the death of their children, they are mothers.

US President Donald Trump continues to stir up matters around the world. In the past week, Ukraine has been offended and Europe has asserted it will massively increase military funding (see Europe embarrassed and in decline? EU wants to €800 billion on military? What will happen? and EU meets to militarize and ask/discuss ‘Should Europe still consider itself a US ally?’).

Yes, the EU wants to militarize and questions whether or not the USA, which has handled most of Western Europe’s defense needs for decades, is even an ally. The Bible teaches that who was “great among the nations”will be defeated as “her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.” (Lamentations 1:1-2).

There is a shift going on in Europe.

It has long been my view that Europe will likely attack the USA and/or the UK under the guise of a NATO (or some other defense treaty) exercise and use nuclear bombers–that is consistent with the following prophecy about the coming European King of the North Beast:

23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:23-24, NKJV)

Notice that he pretends peace then devises a plan against the strongholds. This looks to be a reference to the nation with the strongest military, the “strongest fortresses,” that Daniel 11:39 shows he will conquer–that is the USA and its British-descended allies (see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).

While now is not the time–“the end it not yet” (Matthew 24:6; see also When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?)–many in Europe are unwittingly taking military steps that will allow this come to pass.

Many want Europe to become a major military power. The political situation in the USA is making the Europeans nervous. An unintended consequence of Trump Administration policies has been to get the Europeans to look seriously at being a military power independent of the USA.

Europe is now working to do so.

Getting back to Donald Trump’s other policies, he also implemented new tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China. There will be many unintended consequences of the Trump-Vance Administration.

One other to mention is that there has been some increased interest in the Chuuk Islands to become sovereign and independent of the Federated State of Micronesia (see Chuuk Islands of Micronesia considering leaving the USA). The Chuuk Islands can be considered as a type of sea gate –and as such, one day they will NOT be under USA control.

Concluding Comments

Notice something from the Book of Proverbs:

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He ponders all his paths.
22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
23 He shall die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
(Proverbs 5:21-23)

Brethren, sin will be punished, including against those who sin against us.

Do not give up hope on God or His plans.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer